The record-union., 1895-08-06

AeoilHs anu tOucu WuiIo III the immature
state is putting tax on them that makes
them prematurely old; there is such
strain in avoiding collisions for instance.
Overstrain is a danger in cycling of two
kinds, extreme and moderate The first
relates TO those who perform great feats
as to distance and time; men who 60 for
hundreds OF miles without rest, who do
without proper sleep, and engage in great
trial in competition. Never one of these
escapes harm, serious harm. Even if
they get safely through, the period of re-
covery, the resting is Itself strain, an
ordeal to which the body should never
be subjected. All racers, record breakers
and competition contestants the doctor
warns seriously, and plainly tells them
that they will break down.
He protests against the employ ment of
boys on the wheel in commercial life in
carrying goods, delivering packages, etc.
which he AYERS boys in London are doing,
the full work of horse. The outcome is
enlargement of the heart and derange-
ments of the blood vessels that follow
upon dilation of the arterial current.
When maturity comes to such there is
found to be a disproportion between
the vascular system and the other parts
of the body, which means general irregu-
larity of junction, a powerful left heart
pulsating into a feeble body, and pow
erful right heart pulsating into the lungs.
The doctor says he has seen so much of
this that he speaks with perfect confidence
and without any reserve. Even many
young persons not in business throw so
much enthusiasm into cycling that the
same effects develop in their cases.
Another thing that develops in the
cyclist is a certain vibratory motion.
condition of mind and body that is mis-
chievous. This is seen in certain uncon-
scious or semi-conscious movements of
| the body which become sensible to the
subject himself at times when great stead
mess is demanded. The effect is seen
| also in overdesire for rapidity of motion.
as if it were necessary at every movement
| to overcome time and curtail distance by
labor of an extreme degree. There de-
velops also an intoxication of movement
which grows on the mind by what it
feeds on, and keeps the heart under the
impression that it is always requiring the
stimulation of the exercise.
Another thing due to cycling that the
doctor says cannot be neglected, and
which he has himself experienced, is
losing the sense of strain. AS when one
has been out some time and is Swimming
along and feeling fine" and has gained
his wind" and the thigh strain has
ceased-that is. all things are working in
harmony-and the rider is exhilarated
and feels that he can keep right on all
day. and really regrets when the day
closes and he must dismount. He takes
his supper and later bath and retires for
the night. but cannot sleep. He is kept
cles, especially in the calves of the legs.
They are i'll motion, though one cannot
feel them, but on looking can see them
twitching. This is the result of an over
irritable condition excited by riding.
The doctor has known actual break
downs from this cause, whore the phe-
nomena steadily reappeared. He warns
all cyclists. especially those of middle
age, to moderate their enthusiasm whom
ever they find the exercise produces mus
cular restlessness and impaired sleep.
Sir Benjamin, being asked, says he has
never known hernia, enlargement of the
veins, congestion of the brain, giddiness,
or other symptoms rsferable to the head
to be due to cycling. But he has known
those Of equity tendency, the lymphatic,
who took to cycling and at first felt great
benefit from it to pretty soon lose tone,
become depressed, and be compelled to
abandon the loved exercise. He has
known peculiar kind Of govt to be in
duced among those of the equity tendency
by the exercise due to OVERRIDING the
thing.
Finally he warns all against strain of
the nervous powers by reason of too Sc
we're observation in riding, such as is in
duced by fear of collisions in crowded
streets, too rapid motion in descending
hills, too severe trial in overcoming OBJ
stacles and stress of nerve power in
avoiding falls.
While DR.. Richardson pauseS here and
does not tell us how far one may go in
cycling with benefit, we conclude from
his whole paper that his motto is mod
GRAFTON all around. 1t should not need
even a warning by inference, however.
in favor of such rule. The true pleas
ure of the wheel is in its moderate use.
Violent and long-continued bicycling is
just as surely coming into condemnation
as is violent exercise in any other form.
The difficulty is that because he is borne
along fleetly, the eyclist does not realize
that he is straining-he will learn better
soon. The thing to do is, therefore, TO
ride moderately AS to speed, distance and
length of time in which one INDUCES;
never to ride soon after eating, nor
when very tired, nor when just arisen from
sleep, n or when heated, and always to rest
when nature makes the slightest demand
for it. There is nothing on earth worth