The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1906-11-07
PERIL IN ATHLETICS
PHYSICAL EXERCISE SHOULD Be
TAKEN IN MODERATION.

Muscle Building Is Not Necessary to
! Coed Ee:siti, a!:s. Severe Training
SEca!zcDS the Heart ;sni. Nerves Si:a
Lowers Vitality.
+ Once beyond the b3,!nds of modera-
ton. physical exercise and physical
training not only weaken The he;lft 1cr
a lifetime, preGiSpose to pneumonia,
cause pulmonary tuberculosis and make
extra possible dozen other ills, but
they unft man from being the ideal
husband ana father.
Dr.. Robert T. Coughlia Of Brooklyn.
saws the New York Times, has been
collecting statistics upon and follow
ing tie careers ots athletes for years.
! He examined the Contestants in anna
i tellr boxing matches, and the abnormal
/ development Of the best OF them struck
! him. MaglIcently developed as to
ing men Of normal health and strength.
! Beyond q certain point the muscular
! training was at the expense Of their
vitality It took away from the heart
and lungs. There was scarcely an or
gan Of the system not affected and
made less efficient 1t seemed worth
while to explore further into the cause.
In regard to the benefit to be de-
rived from athletics says the doctor.
cone has only to remember the physio!-
ogy Of exercise to become convinced
Of the fact that exercise, per Sc, may
be very beneficial. The point to bear
in mind is to advise the person to stop
| before fatigue becomes evident. We
can do this readily when the athlete is
interested in games for the mere exef-
else, but such advice cannot be offered
when his aim is to excel in an athletic
contest. Here is where athletics co
great harm. and it would be safe rule
| to advise against al forms of athletics
in the nature Of a contest.
Athletics may be said to te bene-
fetal until the heart begins to be mark
edly :lypertrophied. This is tie dan
ger signal.
Hypertrophied is the medical mans
, way cG saying enlarged-tnat IS. the
walls or muscles OF the heart increase
in size. Though this is the danger
signal,'' there is no real danger here,
only 9 warning. The danger comes
when, in consequence Of additiona! ex-
ertion. the heart dilates, its interior
grows larger, displacing the delicate
machinery, causing the valves TO leak
Then come "murmurS,' and though
man may live for years with weakened
valves he may die any day and any
moment.
Does physical exercise, then, build
I'D the general health and make
better o1a:i out Of a man? There
seems to be question, with some
scientific men saying today very en-
phatically, 'Not unless that physical
exercise IS very moderate indeed
Health, one Of the big English au-
thorlties (Sir Michael Foster puts It,
does not exist. It is like happiness.
Each has goal or limit which, While
seemingly attainabie, eludes perfect
possession. The boGy consists OF
number Of mechanisms which have the
closest and most exact relations, and
as they approximate to harmony there
is health, but when diSordered there IS
Ill health.
Not necessarily does man by phys
ical training and much exercise pc
come better man. nor does he even
get better health. Here is the striking
evidence OF it in scientific statements
Of the day.
To obtain good health, muscle build
ing is not necessity. One cannot
Judge Of g persons health by the size
and hardness of the muscles. we
have seen that the converse may De
true. To obtain health one mast not
be IL q perfectly trained condition oW-
ing to the effects Of severe training on
the nervous system. There is no evl-
dence TO prove that athletics and mus
Gle building improve the constitution.
One should always keep in mind the
fact that built up or hypertrophiea
muscle has tendency to degenerate.
The heart, being muscular organ
shares in this tendency.
But the athlete is man who goes
through the severest physical strain
and training. Ii he boxes, runs, IS
gvmnast, a football player, wrestler
an expert ct baseball or tennis, any
sport requiring violent exercise ana
the constant keeping in trim for It, all
the rest Of his body is sacrificed fof
the cverdevelopment OF these special
muscles. aud the rest Of it must some
how suffer.
AZ the body should develop together,
as il were. Body and mind should De
built up evenly. If overathietics does
nothing else ct produces wearing ana
tearing nervous strain.
When it comes to the actua! athlete,
tie man who syecializes on some forIn
Of physical force and muscle power,
these conditions are greatly aggraVat-
cd. Severe athletic training and mus
Gle building, it is now an acknowledged
fact Ct science. are at the expense OF
The nervous and glandular systems.
al experienced athlete" says one
authority, gave as bis opinion that
man sacrifices :; certain part Of his life
every time he enters contest Of any
kind. Ee also said that & man when
fit, as expressed By athletes, IS in an
abncrmally nervous condition II 9th
er words. lie can never remain at ease
for inmate at time and, like the
Gagged ion. is forever on the move dur
ing his waking moments. 1t has been
,nticnd hr observers that athletes are