The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-07-19
BICYCLES INDoRsED IN GERMANY.
Physicians There Declare that Ii Pro-
notes Health Of Body and Mind.

st. Louis Globe-Democrat.
The increasing Use of the wheel renders
all expressions of opinion concerning the
matter from "a medical standpoint of uni
versal interest. The following letter. re-
Gently published in a foreign periodical,
gives the views of DIR. Martin Siegfred
the physician in charge of the health re-
sort of Rippol1san. in the Black Forest:
You know he begins, that for several
years l have investigated bicycling. and on
the basis of observations made with the
thermometer and the watch concerning
the variations of the pulse, the breathing
and the temperature of the body during
longer and shorter trips. have reached the
conviction that. under the conditions I
impose. no other exercise is well adapt
ed to maintain and increase the elasticity
or the mind and the vigor OF the body.
You ask: May use the bicycle?'
answer without hesitation. Yes. unless
the exercise of walking or driving in an
easy carriage a good road is forbid
den. Both walking and driving are COM
bined in cycling. and in the pleasantest
and most advantageous manner for the
strengthening of the entire body The in
fuence upon the nervous system, at the
same time. is still more advantageous. In
stead Of leaning idly back in a carriage,
dependent upon the docility OF the horses
and the skill of the coachman. the bicyclst
has the same agreeable consciousness of
personal action aud superiority which is
the special charm of riding and driving.
This resemblance even goes much farther
than the person who knows nothing Of the
wheel is inclined TO suppose. The unparall-
eled flexibility of the wheels. produced by
the almost total removal of the resistance
of friction makes the machine apparently
gain life under the rider and respond to
the slightest movement. like the trained
saddle horse.
Another advantage I'm bicycling is the
consciousness of personal guidance and
honest toll. The steel steed Will not move
voluntarily single pace on level ground.
and if on descent ii wants TO run away
the rider must offer resistance by placing
the weight of the body the hurrying
pedals. Whoever dashes down steep hill
with his feet On the rests. guiding the ma
chine only by the handle bar. is no worthy
cycliSt
use the sewing machine. have heard you
say in imagination long ago. All physi-
clans and others agree that the sewing ma
chine ruins the health of those who work
on ii constantly. and the exercise of BIZ
cycling seems TO bear marked resem-
blance 10 the operation OF the sewing ma
chine
Seems to bear. certainly; but that is al
Whoever has told you that the two move
ments were really the same either does not
understand the sewing machine is not
familiar with the bicycle. or belongs TO the
category of those who know nothing about
either, and therefore are thu more tenacious
in opinion. To refute. in detail upon an
anatomical basis prejudice so widespread.
clans Also would exceed the limits OF this
article. i will make but one assertion. with
which every one who comprehends the SUBJ
5ect Will agree-that the principal motion in
using the sewing machine is In the ankle
while in cycling the work Is done by the
Joints Of the hips and knees. Moreover,
there is wide difference in the circum-
stances under which the two pursuits are
followed One involves continuous sitting
for hours in bowed position. which con-
tracts the lungs and wearies the body. in a
not ventilated at ali, while pur-
suing pure y mechanical operation which
allows the free entrance OF the spiritual