La Junta tribune., 1906-12-08
PERIL IN ATHLETICS
PHYSICAL EXERCISE SHOULD Og
TAKEN IN MODERATioN.

Mss~l= BsiiAins h Nss Necessary -
W~ak~.. the n~.rs ..A Nerves s.1
Lowers Vitality.
Once beyond the bounds of modera-
tion- physical exercise and physical
training not only weaken the heart for
/ lifetime. predispose TO pneumonia.
cause pulmonary tuberculosis and make
extra possible a dozen other ills. but
they unfit a man from being the ideal
husband and father.
Dr. Robert +. Coughlin of Brooklyn.
says the New York Times. has been
collecting statistics upon and follow
ing the careers of athletes for years
He examined the contestants in anna
teur boxing matches. and the abnormal
development Of the best Of them struck
him. Magnlfcently developed ss to
their muscles. they were far from be-
ing men Of normal health and strength.
BEYOND \ certain point the muscular
training was at the expense Of their
vitality. 1t took away from the heart
and lungs. There was scarcely an Or
gan OF the system not affected and
made less efficient. II seemed worth
while to exploee further Into The eauss-
lin regard to the beaeat to be de-
Rived from athletics." says the doctor.
'-one has oaly to Feme0ber IL phystol-
oaU Of exeecise to bscome csavibes1
Of the fact tAat exercise. PSF -. nay
b very bsasacial. TIE point to bsar
IN mind 10 10 advise the pefsOa to stop
before fatigue becomes evident. We
can do this readily vhsn the athIets IL
interested In nnes for the mere sxsr-
cise. but such advics cannot be o6ered
when biz aim b to excel In an athletic
contest Here 10 where athletics do
great harm. and Il would be q safe rule
TO advice against all forms Of athletics
In the nature Of . contest.
"Athietic~ may be said to be beos-
Acial until the beart begins to be marx
sdly hypertrophied. This 10 the dan
ger signal"
Hypertrophied Is the medical mans
way Of saying enlargesi-that IL. the
walls or muscles Of the heart Increase
In size. Though this In the danger
signal" there IL no real danger here.
Ouly q warning. The danger comes
when, In consequence Of additional ex-
ertiou. the heart dIiate~, 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 physic.l exercise. then, build
mp the ssassal health and make .
better man out Of Q man? Thsrs
seems to b . question, with soos
scieutinc men saying today very eo-
| phatically. mot unbsss that physical
sxseciss 10 vssy modseats indssd."
Health, eos oe ths b,g Engiish 80
thsritsss (Sir NIcAas, restes, psts II.
does not exist. II Il like Aappassss-
| Zach has Q goal o. llmit which. while
sssminsiy sttainabIs. sludss Dssfset
possessi0n. The body consists OF .
sumbes of oscAanisms which have tn
closest and NEST exact rs,atioes. asd
- they approximate to harmoay thses
10 health. but whea disoedsesd there II
III health.
Not necessarily does . man By phys
icai traInins and much exercise BE-
come Q bsttsr man. aoe does hs even
est better hath. Here u ths striking
evidence Of II II scientific Statements
u The day.
To obtaia gosd hath. muscls buljd-
ing 10 not noce0ity. One canoot
judge oe . persons hsalth By The siss
and hardness Of the muscles. We
have seen that the converse may be
true. To obtain health one must not
be In . perfectly trained coalition Ow-
Ing to the elects u severe training on
the nervous system. There is no svi-
dence to prove that athletics and mus
Gle building improve the constitution.
One should always keep In mind the
fact that built up or hypertrophie'i
muscle has 4 tendency to degenerate.
The heart. being q muscular organ.
shares In this tendency.
hut the athlete is 4 man who goes
through the severest physical strain
and training. II he boxes. runs. II =
gymnast. a football player. n wrestler.
an expert ut 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 overdevelopment OF these special
muscles. and the rest Of II must some
how suffer.
All the body should develop together.
as II were. Body and mind should be
built up evenly. II overathletics does
nothing else 1t produces . wearing and
tearing nervous strain.
When 1t comes to the actual athlete.
the man who specialixes ON some form
of physical force and muscle power.
these conditions are greatly aggravat-
ed Severe athletic training and mus
Gle building. II is now an acknowledged
fact Of science. are at the expense Of
the nervous and giandular systems.
IAN experienced athlete" says oos
authority, gave a. his opinion that .