something like weight to begin work, and can only be looked upon as a
luxury, and not an adjunct to training, besides being far from healthy.
The hot bath is of course required when a man is stiff and tired all
over from cold or overfatigue, when they will modify the symptoms; but,
as they are so simple and so easily obtainable, they require no further
comment. A vapor bath is of considerable use in assisting a healthy
and fat man to reduce his weight; but after sweating he must be rubbed
with a wet cloth, or have a shower; he should then put on a set or two
of flannels, and do at least an hour of severe work, during which time
the reducing process will be going on in perfection. On arriving home
the wet towel should be applied, or a sponging with cold water; after a
good rub, and fresh clothing being donned, it will be found there has
been a good morning’s work accomplished.
The vapor bath can be made in a very home-spun and simple manner, but
equally efficacious with those attached to baths of large name, etc.
A washing or any other flat tub, a third filled with very hot water,
in which is placed a stool, will do for the ground-work of the vapor.
Take your seat on the stool, the feet of course outside the tub, and be
well covered with blankets round the neck, and round the tub, leaving
an opening which can be closed at leisure. Having heated two or three
large bricks to a red heat, put one into the water, and when cooled
another, until the bath has been prolonged a sufficient time. This is a
primitive but a very useful bath to put into use to relieve a bad cold,
or for any other service required at a short notice.
THIRST, MEDICINE, ETC.
The chief punishment when a man is in the course of training requisite
to reduce his bulk is thirst, which is in most cases of rather a
severe character. The same amount of pluck which enables the man to go
through his work and adhere to other rules must be here called into
requisition. The best plan is to gargle the mouth, but not swallow
any; but the application of cold water will be found to afford the
greatest relief--washing the hands, wrists, and face freely will give
relief; a little pebble kept in the mouth is a very good thing, but
faithfully avoid all nostrums such as cream of tartar, tartaric acid,
etc., when suffering from thirst, as they only gratify the palate
without relieving the craving for liquid immediately the acid taste has
passed, when the before troublesome feeling becomes much augmented.
Should relief, however, become imperative, a small portion of powdered
nitre will be followed by an immediate flow of saliva, which will give
instant but unfortunately only partial ease. There, however, is no
increase of the symptoms from the application of the remedy, which will
assist the action of the kidneys, and allay the accompanying fever of
the system. The chief cure is to wait until the next meal-time, when
the previous abstinence from stolen enjoyment will be rewarded by an
approving conscience in having resisted a severe temptation. The thirst
will leave a man when he leaves off sweating.
WEIGHT AS PROPORTIONAL TO HEIGHT.
HEIGHT. WEIGHT.
5ft. 1in. should be 120 pounds.
5ft. 2in. 126 “
5ft. 3in. 133 “
5ft. 4in. 136 “
5ft. 5in. 142 “
5ft. 6in. 145 “
5ft. 7in. 148 “
5ft. 8in. 155 “
5ft. 9in. 162 “
5ft. 10in. 169 “
5ft. 11in. 174 “
6ft. ---- 178 “
The above table was formed by Dr. Hutchingson, and was taken from a
mean average of 2,648 healthy men. By this scale life insurances are
regulated in England. The Doctor’s calculations were made upon the
volume of air passing in and out of the lungs, and this was his guide
as to how far the various organs of the body were in health, and the
lungs in particular.
WEIGHT WHEN IN CONDITION FOR ATHLETIC FEATS.
HEIGHT. WEIGHT.
5ft. 1in. From 106 to 111 pounds.
5ft. 2in. 112 “ 115 “
5ft. 3in. 117 “ 118 “
5ft. 4in. 119 “ 125 “
5ft. 5in. 125 “ 129 “
5ft. 6in. 128 “ 134 “
5ft. 7in. 133 “ 140 “
5ft. 8in. 140 “ 147 “
5ft. 9in. 148 “ 154 “
5ft. 10in. 155 “ 163 “
5ft. 11in. 165 “ 174 “
6ft. ---- 175 “ 186 “
The proper measurement according to the height and weight:
MEASUREMENTS.
Height 5 feet.
Weight 103 pounds.
Neck 12 inches.
Chest (uninflated) 32½ “
Wrist 5½ “
Ankle 7⅔ “
ALLOWANCES.
