Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-28
DOCTORS AND BICYCLES.
A Physicians Opinion in Regard
This Form of Exercise.

This Form of Exercise.
This new woman craze has done one
good thing for the SEX said prominent
physician to reporter of The Star. IT'S
making them develop themselves as God
intended they should. The bicycle craze
Is the most sensible fad I ever heard of,
and will do more toward giving us a race
free from bodily ills than anything else. A
great deal, however, depends upon the
kind of bicycle riding they do. Moderate
riding even for long time out of the city
into the country is, in general, beneficial.
There ara number of diseases, limited to
females; bicycle riding would be injurious
IN such cases. Violent riding for short
time, either by man or woman, is hurtful,
even though they are free from organic
disease. sudden strain which falls
principally upon the heart, is always inju-
rious, especially in the case of persons who
are not accustomed to it, Many men and
women do themselves harm in gymnasiums
by taking violent exercise for half an
nOur and spending the remaining hours
OF the day in sleep or sedentary habits.
Moderate exercise of almost any kind, I'M
der such circumstances. would be bene-
fciaL 1t would be well for persons, espe-
claliy women who contemplate bicycle
riding, to first have themselves examined
by a competent physician. For if any dis
ease existed which would make the use of
the bicycle undesirable it could be rea lilly
det"cted. If the heart is not overworked,
riding a bicycle will strengthen it, and 10y
gradual progress longer distances may be
travelled as the heart strengthens and the
muscles increase in power.
This talk about a woman's heart being
weaker than mans is all buncombe.
They are bit tenderer when Cupid is
about, l understand. but really l never
saw one exposed al that time Put me on
record as opposed to bending over like a
monkey when riding. The girls don't do it
to any great extent. 1t is bad practice,
wholly unnecessary. inducing stoop Shout
ders, and causes oftentimes a temporary
congestion of the brain by rush of blood to
the head, which may result seriously BIZ
cycle riding is good for digestion and
tarrhs of the alimensary tracts. What is
proper riding for may be wholly i'm
proper for another. Any one at all deli
cate should consult physician as to The
manner ard amount of riding.
No rule can be given. Individual lido
syncrasies, as well as diseases, must be
taken into account. In dressing to ride q
wheel. the woman should avoid long.
heavy skirts and. above all. should not
lace. Persons should breathe through the
nose-the natural channel for air to enter
the lungs. The air so entering is purified
and its temperature regulated. When a
person gets so short-winded that he is
forced to breathe through the mouth it is
sure indication that he is riding too hard.
Never ride for an hour or after meals.
because the vital forces and blood are
needed for digestion. 1t is a well under
Stoou iaCl tHdt no great exSft.on Sn0ul1
be made during digestion. This is espe-
cially so during stomach digestion, which
usually lasts about an hour and a half
after meals.
"Consumptives. unless too far advanced.
will be benefited by bicycle riding. Ner-
vous people, especially those suffering
from hysteria, will find the bicycle gives
good results, and dyspeptics should ride,
by all means. Bicycling is good for chronic
'Iyperemia of the liver. more commonly
known as torpid liver.
Mid outdoor exercise is one of the most
valuable adjuncts to the treatment of
nearly all chronic conditions, when this ex-
ercise ca be taken without a patient he
coming greatly fstigued. But if exercise
on a bicycle be followed by exhaustion
great fatigue. 1t is too severe, and some
mider form. such carriage riding.
should be substituted. If the cyclist is
able to get out into the country. il only for
short time each day. ard breathe the
pure air. it will be more beneficial than
all the toniCs ever Connected. The pleas
ure and mental invigoraton that follows a
ride is also matter of no small import
aHce. especially for people who are prone
to brood over their real or imaginary all
ments."