LECTURE VI.

PART II. REGIMEN.

EXERCISE its comparative importance. Case of Dr. Dwight. First-Second-Third--Fourth-FifthSixth-Seventh-and Eighth Rule concerning Exercise -Conclusion.

In commencing this lecture, Gentlemen, I enter upon the second principal branch of my subject, that is, Regimen. I have already stated what I shall consider as included in this term: viz. Exercise, Air, Clothing, Cleanliness, Evacuations, Sleep, Manners, and the Influence of the Imagination and Passions upon health. I am aware that some of these points cannot be arranged under regimen with logical precision: and that the term is often used by good writers to include attention to diet. But there is a convenience in grouping together these subjects under this head; nor am I without good authority in so doing. Indeed, this term, signifying in general, a rule, may be applied with a good deal of latitude.

The most important branch of regimen is Exercise. And because I have urged the subject of diet with great earnestness and minuteness, let no one conclude that I am about to represent the other means of preserving health, and curing nervous maladies, as comparatively unimportant. I have already stated, and I wish to reiterate the declaration, that attention to diet alone, however rigid, will not avail as a substitute for

exercise, or the other rules of regimen; either to preserve health, or restore it. In many protracted cases of dyspeptic complaints, especially, persevering systematic exercise, takes the lead of all other means for recovery; and will succeed when dieting utterly fails, Hence Mr. Abernethy says, "he knows of no remedies for these complaints, but air and exercise."

To evince the necessity of attention to exercise, as well as diet, even for the most vigorous constitutions, we have an instructive example in Dr. Dwight of Yale College, while he was a tutor in that institution. He reduced the quantity of food, first to twelve mouthfuls of meat at dinner, and then to the same of vegetable food; his other meals being proportionably light; neglecting at the same time, nearly all active exercise. Within a year, his constitution was almost ruBut by removing to Northampton, and there, in the course of another year, taking upwards 2000 miles of pedestrian exercise, and 3000 of equestrian, his vigor was restored and held out for forty years.*

The inquiry will here probably be started, how is it, that many of the German scholars are able to sustain such long continued application to study, with so little exercise? I reply, that their vigorous constitutions, their early training to coarse and temperate diet, their perfect regularity, and perhaps more than all, their climate, do, indeed, enable some of them almost to mock the rules of regimen: yet probably their application and neglect of exercise have been much exaggerated. At any rate, if Germans can live without exercise, Americans cannot: and he who attempts it, will only add another victim to the long cat

*See Dwights Life, prefixed to his Theology, p. 13.

alogue of those in our country, who have ignorantly or presumptuously tried the experiment, and found, as the consequence, an early grave. True, they may hold out for a few years: but the seeds of disease are germinating in their constitutions, and will ultimately flourish with fearful luxuriance. The discerning eye reads in the pale and dull countenances of all such individuals, the secret workings of internal decay.

exercise.

At this day, however, there is scarcely any individual among the sedentary and the literary, who does not acknowledge, in general terms, the necessity of Now and then you will find one, indeed, who has the vanity and presumption to believe that he shall not fail, in repeating the experiment of Dr. Dwight: and that his genius is of so extraordinary a character, that it is his duty to devote all his time to study, lest the world should be cheated of some of the fruits of his mighty intellect. Very few, also, have any accurate or just notions of the quantity of exercise they need, or of the time and manner in which it should be taken. Hence half enough is not taken; and much of the other half, is productive of injury instead of benefit. We need not wonder, therefore, at the multitude of pale cadaverous countenances, that are seen at our colleges and preparatory schools.

My object at this time, is, to collect and define those general rules on the subject of exercise, which the experience of physicians and others have established; or in which the great majority are agreed. There is even less of disagreement on this subject, among those best qualified to judge, than upon dietetics: and since I need not stop to prove the necessity of exercise, I trust I shall be able to dispense with much of that prolixity, which seemed indispensable in treating of

diet.

The first established rule in respect to exercise, is,

THAT IT SHOULD BE REGULAR.

Some students think it sufficient, if once a week, or so, they break away from their books, and spend half a day, or a whole day, in laying in a stock of exercise for the week. But this will answer scarcely better, than to eat enough every seventh day for the intervening six. Just as the food would oppress the stomach, so will such exercise exhaust, rather than strengthen, all the powers of life. Nature attempts to conform her operations to our habits: and if we make sudden transitions from long repose to protracted muscular effort, she has not become habituated to it, and suffers violence; because she has been endeavouring for some time to accommodate her movements to a state of rest. The processes of digestion, assimilation, and secretion, must daily go forward, in order to keep the system sustained. Now the great object of exercise, is to assist in carrying on these operations: and, therefore, exercise will be needed every day, as much as food.

Some may enquire, whether it be proper to exercise on the sabbath? In itself considered, there is surely no violation of the divine command to keep the sabbath holy, in taking so much exercise, of some kind, as will render a person most fit for a due observance of the day. But if one man is in the habit of riding, or walking abroad on that day, however pure his motives, his example may have a bad effect upon those who do not understand how it is, that he needs exercise, when rest is their surest method of collecting their thoughts and directing their minds to religious objects. Hence the student, and even the dyspeptic, had better make it a rule to avoid, as much as possible, exercise in pub

lic on the Lord's day; unless medical prescription requires it. As a substitute, they can make some muscular efforts within doors, that will answer the purpose in a measure: These in-door exercises, however, should be of such a nature, as to show that nothing but necessity, or a sense of duty, induces a man to perform them. If a man saw wood, or work at some mechanical art, it gives too secular an aspect to his efforts, and they will have a bad influence upon his family or friends. But if he walk briskly through an open hall, for an hour, or swing a chair, or other weight, a hundred times, every one will see that he does not exercise for the sake of pleasure or profit.

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Another expedient will help the conscientious man very much in this matter. Let him take a great deal more exercise abroad on Saturday, than on any other day for although this method will not furnish him with a supply of exercise for the week, yet, if the constitution be accustomed to regular, daily exercise, an increase in the quantity on the sixth day, will strengthen the system for resting on the seventh. Indeed, the rule, which the Israelites were directed to observe in regard to collecting manna, may be a good one for the Christian, in respect to out door exercise. They were obliged to collect a quantity of it every morning, only sufficient for that day; except on Saturday, when they gathered double the usual amount; and this sufficed them for the Sabbath, although, in any other case, it was good for nothing but a single day.

There is another circumstance of great importance in respect to this point. Let the man who would pass his Sabbaths pleasantly and profitably with little exercise, remember that he should be peculiarly abstemious in his diet on that day, eating much less in