Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XIV.djvu/83

 PUGILISM 75 " smeller," a blow on the nose. A closely contested prize fight taxes a man's strength, endurance, and "pluck" to the utmost; and, however courageous he may he, poor physical condition is so great a disadvantage that it can hardly he overcome in the face of good condition of an antagonist, the skill, courage, and strength of the men being equal. It has therefore been considered of the last im- portance to bring a man into the ring per- fectly trained. The duration of rigid training depends largely upon the previous muscular condition ; but two or three months are usu- ally sufficient. Without going into the minu- tiae of the different training systems, it will be sufficient to indicate the general method and the main objects to be attained. Fat is inert, useless matter during a fight, and is to be eliminated from the body as far as is possible without depressing the nervous energy. The muscular system should be developed to the highest degree. The nervous system should act promptly and perfectly, a condition essen- tial to endurance, which is probably the most important quality in a pugilist. The respira- tion should be free and performed with the smallest expenditure of nervous and muscular force. Finally, the temper and judgment should be clear, the skill as great as possible, and the man should have the moral and physical force to fight to the last extremity of endurance. To secure these ends, the diet is restricted to lean and easily digestible meats, stale bread or toast, a small quantity of vegetables, and a very mod- erate quantity of liquids ; but the amount of food should be sufficient to satisfy the appetite, never allowing the nervous system to become depressed. The exercise is such as to develop the general muscular system, particularly the muscles employed in hitting, and the legs. To secure perfect condition of the nervous power, all sources of mental irritation are avoided, sexual intercourse is interdicted, and stimu- lants, if taken at all, are used with care and in very small quantity. Tea may be use'd mod- erately once a day, without sugar or milk; a glass of sherry with a raw egg or a glass of old ale may be taken once a day, though it is generally best to avoid alcohol. It is of the greatest importance to secure perfect and tran- quil sleep, which is a good indication of the condition of the nervous system. If a man is in good health, purgatives, with which the training sometimes begins, are unnecessary. The bowels may be kept regular by varying the diet, and oat-meal gruel is frequently used with this end in view. Perfect action of the skin should be secured by proper ablutions after exercise. Fat may sometimes be removed from particular parts by local sweating with bandages. It is especially important to remove fat from the face and to harden the skin and subcutaneous cellular tissue, so that the " pun- ishment " will not puff up the face, particular- ly about the eyes, which sometimes become closed by swelling under the blows of the antagonist. A man is not in good condition unless the skin be bright, clear, and free from blotches or pimples. A constitutional taint, such as syphilis, usually shows itself during a course of severe training, and the man breaks down or "goes stale." The wind and endu- rance are developed by boxing and running. The man boxes with his trainer or strikes at the bag for several hours each day, and runs at a moderate pace from six to ten miles, doing a quarter or half of a mile at the top of his speed. This shakes the abdominal organs, promotes the removal of fat from the omen- turn, and gives play to the diaphragm, while at the same time it gives agility and power to the legs. The trainer should have his man un- der complete subjection, and never leave him, night or day, during the whole course of train- ing. He learns, if possible, the points and style of fighting of his adversary, and general- ly fixes upon a plan of battle. He boxes with his man constantly, hits him hard, and accus- toms him to bear punishment without loss of temper or judgment. His man should go into the ring confident that he will win the battle. For at least 24 hours immediately preceding the fight the man should rest. Many trainers bring down the weight of their men by diet and sweating below the point at which they are to fight, depressing the system somewhat at first, and then allow the weight to come up to the proper point, so that they fight when the system is at its maximum of reaction and in perfect condition. In the articles of agree- ment of a prize fight, the weight at which the men are to fight is iisually stipulated. When no such stipulation is made, the men are said to fight at " catch weight," or at such weight as they may think proper. A man may fight at less than the stipulated weight, but he is ruled out if he is over weight. Pugilists are usually classed with regard to weight as fol- lows : a man of 115 Ibs. or under is called a feather weight; between 115 and 130 Ibs., a light weight ; between 130 and 150 Ibs., a middle weight ; at 150 Ibs. or over, a heavy weight. Boxing, which is practised for ex- ercise and amusement and in training for a prize fight, is conducted according to the rules of the ring, and the hands are provided with gloves padded with hair on the back to the thickness of two or three inches, so that the blows are much less severe than with the naked fist. Glove fights are sometimes practised at public exhibitions in exact accordance with pugilistic rules, and these are frequently quite severe. Occasionally the gloves are blackened so as to leave a mark when a man is hit, each blow being counted by the judges. Boxing constitutes the greatest part of so-called pu- gilistic science, and different professors of the "manly art" usually have different method? or styles. The most important principles oi boxing are as follows. The position is with the left foot forward, the feet separated 16 or 18 in. according to the size of the man. The