Thus an individual whose stature is 172 cm. ought to have a thoracic circumstance of 86 cm., a sternal length that is 17.2, not including the xyphoid cartilage, a manubrium that is 5, a bi-axillary diameter that is 26.3, a superior sagittal diameter that is 15 ad an inferior that is 19. These measurements will indicate excellent development, and with other conditions equally well proportioned will assure a high degree of functional activity and resistance.
Viewed from the standpoint of therapeutics, it cannot be difficult to see how vitally importance these things are, how direct is their bearing on the problem of treatment, both preventive and curative. Again quoting from the article of Brehmer, already referred to: When speaking of the heart he said: “To this one must add the denutrition of the heart muscle which will indubitably take on a lessened vigor and cause a slackening of the circulation. Thus it becomes necessary for one to explain to himself the origin of the tuberculosis. When he realizes that in the disproportion of the lungs lies the cause, in amplifying the circulation one will easily understand how one creates in the lungs by the lowered resistance the tubercular state”.
Recalling now how a premature ossification of the first costal cartilage and that of the interarticular cartilage of the manubrio-gladio articulation and a shortened superior sagittal diameter together contrive to decrease the cavity in its upper third thus making normal respiratory function in the apices impossible, “in amplifying the circulation one will easily understand how one creates by the lowered resistance” a suitable soil for invading organisms. Moreover, one will easily understand, also, how stupid is the theory that we can best “develop the lungs through the legs,” meaning, in other words, that by indulging in violent exercise the lungs are made to work harder and are thereby stimulated to grow.
A quantum of work harder and are thereby stimulated to grow. A quantum of blood above the normal in part means stasis and a lowered resistance. The importance of these morphological facts in the selection of appropriate systems of exercise for individuals of different type is obvious. Failure to take them into consideration will mean failure to get results in all cases.
But it also must be obvious how important they are when we come to the matter of drug proving. Differences in function and reaction are matters with which every prover is familiar; but with the cause or causes he is not at all acquainted. What happens he can only make note of. Why things happen as they do is a matter he has been, and even now, is compelled to leave to the gods. Little wonder that symptoms cannot be learned, can only be committed to memory.
