EXERCISE AS A REMEDY. 627 



still more to lack of precision in its application. While its proper 

 prescription is undoubtedly more difficult than that of drugs, no 

 drug is capable of producing effects at all comparable, and the 

 care and attention devoted to its intelligent application by physi- 

 cian and patient are well repaid. It is a practical point of the first 

 importance that individuals differ enormously according to con- 

 stitution, temperament, training, and previous habits as to the 

 amount of exercise that will be required to produce a given result. 

 While those who have been trained may require severe or labo- 

 rious exercise to produce physiological effects, the writer has met 

 with individuals free from disease in whom the gentlest passive 

 movements, lasting the fraction of a minute, would produce de- 

 cided subsequent stiffness and constitutional disturbance. As it 

 is just these sensitive and undisciplined people who may be most 

 benefited by properly adapted exercise, it is evident that the 

 kind and amount required must not be gauged by any absolute 

 standard but by the reactive powers of the individual. Like 

 some drugs, exercise may produce different and even opposite 

 effects, according to the dosage and consequent intensity of ac- 

 tion. Slow rhythmical passive movements are decidedly calming, 

 while moderately active movements are stimulating to mental ac- 

 tion. A careful distinction should be made between primary and 

 remote effects. Exercise has also its synergists, antagonists, and 

 incompatibles, its acute and chronic toxic effects, and their anti- 

 dotes. The synergists of exercise are fresh air, a nourishing diet, 

 sufficient rest, an unstrained and cheerful mind, and temperate 

 and regular habits ; moderate cold and possibly certain tonic 

 drugs are a help to exercise. Exercise is antagonized by the 

 opposite of the above-mentioned, and by toxic substances in the 

 blood. Some interesting facts have recently been observed as to 

 the effect of the use of tobacco in checking growth and the de- 

 veloping effect of exercise. From measurements of the one hun- 

 dred and eighty-seven men of the class of 1891, Yale, Dr. J. W. 

 Seaver found that the non-users of tobacco gained in weight during 

 the college course 10'4 per cent more than the regular users, and 

 6"6 per cent more than the occasional users of tobacco. In height 

 the non-users increased twenty- four per cent more than the regu- 

 lar users and twelve per cent more than the occasional users. In 

 increase of chest girth the non-users had an advantage of 26*7 per 

 cent and twenty-two per cent, and an increase of lung capacity of 

 77"5 per cent and forty-nine per cent respectively. These facts in 

 regard to the dwarfing effects of tobacco are corroborated by 

 observations on the class of 1891, Amherst, made by Dr. Edward 

 Hitchcock. He found that in weight the non-smokers increased 

 during their course twenty-four per cent more than the smokers ; 

 in increase in height they surpassed them thirty-seven per cent; 



