The New York herald., 1870-11-26

Since tle memorable foot race between cushi ~al
Ahmaaz, the son OF 2ado1, Weston's walk is thn
only feat Of pedestrianism which has been subjected
10 thoroughly scientific observation. Although ihs
son oi Iadok came In hrst he brought no ti1ings
that wer- not az nless illesiDle telegram
anu King David had 70 wait for the sad news oc
Ahsalom's death until the arrival OF Cush Ahi.
maaz ran on FOOLS errand. But Weston has
walked to some purpose. Science and suffering hu
manity win have been benefited b. him as much az
II he had actually succeeded IN waking 400 miles n
i've days. As At IS he has doae wonders. ana his
walk has proved 10 he one cf the most Interesting
chemico-p physiological experiments ever
II is from this point Of view that The unwonte
presence OF such savants IA Professors Flint, Sr
Flint Jr, Doremus, Mott. Dalton. Hammond anu
Van Buren,, together with Than dfty medlcab
students, seye.al clergymen ana large number OK
ladies' ana gentlemen representing the most highly
cultivated classes Of metropolitan society. ceII
DC understood ana applauded
Weston's powers OF endurance are maryelIouss
and II would therefore, be difficult TO lnd a sublecs
more admiraby suited for scientific examination.
The medical gentlemen VINO nave take!r
so deep an interest in case are, ie
should be remembered, merely observers. They
have not interiered in any way with his diet MIS-
hours OF walking repose They are not respon.
slbe for his regime which Is just what ne has founu
by his own experience to be best adapted 70 his
"mechanisu," while putting forth such extraor.
dnary exertIons All that has been asked has been
/, to permit exact weights and measurements OF his
| food and drink aud ercreta. This examinatiors
began five days prevsus TO the great walk 30 as 4,
obtain full, minute and particular record o ths
| fuel consumed aud the ashes pro iuced by this
| human engine during his normal state. The same
was continued throughout hts performance o.
| perhaps the most remarkable exploit or the kind
! ever undertaken. Ihe investigation VIII also bs
! continued during five days afterwards.
The weight OF Weston, his pulse, the number OF MIS-
respirations, aud the temperature under his tongra
| were taken at the commencement Of his periods OF
rest, moi to Interfere In the slightest degre.
| with his walking. In other words--borrowlng Is
favorte expression or the late Dr. Rush-..he cner-
gzed his functions inst If no observation wcrs
! being made.
One exceedingly interesting fact Il that Mr.. Wes-
toms system wall not admit the Of any alcoholic,
| stimuli whatever He has discovered by has per.
| sona experience that TO abstain from ale, wine-
brandy and whlskey s absolutely essential for pro-
| ionged cXertioa HIS walk has thus been ths
Rrandest temperance sermon ever preached In Ne "
| Yerk He sis walking epistle' OF the superatyo
advantages OF sooriety, exercise ana proper diet.
| Numerous facts OF scientific interest aud import.
ance have been revealed by tile investigation Of this
noteworthy case. 1t VIII be requisite to mako
searching ANALYSES aud comparisons before all these
| results can be tabulated and Officially published
Tney will command the attention Of al chemists and
| Psychologists. The urea since the first day has in
creased l27 grains, white the acu has dinin
isned to mere trace. THIS fact alone is OF vas
, interest To all tne gouty ana rheumatic among on
good readers. rhey make wholesome deduc
tens from IL, for they are but zoo well wha
eScrucating pains are sometimes eccasioned by til,
deposits ia me joints the pnosphorlc acid has
. about doubled that eliminated before the trial.
very singular phenomenon II that the chloride o
sodium has steadily diminished.
The dizziness Dy which Weston attacked q,
THURSDAY evening was cansed by his 60 ng rouns
the same locality SO many times In swift succession
But It was only temporary, and 1t entirely psssec
away after nights sleep. In the open mir h,
would probably not have been dizzy. As proof 0
his wonderful recuperative powers. lr was ensugt
to witness yesterday hs intelbcenL face ana br,gh
eye, beamIng with pluck and forcefui will mis- eas
manners ana lively humor the perfect condition o
ms feet and ankles, aud, above all, the exrl0rl-
narIIy good time which he made. During hs 2g5tb
mie ne made one circuit-the 2, 120th--a distance
Of few feet less than one-seventli Of mile In MT y.
eight seconds. Another circalt--the 2l2srh-ac
made III Gfty seven seconds. Maniiestly lie was I'm
full viyor OF both BODY and mind. THAI
! ne made not mere muscular exertoa
but strong exeruen OF the brain was evlnced by hi4
own accurate mental calculations OF the distances
| compared with the record kept ty the judges. Froa,
hali.past twelve O'Clock on Monday morning
until quarter past i've on Friday evening. he mad
but forty hours or the track out o. ll3 hours. AL
beginning he weighed 1le pounds, Nd on Thursday
night he weighed ia. When he stopped TO res,
awhile. few minutes after nve O'Clock yesterday
afternoon IL looked quite safe TO bet that his cheer
IN prediction. ll walk my quickest mile to-nigli
would be verified. t was felt by all the spectators
that Notwithstanding his failure To walk 400 niles NJ
| lve days, he might well Doast OF having made nurlnx
the five days the fastest time on record.
While bloody war Affords European doctors ex.
ceptlonal opportunities Of study and research, our
american doctors may profit IN the case OF
weston, by more peaceful opportunities. In this
case they have carefully guarded against SIX
ing the man. while ney have been mainly intent on
satisfactorily completing most interesting and li-
portant experiment in animal chemistry.
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