Exercising Muscles and Proper Dress

not at all be lost sight of. The means to be employed, as we have seen, consist, in part at least, if not wholly, in proper attention to the exercising of the whole muscular system, and, in certain specified particulars, to the fitness of dress, I appear to have pleaded my cause so c 18 STHETICAL SANITATION, effectually upon the first branch of the subject as to call forth from quarters where I least looked for them, objections to my too free and unre- stricted advocacy of Ling’s system of educational and medical exercises. I am told that there are professors of physical science who prominently put forward this one small and insignificant branch only of physical treatment, as being the one thing needful for the cure of physical defects, or for the maintenance of physical health and strength, in place, as it were, of the whole system of medical science and skill; that, in other words, there are quacks who impose upon public credulity, and, by an assumption of medical know- ledge, persuade people that they can supersede the doctor in cases of weak or distorted muscles and limbs ; and that what I have advanced seems to encourage these pretensions. I need hardly say that I had no idea of giving countenance to any such charlatanry, or of re- commending a system as a panacea for all these complaints, or for all persons, whatever might be their state of health or their natural constitution, There may be, indeed, some to whom its benefits would prove questionable. In all cases, care must be taken not to overtax either the physical 42STHETICAL SANITATION. 19 frame or the muscular system. It may be ad- visable, if not absolutely necessary, to have medical advice as to the probable effect of the exercises upon any of whom a doubt may be en- tertained as to their physical condition, and especially as to the state of their heart and lungs. It will be far better to take an opinion than to run the risk of injury. But even in such cases as those just referred to, it might prove almost always a valuable auxiliary to medical treatment, if carried out in accordance with specific instruc- tion from the medical adviser. But further than this, a proper and a fitting amount of rational exercise must be considered essential to children, a real necessary of life, like good air, wholesome food, and sound sleep. If properly directed, it might perhaps be a cure for some descriptions of sleeplessness. And without meddling with the domain of medicine, except to render it less necessary, which also is the aim of medical science, there must be infinitely less risk of injury from the adoption of the system than from the neglect of it. Moreover, the dangers arising from an over- taxing of the constitution are almost obviated by the fact that the system itself to which I allude, c2 20 4ESTHETICAL SANITATION. when properly carried out, by a properly qualified teacher, expressly avoids violent exertion of any muscle, or of the whole or of any part of the frame, which has not already been exercised up to a condition capable of bearing it. Besides, properly trained and qualified medical men are now taking it up, and making it a speciality. I could tell of an old medical man who, instead of abandoning his practice and wintering abroad as for several years he had done, declares that he has found permanent relief from his paroxysms of asthma solely by these means, He was treated by an officer who had gone through medical training for the purpose of being able to afford relief to his fellow men in this way. Probably this will be taken cum grano ; but at whatever estimate it may be put, it is certain that invaluable good has been effected. It is often some little time before pupils can see anything at all in the exercises to enable them to appreciate the care and the attention required to develop their physical powers. Some succeed, in persuading not only themselves but their parents and guardians that they can gain greater benefit by what they flatter themselves will be the more interesting and exciting exercise of “STHETICAL SANITATION. 2r dancing and deportment ; by walking; or by some more violent form of calisthenics, than by the milder and, as they deem it, the more childish exertion which this system appears at first sight to involve. It needs a certain amount of faith, or else of knowledge and practical experience, to convince them that in order to enable them to profit by lessons in dancing, or by walking or calisthenics, a thorough grounding in the prin- ciples of muscular action is of the greatest possible service. Not only the preliminary posi- tions and steps, but new and difficult dances can be learned with greater facility and precision, and in much less time, by those who have been pre- viously taught to exercise their whole muscular system systematically and in a thorough manner. Walking can be made less tiring and ungraceful, by first learning, for instance, the practice of heel-raising, knee-bending, and other exercises for the strengthening of the ankle or other joints according to the special needs of the individual. A pupil who has been quite unable to walk without “hip-wobbling” has been enabled to walk firmly and properly at the end of a course of training. In every description of exercise, great power 22 42STHETICAL SANITATION. may be developed by a careful and intelligent training in the right use of the lungs and throat. How many there are who do not know, and of those who do know how many there are who do not consider the fact, that the quality and struc- ture of their blood is modified by every breath which they draw, and that proper circulation depends very much on the manner of breathing. Deep and regular breathing is an aid to health, as well as an indication of it. Proper breathing depends very often on infantile management in the first instance, and subsequently upon proper teaching and practice during exercise. Closely allied to this is the injurious and dangerous habit, often to a great extent consti- tutional, but capable of considerable amendment, of breathing through the open mouth instead of through the nose. Apart from the susceptibility to cold, and in children to croup, which this habit gives, it is, according ta Dr. Richardson, through the open mouth and never through the nose that organic gernis of infectious diseases may be taken into the system. From the esthetical point of view, there can be no question as to the silliness and inanity of expression which it gives, apart from its danger to health. “ESTHETICAL SANITATION. 