Respiratory exercises in the treatment of disease : notably of the heart, lungs, nervous and digestive systems / by Harry Campbell.

  • Campbell, Harry, 1860-1938.
Date:
1899
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Respiratory exercises in the treatment of disease : notably of the heart, lungs, nervous and digestive systems / by Harry Campbell. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University Libraries/Information Services, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University.

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    RESPIRATORY EXERCISES IN THE TREATMENT OF NERVOUS DISEASES. Great benefit can be derived from respiratory exercises in functional diseases of the nervous system. This is not surprising when we reflect upon their influence on the circulation of blood and lymph. That they exert a pro- found influence upon the brain is shown by the increased power of sustained voluntary effort which they confer (see p. 141), as also by the giddiness which they not in- frequently induce, especially when first undertaken. By accelerating the flow of blood and lymph in the nervous system, they not only increase the supply of oxygen and food-stuffs, but they also promote the withdrawal of waste- products, and all this, be it noted, while the nervous system remains in a state of comparative rest. Nor must we in this connection neglect the beneficial influence of respiratory exercises on the digestive viscera, notably on the liver. There can be little doubt that auto-intoxication plays a prominent part in the causation of functional nervous disorders, and that such auto-intoxication largely results from faulty action of these viscera; and I cannot but think that much of the benefit derived from respiratory exercises in nervous disease is wrought through the digestive system. Finally, the influence of suggestion, which plays so pro- minent a part in therapeutics, must not be forgotten.