Muscles and Motion. 27 



power of alcoholic liquor, and such drink was furnished 

 to men engaged in harvesting, etc. This belief has been 

 thoroughly disproved. 



The apparent liveliness of the tipsy person, and his more 

 or less violent movements are no sign of added strength. 

 We all know that restlessness and nervous activity are often 

 a sign of weakness and not of strength. 



Alcohol and Training. It is a significant fact that men 

 who are training for athletic contests (no matter what their 

 ordinary habits or principles are) let alcoholic drinks alone. 

 One of the famous pugilists said, "I'm no teetotaler, but 

 when J have business on hand there's nothing like water 

 and dumb-bells." The schoolboy or college student who 

 hopes to gain a place on any athletic team, will be very 

 unlikely to do so if he indulges in alcoholic drink. 



Summary. i. Motion is involved in nearly every action of the body. 



2. The action of muscle is a shortening, accompanied by a thicken- 

 ing and hardening. 



3. Muscle consists of fibers with a connective tissue sheath for each 

 fiber, bundle of fibers, and for the muscle as a whole. 



4. The skeletal muscle fibers are striated. 



5. The muscles make about half the body's weight. 



6. Muscles can remain shortened only a little while. 



7. The muscles should be developed symmetrically. 



8. There are about five hundred muscles in the body. 



9. The muscles of the two sides are alike. 



10. The muscles of the limbs are spindle-shaped. 



Questions. i . What effect is produced by carrying a heavy satchel 

 for a long distance without resting ? 



2. Which is more tiresome, standing still or walking? Why? 



3. When the boy, who thinks he can strike a hard blow, says, 

 " Feel my muscle, 11 does he usually call attention' to the muscle used in 

 striking? 



4. Why are the sides of the body often sore after walking on icy 

 uavements? 