The following allowances should be made where the dimensions are found
to be greater than shown in the preceding table:
For every inch in height 1¾ pounds.
For every inch around neck ¾ “
For every inch around chest 1 “
For every ⅛ inch around wrist ½ “
For every ⅛ inch around ankle 1 “
BANTING ON CORPULENCY.
The system of reducing corpulency as adopted by William Banting, an
old retired merchant of London, England, in 1863-4, by the advice and
direction of Doctor William Harvey, of Soho square, in that city,
though not by any means admissible or advisable for training purposes,
we give the substance for the benefit of any one who feels interested.
At the time Mr. Banting commenced his reducing system he was sixty-six
years of age, weighed 202 pounds, standing only 5ft. 5in. in height,
and, having spent seven years in consultation with the greatest medical
lights of England for relief of his affliction, but in vain. He had
followed an active business life of fifty years, and attributed his
obesity not to neglect of necessary bodily activity nor from excessive
eating, drinking, or self-indulgence of any kind, except that he
partook of simple aliments of bread, milk, butter, beer, sugar, and
potatoes more freely than his aged nature required, and hence he
believes the generation of the parasite, detrimental to comfort, if
not really to health. He tried both rowing before breakfast for two
hours and other bodily exercises; also sea air and bathing in various
localities; took gallons of physic and liqure potassae, rode much on
horseback, and tried the waters and climate of various springs in
England, as well as Turkish and vapor baths, shampooing, etc. Banting
could not stoop to tie his shoe, had to walk backwards down stairs
to save the jar of increased weight upon the ankle and knee-joints,
puffed and blowed at every exertion, particularly going up stairs,
suffered from an umbilical rupture, had to wear a truss as well as
knee bandages, his sight failed and hearing became impaired, he had
indigestion, heartburn, palpitation of the heart, and could not attend
to the little offices which humanity required without considerable pain
and difficulty, which only the corpulent man can understand.
Upon consulting Dr. Harvey, previously alluded to, he was told that
all his ailments were caused principally by corpulence, and prescribed
a certain diet, no medicine beyond a morning cordial as a corrective,
with immense effect and advantage both to his hearing and the decrease
of his corpulence. The items from which he was advised to abstain as
much as possible were bread, butter, milk, sugar, parsnips, beet root,
turnips, carrots, champagne, port, beer and potatoes, on account of
their containing starch or saccharine matter, tending to create fat;
smoking was not prohibited. This is the diet prescribed by Doctor
Harvey: for breakfast, four or five ounces of beef, mutton, kidneys,
broiled fish, bacon, or cold meat of any kind except pork, owing to its
fattening character; or veal, on account of its indigestible quality;
a large cup of tea (without milk or sugar), a little biscuit, or one
ounce of dry toast; for dinner, five or six ounces of any fish except
salmon, herrings and eels (owing to their oily nature); any meat
except pork or veal; any vegetable except potato, parsnips, beet root,
turnips or carrots; one ounce of dry toast, fruit out of a pudding,
any kind of poultry or game, and two or three glasses of good claret,
sherry, or madeira; for tea, two or three ounces of fruit, a rusk or
two, and a cup of tea without milk or sugar; for supper, three or four
ounces of meat, or fish, similar to dinner, with a glass or two of
claret--night-cap, if required, a tumbler of grog (gin, whiskey, or
brandy, without sugar) or a glass or two of claret or sherry. Eggs, if
not hard boiled, are unexceptionable; also cheese, if sparingly used,
and plain boiled rice.
[Illustration: T. H. ARMSTRONG, JR.,
Who walked one mile in 6 min. 44½ sec., New York City.]
[Illustration: EDWARD C. HOLSKE,
the Celebrated Young American Walker.]
On rising in the morning, between six and seven, Banting took a
tablespoonful of a special corrective cordial, not aperient, and
partook of solids and liquids as follows: about five or six ounces
solid and eight of liquid for breakfast; eight ounces of solid and
eight ounces of liquid for dinner; three ounces of solid and eight
of liquid for tea; four ounces of solid and six ounces of liquid for
supper and the grog afterwards. He took his meals as follows: breakfast
between eight and nine; dinner between one and two; tea between five
and six; supper at nine. His former dietary table was bread and milk
for breakfast, or a pint of tea with plenty of milk and sugar, and
buttered toast; meat, beer, much bread, and pastry for dinner; the tea
similar to that of breakfast, and generally a fruit tart or bread and
milk for supper.
