Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-17
Foot Ball Not Good for Mid.
dies, Says Surgeon General.
SLOW development BEST
Moderate But Continuous Athletics
Surest Safeguard Against Disease.
MOST DANGER IN SHIP DUTY
Relapse After Hard Physical Train
ing Often Followed by Serious
Consequences to Young Men.

Foot ball and other strenuous forms OF
competitive athletics are not conducive
to the permanent physical efficiency Of
the midshipmen at the Naval Academy,
In the opinion of Surgeon General Stokes
Of the navy. He advocates more recreative
and continuous athletic exercise and for
the younger personnel the adoption of
the Swedish system OF physical training.
in lieu ofthe present annual physical test.
In a report to the Secretary Of the
Navy. the surgeon general says. that
athleticism. as the word Is generally I'M
derstood. makes its followers more liable
to disease than those who indulge in
moderate exercise. After pointing out
that In our navy no statistics of longev-
ity and period of active service of former
letic officers and those who pursued a
simpler form Of exercise are available,
the report says:
"Basing opinion upon data obtained by
investigators in this country and in Eu-
rope. 1t is the prevailing belief of medical
authorities that participation in the GUS
tomary contests Is not only unnecessary
for the development Of the best physique.
but that the average man, who is more
nationally and evenly developed by con-
servative but recreative gymnastics
without the undue enlargement Of heart
muscle which commonly follows special
ism In foot ball and rowing, will live
longer, be more resistent to diseases and
thereby be enabled to render more
service.
Reduce Danger to the Minimum.
''The navy. the individual and the civil
community from which the prospective
officer is appointed each can rightfuIly
demand that, If athletic contests are to
be permitted, and particularly if they are
to be encouraged by Official dispensation
and the moral support Of thousands of
spectators, the immediate danger of life
and limb shall he reduced to q minimum
which certainly has not yet been reached.
Competitive sports are, however. not COM
pulsory, and after the minimum dangers
and doubtful advantages have been point
ed out by medical advisers and instruct
ors in physical training, participation may
still be left to the individuals decision.
even II his youthful judgment is some
what discredited.
The expression once an athlete always
an athlete should be thoroughly i'm
pressed, for heart given a large amount
Of work to perform increases in size as
does any other muscle, and when later
comparative disuse occurs degenerative
changes may be expected. with CORE
spending susceptibility to disease and
failure to meet the unprepared-for serv-
ice emergency.
Moderate Exercise Best.
1T may be confidently contended that
in any given group Of midshipmen who
have specialized in athletics in the Naval
Academy and entered upon a career of
comparatively restricted regular physical
exercise, an ultimately higher admission
rate for tuberculosis will be found than
among their confreres, who. in addition
to the regular physical training, satisfied
their need for physical recreation in gym
nastics, tennis and other moderate ex-
ercises. ALI conditions OF modern ship
life favor an entire change in the young
officers physical habits when they are
assigned to their first sea duty after
graduation and those who have been the
more athletic are quite as prone to
abandon their exercises and adapt them
selves to the less active environment;
these men have more heart muscle and
vital capacity to fall into disuse and
tuberculosis infection Is less readily re-
sisted, while within a few years q serious
illness may find q degenerated heart
muscle unable to withstand the strain.
Mental strain incident to student life
does not require intense physical exercise;
moderate physical recreation will far
more readily relieve brain fatigue and
restore mental YigOr."