The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-02-06
PHYSICIAN TRAINING

That Important subject,
C. W. Whitney, in HGrpeFa Young People
1t seems curious that with the adj
vance wo have made in tho last few
years in scientific athletics, there should
still ha cause for writing 40 strongly on
subject that ought to be covered by
the common sense OF mature men, and
yet am constantly hearing oil tug-ot-
war teams composed Of boys fifteen,
sixteen, and seventeen years OF age, and
right hero in our own city | can point
to school football elevens that last sea-
son went into regular training, It has
been custom, too, in several schools
to permit course OF more or less So
yere training as preparation for track
athletic events. Tho tug-of-war is so
tremendous u strain on the system that
in tho last year or two the game has
fallen into disuse at nearly all athletic
contests among young men, while the
colleges have dropped it entirely. That
undeveloped boys should be allowed for
moment to have anything to do with
such health.sapping game seems,
therefore, incomprehensible, believe
the tug-of.war has been abandoned by
the best schools in New York, and It
should DO cast into outer darkness all
over the country.
Az for general training OF athletic
events, it is very near as great amis-
take, and am addressing myself to
boys sixteen years Of age and under,
though, OF course, my remarks will
apply with equal force to many boys oil
seventeen, eighteed, and even nineteen,
who are usually backward in their
physical development Growing boys
should not expect nor make any
attempt to get their muscles hard!
1t would be directly against all laws OF
nature II they were so, The main idea
in athletic work is 10 keep the skin
clean, and get inside your veins and
arteries pure blood, and plenty OF 1t.
Tho only training you must think OF
doing is with your stomach. Keep 1t
in good condition by eating plenty OF
wholesome food, and you will find
yourself equal to whatever exercise you
are inclined to do. Care ofthe stomach,
and an amount OF athletic work which
stops short OF firing the boys out, are
all tho trimming that should be permitted
school teams OF any description.
10 cat his meals at the same hour
every day and to do no munching be-
tween meals are sufficient to make the
boy who follows tho rule honestly, su.
perior, at leust in Condition" to the
one who does not. For the rest, auy
kind OF out door athletic work that is
not too severe, as, for example, running,
jumping and hurdling, will gradually
build him up, and increase his muscles
as rapidly as his strength will permit.
By running, mean cross.country
running, or what approaches 1t as near
" rs possible. Running short distances
at top speed is not only undesirable for
the growing lad, but it is decidcnly in.
furious. Sprinting one or two hundred
yards is bad enough, but when it comes
to training boy at quarter or hall
mile, which is in fact, a prolonged
sprint, the harm he receives is likely to
be very considerable and lasting.
II boys are inclined to become sprint
ers tho best and safest procedure is
Tor them to conGne their efforts to SIM
Pile starting" not running out more
than forty to fifty yards atthe utmost,
until they have gained something OF
their growth aud strength, and they
will find they have fitted Themselves
for greater efforts by the best possible
means. After all, starting is everything
in sprinting nowadays; the speed is
more or less natural, but skill in getting
of the mark Is acquired.
In my opinion il Is great mistake To
| .,,k afN n NV n.
nahum for tho conventional courses OF
instruction. Not ono gymnasium in
structor in fifty adapts himself to the
individual requirements OF hiI pupilsj
and even we're he to do 80, the lad will
not reap one-half the benefit from fol-
lowing the usual routine OF pulleys,
weights, etc, that he will by romping
about out.of.doors. Give him Il little
sensible light dumbbell work for ton OF
fifteen minutes when no first gets out oil
bed in the morning and then keep him
out in the open air for Just MS much
time as he can spare from his studies
which at this age should nos occupy
much OF his timc out OF school hours.
have noticed growing tendency to
permit children to sit up much later
than is good for them, the natural re-
suit being u too prevalent fondness for
tho bed in tho morning. II u boy wants
to keep himself in prime condition, to
up strong and vigorous, let him get uF
III the morning long enough before
breakfast to have frat ten minutes oil
brisk work with o pair OF light wooden
dumbbells, then his cold bath, and
afterwards sharp walk OF fifteen min
utes. Any boy who will follow thii
plan will discover before many weeks
that no is easily superior to his class
mates in almost any athletic work hi
undertakes, while headaches and othoI
ills too common to growing lads vii
be unknown to him.