The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-05-24
CUMULATIVE EXERCISE.


experiment originated what has lately beer
widely known as the Lifting Cure" O.
" Health Lift" terms which are unfortu
nate, in conveying an erroneous, if no
unfavorable, idea of the character of the
Exercise.
In ordinary lifting one generally stoop:
or bends forward and raises the object tc
be moved by contracting the fexor bend
ing or fiexing) muscles of the arms; and
indeed, this is characteristic, not only OF
lifting but of almost all ordinary Exercise,
whether gymnastie or other. In doing
this the following objections are to be
noted: First, the body is not in a natural
or the best position to Withstand strain.
The spinal column, instead of being erect,
in which condition the spinal muscles have
least work to do, as it is bent forward
throws strain, proportionate to the
weight to be moved, on the attachments oil
the spinal muscles mainly in "the small
Of the back" Hence, strained or sprain-
ed backs; frequently, lifelong injuries.
Second, the muscles on the front of the
body, particularly those of the abdomen,
are relaxed, affording imperfect support to
the abdominal organs. This imperfect
support, coupled with the downward pres
sure of the diaphragm when the lifting
effort is made, is common cause of her
MIA or rupture, and of displacements, etc.
Third, the bending of the body and the
attempt at muscular exeItion in such posi-
ton, frequently cause hemorrhage or burst
ing of blood vessel, because the flow OF
blood through the large vessels is impeded
by the pressure of contorted trunk or
limbs. Lastly, it is to be observed that, as
Exercise is valuable according to the
amount of muscular tissue employed by it,
ordinary lifting (or Exercise) is defective,
inasmuch as it uses only a few muscles OF
limited regions OF the body.
There have been three distinct phases of
Windship's system of Exercise. First
The Strength is Health" period, in
which both Windship and his earlier fol.
lowers inculcated the doctrine that the
more one Gifted =" the healthier he was.
This led to the construction and use OF
apparatus for yoke or shoulder lifting, by
| which immense weights were raised. Elk.
cept for the training of athletes and as a
part of the old gymnastic system, this has
died out.
Second: The Lifting Cure phase, the
special exponepts of which proposed the
immediate extinction of the Medical Pro,
fession, and promised speedy abolition OF
all ills, physical, moral, social and politi
cal, by the use of their particular appara,
tus in accordance with their particular code
of instructions, which like the Eleusinian
mysteries, secured enternal bliss only to
| the initiate.
OF its present status we shall speak more
in detail, under the title Cumulstire. Erer.
else, title adopted as being free from the
charlatanism of the term Lifting Cure, u
and as describing distinguishing charac,
teristic of the system.
In Windship's researches he was struck
by the number of muscles, not only of the
extremities, but of the trunk, which were
brought into action in sustaining a weight
suspended from the hands, with the trunk
in perfectly upright position. This
weight was thrown upon the body by at,
! taching the hands to it with the knees
bent, when, by Strengthening the knees,
the weight was gradually taken, through
the arms, by the trunk. In this way not
only the muscles of the lower extremities
and ofthe arms and shoulders were brought
into play, as in ordinary lifting, but the
muscles of the whole body were vigorously
and equally used in preserving the upright
position.
Subsequent experiment taught the value
of che law that by Exercise the muscles
"respond more rapidly to voltion." And
this led to dividing the Exercise into SER
les of cumulati0e efforts. Beginning the
days Exercise with comparatively mod
crate exertion, after brief interval of rest,
this is followed by an increase in given
proportion; again an interval of rest fol
lowed by an additional increase; longer
interval and, finally, the supreme effort.
The preliminary efforts, made by muscles,
which, from daily use in walking, etc,
"respond rapidly to volition,' in other
words, which contract readily-these efforts
serve to arouse less used and, consequently
more slowly acting muscles, until all the
available muscular strength is systemati-
cally aroused and safely exerted.
Thus is fulfilled DR.. Parke's require,
ments of perfect Exercise, viz: that all
muscles, and not single groups, should be
brought into play:
That periods of Exercise should be alter.
mated with intervals of rest:
That the amount of Exercise taken be
accurately determined.
AS a mere gymnastic system this posses
es the merit of securing a symmetrical
development. The muscles of the lons
abdomen, small of the back, the supple
mental respiratory, and all the spinal mus
Giles are developed as thoroughly as the
biceps tlexor of the arm or the vastus fem
cries of the thigh.
This symmetrical development is of sucl
vital Importance that, at the risk of being
tedious, few words must be added t.
what has already been said. Gymnast
generally, by making specially of some
particular Exercise dumb bells, trapez,
or clubs, usually-develop certain region
inordinately, whilst the rest of the bod,
is neglected, so that the common result il
to find, after four or five years faithful us'
of "the spring board, horse, vaulting
apparatus, "parallel bars, suspended rings
horizontal and inclined ladders, pulley
weights, pegs, climbingrope, trapezeid