The morning call., 1894-05-27
ATHLETIC.
Walter Dohm's Last Article on Run
ming and Breathing.

Walter c. Dohm, The Princeton University
athlete and one Of the fastest amateur runners
and hurdleracers in the country, wrote a very
instructive article before his death Oh breath
ing through the nose OF mouth when running,
which The CALL tat es pleasure In publishing
as the matter contained therein must prove in
structVe and OF much value 10 local athletes.
Dohm graduated at Princeton in the class OF
1890. He broke The half-mile int,rcoll gate
record at Berkeley Oval, May 81. 1890, tie
time being ! :67 10 DOhm's record has never
been broken. While attending the Princeton
pennsylvania football game in Philadelphia,
yember last, Dohm contracted cold which
raDldly developed into consumption.
Mr.. Dohm was one Of the fastest quarter ana
half mile runners Princeton ever produced and
his magnificent performances are sti fresh In
The students minds. Probably his best feat
was accomplished on September 10, 1891. al
the Manhattan Athletic Club games Man
haitian Field, when he won tho halt mile race
In l minute SAP seconds, beating his own
American record of ! minute 5512 seconds
IL de at TTavers Island, June % 1889. He
would undoubtedly have made better time al
Manhattan Field but for the fact that he had
TO run ali around the field on the last Ian The
times caught were: Hughes :54IA Wendell
Baker 1:54 20. Van Shaick l 90 20, Avery
! :54 As. DOhm won more cups for Princeton
than any other one man in the past Hfteen
years. and his name was dear to every Prince
ton heart.
His letter reads: shall breathe through
my mouth or my nose?"
This i, one Of the first questions the novice.
on beginning TO train for running, asks his
trainer.
The answer to the question almost Invariably
is: Through the mouth, of course. You
can't get your wind through the nose"
The runner will probably attempt, however,
to use the organs nature designed for respira-
uon-the nosIrils. For about The first furong
all goes well. l he air passes freely through
The nose and initiates the lungs TO their fun ex.
tent.
A. The point when the muscular exeriions of
The runner make themselves felt in more huT-
RED respiration It seems as though the nostrils
were beginning 10 close. A few strides more
and al each attempt TO inspire it Is as though a
Breathing through the nosirils Is no longer
possible and the athlete obtains relief In a long
deep breath through the mouth.
Now what has happened?
The nOstTilS have really closed to such an ex-
tent as to be no longer able 10 supply the
amount OF oxygen required by The lungs. The
little muscles which under normal conditions
slightly expand the Mares or wings of the
nose at each breath could not withstand the
Increased pressure o: the incoming current
against the sides of the nose and allowed the
wings TO be forced against the septuIn or mar.
utlon between the nosIrls, completely shutting
OFF tn air.
AS Illustration of this roint, stand before
mirror, take deep, sudden breath Though
the nO.tIils, and notice the effect.
Bfeatnlng normally, The nostrls exnand
slightly Al each inspiration. II the attemnt he
IN
as Is necessary when running, f. Will be seen
that the nostrls collapse, OF fall in 10 a greater
or less extent.
OF all the runners OF any note whom I have
known, L Iecollect but one who breatbed
through bis nose. That was f. C. Carter vino
won championships OF England and America
In mile and five mile races and made r, cords
snat are Still on the "slate" No Other athlete
whom nave met was able TO breathe through
the nose when The respiration was Increased 10
any considerable extent.
what are the effects Of this abnormal man.
hef Oh Dleetblng continued day after day for
months! 1nry ale not so serious az might a
MIST De imagined. The same exposure I'm ordI.
nary cases would probably be followed nv
severe sore throat, calarIh or bronchitis The
atnIete, however except for bis much abused
throat, Is placed under the most favorable con-
ohions Oh hygiene and diet. His system gem
orally is IN the best physical condition and n IA
olmcnlt Tor disease 10 tet grip on him
The mouth breathing of the civilized and
eoucateo atnlrte Is hard 10 undeTstaud when
we Terle mber that the Indian hunter or pedAS-
trlan keeps MS mouth closed while running az
invariably as the whiie man keeps his open
Inc reason Is That the muscles coutroliDo
the wings OF The Indian no.tIils-tho diiatoTes
naTes-are better developed than those Of The
white msu.
What is the remedy? First of all exercise of
the muscles. BY rcs0luIely keeping The MANN
closed the athlete will ind that he can from
day to day accomplish little more, breathing
normally.
He may hasten the work OF strengthening the
muscles by system OF massage-by Gen Iv
rubbing The inner side OF the mares eyety day
with little vaseline, applied either by the nm
ger or bit OF absorbent cotton wound ON the
end OF a too hpick.-
But the process at best is slow ana Tho a,h
lete gill In all probability grow impatient and