| Anglo-Saxon | Abdomen |
|---|---|
| 1. Inspiration, | Ant., post., ant. |
| 2. Expiration, | Post., ant., post. |
| Thorax | |
| 3. Inspiration, | Post., ant., post. |
| 4. Expiration, | Ant., post., ant. |
In the case of a German, it would have been more proper, for our experiment, to have first closed the muscles to the œsophagus, and then those to the trachea, as Germans first breathe into the œsophagus and then into the thorax. Had this been done, the result would have been inverse to that of our experiment, as follows: The first movement of the thorax would have been one of inspiration, the same as the first movement of the abdomen; and the second movement of the thorax would have been one of expiration, the same as the second movement of the abdomen, thus:
| German | Thorax |
|---|---|
| 1. Inspiration, | Ant., post., ant. |
| 2. Expiration, | Post., ant., post. |
| Abdomen | |
| 3. Inspiration, | Post., ant., post. |
| 4. Expiration, | Ant., post., ant. |
This shows that the movements of the abdomen are the reverse of those of the thorax:
With Anglo-Saxons, in such a manner that, while for the abdomen inspiration takes place anteriorly, it takes place for the thorax posteriorly; and that, while for the abdomen expiration takes place posteriorly, it takes place for the thorax anteriorly;
With Germans, in such a manner that, while for the thorax inspiration takes place anteriorly, it takes place for the abdomen posteriorly; and that, while for the thorax expiration takes place posteriorly, it takes place for the abdomen anteriorly.
These various modes of breathing find an illustration in the following:
Anglo-Saxons, while carrying a burden (for which purpose it is necessary to hold the breath or to economize the same as much as possible), inspire into the abdomen anteriorly and the chest posteriorly, and in so doing expand the same accordingly; while Germans, under the same circumstances, breathe into and expand the abdomen posteriorly and the chest anteriorly. The action of the former tending away from the diaphragm, that of the latter tending towards it, exercise an influence on the spinal column which causes Anglo-Saxons while carrying a burden to assume an erect, Germans a stooping position. This has already been illustrated by calling attention to the difference between the position of the Greek and Gothic caryatides, the former representing the Anglo-Saxon, the latter the German mode of breathing. The order for German soldiers, "Brust heraus, Bauch herein"! ("Breast out, belly in"), for Anglo-Saxons should be, "Breast in, belly out"! The former gives German soldiers that stiff appearance, tending towards the diaphragm, of which Heine has said:
"Als haetten sie verschluckt den Stock,
Womit man sie einst gepruegelt."
("As if the stick they'd swallowed
With which they once were walloped.")