Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-12-08

ANYBODY. w lille L 10 uOb cihlu lnal osa
letics will absolutely cure an adj
vanced case of consumption, DO
claim that it will SO far
to prolong life and return to the sufferer
health, happiness and vigor, that it
amounts to about the same thing. The
only demand | make upon the patient is
that lie never desist in his exercises. | can
cite hundreds of examples, but there Is one
in particular which occurred only recently
that want to refer you to. About four
years ago young man of wealthy parent
age came to California from the East,
whence his physicians had sent him, as
they said he could not live
six months longer there. He was sur
fering from consumption. He was
thin and emaciated, weighing less than
ninety pounds, coughed necessarily, and
his cheeks wore the unmistakable hectic
flush. He visited San Francisco, and an
acquaintance brought him one evening to
the Olympic Club Nearly all the visitors
TO the club are introduced TO me as well as
to the other teachers, and that is how |
came to meet him. A glance at him told
the tale. l questioned him regarding his
health, and with a CHASTITY attempt at
humor he replied that he had
come to California to die.
took him aside, and after long talk,
persuaded him to join .the club. He did
so, and took charge OF him Immediately.
/ gave him no tonics, nc instructions about
dieting. warm feet, hannels, or the ike,
Blu simply exacted from him q promise to
attend the club three times week. Well,
the first thing did with him was to take
on the running track and walk him briskly
upon it until he began to puff. l showed
him various calisthenic movements, includ-
ing the chest movement which | have
previously referred to, and made him
promise to &c through them every morn
ing 1t made him sore and panied him
greatly st first, but kept him at it. The
second time / took him on the running
track he walked several laps further than
he did on the first occasion, before he be-
gan to puff. The third time ran couple
of laps, and the fourth time several more.
In two weeks he could run half mile
without distress. In two months his cough
had deserted him and
HR COULD RUN MILE.
81 kept a close watch on him, and
every week measured his chest with tape,
and entered 1t upon book. In those two
months he gained three-fourtbs of an inch
in the circumference of his chest. He had
gained enough in health and ruggedness,
too, to Jump into a shower of cold water
after his exercise, with beneficial and in
vigorating effect. He began to eat raven
ously, and his friends were elated, and
loudly sung the praises of the glorious
climate of California. Well, he continued
to improve, until at the end of year
discharged him as sound, only impressing
upon him the necessity of not desisting in
his exercise. At that time he had gained
two and half inches in chest measure
ment, and could expand by initiation over
three inches, as against half an inch when
1 first took hold of him. He could run
five miles at swift gait, without the least
distress, had gained thirty pounds in
weight, and looked es rugged and healthy
almost as any young man IN the club. Now,
save your surprise for moment. He didn't
stop there. He kept right at his work after
he had left my care, and continued to inv
prove. He took fancy to wrestling and
took course of instruction from Professor
James Faulkner, who was at that time the
clubs instructor in that art. He became
very expert and the vigorous exercise
broadened and strengthened him wonder
fully. Well, to cut long story short, he
is to-day champion lightweight wrestler.
Just think of it-from a dying man to q
champion wrestler; and is one of the most
powerful and hardy men of his weight of
the clubs coterie of finished athletes"
When the reporter had recovered from
his establishment, he ventured the ques-
ton: could that be done in other cases
Was it not an exceptional case?"
A CHANCE FOR ALL.
at was" replied the Professor, ian ex-
ceptioual case only in this wise: This
Il I'd faith r-ho hal6 MT m
him. Instead of being hopeless, and ne
glectipg the work l laid out for him, as
useless exertion, he stuck right to it, and
now his faith and perseverance has been
nobly rewarded"
But. sir" insisted the newspaper man,
will his reclaimed health be lasting?"
doubtedly-at least as long as he con
tinues IN his exercise and does not dissi-
pate In my experience l have seen per-
sons brought back to health in just this
manner, but then, thinking that they were
as strong as anybody, they desisted in their
practice, dissipated and began life of in
dolencs. Their vitality soon torsook them
and. of course, their lungs being naturally
weak, they were the first to break. | can't
say that I believe the organic disease is
ever completely ersdicated in those cases
where the patient has suffered long from
the malady before being taken in hand. In
those very cases, though, know Of many
instances where the patient. by continuous
attention to his exercises, has lived to a
good old age-in fact has outlived persons
who were considered, and no doubt were,
far more healthy than they.
Zone notable instance which l might
refer to, in which reclaimed consumptive
lost his life by desisting from his exercise,
is probably familiar to you and many OF
your readers. 1t wasi..the case of the cele-
brated athlete, Charles Bennett, who won
fame all over the world by defeating the
then champion pugilist, Jem Mace, in 8
sst-to. Well, Bennett was druggist, and
a consumptive. He became infatuated
with athletics and joined the Olympic
Club. In time. he developed into prob
ably the greatest and strongest athlete
the club ever knew, and continued
rs such for many years. Those who sav
him then did not recognize the coughing
emaciated consumptive druggist of few
years previous. Well in the midst of al
| this he he got married. That settled him
Like many good men who take unto them
selves wife, he stayed at home constantly
and forgot all about his dumb bells, clubs
etc. Six months after the nuptials the clu
members attended the funeral Of thei
| famous companion, Charley Ben nett. 70
see, the disease had taken too st ong hol
upon him before he commenced his athle
les to thoroughly eradicate it, but eve
then, had he kept it up, have no doubt b
would be among US to-day"
The Professor next turned his converse
| ton upon the arts of tumbliDg and gym
nastics and impaired to tbs reporter som
valuable information regarding then
Owing, however, to the fact that this articl