Another strong man told us that he was careful never to read or use his brain in any way because it interfered with the development of his muscles! Yet another who prided himself on the enormous expansion of his chest—we forget how many inches’ difference there was in the diameter of his chest in inspiration and expiration, but it was something sensational—caught cold, contracted consumption, and died six weeks later! Yet the exercises for expanding the chest are said to prevent phthisis!
The man with great muscles is not the strong man, but a sickly monster. What good can it do to anyone to lift a horse and cart, or break iron bars? Develop his muscles as far as he can, no man will ever excel a steam-hammer or an engine in force or weight.
Give us the thin wiry person who has cultivated his mind and body to do that work for which he was made. He is the man who can brave disease, and who, if he by any misfortune happens to be injured, can bear the suffering like a man, and whose body is well capable of recovery from the many vicissitudes to which it is liable.
Exercise is essential in all weathers. Because to-day is wet, are you going to forego your walk? In England about one day in three is rainy. Are you going to suppress one-third of your necessary exercise from this cause? Oh, you are afraid of catching cold! Now English people talk a lot about catching cold, for they of all nations suffer most from this cause. But very few persons indeed really understand what catching cold means or how it is produced. We hope to give an article on this subject shortly. At present we will merely state that, unless the day is very cold or windy, walking in the rain, if you are sufficiently protected, will not cause you to take cold. We would not, however, advise any invalid to go out on rainy days; but still they must not abandon exercise altogether. Half an hour’s dumb-bell exercise or mild gymnastics may be substituted for the day’s walk.
Exercise is best if taken in the morning. For very strong people it is preferable to take a walk before breakfast; but people who are not feeling up to the mark should not attempt to walk before having had some food.
You should never take exercise immediately after a meal, and conversely you should never eat till half an hour after a long walk, and you should never go to bed immediately you come home from a walk, but sit down quietly for at least half an hour before retiring.
[THINGS IN SEASON, IN MARKET AND KITCHEN.]
FEBRUARY.
By LA MÉNAGÈRE.