ATHLETIC EXERCISES. 103 



IV. 



Extracts from a Collection of Papers on the Subject of 

 Athletic Exercises, By Sir John Sinclair, Bart, M.P. . 



[Continued from p. 77.] 



HE case of Doctor Taylor of Croydon, narrated Coctor Taylor 

 by Dr. Cheyne, is an instance of the power of regimen ^^ ^^f T f 

 in eradicating one of the most terrible diseases incident epilepsy by 

 to human nature. That gentleman had for many years ^^^^ ^*^t* 

 been afflicted with the epilepsy to such a degree, as fre- 

 quently to fall from his horse in the course of his busi- 

 ness, and remain insensible on the road till picked up by 

 the next passenger. Having observed that th« lighter his 

 food the less frequently did his fits recur, he confined 

 himself wholly to bread and milk.. This diet occasion- 

 ing flatulence, he restricted himself to milk alone, of 

 which he took about two quarts per day. - Under this 

 regimen he completely recovered his health and strength, 

 so as to be able to play at cricket for many hours toge- 

 ther, with hardly any perspiration. During fourteen 

 years he experienced no recurrence of his fits, and at 

 length died of a pleurisy, occasioned by cold caught from 

 sleeping in a damp bed. I had once an opportunity of 

 seeing this regimen adopted in a deplorable case of the 

 same malady. The disease was not indeed cured, though 

 much mitigated, and during the year it was persisted in, 

 the patient considerably recovered his health and strength. 



When it is considered that persons most conspicuous Observations 

 for elegance of person, as well as for acuteness of intel- ?" ^^o^e sub- 

 Icct, are peculiarly liable to become the victims (Tf the peculiarly lia- 

 sure though slow-moving dart of phthisis pulmonalis, it ^Ic to pulmo- 

 becomes a very desirable object to possess some means ^^^J consump- 

 of opposing the depredations of that scourge of our 

 island. To effect this purpose it is requisite to be able to 

 detect the earliest advances of that insidious disease. To 

 discover any remedy that will remove tubercules, or cure 

 ulceration of the lungs, if actually present, judging from 

 the analogy of other diseases, is har,dly to be expected. 

 Without quibbling about the term hereditary disease, no 

 doubt can remain in the mind of any man of observation, 

 2 that 



