The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-12-05
Strong ArralgamsDt Of The Game By an
Eminent Physician.
EVIDENCE OF a vlTlA1ED TASTE
Three Objections TO tho .snort-It Is
Dangerous, 1t Is Unnecessary MS u
sIenns of Athletic Granting, Its
spirit Is Notwithstanding for
Emphatic Protest.
louisville Courler-Journal.)


NJ. d. superintendent of Battle Greek
Mich. Sanitariun. The writer stakes
strong grounds against the popular col
lege game.
lie says: IF the men who engage In
DrulStnE one another at football should
give public notice that they proposed
10 meet on Il certain street corner or in
Il given gymnasium for the purpose of
punching one another'S nose, twis ting
one another's legs until put out Of joint
or broken, knocking one another in
SehSiDie, gouging out one ranGther's
eyes and pumnieling one another gene
raliy, 1.-THE police would turn out in
force TO stop the exhibition. The only
apparent difference is that instead of
making an announcement OF what ii
was really proposed to do. the announce
mcnt was that football games would he
played. and under the guiSc of football
the participants proceeded to bruise
one another to their hearts content
y match game of football is never
played without one or more surgeons
VI readiness to set broken limbs, sew up
laceratons or dress Commissions. This
tact is itself an evidence that the game
Is dangerous 10 life and limb and that
u is recognized MS such. Many n man
nus been MANNED for life by an injury
received i'm football. Within q few
months the writer has met two persons
VINO nave been thus injured One had
received kick upon a finger which
,ihlue II still forever afterwards, so tina
ne hau since receiving the injury, not
nsGii apie TO close his hand. Another
nau received an injury TO his shoulder.
Us me result of which the muscles had
wasted and the use of the shouldcr
ma heen permanently impaired to such
degree that IT, was very much Grip
Pifu ana entirely disabled for any
MANUAL iaDor requiring the use of bot n
- MS lhat the man accepted as n SORT
Oh compensation for his lifc-lonr in
JhrE me fact that he had been the best
loIpoall fiShter in his team only affords
".'''htr evidence of the degree to which
~ niihas ana the consciences of men
~ become perverted in relation 10 this
SNnit. me gentleman exhibited his
oiSapied shoulder with somewhat Of tha
sumo sort of pride that a Teuton some
lines points to the scar across his cbna,,
VI nose as cNldepcc Of the duels no b,s
fought and wonl Football is cart,,,,I,,
nothins more nor less than duc,in,, ma
me chances OF fatal injury arn os,a,
'iii'SS greater than in glove or n sobnr
ooltsst' lor not infreuucntly the whale
m. i"rce OF several men Is hurled
si,r, 'SsHe from catapult upon n
resnr. maii' without regard for what the
'eSuf' may be. They may bn , hr,,,n',
ntEk; a ruptured kidney. a disIoco,oh
81 ' a broken leg, n deformed nosn
s'tle other physical damage-it n,,t
az 'u. 50 long as the point is gained
titee OF Tour men w re rendered
nv ,, ana had they limbs br,I,nn
a., az tlt result OF sons accident IN -
aiI 'Ie or church orkn a railro,d %
~ ~ .ne lact wop!d be Communicated
b. a.e Mh"ie coy. "ry by the Associated
ireSs dispatch rs a lameniahIo 90.
cumsiancc, IA. which some ,rcbita.t -.
.t"t'ihan or some one else mus, hn ,,,d
sspoiiSioie, but when criminal or nvnm
hlc"'ei injuries result from n fnothoii
same, II is mentioned merely ne or -,
.ersstriS incident of the game inc, ns
Al MEXICO mention is made of The dcotb
fight III quiz
That football is a dangerous r,o
Will, | think. not be denied hv ~" ~, s"i,,e
a. All familiar with the game A. -
i"!c' men are not allowed In ruo,g, &,
game OF football without careful
ihtuical cXram'clation, and il is .nna
!11lS understood that only the strongest
',ich are able 10 endure the violent
st'nihS ana shocks to which contestants
~ iootbail fight are subjected I, is
,in u, main famed that the element of
OF me game. since II develops co,irnt,.
ana pluck; but To this i, is only necc,s
Hal! 10 reply that the sort of courage
~ oeNt1"ped is not that kind which
IS most needed at the present time 7,
- mere brute courage. such as pugilists
ana game cocks possess. The sort NJ
courage which the world needs Mt th,.
plssent time It moral courage, and It
would certainly be Impossible 70 show
hisher degree by veteran football play-
eIs man by men who have. aIever
played football, or even by women who
uh'H recently at least, have been CON
Sidereu quite disqualified for ;his mar
ticular form Of athletics.
My second objection to football is
mat VI Is quite unnecessary as n means
vi tn"foiiGh-going or all-around GYM
haSticS or athletic training. II will ho
readily conceded by any person ran,;I-
lar with the methods of physical ir,in-
lhG that all the real gymnastic adj
Iahtages which may be derived from,
ioqtpah may be acquired by other
means. The writer does not hesitat.
10 assert that il men want to compara
notes as regards strength agility. cour-
"Sc Or endurance. there are other.
means by which a more fair and ac-
curate test of these Qualities o,n ho
made than by football. which IN n
closely contested game. is. really moth
ing more nor less than a hattlc fought
IN fierce and often positively 7r,ltnI
and degrading Mariner.
My third object to football is tina,
the Spiri, Of the game is altogether nm
christian, aud hence II should not III.
encouraged by Christian men ana WON
en-, and certainly not by n Christian
or=af,iza;!on such as the Young Mems
christian Association. The effect of
io"toaii exhibitions is often dr,noraIiz-
ing and degrading in no small dnprnn
not only 10 the participants. but aIsn
to the spectators"
In conclusion DR.. Kellogg SAYS az
the game: 1T is a barbarous ana VIII
lated state of society which permits
men. and even companies of men. ia