The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1890-04-27
LIGHT EXERCISE THE THING
THE PHYSICAL CULTURE WHICH
GIVES THE BEST RESULTS.
Systematic Use of Neglected Muscles, With
out Apparatus, Which Would Prevent
Many Painful Ailments-An Interesting
Article on a Timely Topic.

SlEUeu W UCSlcCu is DeSluIlIS ldSV w ObUuih
a share of that attention which its Importance
demands. Never have men worked harder,
physically and mentally, than now; never has
there been such minute division of labor and
concentration of the faculties within narrow
limits, and never therefore, has there been so
much occasion to provide system of education
calculated to restore that fair proportion be-
tween the different parts of the body so essen
tial to health and happiness.
Yet in our days the gymnasiums are resorted
to by comparatively few. To the many the
term ''physical culture is identical with exer
else, and exercise is word that is very much
misunderstood and associated with hard work,
lifting heavy weights, profuse perspiration, or
the performance of some difficult acrobatc feat.
This is not the right kind of ''physical culture,"
but is only suited tor the athlete, the acrobat,
or those whose daily avocaton is muscular and
not brain work. ''Physical culture means the
education of all the physical powers of the hui
man body, and those who require this most are
the brain workers, the student, all persons of
sedentary habits, the invalid, and especially the
women and children of our land.
l maintain that sound, practical knowledge
of anatomy and physiology would tend more
to prevent disease than all drugs and medicines
to cure it. 1t would do so by teaching, among
other things, that a healthful vitality of the
muscles of the trunk of the body (the chest, the
abdomen, and the back are indispen-
sable for the heathful working Of the visceral
organs, (the lungs, the heart, and the digestive
apparatus and that such vitality can be main
tained for any muscle only by its constant,
legitimate exercise. But apart from physiology,
it is well-known fact-proofs of which will
readily suggest themselves to every one from his
own experience-that muscles are sometimes
aDtiralV and often nartiallV. lost and wasted
from mere want of employment.
l think the assertion is susceptible of the clear
est proof that in nine cases out OF ten congestion
and indigestion and all sorts of dyspeptc disor-
ders with their concomitants, arise solely from
muscular weakness in the parts concerned. The
question then arises, How is this state of things
to be prevented? And the answer is, By regular
and systematic exercise. There are many who
try to prevent disease by periodical administra-
tlon of medicines, some who at regular intervals
(whether unwell or not) take their pills to ''as-
sist the liver to act,' Others who take strength
ening medicines to give "tone to the nerves."
and SO on. What an easy thing indeed, it would
be could one sit in his armchair and by swal-
lowing few doses of some nasty stuff or other
strengthen the lungs, fortify the stomach, or in
sure longevity Easy indeed But unfortu-
nately in this world we generally have to fight
and to work for what is worth having. And
surely if there is anything worth working for it
is health, with all its blessings-not that health
which means absence of pain, but that which
S@'it
we draw, and which brings in its train peace and
happiness and good will.
AS rule walking is adopted by most persons
their only exercise, but this is very defective,
in that it calls only the leg muscles into vigor-
Gus action, leaving four other great classes of
muscles for the most part unused. These are
the muscles of the shoulders, chest, abdomen,
and back. The first serve for moving the arms
and the second for expanding the chest for res
piration And since the circulation, as well as
the condition of the blood, depends upon the
respiration, it is apparent that the energy of the
whole process of physical life is directly depend
ent on the power with which this function is
performed Not only by lack of exercise in
general, but especially by want of motion of the
arms respiration is weakened and rendered inn
perfect, and as a consequence the elastic wall of
the chest is either not fully expanded and devel-
oped or becomes abnormally contracted. The
blood being from this cause insutciently oXy-
genized in the lungs, it is obvious that the con-
ditions established are favorable to diseases OF
the heart and lungs and other organs. The mus
cles of the abdomen aid by their contractile
power in strengthening the functions of the alb
dominal organs, as, for instance, digestion, and
they also cooperate most efficiently with the tho
racic muscles in the act of respiration and with
others for producing a variety of movements
The importance of preserving the elasticity and
strength of this class of muscles is therefore OBJ
viously great.
The muscles of the back keep the body erect,
move it from side to side, and cooperate with
those which govern respiration; they hinder any
cramping of the stomach and other abdominal
organs, whereby the latter are enabled to per
form their functions as freely as possible. 1t is
thus easy to perceive that development of these
muscles of the trunk will not only prevent cur
vature or crookedness but train of evils of
greater consequence.
Now, let us look into those places where per-
sons go to take their exercise, the gymnasiums,
and you will be astOnished in the most of them
to find that men with strong arms and well-de-
veloped chest are constantly swinging clubs,
pulling chest-weghts, performing other
movements with arm apparatus, while they do
nothing to develop their thin legs or weakened
abdominal muscles. On the other hand, men
having strong legs incline to constantly develop
them, leaving the arms and upper portions OF
the body without proper exercise, Again, you
will observe that they are using very heavy
weights, so that each pull or lift will bring on
their greatest effort, their faces are becoming
purpled, like they were going to have an ap-
oplectic stroke, and they are working and
blowing like small steam engines.
Further, / must say, that even many popular
sports, such as bicycling, lawn tennis, base
ball, rowing, etc, although among the best
also give an incomplete and lone sided" exer
else, and hence a partial development Well
what is there TO be done? The walking is not
sufficient; the average gymnasiums, ano
even our outdoor sports do not give the rgh
development.
Again, the answer is, "Take regular and sys
tematic exercise" Go to any gymnasium