Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1868-09-04
Physical Strength.

THE common idea in regard to physical
strength is that it depends solely upon the
amount and quality of muscle, bone and
sinew. In the training of athletes for the
performance of physical feats the promi-
aent features are the means for develop
ment of the muscular tissue and the inur-
ing of muscles TO severe work, so that the
soreness which results from the eXtraordi-
nary exercise of the body not thus Injured,
shall no longer be n sequence of physical
eNertion This is right So far as IL goes.
Development of muscle, strength of bone,
and firm elastic sinews are essential
elements of strength rs well as endurance,
but they are by no means all. Were that
the case, strength could be estimated by
weight approximately. But the facts are
that many small men having no superior
training or no better apparent health,
have often been more than match for
larger men. The strongest man with
whom we were ever acquainted, never
weighed over one hundred and fifty pounds
We might tell some large stories of the
feats of this remarkable man, but the point
which we wish to make will be sufficiently
illustrated without any such particulars.
The peculiar feature which always forced
itself upon our attention when he was
powerfully exerting himself was his per-
feet placdity of countenance, and the
want of that turgid congested appearance
! of the face which often accompanies such
exhibitions. Further the muscles not
specially employed never exhibited rigidi-
| ty, rs is often seen in teats of strength, hut
were sot( as though he were reclining at
his ease. Except he was doing some labor
which caused much motion of the muscles
of the chest, he never appeared to be
/ ~ Narin1nl " nc II 10 pallnl
We have often set ourself to the solu-
ton of the reason of the different degrees
J of strength possessed by different iudivid-
| uals, or rather, we have attempted TO get
at the secret of strength which lies back
of bone and muscle, and we have no
doubt IL is the peculiar exercise of the
will; the concentration, SO TO speak, Of
the nervous energy upon one muscle or
set of muscles, without the distribution of
il to muscles not concerned in the act to
be accomplished This was proved in the
case alluded to by the fact that in feats
which involved the exercise of nearly all
the muscles, his power was not SO perspiC
uous In special feats, Ms for instance the
raising and sustaining a heavy weight at
arms length, his great strength, and also
the concentration of will to which we
have alluded was most conspicuous. This
mans strength was undoubtedly to be at.
tributed " his shortness OF limb In some
degree, as with equal development of
muscle increased length of bone is dis.
advantage. Each bone In the animal
frame is n lever, and the muscles are So at.
tached that the motion they impart To the
bones is multiplied through its transmits.
sion by them To weights or resistances,
Too great length Of bone in proportion to
amount ~ muscle is not conducive To SUI
porior strength although Il adds TO fleet.
ness. The differences In the structure OF
the bulldog and the greyhound are good
illustrations of this fact
The elements of physical strength may
then be stated to be in healthy subjects
development of muscle, strength of bone
and sinew, small relative length of bone In
proportion To muscle, and power tn con
oentrate exclusively upon the muscles EN-
ployed the nervous energy which pro
duces contraction, There is no doubt tha,
this power can be cultivated, like other
powers, by proper discipline; and ifthos,
who are obliged to li1 heavy weights or tC
make other great eNertion at times, would
bear this in mind, they would be enabled
, to accomplish their labor with less eN
haustion than is az present the case Tn,
} view here taken of the concentration o
win seems to be sustained by the opinion,
J Of the eminent chemist and Psychologist
! Liebig, who states that IL is Just AS impos
, sible by the combustion ofa piece ofdriei
muscle TO calculate its efficiency in the
living body (the assumption Of some ply
sicists), as Il is by the combustion ofa dried
bee 10 estimate the work which IL accom-.
plishes In its flight ofmsny hours, carrying
the weight of It's own body several miles
The muscle in a living body acts like the
apparatus in watch which gradually ex
pends the power stored up in IL; a freshly
severed frogs leg represents an apparatus
of this kind with an escapement while
the newly removed heart of the same ami
NAL corresponds TO one withoutany escape
ment; the frogs hear; beating for hours
together just ~ in the living body while