Daily globe., 1879-04-06
whole system. So much for preparatory

NOW FOR EXERCISE
necessary to keep the muscles in proper
condition and work Of the food witch
supplies muscular energy.
Obviously that form of exercise which
attacks the largest number of muscles is
the most desirable. But, before proceed
ing to discuss the forms of exercise most
profitable, word should be said rs to
the effect of exercise. Most important
are the effects upon the heart ana lungs
and their subsidiary agents. The system
requires that a great Geal OF oxygen
should be taken into the lungs and thus
to the blood, in order first to burn up the
carbon and supply heat, and to carry off
the carbonic acid formed by this combus-
ton. Free, full and copious respiration
is needed; and exercise, by increasing
the rapidity of the circulation, increases
proportionately the amount OF air respir-
ed. Thus exercise serves to purify the
blood of carbonic acid as we'll as to sup
ply the proper heat for the body. So
long as the power of maintaining strong
ana rapid respiration continues, sufficient
oxygen is drawn into the body, and
sufficient cal bonic acid is drawn out, but
when this power fails the carbonic acid
accumulates in the blood and produces
breathlessness. This is brought about
mechanically. The blood vessels which
convey the blood through the lungs are
choked up having more blood forced into
them than they can carry; the blood ac-
cumulates IN the right side of the heart
and impure blood, laden with carbonic
acid, is pumped back into the system.
Still another danger raises from too vio-
lent exercise before the arteries learn to
accommodate themselves to the increased
demand upon them,and that is dilation Of
the cavities, which give way before the
strain and induce chronic disease. Hence,
when persons of sedentary pursuits
take sudden and violent exercise they
endanger their health in very serious
degree. Those who begin to mend tteir
lazy habits must do so slowly, gradually
accustoming the arteries to do more
work, and thus preventing heart disease.
No man who has worked like machine
for years is in condition to run any dis
tance at full speed and should not at
temptit. His exercise should be confined
to brisk walk to begin with, and he
should avoid anything like serious con-
dition of breathlessness. After the prop
er condition is arrived at, his digestive
system will be enormously improved,
and Lis whole body will begin to glow
with health and animation.
EXERCISE FOR CHILDREN.
Exercise is instructive with children,
and should be encouraged. Children,
when they have reached the age Of three
years, should be al]owea to play as much
as they like, and the hoops and balls, for
which they have an instructive partiality,
are better than any gymanastic course
they can 60 through. The German sys.
tenn of gymnasia for boys is not adyocat-
ed in the volume before us. The games
which boys al:o take 20 are the mos
beneficial exercise that can be found fol
them. Swinging, for instance, judici
ously allowed, exercise in a profitable
degree all the muscles of the body, and
like football, shinny, leaping, running
wrestling, boxing, and So forth, are bette
than anything OF IN artificial character
The gymnasium is all very we'll in its way
but the game is very much better.
There is one subject which the scientific
gentlemen who are publishing the healtl
primers lay great stress upon, and that i
the injury done to young lads by tn
athletic contests which have, during tn
past twenty years, found so much favo
in the English, public schools. A tabl
of growth, based upon careful observa
ton Of 1896 boys Of ages ranging fron
13 to II shows that the development Q
the human male body is greatest betwee
3 and II, reaching its maximum at abou
the 10Th year. Thus the period of a boy,
life between 16 and II becomes one g
great consequences to him, and if be b
at such season subjected to great strai
--as he undoubtedly ls, both intellectual
ly and physically, where athletic contest
are encou1aged-his development mus
suffer, and either his future growth wi
be interfered with or the foundation vii
be laid Of constitutional disease.
GIRLS AT GAMES.
Girls up to eight or nine years ar
allowed to play the same games as thei
brothers. and generally beat them, bu
after that time, prepOsterous notions {
department begin to dwarf them. Corset
and tight shoes cripple their bodies, an
exercise ceases. The muscles dwindl
and waste, and the whole CHASTITY proce!
sion of feminine ills begin to appear.
course 1t is not to be expected that the
should play violent games, like footba
or cricket, but fves, racKets, base ball
of the feminine order >. lawn tennis, row
ing, riding and swimming ought to
indulged in by girls as we'll as boy
Where these opportunities are denie
them, they should be given the privilee
Of the gymnasium.
Boys games may be safely played b
grown men, up to forty, when chang,
begin to take place in the body whic
render exercise likely to throw gre,
strain upon the heart and blood-vesse
injurious and undesirable. Long befol
men have reached forty the great major
~ have settled down to sedentary pu
suits and begin to prematurely decay fl
want of exercise. But this is wron
Fishing, hunting, and walking are prop'
exercises for men, and between forty an
fifty it is indispensable that they s6ou1
avail themselves Of something of the kin
The circulation begins to fail at forty, tt
digestion is impaired. Mental labor an
family and business cares have by th
time begun to tell upon the most r
) bust physique, and exercise is the on
remedy in the world for the little al
ments that begin to tell. Dsturbanc
; of the stomach and liver, catarrh, restle
!. and disturbed sleep, bad dreams, gidd
nes, dimness of sight, palpitation of tt
heart and score of other symptoms, a
! noying, and to most men alarming, beg
| to threaten gout, gravel, stone and fat
: degeneration; and, unless the remedy
good, copious exercise is taken, the thre