378 NUTRITION. 



life, in which all physiological laws are habitually violated. 

 During training, even of the most severe character, not only is 

 great attention paid to diet and exercise, but all of the func- 

 tions are scrupulously watched. Tranquillity of mind, avoid- 

 ance of exhaustion, of artificial excitement, stimulants, tobac- 

 co, etc., are strictly enjoined ; and the process is always very 

 gradual, especially at its commencement, and is continued 

 for several months. The cases in which training has been 

 followed by bad effects are entirely different. Undeveloped 

 boys are frequently trained for boating, in the most reckless 

 manner, until they break down. An attempt is made to 

 accomplish in a few weeks what can only be done physio- 

 logically in several months ; and the result is, that some of 

 the vital organs, particularly the heart, are liable to become 

 permanently injured. To improve the " wind " and endur- 

 ance, a person undergoes the most violent exercise, which is 

 followed by great exhaustion, intense respiratory distress, 

 and disturbance of the action of the heart, these vital parts 

 being suddenly forced far beyond their functional capacity. 

 This cannot be done without danger of permanent disturb- 

 ances of the system, such as have been frequently observed ; 

 and it is all the more liable to be followed by bad results, 

 from the fact that amateurs are trained together, five or six 

 under one man, and are more or less independent, while the 

 professional is never out of the sight of his trainer for months, 

 and during that time is under complete control. There is, 

 it seems, every physiological reason to believe that it is bene- 

 ficial to the general system to bring it to the highest point 

 of functional activity by training ; but if this be not done 

 with great caution and judgment, it is liable to be followed 

 by serious results. 



Non-Nitrogenized Principles. The non-nitrogenized 

 principles present a marked contrast to the alimentary sub- 

 stances we have just considered. In the first place, they are 

 not indispensable to the nutrition of all animals. The car- 



