PHYSICAL TRAINING 155 



development of the muscles of the chest and in 

 others to a forcible displacement of the stomach 

 upwards to the chest. A big chest is no proof of 

 a '' good wind," although it is true that healthy- 

 men who have led an active life in the open air 

 possess well-developed chests. " Wind " depends 

 upon the capacity of the heart and lungs to accom- 

 modate themselves to the demands made upon them 

 by muscular work. 



There is another objection to breathing exercises. 

 The authors of systems do not agree in their teach- 

 ings ; some urge thoracic, others abdominal breath- 

 ing. This lack of agreement would be expected, 

 for the natural types of breathing vary not only in 

 different individuals, but even in the same indi- 

 viduals according to the conditions involved during 

 rest and various kinds of work. In exercises de- 

 manding especially the use of the arms the upper 

 portion of the thorax must give a fixed point of 

 purchase for the muscles, if efficiency is to be ob- 

 tained. Women with little muscular development 

 show very definite respiratory movements in the 

 upper part of the thorax ; this is due, no doubt, 

 partly to the constriction of the abdomen by corsets, 

 but in part only, for directly they perform much 

 hard work with their arms, abdominal breathing 

 is increased and thoracic diminished. Muscular 

 exercise or work abolishes tight lacing in women, 

 and the converse is equally true. 



