BOXING

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 12598, 6 July 1935, Page 11

BOXING

PUNCH DRUNK

The statement that many boxers are “punch-drunk” aU the time was made by Dr Macdonald Critcldcy, nerve . specialist at -King’s CollegeHospital, London, in the ®nm\sc of an .article in the Medical. Annual. He ■stated that- most of those boxers who cannot stand up to punishment, suffer from ailments a®, trembling and dragging legs, deafness, poor sight, and speech defects. Boxers who wipe not clever at avoiding blows, or who have been careless of them, were apt to suffer from these.troubles.

Knock-outs, according to the doctor, are .not so harmless as they appear, and-although the fighter recovery apparently quite quickly, the blows may cause lasting bruin . injuries. Symptoms of “punch-drunk-' Ujnness” eonsilst of ;unsteaidines!s,mental confusion and clumsy feet, that,is, in . the early stages. Such' symptoms, may fail to greatly affect a boxer’s performance, but have been known to cause early retirement from the ring. Loss of memory and' .partial. consciousness may. follow a ic.ipi.. Other ill-effects ' include .eye trouble, severe headaeheg .and speech’ difficulties. ■ .

The doctor quotes, a case of ; a ~24-' year-old fighter vvho had been knocked down..many times, and who after being knocked down j twi ( cc,,pn his. re-' turn to the'ring .following a year’s Vest, ..suffered from sickness and'double vision, and was unable to train’ for another fight because of unsteadiness and tired dragging Tegs. In an-' other case of a 30-year-o]d fighter,, he was k.o’d and eventually lost power in arm,s legs until lie reached a •physical and mental condition of Chlidishliess. „ . ,- ; ...;. • ( “Puuch-drunkenness’l.. js; the after-, math .of- repeated concussion ,pf thp; padcled; fist againsj; 'the nerve centres: of thp head; It. p? one of ..’the ,bcg tra-. gedics. of the fight ganie and there is * no fening just whgn the effects ?nay manifest - themselves. ..may; deyglcp the malady after joutYT while seasoned , . and,, rugged; scrappers may go.. Througlr: years. • or. ihectic. fighting;, onJ,y >to ;s.tay v ;just, a ..epuple or so . .fights ; too long; and .pay a 1 terrible .penalty. : • <