SWIMMING AND DISEASE

Evening Star, Issue 20943, 6 November 1931, Page 6

SWIMMING AND DISEASE

DEVELOPMENT OF SWIMMING POOLS SUBJECT OF BREATH CONTROL In the foremost American aquatic magazine, ‘ Beach and Pool,’ there appeared some time ago an article on swimming in relation to disease, in which the importance of breath control was dealt with, and the subject is of such general import that it is reprinted below. 1

There are, no doubt, many who still remember the old swimming bole of childhood days. Tho nearest approach to sanitary precautions was to swallow as little of the muddy water as possible. Tho germs that lived in the water would not have worried anyone if they had known of their existence.

The old swimming hole is now considered dangerous to health. _ The growth of population, the pollution of streams by domestic sewage and modern industrial plants have made such diseases as typhoid fever and dysentery possible through ingestion of water. So the old swimming hole is passing, and the artificial pool is taking its place. , The first of these was nothing more than earthen walls built to hold water. Then came the concrete pool, but at first no thought was given to the subject other than to provide a leakproof container. Later sanitation was considered, and running water was used wherever it was available. Then came the art of the designing engineer, _ the architect, the chemist, the bacteriologist, etc., until we have our present modern structures with their various methods of disinfection which not only provide germ-free water but _ enough residual disinfectant to sterilise any pollution brought into the pool by the bathers. For, we, who are connected with swimming pools, to say that one cannot develop infections through swimming, would indeed he unwise. 1 dare venture to say there is not a pool in our community that has not had some such trouble, as sinus and ear infection and meningitis among its patrons. Yet vve, who know our pools when tested by the State Board of Health are found free from disease-producing gems, cannot help resenting the accusations blaming the pool directly for these diseases.

The fact that comparatively few swimmers have these infections strengthens our belief that the pool itself does not cause the trouble. If our pools are infested with germs, as some believe, why does not the swimmer who is in the pool an hour a day five days a week the year round contract some of these diseases? We have many who swim daily summer and winter, and through epidemic seasons, who attribute their resistance to disease to this wonderful exercise. If swimming causes the trouble the per cent, of cases should be higher among these than any other group. , But when we say swimmer we do not mean the individual who is able to propel himself horizontally in the water, nor the one who can execute several strokes. We mean the individual who has mastered water breathing. Many who have learned how to perform well in the water know how water breathing should be done, but have not mastered it. If the swimmer who has mastered it enjoys the sport regularly over a long time without incurring trouble it would seem that the sooner the would-be swimmer masters water breathing the sooner is he reasonably safe from infections. The average individual who attends our public swimming pools does not come to swim. He comes to have a good time, and to him a good time consists of diving for objects, standing on his hands, jumping in feet first, holding his buddy under water, and in turn being held under a little longer for revenge, coming on him suddenly from behind pulling him off his feet, or swimming under him upsetting him from below. And, of course, he must not be outdone by the others in the long after his strength is gone, and crowd, so he continues splashing around comes out of the pool panting for breath, head full of water, ears ringing; and if he is ill the next day, he picked up a germ while swimming. To those who are seriously trying to perfect the art of natation this is everything but swimming. _ The individual who is an average swimmer can continue steadily at even speed for an hour or two, and come from the pool as clear-headed ns when he entered, and not at all tired. At private pools where 'an instructor conducts regular classes much of this rough play can be avoided or controlled, but the owner of the public swimming pool is helpless, as his patron pays for his own idea of a good time and not for a swimming Now let us consider what happens while the good time is on. The nasal passages are lined with mucus membrane’. Water is irritating to this membrane. it causes it to swell, closing the passages and giving a full-clogged feeling which makes one want to blow the nose. The nostrils are lined with tiny hair follicles. After the head emerges from the water, choking and swallowing, the individual grabs iiis nose, pinching it between his thumb and fingers. You have all seen this, and will see it again and again if you watch a group in bathing. Ho is panting for'breath, ■ and while his nose is closed draws these few drop's clinging to the hair follicles up into the sinuses which aro honeycomb bone, and provide a nice resting place for those drops of water. Is it any wonder, then, that the individual gets sinus infection if lie comes in contact with the right kind of germ from a carrier in the crowd, on the street car, or anywhere, for that matter, when those passages are in the best possible condition to foster germs? The swimmer who has mastered water breathing knows when and how to breathe, and even though he is plunged into water unexpectedly, adjusts his nostrils to the water pressure so that it is entirely under his control. Persons suffering from car trouble ari said to be more in number, but wo hear loss about them. Let us analyse the cause. The outer car is lined with skin liko the covering of our bodies; hence water coming in from the outside should do uo more harm than washing out the car in the wash howl at home, providing the drum head is not ruptured or there is no local inflammation present. The normal ear secretes wax in a semi-fluid form which runs into outer ears, and is wiped, out with the wash cloths and towels. Sometimes, especially iu the adult, an abnormal amount and thicker consistency is secreted, and instead of running out ns normally it forms a hard, dry ball. Because it is dry it is shrunken away from the wall' of the ear cavity, and hearing is not noticeably impaired bo-

cause of a tiny air chamber between the wax and the covering of the drum. Water gets into the ear behind this wax. The wax gradually absorbs tho water, increasing in size until it fills theca vity, causing pressure against the drum head. The individual inserts the little finger in the ear and shakes, attempting to clear the passage. If ho shakes hard enough and long enough ho packs the wax in tighter,, and sets up an irritation which causes a tender soro feeling in the ear. If he lets the ear alone a plugged feeling continues for an hour or two until the wax dries out and shrinks away from the cavity wall, leaving- tho oar feeling normal cmtil he is in the water again, when the ssnie thing is repeated. A visit to a specialist to have the wax syringed out will do away with further trouble. The outer ear chamber is not straight, but dips downward, and a drop or two of water to come out in this little recess gives the same feeling of fullness. By turning the head sidewise and gently pulling the ear downward and backward the canal will be straightened, allowing’ the water to come out, or a swab of cotton inserted will absorb the water. Water drawn into the eustachian tube through the nose or mouth is not so easily handled, and needs a doctor’s care. Both blowing tho nose and swallowing open the eustachian tube. The beginner in water work and the “ good time ” individual is continually swallowing and blowing the nose, and again water is drawn into the tube and on into the inner ear, where serious trouble may result. _ Proper teaching of water breathing will eliminate most of the danger. The most important skill of swimming is breath control. The most bitter enemy of swimming is sinus and ear trouble.

Encourage swimming under competent instruction. •Discourage rough play and underwater swimming until trained in water breathing. Advise the beginner to avoid blowing the nose while in the water or for a while after leaving the pool. If the nosg has been properly cleansed before entering tbe pool there is nothing there to blow out. The desire comes from congestion, and will leave in an hour or two.

Train nurses and doctors to swim. They can do more to retard or promote swimming than any other group. And, finally, don’t knock this enjoyable, healthy, all-the-year-round sport until you thoroughly understand the science of swimming. When you do, you won’t.