The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1876-04-25
panxer OF oxer-Excrtion.

DIR. David Ward Richardson, Of En-
gland, an eminent medical authority,
has published book upon Diseases
of Modern Life" IL is q volume Of
rare merit in point of lucidity and the
plain, practical manner in which his
subjects are handled. He argues against
excessive physical exertiop, and in the
following quotation hits at some popu-
lar forms OF violent physical action.
Although under necessity il may be
virtue, when not absolutely requisite it
is to be in all cases avoided. Its effect
is to wear out the vital organs prema-
turely, and occasion a train OF diseases
terminating in death before the nat
ural term OF life is more than half ex-
pired. With regard to certain athletic
sports like the boat-race and the foot
race, which have long been popular in
England, and are coming into favor in
America, the author writes in the fol-
lowing emphatic language:
can scarcely overrate the dangers of
those fierce competitive exercises which
the world in general seems determined
TO applaud. l had the opportunity,
once in my life, al living near trainer,
himself q champion rover. He was
patient of mine, and he gave me ample
opportunity OF studying the conditions
OF maay OF those whom he had trained
both for running aud rowing. / found
occasion, certainly. to admire the ply
sique to which his trained men were
brought, = the strength OF muscle they
attained. the force OF their heart; but
the admiration was qualified by the
stern fact of the results. The state Of
perfection arrived mt was, at best, arti-
ficial, aud was sustainable for but
brief period. The mode Of life neces-
sary for perfection was itself incom-
patible beyond limited time, with the
ordinary necessities and requirements
of life; and, when the artificial system
ceassd,-whep, the voluntary muscles,
sustained by force of will ready for in
slant aud violent effort, were allowed
TO lapse down to the ordinary tone,-
then the involuntary muscles - the
heart especially, which could be neither
hidden nor permitted TO lapse in the
same way--remained in strength out OF
ell due proportion greater than the rest
of the active moving parts OF the or
ganism. BY skillful training it is quite
true that men may be, and are, brought
ND TO fne external standard; but the
external development il 30 commonly
the covering OF an internal AMI fatal
evil, that l venture to affirm there is
not in England o trained professional
athlete, Of the age Of 80, who has been
ten years at his calling, who is not dis
ahled. He may hold on. sustained by
Q will which cannot bend to defeat; he
may win brsvely; then win, and only
Just win; then tie some new antagonist;
then lose, and, urged by his friends
whose ardor is dampened. retire; but
he will soon die. The falling of which
has been observed by patrons or ad-
mirers before actual failure, means, not
want of skill, not stiffness OF joint, but
actual over-worked, worn-out heart and
blood-vsssel; il means, in fact now, n
race for life rather than q rnce for fame.
In my professional work have been
in attendance on as many a. seven men
thus brought TO incapacity before the
middle term OF their lives. who, by
virtue Of their fine organizations,
might, and in all human probability
would, have lived to n vigorous old age
under y system OF exercise less lawless
against nature and less suicidal.
An example Of the truth of DIR. Rich
ardson's theories lately occurred In
Grand Rapids, in the death Of Hon.
Byron ID. Ball from what was termed
enlargement OF the heart. He had
been excessively fond Of athletic exer-
cises aud had developed a remarkably
fine physique; but that 1t cost him an
early tomb all physicians agree.