EXERC/SE AND BATHING. 231 



to their " constitutionals "* than their American cousins, and are the 

 better for it. Doubtless if we paid more attention to these matters, 

 we should lose something of our national reputation as a '"nervous 

 people. 11 English women are noted walkers, and do not seem to pride 

 themselves on the smallness of their feet. The signs of the times 

 would appear to show that we are improving in this respect. Probably 

 Americans make too much use of street cars. Walking is the cheapest 

 exercise, and every one can afford to take it. For those who can 

 afford it horseback riding is admirable. As Dr. Holmes expressed it, 

 "saddle leather is in some respects even preferable to sole leather; 

 the principal objection to it is of a financial character.'' Lord Palmer- 

 ston said "the outside of a horse is the best thing for the inside of 

 a man. 11 Perhaps livery bills would prove cheaper and more agreeable 

 than doctors 1 bills. 



" Taking Cold." So long as one is actively exercising, 

 he is not likely to take cold. But if one rests in a cool 

 place, especially when he is warm, he is, as we all too well 

 know, likely to take cold. As we saw when we were 

 studying the circulation of the blood, the application of 

 cold to the skin causes the arteries (through reflex action) 

 to become smaller. Thus when resting in a cool place the 

 skin becomes pale and cold. 



During a " cold " there is fever. The regulation of the 

 heat by the skin is interfered with. At the same time it 

 is often noticeable that the urine is more abundant than 

 usual. As cold may lead to fatal lung disease, so it may 

 be the beginning of some disease of the kidneys that may, 

 in the end, bring fatal results. 



Diarrhea. Diarrhea, which is a catarrhal condition of the intes- 

 tine, may follow, or be associated with, a cold, and as a result of this 

 the process of absorption is often largely checked. There is a great 

 increase in the secretion of mucus by the mucous glands in the intes- 

 tinal wall. As the various liquids of digestion are all taken from the 

 blood, it is evident that if some returns are not soon made, the system 

 must become bankrupt. It is, then, more easy to understand the ex- 



