Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1896-11-11
r BIKE DEFORMITIEs. >
Some of tho Effects of TOO Close
Devotion to the Wheel
rho Hompn Form Divine Distorted
md Rendered Uns'Ghtly by Tx
ces;ive Indulgence In
uealthful Exercise

1t is agreed by medical men that the
,icycle may produce effects on the
der of decided benefit to health.
ways providing, of course, the
he machine is used with a due ap-
,reciation OF tho injuries which the
wheel is also capable of infiicting.
The subject of this sketch, however,
. not so much the rider who rides the
Wheel properly and obtains benefit
herefrom, rs the one who rides for rid
ng's sake and with no regard what
yer for his physical welfare. In other
worlds, the bicycle tiend, who rides with
ne apparent purpose of making him
self ridiculous,
OF all the deformities produced by
,iking the strained, nervous express on
known as the bicycle face is most pro-
.,ounccd 1t is SO common nowadays
that q description of II here would b.
/ waste of valuable space.
Another common deformity is the
icycle back, which is produced by the
.ramped. crouching and stoop-shoul
y
corchers. This position cramps the
hest and its contents, thus limiting the
breathing capacity OF the lungs.
The bicycle neck is also becoming
more prominent every d.:y. There are
wo common varieties of this deformity
he first is produced when The rice;
ends forward aid lowers his head a.
he were trying TO touch the tire Of thu
Onward wheel with his nose. In this
position the rider back and neck de-
scribe half circle. The other form o.
neck is produced when the rider site
stride his machine in much the Fanc
osition, With the exception that he
iolds his head bac as far rs possible
II fact, so far that his head and neck
orm q right angle with the upper par
II his back.
Bicycle arms may be seen on th'
boulevard any pleasant day. The tiond
pins along with his back ard neck rs
described aboye and his elbows project
ng outward rs far as possible. lie is
sually SO accustomed TO tbs abnormal
,ositon that he firds it next to impos
,ble TO straighton his arms and assume
my other when not riding.
The hands and wrists also come in for
heir share in the general deformity.
The hands are usually held at pro
aounced angle with the arms. and are
bliged to support the entire weight OF
he upper Part OF the body.
Bicycle legs are also characterize OF
this peculiar specimen. They are usu-
ally knock-kneed. with an abnormal
development of the calf. The pcculia:'
,osition of the feet causes him to toe in.
producing bicycle toes, similar to pigeon
toes.
As result of indiscriminate riding
corcLing and racing, we see long
trained and nervous-visaged, crooked
iccked, round-shou!dered, narrow
hcsted, hump-backcd, kpock-kneed and
,i">on-toed specimen Of humanity
I'd whose hands resemble tii.5e of
Johanna more nearly than th4s of any
FORMAL specimen of the genus homo.
Not only does this specimen disiigure
himself, but lac is apt to injure his eye
sight. French eye specialists have re-
corded numerous cases of visual dis
turbances among bicyclcrs. The most
common form of the trouble is found in
,hosc who ride at n very rapid pace and
limb steep hills.
Riders are usually seized with severe
vertigo and sudden tliminution OF
vision in one or both eyes. When the
yes are examined by an oculist traces
of retinal hcmorrhage are usually
sound.
The heart also suffers MS a result OF
;corchng and long-distance racing,
From over-acting it may become dila-
ed and very much enlarged, causing
serious trouble.-J. L. Whitmycr, VI.
D.. in n. y. World,