THORAX. 



1073 



we have examined was Randall's; height 7ft. inches. The highest 



height of 5ft. Sin. was 



weight 22 st. ; vital capacity 464 cubic inches. 

 The smallest was Don Francisco; height 29 in., 

 about 40lbs. ; vital capacity 46 cubic 



weight 



Fig. 706. 



A 



Relative height of two persona standing. 



vital capacity at the 

 330 cubic inches. 



A question arises, are the lungs and tho- 

 racic parietes at their maximum stretch when 

 they contain the appropriate vital capacity 

 volume ? We believe not. The vital capa- 

 city of the person from whom the preparations 

 figured above (figs. 680. el seq.) were taken, 

 whose height was 5jft. 4 in., weight 107 lb., 

 was 198 cubic inches ; yet, after death, we 

 forced 300 cubic inches of air into his lungs 

 without rupturing them, being 102 cubic inches 

 more than he could expire during life. There- 

 fore there is still a spare mobility of parts, 

 probably in reserve, to be exercised when dis- 

 ease attacks the lungs. 



2nd. Vital capacity affected by the posi- 

 tion of the body. We have said a man must 

 hold himself erect to breathe out a good vo- 

 lume of air ; because the mobility of the ribs 

 is affected by the uprightness of the spine ; 

 and, more than this, whatever touches the 

 ribs affects their mobility, and consequently 

 the vital capacity. Thus, standing, we have 

 produced a vital capacity of 260 cubic inches ; 

 sitting erect 255 cubic inches; recumbent 

 supine 230, prone 220 cubic inches ; position 

 making a difference of 40 cubic inches. This 

 may explain why patients with emphysematous 

 lungs sit up in bed, and why for them to lie 

 recumbent, is "suffocating;" because they 

 thereby diminish the thoracic mobility. It 

 may be well to recollect this effect upon respi- 

 ration, in treatment of diseases of the spine, 

 particularly at the present time, when they are 



Fig. 707. 



The relative Jieight of the same persons sitting. 



treated by laying the patient on the anterior pacity from 260 to 220 cubic inches. 



part of the chest for weeks and months to- 3rd. Vital capacity affected by weight. 



gether, which position reduced our vital ca- The weight affects the vital capacity ; but 



VOL. IV. 3 Z 



