12 THE SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE; 



for our consideration is, How can he be benefited ? Does 

 he require medicine ? The answer to this question must be 

 emphatically, no ! He must have recreation, and having 

 been thus brought into a healthy state, he must then be 

 brought to obey the laws of nature, to live and work like a 

 rational man. 



The unexplored wilderness affords the most inviting 

 field for the required recreation in these cases, and offers, 

 at the same time, the most favorable conditions for the 

 restoration of this class of cases, especially if the patient 

 can be prevailed upon to lead the life of an active, indus- 

 trious hunter. 



In the wilderness the patient is removed from every 

 temptation to any sort of mental labor ; he is undisturbed 

 by business or any other outside communications, since he 

 is far from post-office or telegraph. The new order of 

 business, if engaged in stalking game, is tramp, tramp, 

 during the live-long day, while the mind is occupied with 

 pleasant anticipations of prospective or present sport ; the 

 blood courses through its vessels with unwonted vigor, the 

 lungs are fully and rapidly inflated with pure air, which 

 very seldom happens among sedentary persons, although 

 so important to the health of all classes ; a wholesome 

 appetite is engendered by this active exercise, and after 

 spending a delightful evening around the brightly blazing 

 camp-fire, where a rehearsal of the adventures of the day, 

 with story and song, enliven the hour, the sportsman retires 

 to his couch beneath his canvas tent or lean-to, where his 

 blankets have been spread for him by his guides on balsam 

 boughs which are giving forth their agreeable perfume. 



