CASUALTIES ON LAND AND WATER.

Otago Witness, Issue 1764, 12 September 1885, Page 10

CASUALTIES ON LAND AND WATER.

(From the Lon.lon Daily Sportsman.) That untoward events occasionally attend the de•ervedly popular game oi cricket most people must be well aware. Those who saw Mr Blackball! , the Australian, indulge in an impromptu pas seul a iew days ago at Lord's, on a cricket-ball and bis knuckles becoming intimately acquainted, would not lor a moment be under the inunession that his gymnastic display was a mere ebullition ot playful light-heart" edness. The truth is he had stopped one of Ulyett'a lightning deliveries with the back ot hia bare hand, and lie is by no mentis anvinus to repeat the exppriinent. I have had the curiosity to endeavour to ascertain how the Australians have continued day alter 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 more or less severe character, and to that stiffness of the muscles and joints which so often results from extra bodily exertion. AIR 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 fair share of disaster during their trip. No fewer than four or five have at one time or another been placed temporarily hors 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 stock he had brought with him, and on making an inquiry he had learned to his chagrin that he could 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 gefcto 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 in obtaining a stock. I'have since seen a letter from him, in which he announces that he carries a supply of St. Jacobs On. 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 of its value, and certainly looked upon it as almost a necessary item of his cricketing outfit. Moreover, he knewmanyathletes 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 in itß 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 MR BLAOEHAM, 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, tut 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 MR SPOFFORTH, 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 TRIOKEIT, the celebrated Australian oarsman— looked upon by many as the champion of the world— gave the reDorter 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 Oil. 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, io what our young men want. JOHN ROLFE. the Champion Bicyclist; of Australia, in an interview with a reporter of the Melbourne. Australia, Argus, eives 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 sixdave' contest, held in the Melbourne Exhibition Building, and after riding for eight consecutive hours each day, viz.. from half-past two until half past 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 posi»ve it aided me to win the mttch, and I shall never enter another contest without it. As further proof, after the contest I rode a hundredmiles against time. After being well rubbed wrfch the Oil all muscular pain immediately vanished. I strongly advise all wheelmen and jSaJe athletes to give it a trial." Mr Rolfe further *aid it was his boon companion, and ho would not be without it. Sufficient has doubtless teen said to prove that thte preparation has fairly established its reputation as "remedial application in a great variety of cases. «Ehe testimony of the celebrated athletes I have namedis specially valuable, inasmuch as they have "übjertel the Oil to as severe tests as could be imagined, ffhat it will speedily attain great and Sniversal notoriety in the British Isles is beyond al! Zestion, and the more it is used the more.spontaneously forthcoming will be the grateful tribute to its innate worth and its marvellous power.