"THE SECOND WIND."

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 413, 23 October 1889, Page 6

"THE SECOND WIND."

Everybody who has run a mil© knows what it is to gain a ' second wind,' though he may not be able to explain why one minute he is out of breath and the next feels as if he could run several miles. The explanation is this : In ordinary breathing we use only a. portion of our lunge, the cells a.t the extremity not being brought into play. This is the reason why those who are not 'in training,' and who try to run for any di 3» tance, soon begin to gasp, -and unless they are courageous enough to persevere in spite of the choking sensation, are forced to stop, but if they will persevere the choking goes j off, and the result is what is known as ' second wind.' When the second wind is fully established the runner doos not become out of breath, but goes on running as long as his legs will carry him. The fact is that, on starting, the farthest portions of the lungs are choked with air, and the remainder do not sqpply air enough to meet the increased circulation caused by exerpise. By degrees, however, the neglected cells come into play,, and when the entire lung is in working order the circulation antf respiration again balance each other, and the second wind is the result. Now let the reader repeat his experiment of holding his breath against time^But first let him force out of his lungs every particle of air that he can expel, and then draw aa deep a breath as his lungs will hold. If this be repeated seventy or eighty times, by , way of imitation of the, whale; the experimenter will find that he can hold his breath for a minute and a half without inconvenience. Should he be # swimmer, he should always take this precaution before * taking a header, 1 and he will and that heoanswim for a considerable distance before he needs to rise for breath. , ,