Evening star., 1895-10-31

THEY OUGHT NOT TO RIDE.
Eject of the Exercise Of Wheeling On
Physical Condition.
From the New York Times.

FROM the New 1ork
For those in good average health no sim
gle outdoor exercise offers SO much as
cycling and it is the best remedy for MANY
of the dis engendered by an artificial civili-
zation; but there are those who should not
ride. Persons having valvular affection.
any kind of heart trouble. most emphati-
cally should not take up riding without
previously taking counsel with a physician.
Cycling differs from other sports in that
its first and most pronounced effect is on
the heart Particularly is this true in
cases of persons unaccuStomed to athletic
exercises. Muscles and other tissues, which
have become flabby from disuse, when pat
to Unus ual eXertion not only make an un-
expected demand upon the heart for blood;
but, because of their degenerate condition,
they offer resistance to free circulation,
and thus impose unnatural as well as I'M
common labor upon the blood pump
When person begins wheeling he brings
rto play new sets of muscles. and blood
vessels in certain parts of the body, which
have been doing very little work, make
sudden call for blood to their utmost dis
tel. sion. The arteries are not ready. with
out gradual preparation, to convey such
volumes Of f,zi, and in all the tissues an
effete condition has to be overcome. The
result is that the heart has set for it a
task beyond its developed strength. and it
pounds and futters in frantic efforts TO
n .eet the task.
Going into the exercise gradually the
heart grows stronger and becomes en-
Lar ged This increase in size is hyper
Il cpty, which, wi en- slight, does not mat
ter, az; il is simply compensatory to the
extra work. but if the organ is continually
taxed to the utmost the condition takes on
the aspect of disease. 1t will BECOME of eX-
oessive size. work CIT of harmony with the
rest of the body and be abnormally sensi-
tive to impressions of dill kinds. The SIM
pie prev. ntive of this is to proceed SO slow
IL in the exercise that the muscles and
~
ually toned up to such a balance that they
do not make the excessive demands for
b.ood, and do not hinder its flow by their
laH and fiabby condition.
The consideration of second Importance is
iE relation to the lungs. Persons having
an advanced asthmatic condition should
rot cycle unless SO ordered professionally.
Cycling and rowing offset each other in the
respect that what is the primary effect in
one is secondary in the other. Rowing
tells most on the breathing and next on the
heart, while wheel riding affects the lungs
Ii IS than it Goes the circulation.
Generally the stimulus to breathing which
l., given by riding is of wholesome meas
IRE, and those with slight pulmonary af-
fectioBs are just the ones who should ride.
1t strengthens the muscles of the back and
cultivates a habit of deep breathing. 1t
also develops new tissues in the upper
IL hes of the lungs. which, a rule, are
little used. 1t is to this employment of
new air cells that is due the lameness
| just inside the shoulders complained of by
new riders. Ordinarily all this increased
| lung work is excellent, and means more
| DC wer, but with those having severe and
| Outstanding form of pulmonary complaint
| the lungs are apt to be too weak for the
strain, and may go TO pieces under il.
Even in cases where light hemorrhages are
! caused by riGirg. however, some doctors
| advise its continuance. but in these matters
physicians disagree, and every individual
| must be guided by the counselor upon
| whom they rely.
| Other persons who should not ride, unless
| medically advised to do so, are those af-
| ficted with any internal strain, such as
| hernia, end, in short, all who have or
ganic disorders of whatever kind. Any all
! ment of this class is liable to be aggra-
\ated by riding. Functional arrangements
are the ills mainly benefited by cycling,
| ard for them no exercise Is SO generally
! helpful.