Manual of British Rural Sports

PREPAEATOKY TREATMENT. 447 the purpose of both, as far nstlicrestnrntion of healtli is concerned, and they will also findit much more easyto "put the stopper" upon each other than upon themselves. Even if they arenot both going into the fcimckind of training, the preparation for allkinds is thesame, the grand object in all cases being to leave off injurious food and drinks, to avoid smokingand venery, and to take sufficient exercise, conjoined with amusement, to tire without prostrating the muscular system. During this period the dietshould be plain, but varied. Roast beef uul mutton, or chops and steaks, with any vegetables that agree with the individual, may bo indulged in. Poultry, game, and Mi, are not injarious;and evenpastry, if goodand plain, will do no harm whatever. It Is better to put offthe period of rigid dietingto theactual time of training, as the •tomach will seldom bear it for any length oftime. In thepresent day, it is scarcely necessaryto inculcate the free use of cold waterevery morning. It is not desirable to tathe during this time, though in warm feather a mere plunge into a river, or, better Kl",the sea, is veryserviceable; but at all Kasona the whole body should be sponged everymorning, using in very cold weather waterat the temperature of 60 or C5 degrees ofFahrenheit The body should be well nibbedwith a rough cloth, until a glow is produced;and the aid of an assistant is hero verybeneficial. If reaction is speedily pro- fluced,a calico shirt may bo worn; but if otherwise, flannel in the winter should be put on under the shirt.This, however, is •eldomnecessary, since those who are so d'llcateas to require it are seldom fit to go la'D training. Such is the comparatively t-wytask of those who havecontinued to , e stro ngexercise, concomitantly with ineirfrce indulgence in wine, tobacco, and Ibelr little etceteras. sh. T he T reatment op Indolent, Free nsbs , whohave indulged themselves in e same way, whilst at the same time < ' lr bodies have been wholly idle, or they veonly gone tothe limits demanded by necessity of seeking for the gratification icir appetites, is much more difficult. ^ ® UC1 a case very strong control is J! ' ' antl unfortunately it is in such indui" 9 f, Cnera!ly a ' J3en t. Few young men aren? 6 vc3 ' n this way unless they led B<i. a weak . an(1 yielding nature, easily resist by importunity, and unable to n( : f temptation. Many men of strong a ennr lily power have been led into „ot 8 , 0 ^ A ( l' ss ip a ti 0 n; in fact they have lern ; : '' ' 1)111 irl fie impetuosity of their nat .; r ™' nent3 have rush d into it These isdoT,« t t VeonIy 10 resolv e and the thing a «i they decideupondoing or letting alone, and " e'est tin fait arenmpti." Hut far differentis it with tiie man of perhaps herculean body, but weak and vacillating mind. He, alas! resolves and breaks his resolution forty times a day, and is at once an object of pity and contempt. Such a man may be restrained by a master mind, but rarely has the powerto controlhim­ self. The sight of a public-house is too much for him, and he cannot resist the temptation it presents. But though, if taken in hand by another, he may be made use of for a time, he israrely worth the trouble he gives, as theslightest want of vigilance leads to an outbreak which upsets all the good effects of the previous careful supervision. The great difficulty here is to find amusement for the bodyand mind— the habits of intemperance and idleness have led to a dislike of all exercise, or rather, perhaps, in ma y cases the natural indolence of body and mind has led to habits of intemperance. If, however, it s desired to effect the changeby means of this supervision, it must be as gradual as in the formercase with regard to diet,and much more gradual and careful with refer­ ence to thekind and amount of exercise. It sometimes happens that a good-natured and easy-temperedman has given himself up to excesses and i leness, and yet being a good oarsman his services are demanded for his college or university boat Hero some trouble may be spent in restoring him; but such a case isthe onlyone in which it will be repaid, n even then it is a hazardous experiment; the only planis to hand the poor fellow over to someono person, who is likely to exercise a fi m, yet quiet control over him ;and to inculcate upon thisperson the necessity of carefully watching Ills protege at all hours of the day and night He should walk, ride, &c. with him ;beginning by short distances, and gradually increasing them. L t himby all means take him to cricket matches, cours­ ing meetings, races, &c., or any kind of out-door sport which is most likely to occupy his attention, and at the same time to keep hisbody gentlyexercised without exhaustion; then g t himhome, and alter a moderate dinner, and a game at billiards, chess, or cards, for an hour or two, if pos­ sible let him be persuaded to go to bed. Here it is not desirablethat the hours of bed should be shortened: let him lie till nine or ten in the morning, because ho will from his previous habits require longer rest than the average time, and because there is already groat difficulty in occupying the hours of the day, so as tokeep himout of temptation. In this manner these two classes of men may be restored to health, or at least to such a state as will fit them to