Collected papers on physical and military training / by Sir Lauder Brunton.
- Brunton, Thomas Lauder, Sir, 1844-1916.
- Date:
- 1915
Licence: In copyright
Credit: Collected papers on physical and military training / by Sir Lauder Brunton. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.
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![his heart beat higli, i.e., that is, its beats were strong and powerl'ul, and we may not even name the emotions of hope, joy, or pleasure wliicli produced tliis action. I have already mentioned that muscles during exei-cise require an extra supply of blood, and if they do not receive this, increased action causes them to become smaller and weaker instead of beinir larger and stronger. But increased supply of blood to the muscles requires more powerful action of the heart to maintain the circulation, and thus increased muscular exercise while the heart is stimulated by pleasurable emotions tends to strengthen the body, but exercise with a heart depressed by apprehension or even by simple distaste for the movements will weaken instead of strengthen them. The same thing holds good for the nerve centres. It is, therefore, most im- portant that ])hysical exercise should be rendered pleasant and attractive to children, and that the}'' should not be wearied by monotony. We see the necessity for change more especially in small children. Their movements are almost incessant, so that they weary out grown up persons who may try to imitate them. But these movements, both in childi'en and in joung animals, are not continued. They give a little jump here, a little run there, a little climb, a little rest, and so on. Everything is done for a very short time, and its movements are constantly changing. As the child or animal grows older the power of steady movement and continuous attention increases, and it is necessary to adjust the kind and amount of ■exercise to the age and strength of the chikL Even in adult life continuous action'is, as a rule, disagreeable, and the most favourite games are those in which periods of brisk movements alternate with times of comparative rest. Amongst the best exercises for developing both the body and the higher nerve centres are games of ball Sucli games have been favourites throughout the whole history of the world. We find them pictured in the tombs of ancient Egypt, we find them described in the Odyssey, and we see them to-day in every playground. They train tlie mind as well as the body, for they require observation in regard to the ball, judgment in regard to its .speed, and rapid decision in regard to tlie movements necessary](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21358497_0294.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
