Manual of British Rural Sports

446 GENERAL TRAINING OF MAN. drachm, water 1 ounce—mix. The quantity of beer, wine, or spirits should be dimi­ nished one-half every two or three days, until brought down to the allowance to bo hereafter fixedfor training purposes; tobacco should be totally eschewed. I have invariably found that total abstinence from smoking is easier than temperance. There is notthe samedanger in leaving it off as is the case with wine, spirits, or beer, in factthere is no dangerwhatever in so doing; whilst in alcoholic drinks the reverse is the case.My advice, therefore, is, inall caseswhere the constitution has been impaired by smoking and drinking, to give up the former at once and entirely, but to bevery careful in gradually leaving off the latter. With regard to the kind of stimulus which should be adopted, much must depend upon the previous habits. In most cases, when the stomach is not much upset, malt liquor will suffice; and, if sound and unadulterated, is the most wholesome beverage; but in many c ses H will not do to leave off suddenly wine and spirits, and adhere to maltalone. In suchcases an occasional glass of brandy and water, or claret must be allowed. The latter, where it agrees, is an excellent wine for the purpose of gradually lowering the stimulus. No winesuits the nervous system better, and if mixed with soda-water, it may be drunk to a considerable extent by those who have accustomed themselves to a stronger stimulus. When the stomach is very much disordered, it may be mulled, and takenwarm. It isnot good while in training, but as a preparative far that process it is exceedingly valuable. Those who have been smoking andrinking to excess, have stimulated heir kidneys and skin to secrete a greater quantity than is natural to hose organs.This is an effort of nature to get rid of the poison which has been absorbed into the system, but the effect doesnot immediately cease on the removal of the cause. Hence, the thirst continues, and some liquidmust be given to quench it. I is for this purpose that I advise claret and soda-water to those who can affordit; or to those whose pockets will not allow this luxury, po ter or bitter beer mixed with soda-water in equal pro­ portions. Great care mustbe taken in all these cases in the exhibition of purgatives. No free liver is able to bear strong aperient medicine without some injury to the sys­ tem, and although very commonlygiven, it is a practice which ought to be very cautiously adopted. If theliver isacting well (which may be known by theyellow or brown colour of the faeces), a simple black draught may be taken, consisting of half anounce of sweet essence of senna, with a small teaspoonful of salts dUsolv- 1 in an ounce of warm water; or o or luj compound rhubarb pills may be taken.; night. It; on the contrary, tlie moti of a clay colour, 5 grains of blue pj be taken at night,followed by the abotu draught In the morning. Should t be relaxed, and inclined to actmore thin once a day, a wine-glass full of decoctionof bark, witli a teaspoonful of the compouaj tincture of bark should be taken two ot three times a d y. If veryloose, Mori drops of laudanum may bo added to each dose; and if very watery, with griiiii? pains, 25 to 30 drops of diluted suii hm acid may alsobe givenwith It This will almost always check the diarrhoea, and is also usefulin giving tone to the stomach and producing an appetite ; but if m.rc severe remedies are required, the aU of a medical man should be sought for at once. During the timo inwhich this plan of proceeding is having its eflect, it is ot the greatest consequence that the minJ shoul be occupied, or rather amused, in some way.This point cannot be too much insisted on, for upon it dependsin great measure whether the attempt to restore health to the body shallbe successful or the reverse.There is no p int more neg­ lected, both in the preparation for twlnl and in the actual period of severe work, tlwn this, and yet it is really th one which oi^ht most to be inculcated. In the firstplace, bodily exercise without amusement mer drudgery—it tires, but doesnot lead to a restoration of p wer; whilst if given wii!i some mental excitement, the fatigue U scarcely felt, and what little is ex is speedily followed by a reaction whiui asks formore work of a similar char ^ and tendency. Let any onecontrast the effects of a walk or ride, without objecte. companion, with either the one o when taken for the purpose ofmaki"-' call, or with any other specific otK-t, especially in company of an amusing co panion. From the former (calieu constitutional," because it docs not bw • the constitution) he has returned out of spirits, whilst from the lat • experienced an amount of cxllil11 varying of course with the nature " • object and the agreeabiiity of his company Nothing conduces more to a sticce"' pros cution of this plan of self-trea i ' than the mutual agreement ot tw P whose object is the same, to ass 'f ' ^ another by their example. Let tw0 .i icr agree in earnest to restrain one when tempted, and also to auu]: l. another by sparring, or fencing, or " or walking together,—or, jnaeeu, ^ kind ofgymnastic exercise. I 1 " 5