The Code of Health and Longevity

ON ATHLETIC EXERCISES. 121 evacuating the ftomach or inteftines, was pradifed when­ ever the appetite appeared to flag. Sexual intercourfe was llridly prohibited; and during the night, plates of lead were worn on the loins, with a view to prevent venereal inclinations. In order to exercife their patience, and accuftom them to bear pain without flinching, they were occafionally flogged on the back, with the branches of a kind of rho­ dodendron, till the blood flowed pretty plentifully. By diminifliing the quantity of the circulating fluid, this rough kind of cupping was alfo conlidered as falutary, in obviating the tendency to plethora, to which they were peculiarly liable. To be exercifed in a pure falubrious air, was deemed of effential importance. The principal fchools of the Roman Athletce wete accordingly eftablifhed at Capua and Ravenna, places, the air of which was reckoned the moft pure and healthy of any in Italy. They carriedon their exercifes in the open air, in all forts of weathei% the changes of which foon ceafed to affeil them. You will probably agree with me, in remarking a confiderable degree of conformity between the ancient and the modern practice of training, in the kinds of food and drink preferred, in exercife, and in conftant expo- fure to pure and free air *, the laft point I fliould conhder as being of effential importance. The ancients appear to have paid more attention to the ftate of the Ikin, by their ufe of the warm bath, and of friftion. And the adoption of thefe means would probably be found ufeful by our modern practitioners. Nothing is more grateful after exertion, or tends more to alleviate fatigue than the tepid bath. I ftaould ima­ gine immerfion in warm water the beft mode of avert­ ing the injurious eftedts of a boxing match. That