THE REDUCING SCALE.
Under the new dietary, Banting lost flesh according to the following
scale:
On 7th September it was 200 pounds, having lost 2 pounds.
“ 27th September “ 197 “ “ “ 3 more.
“ 19th October “ 193 “ “ “ 4 “
“ 9th November “ 190 “ “ “ 3 “
“ 3d December “ 187 “ “ “ 3 “
“ 24th December “ 184 “ “ “ 3 “
“ 14th January “ 182 “ “ “ 2 “
“ 4th February “ 180 “ “ “ 2 “
“ 25th February “ 178 “ “ “ 2 “
“ 18th March “ 176 “ “ “ 2 “
“ 8th April “ 173 “ “ “ 3 “
“ 29th April “ 170 “ “ “ 3 “
“ 20th May “ 164 “ “ “ 3 “
“ 10th June “ 164 “ “ “ 3 “
“ 1st July “ 161 “ “ “ 3 “
“ 22d July “ 159 “ “ “ 2 “
“ 12th August “ 157 “ “ “ 2 “
“ 26th August “ 156 “ “ “ 1 “
“ 12th September “ 156 “ “ “ 0 “
--
Total loss of weight 46 pounds.
His girth during that time was reduced round the waist 12¼ inches;
these desiderati were attained by the most easy and comfortable means,
with but little medicine, and almost entirely by a system of diet. At
the end of one year Banting asserts that he was restored in health,
both bodily and mentally, had more muscular vigor, ate and drank with a
good appetite, and slept well; all symptoms of acidity, indigestion and
heartburn vanished; he left off using boot-hooks and other such aids,
which were before indispensable; he lost all feeling of occasional
faintness; left off knee-bandages, which he had worn for twenty years,
and gave up a truss almost entirely.
Corpulence, says Banting, though giving no actual pain, must naturally
press with undue violence upon the bodily viscera, driving one part
upon another, and stopping the free action of all.
Saccharine matter is the great moving cause of fatty corpulence,
producing increased weight and a large amount of flatulence; stouty
matter is not so troublesome as saccharine, which largely increased
acidity as well as fat. Pure genuine bread may be the staff of life, as
it is termed; it is so, particularly in youth, but it is decidedly more
wholesome in advanced life when it is thoroughly toasted. Any starchy
or saccharine matter tends to the disease of corpulence in advanced
life, whether it be swallowed in that form or generated in the stomach;
that all things tending to these elements should be avoided, of course
always under sound medical authority. Vegetables, and ripe or stewed
fruit, are generally ample aperients. The dietary system only attacks
the superfluous deposit of fat, and purges the blood, rendering it
more pure and healthy, strengthens the muscles and bodily viscera, and
sweetens life, if it does not prolong it.
RECORD OF FAST PERFORMANCES
UP TO JANUARY, 1877.
CONDENSED FROM NEW YORK CLIPPER ALMANAC.
ROWING.
2 miles--13min. 21½ sec., single-scull, turn, James Riley--Aug. 9,
1876.
3 miles--15min. 37¼ sec., four oars, straight, Argonauta R. A.--Sept.
8, 1875.
3 miles--16min. 32⅘sec., six-oars, straight, Amherst University
crew--best college time--July 24, 1872.
3 miles--17min. 40½sec., six-oars, turn, Ward Bros. and Jared
Raymond--July 22, 1868.
3 miles--17min. 58sec., four-oars, turn, Halifax (N. S.) Fisherman
crew--Sept. 4, 1876.
3 miles--20min. 28sec., pair-oar, turn, Geo. Faulkner, P.
Reagan--Sept. 5, 1876.
3 miles--21min. 9½sec., single-scull, turn, Edward Hanlon- Sept. 6,
1876.
4 miles--24 min. 40sec., four-oars, turn, Ward Brothers--Sept. 11,
1871.
4 miles--28min. 30sec., single-scull, turn, Wallace Ross--Oct. 19,
1876.
4⅜ miles (about)--23min. 4sec., single-scull, straight, Geo.
Tarryer--Oct. 19, 1876.
