PHYSICAL CULTURE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3038, 7 November 1908, Page 6

PHYSICAL CULTURE.

This column is conducted by Mr R. 0. Jarrett, Physical Culturist, late supervisor to the Wanganui Education Board, Principal of the Wanganui, Feilding, Paln.erston North and Foxton Physical Culture Schools, w ho will be glad to hear from beginners in Physical Culture, and will reply to questions in the following Saturday's issue. Initials and address only will be used when answering questions. Thus: W. McK, Carterton, or G. H., Featherston, as the cuso may be. Most students, especially beginners, have little difficulties which beset them, and it will be a pleasure to help these along. Upon receipt of a penny stamp, Mr Jarrett will post to any address his book on "Exercise for Health and Brain," which contains a useful chart and valuable information for young ar.d old.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. H.J.G., Masterton.—.Letter recjived; book posted. THE NECESSITY OF PHYSICAL CULTURE IN CHILDHOOD. On the rising generation the future of our Dominion will depend. To ensure a sound and vigorous constitution, children should be encouraged to indulge in and practice rational breathing exercises at an eaily age. . I Tne atre at whi-'h to ■ ' "pip; is a question often asked by parents. Children should be taught a few simple and easy breathing exercises as soon as they are old enough to understand how to inlva'j through the nostrils. An excellent idea is to lay the child flat upon its back, and then place a book across the crown of the abdomen, allowing the book to rise and fall with each inspiration and expiration. The correct method of breathing for this purpose is, uf course, with the aid of the diaphragm. The abdomen should rise with each inspiration (taking in breath), and fall in or flatten with each expiration. It is a recognised fact that all children during the first few months of their existence breathe in the correct way. Also, they brsathe with the nostrils only if, in a good state of health. When they begin to toddle about, then, from various causes they commence to breathe more with the upper portion of the chest or thorax. A great number also begin mouth-breathing, instead of nasal breathing. Thij combination lays the foundation of various throat and nose troubles, such as enlarged tonsils, adenoid growths and, in later life, nasal catarrh. Have you ever thought of testing your child's breathing organ? Here is a sure way of doing so. Place the index finger over the left nostril (completely closing it), then let the child inhale slowly through the right one. Now get it to hold the breath momentarily, transferring your finger on to the right nostril, the child slowly exhaling through the left nostril. Then reverse the process, inhaling and exhaling the opposite way. If the child cannot breathe clearly and freely when this test is applied, medical advice should be obtained. At this stage it is rarely necessary to resort to an operation. At a later period it often becomes imperative. I am strongly inclined to lay the blame of these latter-day ailments against modern inventions. Recently, when visiting a friend whose child had a few days previously been operated upon for an adenoid growth, the father remarked that he could not understand why these growths were so prevalent nowadays. He said there had been nothing of the kind in his family before, nor in his wife s family. I suggested that probably in his childhood days he did not have the "dummy." heard numerous reasons advanced as to the probable cause of these frequent annoying growths. The most logical one, I think, is the almost universal use of the popular "dummy." In childhood the gristle, or cartilage, of which the roof of the mouth is formed is much softer than in more mature years. With the continuous upward pressure" of the rubber dummy or baby "comforter," the roof of the mouth is gradually ".but surely arched much higher than when originally formed by nature. This interferes with natural breathing, consequently the child unconsciously begins to breathe through the mouth. This is the beginning of the before-meationed ailments. EXERCISES FOR CHILDREN.

The following exercises are simple and • easily taught to the ordinary child ot five, which is not too young an age at which to. begin. The child should be encouraged to practise these exercises in the open air, first thing in the morning, and two or three times during the day. No. 1. to their fullest extent, arching the chest as high as possible, without straining, then exhale slowly. Repeat till tired—Nature's warning to cease exercise temporarily. That is, when one becomes slightl/ dizzy. When this feeling has disappeared, commence again. No. 2 breathing exercise. Arms by sides, head erect. Raise the arms slowly outward till they are above the head, expand the chest, inhaling all the time the arms are in motion. The face should look up, following the motion of the hands. Maintain this position for a moment, and then bring the arms slowly down to the sides again exhaling to the utmost. Count 1, 2 (inhale, exhale). No. 3 exercise. Stand erect, arms extended in front of body. Bring the arms slowly backwards in a line with the shoulders, inhaling steadily all the time the hands are travelling. Make a momentary pause, brace up the chest, bring the arms forward again, exhaling to the utmost all the time that the hands are travelling. Count 1, 2 (inhale, exhale). these exercises there should be no straining, and scarcely any change in facial expression. Next' Saturday my space will be devoted to Physical Culture for Ladies.