118 ADVANTAGE OF COMBINING MENTAL 



vessels and nerves becomes more permanent, and 

 does not sink to the same low degree as formerly ; 

 NUTRITION rather exceeds waste, and the part GAINS con" 

 sequently in size, vigour, and activity. But if the ex- 

 ercise be resumed too often, or be carried too far, 

 so as to fatigue and exhaust the vital powers of the 

 part, the results become reversed : WASTE then ex- 

 ceeds nutrition, and a LOSS of volume and of power 

 takes place, accompanied with a painful sense of 

 weariness, fatigue, and exhaustion. When, on the 

 other hand, exercise is altogether refrained from, 

 the vital functions decay from the want of their 

 requisite stimulus; little blood is sent to the part, 

 and nutrition and strength fail in equal proportion. 

 A limb which has been long in disuse becomes 

 weak and shrivelled from this cause, and its muscles 

 present an unusual paleness and flabbiness, strongly 

 contrasting with the florid redness and rigid fulness 

 of the muscles of a well-exercised limb. 



Even sensation gives a faithful notice of these 

 changes, and therefore serves as a guide to exer- 

 cise. When muscular employment is neglected, 

 the body becomes weak, dull, and unfit for powerful 

 efforts, and all the functions languish. When exer- 

 cise is taken regularly and in due proportion, a 

 grateful sense of activity and comfort prevails, and 

 we feel ourselves fit for every duty, both mental 

 and bodily. Lastly, when we are subjected to ex- 

 cessive exertion, a painful sense of weariness and 

 exhaustion ensues, which is not relieved by rest, 

 and which for a long time prevents sleep. A person 

 who has greatly over-fatigued himself in walking, 

 for example, is feeble and restless ; and, on lying 

 down, either cannot sleep at all, and rises in the 

 morning weak in body and languid in mind, or has 

 uneasy and disturbed sleep till the exhaustion is 

 partially recovered from, after which he may enjoy 

 sound and refreshing repose. 



From this exposition of the effects of exercise in 



