An Athletics Compendium

J. Physiology, Psychol & Physiology, Psychology <& Fitness Prospectus of a new work, to be intituled, 'The Code of Health and Longevity' by Sir John Sinclair. London: 1804? 8p BL: 1890.b.3(62) The code of health and longevity, or, A concise view of the principles calculated fothre preservation of health, and the attainment of long life / Sir John Sinclair. Edinburgh; Privately published, 1806-1807. 4 vols. BL; 41 .d.15-18 In this detailedstudy, many references aremade to athletic sports, both as a form of amusement and as a source of health. Instances are given of the performances of contemporary athletes such asWest and Ireland. The appendix includes an account of detailed enquiries into athletic exercises, giving the ideal build of an athlete, optimum ages, time required for training,medicine anddiet, exercises,leep, effects on the bodyand mind and a defence ofthe utilityof such enquiries. 'Running must have beecnarried, inancient times,a to very great degreeof perfection; but the featswhich have been performed inEngland, in that respect, seem to rival, ifnot surpass, those even of a cient Greece. Some have run at the oraf ten miles an hour, even in sultry weather; fourmiles have been run at Yorkin twenty minutes and nineteen seconds. The famous West of Windsor could rufnorty miles in fivehours and a half, which is nearly eight miles an hour; and in eighteen hours, hecould have gone over one hundred statute miles. A quarter of a mile has been run in about asecond or two under a minute, andthe half mile in two minutes; onme ile in a quarter aofminute under five; two miles have been done under ten minutes; one hundred yards have been done under ten seconds.' ^ See also: E2; subsequent ed. J3 3 The code of health anlodngevity, or, A concise view of the principles calculated fothre preservation ohfealth, and the attainment olofng life / Sir John Sinclair. 3rd ed., abridged. Edinburgh; Privately published, 1816. 2nd ed. not traced ^ Previous ed. J2; ubsequent eJd4. 4 The code of healthand longevity, or, A concise view of the principles calculated for thpreeservation of health, and the attainment of long /lifeSiJrohn Sinclair. 4th ed. Edinburgh: Privately published, 1818. 566p, 90p, [9]p; illus BL: RB.23.b.3391 ^ Previous ed. J3; ubsequent eJd5. 5 The code of healthand longevity, or, A concise view of the principles calculated for tphreeservation of health, and the attainment of long life / Sir John Sinclair. 5th ed. London; Sherwood, Gilbert & Piper; Edinburgh; William Tait, 1833. xx, 430p, 172i;llus BL: al500/30 ^ Previous ed. J4 6 Handbook: International Health Exhibition of 1884. London; Clowes, 1884. Contains: Athletics,or, Physical exercise and recreation / Edmond Warn; Athletic/s E. Lytteltonand G. F. Cobb BL: D 7 The pedestrian's record, to which is added a description of the external humanform / James Irvine Lupton and James Money Kyrle Lupton; illustrated with anatomical plates. London; W.H. Allen, 1890. vi, 224p; illus BL: 7908.d.24 Largely concerned with the physiological aspect of athletics, but also notable for extremely comprehensive lists of amateur and professional British and American records and championship winners. Interesting professional marks include the Scot, Methven's Sftlr/aihnigsh jump of 1656,and the American Bethune's lOOyds ins9e.e5s in 'While [ 1 4 7 ]