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350
IV. EDUCATION AND MENTAL CULTURE IN SWEDEN.
In this the different branches of gymnastics are treated of — the
pedagogic, the military, the medical, and the esthetic. It is shown
therein how necessary it is that gymnastics should be grounded on
the science of the human organism as a whole, on anatomy and
physiology, and on the science of the laws of motion.
"What has been done after Ling’s death for the consummation of his
work was, for the most part, effected by his immediate successor Gabriel
Branting (1799/1881) and by his son Hjalmar Ling (1820/86).
-Branting developed Ling’s principles in his lectures at the Institute and
he raised medical gymnastics to a high position. — Hjalmar Ling was
also a skilful medical gymnast; but he paid more particular attention
to the special subject of pedagogical gymnastics. He represented
by very striking drawings, made by himself, thousands of forms
of movements, and he formed a collection of these and arranged
them, in harmony with his father’s plan and views, according to
their effect on the organism, into different classes. Ten classes of
gymnastic movements are thus shown to exist. Some of these may
with advantage be further subdivided into two or more groups. He also
drew up lists of movements suited to different ages, and rendered
possible pedagogical gymnastics in Common schools and in female education.
The movements in each of the above mentioned classes have been
arranged in progression according to the degree of effort they call forth.
In practice, movements calling for about the same degree of effort should,
out of all the classes, be arranged together for a programme of
exercises — a so-called »day’s exercise» — for daily use. A number of
movements requiring less exertion should be inserted among the specific
ones from each class so as to fill out the day’s exercise into a complete
set of gymnastic exercises. It is, namely, requisite that every part
of the body and the organs in general should receive each its needed
share of the day’s exercise, which, as a whole and in detail, must be
accommodated to the degree of development of the pupils. The number
of pupils practising at one time, which is sometimes rather large, must
therefore be divided into several smaller sections, so that those who
have attained the same degree of development may practise together.
That a sufficiently great effort may be called forth and at the
same time overstraining prevented, the arrangement of the
movements in the day’s exercise should, moreover, be such as constantly
to promote an equilibrium between respiration, the action of the heart
and muscular work. This is obtained by making the movements act
upon the provinces of the different vessels alternately, so as to increase
or relax the circulation to and from various parts of the body. In
connection with this, the rate of breathing must by turns be increased
and slackened, while the breathing itself is drawn deeper. Beside the
various movements with their different effects, a means to this end
consists also in a gradually increasing exertion in the day’s exercise
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