Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1849-07-26
sTRoUDsBURG MONROE PA, THURSDAY JULY
From the Water Cure Journal.
SWiMMaing.s

From the Water Cure Journal
Swimming
Agreeable to promise, we make few .ex-
tracts from this excellent little work, which
should be in The possession of every man and
woman, boy and girl. II will serve as guide
to the inexperienced, and teach them how 10
save the lives Of their friends and themselves.
Besides all the particular instructions given on
the art Of swimming, The work contains much
PHYSIOLOGICAL advice, which will be found Of
importance TO all who read il.
The author says:
"The art of swimming appears to be as
natural 10 man, as it is useful, and, in some
cases, necessary for the preservation of his life.
Cleanliness and exercise, both so neces-
sary to health, are combined wi lR high de.
gree Of enjoyment in the practice Of this art,
/" .rhe importance Of frequent ablutons can
scarce be overraied. In fact, the Water Cure
has become popular remedy for most of the
diseases TO which humanity is liable. But,
however excellent the various kinds of bathing
may be for curing diseases, there can be no
doubt that in preventing them they are still
more efficacious.
Those who swim daily in summer, and
continue the use of ablutons, in some form,
in winter, are no, liable TO sudden colds, or
inHammaory diseases, and rarely, if ever,
suffer from chronic complaints. Their bodies
become induraied, their skin is healthy, and
all the functions of life are carried on with
healthy vigor
They who merely baihe, without being
able 10 swim, lose half the pleasure and more
than half,he benefit which arises from frequent
abIutiuns. Swimming is an exercise which
brings more muscles into exercise than any
other; and the body being supported by an
equal pressure on every par,, their action is
overstrained. This exercise gives vigor and
form 10 the limbs, and to the general system
| |, is probable that the ample exercise which
the muscles and lungs obtained in The frequent
bathing Of the ancients. gave their chests that
round, full foim. which is so observable in their
statues. All fiat and narrow -ches,ed children
should be taught TO swim, as nothing is more
likely 10 counteraci tendency TO consumption
1.-The most beautifully developed forms now
| TO be found in the human species, are those OF
the South Sea islanders, who balhe a, leas,
twice a-day, and are almost as much a. home
in water as upon the land and where the vi.
ces and diseases Of civilization have not been
Introduced, it is very rare indeed TO find among
them case of sickness, of premature death
or decrepi,ude, excepting from extreme old age
Among the Greeks and Romans, swimming
was considered an important branch OF educa
.ion, and he can neither read nor swim,' wa:
a reproach for the last degree of ignorance
Cesar was good swimmer !; Cato ,augh. hi:
son to- cross dangerous CULTS the Emperor
Augustus taught his nephew TO swim. AS the
navies Of Greece and Rome were manned BY
soldiers, and their battles were hand TO hand
encounters, 10 be able TO swim was OF the W
most necessity, and rigidly required of every
soldier.
"ln more nelern times. ChsriemagDe was
renowned for being an export swimmer. and
Louis XII. often swan in the Seine, al the head
Of his couriers-a better example than is often
set by monarchs.
"The capabiH,y of the human race, civilized
or savage, for swimming, is generally under
stood. Fhe human form is better adapted to
it than that of any animal nor absolutely aquat.
| ic; and the Inhabitants of warm latiiudes ex.
eel mos. amphibious animals in the water, fgh.
ting with the shark, diving with the alligator,
and remaining for long period in profound
depths in search of coral, pearls, and other
treasures Of The sea.
The pearl. divers of Coylon will descend
TO the deplh of 60 feet i; and although such d.
wing is accompanied with great pressure Of
water and violent exertion, they do not seem
TO suffer greatly from it, as they make 40 or
so plunges a.day, and at each plunge bring up
about hundred oysters.
"Fhe swimming couriers OF Peru cross the
continent, hundreds Of miles, swimming down
the rivers, their despa!hes enclosed in turban
on their heads. They swim day and night,
aided only by light log Of wood.
"In Prussia, swimming has long been mil
i,ary exercise. whole regiments being instruc-
ted TO swim in line, fully equipped,o Wheel
in column, and even To- load and fire In The
wafer.
"a few years since the Viscouni de Cou.
tivron exhibited some experiments Of This same
character in The Seine at Paris. He went in.
TO- the water. aceeu,red az an infantry soldier.
After swimming so fathoms from the boat. he
raised himself in The wafer, and fired mus-
kel, at which signal one of his pupils sprang
from the pom, Royal, bridge, into The Seine,
The Science of Swimming; taught and practiced in
Learners showing its importance the Preserv alton
of Health and Life Illustrated with engrayinps By an Ex
perienced Swimmer. New York. Fowlers q Wells,