CASUALTIES ON LAND AND WATER.

Otago Witness, Issue 1756, 18 July 1885, Page 8

CASUALTIES ON LAND AND WATER.

, (From the London Daily Sportsman.) ! "That untoward events occasionally attemj fclie deservedly popular game of cricket most people must be well aware. Those who saw Mr Blackham, the Australian, indulge in an impromptu pas scul a few days ago at Lord's, on a cricket-ball and his knuckles becoming intimately acquainted, would not for a moment be under the impression that his gymnastic display was a mere ebullition of playful light-hearf edness. The truth is lie had stopped one of Ulyett's lightning deliveries with the back of his bare hand> and he is by no means anxious to repeat the experiment. I have had the curiosity to endeavow to ascertain how the Australians have continued day after day to put in an appearance at the wickets in such grand form and to display such untiring energy. Of course they, like other devotees of the game, are subject to the ill-effects of bruises, to sprains of a mofe or less severe character, and to that stiffness of the muscles and joints which so often resultsfrom extra bodily exertion.

MR G. ALEXANDER,

"who in addition to managing the business affairs of 'the team, seems to have undertaken in some respects the functions of medical adviser, most cheerfully accorded every information. In a manner his confreres have met with a iair share of disaster during their trip. No fewer than four or five have at one time or another been placed temporarily fiors de combat, whilst others suffered from minor afflictions which they could not afford the time to humour, and which, therefore, had to be' borne with the best possible grace under the circumstances. At home, he observed, they had at hand a peculiar, simple, wonderfully efficacious, and, at the same time, remarkably inexpensive remedy for sprains, soreness, stiffness of the joints, contusions, and the like. He had, however, run out of the comparatively limited otock.he had brought with him, and on making an inquiry he had learned to his chagrin that he conld not obtain the preparation in England. This had caused some consternation amongst " the boys," and several who were slightly affected had declined to try any other remedy. Questioned as to this compound, he remarked that it was St. Jacobs Oil, the potency of which in the removal of pain they had experienced many a time and oft. A curious thing about this Oil was the extreme rapidity with which It performed its good offices. " Don't go fooling about and wasting time, but get to business at once,' I suggested, and a hearty acquiescence was given. To his delight Mr Alexander was soon put in possession of the information that the Oil had been introduced to the British public, and he wasted no time tn obtaining a 6tock. I have since seen a letter from him, in which he announces that he carries asupply of St. Jacobs Oil with him for use in any emergency, and intends to continue to do so.

MR H. F. BOYLE

was equally ready to bear testimony to the virtues of the preparation. He had personal experience ot its value, and certainly looked upon it as almost a necessary item of his cricketing outfit. Moreover, he knew many athletes in Australia who wereequally as ardent admirers of the Oil as he was, and he told how the medicament had become quite famous right throughout the great Antipodean Colonies. It was rapid Tn its action, gave speedy relief from pain, and its effects were not evanescent, but permanent. Perhaps, it was intimated, no one knew its beneficial properties better than

MB BLAOKHAM,

who had taken an undue proportion of the knocking about that had fallen to the share of the team. He had been bruised and battered at short intervals, but went through the ordeal most manfully, and quickly resumed his duties with no diminution of ardour. That crack on the knuckles he incurred in London had called for the broaching of " a bottle " —not of spirituous liquor, but of ,St. Jacobs Oil, so that the punishment unwittingly administered by Ulyett would- speedily be forgotten. Then, again, there Was

MB SPOFFOIITK, <

who in May last received "a terrible blow whilst taking part in a match in London. The bruise he had to exhibit was of ghastly proportions, but it gradually disappeared, whilst its pain succumbed to the all-powerful specific. In short, better testimonials as to the real virtues of the Oil could not possibly be obtained than those voluntarily and cheerfully accorded by the Australian cricketers, who pin their faith on that which has proved trustworthy in an infinitude of trials.

EDWARD TKICKBTT,

the celebrated Australian oarsman—looked upon by many as the champion of the world— gave the reporter of a Sydney, New South Wales, paper, the benefit of his pronounced opinion of what is best for the muscles under strain, and for all aches and pains. He said: " St. Jacobs On, cured me of severe pains in the back, and I have found it a sure and certain cure, and one unequalled by any other remedy. It is pleasant, safe and sure, penetrating at once to the seat of disease and eradicating the complaint without further trouble." That and a good athletic training, he further said, is what our young men want.

JOHN EOLFE.

the Champion Bicyclist of Australia, in an interview ■with a reporter of the Melbourne. Australia, Argus, gives his experience, and a good deal of sound advice, in. the use of the limbs and the treatment of the muscles, in which he says : " During my recent sixdays' contest, held in the Melbourne Exhibition Building, and after riding for eight consecutive hours each day, viz.. from half -past two until halfpast ten, my limbs would become sore and stiff from over-exertion. I desire to add, therefore, my cheerful endorsement of the good effects I have at all times received from the use of St. Jacobs Oil, when in active training and racing. lam positive it aided me to win the match, and I shall never enter another contest without it. As further proof, after the contest I rode ahundredmiles against time. After being well rubbed with the Oil all muscular pain immediately vanished. I strongly advise all wheelmen and other athletes to give it a trial." Mr Kolfe further said it waa his boon companion, and he would not be without it. Sufficient has doubtless been said to prove that this preparation hasfairly established its reputation as a remedial application in a great variety of cases. The testimony of the celebrated Jithletea I have named is specially valuable, inasmuch as they ha\ c subjected the Oil to as severe tests as could be imagined. That it will speedily attain great and universal notoriety in the British Isles is beyond all question, and the more it is used the more spontaneously forthcoming will be the grateful tribute to its innate worth and its marvellous power.