waist
indicates in such a case diaphragm failure. Gentle heat at the small of
the back, and olive oil rubbing, form treatment for this. For other
chest muscles, give a warm washing each night with SOAP (_see_) over
the body, and rub, especially the back and chest, with hot olive oil.
You soon bring the muscles into good trim.

Breath, and Nerve.--Difficult breathing, especially in ascending a
hill, is often due simply to the lack of the nerve power by which the
breathing muscles work. A teacupful of hot water half-an-hour before
each meal, by helping digestion, will often remove the difficulty. Rub
each evening along the spinal cord with hot olive oil.

Breath, and the Skin.--The organs of breathing remove much waste from
the system, but the skin also removes a very large part. If either
fails, the other has more work thrown upon it, as we see in the severe
"night sweats" which accompany chest and lung failure. In such cases,
rub with CAYENNE LOTION (_see_ and Night Sweats). Avoid the use of hard
water in washing and bathing, especially with infants.

Cold baths for the weakly, chills, damp beds, and such things, cause
rheumatism and colds by stopping the proper discharge of waste by the
skin. After such chill, or cold in damp bed, a hot wash and good hot
oil rubbing will avert all evil. This may not always be available; but,
if it can be got at all, should be given as soon as possible. The use
of the soapy blanket is of the utmost value in severe cases (_see_
Soapy Blanket). Strict cleanliness of person and underwear should be
observed. The AIR BATH (_see_) will also give tone to the skin (_see_
Skin and Underwear).

Breathing, and Bronchia.--The _bronchia_ are the branching small tubes
which lead from the windpipe to all parts of the lungs. Two different
states of these often pass as bronchitis. In one of these the tubes are
swelled, congested, and full of fiery heat. The whole body is also
fevered, and breathing is difficult, with cough. This is true
BRONCHITIS (_see_). But often, with difficult breathing and irritating
cough, there is no heat and fever. In this case bronchitis treatment
gives no relief. This is, indeed, only an irritated state of the lining
of the tubes, and far from dangerous. A change of climate to a drier
atmosphere will often entirely cure it. Often also a time spent in a
room, where the air is kept dry but fresh, and at one steady
temperature of about 60 deg., will cure. Our chief pur