New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-17

,,rs ARE TO BLAME-i'' iiO'- '
.Sn TRAINING CONDUCIVE TO
oxcrv1rY - DISSIPATION WILL
KILL EVEN A HERCULES.
growing popularity OF atnie'ic Sports, oo'm ,,, .,
Inc So and the violent klnd' mas not Hs' Wal"
es mou,' orroval There are some persons VINO are
rNe.~ opposed TO those sports which inVoNe
epec'a"' ining They say that while muscle anc
sscfous a-nrotb NAV be developed the lives Of
wnpordi' ors shortened by the training In PROOF
ns atne ,ent they point TO the fact that several
n tbs aie .A,o,es amateur and professional. nave
r,nihe" -. ~ consumption. and that II Is nothing
I'D reee s.,r NJ prize fighter or an ail-around
rnsua hs,ne stricken with that disease joan =.
tsmp'o" 10 ~ a number OF prize-fghers who
bse" pulmonary consumption. anu the recorus
tH ~, runners. swimmers. gymnasts anu pro-
rs "strong men in this country ana III Europe
Vs. esn stricken in the prime Oh HE anu nave
ssumbed. 80. ,arre practce and who
physO. ~ lung troubles. when asked If he
" man ,n,ng or professional athletics were con-
e>en' .rcuIosjs said: mo, 1 do not think that
~ would bring about lung trouble. but l
r,hot a prize-fghter who was predisposed 10
Is! III would be more apt TO develop 1t than
Es uouO.' u.s equally predsposed, but whose ex-
nan vs. loss violent and whose habits were more
gase W." ,bon the prize-fghter's would be likely
wnp.rate Una" '
wN" ,,r>-cu, ny rxEpC1sE
~...or T. Savage who has physical devel-
d. Institute in West Fifty-ninth-st.. SAID:
Hn'p LII about consumption resulting from atm
"lAS '.,,nr Is all rot. On the contrary proper
Ns and gymnastic exercise, regulated ac-
1snA "a scientific principles. are sure TO proions
wrd1 ...son for the belief that many athletes
NE iIo hahl n fact that
De OF W.. =, these men dies. no matter in what
WIEN Wv ~. country. people interested in the
part u 49,, and IL an occasional death Is due
cause Va ,n,s,nt the case is pointed out TO show
70 iuHe breeds tuberculosis The athletes who
ua' ,,.a 4, consumption would have d.ed OF some
nav sm ~ they had never trained. Iners are
"aau' ssr. athletes have contracted the disease
same causes which led TO their illness
snu .h.blv cause others to share the same rate
WI" ,i... arc thrown into the company OF fast
An,. nd those who succumb TO temptations are
Peop .,.cs TOO much dependence on their powers
W. They continue Their violent exercise
che same time make inroads on their
-, strength by exhaustive habits.
~ disregard premontory symptoms OF waning
INV .,d when II is too late they realize that
soomed Cases of that kind are Of frequent
..r,.,ss but they should not be charged TO attn
w.. n should be remembered also that all men
w AZ ,uually fitted by nature for athletics. IL re-
.,,,s more than strength and inclination ana no
,.s-rc,or will begin to work with man until ne
g.. incurred closely as TO his family history with
. view 10 learning whether there is any predis-
.,..,on 10 lung trouble. If there Is anything OF
~, tlns IN be feared; II the comes from
t,nlv in which are traces OF tubercular disease;
no Is found that the disease has shown itsei
IN some one OF It's various forms in other members
o, the family the would-be athlete is warned at
once against competition work and against all
forms OF violent or exhaustive training III -
strange PECULIARLY Of the tuberculous boy or young
man that he has usually more than the ordinary
amount Of ambition and must be kept down ana
within proper bounds If he obeys and follows the
rules Of the exercise which are laid down for him
n. training will not only do him no harm. but WI.
prolong his life. IT, on the other hand. he does
violent work. his inherited complaint Is likely TO
Develop prematurely. and when he dies ne VIII be
pointed ou, as another athlete dead from con-
SUMPTION"
Dr. Savage said that he knew OF a number OF
athletes who had died from pulmonary complaints
but with the exception OF physician VINO con-
tscad the disease in the course OF MS pracuee'
none Of the cases WAS the only one In the FAMILY.
The founder of the Swedish system Of gymnastics
which is recognized one Of the superior systems
vas a sufferer from incip!ent tuberculosis ana ne
asrbed his cure 10 systematic exercise and seen
tic gymnastics.
OLD SYSTEMS OF TRAINING
DR.. John 5. White. head master Of Berkeley
ghool who has given the subject of athletics much
attention for many years, said:
"A study of the causes OF Ill health exhibited by
athletes Is no criticism whatever OF the present sys-
ten Of training because ten years ago when these
same athletes were in active exercise they were in
rlne cases out OF ten trained fA.se principles.
an confident that a man who gets the most intelli-
gent direction and training o. the present day Will
show only beneficial effects later in life. We have
therefore now no sufficient data from which to draw
conclusions as TO the causes of Illness among ath
k,es. The most trustworthy information as 10 the
Effects Of training upon the athlete must necessarily
k derived from those who have had the most ex-
perience in the schools and colleges. rather than in
the athletic clubs In the latter. health and SYM
rercal development are never sought for. the chief
Nject being success in the competitions, and l
mould be surprised TO learn Of any case OF degen-
sation In heath or strength except among those
men who had been overstrained when members OF
enc Of the so-callsd athletic Clubs.
AS 10 tuberculosis have had no personal e1-
perienee except among younger boys but l conf
Gently believe that for every such case that has de-
veloped in prominent athlete, dozen cases nave
been prevented by judic.ous training 1t STANDS 10
reason that man with consumptiye tendencies may
de Of phthisis in spite of splendid physical develop
ment. but cannot believe that his END could De
FASTENED by the very thing which would tend most
70 deay ii. The word is unanimous in the opinion
mat gymnastic training properly conducted Is al
ways beneficial except when 1t is undertaken ny
subject with weak heart or weak lungs ana j
nave yet to learn of Of injury from partcipa
uoa IN athletics las distinguished from gymnastlcs)
,he subject was sound In these two particulars.
IN me case Of boys extreme care shouid DE
~Aen oy shok who have them in charge TO prevent
:" excessive strain in competition. The silver cup
sa' 1 "a. banner offered for the greatest NUMBER OF
- 80 ~ annette contests are the greatest sources
ua"ser ana the fewer we can have OF them the
$50. 60 But It perfectly possible for the In
- u''or IN schoo or college, II he has the advice
,.,a Competent Physician who is trained in these
~. a'afs 10 direct the students under his charge
sv vsr 'ney may be taught 10 take part in almost
syersrsJn n, Oh game contest without danger OF
ths sr,,s.ne My experience goes TO snow ina
violent ,s set Of boys taking part even IN severe ana
spectlvs '.neuc COMPETITIONS may nnlsh their re-
tmnly r. contests fresh and without exhaustion
'' 'ecause they have been properly trained