232 MENTAL AND PHYSICAL EXERCISE. 



most every person, and is accounted for in the popular 

 way, by the common observation, that " if we do not 

 employ our muscles, they will lose their strength," which 

 indeed accounts for the fact, but not for its cause. The 

 cause appears to be, that the action of a muscular part, 

 excites the blood vessels to throw into it a greater por- 

 tion of their contents than they otherwise would, so that 

 such parts are better nourished than those that remain 

 inactive. Thus the arm with which a blacksmith uses 

 his hammer, whether the right, or left, is by far more 

 powerful than the other. The muscles of this limb are 

 also larger than those of the other, and are much more 

 tense, and rigid to the touch a positive proof of the 

 tendency of muscular motion to produce strength and 

 vigor. 



The Roman gladiators understood practically the great 

 advantages of employing their muscles, in order to gain 

 the most perfect use of their limbs, together with the ut- 

 most physical power. Hence they put forth continued 

 exertions in walking and other exercises, and performed 

 feats of strength, which in the present age would appear 

 incredible. 



In more modern times men have occasionally appear- 

 ed, who from the size and condition of their muscles, 

 were capable of exerting degrees of strength which as- 

 tonished every beholder. Sir David Brewster, in his 

 " Natural Magic," has collected and stated a number of 

 instances of this kind. 



Thomas Topham. One of the most powerful men of 

 modern times, was the famous Thomas Topham, of 

 whom many ludicrous anecdotes, illustrative of his enor- 

 mous muscular strength, are related ; such as the rol- 

 ling up of pewter dishes with his hands, as others do 

 sheets of pasteboard ; crushing the bowls of tobacco- 

 pipes, by the lateral pressure of the fingers of one hand, 

 &c. He took an iron kitchen poker, a yard long and 

 three inches in circumference, or an inch irr diameter, 

 and holding it in his right hand, struck it upon his bare 

 left arm, between the elbow and the wrist, until he bent 

 the iron nearly to right angles. He took another poker, 

 and holding the ends of it in his hands, put the middle 

 over his neck, and then brought the two ends together 



