The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-02-17
(The Medical Times.l


The medical profession generally. in
addition to the obscrvant %laNnlan. has
taken up seriously h question OF the
effects of present day athletic sports
on the young men who engage in
them. Widespread attention is being
drawn to the views of medical me
who are firm in the conviction that
athletics as practiced ut tho univer-
stiles, colleges and schools have a de-
cidedly deleterious effect on those who
take an active part in them.
To the end tina a consensus of
opinion on this subject might be pre-
sented to the public for its consid-
Grafton, the current number Of the
Medical Times gives n symposium of
views on 1T obtained from physicians
and surgeons Of recognized standing
in their profession. Among these are
such Well known authorities on ath-
letics as Or. w. q. Anderson. director
of the gymnasium at Yale university,
Dr. Dudley a. Sargent. director of the
HemenwaN gymnasium AZ Harvard
university. DIR. A. II. Sharpe. schonl
physician and football and baseball
coach Mt the William Penn charter
school in Philadelphia. and DIR. James
a. Eabhitt. medical director of |lIaNcr-
ford college.
There is a diversity OF opin;nu
nhIoHS Tue tNli'I lpllltlS w l1lc Nh
postum. Dr. Charles r. Stokes. Slr-
geon general of tho United States
navy. unqualifiedly " in tho 81
firInative when DsLrd if athletic .%poris
tend 10 have an i'll effect ol hoys al /
young Q His report IN naTa!
academy cages for the year 1871 IS
taken up and an extract dealing VIII,
the question is presented. In this
DIR. stokes saws:
The bureau is of tho opinion that
competitive ana spectacular athletics
are undesirable in the service. cs-
pecially among nlidshipnel who are
prone to overtrain for. or. hazard too
much in. a contest.
! The function of the nava. academy
is to equip young men mcntaii,. nnd
physically for their chosen profession,
Physical training ard athletics scne:-
ally should be INDUCED n SO as 70
safeguard the interests o. TIE govl-n-
nent and the individuals as well.
hazardous as played. it IS the disab!-
ing after effects that. in my opinion,
make it questionable as a sport to
be encouraged where future naval Of
:icers are being trained.
+, The prolonged rigorous course of
physical exercises necessary to en-
cellence in physical sports IS believed
to be dangerous in its after effects
upon those who ind.isa N athletic
sports sufficiently to excel therein.
When. under the conditions Of
service at sea. it becomes impossible
to continue rigorous exercise, the in
dividual easily falls prey to degen-
erative changes. tends to become
obese. to lose physical stamina. and
In the end he fails to render as many
; Years of efficient service under service
conditions as does his less athletic,
but symmetricaily developed. class
mate.
Recently the medical records of
G25 former athletes of the classes of
1891 to 1911 have been examined
10 determine the bearing of carly
entertaining upon physical efficiency
in after life-nine have died and
twelve have retired.
"Of these tw%enty-one casualties, six
have been due &c tuberculosis. eight
to mental or diseases, (three
suicide on account of ill health). two
indirectly to alcoholism. one death
each to acute dilation Of the heart and
valvular disease of the heart, both di-
rectly attributed to track and crew
racing. and to an injury received
i'm a football contest. OF the remain
ing 604 in the service. 1913 have dis.