The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-01-03
BAN is URGED
ON MARATHON
DANCE GRINDS
Damage Body and Mentality
Benefit Only Promoters,
Doctor Writes.

Preventative measures should be
created to halt marathon dancing
because Of the damage often caused
to BODY and mentality of the par
Elephants, says DR.. H. G. Cole, Ham
-none, III an article in the current
edition Of the Journal of the In
diana Medical Society.
DR.. Cole has just finished serving
as physician in charge of a mara
tnon dance at Hammond which ex-
tended more than 1852 hours, ex-
ceeding all previous records by 270
hours.
The marathon dance recently held
in Indianapolis extended more than
800 hours
Rules of the contest at Hammond
provided for forty minueS dancing
in each hour and twenty minutes
devoted to eating, bathing, receiving
attention from trainers and rest.
Health Is Affected
Contestants we're removed from
the floor in hospital carts and US
ually were asleep before they
reached their training quarters only
a few feet away.
Forty-seven couples we're entered
in the contest and DR.. Cole ex-
amined them before the start and
had an opportunity to study their
condition at close range
His articles states that: During
the first ten days the dance hall
was a bedlam of sore feet, blisters,
callouses, corns and other foot all
ments.
During this time every contestant
developed Inflammation of the eye
lids.
MANY contestants had to discon-
tinue dancing because of ignorant
mauling messages administered by
inefficient trainers. After the first
day or two it became apparent that
this was a contest where mind ruled
body, rather than vice versa as one
would presume"
DR.. Cole sets forth that throughout
the contest the first break noticed
in contestants was change in
mental state; they either becoming
hilarious. depressed or irritable, the
greater number falling in the latter
classification.
Loss of MOdesty
"Clouding of consciousness, dis
orientation, decisions, acute confu-
sion and multiform Authorizations
we're the symptoms presented"
"a disorder of the mind as a re-
suit of exhaustion was developed in
one case and it was more than two
weeks before this disappeared.
LOSS of modesty as a result of
dropping of inhibitions similar to
that experienced under the influence
of alcohol was also a development.
zone contestant developed a slight
lung hemorrhage and Immediately
was disqualified and sent to the hos
pital. 1t later was learned that she
suffered from tuberculosis and had
had a slight hemorrhage three
months before.
throughout the contest there
was an almost universal fall in
blood pressure, with varying ac-
celeration and retardation in pulse
rate
Worst Hours in Morning
"The worst hours for the contest
ants was during the early morning
and lasting until noon. This, how
ever" Dr. Cole says, was due to
the absence of crowds and the con-
sequent loss of glamor."
Some of his conclusions are:
Harm to the tissues. many foot
troubles sure to be permanent, en-
larged veins in the legs, which will
result in varicositieS; and a posi-
bility of hearttrouble due. not to the
strain of dancing, but to the i'm
proper care or the inability to prop
erlv care for the system
DR.. Cole sums up by saying:
Preventative measures should stop
such contests as no one but the
promoter is benefited"