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

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