MH page 240

Inactivity is the greatest curse that could come upon most invalids. Light employment in useful labor, while it does not tax mind or body, has a happy influence upon both. It strengthens the muscles, improves the circulation, and gives the invalid the satisfaction of knowing that he is not wholly useless in this busy world. He may be able to do but little at first, but he will soon find his strength increasing, and the amount of work done can be increased accordingly.

Light physical labor and activity benefit invalids by strengthening muscles, improving circulation, and boosting morale. The paragraph makes direct empirical claims about the physiological and psychological effects of physical activity on invalids.

Exercise aids the dyspeptic by giving the digestive organs a healthy tone. To engage in severe study or violent physical exercise immediately after eating, hinders the work of digestion; but a short walk after a meal, with the head erect and the shoulders back, is a great benefit.

Moderate walking after a meal aids digestion, whereas severe study or violent exercise immediately after eating hinders it. Contains explicit empirical claims regarding the timing of physical/mental exertion relative to digestion.

Notwithstanding all that is said and written concerning its importance, there are still many who neglect physical exercise. Some grow corpulent because the system is clogged; others become thin and feeble because their vital powers are exhausted in disposing of an excess of food. The liver is burdened in its effort to cleanse the blood of impurities, and illness is the result.

Neglecting physical exercise leads to system congestion, weight imbalance, liver burden, and illness. Asserts physiological mechanisms linking lack of exercise and overeating to liver burden and illness.

Those whose habits are sedentary should, when the weather will permit, exercise in the open air every day, summer or winter. Walking is preferable to riding or driving, for it brings more of the muscles into exercise. The lungs are forced into healthy action, since it is impossible to walk briskly without inflating them.

Sedentary individuals should engage in daily outdoor walking in all seasons to exercise muscles and inflate the lungs. Makes empirical claims comparing walking to riding/driving and describing the mechanical effects on the lungs.

Such exercise would in many cases be better for the health than medicine. Physicians often advise their patients to take an ocean voyage, to go to some mineral spring, or to visit different places for change of climate, when in most cases if they would eat temperately, and take cheerful, healthful exercise, they would recover health and would save time and money.

Temperate eating and healthful exercise often surpass medical travel prescriptions in restoring health and saving resources. Compares the efficacy of dietary temperance and exercise against specific medical travel recommendations.