23 A few further words must be added also as to the injury caused by improper boots. Elasticity of foot is, as I have already intimated, the great gualification for graceful walking, and for dancing and deportment generally. This is destroyed by the use of high heels. The extent of elasticity is limited by the height which is available for the action of the instep. Let us apply a mathe- matical illustration.. Supposing the heel of the foot to be capable of rising six inches from the ground, but it is to be propped up to the extent of an inch and a half, it is plain that the extent of possible elasticity is reduced by one- fourth. And seeing that it is only in the lower and not at all in the upper part of its action that its elasticity is ordinarily brought into play, this possible height is reduced practically by more than one-half. Although it is injurious, not to say wicked, to bring up young persons upon high heels, it must not therefore be concluded that the sudden abandonment of them will forthwith set the matter right, or repair an old-established injury. It may have the contrary effect. An old lady of my acquaintance, in her endeavour to conform to he revived fashion of higher heels than those to 24 SESTHETICAL SANITATION. which she had been accustomed, was actually disabled for many months by the disturbance of the balance, which threw such a strain upon her knees as to prevent the proper use of her feet. A similarly distressing result would doubtless have been produced, on the other hand, by the sudden abandonment of high heels had she been accus- tomed to them all her life. It is surprising to find how few there are who will admit, or indeed appear to be conscious of the fact, even when their attention has been called to it, that the heels of their boots are undercut, or unreasonably and injuriously high, Heels should not be at all undercut, nor should they stand higher from the ground than the thickness of the fore part of the sole. High and narrow heels have been found by eminent medical men to affect the brain, and the sight, through the spinal cord. Astonishing as it may seem, there has been in Sweden the case of a girl who had become gra- dually blind whilst quite a child, through blood ' pressure on the brain, and who at the age of seventeen recovered her sight by means of medical gymnastics, a material part of which consisted in foot and toe movements. The organic structure, 2STHETICAL SANITATION. 25 of the eye was perfect, but there was some ob- struction in the muscular nerves and veins, which was removed by the use of these exercises. Let us now consider stooping. Many are the parents and many the teachers who still advocate and administer the use of the backboard, whether the old-fashioned straight one, or the more modern elastic form which is indeed still worse as a remedy for rounded shoulders. The weary hour spent in the vain imitation of a trussed fowl is calculated to produce the very opposite result to that which it is intended to have. If the muscles are reduced by force into a constrained position for any length of time, they lose their elasticity, and the apparent amendment is not healthfully produced. But not even an apparent improvement will be permanently secured. The shoulders being fixed in a backward position, the natural and instinctive tendency of the opposing muscles is to act with yet greater force | in a forward direction, thus increasing the evil. As illustrating this prevalent evil, together with its popularly supposed remedy, and comparing this with the true and proper cure, it may be in- structive to observe that part of the rational and natural treatment for this defect is the pulling of 26 “ESTHETICAL SANITATION. the arms forward by the teacher or operator. This has to be,done with great judgment and care. By this means an active resistance is made which exercises its influence in the reduction of the shoulder-blades to their normal position. It would be impossible to estimate the amount of unnecessary mutual irritation between parent and child, between teacher and pupil, occasioned merely by the recurring reprimand, “ Now, do sit up,” “Don’t stoop,” sharply spoken, without a thought that a knowledge of anatomy, and syste- matic teaching in the right use of the joints, and especially of these joints, are requisite in order to impart to the child that self-command without which all other such commands must in reality be futile. The lower joint of the neck probably will be left passive, the upper joint having to do double duty, whilst the proper result is simply unattainable without actual training. The poking neck, whether in a girl or boy, may indeed easily arise from so slight a thing as an ill-fitting dress or collar. There is no need to multiply instances or illustrations. The greatest difficulty, and the most important principle, to be impressed upon pupils is the necessity for retaining in a perfectly 2STHETICAL SANITATION. 27 passive state every muscle in the whole system, except the special muscles which are at the moment commanded by the teacher to be exer- cised, and for exercising these muscles fully and freely “without moving a muscle,” so to say, that is not so commanded. One of my nieces gives an interesting descrip- tion of the manner in which the Malagasy culti- vate their powers in this respect. In an account of her sojourn in Madagascar she speaks of visiting native cottages and school feasts, where she witnessed this extraordinary command over the entire muscular system to which the children attain. “TI was struck with admiration and wonder in watching the dancing. It is quite a natural amusement among all native children, especially the slaves. On moonlight nights they collect in some garden. A certain number form the band, with singing and clapping to which the others dance. I was especially struck with the girls. Every joint in their body seemed moving at once, in a most wonderfully graceful way, and all in perfect time, The movement could only be described as serpentine. Their advance is so gradual as to be almost imperceptible. The 28 STHETICAL SANITATION. step would be impossible for us to get hold of, with boots on. The boys’ dancing is a sort of heel and toe style, rather like a hornpipe, with zo movement of the arms or head. The latter is kept perfectly still and upright. The stepping is kept in time to a drum which bystanders beat for them.” A little practical experience and a short course of teaching will convince the intelligent child that there is abundant scope for the exercise of real skill, patience, and perseverance in arriving’ at perfection even in the less elaborate system here advocated. The prevailing idea, common to teacher, pupil, and public alike, appears to be that the value of gymnastics consists in the variety of the multi- tudinous and elaborate movements which have to be done with the greatest precision, by any number of pupils simultaneously, in a given length of time. The means are mistaken for the end. The true end is the perfection of balance and freedom of ‘action, the entire control over every movement, the self-command, the develop- ment of ease and deportment, which proper teaching and thorough training alone can give. There are some who seem to find no interest in anything relating to education, and have no STHETICAL SANITATION. 29 power to take in the most ordinary instruction ; as there are others also whose brain is but too active. The surest way of interesting young persons is to endeavour to bring them to a con- sciousness of exercising powers which have been dormant in them hitherto, and of which they had little or no fixed idea, They may then subse- quently discover further that such exercise will contribute not only to health and physical enjoyment, but to superadded beauty and grace.