The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-06-07
DANGER AND BENEFIT IN THE
USE OF THE BICYCLE.

Whatever is the truth concerning BIZ
cycling should be made generally known.
1t is duty and q privilege to give to the
people the most advanced and best sup
ported views Of medical science relative
TO this delightful form of exercise. and
which is in SO large degree beneficial.
and in so considerable a degree injurious.
The Medical Record reports the con-
sensus of the Paris Academy OF NJ edi-
at after much discussion. This consen-
sus seems to warrant the conclusion that
moderate exercise on the bicycle is ad-
visable in Inconsistencies condition OF
nervous debility supposed to be depend
ent upon impairment in the function Of
the spinal cord; in an4mia-a morbid
condition in which the blood is deficient
either in quality or quantity; dyspepsia.
govt, obesity, slowness of nutrition, and
where moderate muscular exercise is re-
quired.
But bicycling is to be absolutely for
hidden in phthisis. organic disease OF the
heart, and albuminuria-a morbid condi-
ton in which albumin is present in the
urine. The writer of the report made to
the Medical Record says:
For girls, especially, 1t is not only ill-suited
but dangerous. The writer knows OF two
cases OF metrorrhagia brought on by mild
bicycling. The amount OF INJURY done 10 the
pelvic organs of young girls just reaching
womanhood will not be long in making Itself
felt in the shape OF uterine versions aud Hex
IONS or cellulitis, to say nothing of other
serious complications us those mentioned
above.
1t is necessary to add that the warning
may be properly applied, that metror-
rhagia is profuse bleeding; cellulitis is an
Inflammation of the cellular or areolar
tissue, especially of that lying imme-
diately beneath the skin.
These facts. il they be facts, and they
certainly have the Endorsement of high
authority, should be widely known, for
the health of our women stands before all
considerations of pleasure in the use of
the bicycle.
But there is hope for the women, a hope
that is, indeed, reality in France and in
England. namely, the automatic bicycle.
This machine. while costing more than
any other does. compensates for it in the
abolition of the pedal and the substitu-
ton of an electric motor in one case and
gasoline or oil motor in the other.
These are supplemented for grades and
for other purposes, such as slowing and
stopping, by slight and harmless use of
the handle-bar. In these machines there
is in this motion, as in the case Of the
sewing machine, that possible evil re-
sides. The automatic machines likewise
permit of far more comfortable seat;
they are as swift as anyone may wish,
and there is all the feeling of flestness,
airiness and all the exhilaration that
makes the bicycle SO delightful to the
expert rider.
We can safely trust to American lnge-
ruity to 80 improve upon these automatic
machines that their cost will be- rapidly
and considerably reduced, and their COM
fort made superior to that of the wheel
as we now have it. 1t has the advantage
over all other machines Of entailing no
WEAKNESS whatever, while with it a
greater distance can be covered, and it
can be used by invalids, to whom the use
of the present wheel is forbidden.