MUSCLES AND PHENOMENA OF CONTRACTION. 145 



the muscles on account of their continued idleness become 

 more and more weakened, until finally healthy bodily exer- 

 cise becomes not only a hardship, but an impossibility. 



No directions can be given with reference to the amount 

 of exercise to be taken. In the case of young children, 

 their love of outdoor games is a natural solution to this 

 question. In the case of adults, especially those who are 

 engaged in sedentary professions, at least two or three hours 

 a day ought to be taken in good, invigorating out-door ex- 

 ercise. If an equipped gymnasium, such as are becoming 

 more and more prevalent, be not available, the best substitute 

 is a brisk walk in the open air. To get the proper amount 

 of exercise for an average individual, the walk of a day 

 ought to amount at least to three or four miles. If, how- 

 ever, the out-door exercise may be changed into some kind 

 of a game which shall bring about a mental relaxation, as 

 well as mere physical exercise, much additional is gained, 

 for the individual who walks along engrossed in his usual 

 train of thoughts loses the most helpful effects of. his ramble. 

 There can be no questioning of the fact that the many 

 national out-door games in England have had very much to 

 do in making the English character, and possibly no greater 

 good could befall this nation than to have encouraged in it 

 a more and more general appreciation of out-door sports 

 in which it would be possible for everyone to participate. 



