The Athlete for 1866

122 HINTS ON TRAINING. training, thoughwe sometimes find much latent energyin them. To a certain extent, nervousness is overcome by habit; but the nutritionof the nervepower ought to be the main poiut in the advancement of health. The nerves are the controllers of the actions ; they regulate the contraction of muscles in the activity of the body. The work done by the muscles dependson the proper adjustment of the mechanism, their guidance andactivity on the energy of the nerves. The important work that the nerves fulfil is evident, when we consider that the brain itself needs one-fifthof the whole supplyofthe blood in the body. It mustsuffer, therefore, if the supply of air to the blood is bad. How easily is accounted forthe dull aching of the temples of the athlete accustomed to pure air in a badlyventilatedtheatre or room. If deficient oxidation of the blood is the cause of derangement to the nervous system, blood of bad quality must be equallyhurtful to the muscular. The sensibilities of the internal organsare the disposition ofeach person to such a degree as to be influenced by the slightest sensation ofpain, joy, grief, or any feeling of the mind. The reaction affects the muscular system ;all the functions ofbody are carried on by a system of self and mutual help, so inti­ mately unitedtogether as to be dependent forproficiency on one another. EXERCISE. Though directly opposed to most of the received notions on training, we strongly adhereto the maxim that"on the race-day only shouldthe compe­ titor do his utmost." In sprinting this is not of such importance as in longer distances. As a rule, a man of good constitution need never runor walk in- pfactice more than three-fourths of the race distance. The old rule of dis tfeSsing yourself in practice, that youmay become accustomed to distress in the race,is erroneous in theory, and has been proved so by experience. Habit no doubt is second nature, and if change in our internal or external relations is required, the body will imperceptibly accommodate i self to circumstances, provided that the foreignaction is appliedslowly. By distressing the b-.dy, whether iua mental or muscular sense, a reaction is produced proportionate to the strain on the system from the exercise.Over exertion, or in other w*ds, tjistress, at any period of training isto be deprecated. Exercise is esseiwial to create a stimulus to the healthy functions of the body; as it were, to inciace the oiling of the machinery to keep away rust, and to promote inechai.,-.;al efficiency. But as there is danger of injury from ust, sothere is from weai^iej out. Should the decay exceed the powers of reproduction, then a simultaneov.9 decline of vital energy willensue. If, therefore, themachinery of the body is overdriven, though in most cases not beyond the means of speedy repair, an imperfect state, imperceptible or not, will result. As the circulation of blood is greatly influenced by exercise, we can at a glance see the importance of regular attention to it; the blood being the channel for the conveyance of new material to every organ of the body, and for the carrying away of the waste tissue. GROWTH AND DECAY. The food after maceration by the teeth, and eolution by the action of the saliva, gastric, and other juices, is taken up by asystem ofvessels, and minglingwith the venous blood is carried to the heart, whence it is seat to the lungs to be aerated, and back again by another set of vessels to the heart, to be finallypumped through the arteries to all parts of the body, carrying