The Pedestrian's Record

92 the pedestrian's record. portion of water that makes up the composition of all animal bodies. That men drink too much is well known, and such practice may not injure some persons, but for an athlete, fluids should only be imbibed to quench thirst; beyond this, too much liquid enters the system, distends the blood-vessels, and becomes the means of adding weight to a body that requires some off rather than some on ; moreover, it robs the organism of its vitality, and brings on the slows. Half-a-pint of liquid at break­ fast and supper, and a pint at dinner ought to be sufficient for any man, and certainly it ought to satisfy the cravings of a thirsty trainee ; if, however, much exercise has been indulged in, causing profuse perspiration and subsequent thirst, a littlemore bever­ age may find its way to the lips. Walks and even runs before breakfast are recommended by some ; but nature does not, throughout the whole range of the lower animal life, indicate the wisdom of such procedure: birds eat grain immediately on rising; cattle commence grazingas soon as they have rumin­ ated their pabulum ; and a man, after a night's sleep, awakes with an empty stomach, and the sooner it is filled the sooner the system is fortified for the battle of life, whether it be mind or matter that is about to be put upon the strain. Moreover, the body im­ mediately after sleep has not within it that nervous force which generates activity, and alone can be set in motion by satisfying the stomach with food. Running before breakfast is bad practice; a slight