The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-04-16
TOO MUCH BIKE.
Deformities Resulting from Too Close
Application to the Wheel

| Application to the Wheel
| 1t is agreed by medical men that the
bicycle may produce effects on the
rider of decided benefit to health.
always providing, of course, the
the machine is used with due APP
probation of the injuries which the
wheel is also capable of inf1icting.
The subject of this sketch, however,
| Is not so much the rider who rides the
| wheel properly and obtains benefit
therefrom, as the one who rides for rid
| ing's sake and with no regard what
ever for his physical welfare. In other
words, the bicycle fiend, who rides with
the apparent purpose of making him
self ridiculous.
Of all the deformities produced by
| hiking the strained, nervous expression
| known as the bicycle face is most pro-
nounced. 1t is so common nowadays
a waste of valuable space.
Another common deformity is the
bicycle back, which is produced by the
cramped, crouching and stoop-shoul-
| dered position so much affected by
scorchers. This position cramps the
chest and its contents, thus limiting the
breathing capacity of the lungs.
The bicycle neck is also becoming
more prominent every day. There are
fStsyo common varieties of this deformity.
| The first is produced when the rider
bends forward and lowers his head as
If he were trying to touch the tire of the
forward wheel with his nose. In this
| position the riders back and neck de-
| scribe half circle. The other form of
neck is produced when the rider sits
| astride his machine in much the same
position, with the exception that he
holds his head back as lar as possible
in fact, so far that his head and neck
form right angle with the upper part
of his back.
Bicycle arms may be seen on the
boulevard any pleasant day. The fiend
spins along with his back and neck as
described above and his elbows project
ing outward as far as possible. He is
| usually so accustomed to this abnormal
position that he finds it next to impos-
sible to straighten his arms and assume
any other when not riding.
The hands and wrists also come in fog
their share in the general deformity.
| The hands are usually held at pro-
nounced angle with the arms, and are
obliged to support the entire weight OF
the upper part of the body.
Bicycle legs are also characteristic of
| this peculiar specimen. They are usu-
ally knock-kneed, with an abnormal
development of the calf The peculiar
position of the feet causes him to toe in,
producing bicycle toes, similar to pigeon
toes.
As a result of indiscriminate riding,
scorching and racing, we see long.
strained and nervous-visaged, crooked-
necked, round-shouldered, narrow
chested, hump-backed, knock-kneed and
pigeon-toed specimen of humanity,
whose elbows protrude at the times
and whose hands resemble those of
Johanna more nearly than those of any
normal specimen of the genus homo.
Not only does this specimen disfigure
himself, but he is apt to injure his eye
sight. French eye specialists have re-
corded numerous cases of visual dis
turbances among bicyclers. The most
common form of the trouble is found in
those who ride at very rapid pace and
climb steep hills.
Riders are usually seized with severe
vertigo and sudden diminution OF
vision in one or both eyes. When the
| eyes are examined by an oculist traces
of retinal hemorrhage are usually
| found.
The heart also suffers as a result of
scorching and long-distance racing
From over-acting it may become dila-
ted and very much enlarged. causing
serious trouble.-J. f. Whitmyer, NJ.
| D., in n. Y. World.