The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-07-10
CYCLING AND THE HEART.
English Doctors Ideas of the Effect of the
Popular Exercise.

English Doctors Ideas of the Effect of the
Popular Exercise.
DR.. Herschell, an English physician,
has written book, in which he at
tempts to show the effect upon the
heart of oyerexertion in bicycle rid
ing: He is much opposed to racing,
and declares that fast riding by chill
dren is dangerous and almost sure to
affect their health later in life.
1.-The cyclists who habitually ride
long distances must now be consider
able" says DR.. Herschell '''The
number Of Individuals who make a
profession Of cycling is rapidly in
creasing, particularly that class who
travel over the country attending
meetings. These will average two or
three races week for six months in
the year; and as they are handicapped
according to their former and previous
performances, such races are usually
holly contested. Among amateurs
every large club has its record for long
distances against time.
ut is an open question whether we
should allow little children to cycle.
They are all eager to do so, as they
see their elders crazed upon the SUBJ
!ect, and the cycle manufacturers are
fostering the idea by placing on the
market diminutive wheels. OF course,
cycling for short distances with low
gear and frequent rests can do child
no manner Of harm. But, to insure
this, constant supervision is necessary.
My experience is that when boy
learns cycling he does not confne
himself to what would be harmless to
him, but is even more inclined to
oyerdo it than grown-up people. When
out with party he will of necessity
have tokeep up with his elders, and
when alone he tries to break records.
The average boy has very lofty ideals
in the way Of athletics. I read in the
cycling papers quite recently of lit
tie boy who's the mature age of four,
has taken to the path. What effect
will the continuous high pressure in
the arteries Of this infant have upon
the development Of his circulatory
system? Time only will show. We
have at present no data upon which
to form an opinion, as it is probably
the first time in the history Of the
world that the problem has been pre-
sented us, and that anything like cy-
cling has become factor in the evo-
luton, development and growth Of
our children. When we allow child
to ride long distances upon cycle we
are carrying out physiological expert
ment which, although possibly Of in
terest from scientific standpoint,
must be utterly unjustiiable.
''The amount of disease which will
be produced by cycling in the near
future rests with that large body of
family physicians whom am address
ing in this essay. They must insist
upon making thorough examination
Of the heart of every patient over mid
die age who may be taking up bicycling.
Having made such an examination,
the practitioner will be- in position
to allow the patient to cycle without
restraint, or to put an absolute veto
upon this form Of exercise, or, to lay
down rules for it's acknowledgement nd
to prescribe the daily amount, the
pace and other details which may
enhble the patient to use the cycle not
only with impunity but even with adj
vantage. On his part every intending
cyclist will be we'll advised if he con-
suit his medical adviser and be thor
oughly oyerhauled before commencing
to learn" :.