Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-04-13
SHistelIanp
Why is Muscular Action 50 Important :

Every avenue that VIII lead 10 this subject
must be opened, every impediment removed
so that it shall be accessible to every one who
wishes to visit this Delphian Oracle Of Health
who desires to accomplish pilgrimage to
this Mecca of the science of life. So that not
only the Joshuas and CaIebs shall enter the
Promised Land, and return to their brethren
in the wilderness &itll indubitabIe evidences of
the existence Of Canaan and rich samples Of lis
productiveness, but that their unbeIieUing asso-
ciates shall be made acquainted with the region
beyond Jordan, and also bear testimony 10 the
multtudes that dwell in the valley of want,
anxiety and fear, of the truthfulness Of the re-
ports of this reserved and preserved land of our
fathers.
Not only must the ways to this great means
of longevity be made passable, but they should
become adorned and ornamenled, rendered SO
pleasing that their attractions and beauties will
Heretofore. they have been so overburdened
and deformed with toll, drudgery, and consun-
ing labor, that man aud woman alike have been
repulsed, have avoided them as roads of bon
dage and menial servility. FIVE fail 10 give
palpahle evidences of the absolute importance
of this subject, the favorable effects of its prac
tice, and fail to present attractive means for its
application, then few will be led to investigate
and practice it.
The man who carries his arm in a sling, so
as to deprive it OF exercise, will, in a short
time, begin 10 realize weakness and wasting
Of it, and if continued, the arm in time will
loose lis muscular, and in great measure, lis
circulating powers. While the man who uses
his arm actively, as the iron-smith, will soon
double the ordinary arm. And these are the
constant results from the two habits.
The law that presides over The muscles Of
the arm, does also over the muscles Of the back,
the chest, abdomen, neck, pelvis and limbs
also over the muscles Of the heart, blood YES
sells, diaphran, stomach, iniesines, ducts and
receptacles. The strength and vigor of these
parts, depend upon their muscular tissue.
Therefore, if Muscular action will mvigorate
the arm, it will also the foreinger if that,
the spine, the neck, the chest, the abdomen
and the limbs. If the right arm of the appren-
tice is small and feeble. and soon by exercise
becomes large, full and strong then the weak
and sunken abdomen of the 6yspePtic, can by
exercise become full, round and strong then
can the fallen and narrow chest of the con-
suruD,,va bo roieed and ovnandaJ a., :. - -
pansve, full and vigorous one; then can the
bowed down, bent, ill-shaped neck Of many
careless woman, be made straight, svmmeri-
cal and beautiful; then can the undeveloped
crooked, feeble spines, caused by the rocking
chair and sofa, be made strong, erect and
graceful then can the diminulive, slender,
and enervaie limbs Of the student and invalid
be made active, vigorous and stately.
These are not fancifu conclusions, cob-web
deductions, but rational SEQUENCES from actual
and acknowledged premises-inferences that
child ought TO be able to draw.
| Why is it that dsuse will enfeebIe muscle
and action invigorate it I Action Of a muscle
depends upon the quantity Of blood circulating
in il, and the circulation of blood ia muscle
depends upon the exercise of it. The size and
growth Of, and circulation of blood in, mus
Gle depend upon its exercise. Whenever
there is free, full circulation of blood, there is
animal heat. If the heat of part becomes de-
6cient, the circulation is correspondingly d.
minished. AS soon as voluntary motion in
part ceases, soon the circulation becomes enfee-
bed, and if continued, the part will wither and
waste away.
Then it follows, that the size, strength and
activity Of muscle depend npon its execrise :;
also, that the circulation of blood, the great
fountain of life, the equal distribution Of ami
NAL heat, the deposition of nutrition, and the
absorption and elimination of useless and eff
fete material, depend upon voluntary muscular
exercise. Deprive person Of this entirely,
and he will cease to exist in no great length
Of time.
Let il be known to all men and women, that
the symmetry, grace and beauty Of the human
form, depend wholly upon the active, daily ex-
ercse of all the muscles of voluntary motion.
Moreover. that the size of muscle-the
strength of a muscle-the activity of muscle
the full and equal circulation Of the blood--
the establishment and perpetuity Of combustion
in all the departments and apartments of the
bOdy-the circulation of the brain-the healthy
condition Of the nervous systematic oxydiza-
tion Of the blood-lhe carbonization Of the
bood-in fine, the development Of tie physical
powers and beauties Of man and woman, de-
pend upon the free and liberal exercise of the
muscles Of voluntary motion.
The importance ard wherefore of physical
exercise have been presented-the mind is
convinced that it is Of vital interest. Though
the mind is made to see that the voluntary
muscular tissue is the great agent that is given
to man for the development Of his body and the
maintenance of health {; the organic lever for
the raising Of all the involuntary forces and
functions Of the system; the old medium be-
tween the will and nature in fact, faithful
and able mediator between mind and the won
derful and complex organism; still, unless
there can be means Instituted that will harmo-
nize with the natural feelings of the soul, that
will give room and freedom TO the dignified
pleasures and amusements Of our nature, that