Page:Japanese Physical Training (Hancock).djvu/111

 Rh the author visited several of these places. The average physique observed amounted almost to uniformity. The women were short, rather slight, and well-rounded. While of less height than our Western women, they furnished splendid nude models of proportion and grace. The men were characterised by swelling muscles, bulging chests, and slim waist-lines. The author's medical friend declared that she had never seen such perfect anatomical specimens of manhood or of womanhood.

There is another phase of hydropathy that the Japanese is taught in hot weather. Whenever he can, without polluting a drinking-supply, he dips the crown of his head in water, dashes out the surplus with his hands, places a few wet leaves inside his hat, and walks on. This practice reduces the number of sunstrokes in Japan to a minimum. Of course the rather general habit of carrying paper parasols in summer tends to lessen the effects of the sun's heat, but the Japanese would always choose wet hair as against the parasol.

If it be possible, the author wishes to lay greater stress than he has already done upon