The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-22
lso. 1t would be possible to produce +,

also. 1t would be possible to produce h.
electrical stimuli the contraction of tbs
individual muscles concerned in waIkins
in such way that each muscle wouId -
large and strong. and yet that the persor
possessing them would be unable 10 wall
because the nerve centres which control
the action OF these muscles had not -.
ceived their share of the exercise AVA
training. The act Of walking requires me-
only that the muscles shall contract hrs
that they shall contract and relax in cer'
tain order, so as to Cooperate with each
other to produce the desired moyemen,.
and no others, and this co-ordinst;os.
Is effected by means of the nervon.
system. In some kinds Of co-ordination
as in walking. the action of the neryou,
system soon becomes automatic, and i.
performed without conscious effort. brt
when the will must be exerted in order ~
produce the movement desired. the WOW
of the nervous system is greater and IA
tigue and exhaustion follow more QUICKLY
not necessarily because more musculs,
force has been evolved, but because mors
central nervous gray tissue has been
used up.
The strong muscles of the smiths arm
will give out before those of a skilled mn.
stefan if both are set to running simnls
scales on the piano.
Du Bots Raymond defines exercise q.
'the frequent repetition of a more or les,
complicated action of the body with the
cooperation of the mind, or of an action
OF the mind alone for the purpose of being
able to perform such action better" Tho
definition is in the main a good one: bnr
the purpose of the brain-worker in eyer.
cising may not be, and usually is not. To
perform the action better. His objects
may be--first, to rest one part of his brain
by setting another part at work to CO.
ordinate certain muscles; second. tn
strengthen the heart and improve the cir.
culation and emulation of the blood: third
to get rid of unnecessary fatty tissue.
fourth, to improve appetite and digestion
and fifth, to obtain sleep. The form of ex.
.ercise which will be Of most use to him in
his daily life will be that which can b
continued for a considerable time without
producing breath.essness or irregular
action of the heart. or what is called the
exercise of endurance; yet to this should
be added some exercise requiring rapid
action for a short time-the so-called exer.
else of speed Walking is type Of exer.
dumb-bells is a good exercise of speed.
That form of exercise whose object ID 10
develop strength, such as the lifting OF
weights, etc., is not a desirable form for
brain-workers. Physical exercise has its
evil as well as its good side. Many people
seem to suppose that plenty of exercise ID
a sovereign remedy or preventive for most
disorders, and that the more one gets Of it
the more brain work he can do, and the
less care he need take in other respects
This Is incorrect; man cannot do his
best thinking when his muscles are
fatigued. Gentle exercise, such as walk
ing, will often help the brain work. because
it increases the rapidity of the circulation:
but violent exercise has contrary effect
For the great majority of workers athletic
exercises are of doubtful utility.
The question of brain rest and physical
exercise should be considered with refer.
ence to the usual daily routine Of work
and to vacations. If it be possible to give
up all work for month or SIX weeks In
the year, and spend this time in the woods,
among the mountains or on the sea-
hunting, fishing. riding, walking-doing
almost anything in fact that will keep one
for the greater part of the time in the open
air and sunlight, and which will interest
him in matters outside of his ordinary
work, it will be time and money
well spent. This, however, will
not do away with the need for q Ger.
tain amount of regular daily exercise
when he is at home attending to business
1t is impossible TO lay down definite rules
as to the amount and kind of this exer-
else which is required to preserve health
and yet shall not involve a waste of time
and energy. The most that can be said
is that the muscles should be kept in fair
normal condition. Probably for the m&
jority of men ten or fifteen minutes work
with light dumb-bells on rising in The
morning, with bath and thorough ruh
bling, and from three TO five miles walk
during the day is sufficient and not eL
cessive.
The force required in walking on q level
surface is estimated as equal to raising
one-twentieth of the weight Of the body
through the distance walked. The OBJ
jections to walking are that il takes too
much time, and that it is shirked in disa-
greeable weather and on hot days. Tine
however, is an essential element in exer.
else for Northumberland there are not
ten days in the year two rainy or too hot
to permit ones getting two-mlle walk at
least at some time during the day. Its
I'm portant to have some other object for
the walk or ride than that of mere exef.
else, otherwise it is apt to become diss
greeable duty; hence, companionship in
exercise is desirable. The thing to be re.
membered in deciding upon the character
and amount of the muscular work to be
done Is that the objet is not to Obtain
strong muscles, but rather fresh air, good
digestion. change of thought and sound
ter to begin before one, feels the need of il
than afterward, for thus, and thus only,
can one have reasonable expectation
that the best and pleasantest part of his
life will come after he is so years old.