Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-11-29
PERIL IN ATHLETICS
PHYSICAL EXERCISE SHOULD BE
TAKEN IN MODERATION.

Muscle Building Is Not Secessary to
Good Health, ard Severe Training
wenkcns the Heart and Nerves and
Lowers Vitality.
Once beyond the bounds of modera-
ton, physical exercise and physical
training not only weaken the heart for
lifetime, predispose to pneumonia,
cause pulmonary tuberculosis and make
extra possible n dozen other ills, but
they unfit n man from being the ideal
husband and father.
DR. Robert L. 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. Magnificently developed as to
their muscles, they were far from be-
ing men of normal health and strength.
Beyond q 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 1t seemed worth
while to explore further into the cause.
In regard to the benefit to be de-
rived from athletics" says the doctor,
zone has only to remember the physiol-
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 exer-
else, but such advice cannot be offered
when his aim is to excel In an athletic
contest Here Is where athletics do
great harm, and 1t would be safe rule
to advise against all forms of athletics
in the nature of contest.
Athletics may be said TO be bene-
fetal until the heart begins to be mark
edly hypertrophied. This is the dan
ger signal"
Hypertrophied Is the medical mans
way Of saying enlarged-that Is, the
walls or muscles of the heart increase
IL
signal" there is no real danger here,
only warning. The danger comes
when, in consequence of additional ex-
ertion, the heart dilates, its interior
grows larger, displacing the delicate
machinery, causing the valves to leak.
Then come "murmurs," and though a
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 q
better man out Of a MANI There
seems 10 be Il 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-
thorities (Sfr Michael Foster, puts it,
does not exist. It is like happiness.
Each has .oal or limit which, while
seemingly attainable, eludes perfect
possession The body consists of
number of nechanisms 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 a man by phys
ical training and much exercise be-
come better man, nor does he even
get better health. Here is the striking
evidence of II In scientific statements
of the day.
To obtain good health, muscle build
ing Is not a 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. To obtain health one must not
be In q 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
Gle building improve the constitution.
One should always keep in mind the
fact that built up or hypertrophied
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 If he boxes, runs, is
gymnast. football player, wrestler,
an expert at baseball or tennis. any
sport requiring violent exercise and
tho constant keeping in trim for it, all
the rest of his body Is sacrificed for
the overdevelopment of these special
muscles, and the rest of it must some
how suffer.
All the body should develop together,
as II were Body and mind should be
built up evenly. If overathletics does
nothing else 1t produces wearing and
tearing nervous strain.
When II comes to the actual athlete,
the man who specializes on some form
Of physical force and muscle power
these conditions are greatly aSSravat
ed. Severe athletic training and mus
Gle building. it is now an acknowledged
fact of science, are at the expense OF
the nervous and glandular systems.
AN experienced athlete" says one
authority, gave as his opinion that q
man sacrifices n certain part of his life
every time nc enters a contest Of any
Kind. He 50 said that man when
fit as expressed by athletes, is in an
abnormally nervous condition. In 9th.
er words. he can never remain at ease
for q minute at time and, like the
Gagged lion. IS forever on the move dur
ing his waking moments. 1t has been
noticed by observers that athletes are
often slckly and particularly suscepti
BILE 10 constipation and appendicitis"