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MY BREATHING SYSTEM

Whcn the diaphragm is not paralysed it readily follows thc movcment of the ribs ; but if it be it will hang on to the ribs as a dead weight. hindcring thcir movements.

It is, after all, not the laity alone wlio imaginc that the diaphragm is a yoluntary muscle. l^;or instance, rccently I found, in thc Brilisli Medical Journal, of August toth, 1913, the lollowing sentcnce in the report of the sub-committee for voice training, appointed by the University of London : “ Breathing for voice, as contrasted with the breatlring of reposc, which is automatic and mainly diaphragmatic, presents ccrtain ncw factors. Of these thc empłoyment of the diaphragm as a voluntary muscle is probably the most important.

“ When the diaphragm acts in this way, in addition to its descent, which is the morę obvious result, the lowcr ribs are elcvated, incrcasing the transverse diameter of the body at this level, this providing additional space at that part of the abdomina! cavity frr the viscera displaced by the descent of the diaphragm.”

This somewhat vaguely expressed ąuotation sccms still furthcr to suggest that it is the diaphragm which in this case elevates the 'ower ribs.

Before ending this chapter, I would remark that the diaphragm, of coursc, does not always act as the only breathing muscle in sleeping or resting persons. In women, healthy cliildren and athletes, in othcr words in persons with an elastic thorax and well-trained breathing moscJes between the ribs and round the collar bones these muscle* will con-tinue their work subconsciously during sleep and rest, but naturally not very conspicuously, owi ner to thc decreascd need of aeration of the lungs.

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