The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-07
EFFECT or LONG RUNS.
Medical Examination Of Marathon Candi-
dates Give interesting ResuItG.


Boston, May o.-Ths' Unicorn. the of1ciAl
organ Of the Boston Athletic Association.
printed last week an interesting article upon
the effect upon the men who competed in
the annual Marathon Run on April 10, written
from a medical point Of view. Before the
men started and after they had completed
the course OF twenty-five miles, a number Of
physicians examined the competitors thor
Oughly. The URicorn says:
From a medical standpoint the race was
without unpleasant features The very
largeInumber Of starters made the eIamina-
lions at Ashland harder than usual since
only about one and half hours il available.
The only unfavorable condition along the
course was the dust, but no signs OF irritation
Of the lungs from this cause we're noted at the
finish. The essential part OF the physicians
work is TO safeguard the runners themselves,
by advice or even disqualification. II their
physical condition seems unequal TO so pro-
loDged a test. The danger OF death from
overeNerton is comparatively slight, but
cannot be disregarded. the danger Of per-
manent injury 70 heart. Kidneys. or TO the
BODY as a whole, is much more probable.
The latter results might appear only after
some years, but the Tepeated annual eSami-
nations upon contestants who have run three
and even four OF five times fail as vet 20
show any permanent Injury due to the race
In properly trained men.
a large proportion Of the starters finished
the entire course This shows that each
year the mum bcr OF young men who can run
twenty -four miles without serious distress
Is steadily Increasing. Another curious fact
which i becoming obvious il that many OF
these cont estants live Hu indoor life. or follow
sedentary occupation. sud do their training
at night or on sundays. II such Ineu are
Of good habits, and In a condition Of health,
u remarkably small amount OF preparation
seems TO 1T them to cover the course This
Is perhaps because they have not unnecss-
sarlly wasted strength, either In hard labor
nT Az iaa lsltN
have, on the contrary. taken su fficient sleep,
plain food and have led regular normsl lives.
man AZ years old. who was permitted to start
after very careful examination by tWo OF
The, physicisns. The man IL a diamond cutter.
distance running. lie has now finished two
Marathon races. and his condition At the
finish this year was extremely good better
In fact than many OF hers not more than one
half his age who had trained for the run
much longer and more severely than no did.
have completed the distance in good shape,
and have proved II by cOntestinE again in
later years. Tho facts seem TO be that the
normal human body, properly trained and
prepared. can stand almost Indefinite mus
cullr eNertion OF the character Of Walking,
running, liTnbinR. SC.
THE successful runners all have large
hearts. but the enlargement IL due to an
Increase Of the heart muscle not to a dila-
tatiOn OF its cavities, and corresponds to the
increase In leg or arm muscles which follows
exercise OF the parts. Without such enlarge
ment Il would not be possible TO run twenty
four miles and finish in good condition. At
the end Of the contest there is usually an ad-
dltlOual enlargement, not only OF the heart
but also Of tho liver and possibly OF the kid
neys, due TO the unusual work put upon them.
and possibly also to the mental excitement
inseparable from the race and absent in the
practise runs. There are also az times sounds
in the heart suggesting a temporary leaking
in the heart valves, These sounds rapidly
disappear, but the dlatatiOn goes more slowly
and probably takes days before II entirely
subsidies. What the men need AZ the finish IL
rest warmth, quiet (which is not poSsiblel,
and abstinence from alcohol The use OF
alcohol even after the race IL undoubtedly
u nd esiTab BILE: during the race il IA simply
suicidal both 70 condition and 70 the chance
Of winning. About this fact there is not the
slightest doubt and every effort should DO
made to impress II upon trainers and care
Takers. Alcohol IN anything but the very
smallest amounts Is in these conditions a
poison. and u small amounts does no good
and usually depresses within a few minutes.
We have also found men taking digitRlls and
'trychnine during the race, on the advice OF
/ trainer 20 STIMULATE the heart; such things
Ire absurd and dangerous. IL a man cannot
win without resortlng 20 such drugs as these
le certainly cannot win with them