Wichita eagle., 1888-05-05
PHYSICAL CULTURE.
DEVELOPING ONE SET OF MUSCLES
AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHERS.
Pedestrianism, Rowing, Baseball, Tennis
and Running-The Sensible and Ply
Biological Way-Horseback Exercise.
Field Sports Very Eealthfu1.

and Running-The Sensible and Ply
Biological Way-Horseback Exercise.
Field Sports Very HealthfuL
/ am strong believer in physical Gull
ture, but physical culture is something
entirely different from outdoor sports as
they are carried on at present Amerl-
cans do not take enough exercise. Many
! patients that come to the doctor need out
door exercise more than they do medicine.
/ AS some one has said the dyspepsia from
which man suffers is oftentimes more in
his legs than in his stomach.
The great difficulty with our sports is
that they develop one set OF muscles at
the expense of the others. A man who
trains for q speciality is trained only in
the parts of the body brought chiefly into
play in that particular sport or recrea-
ton. A tennis player trains in one way,
O runner in another, while boatsman
goes through an entirely different course
from either Each of these athletes is
strong in one direction, but he has neg
lected general muscular exercises for the
/ sake of developing a special locality. 1t
will be found that the man who is ply
! sically strong in q special sport is weak
/ in some part of his body. A man, for in
stance, who intends to be a runner will
+ so train as to develop the muscles OF his
legs; but he will reduce the weight of his
/ body above his legs in order to carry less
weight.
DANGERS OF POPULAR SPORTS.
Pedestrianism is wholesome when in
dulged in for pleasure, but is bad in con-
/ tests. The professional pedestrian finally
becomes thoroughly broken up; the stom-
ach and general system are exhausted by
100 much exertion. Rowing is one of the
best exercises if INDUCED in moderately,
but an oarsman can row in a contest until
entirely exhausted and not know 1t until
he is taken from his boat paralyzed, so to
speak.
Baseball is full of danger, especially to
the pitcher So true is this that the "base-
ball pitchers arm" as well as the ''tennis
arm are recognized in the medical pro-
fession as special diseases. The exercise
in baseball is very violent and sooner or
later causes overStrain.
Tennis is violent exercise and is liable
to be carried too far.
Running is too much Of an outburst to
be of service in general way, and is only
good on account of the previous training
necessary to follow it up. 1t carries its
own remedy with it in the natural giving
out OF the legs before the rest of the body
is exhausted.
Training should bring up the general
physical status to a point that Will enable
it to endure its utmost and with just a
little to spare for the push of the urgent
moment. There should be just enough
strength left to make the finish better
than the start-to break the record of the
individual, SO to speak, and leave him in
better physical condition than before
The sensible and physiological way for
a man to take outdoor sport is acting on
medical authority, to develop by special
exercises the parts of his body that are
weak. If man take any pride in a sym
metrically rounded physique he should
give his whole attention to the organs that
are weak.
HORSEBACK EXERCIsE-HUNTING
1t is surprising to me that horseback
exercise is not more INDUCED in than it is.
Many young men spend enough money on
their vices or follieS to enable them to
keep a horse l would suggest that for
those who cannot own horse riding clubs
might be formed. Let the horses be used
by the members of clubs just as boats are
used by boating clubs. The expense Of
keeping the horses under such conditions,
when divided up among members, would
be small, and the horseback exercise
could be varied with the more vigorous
sports in which young men now indulge.
In that way the strength of the body
would be more equalized. The outskirts
of New York and Brooklyn furnish many
lanes and roads through beautiful country,
and the riders could not fail to enjoy
themselves.
l do not know of any outdoor exercise
so suitable for men as the sports Of the
field. Hunting is a healthful and bene-
fetal sport. There is just enough excite
ment about it to make the exercise you
take beneficial. While you are walking
you are thinking about something Of in
terest; while your body is being exercised
your brain gets a stimulus. Hunting Is
good for the well and good for many who
are sick / have known invalids sent to
the south with the advice that they should
go shooting to come back restored In
health.
The man who combines hunting in the
field with horseback riding, as is done in
the south, has the best kind Of outdoor
recreation. Field sports are for young
men; the older ones must be content with
fishing or following the rabbits. Fleet
Spier, n. D., in The Epoch