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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 3, 1903

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 80, No. 9.

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Dress

By Abbie M. Winegar

Its Effects on Respiration

ABBIE M. WINEGAR, M. D.
Among civilized races there is a marked difference between the respiration of man and of woman; the breathing of man being principally with the lower part of the chest,—the diaphragmatic, or abdominal, type,—while that of the woman is almost entirely with the upper part of the chest, commonly known as the costal type. So general are these two forms of breathing in civilized nations that physiologists have come to look upon them as being normal. The difference in the two methods of breathing is quite perceptible to the eye. In man there is with every respiration a free movement of the abdomen or lower part of the chest, while in woman no movement is observed at the lower portion of the chest, but a rapid, heaving movement of the upper part of the chest, and often the muscles of the neck stand out prominently with every respiration. A more thorough investigation would also reveal the fact that it is impossible for a woman in the conventional dress to expand the waist for even a quarter of an inch, so the breathing must be done with the upper part of the chest.
Physiologists in forming their conclusions on these methods of respiration have, doubtless, made studies only of civilized races, as more recent investigations of the subject with uncivilized as well as civilized races have revealed the fact that under similar conditions man and woman breathe the same, both expanding the upper and the lower part of the chest. The respiration of children, both boys and girls, is of the same character as that of man until they reach the age of thirteen or fourteen years. The laboring woman, or one who has never been hampered by her clothing, breathes the same as man. It has also been observed that during the sleeping hours, when there is no constriction of the body, woman breathes with the lower as well as with the upper part of the chest.
That there is a change in the manner of breathing of girls at about the age of thirteen or fourteen no one will deny; but the reason is also apparent, as it isabout this time that fond mothers begin to adjust the clothing in such a way as to make a “fine form.”
The child who has formerly been free, with her clothing loose and suspended from the shoulders, now adopts the corset, and that portion of the body known as the waist must be laced in, to bring it in proper proportion with the bust, to meet the conventional idea. The soft, pliable structures are compressed, the lower part of the chest is held firm, and the action of the diaphragm greatly hindered. At first there is a feeling of constriction, and oftentimes an effort to take a deep inspiration, but the body soon yields to this constriction, and the child ceases its efforts to use the entire chest, and nature adapts herself as best she can to the new order, and by the more rapid breathing of the upper part of the chest endeavors to obtain the necessary oxygen for the system.
The nourishment and development of every organ, muscle, or tissue of the body are dependent to a large degree upon the supply of oxygen received through the lungs. Anything that interferes with this supply hinders the growth and work of the entire body. Many of the diseases so prevalent at the present time are due to deficient oxygenation of the blood. Throat troubles are said to be much more common with women than with men. Weakness of the whole body follows the constriction of the waist and hindrance to full expansion of the chest. The inability to expand the lower part of the chest tends also to cause weakness and atrophy of the muscles which form the abdominal wall, which is another cause of weakness and disease among women. Correct breathing is as necessary for the strength and health of the abdominal viscera as it is for the lungs.
The conventional mode of dress is undoubtedly responsible for the artificial method of breathing which is so common among civilized women, and is thus responsible for a large part of the diseases which are to-day undermining the strength and health of the race.