EFFECTS OF TIGHT LACING. 297 



It is shown by fig 96, and its description, that the 

 lungs are always in contact with the diaphragm, and 

 that they completely fill the cavity of the chest on each 

 side of the heart ; this cavity cannot therefore be dimin- 

 ished, without exerting a direct pressure on the organs 

 of respiration. 



It is further shown, p. 156, that the lungs are compos- 

 ed of a tissue of blood, and air vessels, of such extreme 

 tenuity, that the latter have been computed to amount to 

 nearly two hundred millions in number, forming a sur- 

 face of many hundred feet in extent ; and that the blood 

 vessels are equally numerous, presenting a surface simi- 

 larly extensive. And, however incredible it may ap- 

 pear, the whole extent of these two surfaces, thus pre- 

 sented to each other, and by means of which a vital pro- 

 cess is effected, without which we could not live a mo- 

 ment, is still contained within the narrow spaces occupied 

 by the lungs ; each of which do not exceed a foot in one 

 direction, and six or eight inches in the other. 



Now who believes, that organs so " wonderfully and 

 fearfully made," so frail and delicate in their structure, 

 as to present tissues of circulating vessels scarcely ex 

 ceeding a spider's web in size, will permit such an abuse, 

 as to be compressed into one third, or even one half their 

 natural dimensions, without some punitive infliction on 

 those who have the temerity to offer such violence to 

 nature. 



The first effect produced by compressing the lungs, 

 will be a want of due oxygenation of the blood ; because 

 many of these minute vessels must thereby be closed 

 against the admission, both of the air, and the circulating 

 fluid. 



By a reference to the article "Circulation," p. 134, it 

 may be seen that in the Amphibia, only one half of the 

 blood circulates through the lungs ; and that in the Fish- 

 es, there is no aorta by which it is carried to the different 

 parts of the system, as in other animals. The quantity 

 of blood in the latter is also exceedingly small, when 

 compared with that of other animals of the same size. 

 In the amphibious animals, therefore, the circulating flu- 

 id consists of one half arterial, and the other half venous 

 blood ; and on this account, these tribes are cold-blood- 



