Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-03


OF IGNORANCE OF THE ART-THE DANGERS FROM
HEART FAILURE AND SHARKS EXAGGERATED.
Bathing and boating accidents" was the
subject Of an interesting paper which was read
by DIR. Irving c. Rose, professor of nervous
diseases, Georgetown university, at the recent
meeting of physicians at Newport, R. I.
Gas a physician and practical athlete" he
said, II may show more than ordinary en-
thusiasm in making plea for the educational,
hygienic and curative advantages of an exer-
else that 1 have practiced ut many different
places over the warld, from the tropics to the
Arctic ocean, and in such places as mountain
lakes, the mid-Atlantic aud even in a volcanic
crater some 1900 feet deep. The frequent &C
counts Of drowning that one reads constantly
in the daily papers at this season. aside from
those occurring i'll the late floods, instesd Of
dampenlng rather rekindle an ardor, to which
is added tinge of regret consequent upon the
reflection that most Of these accidents arise
from inability to swim, for with only moder-
| ate knowledge of this easily acquired art, many
lives may be saved and much bereavement pre-
vented. Philanthropic motives, il no other,
would therefore prompt one to give the matter
more than passing notice. In view of the sur
prisngly great number of deaths from
drowning it is lamentable in this prac-
teal age that the useful art Of
swimming takes such small part in the training
OF youth Young minds are crammed with all
sorts OF useless information to the neglect of
what is essential to the preservation of per-
sonal health and the saving of life. Legisla-
tors vote large sums of money for doubtful
jobs, yet refuse to countenance the establish
ment OF swimming baths in our cities. The
police regulations Of most of our large towns,
conceived in the interests Of extreme prudery,
virtually tend to make swimming one of the
lost arts. Those of the District Of Columbia,
for instance, were evidently framed in the
same spirit Of protest which caused a former
governor Of Maryland to object to midshipmen
swimming from a certain wharf in the naval
academy because the ladies could see them
with their opera glasses.
THE IMPORTANCE OF SWIMMING.
"That people do not fully realize the impor-
lance Of swimming is a trite observation, but a
truth none the worse for frequent repetition,
and allowing it to lie fallow will never bring
about the desired information. Long personal
experience with swimming SO convinces me Of
its usefulness that il it came to a choice
between knowing the higher mathematics or
how to swim should choose the latter every
time. At many Of the large schools in England
lads are obliged to pass in swimming before
they are allowed to go out in boats. This rule
established at Eaton in 1910, has been effectuai
there in the prevention of drowning, only one
case having occurred since that time, although
the swapping of boats has been frequent A
yearly average Of $50 boys learn to swim and
pass the test. 1t is, of course, possible to en-
force such rule In schools and among bodies
Of individuals where discipline obtains, yet this
manly and invigorating accomplishment is
neglected both in educational establishments
and in the army. Swimming is taught at our
naval academy, but at West Point it is not and
most of the cadets are lamentably deficient in
this respect The statistical exhibits of our
late war show the strongest reason
WHY SOLDIER SHOULD KNOW HOW TO SWIM,
"The aggregation of killed in action is shown
to be 67,05s, while there were drowned 1O6
officers and 1888 men. The small regular army
lost 5 officers and 80 men from this cause: the
United States colOred troops 6 officers and 289
men; and the volunteers furnished large con-
tingent, the state Of Ohio alone having lost IA
officers and 40 men from drowning. Just
think OF a number amounting to five regiments
perishing from easily preventable cause: for
the majority Of these men were drowned In
such circumstances as fording stream cross
ing narrow rivers, or by the upsetting of small
boats, when q few strokes would have suficed
drowned, say the cynical wiseacres True. q
good swimmer sometimes meets with that mis-
fortune, but the occurrence is 30 rare that for
that very reason vivid effect is produced on
the imagination and memory Of unthinking
persons, who, accustomed to make posfhoc cor.
illusions, never for . moment consider the
greater number who are saved BY knowing how
to swim.
SOME OBJECTIONS ANswKaxp.
"Among other prevailing and groundless OBJ
jections to swimming are the production Of
colds, the danger of heart failure and the risk
OF being bitten BY sharks. Al to colds and the
effect Of the cold immersion in the water. I
should say that the danger therefrom q greatly
exaggerated, If my own experience = any
guide, for have never had cold from sviur
ming In 10y water, even under the Arctic eirole.
On the contrary, one OF the ssverest oolds I
ever had was contracted In Wnnhinr1on soYna