5 miles--30min. 44¾sec., four-oars, turn, Biglin Bros, and Denny
Leary--Sept. 10, 1860.
5 miles--32min. 1sec., pair-oar, turn, John and Barney Biglin--May 20,
1872.
5 miles--35min. 10sec., single-scull, turn, for champion belt, Joshua
Ward--Oct. 11, 1859.
6 miles--39min. 20⅗sec., four-oars, turn, Paris crew--Aug. 23, 1871.
PEDESTRIANISM.--RUNNING.
100 yards--9¼sec., George Seward--Sept. 30, 1844.
150 yards--15sec., C. Westhall--Feb. 4, 1851; and George Forbes--Dec.
20, 1869.
200 yards--19½sec., G. Seward--March 22, 1847.
300 yards--31½sec., J. Nuttall--April 27, 1863; and D. Wight--Aug. 5,
1876.
440 yards--48¼sec., R. Buttery--Oct. 4, 1873.
600 yards--1min. 13sec., James Nuttall--Feb. 20, 1864.
880 yards--1min. 53½sec., Frank Hewitt--Sept., 1871.
1,320 yards--3min. 7sec., W. Richards--June 30, 1866.
1 mile--4min. 17¼sec., W. Richards and W. Lang, level ground, dead
heat--Aug 19, 1865; in 4min. 2sec., part down hill, W. Lang; in 4min.,
four starts, C. Westhall.
2 miles--9min. 11½sec., W. Lang--Aug. 1, 1863.
3 miles--14min. 36sec., J. White--May 11, 1863.
5 miles--24min. 40sec., J. White, as above.
6 miles--29min. 50sec., J. White, as above.
10 miles--51min. 45sec., John Lovett--Oct. 11, 1852.
12 miles, less 100 yards--1h. 2min. 2½sec., W. Lang--April 3, 1863.
20 miles--1h. 58min. 18sec., R. Manks--Dec. 16, 1851.
50 miles--6h. 17min., G. Martin--Sept. 22, 1863.
WALKING.
1 mile--6min. 23sec., Wm. Perkins--June 1, 1875.
2 miles--13min. 30sec., W. Perkins, as above.
3 miles--20min. 27sec., W. Perkins, as above.
4 miles--28min. 59sec., W. Perkins, as above.
5 miles--36min. 32sec., W. Perkins, as above.
6 miles--44min. 24sec., W. Perkins, as above.
7 miles--51min. 51sec., W. Perkins, as above.
8 miles--58min. 28sec., W. Perkins, Brighton, Eng., July 29, 1876.
9 miles--1h. 9min. 41sec., G. Davison, London--Dec. 6, 1869.
10 miles--1h. 17min. 33sec., G. Davison, as above.
20 miles--2h. 42min. 48sec., G Davison, as above.
21 miles--2h. 53min. 34sec., G. Davison, as above.
25 miles--3h. 42min. 16sec., J. Smith--Nov. 10, 1851.
40 miles--6h. 33min. 1sec., G. Ide--Oct. 16, 1876.
50 miles--8h. 19min. 55sec., G. Ide, as above.
60 miles--10h. 46min. 2sec., Daniel O’Leary--Oct. 16, 1875.
100 miles--18h. 51min. 35sec., W. Vaughan--May 9, 1876.
120 miles, 1,560 yards--in 24h., P. Crossland--Sept. 12, 1876.
1,000 miles in 1,000 consecutive hours--one single mile in each single
hour, Captain Barclay--June 1 to July 12, inclusive, 1809.
15 miles 508 yards walked in 2 hours--George Davison--Dec. 6, 1869.
PRIZE RING.
Longest Battle on Record--6h. 15m., James Kelly and Jonathan
Smith--Australia, Nov., 1855.
Longest Battle in England--6h. 3m., Mike Madden and Bill Hayes--July
17, 1849.
Longest Battle in America--4h. 20m., J. Fitzparick and James O’Neil,
Berwick, Maine--Dec. 4, 1860.
JUMPING.
29ft., 7in., by John Howard, running wide jump, taking off from
a block of wood, 1ft. wide, 2ft. long, 3in. thick, and elevated
4in.--May 8, 1854.
13ft. 7in.--Joseph Greaves, standing-wide jump--Sept. 18, 1875.
