Pedestrianism; or, An Account of the Performances of Celebrated Pedestrians During the Last and Present Century.: With a full narrative of Captain Barclay's public and private matches; and an essay on training.Thom, Walter
History
Pedestrianism; or, An Account of the Performances of Celebrated Pedestrians During the Last and Present Century.: With a full narrative of Captain Barclay's public and private matches; and an essay on training.
Thom, Walter
Walking
After having gone on in this regular course for three or four weeks, the
pedestrian must take a four-mile SWEAT, which is produced by running four
miles, in flannel, at the top of his speed. Immediately on returning, a
hot liquor is prescribed, in order to promote the perspiration, of which
he must drink one English pint. It is termed the SWEATING LIQUOR, and is
composed of the following ingredients, viz. one ounce of caraway-seed;
half an ounce of coriander-seed; one ounce of root liquorice; and half an
ounce of sugar-candy; mixed with two bottles of cyder, and boiled down
to one half. He is then put to bed in his flannels, and being covered
with six or eight pairs of blankets, and a feather-bed, must remain in
this state from twenty-five to thirty minutes, when he is taken out and
rubbed perfectly dry. Being then well wrapt in his great coat, he walks
out gently for two miles, and returns to breakfast, which, on such
occasions, should consist of a roasted fowl. He afterwards proceeds with
his usual exercise. These sweats are continued WEEKLY, till within a few
days of the performance of the match, or, in other words, he must undergo
three or four of these operations. If the stomach of the pedestrian be
foul, an emetic or two must be given, about a week before the conclusion
of the training, and he is now supposed to be in the highest condition.
Besides his usual or regular exercise, a person under training, ought to
employ himself in the intervals in every kind of exertion, which tends to
activity, such as cricket, bowls, throwing quoits, &c. that, during the
whole day, both body and mind may be constantly occupied.
From the above account of Capt. Barclay’s method of training, it will
be seen, that he commences with the evacuating process, and that
three purgative dozes are deemed sufficient to clear any man from the
impurities which it is requisite to throw off, preparatory to entering
on the course of regimen and exercise. And in this stage of the business,
the objects to be attained, are the purification of the animal system,
and the promotion of the digestive powers.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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