Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-28
DOCTORS AND BICYCLES.
A Physicfan's Opinion in Regard to
This Form Of EXercise.

THIS fOEUh III
"The bicycle is doing one good thing fol
women" says an eastern physician. 1T Il
making them develop themselves as God In
tended they should. The bicycle craze is the
most sensible fad I ever heard of and Will do
more toward giving us a race free from
bodily ills than anything else. A great deal
however, depends upon the kind Of bicycle
riding they do. Moderate riding even for q
long time out of the city into the country isr
in general, beneficial. There are a number
of diseases, limited to females; bicycle riding
would be injurious in such cases. Violent
riding for a short time, either by man OF
woman, is hurtful, even though they are frea
from organic disease. A sudden strain
which falls principally upon the heart Is al.
ways injurious, especially in the case Of
persons who are not accustomed to 1t. Many
men and women do themselves harm in
gymnasiums by taking violent exercise fof
half an hour and spending the remaining
hours of the day in sleep or sedentary habits.
Moderate exercise Of almost any kind, under
such circumstances, would be beneficial. II
would be well for persons, especially womep
who contemplate bicycle riding, to first have
themselves examined by a competent phy3
stefan. For IL any disease existed which
would make the use OF the bicycle ~undesir.
able 1t could be readily detected. If tho
heart is not overworked, riding a bicycle
will strengthen 1t, and by gradual progress
longer distances may be Travelled as the heart
strengthens and the muscles increase In
power.
"This talk about a woman's heart being
weaker than a mans Is all buncombe. They
are a bit tenderer when Cupid is about, ]
understand, but really I never saw one exi
posed at that time. Put lie on record al
opposed to bending over like a monkey when
riding. The girls don't do 1t to any great
extent. 1t Is a bad practice, wholly unneces.
sary, inducing stoop shoulders and caused
brain by rush of blood to the head, which
may result seriously. Bicycle riding is good
for digestion and catarrhs of the alimentary
tracts. What Is proper riding for one may
be wholly improper for another. Any one
at all delicate should consult a physician az
to the manner and amount OF riding.
"No rule can be given. Individual lido
syncrasies, as well as diseases, must be taken
into account. In dressing to ride a wheel the
woman should avoid long, heavy skirts, and.
above all, should not lace. Persons should
breathe through the nose-the natural chan
mel for air to enter the lungs. The air 30
entering is purified and It's temperature regu-
lated. When a person gets so short-winded
that he Is forced to breathe through the
mouth it Is a sure indication that he Is rid
ing too hard. Never ride fop an hour or so
after meals, because the vital forces and
blood are needed for digestion. 1t Is a well
understood fact that no great exertion should
be made during digestion. This is especially
so during stomach digestion, which usually
lasts about an hour and a half after meals.
"Consumptives, unless too far advanced,
will be benefited by bicycle riding. Nervous
people, especially those suffering from hys-
terra, will find the bicycle gives good results,
and dyspeptics should ride by all means.
Bicycling is good for chronic hyperemia OF
the liver. more commonly known as torpid
liver.
mild outdoor exercise is one of the most
valuable a%djuncts to the treatment of nearly
all chronic conditions, when this exercise
can be taken without a patient becoming
greatly fatigued. But II exercise on a BIZ
cycle be followed by exhaustion or great
fatigue It is too severe and some milder
form, such as carriage riding. should be sub
stituted. II the cyclist is able to get out into
the country, IL only for a short time each
day. and breathe the pure air, 1t Will be
more beneficial than all the tonies ever con-
cocted. The pleasure and mental invigora-
ton that follows a ride Is also a matter Of no
small Importance, especially for people who
are prone to brood over their real or I'm.
aginary ailments"