6ft. 2½in.--M. J. Brooks (Oxford University), running high jump--April
7, 1876.
47ft. 7in.--R. Knox, running hop, step and jump--August, 1870.
40ft. 2in.--D. Anderson, standing hop, step and jump--July 24, 1865.
11ft. 1in.--High pole jump, J. E. Woodburn--July 21, 1876.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Regulation base-ball thrown 133yds. 1ft. 7½in. by John Hatfield--Oct.
15, 1872.
R. A. Pennell put up a dumbbell weighing 201¼℔--Jan. 31, 1874.
Mr. Pennock put up a 10℔ dumb-bell 8,431 times in 4h. 34m.--Dec. 13,
1870.
1,000 yards swam by E. T. Jones in 15min. 30sec.--Sept. 7, 1874.
Mr. Forbes threw a cricket-ball 132 yards, slightly aided by the
wind--Oxford, Eng., March, 1876.
LIFTING.--Hand: 1,250℔, health-lift machine, John M. Cannon--Jan. 16,
1875; 1,210℔, R. A. Pennell--Nov. 8. 1873. The athletes hereinafter
named are credited with having lifted the following weights; but these
feats are not properly attested. With harness: W. B. Curtis, New
York, 3,300℔; Ambrose A. Butts, Auburn, O., 2,737¾℔; John J. Lucas,
Belleville, Ill., 2,700℔--Oct. 26, 1875; Dr. G. W. Winship, Boston,
Mass, 2,600℔. Hand lift--W. B. Curtis, 1,230℔; G. W. Winship, 1,200℔.
VAN FLEET, PRINTER, 88 & 90 CENTRE STREET, NEW YORK.
COMPLIMENTARY PRESS NOTICES
ABOUT
Health, Strength and Muscle.
From a number of very lengthy and elaborate criticisms of the press in
various sections of the United States we give the following extracts:
“Here we have in condensed form a vast amount of valuable information
upon a subject which should deeply interest everybody, the substance
of numerous other foreign and domestic publications on like subjects
mingling with impressions and advice born of the author’s observation
and practical experience. A treatise on the muscular system, tables
showing the correct measurements of noted athletes and proportions of a
perfect human figure, with remarkable feats of strength, etc., are also
given. It is written in language clear to the understanding, and is a
work which we can cheerfully recommend all to read, confident that no
one can peruse it without profit to themselves.”--NEW YORK CLIPPER.
“The many interesting facts and hints contained in this ably compiled
work will immensely benefit everyone, it giving the cream of the best
authorities upon everything concerned in its title.”--PHILADELPHIA
SUNDAY MERCURY.
“A compendium of useful information.”--N. Y. SUN.
“Should be in the hands of all our athletes.”--YONKERS (N. Y.) GAZETTE.
“Richly deserving of perusal. The work is not intended for professional
athletes exclusively, but for all who desire to enjoy perfect physical
health, which can only be acquired and retained by a proper regard for
the laws of nature. Mr. James thoroughly understands the subjects of
which he writes, and presents them in a straightforward, attractive
manner. The book deserves to be widely read, and its teachings, if
followed, will do more than doctors’ prescriptions toward preserving
health.”--NEW YORK HERALD.
“It is filled with useful hints and practical suggestions.”--UTICA (N.
Y.) OBSERVER.
“Of incalculable benefit to the health of many who are suffering from a
lack of physical training.”--WASHINGTON SUNDAY HERALD.
“Mr. James is authority in matters which this volume treats upon.
He has here given a plain, well-arranged system as to the manner of
acquiring Health, Strength and Muscle.”--BOSTON SATURDAY EVENING
EXPRESS.
“A complete dissertation on the treatment of free livers and sedentary
people in matters of air, clothing, food, stimulants, and the best
modes of exercise for all ages.”--ST. LOUIS (MO.) HERALD.
This Book will be sent prepaid by Mail on receipt of Fifty Cents.
ADDRESS
ED. JAMES, Publisher, 88 & 90 Centre St., N. Y.
WHAT THE PAPERS SAY
ABOUT
“PRACTICAL TRAINING,” AND “MANUAL OF SPORTING RULES.”
Below will be found a few from the many encomiums of the New York press
on the excellence of these works:
NEW YORK HERALD.
