The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-11
WHEN GOLF is DEADLY.
The MiddIe-Aged Man Takes Exercise
with Risk to Himself.

Philadelphia Record.
Said DR.. A.. c. Bernays, of st. Louis, who
ranks high among American surgeons:
''Wayman McCreery was a victim of golf,
a sacrifice to the golf fad" The subject
of this expression was a prominent c1ti-
zen of st. Louis. a man of unusual mental
and physical qualities who had been an all
around athlete. At the age of fifty he
showed a tendency toward obesity, with
shortness Of breath when taking exercise.
Some stupid person told him there was an
accumulation of fat about his heart and
that the remedy was strenuous physical
action. He was told that he ought to play
golf. In truth the trouble was a weaken
Ing of the coats of the arteries, which was
probably due to the strain of too violent
exertion. Mr.. McCreery took enthusiastic
ally to the golf idea. He often made two
continuous rounds OF the links, and m
he dieted himself and rigidly cut off his
usual beverages. Last May he shocked his
physician by saying he had taken off thir-
weight pounds. With his weight thus re-
duced and resistance in the vessels TO the
action of the heart diminished that organ
worked more rapidly and at last ruptured
a tiny artery in the brain, causing death
by apoplexy.
DIR. Bernays expressed what is probably
the opinion Of most medical men of large
experience when he said: II do not think
there is a more dangerous thing for a man
of fifty or over to do than to change rad
ically his mode of life In any way that will
involve more work, either physical or men
tai. To professional and business men who
have reached the middle age / should say:
DO less than YOU have been doing and do
not take off weight rapidly The golf fad
for busy men who have become corpulent
while doing hard work is a dangerous ex-
pertinent"
It is the teaching of common sense as
well as of experience that a man who
has reached middle age should never take
physical exercise to the point of weari-
ness, and that any exertion which ne may
make should be less violent than the train
ing to which he was used to in his earlier
years. 1t Is not we'll hat a man at any
age should attempt TO maintain the high
est degree OF bodily strength and agility,
except as a preparation for an event which
will tax his powers TO the utmost. The
prfzefghter puts himself into the best con-
TO keep in that state. Experience has
taught him that there is a limit beyond
which a reduction of weight Is unsafe.
Men who use their brains cannot carry
muscular development far. The greatest
minds and their greatest efforts have not
been associated with severely trained bod
les.
When men are guided In their physical
exercises by a theory. or by the rules of
a trainer, or by anything except their own
sense Of comfort. they are in danger OF
overexertion, which is always worse than
underdoing. Walking at a moderate gait
to the tired point, but not beyond. with
plenty OF fresh air, will usually accom-
plish all that Is needed for most men and
women. There are persons whose organs
have a tendency toward sluggishness. and
who require special forms OF exercise TO
stimulate healthy action; but they are
proper subjects for the physician Stout
people are too often and too positively
urged TO reduce their weight by strenuous
exercise. especially since the fields have be-
come crowded with golf enthusiasts of
both sexes and all ages.