EXERCISE.

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tions, can be duly performed. In this case, the worstconsequences must ensue. How can persons who loll allday in easy chairs, and sleep all night on beds of down, failto be relaxed ? Nor do such greatly mend the matter whonever stir abroad but in a coach, sedan, or such like. Theseelegant pieces of luxury are become so common, that the in-habitants of great towns seem to be in some danger of losingthe use of their limbs altogether. It is now below any one towalk who can afford to be carried. How ridiculous would itseem, to a person unacquainted with modern luxury, tobehold the young and healthy swinging along on the shouldersof their fellow-creatures, or to see a fat carcass, overrun withdiseases occasioned by inactivity, dragged along the streetsby half a dozen horses.

Glandular obstructions, which are now so common, general-ly proceed from inactivity. These are the most obstinate ofall maladies. So long as the liver, kidneys, and other glandsduly perform their functions, health is seldom impaired ; butwhen they fail, nothing can preserve it. Exercise is almostthe only cure we know for glandular obstructions ; indeed, itdoes not always succeed as a remedy ; but there is reasonto believe that it would seldom fail to prevent these com-plaints, were it used in due time. One thing is certain, thatamongst those who take sufficient exercise glandular diseasesare very little known ; whereas the indolent and inactive areseldom free from them.

Weak nerves are the constant companions of inactivity.Nothing but exercise and open air can brace and strengthenthe nerves, or prevent the endless train of diseases whichproceed from a relaxed state of these organs. We seldomhear the active or laborious complain of nervous diseases ;these are reserved for the sons of ease and affluence. Manyhave been completely cured of these disorders by being re-duced from a state of opulence to labor for their daily bread.This plainly points out the sources from whence nervousdiseases flow, and the means by which they may be pre-vented.

It is absolutely impossible to enjoy health where the per-spiration is not duly carried on ; but that can never be thecase where exercise is neglected. When the matter whichought to be thrown off by perspiration is retained in thebody, it vitiates the humors, and occasions the gout, fevers,rheumatism, &c. Exercise alone would prevent many of