RESPIRATION. ^ 149 



to the waist, (Fig. XXII.) In some, this is the temporary 

 effect of present pressure ; and when the close garments are 

 taken off, the ribs rise to their natural position, and the chest 

 expands to its natural size. But in others, whose chests 

 have been long subjected to this close confinement, this dis- 

 tortion of ribs and contraction of chest become fixed and 

 permanent ; and then they need no outward covering to con- 

 fine the respiratory organs within these narrow dimensions. 



338. Figure XXIII. represents the chest of those who have 

 always worn loose dresses. Fig. XXII. is that of one used 

 to tight dresses. The former receive much more air into 

 their lungs, and carry off the impurities of their blood more 

 freely, and hence their changes of particles must be more 

 rapid, their vigor and elasticity of body must be much 

 greater than the others enjoy. * 



FIG. XXIV. FIG. XXV. 



Bones of a natural Chest. Bones of a distorted Chest. 



339. The bony frame by pressure may be altered, and 

 made to assume forms very different from that which nature 

 intended. In the process of nutrition, ( 244-247, pp. 112, 

 114,) the old particles of the animal body, in all its parts, 

 are continually going away, and new ones are taking their 

 places. But if any pressure bear upon the depositing vessels 



