150 PHYSIOLOGY AND HEALTH. 



on one side and close them, the new particles are not placed 

 there, but the blood is poured more freely into the other side, 

 and there the growth is increased ; and thus the shape of the 

 organ, the bone, or the flesh, is changed. 



340. This distortion necessarily follows in the form and 

 size of the ribs, from the pressure of corsets or any tight 

 clothing upon them. They gradually yield to the external 

 form, and, bending inward, assume the shape which the outer 

 mould makes for them ; and the chest, which was originally 

 of a size in due proportion to the rest of the body, now be- 

 comes permanently small, and the internal capacity of the 

 lungs corresponds to the external measurement. Fig. XXV. 



CHAPTER X. 



Action of Diaphragm is affected by State of Stomach. Frequency 

 of Respiration, Capacity of Lungs, Amount of Air inhaled, should 

 correspond with the Carbon and Water that are to be carried away. 

 Quantity of Blood in the Body. Quantity of Blood and Air 

 flowing through Lungs. 



341. THE free operations of the diaphragm are sometimes 

 impeded by the disorders of the stomach. In some forms of 

 dyspepsia, the sufferer feels as if the cavity of the chest were 

 already filled, and that no more air could be inhaled. He 

 breathes short, and is often convinced that there must be 

 serious disease of the lungs. In some of these cases, the 

 stomach is distended with gas, and presses upward upon 

 the diaphragm so as to prevent its motions downward. In 

 other cases, the peculiar kind, rather than the quantity, of 

 gas affects this organ and impairs its power of motion. 



342. A man in good health will breathe about eigJiteen 

 times a minute. Some breathe more rapidly than this ; oth- 

 ers not so frequently. Children and women breathe more 

 rapidly than men. Exercise, especially fast running, quick- 

 ens the respiratory movements. So, also, the exhilarating 

 affections cheerfulness laughter have the same effect. 



