Physical Education

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Ginn, 1906 - 311 pages
 

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Page 234 - From the sole of the foot to the crown of the head there is' no soundness in it, but wounds, and bruises and putrefying sores.
Page 149 - A sufficient number of muscles should be called into action at one time to stimulate the action of the heart and lungs, and increase the circulation and respiration. This is one of the most important considerations to bear in mind in regard to exercise, for in such general activity all parts of the body are improved by your physical efforts.
Page 219 - During the drill the clothing is buttoned close around the chest and natural respiration is hindered. The muscles are not alternately contracted and relaxed, but are tetanized, or kept in a state of prolonged tension. This, as we have seen, not only impairs the tone of the muscles used, but also puts an additional strain upon the brain and nervous system at the time when both should be as much relieved as possible. Finally, the mere exercise of the manual of arms does not give sufficient breadth...
Page 227 - We must further conclude that in the case of any malformation, local weakness, or constitutional debility, the drill tends, by its strain upon the nerves and prolonged tension on the muscles, to increase the defects rather than to relieve them.
Page 227 - After taking the most favorable view possible of military drill as a physical exercise, we are led to conclude that its constrained positions, and closely localized movements do not afford the essential requisites for developing the muscles, and improving the respiration and circulation, and thereby improving the general health and condition of the system.
Page 221 - In reference to the gracefulness that is thought to characterize the movements of cadets, we can only say it is not the outcome of drilling and marching. The soldier is trained to square corners, straight platoons, and angular movements; curves [221] and embellishments are not encouraged in speech or in action.
Page 297 - He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves, and sharpens our skill. Our antagonist is our helper. This amicable conflict with difficulty obliges us to an intimate acquaintance with our object, and compels us to consider it in all its relations. It will not suffer us to be superficial.
Page 128 - These exercises were active, and even laborious. Those who engaged in them made, or endeavored to make, the exertions which only strong men could make. But they were soon fatigued, and left the gymnasium; or, if they persevered, were nearly exhausted. The error was...
Page 139 - If he is weak in the chest or the back, he can spend his time and energy in strengthening those parts without fear of strain or injury. In fact, he can work for an hour, going from one piece of apparatus to another, keeping always within the circuit of his capacity, and adding slowly and surely to his general strength and powers of endurance. If the heart is weak, the lung capacity small, the liver sluggish, the circulation feeble, or the nervous system impaired, etc., special forms of exercise can...
Page 250 - It is a little more difficult to show the relation between a good physique and high mental attainments in individual cases, because there are many exceptions. But this is true of any deduction that can be made in regard to the human organism. If the student of biography will look up the life history of the men who have been the foremost leaders of the world in every branch of service and kind of endeavor, he will find almost invariably that they have been men with sound bodies and vigorous minds....

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