The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-06-22
The Aim Of Exercise.

1t should be understood of the pub
lie, as is known to the profession, that
the aim of exercise is notsolely to norE
the organism which is thrown into ac-
tivity, though that is one, and very
important. part of the object in view,
because as the living body works it
feeds, and as it feeds it is replenished,
but there is another purpose in exercise,
and that is to call into action and stlm-
ulate the faculty Of recuperdtton
Those who believe in the existence OF
a special system, or series, of tropic
nerves will not object to this designa
ton of the recuperative function as
separate 'faculty," and those who be-
lieve nutrition to be effected in and by
the ordinary innervation will recognize
the sense in which we employ the term
in italics. II is through defect or def
cheney in the vigor of this faculty that
unaccustomed feats of strength, wheth-
er of mind or muscle, are found to be
exhausting.
The task is performed, but the under
lying faculty of restorative energy, or
power of recuperative nutrition, located
in the peculiar part exceptionally eXer-
cised, is not in condition to responu
to the usual call made upon it. When
man goes into training, or, which is
practically the same thing, when he ha
bituates himself to the performance of a
special class of work, he so developes
this recuperative power or function
that the repair or replenishing neces-
sary to restore the integrity and re-
place the strength of the tissue "used
up in the exercise is instantly perform.
The difference between being accus-
toned to exercise and able to work
"without feeling it, and being barely
able to accomplish special task, and
having it ''taken out" of one by the ex-
plot, whether mental or is
the difference between possessing g
power of rapid repair by nutrition, and
not having that power in working Or
der-so that some time must elapse be-
fore recovery takes place, and during
the interval there will be "fatigue" and
more or less exhaustion.
The practical value of recognition
Of this commonplace fact in physiology
will be found in the guidanceit affords
as to the best and most lirect way of
developing the power or faculty of re.
crperation by exercise. Many persons
make the mistake of doing too much.
Exercise with view to recuperation
should never so much exceed the capa-
city of the recuperative faculty as to
PROSTATE the nervous energy. The
work done ought not to produce any
great sense of fatigue. If exhaustion
be experienced, the exercise has been
excessive in amount.
The best plan to pursue is to begin
with very moderate amount of work,
continued during a brief period, and to
make the length of the interval between
the cessation of exercise and the re-
covery of feeling of 'freshness" the
guide as to the increase or exercise. We
do not mean that false sense of revival
which is sometimes derived from the
recourse to stimulants, but genuine re-
covery after brief period of rest and
the use of plain nutritious food. If thi:
very simple rule were carried into prac
tice by those who desire ito grow
strong," there would be less disappoint
ment, and generally better result
than often attends the endeavor to pro
, fit by exercise unintelligently employ
ed.