The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-05-03
EXERCISE.

Physical Exercise, as a means of restor-
ing and preserving health, has been, for
nearly three thousand years. justly consid-
cred one of the most important elements
of hygiene. Indeed, Hippocrates, " the
father Of medicine" epitomzing the wis
dom of the ages, makes the essence Of
health to consist in temperance and Erer-
else.
Another scarce less illustrious teacher
summed up a long life of observation in
this sentence: l know not which is the
more indispensable for the support of the
frame-food or Exercise. Plato, placing
gymnastics and me dicine at the head of all
arts that minister to our bodily welfare, as
signs to gymnastics the pre-eminence over
medicine, since the former renders the lat.
ter needless And famous statesman of
our own day tersely says: The essence of
education is the education of the body.
To render his body strong and sup
pie is the first duty of man. He should
develop and completely master the whole
mu scular system. 1t is the first
health of the subject. + The fate
Of milton will ultimately depend upon
the strength and health of the population.
Still mo re to the purpose, in this age of
intellectual activity when brain is daily
made to do more and more, and the body,
through the multiplicity of mechanical
contrivances and the utilization of natur-
al forces, does less and less, still more per-
tinent is the counsel of Socrates to the
young Epigenes: For in all human affairs
the body must bear it's part; and in all
undertakings required of the body, it is of
pal amount Importance that the body
shou ID be as highly developed as possible
Moreo yer, sn that wherein you imagine
the body participates least of all, viz: in
thinking, who knows not that many fail
grevously from an ill condition of the body.
And ofttil ues obliviousness, imbeclity,
and insanity, from the same cause, assail
the mind, ey, IN to tie extent of obliterating
all acquired nowledge.
Such counse and warning are of no one
age or race; all literature tee. rs with them.
But in no age and with no ace has the
necessity for such warning and ad, ice been
more imperative than it is with the AMER
lean and to-day. In no other age, with no
other race, has life b. en- so intense, ex-
haustive, destructive of brain and nerve,
as IL this New World, and in this latter
half of the XIXth Cent ury.
How many men not only wreck their
hulls by neglecting pro. per care of them,
but ruin their engines, he statistics of in
sane asyla and of diseas, IS of the brain and
nervous system may Unity show. Our
physical decadence has become the theme
of the satirist, the phi ilosopher, and the
physician; and it may ell give rise to the
gravest apprehensions for our national
future.
Fortunately, as a general rule in this
world, demand rarely exists, for any length
of time, without be. .etting supply. And
the demand, which was daily becoming
more and more sire nuous, for mode of
Physical Exercise combining maximum re-
suits with minimum outlay of time, of
nerve-force, of convenience, it is not too
much to say-if we may rely on the testi-
mony of thousands of Inc dical men, gym
nasts, and average profes. ienal and bust
hess men-has been fully m ct in the system
of Cumulative Exercise system which,
as We propose to show by citations from
the highest authorities in physiology and
physical training, fulflls all the require
ments Of perfect, symmetrical, scientific
bodily education, by an expenditure of
time which, even in this crowded, busy
life, may be spared by the busiest-name-
ly, Ten Minutes Once Day.
Cumulative Exercise by the Health-Litt
Company.