THE EFFECTS OF STRENUOUS ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14984, 4 May 1912, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE EFFECTS OF STRENUOUS ATHLETICS.

, v::-i v : \/-r> r :!■ : . V: , •; ■■ %itK bureau '6? Mtedicine and' SffrgOfy o! | the American Navy has" c6me -to the conclusion, that spectacular \ and ' competitive athletics are'.undesirable. It is held that the prolonged and rigorous course of - exercises necessary to excel in physical sports is injurious in its. after-effects. According to the Lancet, the records of 625 athletes of the Naval Academy classes from 1891 to 1911 were examined to determine the ; bearing of early *' athletics on. physical' efficiency in after-life. Of-these 21 —six from tuberculosis, eight from mental and nervous disease, . two from alcoholism indirectly, one from j acute dilatation of the, heart, and, one from valvular disease of the; heart-. The last two deaths were directly attributed to.running. One death was due to an injury received, during football. "' - ,x? » « s '* 'ti Or the remaining 604 athletes in the service, 198 have had disabilities noticed 'in <ho official records to which athletics stand in a possible or probable - casual relation. These disabilities Have riot necessitated discharge, but have ; caused impaired service.

Of ;the ! 198 men, 48 had abnormal conditions referable to the hearty and blood'vessels, such as arterio-sclerosis, ' organic cardiac disease,' murmurs, irregular . arid rapid cardiac action and hypertrophy, and dilatation of the heart. In 16 the joints •or,motor 'i apparatus were involved; in 11 the kidneys; in 17 there was patent tuberculosis or tuberculosis was suspected'; in 16 there. was -neurasthenia' associated with gastric .; complications. There' Were: 25 cases of . appendicitis and 15 of hernia, both of which conditions appeared to be associated particularly with a football record. - The opinion ;is expressed that long-dis-tance j running is productive of serious harm. : ! -- > . ;■■■■ . •- •' ■ •