BONES, MUSCLES, EXERCISE, AND REST. 289 



CHAPTER XI. 



Feeble Persons weakened by any Excess of Exercise, but strength- 

 ened by very moderate Exertions. Exercise must be adapted 

 exactly to the Strength. In this Manner Strength may be in- 

 creased daily. 1{ is an Error fo* dyspeptic Students or Invalids 

 of the City to attempt to be Farmers or Sailors. Gymnasium not 

 adapted to Powers of th(se who use it. 



666. WE are told by some that they cannot walk or move 

 in any way abroad, that it always gives them the headache or 

 pain in the limbs, and that they return from their excursions 

 sick and languid. This is, indeed, a truth; but it is very 

 easily explained. These uncomfortable consequences flow, 

 riot from the mere exercise, but its excess. The walk which 

 exhausted them may have been short compared with those 

 which others take with ease, and return from with buoyant 

 alacrity ; but it was too much for their feeble and unpractised 

 limbs. But, although a mile exhausts, half a mile will prob- 

 ably cause merely fatigue, and ultimately strengthen ; and, if 

 this be too much, a still shorter one will answer the desired 

 purpose. 



667. If the exercise be judiciously begun, with just the 

 quantity that is sufficient, and no more, it will leave the per- 

 son in slight fatigue ; but in a little while, he will feel more 

 fresh and vigorous, and capable of making a still greater 

 exertion. Adopting this method, the feeble must begin ac- 

 cording to the degree of his strength, however small ; and 

 with proper management and perseverance, he may go on 

 adding a little exertion day by day, and accomplish more 

 and more. 



668. However small may be the person's strength, that 

 must be the measure of the exertion. However low the 

 power, that must be the starting-point. Any other measure- 

 ment, any other point of beginning, would be fatal to the 

 hopes of gaining strength by the effort. 



A young man, in Waltham, Massachusetts, was very 

 25 



