The Code of Health and Longevity

114 APPENDrX. and continuing the aftive part of a battle lafts long v and bad wind when he is foon difabled by the fatigue of perfonal exertion. Letter to Sfr JOHNSINCLAIR,YROW DR A. P. BUCHAN, on the Manner of draining the Ancient Athletce, SIR, My attention having been greatly excitedby the very ingenious obfervations and queries circulated by you, concerning the method of producing, what, perhaps with propriety, maybe denominated the Athletic Tem­ perament *, as well as by the interefting fa£ts contained in the communications of your various correfpondents ; it occurred to me, that a comparifon of the modern art of training, with that praftifed by the ancients, who cer­ tainly paid no fmall attention to the means of augment­ ing corporeal vigour and activity, wouldtend to throw fome farther light on this curious fubjeft. Among theancient inhabitants of Greece, much pains were beftowed in improving the ftrength and aftivity of the human body, by due cultivation. The Gymnaftic Exercifes, fo termed from fheir being generally performed in a ftate of nudity, conftituted among that people an important part of liberal educa • tion, and were regularly taught by mailers in fchools in- ftituted for that exprefs purpofe. Pupils were exerci- fed in the foot-race, and in the art of leaping, andof throwing the difcus or quoit, and the javelin. Thefe were confidered as the flighter fpecies of exercife. The more ferious confifted of the art of wreftling and of box­ ing. The combina tin of thefe two was termed pancra­ tium, and feems to have been nearly equivalent to the modern