Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-23
so NJ CYCLE CHAT

According to recent report from Consul
Keenan,. at Bremen, at a recent meeting of
the Medical Society IN Berlin, DR.. Mondels-
sohn. professor in the university, read a
paper on the medical view of bicycle rid
ing. The chief points Of the paper were:
The advantages of wheel riding may be
fnestimable, If practiced intelligently and
with moderation, but harmful or absolutely
dangerous If carried to excess or in cases
where riding should be prohibited The ad-
vantages accruing to riders are obvious
since the wheel affords exercise and recrea-
| ton to the mentally overworked, and as an
Independent and inexpensive means Of loco
| motion 1t is ideal. The danger of the wheel
may consist of injuries from accident in
fiammation of the knee joint resulting from
overwork, Inflammation of both male and
female pelvic organs resulting from pres
sure of the saddle, ETC. Another danger is
in the constant excessive exertion which
can produce an increased atomic and mole
cular change throughout the body, espe-
cially in the vital organs, to such a degree
that general weakening of the individual
and an especial susceptibility to infectious
diseases may result. The tendency to
catch cold Is proved by experience to be
great. The heart is subject to the greatest
danger in cases of the excessive cycle rid
ing. large number Of sudden deaths
have already been recorded, due to excess
sive strain on the heart.
Cases where wheeling should be prohibit
ed are as follows: "a Existing heart le-
sions, (2) arterial classification, 80 albumin
uria, 4 old age, and 90 childhood.
Cases where bicycling is beneficial are:
% When excessive uric acid and govt ex-
list, (2) in certain mild forms Of chronic dis
turbances in the pelvic organs, which are
thereby subjected to a certain degree of
exercise, which has an effect similar to
the gymnastics and massage of the Thur
Brandt method 90 when there are slight
disturbances Of the respiratory organs. ex-
cept absolute lung dilatation.
A fad has invaded the Toledo, Ohio,
wheeling fraternity. OF course, the women
started 1t. Briefly. it is a code of bicycle
bell filtration signals, by which a wheel
woman can declare the state of her heart
to male riders-if they understand the
CODE
One short ring-You impress me favor
ably. Let us dig 'em up" together
through life
Two sharp rings-I believe I could love
you if you have the price of a tandem;
that's my long suit.
One faint. despairing ring-Why are you
price.
One prolonged and earsplitting ring-I
am rather swift, wear Knockers and can
scorch a few; the man who wins me must
outscorch me.
Four tinkles-If you would win me, raise
the mortgage on my wheel.
equivalent to the popular call Of 'Ice!'
which, interpreted by the love-signal code,
means You're not SO many"
There are other signals in the code, but
II a young man studies the above carefully
he can manage to understand his girl
friends tolerably well.
Bicycle riding as a remedy for asthma is
strongly recommended by DR.. Marcel of
London, who says. in a letter to the Medi-
cal Record: IF asthma Is form of noun
tain sickness, and If that distressing affec-
ton Of high attitudes can be cured by
training for the exercise Of climbing, why
should not asthma also yield to the train
ing OF the respiration carried out by prac-
ticing the respiratory movements wanted
to carry the tidal air through the lungs?
OF all means of training respiration. think
takes to cycling exercise 1t will be found
especially on going uphill, that the breath
is wanting the heart beats uncomfortable
and the legs tire; but after training these
discomforts disappear; nothing will be
thought Of hills to ascend the heart has
lessness has disappeared. and the legs will
no longer feel any fatigue. Cycling exer-
else, first of all. increases the depth of
breathing. and that without fatigue, as the
respiratory movements are automatic; at
the same time 1t will accustom the rider
instinctively to take in at each respiration
the volume of air required to aerate the
blood. Persons who do not care for cycling
out of doors can take the same kind Of
exercise at home by means Of a dummy
cycle, consisting of an iron wheel driven by
pedals, the resistance Of the wheel being
so contrived as to simulate bicycle riding
A strap carried partly round the rim Of the
wheel can he frightened at will by the rider
thus increasing the labor and recalling the
effort OF riding uphill. My experiences Of
fho 1fa ~ Go freo nontf g.