The means of promoting and preserving health / [Thomas Hodgkin].

  • Thomas Hodgkin
Date:
1841
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The means of promoting and preserving health / [Thomas Hodgkin]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    and he then threw another spear, which wounded the first assailant in his other arm. (?) The Hottentots, who differ materially from the Caffre race, being of small stature and comparatively weak, are, however, very swift. One of them, at the request ofa friend of mine, ran at least two miles in ten minutes, though a con- siderable part of the distance was up hill. The South-Sea islanders present remarkable exam- ples of strength and agility, particularly in swimming and diving. These men will swim in the roughest surf, and remain for an astonishing length of time in the water. Some few years ago, when many schemes were projected by Public Companies, an Association was formed to fish for pearls, in the Pacific Ocean. An expedition was fitted out, provided with diving- bells; but as they were found to be unmanageable at a greater depth than thirty feet, and the pearl-oyster- bed was at a depth of sixty feet, they were useless; and recourse was had to the South-Sea-islands’ divers, who descended to the depth of sixty feet, and brought up the pearl-oysters. They continued this throughout the day, without any considerable manifestation of distress or fatigue. In this country, men are capable of astonishing performances, when they are trained for feats of strength or speed, or for the purpose of engaging in brutal and ferocious conflicts. They are _ thus prepared by regular exercise and diet. I have stated, that an accession of power is gained by the exercise of the muscles; and have shewn you that their power may be lost or injured, if the exer- cise be too great in degree, or too long continued. If the tendons are strained beyond what they will bear, the injury becomes permanent; and the joints become either stiff, or so far relaxed, as to possess but little