MUSCULAR AND NERVOUS SYSTEMS. 233 



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before him ; and afterwards undid the mischief, by ma- 

 king it straight again with his hands, as others do a piece 

 of wire. He lifted a stone, weighing 800 pounds, with 

 his hands only, standing in a frame above it, and taking 

 hold of a chain to which it was fastened. 



These feats illustrate the force of muscular contrac- 

 tion, depending merely on size and condition ; since in 

 such cases there is no uncommon nervous excitement, 

 or cerebral energy. But where there is strong mental 

 excitement, as in mania, or delirium, the other circum- 

 stances being equal, there is a still greater exhibition of 

 muscular power, as the keepers of Retreats for the in- 

 sane have often found to their sorrow, and sometimes to 

 their horror and dismay. 



No one, except by experience, can have the least con- 

 ception of the efforts of muscularity, which a delicate 

 and slightly made female is capable of exerting, when in 

 a state of maniacal rage. In some instances, men of or- 

 dinary physical powers are mere " smoking flax," be- 

 fore the muscular velocity of these most pitiable objects ; 

 and even the strongest men are sometimes foiled in at- 

 tempting to prevent them from committing some outra- 

 geous act on which they are determined. 



Such acts are rather the effects of muscular velocity, 

 than of strength ; for the efforts are soon exhausted, after 

 the limbs are brought into a situation where a quick 

 movement is no longer of any avail. 



Method of increasing the Muscular powers. There 

 is no doubt but the power of the muscles may be great- 

 ly increased by a certain restricted course of exercise 

 and diet, to which the subject confines himself for a giv- 

 en length of time. The English boxers go through 

 such a course in order to prepare themselves for public 

 performances, and we can see no reason why others 

 should not imitate their example so far as the training is 

 concerned, in order to gain that perfect health which it is 

 said these men enjoy. There are few, however, who 

 would submit to such discipline without some special 

 motive, other than the enjoyment of ordinary health. 

 But that the reader may observe how these men deny 

 themselves, for the purpose of acquiring mere muscular 

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