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Exercise and Air
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More people die for want of exercise than through overfatigue; very
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many more rust out than wear out. Those who accustom themselves
to proper exercise in the open air will generally have a good and
vigorous circulation. We are more dependent upon the air we breathe
than upon the food we eat. Men and women, young and old, who
desire health, and who would enjoy active life, should remember
that they cannot have these without a good circulation. Whatever
their business and inclinations, they should make up their minds to
exercise in the open air as much as they can. They should feel it a
religious duty to overcome the conditions of health which have kept
them confined indoors, deprived of exercise in the open air.
Some invalids become willful in the matter and refuse to be
convinced of the great importance of daily outdoor exercise, whereby
they may obtain a supply of pure air. For fear of taking cold, they
persist, from year to year, in having their own way and living in an
atmosphere almost destitute of vitality. It is impossible for this class
to have a healthy circulation. The entire system suffers for want
of exercise and pure air. The skin becomes debilitated and more
sensitive to any change in the atmosphere. Additional clothing is put
on, and the heat of the room increased. The next day they require a
little more heat and a little more clothing in order to feel perfectly
warm, and thus they humor every changing feeling until they have
but little vitality to endure any cold. Some may inquire: “What shall
we do? Would you have us remain cold?” If you add clothing, let it
be but little, and exercise, if possible, to regain the heat you need.
If you positively cannot engage in active exercise, warm yourselves
by the fire; but as soon as you are warm, lay off your extra clothing
and remove from the fire. If those who can, would engage in some
active employment to take the mind from themselves, they would
generally forget that they were chilly and would not receive harm.
You should lower the temperature of your room as soon as you have
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regained your natural warmth. For invalids who have feeble lungs,
nothing can be worse than an overheated atmosphere.
Invalids too often deprive themselves of sunlight. This is one of
nature’s most healing agents. It is a very simple, therefore not a fash-
ionable remedy, to enjoy the rays of God’s sunlight and beautify our
homes with its presence. Fashion takes the greatest care to exclude
the light of the sun from parlors and sleeping rooms by dropping