The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-07
EFFECT or LONG RUNS.
Medical Examination OF Marathon CandI-
dates Give Interesting Results.

BosToN. May o.-Ths' Unicorn, the oficial
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
ouRhly. The Unicorn says:
From a medical standpoint the race was
without unpleasant features. The very
largeinumbeT OF starters made the eIamins-
tons 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 were noted at the
finish The essential part OF the physician .
work is to safeguard the runners themselves.
by advice OF even disqualification II their
physical condition seems unequal 70 so pro-
longed test. The danger OF death from
OvereXeTtion is comparatively sight but
cannot be disregarded. the danger OF per-
manent injury 10 heart, Kidneys. or 10 the
The latter results might appear only after
some years. but the repested annual eNami-
nations upon contestants who have run three
and even four OF tive times fail a. vet to
show any permanent injury due TO the race
Ia properly trained men.
a large proportion Of the starters finished
the entire course. This shows that each
wear the number OF young men who can run
twenty Tour miles without serious distress
IS S, steadily Increasing mother curious fact
thcae cont estants live uu indoor life, OF follow
sedentary occupation, and do their training
at night or on sundays. IL such men are
Of good hubts. and in condition Of health,
a remarkably small amount OF preparation
seems to ht them to cover the course. This
sarlly wasted strength, either In hard labor
or in too much running and exercise. but
have, on the contrary. taken sufficient sleep,
pla food and have led regular normal lives.
The most marked example Of this was a
man ~ years old. who was permitted to start
after very careful examination by tWo OF
the physicians. The man II 4 DIAMOND cutter
and until last year had never INDUCED il
Marathon races, and his condition az the
hnlsh this year was extremely good better
IN Tact than MANY others not more than one
half his age who had trained for the nun
much longer and more severely than no did
On the other hand. boys OF 10 or II years
and have proved it by contestiGE again in
later years. Tho facts seem to be that the
normal human body properly trained and
cullr eNertion OF the character OF Walking,
running, climbing, SC.
The successful runners all have large
hearts. but the enlargement IL due TO an
increase o; the heart muscle not to a dila-
tatOn OF it, cavities and corresponds to the
exercise OF the parts. Without such enlarge
ment Il would not be possible TO run twenty
four miles and finish 10 good condition. At
the end Of the contest there II usually an ad-
dltional enlargement. not only. OF the heart
but also OF tho liver and possibly OF the Kid
neys, due to the unusual " ork put upon them
and possibly also to the mental excitement
inseparable from the race and absent In the
practise runs There are also at times sounds
In the heart suggesting temporary leaking
IN the heart valves These sounds rapidly
disappear. but the dilatatiOn goes more slowly
and probably takes days before II entirely
subsidies. What the men need At the finish IL
rest. warmth. quiet (which IL not pOssiblel,
and abstinence from alcohol The use of
alcohol even after the race IL undoubtedly
undesirable: during the race IL u simply
suicidal, both 20 condition and 20 the chance
Of winning. About this fact there is not the
slightest doubt. and every effort should be
made to impress IL upon trainers and care
takers Alcohol IN anything but the very
smallest amounts Is in these conditions q
poison, and in small amounts does no good
and usually depresses within few minutes.
We have also found men taking digitalis and
strychnine during the race, on the advice OF
a trainer. TO STIMULATE the heart; such things
are absurd and dangerous. IL a man cannot
win without resortlng 20 such druRe a. these
he certainly cannot win with them