The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-11
IMMINENT FOE ATHLL TIES.
Is II Beneficial or IL 1t Merely an Auxiliary
to the IkubbIngf

is the use of n rubbing liniment. either
before or after exercise or n race. beneficial TO
an athlete" is the pulling question a CORE
| spondent Of THE Sun sends. Heretofore thore
| have been innumerable arguments among the
| fraternity concerning which liniment was the
| best or how and when to apply 1t, but no hereto
| has ever come to the fore questioning the I'LL
| innate beneficial results OF liniment. A bottle
| OF some lfniment, whether it was the most SUI
perior advertised brand or home made prep
aration Of hair oil and bay rum. has been as
essential to the latter-day athlete as his run
ming trunks. and now this correspondent takes
| step that may sweep away the popular ira
! dition OF young amateurs. namely. that it is
necessary to apply some irritant fluid to I'M
bend the muscles and develop speed.
| It Is only In late years that this almost uni
versal use of liniments has taken place. Old
timers never heard of such a thing in their
days. except in case OF severe injury to the
muscles Nowadays an athlete rubs down
with liniment going on tho track and return
ing from it, repeats going to bed and again
when getting up, and 1t would be a hard task
indeed to convince these enthusiasts that the
application is not beneiiting them.
Judging by the opinion OF experts intor-
viewed on the matter. 1t would appear that the
use OF any liniment or irrtant when al athlete
much money thrown away. The rubbing, the
friction derived from the massage treatment
Is what benefits the athlete. the accompanying
fluid being Of little account except that IL may
act as Q lubricant. Professional sprinters,
who are far ahead Of the amateurs in every
thing pertaining to the sport, seldom use lini-
ment. and then only when going in training
after q spell OF tdleneSs.
Rubbing is very beneficial to an athlete g
muscles. and it Is the benefit derived from
rubbing IN the IMMINENT that has probably
"A Ia Ia
properties in the finid. Athletes should be-
careful IN rubbing that they rub up and down.
vigorously, and this forces the blood into tho
feet. instead Of sending it bounding and Jump
Ing through the yes sells: Lay an athlete pros
downward and the evil effect will be seen in
the pefGS,ePtiblo swelling OF the feet.
there are times when m etectual rubbing with
liniment is In order. But the. extravagant in
diligence OF II before and after exercise and
racing is misplaced, There Is great diversity
OF opinion among the athletes regarding fire.
guent applications. but those having made II
study OF tho subject are unanimous that only II
sprained or stifrened muscle is sufficient OK
cuse for applying, some tniment. and then
dominating part. Alexander Jordan and Prot.
Goldie. together with A. B. George. 500 great
thrown others into convulsions OF laughter.
Ihe anxious correspondent may e. oyer tho
toLo,wSing testimony, and 4 no ccnn discover
whether It is proper or no. to uso llnlmcui huI
what kind to use we shall feel satisfied.
Dr.. W. l.. Savage. Athletic Director ~ tho
Berkeley Lyceum. is ut tho opinion that lnl-
ments are not OF material Donnit to n.hi"'"-.
Of the rubbing f ne snii that help. til" All.
lete. the llnimont playing u small ,rl, a. /
the trainer to get more vigorous no Il. iiut |
DO not believe there IL any Eood dcr.ni from |
the bare application OF linjm"nt. The prpr!- /
and this, haY ng an lrritant eioet, may prove Y |
SOFT OF stiWuan' Hmt II T. n,er9 SR lrc,r;
foot" athletes, also puts himself on record
against the ndi5criminnto use OF linimeuts, |
aud many OF his 2lbeet9ns coincide with pr.
case OF spraln or stiffness, II vigorous hand |
rubbing before O. Iqce VIII hccomr,lsh al ihat I
snnst Sas yIunne ' easjy Tor ten "r ftcen
yards. and then ~ inl speed u little longer /
distance, which Will bring The blood 70 tho Gun
any OF the muscles during the race good |
rubbing should follow the race. an then when |
dead tissue. However, Tho use OF linimen,ss |
cannot work much harm, and Prot. Gold" !
does not inteTpos9 any objections to Whatever |
outlandlsh lotions his athletes may fancy. lIo |
Is rather partial himself 10 rubbing with cam
E a OIL IL cold weather, and pooh .poohs
pores OF The skin, After II severe distance race |
Mr. Goldie recommends u rubbing with lin. |
ment about tho thighs ,agd. groin lie dcpre- |
although heating. evaporates SO quickly as to |
bring on the danger OF chin. lie recon-
D., Jack Goulding, the veteran trainer Of the
SInatnhattan cracks: thoroughly believes in tho
a secret lotion OF his own, and athletes gencr- /
ally sneak In high terms off He Vas a uttlo /
and fo oP odes ba 9 0e9Es Of III 'FET %S
that llniment was in ispcnsdbig in the training
Of athletes, especially when they got stIi y
I've rubbed him with the stun as much as four
Times during SGT oil games. LIN no doelor'