The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-09
THE CYCLE FOR HEALTH.
DR.. Benjamin w. Richardson
Discusses Its Advantages
and Dement'S.
Curious Phenomena Observed by
the Eminent London Doctor
in His Practice.


"What to Avoid in Cycling is the title
of an article in the North American Re-
view for August. The author is Sir Ben
jamin Ward Richardson, MD, FRS,
who is well known both in the world of
medicine and of letters. His articles in the
Lancet and the British Medical Journal
are everywhere recognized as authoritative
upon the matters of which they treat.
Sir Benjamin Richardson introduces his
subject with the following remarks:
at has been my lot for so long a series
of years to be concerned IN the art and
practice of cycling that the various effects
of it, good and bad, have become with me
a matter of common observation. [ feel
as conversant with the details as if they
formed part of my professional life, and
this fact enables me to speak with GER
tain degree of confidence which is
strengthened by the circumstance that
have no kind of preiudices bearing upon
the subject"
The writer's first experience was with a
cycle weighing no less than one hundred
and twenty pounds, and, curious as it may
appear to the up-to-date rider of the mod
ern roadster, the veteran physician has re-
tanned possession of, and still uses, this
machine of large avoirdupois. 1t is de-
scribed as an instrument in which "the
wheels were unnecessarily high and the
gearing low, but it climbed hills with great
ease, and, as the brake was perfect, went
down hills with rapidity and safety that
could not easily be eXcelled."
OF the favorable side of cycling, Sir Ben
iamin Richardson says:
From the first my impressions have been al
ways in favor OF cycling, and TO some extent
the expression of that favor on certain public
occasions has, think, helped TO popularize
the movement. believe the exercise has been
of the greatest service to large numbers of peo-
pie. 1t has made them use their limbs, and ii
has taken away from close rooms, courts and
streets hundreds OF thousands OF persons who
would otherwise never have had the oppor-
tunity OF getting into the fresh air end seeing
the yerdant fields and woods, the lakes and
rivers This is all in favor of the cycle, but
have yet more to say in the same direction. I
am bound to indicate from direct observation
that cycling has been useful in the cure of
some diseases, and that 1t is always carried on
with advantage, even when there is q marked
disease.
have seen it do a great deal OF good to per-
sons suffering from fatty disease of the heart,
from govt, from dyspepsia, from varicose veins,
from melaneholia, from failure due to age,
from some forms of heart disease, from inter
mittent pulse and palpitation, and distinctly
from anemia Moreover, have known persons
who could not have been expected TO ride
without danger get on extremely well in their
49,,
given permission to ride even to some patients
to whom five and twenty years ago should
have forbidden every kind OF exercise
Several pages of the learned doctors
article are devoted to the disadvantages
of cycling, though the fact is apparent
that he speaks with reluctance on this side
of the question. Dr. Richardson says, in
part:
There are dangers from cycling. The first is
4 faor f1aar
who are too young. Properly cycling should
not be carried on with any ardor while the
body is undergoing its development-while the
skeleton, that is TO say, is as yet imperfeetly
developed The skeleton is not completely
matured. until twenty-one years OF life has
been given to it. II it be pressed into too
rapid exercise while it is undergoing its
growth it is the easiest thing in the world to
make the growth premature or even cause
deformity. The spinal column is particularly
apt to be injured by too early riding. When
that is the case the limbs share in the injury.
They do not properly support the trunk OF the
body, and pedestrian exercise thereupon be-
comes clumsy, irregular and ungraceful. The
tendency in riding is for the body to bend for
ward so as 10 bring itself almost into the curve
of the front wheel, and in this position many
riders hold themselves Tor hours, and the
spine more or less permanently assumes the
bent position.
With reference to the effect of cycling on
the heart DIR. Richardson says:
have known the beats of the heart to rise
from so to 200 in the minute in the first exer-
else of riding, On increase which for the time
more than doubles the amount OF work done
q very serious fact when we remember that
the extreme natural motion of the heart al
lows ii TO perform task equal to raising not
less than 122 foot tons in the course of twenty
four hours-that is to say, over five foot tons
an hour.
Racing and record breaking are dis
couraged as valueless and purposeless and
as only serving to weary and wear out the
whole nervous and physical system. The
belief is expressed that mo feat of this
kind has yet been accomplished without
direct and immediate sign of injury"
DR.. Richardson states as one of the pecu-
liar phenomena attendant upon cycling:
There is often developed in the cyclist
a general Migratory condition of the body
which is mischievous and is shown in
various acts of moment and thought.
There is also shown an overdesire for
rapidity of motion, as if it were necessary
at every movement to overcome time and
curtail distance by labor of an extreme de-
gree" The twitching of the muscles of
the legs, noticed after long riding, and
which often prevents sleep, is also men
toned as a curious phenomenon. While
continued exercise with the bicycle may
for time remove this last peculiar sensa-
ton, yet it is no real cure, and cycling at
last becomes wearisome.
The conclusions which Sir BENJAMIN
Ward Richardson arrives at may be briefly
summed up as follows:
First-Do not start riding at too early an
age.
Second-Cultivate an erect position on
the cycle.
Third-Do not make work out of what
should be pleasure.
Fourth-Do not try to make records and
do not overdo the pastime.
The word prevaricator is from the Latin