GYMNASTICS 



GYMNO8OPHIST8 



LSI 



military gymnastics,' was sent to (Kf.inl t< he 

 trained in Mr MacLaren H gymnaainm, and the 



"\mna-ia at Aldcrshot and other stations were 

 then Imili ami placed under hi* superintendence. 

 In private lift-, however, llieie had long been many 

 excellent gymnasia, one of the bent and earliest 

 IMSII^ ili.it opene.i at Oxford hy the late Archihuld 



l.aren in IS.1S. 



< .Mima-tic exercises may he divided into two 

 groups, those conducted without and those 

 conducted with apparatus, while, the latter group 

 may he again subdivided into those requiring niov- 



apparatus and those requiring iniiuovalile 

 apparatu.- i.e. so far as the gyinna.-t is concerned. 



Kxercises \\iiliout apparatus have leen specially 

 studied in Sweden, ami there cliietly hy Professor 

 Ling ( 177(5 ls:i!i i, wliose name is generally a.-soci- 

 ated with them in Kngland. By various movements 

 of tin- arms, trunk, and lower limhs, singly or com- 

 hined, every muscle in the body can be brought into 

 jilay, an<l all that is required for keeping the body 

 in health can thus easily lie practised. In schools 

 these movements have often V\en carried out with 

 gr-'.-it advantage between lessons, giving the chil- 

 dren that exercise which their growing frames 

 demand, and thus avoiding restlessness, which is 

 t lie natural result of enforced quiet. When a num- 

 ber of children work together, and especially when 

 in time to music, the interest of the practice is 

 greatly increased. For further information the 

 reader may consult Dr Hoth's account of the Ling 

 system ( 1864), or Ling's Swedish Gymnastics (Lond. 

 So important are these exercises with- 

 out apparatus considered in the army that a series 

 of them, known as ' Extension Exercises,' have 

 been laid down in the ordinary Field Exercise Drill- 

 linn/.-, and in the 1888 edition of this work they 

 have been carefully reconsidered and improved. 



Next in simplicity are gymnastic exercises with 

 movable apparatus i.e. such as weights and bars. 

 ( f these, the commonest forms are dumb-bells, bar- 

 bells i.e. bars about 3 feet long with a weight at 

 either end and Indian clubs. The arms and 

 shoulders can be made to do any amount of work 

 with these, according to the weights employed, and, 

 if >o desired, many of the exercises of the first group 

 designed for the trunk and lower limbs may be 

 carried out while dumb-bells or bar-bells are held 

 in the hands, thus materially increasing the work 

 done. The weight of any or all of these should be 

 carefully suited to the strength of the individual, 

 otherwise more harm than good may result from 

 their use. 



The forms of apparatus required for the last group 

 of exercises are numerous, but only a few are really 

 e ential. Thus we have the horizontal bar, capable 

 of being placed at any desired level between 3 and 

 10 feet ; and parallel bars i.e. two bars about 

 30 inches apart, and fixed about 4 feet from the 

 ground. With these almost us much exercise ;us may 

 ! wanted can be obtained. Hut in most gymnasia 

 there are, In-sides, iron rings hung by ropes from the 

 roof, a trapeze-bar also hung from the roof, ladders 

 horizontal at some distance above the floor and 

 vertical, climbing jnUes and ropes, and various 

 pulleys with weights attached for exercising the 

 wri-ts and shoulders. 



It is advisable that beginners working in a gym- 

 should IN- under the direction of an instruc- 



tor, who will be able to graduate their exercises, so 

 as to avoid any overstraining. Light and loose 

 flannel slothing should in all cases le worn. 



The special value of gymnastics lies in their exer- 

 cising the arms, shoulders, and chest. On this 

 account they are particularly valuable for all who 

 lead sedentary lives, and also as an important 

 auxiliary for those who wish by athletic exercises 

 to perfect their muscular development* 



The system of gymnastics adopted in the I'.riti.-h 

 army is a thorough one, and in well calculated to 

 develop the frames of recruit*, a* well an to harden 

 and strengthen those of the drilled men. The 

 roiiiM- Ix-giim with the use of movable apparatus, 

 after which the trunk and lower limbs are exercised 

 by walking, leaping, and vaulting; next the muscle* 

 of the arms and of the trunk are brought out by 

 exercises on the trape/e anil parallel bars. Then 

 the muscles of the whole body are developed by 

 various climbing exercises on poles, ropes, and 

 ladders; and, lastly, the training is brought to a 

 practical In-aiing by cscalading practice. In order 

 to improve respiration running drill has also been 

 instituted. 



The theory of the advantage derivable from gym- 

 nastics is .simple enough. An admirable law of 

 nature provides that within certain limits part* 

 of the human frame increase in strength, aptitude, 

 and si/e in proportion to the use made or them. 

 In gymnastics this law in brought to bear succes- 

 sively on every part, and finally on the whole 

 system in combined action. If the exertion be not 

 carried so far as it} induce excessive fatigue, all 

 other parts of the body sympathise with the im- 

 proving condition of that which is mainly exerted ; 

 the circulation, excited from time to time bv the 

 exercise, acquires fresh vigour, and, blood being 

 driven with unwonted force into all parts of the 

 system, every function is carried on with increased 

 activity. An improvement in the general health 

 soon becomes manifest, and the mind if simultane- 

 ously cultivated with judgment increases in power 

 and endurance. 



See Captain Chiasso's Oymnastics and Calisthenics ; G. 

 Roland's Gymnastics; Walker's British Manly Exer- 

 cises ; and MacLaren's Training, in Theory and Prac- 

 tice., and Physical Education, Theoretical and Practical 

 (1808). The books written in German on Gymnastics 

 ( ' Turnkunst ' ) would form a small library. 



Gymnc'iiia. See COW-PLANT. 



GyillllO cladllS, a genus of trees of the natural 

 order Leguniinosa>, sub-order Caesalpiniea?.. G. 

 Canadensis is a North American tree, found both 

 in Canada and over a great part of the United 

 States, attaining a height of 50 to 60 feet, with 

 branches remarkable for their upright direction, 

 and an exceedingly rough bark which comes off in 

 slips. The leaves of young trees are very large, 

 three feet long, bipinnate, armed with thorns. The 

 flowers are white in short spikes. The pods are 

 five inches long by two broad. The tree is called 

 Chicot in Canada, and sometimes Stump Tree, from 

 its dead appearance in winter, and the absence 

 of conspicuous buds. It is also called the Kentucky 

 Coffee Tree, because the seeds were formerly roasted 

 and ground as coffee in Kentucky. It grows well 

 in Britain. The wood is used Taoth by cabinet- 

 makers and by carpenters. It has very little sap- 

 wood. The pods, preserved like those of the 

 tamarind, are said to be wholesome and slightly 

 aperient. 



Gyninogens, Lindley's term, now obsolete, 

 for the (iymnosperms (q. v. ). 



Gyinnosoinata. See PTEROPODA. 



4i.Vlllllosoplii.sls (i.e. 'naked sages'), the 

 name given by the Clreeks to those ancient Hindu 

 philosopher! who lived solitarily, wore little or no 

 clothing, and addicted themselves to mystical 

 contemplation and the in act ice of the most rigorous 

 asceticism. Some, like Kalanus, even burned 

 themselves to death in order to enter a state of 

 purer being. Strabo divides them into Brahmans 

 and Samans, the former of whom adhered to the 

 strictest principles of caste, while the latter Ad- 

 mitted any one into their number regarding whose 

 character and kindred they were satisfied. 