“TREATISE ON PRACTICAL TRAINING.”--At a season of the year when most
needed EDWIN JAMES’ “Treatise on Practical Training” has appeared.
This neatly gotten-up book is full of valuable hints to athletes of
whatever kind and character, having been compiled with rare judgment,
which long years of laborious work in the sporting world has given its
author. The unpretentious volume, among other things, contains useful
chapters on Training for Rowing, Boxing, Wrestling, and Pedestrianism,
in addition to instructions for High and Broad Jumping, Fair Walking,
Hammer-throwing, and in fact everything else useful to the professional
or amateur athlete.
NEW YORK CLIPPER.
“TREATISE ON PRACTICAL TRAINING.”--A new friend, and a most welcome one
to all devoted to the pursuit of athletic exercises, has just made its
appearance in the form of a neatly gotten-up book bearing the above
title. It has been compiled with care and good judgment by ED. JAMES.
In addition to the useful chapters on Training for Pedestrianism,
Rowing, Boxing, Wrestling, etc., the book contains instructions in
regard to practice for High and Broad Jumping, Running, Fair Walking,
Hammer-throwing, Hurdling, and Putting the Stone, and tells what to
do in case of accident, tender feet and hands, boils, etc. “Banting’s
System of Reducing Corpulency,” a Table of Proportional Measurements
according to Height and Weight, and Records of Best Performances are
also included.
NEW YORK SUN.
MR. ED. JAMES has just published an edition of his “Practical Training
for Running, Walking, Rowing, and Wrestling,” embracing “Banting’s
System of Reducing Corpulency.” It is an excellent work.
NEW YORK SPIRIT OF THE TIMES.
“TREATISE ON PRACTICAL TRAINING.”--The well-known sporting author, ED.
JAMES, has just published a “Treatise on Practical Training,” which
gives an immense amount of condensed practical information, valuable
to lovers of athletics and all kinds of sports, besides containing
important Tables of Statistics, revised up to January, 1877.
NEW YORK SUNDAY DISPATCH.
“TREATISE ON PRACTICAL TRAINING.”--The celebrated sporting writer, MR.
ED. JAMES, has just issued a “Treatise on Practical Training,” which we
can confidently recommend to every amateur and professional athlete in
the land. It contains minute instructions as to the method of training
for races, walking-matches, wrestling, pugilism, jumping, stone and
hammer throwing, and sports of every kind, beside a fund of useful
record matter concerning time, weight, conditions, etc.
NEW YORK CLIPPER.
“MANUAL OF SPORTING RULES.”--This is the title of a work issued by
MR. ED. JAMES. It contains rules regulating Trap-shooting, Cocking
Contests, Boat-racing, Prize Ring, Wrestling (different styles),
Running, Walking, Jumping, Bagatelle, Lacrosse, Quoits, Rifle and
Pistol Shooting, Archery, Shuffleboard, Shinny, Rackets, Handball,
Swimming, Pin-pool, Fifteen-ball Pool, Skittles, Foot-ball,
Knurr-and-spell, Scottish Games, Ten Pins, Skating, Curling,
Fly-casting, Polo, etc. Heretofore where rules were in existence they
could be procured only through private sources, or separately; but we
now have them in such shape as will meet all demands. In many instances
there were no rules, but the publisher has, by consultation with the
leading exponents of the several games, combined with his own intimate
knowledge of sporting matters, been enabled to supply such wants in
a satisfactory manner. The volume is illustrated with engravings
representing various games. The work should command a steady sale.
TURF, FIELD AND FARM.
“MANUAL OF SPORTING RULES.”--A very complete work, comprising the
latest and best authenticated revised rules governing all the various
games played and practiced here and elsewhere, has been published by
ED. JAMES, a gentleman long and favorably known to sportsmen. In it
we find rules for Trap-shooting, Canine, Ratting, Badger-baiting,
Cock-fighting, the Prize Ring, Wrestling, Running, Jumping, Walking,
Knurr-and-spell, Lacrosse, Boating, Bagatelle, Archery, Rifle and
Pistol Shooting, Billiards, Scottish Games, Skating, Curling, Polo,
etc., and about everything else upon which it may be desirable to have
information at hand to decide disputed questions.
SPECIAL NOTICE.