Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 2, 1802).djvu/392

360] the most injurious effects. Hence it would be a judicious measure to teach youth, at an early period, the use of both arms alike, and to make them acquainted with such games as contribute to that purpose.

5. Sedentary diversions, and long standing, are extremely prejudicial to the straight growth of children; for, as the spinal column and legs are too feeble to support the additional weight of the reclining part of the frame, the vertebræ yield to one side, and often occasion incurable distortions.

If these precautions were more strictly observed, and both male and female children instructed to beware of dangerous postures and leaps, as well as of raising and carrying heavy burthens, how many fatal accidents might be avoided! Yet, we are by no means advocates for rendering them unnecessarily timid. There is a medium, which every prudent guardian will easily discover; and to this we would call the attention of parents—happy, if we could thus add our mite ards introducing more rational, and less hazardous practices.  GAME, among sportsmen, denotes such birds, beasts, or other eatable animals as are taken or killed by fowling or .—For its physical properties, the reader will consult the separate articles of, , , &c.

Different penalties have been imposed, by various acts of parliament, on all unqualified persons, who may be detected in taking away or killing game, or in keeping greyhounds and other dogs, together with engines for catching hares, or other game; but, as they are too numerous to be specified here, we can only refer to the laws themselves, or to the abstract of the acts of parliament, published in Kearsley's Tax-Tables, 12mo. 1801.  GAMING, the art of playing any game of chance; for instance, dice, E O, and Pharo-tables, &c.

Gaming has at all times been regarded as pernicious to the morals of society, and is therefore prohibited under severe penalties. Thus, by the 16th II. c. 7, if any person lose by playing or betting, more than 100l. at one time, he is not compellable to pay it; but the winner incurs a forfeiture of treble the value, one moiety of which belongs to the King, and the other to the informer. By the 9th, c. 14, all bonds, &c. given for money won at play, or lent for the purpose ot play, are utterly void; and, if any person lose at one time more than 10l. he cannot sue the winner; or, if any one commit a fraud, and win more than 10l. or any valuable article, he is liable to be indicted, and incurs a forfeiture of five times the value; beside which, he is to be deemed infamous, and liable to suffer such corporal punishment as is inflicted in cases of perjury.—By the 18th II. c. 34, the stat. 9th is farther enforced; and, if any person is convicted of losing 10l. or 20l. at any sitting within twenty-four hours, he shall forfeit five times the sum. There are likewise various other penalties, which our limits do not permit us to specify.—Domestic readers have neither leisure nor inclination to spend their valuable time in the iniquitous practice of gambling: and, as those idle miscreants of society who waste their days in deep games, at the ultimate expence of the industrious husbandman, are seldom detected or punished, it were sincerely to be wished, that our salutary laws could