The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-04-30
THE HYGIENE OF SWIMMING

THE HYGIENE OF SWIMMING.
A correspondent writes that he
has been life guard and a pool
manager for several years and has
rescued q number of victims and
has seen many others rescued.
Once in while such a rescued
person claims to have suffered leg
cramps. The correspondent has
never seen or heard of a case of
stomach cramps, however. He has
questioned many other life guards
about this and none of them has
observed such case either. He
says the Red Cross pamphlet No.
1908 states that cramps are due
to eating just before SWIMMING.
The only i'll effect he has observed
from swimming Immediately after
eating Is nausea or upset stomach,
and in such instances invariably
the individual has just eaten a
breakfast of sausage and pancakes,
or big highly seasoned hambur-
ger sandwich or "hot dog"
The Red Cross pamphlet is prob
ably written by some nice old
gentleman of some social promin-
ence, or else by some bright but
inexperienced young chap who is
the protege of some social leader
who Is a big noise ain the organi-
cation. At any rate the notion
that any evil comes from enjoying
a swim Immediately after a meal
is without foundation in fact. Mere
common sense il not stomach
sense tells you to avoid any un-
necessary effort OF any kind imme-
diately after big gorge. But un-
less you are an invalid--in which
case your own Doctor is your best
adviser--there is no reason why
you shouldn't go right in after
breakfast, after lunch or after
dinner.
AS the correspondents observa-
tions and inquiries indicate, the
occurrence of cramps of any kind
is q questionable inference. 1t is
an inference-one commonly made
to explain otherwise inexplicable
drowning of good swimmer.
Any one who attempts a hard or
long effort in very cold water IS
certain to tire more quickly than
he would in warmer water. and
when complete exhaustion comes
there may be sensation of
cramping in the powerless muscles.
However, this Is not a cause of
drowning. Cramps just don't hap.
pen except in morbid imagination.
! No room here to discuss the va
rious disease conditions or accidents
which may cause sudden drown
ing of good swimmer. Suffice that
these cases are frequently ascribed
to cramps"
The correspondent says my
Oh ur.tA a
swimming pools startles him. The
pool he has charge Of has only
| filtered water, and Is clarified by
alum and soda ash and disinfected
by COLONIZATION, and regular bac-
| THEOLOGICAL tests show negative
germ count. So what diseases can
| possibly be caught by swimming
in such a pool?
The answer is that the method
of sanitation seems as good as il
can be, yet IL John Jones and
happen to enter the pool at the
same time and John or / happen Ia
enter the pool at the same time
and John or happen to have any
little communicable condition we
are quite likely to share 1t regard
less of how clear and pure the
water may be. The more persons
patronizing the pool the greater
risk involved.
Could you catch the cri in such
a clean pool as the correspondent
describes Aye, aye, and few 9TH
err diseases besides.
| QUESTIONS and ANSWERS.
Diatherrny for Painful Shoulder.
Please tell me JUST what your
opinion OF diOthcrmy Is for dis
solving calcificd bursa in the
shoulder. (Afrs r. E.)
Tnswer-In my opinion the best
treatment for such bursitis (pain-
full shouIder) is q series Of daily
applicatinos Of diathermy, II that
fails to cure the trouble In two
weeks, then 1t Is in order to- con-
slider surgical removal Of the af-
1 fected hsfrsa usually the Subdef4