The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1897-05-28
CYCLING AND THE HEART.
English Doctors Idea of the Efec
of the Popular Exercise.

of the Popular Exercise.
DIR. Herschell, an English physician.
has written a book, in which he at
temptS to show the effect upon the
heart of overeXertion in bicycle riding
He is much opposed to racing, and de-
clares that fast riding by children is
dangerous and almost sure to affect then
health later in life.
1.-The cyclists who habitually ride long
distances must now be considerable
saws DIR. Herschell. "The number OF
individuals who make a profession OF
cycling is rapidly increasing, particular
" that class who travel over the coun'
tTy attending meetings. These will ay.
erage two or three races a week for
six months in the year; and as they
are handicapped according to their for
mer and previous performances, such
races are usually hotly contested.
Among amateurs every large club has
it's record for long distances against
time.
1T 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 sub
ject, 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 a child
no manner of harm. But, to insure this,
constant supervision is necessary. My
experience is that when a boy learns
cycling he does not confine himself to
what would be harmless to him, but is
even more inclined to do it than grown
up people. When out with a party
he will of necessity have to keep up
with his elders, and when alone he tries
? to break records. The average boy has
very lofty ideals in the way of ath-
letics. I read in the cycling papers
quite recently of little boy who, at
the mature age of four, has taken to
the path. What effect will the continu
Gus 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 prob
ably the first time in the history of
the world that the problem has been
presented to us, and that anything like
cycling has become factor in the evo-
luton, development and growth of our
children. When we allow a child to
ride long distances upon cycle we are
carrying out a physiological expert
ment which, although possibly of in
terest from a scientific standpoint, must
be utterly unjustifable.
THE amount of disease which will
be produced by cycling in the near fu-
ture rests with that large body of fam
lily physicians whom 1 am addressing
in this essay. They must insist upon
.tr1aA1-es = ~-.VrUusIl -->,.4AIIndLlOn OF the
neart of every patient over middle age
who may be taking up cycling.
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 its safe indulgence; and
to prescribe the daily amount, the pace,
and other details which may enable the
patient to use the cycle not only with
impunity but even with advantage On
his part every intending cyclist will
be well advised if he consult his medi-
cal adviser and be thoroughly over
hauled before commencing to learn
Chicago Times-Herald.