5 EXERCISE. 



13. Proper Exercise Benefits not only the Muscles but tLe 

 whole Body. Suitable exercise makes the heart do more 

 work in pumping blood over the body, but not enough 

 extra work to injure the heart itself; the consequence is 

 a better nourishment of all the organs. Such exercise 

 also makes us breathe faster and deeper and so bring 

 more air into our lungs. If the air be pure and fresh, 

 this also benefits all the organs. The muscles take their 

 toll of the general beneficial results; but if their work is 

 not excessive, a good deal of the profit is left for other 

 organs. The digestive organs are put in better working 

 state, appetite is increased and more food eaten and 

 used; the skin and other organs concerned in getting 

 rid of wastes, work better; the brain is better nourished; 

 the mind clearer; and work which without exercise was 

 laborious and wearisome becomes easy and agreeable. 



It is on these benefits to the body in general, which re- 

 sult from proper exercise of the muscles, that the duty of 

 taking such exercise mainly rests. It is not a particu- 

 larly lofty ambition to be strong enough to knock down 

 another man in a stand-up fight, though there may be 

 occasions when such muscular strength is very desirable. 

 In the long-run, the world is guided and ruled by vigor- 

 ous minds more than by muscular bodies. Exercise, in 

 promoting the general health of the body, promotes men- 

 tal vigor; and when pursued not for its own sake or for 

 mere athletic glory, tends to quicken the intellect, invig- 

 orate the will, and strengthen character. Other things 

 being equal, the healthy man or woman is the best in all 

 the circumstances of life. 



13. How does proper muscular exercise benefit the whole body ? 

 What is the chief reason which makes it a duty to take proper exercise ? 



