Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1896-06-18
DRUNK WITH MOTION.
A DISEASE DUE TO RIDING =
BICYCLE.
Tho "Vibratory" Habit = Rcsticssness and
Craving for Action Which Doctors
Say Is Form Of Intoxication
Warning for Scorchers

azy, INCE bicycling has
FCH become 50 popular
e,s.sSS%N the doctors have
/. l. I'll. !. i. Il. !. I.
[J7f..,sss.s.ss$$%& discovered various
NM ljI>5ssSs2A4SSl new ailments and
2 Ma5l{5 (%4cllSM injurious elects
H(fb lNf Na@S/ that result from
Ett3T%f3 riding. The la;c9,
4 1SIfR investigation by q
" / a. S :s VI. 's45 , i a a.
are subject to the "vibratoiy habit"
Unknown to themselves they develop
n general vibratory condition OF the
body They become like human tun-
ing fork, which vlbrates ut hlgh tam
sion. Dr. Petit gave the French Acad-
envy of Medicine the results Of his OBJ
servatioas, and since thon French aad
English bicyclists have been surprised,
when they have complained to their
medical advisers that they telt unusual
~ restless ana could 70. account for
the reason to learn that they had uil-
consciously acquired the "vibraiory
habit" TIE medical journals are tah-
ing the matter up, ana soon American
doctors will doubtlog9ly also begin to
prescribe for the crYc Of this strange
new disease,
Sir Benjamin Ward Richardson read
paper Before the Medical Society of
London. He found, he said, that all
bicyclists were not similarly affected,
their natural nervous conditions hay-
ing much to do with the development OF
the disease. Riders who were careful
to pedal in moderation, and who did not
let their minds run on bicycles, were
free from any evidence OF the disease.
But among the enthusiasts he found
the vibratory habit was rapidly de-
voloping. He declared chat in 1t lay a
menace to the future health vi
thousands Of riders who refuse to con-
fine their enthusiasm within a reason
able limit.
The disease is a kind Of intoXication
for the movement that is shown in an
unconscious, or semi-uucorscious bear
ing Of the body, which becomes especi-
ally plain, when great stcadiness is
called for, as for instance, in sitting for
q photograph 1t is shown also in an
over desire for rapidly al motion, as
If 1t were necessary at every moment
to overcome time and curtsil distances
by labor of an extreme kind The
constant impression given is that the
sufferer, from this general vihratory
condition of the body, must jump on his
wheel and be off although the weather
and circums .ancos are no. opDortune for
riding. The whole manner bcspeaks
haste although thoro is not the slight
est occasion for it.
Sir Benjamin declares that this in
toxication fer motion grows in the
mind by what 1t feeds On and keeps
the heart under the impression that
it is always requiring the stimulation
of exercise If TIE devoteo OF the
wheel thinks mcrning, room and night
Of riding, and tho cXhiaration OF
movement, his heart heats faster.
Generally the rider is mo- aware of the
influence his mind is excrting on this
most important organ, whi1h after a
while feels that is normal pulza.ions
are those when the mind Is thus in
toxicated vita the thought of motion.
Sir Benjamin says that 1t il no false
Inference that this craving or de-
sire for movement is very much like
the craving or desire for alcohol. and
its effects through the heart end cir
culation are much the same in the end
OF course, this intoxlcatlon 10 not ac-
compan,ed by the other serious eiiects
of alcohol upon the human system.
DR.. Edward Guernsey, of Forty
fourth street and Fifth avenue, when
seen by a Sunday Journal reporter in
regard to the discoveries of DR.. Petit
and the observation of Sir benjamin
said 81 fully agree with the views Of
DR.. Petit and Sir benjamin. Sir Ben.
jamin edits a London medical journal
Physicians here from the first have ad
vised against excessive riding, just a!
they would advise that stimulants bC
.ot used, but do not believe that they
realize that a 'vlbratory habit is ac
uuired, which, as Sir Benjamin OBJ
serves, grows on what 1t feeds on. Cy
cling has SO many good points in it
favor that many believe that bad eff
fects are impossible from riding grea
deal
~ have noticed in too enthusiastic
riders a restlessness when not riding
In business and at home they exhibite
it in more or less dsgree. Unles
riders are warned beforehand of the re