British Manly Exercises

284 T R A I N I N G . When the daily exercisesof the athletse were finished, they were refreshed by immersion in a tepid bath, where the perspiration and sordes—scurf, pustules, or filthyad­ hesions, were carefully removed from the surface of the body by the use of the strygil.* The skin was then dili­ gently rubbed dry, and again anointed with oil. If thirsty, they were permitted to drink a small quantity of warm water. They then took their principal repast, after which they used no more exercise that day.—They occasionally also went into the cold bath in the morning. They were permitted to sleep as many hours as they chose; and great increase of vigour, as well as of bulk, was supposed to be derived from long-continued and sound repose.f The sexual intercoursewas strictly prohibited. The mannerof training amongthe ancients bears some resemblance tothat practised by the moderns. Perhaps it is because theirmode of living and general habits were somewhat different from those of the present age,that a difference of treatment is now required to produce the same effects. The great object of training, for running or boxing matches, is, toincrease themuscular strength, and to im­ prove the freeaction of the lungs, orwind, ofthe person subjected to the process. # For this instrument, rough coarsecloths are adopted, but not with advantage. f Little sleep is now prescribed; but its quantity should epend upon circumstances of fatigue,&c.