1882.] Analyses of Books. 165 
and even by no small portion of the faculty. The so-called mus- 
cular exercises are in reality something more ; they are at the 
same time exercises of the central nervous system, of those 
portions of the brain and the spinal marrow upon which the 
adtion of the muscles of voluntary motion depends. It is by 
this exercise of the nervous system that the co-ordination of the 
adtion of the muscles is taught. Few exertions of strength and 
skill depend upon the contraction of a single muscle. Even in 
such a comparatively simple case as a leap a number of muscles 
must adt in due proportion and succession. In default of such 
co-ordination the force of any, or of all of them, is of little avail. 
Nor must the exercise of the senses be forgotten, a matter 
quite overlooked in our ordinary systems of education. Who 
thinks of training a child to a nice discrimination of form, colour, 
texture, hardness, and other properties of objedts as they appear 
to our senses ? Nor will this ever be done till words, the “ money 
of fools,” are thrust into the second rank whilst things are exalted 
into the first. Training as distindl from information, method as 
opposed to dodtrine require little aid from books. 
Into the author’s suggestive reflections on the interaction of 
heredity and exercise, and on the part played by the latter in 
phylogeny, space does not allow us to enter. 
Coming to the practical portion of his address Prof. Du Bois 
Reymond compares the two systems of gymnastics, the Swedish 
and the German, and the athletic sports which in England serve 
as a means of physical culture. The Swedish system he con- 
demns as suitable merely for medical purposes, where it is need- 
ful to maintain or increase the activity of particular groups of 
muscles. “ It can strengthen the muscles, but it does not confer 
expertness in compound movements.” We may, however, well 
question whether the author is fully acquainted with the latest 
development of the Swedish system by Dr. Zander, as it may be 
seen at the medical gymnastic establishment in Soho Square. 
We were most favourably impressed with its value, not merely in 
the treatment of certain diseased conditions, both internal and 
external, but as a means of physical culture for the sedentary 
population of our towns. The German system includes the use 
of the dumb-bells (Hanteln). But must it not be admitted as 
an advantage if the weight of the dumb-bells used could be 
insensibly increased every few days as the muscles of the tyro 
become developed ? Now the Swedish system enables, e.g., 
movements performed by the same groups of muscles as the 
dumb-bell exercise to be rendered progressively more difficult by 
imperceptible stages. We think that Dr. Zander’s institution is 
well worth an attentive examination. Every anatomist must at 
least be delighted to note the mechanical skill shown in calling 
into play the various groups of muscles. 
As regards the athletic sports of England, such as rowing, 
hunting, cricket, foot-ball, &c., Prof. Du Bois Reymond is far 
