to work with ; thirdly, practice and painstaking on the part of the student.
For the purposes of the current chapter we shall postulate the two former, and confine the theme to details of such study and practice of oarsmanship as are requisite in order to attain scientific use of oars or scuils.
When commencing to learn an operation which entails a new and unwonted excercise, distinct volition is necessary on the part of the brain, in order to dictate to the various muscles the parts which they are ta play in the operation.
‘The oftener that a muscular movement is repeated the less intense becomes the mental yolition which is required to dictate that movement ; until at last the movement becomes almost mechanical, and can be reproduced without a strain of the will (sa long as the muscular power is not exhausted).
One object of studied practice at any given muscular move- tment is to accustom the muscles to this particular function, until they become capable of carrying it out without requiring specific and laborious instructions from the headquarters of the brain on the occasion of each such motion. Another object and result of exercise of one or more sets of muscles is to develop their powers. ‘Ihe anatomical reasons why muscles in- crease in vigour and activity under exercise need not be here discussed ; the fact may be accepted that they do so.
Hence, by practice of any kind of muscular movement, the student increases both the vigour and the independence of action of the muscles concerned.
In any operation with implements there is some one method of performing the same which experience has proved to be the most effectual for the purpose required. ‘There will be other methods, or variations of method, which will attain a somewhat similar but less effectual and less satisfactory result.
It requires distinct volition in the first instance to perform the operation in an inferior manner, just as it does to perform it in the mast approved manner, to perform ‘clumsily’ or to perform ‘ cleverly.’
