MUSCULAR AND iNKKVOUS SYSTEM. 229 



him; and afterward undid the mischief, by making it 

 straight again with his hands, as others do a piece of 

 wire. He lifted a stone weighing 800 pounds, with his 

 hands only, standing in a frame above it and taking hold 

 of a chain to which it was fastened. 



717. These feats illustrate the force of muscular contrac- 

 tion, depending merely on size and condition ; since in 

 such cases there is no uncommon nervous excitement, or 

 cerebral energy. But where there is strong mental ex- 

 citement, as in mania, or delirium, the other circumstances 

 being equal, there is a still greater exhibition of muscular 

 power, as the keepers of retreats for the insane have 

 often found to their sorrow, and sometimes to their horror 

 and dismay. 



718. No one, except by experience, can have the least 

 conception of the efforts of muscularity, which a deli- 

 cate and slightly-made female is capable of exerting when 

 in a state of maniacal rage. In some instances, men of 

 ordinary physical powers, are mere " smoking flax," before 

 the muscular velocity of these most pitiable objects ; and 

 even the strongest men are sometimes foiled in attempting 

 to prevent them from committing some outrageous act on 

 which they are determined. 



719. Such acts are rather the effects of muscular veloci- 

 ty, than of strength ; for the efforts are soon exhausted, 

 after the limbs are brought into a situation where a quick 

 movement is no longer of any avail. 



720. Method of increasing the Muscular Powers. 

 There is no doubt the power of the muscles may be greatly 

 increased by a certain restricted course of exercise and 

 diet, to which the subject confines himself for a given 

 length of time. The English boxers go through such^a 

 course in order to prepare themselves for public per- 

 formances, and we can see no reason why others should 

 not imitate their example, so far as the training is con- 

 cerned, in order to gain that perfect health which it is 

 said these men enjoy. There are few, however, who 

 would submit to such discipline without some special 

 motive, other than the enjoyment of ordinary health. 

 But that the reader may observe how these men deny 



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