New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-05
ON FOOTBALL DANGERS.
PHYSICIANS SPEAK OUT.
Taco Who Cared for H@uard Squad
Urge Notifications.

The physical dangers of football now played
are set forth scientifically and in great oetail 'l
an article that will appear to-day In ihe heoieal
Journal by Dr. Edward H. Nichols ana Dr'
Homer r. Smith on THE Physical Aspect or
American Football The writers had the care Oh
the football squad at Harvard University last sea
son. and base their article close Observation or
the men under their charge and on letters received
in answer to a circular sent to every man III 'he
squad. There were $50 men in the foothaii squat'
hut OF these only seventy were players of much
ability.
The report begins by stating that. in all proba-
bility the injuries this year were no greater tna
In former seasons and that the number of injuries
received in practice and regular games was ABOUT
the same as usual The injuries received by 'he
Harvard squad during 1905 were:
sprained thumb, l. fractured fbula. l: cuts , ore
quired sitchesy u: bruises S. dislocauon OF ELBOW
7ipho l csrtiiage i injury to back g. synoyitis Of
knee 49, sprained ankle 81 strained a nuscie con-
fusion Of side l. fractured rib s. rupture OF
Sc; conclusion 10; rnptured muscle. s: dislocated
semilunar cartilage TO- confusion of elbow !; COM
fracture of zygoma z; torn ear Csuture) 3: broken
fac tssd Of h rim Of d psTre Of seiunsr
OF wrist /; dslocation of acromal end clayicle II
brs + udsioeation Of inner end Of clavcle l.
rupture of biceps of leg. L: middle miningesl hem
carpai bones, 5; sprained elbow, 1; total, l4S
The writers say that many injuries considered
slight by the players themselves are hkeiS III
future years to cause much annoyance ana even
danger The players seem to be olteh oi'a'i ~
realize how serious their injuries are anu sho"
marked Indifference to physical pain This SHOWS
according TO the writers, that only men VINO are
naturally only slightly sensitive to pain are aoie
to play university team
In consideration of the above facts these conclu-
sions drawn:
the INJURIES which are received In playing FOOTBALL
are very much greater than generally is creolteo
seoondhe greater number Of the Injuries come
in tnH Injuries sH are h Pecefved in the
Third-The number of injuries is inherent IN the
5efitIon as is shown by the fact that the proper
lion Of injuries received in games and In praotice
: FonrthIA large percentage of the injuries is I'M
FifthGThe percentage of injuries is incomparaby
greater in football than in any other OF the major
sxfh-The game does not develop the best n type
is. given to weight without corresponding nervous
seIenth-c:onstant medical supervision of the
game where large numbers Of men are engaged is
necessity and not Ihxqr fbe conetant attend
ance of two trained surgeons is played under de-
BighthIThe percentage of injury is much too
great for any mere sport. -. ob,ect,ors 70 the
ethical and practical the CONDITIONS ddeE
Injuries IN TrsilsN : :
Professor H G. Lord. chairman of the Columbia
University athletic committee, when the article
was shown him last night. said he thought the
publication would have great effect In the efforts
toward reforming the game. He continued
The facts set forth are just what have always
believed, and am glad that they have been put
before the public in such a scientific manner. /
think the article will have great weight. not only
in abolishing the brutality of the game, but In
football is only heavy men. and thus leading to
changes, which will allow much larger NUMBER OF
men TO TT for q
The authorities at Columbia have always held
that the chief evil N football lies not in the danger
to life and limb but in the spirit it engenders in
the college This spirit renders men unfit for work
and causes people to look college no longer as
a place of learning, but as training school for
Young gladiators think the article viii have
much weight along this line, well as In elimna-
ton of the games brutality.