CHAPTER XIV. 

 EXERCISE AND BATHING 



How Exercise is Beneficial. -The full significance of 

 the benefits of muscular exercise could not be understood 

 when we studied the muscles, and before we had studied 

 the blood and its work in the tissues of the body generally. 

 Now we can comprehend how exercise stimulates the cells 

 to activity, renews the lymph around the cells both by 

 quickening the blood flow and by pressure on the lymph 

 tubes ; how the glands of excretion are set to work more 

 actively, and the more rapid blood stream brings away the 

 material to be thrown out. 



Exercise for General Health. Exercise is not merely 

 for the muscles. It quickens the action of the whole body 

 by increasing cell activity. It helps clean out the system 

 and clear the brain as well. We read Blaikie's admira- 

 ble book, How to Get Strong, and learn not merely to 

 strengthen the muscles, but how to get strong to do the 

 work we have to do daily, how to feel well every day, how 

 not only to do our work, but to do it gladly, and with a 

 little extra good cheer that may radiate from us and in- 

 spire others. We have no right and no need to carry the 

 sour visage of a devitalized body. Good health is attain- 

 able, and ought to be attained, by nearly all. Attention 

 must be paid to the laws of our being. It takes some 

 effort, mental as well as physical, to adopt and observe 



226 



