, 1884-07-02
Mr.. WestOn's Feat.
From the lancet.

Whatever differences we draw or refuse
TO draw from Mr.. Weston's walk, it remains
one Of the most surprising feats that was
ever performed by man. Under any cir
cumStanceS, even if exceptionally favour
able, to have walked fifty miles a day con
secutiyely for a fortnight would have been
a creditabIe accomplishment. But to walk
fifty miles a day for 100 days, in all states
of the weather, of the muscles, and of the
mind, and to appear at the end of it as
Mr.. Weston did last Saturday night, was
a great achievement. 1t has always been
a feature Of Mr.. WeStOn's powers to DO
slow to become exhausted and to admit of
very rapid recuperation. Most men who
were rash enough to attempt such an
undertaking. and fortunate enough to
survive it, would do so in a state of bruiSe
and uilapidation, dragging one leg after the
other. But Mr.. Weston was rather like q
man setting out on a summers morning
than one finishing such a walk, and actual
" did the last mile but one in 8 min. IL
secs, and Il few minutes after the conclu-
sion of his task delivered a speech that
would have been a days work to some
men. In less than forty-eight hours he
appeared at our Office in perfect health ana
with a quiet pulse, more like that OF one
returning from a holiday th"n from SUCH
a ~prodigious task. The mere distance
walked in the time gives a very inadequate
idea of Mr.. WestOn's power. He started
with a bad cold, and he soon got a sore on
the foot, which involved extreme pain and
did not heal till half his journey was
accomplished. Add to these the element
ofmental worry and anxiety, and we AXE
three conditions that would have disabled
almost any man but Weston. All this
was achieved on o simple diet, without any
alcohol, save as an external application
10 the feet. The absence of alcohol was
certainly "a very interesting feature OF tn Q
experiment., and one that our teetotal
friends may be excused for making much
of. DR.. M0xon's view of the use of alcohol
VIZ. as a thaumaturgical agent, to enable
a II man to do his best or TO exceed himself,
finds no cOuntenance in this case. 1t any
body believes that Mr.. Weston could have
ACCOMPLISHED the wOrk-tO say nothing OF
ACCOMPLISHING it better-vith any materl-
al quantity of alcohol, it is not Mr., Weston
himself, who in all his great walks has
abstained totally. Men who cultivate
physical health and strength may we'll con-
slider the significance of Mr.. Weston not
only going through such a walk, but going
through it so we'll, with such an equilibri-
um of function at the end. Aud If they DO
not reach the extreme teetotal conclusion,
they will at any rate admit that a splendid
physical achievement has been wrought
without alcohol. Not that teetOtalism will
enable any man to do what Weston has
done, which is essentially a personal feat.
1t is easy to be illogical and to exaggerate
in this matter. We should fall into these
errors if we said that teetotalism enabled
Weston to do what he has done. It is
enough to say that under teetOtal condi-
lions he did it with the least possible
harm to his bodily functions; or that after
all his past achievements, be is, at forty
five a sound and healthy man, capable,
apparently, if need were, of repeating
than all