412 
that under Providence I owe the pre- 
servation of my life, and my perfect re- 
covery from a dropsical complaint, to the 
exercise I have thus taken. If I can in- 
duce others to follow my example, and 
derive the like benefit, my purpose will 
be answered. 
Even those who can afford opportuni- 
ties of taking exercise in the usual way, 
cannot always command the means. Bad 
weather, accidents, business, and other 
circumstances, will sometimes intervene, 
and prevent this necessary enjoyment, 
The studious, in particular, require oc- 
casional bodily exertion, in order to pre- 
serve health. 
have to offer may prove extremely use- 
ful. 
the human frame arise from a want of 
exercise, to promote the necessary se- 
cretions, and expel gross humours. 
Prevention is at all times better than 
cure. ; 
The methods of exercise that I prac- 
tise are of several kinds : 
‘4, Dumb Sawing. 
Any person who has seen sawyers at 
work, in sawing timber into boards, will 
immediately conceive a proper idea of 
this exercise. It is done by making a 
spring on the toes of the feet, without 
raising them from the ground, at the 
same time that both arms are thrown 
hastily forward to their full stretch; the 
motion being repeated and continued 
as long as may be thought necessary, or 
till you require rest. This motion brings 
every muscle of the body into immediate 
action; opens the chest sand propels the 
blood throvgh the vessels with salutary 
violence, contributing to remove obstruc- 
tions, and promoting the necessary se- 
cretions. Ina few moments an agree- 
able warmth diffuses itself over the whole . 
body, and brings on a gentle perspira- 
tion. This exercise should be performed 
without bending the body, either back- 
ward or forward, as all exercise is best 
‘taken in an upright position. A space 
of four feet square is sufficient for this 
mode of exercise. : 
‘| 9. The Skipping Movement. 
” By seeing young people amuse them- 
selves with a skipping cord, this move- 
ment is immediately learnt. _ It consists 
in making easy leaps, so that your feet 
just clear the ground ; at the same time 
“that your arms are thrown forward as 
before, and brought instantly back: re- 
peating the motions, without intermis- 
‘ ssion, ull you find yourself tired and re- 
quire a breathing, You may perform 
Exercises for the Sedentary. 
To these the means I - 
Most of the disorders that afflict — 
[June tf, 
this either with or without a skipping 
cord, as you find most agreeable. 
3. The Stroke and Knee Movement. 
This is performed by making guick 
and repeated curtseyings, by bending 
your knees toward the ground, at the 
same instant making a motion with both, 
arms, and striking them forcibly toward 
the ground, This puts the whole frame, 
and almost every sinew, into motion, 
expels wind, and soon diffuses a gratefui 
warmth through the body. This meove- 
ment may be made without stirring a 
step from the place you stand in, and re» 
quires no more space than is sufficient 
to stand upright. Sita 
4, The Curved-Knee Movement. 
This is merely bending the knees al-- 
ternitely, in and out, as far.as they will 
go, with a quick repeated motion, with- 
out any curtseying. This movement 
shakes the body, exercises the ancles, 
and causes the bowels.to rub against 
each other with a gentle motion, having 
a great tendency to remove obstructions, 
and promote the proper discharge of the 
vessels, Any person, after having been 
long in a sitting posture, and then stand- 
ing up, will find that his knees have a 
spontaneous tendency to this movement, 
so that this is only improving a natural 
impulse. 
These modes of exercise may be varied 
occastonally to suit circumstances. It is 
possible that on the first trial, some per- 
sons may not find them so pleasant as: 
they expected, and may relinquish them 
on that account; but persevere, and, after 
a few trials, you will recur to them with 
pleasure. 
No expense, no loss of time worth 
mentioning, is incurred; as five minutes 
at orice will generally be found sufficient 
for this kind of exercise, which may 
be repeated at intervals several times a 
day. For expelling wind from the sto- 
mach and bowels, I have always found 
these practices to be the quickest and 
most effectual methods; and those per- 
sons whose ancles and legs are inclined 
to swell, will find much relief from such 
meas. 
The warmth to be derived from this 
species of exercise in cold weather, is 
most grateful, and far preferable to the 
warmth gained froma fire, People may 
sit by a fire in cold weather till they 
quake; whereas those who- use these 
means a few times a day, will seldom 
want to court the influence of a fire. 
This exercise may be enjoyed by both 
sexes with advantage, and even the 
blind 
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