Pedestrianism
224 ON TRAINING. which they never used any exercise. They occasionally alsowent into thecold bath in the morning. They were permitted to sleep as many hoursas they chose; and great increase of vigour, aswell as of bulk, was supposed to be derived from long-continued and sound reposeV Previously to enteringon this regimen,the Athletae were subjected to the evacuatinpgro cess by means ofemetics, which they prefer red to purgatives. The sexual intercourse was strictly prohibited. "To exercise their patience, and accustom them to bear pain without flinching, they wereoccasionally flog ged onthe back with the branches of a kind of rhododendroni till the blood flowed pretty plentifully. By diminishing the quantity of the circulating fluid, this rough kind of cup ping wasalso considered assalutary, in obvi ating the tendency to plethorat,o which they were peculiarly liable t." * Code of Health, vol.ii. p. 120. •j- Ibid. p. 121. Pure
Made with FlippingBook
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTM4MjQ=