The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-11-02
THE PULSE OF HEALTH.

| A little instrument, recently invented by
French Psychologist, does for the pulse
what his countryman' Daguerrc, made the
sun do for the face-that is, paint it's fea-
lures with an accuracy and minuteness be-
fore unknown. A. pen or pencil, made to
rise and fall by the motion of the artery at
the wrist, traces series of wave-like lines
upon paper or smoked glass carried by
clock-work. The upward lines are made
by the swelling of the artery, with each
contraction of the heart as it sends out the
crimson jets. The downward sleping lines
are made by the regular subsiding of the
jets as the stream of life passes into the
minute blood-vesssls for the nutrition of
the tissues.
| By the use of this pulse tracer Tor sphy-
gmograph, as the instrument is called,)
we are at length enabled to demonstrate
some of the principles underlying the sys-
tenn of exercise, hitherto known as "The
Health-Lift' OF Lifting Cure;" and to
point out, clearly and intelligibly, the
causes which produce its wonderful results
in restoring and preserving health.
Without entering into details at this
time, we will state, briefly, the conclusions
arrived at as the result of invetigation and
| experiment with the pulse-tracer:-
1. Ordinary forms of exercise, such as
walking, rowing, swinging Indian clubs or
dumb bells, the frequent and rapid lifting
of light weights, and other gymnastics;
and all forms of muscular labor, such as
chopping wood, saving, sweeping, digging,
etc, in every case increase the rate of the
hearts action, and, generally, produce
some irregularity-in other words, ordina-
~ forms of muscular exertion make the
pulse frequent and irregular.
II. Lifting weight abont one-half the
maximum amount that the individual can
raise this ascertained by previous expert
mentl, and, after brief rest, lifting
weight fifty per cent, heavier than the
first; this, in turn, being followed by
slightly longer rest and the lifting of a still
heavier amount againg an interval of
rest, and finally the lifting of the entire
amount,-the whole operation occupying
an average period of seven and half min
utes,-produces the following results: re-
duction of the rate of the pulse, and cor
responding increase in force, volume and
regularity,-in short, an approximation to
''the typical pulse of vigorous health"
Of course, the experiments presented
features tnat we have not enumerated, and
others were made whose results are not
essential to our present purpose; but the
important points are all summed up in
these two classes.
And in the last We have, substantly, the
foundation Of what We propose calling
Cumulative Exercise-that is, an exercise
in which successfully increasing amounts
of muscle are brought into use in overcom-
ing successfully augmented weights or re-
sistances.
Let US state again the difference between
ordinary and Cumulative Exercise
The first, in all its various forms of walk
ing. rowing. gymnastics, etc., uses limi-
ted amount of muscle over and over again,
usually in rapid motions with light and
constant weights.
These frequent motions of a few muscles
create demand for fresh blood from the
heart, whilst their contraction is not suf-
fcient to send cenous blood to the heart in
sufficient quantities to supply the demand,
and, consequently, tho heart beats oftener,
throbs violently, and, sometimes, irregu-
larly.
Cumulative Exercise, on the contrary,
by the immense amount of muscle gradu-
ally brought into play, congresses the deep
seated veins, sending their contents in
large volume to the heart, which thus,
pumping from full chambers, beats regu-
larly and quietly, forcing full, abundant
tide along the arteries, and SO furnishing
"the typical pulse of vigorous health"
What all this implies the student of
physiology will not be slow to recognize.
What its tangible results are, any one who
chooses may readily realize in his or her
own person, by few weeks practice &C.
cording to these principles. By it they
may exchange their old bodies for new
arouse torpid livers-relievs aching backs
and heads-renew appetite and make good
digestion wait thereon-in short, secure,
through an equable, thorough circulation
of that" blood which is the life" the very
PULSE OF HEALTH.