usual Method of Training Persons for Athletic Exercises.

The Alimentary Canal6 is cleansed by an Emetic, and then two or three Purgatives.—See Index.

They are directed to eat Beef and Mutton7—rather under, than over-done, and without either Seasoning or Sauce—Broils, (No. 94), are preferred to either Roasts (No. 19), or Boils—and stale Bread or Biscuit.

Neither Veal—Lamb—Pork—Fish—Milk—Butter—Cheese—Puddings—Pastry—or Vegetables, are allowed.

Beef and Mutton only (fresh, not salted) are ordered;—but we believe this restriction is seldom entirely submitted to.

Nothing tends more to renovate the Constitution, than a temporary retirement to the Country.

The necessity of breathing a pure Air, and the strictest Temperance, are uniformly and absolutely insisted upon by all Trainers;—the striking advantages resulting therefrom, we have heard as universally acknowledged by those who have been trained.

Mild Home-brewed Ale is recommended for Drink—about three pints per day—taken with Breakfast and Dinner, and a little at Supper—not in large draughts—but by mouthfuls, alternately with your food.

Stale Beer often disturbs delicate Bowels—if your Palate warns you that Malt Liquor is inclined to be hard, neutralize it with a little Carbonate of Potash;—that good sound Beer, which is neither nauseous from its newness, nor noxious from its staleness, is in unison with the animating diet of Animal Food, which we are recommending as the most effective antidote to debility, &c. experience has sufficiently proved.—There can be no doubt, that the combination of the tonic power of the Hop, and the nourishment of the Malt, is much more invigorating than any simple vinous spirit,—but the difficulty of obtaining it good, ready brewed—and the trouble of Brewing is so great—that happy are those who are contented with Good Toast and Water (No. 463*), as a diluent to solid food—and a few glasses of wine as a finishing “Bonne Bouche.”

Those who do not like Beer—are allowed Wine and Water—Red wine is preferred to White, and not more than half a pint, (i. e. eight ounces), or four common sized wine glasses, after Dinner—none after Supper—nor any Spirits, however diluted.

Eight hours’ Sleep are necessary—but this is generally left to the previous habits of the Person; those who take active Exercise, require adequate Rest.

Breakfast8 upon meat at eight o’clock—Dinner at two—Supper is not advised, but they may have a little bit of cold meat about eight o’clock, and take a walk after, between it and ten, when they go to Bed.

The Time requisite to screw a Man up to his fullest Strength, depends upon his previous habits and Age. In the Vigour of Life, between 20 and 35, a Month or two is generally sufficient:—more or less, according as he is older, and as his previous Habits have been in opposition to the above system.

By this mode of proceeding for two or three months—the Constitution of the human frame is greatly improved, and the Courage proportionately increased,—a person who was breathless, and panting on the least exertion—and had a certain share of those Nervous and Bilious Complaints, which are occasionally the companions of all who reside in great Cities—becomes enabled to run with ease and fleetness.

The Restorative Process having proceeded with healthful regularity—every part of the Constitution is effectively invigorated—a Man feels so conscious of the actual augmentation of all his powers, both Bodily and Mental, that he will undertake with alacrity—a task which before he shrunk from encountering.

The clearness of the Complexion is considered the best criterion of a Man’s being in good condition—to which we add the appearance of the Under-Lip—which is plump and rosy, in proportion to the healthy plethora of the constitution:—this is a much more certain symptom of vigorous Health than any indication you can form from the appearance of the Tongue—or the Pulse, which is another very uncertain and deceiving Index,—the strength and frequency of which, not only varies in different persons, but in the same person in different circumstances and positions;—in some Irritable Constitutions the vibration of the Heart varies almost as often as it Beats—when we walk—stand—sit—or lie down—early in the morning—late in the evening—elated with good news—depressed by bad, &c.—when the Stomach is empty—after taking food—after a full meal of Nutritive food—after a spare one of Maigre materials. Moreover, it is impossible to ascertain the degree of deviation from Health by feeling a Pulse—unless we are well acquainted with the peculiarity of it, when the patient is in Health.

The Editor has now arrived at the most difficult part of his work, and needs all the assistance that Training can give, to excite him to proceed with any hope of developing the subject, with that perspicuity and effect—which it deserves, and he desires to give it.

The Food—Clothes—Fire—Air—Exercise—Sleep—Wine, &c. which may be most advisable for invigorating the Health of one individual—may be by no means the best adapted to produce a like good effect with another;—at the time of Life most people arrive at, before they think about these things—they are often become the slaves of habits which have grown with their growth, and strengthened with their strength—and the utmost that can be done after our 40th year, is to endeavour very gradually to correct them.

We caution those who are past the Meridian of Life (see Index)—to beware of suddenly abandoning established Customs, (especially of diminishing the warmth of their Clothing, or the nutritive quality of what they Eat and Drink), which, by long usage, often become as indispensable, as a Mathematical Valetudinarian reckoned his Flannel Waistcoat was—“in the ratio that my Body would be uncomfortable without my Skin—would my Skin be, without my Flannel Waistcoat.”

We recommend those who are in search of Health and Strength, to read the remarks which are classed under the titles Wine,—Siesta,—Clothes,—“