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MY BRKATIIING SYSTEM

of gymnastics are to be competed for, or demonstrated at the Games, realisation of this hygienic proposal is within tlić rangę of possibility, in which event, there would be a cessation of carping from those critics who recognise that all-round hygienic development ought to be tlie basis of all games and sports, and is, therefore, much morę important than many of the strange compctitions which now distigurc the programmc of tlie Games, the oniy drawback bcing that the compiler of the winning system of “ liome gymnastics ” would probably win such famę and wealth as to e.\eite envy.

How the average Athlete and Oarsman strain Heart and Lungs.

It is estimatcd by Professor Zuntz that an adult man respires t6 to 18 times per minutę. It is also asserted that the aeeragc number of pulsations of tlie heart should be b4 to 72 for a man in a state of rcst (viz., 4 by 16 to 4 by 18). But this German professor proceeds to state that during severe exertion this number of respirations are multiplied several times, during ordinary walking, 2 to 4 times ; whilc cycling, mountaineering, and running, 9 to 14 times; and while rowing the course at racing speed (1^ mile in 8 minutes) 20 times. I have seen much faulty breathing amongst atliletes generally ; but if this statement of Professor Zuntz is aeeording to fact, it is much worsc than I ever dreamt of. Twenty times 16 is 320 respirations per minutę. And this again mcans that the heart striees to attain 1,280 pulsations per minutę! What wonder that so many proinising athlctcs have ruined their heart and their health !

I ani now (1914) over forty-seven ycars old, and have taken part in rowing regattas for twenty-nine years, but liithcrto 1 have never met an oarsman who could puli harder and with morę endurance than myself. The reason is that from an carly age I cultivated a filii, and proportionately

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