The record-union., 1897-08-02
WARNING TO BICYCLISTS.
DANGERS OF UNDUE WHEEL
ING IN SUMMER TIME.
A Distinguished Authority Talks
Very Plainly to Those Who
Use the Wheel.

DR.. Cyrus Edison is physician and
scientist of national renown and stands
in the foremost ranks Of the faculty.
Here is what he said to representa-
tive of the New York Herald" the other
day:
1T was sheer folly. It was absolutely
suicidal
Such is DR.. Cyrus Edson's characteri-
cation of last Sundays double century
run Of the Manhattan Bicycle Club from
New York to New Brunswick and back.
Even a century rum" he continued,
is foolish thing under the best Of con-
ditions. By the best of conditions |
mean bright, cool day, a fast track
and a careful preparation in the way of
preliminary training for some weeks
previous. The training should include
both proper diet and proper exercise to
get the body into the right frame. The
muscles should be in a state of hardness,
not soft and relaxed. as they are apt to
De IN the case Of clerks, statesmen, sales
women or professional people who are
confined at desk all through the week
and are unused to outdoor exercise.
why, l remember rowing a race after
only weeks preparatory training and
don't believe I ever got over it. Nature
cannot provide for sudden exorbitant
calls upon her reserve fund. She may
be just able to tide a man over the
emergency, but it will prove to be at
more or less expense to his whole future.
In how many hours was the double CEN
fury completely"
ftrFwantU-fhraa FTy1,o ol,,h >
1:30 D. m. on Saturday from the Forty
second street ferry and made the Wee
hawken ferry on their return at 1870
Sunday afternoon. This completed the
circuit
And did they have any rest on the
way?"
INSUFFICIENT REST.
They took an hour for supper at
Plainfield, half hour for midnight
lunch at Carlstadt, an hour and a half
for breakfast at Springfield and half an
hour for lunch at Rutherford"
That is three hours rest in the entire
double century. Talk of the pace that
kills! And how many persons accom-
plished the feat?"
'Thirty-fve out of the forty-six who
started
Those who dropped out are to be con-
graduated rather than the survivors.
The latter cannot help but feel the strain
in their future, even if they escaped i'm
mediate collapse. The overexertion was
in itself d terrible tax on the system
Add the further fact that the overexer-
ton occurred on a hot day and you have
conditions which mark the acme of dan
ger"
Nevertheless the cyclers encountered
nine hours of drenching rain
THE rain was part curse and part
blessing. 1t undoubtedly cooled off the
atmosphere, but it added another ele-
ment of danger in the way of possible
colds and fevers."
I asked the Doctor if he could explain
to me exactly the dangers that were en-
countered through overexertion.
There is a twofold danger said DR..
Edison. During violent exercise the
blood vessels dilate. If the exercise be
not continued too long and the system is
still in good condition a healthful reac-
ton ensues as soon as the subject is at
rest. The vessels contract again and all
is well. But if the exercise be continued
to the danger point no reaction sets in.
The blood vessels remain dilated in a
state of passive congestion Throbbing
headaches ensue. There is a general
feeling of debility, a sort of 'dopy' state.
The head feels easiest when it is carried
forward. Every jar is excruciating
agony. Neuresthenic troubles super
vene. The subject shows every symp-
tom of nerve exhaustion, the hands
tremble, the muscles twitch. If he lies
down and attempts to sleep he will
awake with a sudden start, owing to
spinal congestion.
HOT WEATHER EXERCISE.
'Now, so far, We have been supposing
that he overexercised under favorable
conditions. But suppose the conditions
reversed. Suppose that to overexertion
is added the further danger of an ex-
allied temperature The body itself is
overheated by violent exercise. A safety
. valve is furnished by the pores. which
carry off the superfluOus heat in the
form of perspiration. If the exercise and
the heat combined overtax the system so
that the perspiration is insufficient, then
something like an explosion occurs. The
nerve centers are paralyzed. What we
call a sunstrolle supervenes That may
mean death. But recovery itself is fol-
lowed Dy d Train u lIOu)lcS. III oil CA
ihausted state the body is unable to per-
form its propert functions. The stomach
cannot digest its food. The food decom-
poses, summer complaints ensue and the
man becomes a. physical wreck. What
is true of men is.far more true of women,
as under ordinary conditions they have
less power of endurance and of resist
ance than their brothers"
What do you consider the proper
limit of exercise on bicycle in hot wea-
ther?"
II should say that a half hour in the
morning and an hour or so in the even
ing are amply sufficient. Of course, this
applies only to the average man or wo-
man. Peculiarly favorable physical
conditions may make it safe for man or
woman to exercise in this way for even
four or five hours. But there is in all
cases a peculiar danger in overtaxing
the system during the heat o fthe day.