“It has been made a question, whether Training produces a lasting, or only a temporary effect on the constitution? It is undeniable, that if a man be brought to a better condition; if corpulency, and the impurities of his body disappear; and if his wind and strength be improved by any process whatever, his good state of health will continue, until some derangement of his frame shall take place from accidental or natural causes. If he shall relapse into intemperance, or neglect the means of preserving his health, either by omitting to take the necessary exercise, or by indulging in debilitating propensities, he must expect such encroachments to be made on his constitution, as must soon unhinge his system. But if he shall observe a different plan—the beneficial effects of the training process will remain until the gradual decay of his natural functions shall, in mature old age, intimate the approach of his dissolution.”—Capt. Barclay on Training, p. 240.
[2] See the 338th aphorism in Coulton’s Lacon. 1820. 5th Edition.
[3] “Besides his usual or regular Exercise, a person under training ought to employ himself, in the intervals, in every kind of exertion which tends to activity, such as cricket, bowls, throwing quoits, &c. that during the whole day, both body and mind may be constantly occupied.”—Capt. Barclay on Training, p. 231.
“The nature of the disposition of the person trained should also be known, that every cause of irritation may be avoided; for, as it requires great patience and perseverance to undergo training, every expedient to soothe and encourage the mind should be adopted.”—Capt. Barclay on Training, p. 237.
[4] Forty years ago, Balls, &c. used to begin in the Evening, i. e. at seven, and end at Night, i. e. twelve; now it is extremely ungenteel to begin before Midnight, or finish till the Morning.
[5] “The Studious, the Contemplative, the Valetudinary, and those of weak nerves—if they aim at Health and Long Life, must make Exercise in a good air, a part of their Religion.”—Cheyne on Long Life, p. 98.
“Whenever circumstances would permit, I have recommended patients to take as much exercise as they could, short of producing fatigue; to live much in the open air; and, if possible, not to suffer their minds to be agitated by anxiety or fatigued by exertion.”—p. 90.
“I do not allow the state of the weather to be urged as an objection to the prosecution of measures so essential to Health, since it is in the power of every one to protect themselves from cold by clothing, and the exercise may be taken in a chamber with the windows thrown open, by actively walking backwards and forwards, as sailors do on ship-board.”—p. 93. See Abernethy’s Surgical Observations. 1817.
[6] One of the invariable consequences of training is to increase the solidity, and diminish the frequency of the alvine exoneration, and persons become costive as they improve in condition:—if this disposition takes place to an inconvenient degree,—see [Peptic Precepts], Index.
[7] “Animal Food being composed of the most nutritious parts of the food on which the animal lived, and having been already digested by the proper organs of an animal—requires only solution and mixture—whereas vegetable food must be converted into a substance of an animal nature by the proper action of our own viscera, and consequently requires more labour of the stomach, and other digestive organs.”—Burton on the Non-Naturals, p. 213.