The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1896-08-20
GOOD ADVICE.
A Physician Gives Some Valuable
Counsel to Bicycle Riders.


given In their full adhesion and support
to bicycle riding. and admit that 1t Is
one Of the most healthful recreations at
the disposal Of the men and women of
to-day. The following letter contributed
to the Baltimore News by DR.. H. M.
Cohen. OF that city. contains much of in
terest to the patrons Of the wheel. DR..
Cohen says:
II the assertion Of many authorities
that the bicyclist 10 more liable to GER
tain affections Of the lungs and heart
than non-riders be true. 1t would be well
for the large number Of adopts of the
wheel to consider the causes which lead
up to these conditions. and IL possible
endeavor to remedy their faults.
1t is certainly a generally conceded
fact among medical men that the i'm
proper riding which is daily practiced
by many cyclists Is detrimental to their
health, and an exercise which might
prove Of the utmost benefit Is in this
manner turned into most harmful
practice.
A casual glance at the anatomy of the
human being and at the causes which
lead to many fatal diseases will suffice
to prove the assertion that many riders
are slowly but surely paving the way
to serious ailments.
Take for example the man who Is all
bundled up on his wheel, head down,
shoulders inclined and rounded, scorch-
ing like a mailman down the road.
While he may be entertaining the idea
that he Is having most beneficial ex-
ercise, the fact is he Is throwing out of
function his lungs and heart and is in
directly doing himself great physical in
jury. The lungs In order to do their work
properly must have sufficient amount
OF space In which to expand. If, as is the
case with many riders, the chest Is
pushed In and the thorax is diminished
In all Of its diameters, In place Of the
normal working Of these organs there
Is hindrance to them and they cannot
fill up the space they should under nor
NAL conditions. The result Is that
breathlessness is produced with all its
concomitant symptoms and the health
full influence Of proper bicycle riding be-
comes source Of danger.
How many riders complain of a sore
ness across the chest and a slight hack
Ing cough! These may be due to an ordi-
nary cold, but in may instances they
are the consequences of assuming an I'M
natural position while on the wheel The
remark is often made that the rider be-
comes tired and by throwing his whole
weight of the trunk Of the body against
the handles the body 10 rested. This no
doubt may be true, but 1t is also true
that when person must resort to any
such practice 1t Is time for him or her,
as the case may be. to take rest.
1t is not surprising that many riders
complain Of becoming round shouldered
and resort to the use Of braces to keer
themselves straight II the causes OF
this were removed there would be nc
need to have recourse to any such meas
ures.
A few precautions, If carried out
would save much trouble, and the fac
that they are so simple should tend t.
reform and correct these dangerou.
habits.
l
To receive the best effects from tn,
use of the wheel the rider should sit al
erect as possible, rather putting extra
weight on the pedals than on the han.
dies, and thus allowing the lungs Il
properly expand in the performance O.
their functions The wheel should b,
comfortable and of the proper size. L
should always be remembered that al
uncomfortable wheel is an unhealthy
one.
AS the hot season makes itself mani
fest the rider will do we'll to take tn,
precaution not to override. To overhea
ones self and then to rapidly imbib,
large quantities of cold drinks is a mos
dangerous practice and often leads t.
serious results. The effects of sucl
deeds are too well known to need men
tioning here.
A certain amount Of caution SHOULD
be exercised concerning the rate ant
time of riding. To ride too rapid,
and under the scorching rays Of tn,
sun puts one liable to sunstroke, which
is quite common in such cases. T,
ride Immediately after or soon befor
eating a hearty meal is an unhealth,
practice, as 1t is common cause o
digestive trouble and may result Sc
riously. Corpulent persons should b
moderate and not endeavor to reduc
their weight too rapidly. Too rapid los
of flesh soon returns and many time
in increased quantities. Heart diseas
may be produced by indiscretions II
this respect, and 1t is always wise t
live up to the laws of moderation Som
authorities recommend gum while rid
MS 90 q PiSNSiltiNc VI tuiot. w iii
1t Is generally used by athletes for thi.
purpose, it is to be remembered tina
! only the purest, unadulterated quarit,
Is to be recommended.
The use Of the bicycle, If hygieni
} rules are observed, is most beneficial
to the human economy. Many person
would take yery little outdoor exercis