The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1906-10-10
PERIL IN ATHLETICS
PHYSICAL EXERCISE SHOULD BE
TAKEN IN MODERATION


Muscle HuiIdinE II Not Necessary to
Good Health, and severe Training
WcaLens the Heart mud Nerves and
Lowers vitality.
once beyond the bounds of modera-
ton, physical exercise and physical
training not only weaken the heart for
a lifetime. Predispose to pneumonia,
cause pulmonary tuberculosis and make
extra possible dozen other Ills but
they unfit IL man from being the ideal
husband and father.
Dr. Robert T. Coughlih Of Brooklyn,
says go New York Times. has been
collect statistics upon and follow
i8e the careers Of athletes for years.
lie examined the contestants in anna
tour boxing matches. and the abnormal
development Of the best of them struck
him Magnificently developed rs TO
lhelr muscles. they We're far from be
ing men Of normal health and strength.
Beyond certain point the muscular
training was at the expense Of their
vitality. # 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 10 the benefit to be de
rived from athletics says the doctor,
one has only 10 remember the ply si0l-
agy Of exercise TO become convinced
Of the fact that exercise. per Sc may
Gf4fu nj bn n hpnT
in mind is 10 advise the person to stop
before fatigue becomes evident. We
can do this readily when the athlete is
Interested in games for the mere exer-
else. but such advice cannot be offered |
when his aim Is To excel i'll an athletic
contest Here Is where athletics do |
great harm. and ii would be n safe rule |
to advise against all forms of athletics
In tile nature Of contest
"Athctlcs may be said to be bene
ffclui until the heart begins Ia he mark
eddy hypcrtrophied This Is the dan I
ger signal
Hypertrophied is the medical mans |
way of Saying enlarged that is. the
walls or muscles of the heart increase
in size Though this is the danger
signal" there IS no real danger here. |
only a warming The danger comes
when. in consequence of additional ex-
ertion, the heart dilates, It's interior |
grows lareer. diSplacing the delicate
machinery. causing the wives to leak. |
Then come "murmurs." and though |
man may live for years with weakened
valves he may die any dry and any
moment
Does physical exercise. then, build
up the general health and make a
better man out of 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. ole of the big English au
thorities tSr Michael Foster puts 1t,
does not exist IT Is like happiness
Each has goal or limit which, while
seemingly attainable, eludes perfect
possession. The body consists of n
number of mcchanisms which have the
closest and most exact relations, and
as they approximate to harmony there
is health, but when disordered there is
i'll health
Not necessarily does IA man by phys
teal training and much exercise be-
eome a better man. nor does he even
get better health. Here is the striking
evidences of il in scientific statements
Of the day
To obtain good health, muscle build
ing is not Il necessity. One cannot
judge of a persons health by the size
and hardness Of the muscles. We
have seen that the converse may be
true 10 obtain health one must not
be In u perfectly trained condition ow-
ing to the effects of severe training on
the nervous system There Is no evil
dence to prove that athletics and mus
cle building improve the constitution
one should always keep in mind the
fact hat built up or hypertrophied
muscle has tendency to degenerate
The heart. being muscular organ,
shares In this tendency.
HUT the athlete is man who goes
through the seVerest physical strain
und training II he boxes. runs Is II
gymnast, It football player, II wrestler.
an expert mt baseball or tennis, any
sport requiring violent exercise and
the constant keeping in trim for ii. all
The rest of his body Is sacrificed for
the oYerdevelopmcnt OF these special
muscles ana the rest of II must some
how suffer
All the holy should develop together.
rs II were. Body and mind should be
built up evenly. II overathletIcs does