Tight lacing does mischief and impairs
health, sometimes causing sudden death, by
cramping the motion of the heart, as well as
the expansion of the lungs in breathing. It
is an enormous mistake ; all the more in-
tolerable because the wasp-like shape which
it gives to the female figure is unlovely as
well as unnatural. No sculptor of classic
Greece, no painter of Italy, in the days of
Raphael, Michael Angelo, and Titian, ever
gave to a goddess or a Madonna such a form
as modern fashion has sometimes tortured
its victims to obtain. Happily, there is, of
late years, some gain in fashion in regard to
this matter ; the direction both of good taste
and of hygiene.
Modes of Exercise.
Walking is excellent ; unsurpassed in
benefit to the system if one can afford time
to get enough of it ; a pleasant country,
moderate weather, and good company being
almost essential to its advantages. Begin-
ners must not walk too fast or too far.
Stop at the end of the first hour, and sit
down for five minutes. Rest ten minutes at
the end of the second, and every successive
hour, if you go on long ; and never, while
unaccustomed to pedestrianism, go more
than three miles in one hour.
Riding on horseback is an admirable
exercise ; but it leaves neglected a number
of useful muscles, which are brought into
action in walking. Farmers in some places
ride on horseback almost always, if they
have to go a mile or more ; and, in conse-
quence, they become poor walkers. They
often almost wear out in an hour's stroll
over hard pavements in town. Bicycling
much resembles riding in effect.
Rowing is a capital exercise. More
muscles are used in it than in walking or
riding on horseback ; hands, arms, back,
legs, and feet are all strenghened b}^ it.
Skating is as wholesome in itself as any
exercise can be. Always in a cold, brac-
ing atmosphere (except roller skating, of
course, which may be anywhere), even in a
" rink," with freedom and variety of move-
ment of the body and limbs, yet without
violence, it is excellent for both sexes.
Swimming, as an exereise, apart from
the good obtained from bathing, is less
favorable. The pressure of the water, and
its temperature if cool or cold, force the
blood more or less from the surface of the
body to the head. Swimming rapidly is,
also, a violent exercise. But every boy and
girl should learn to swim as early in life as
possible, so as to lessen the danger when
" overboard " unexpectedly an}^ where.
Out=of door games, as lawn tennis, cro-
quet, cricket, base-ball, are all, in modera-
tion, not only enjoyable, but wholesome in
their effect upon the bodily condition. Ex-
hilaration of mind makes all exercise more
beneficial. It is astonishing what an amount
of work people will do under the name of
play. A Chinese mandarin, on seeing a
number of English gentlemen engaged act-
ively in a game of l)ase l)all or cricket said,
" In my country we always pay people for
taking so nuich trouble to amuse us." No
569
io6
THE FAMIL Y DOCTOR
treadmill, however, would ever build up
muscle like the cricket ground.
Page 253
Presented as published in 1901. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Tight lacing does mischief and impairs health, sometimes causing sudden death, by cramping the motion of the heart, as well as the expansion of the lungs in breathing. It is an enormous mistake ; all the more intolerable because the wasp-like shape which it gives to the female figure is unlovely as well as unnatural. No sculptor of classic Greece, no painter of Italy, in the days of Raphael, Michael Angelo, and Titian, ever gave to a goddess or a Madonna such a form as modern fashion has sometimes tortured its victims to obtain. Happily, there is, of late years, some gain in fashion in regard to this matter ; the direction both of good taste and of hygiene.
Modes of Exercise.
Walking is excellent ; unsurpassed in benefit to the system if one can afford time to get enough of it ; a pleasant country,
moderate weather, and good company being almost essential to its advantages. Beginners must not walk too fast or too far. Stop at the end of the first hour, and sit down for five minutes. Rest ten minutes at the end of the second, and every successive hour, if you go on long ; and never, while unaccustomed to pedestrianism, go more than three miles in one hour.
Riding on horseback is an admirable exercise ; but it leaves neglected a number of useful muscles, which are brought into action in walking. Farmers in some places ride on horseback almost always, if they have to go a mile or more ; and, in consequence, they become poor walkers. They often almost wear out in an hour's stroll over hard pavements in town. Bicycling much resembles riding in effect.
Rowing is a capital exercise. More muscles are used in it than in walking or riding on horseback ; hands, arms, back, legs, and feet are all strengthened by it.
Skating is as wholesome in itself as any exercise can be. Always in a cold, bracing atmosphere (except roller skating, of course, which may be anywhere), even in a " rink," with freedom and variety of movement of the body and limbs, yet without violence, it is excellent for both sexes.
Swimming, as an exereise, apart from the good obtained from bathing, is less favorable. The pressure of the water, and its temperature if cool or cold, force the blood more or less from the surface of the body to the head. Swimming rapidly is, also, a violent exercise. But every boy and girl should learn to swim as early in life as possible, so as to lessen the danger when " overboard " unexpectedly an}^ where.
Out=of door games, as lawn tennis, croquet, cricket, base-ball, are all, in moderation, not only enjoyable, but wholesome in their effect upon the bodily condition. Exhilaration of mind makes all exercise more beneficial. It is astonishing what an amount of work people will do under the name of play. A Chinese mandarin, on seeing a number of English gentlemen engaged actively in a game of l)ase l)all or cricket said, " In my country we always pay people for taking so nuich trouble to amuse us." No
io6
treadmill, however, would ever build up muscle like the cricket ground.