OXYGEN AS A STIMULANT.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13899, 10 May 1909, Page 3

OXYGEN AS A STIMULANT.

In proof of Lis statements as to the value of oxygen for sustaining purposes (says the "Daily Telegraph"), Dr. Leonard Erskine Hill, lecturer on pnysiology <il uie Louuuii I, produced two students at tlie Loudon Institution/ and set them to box. One was a novice, aud the other an' experienced pugilist clad in light attire. They .boxed in brisk fashion until the end of the second round; the novice was completely "blown." He then inhaled exygen from a bag, and, returning to the amphitheatre with a fresh supply of energy, forged the pace lor the concluding round, and., in the words of his opponent, " stayed much better than in the preceding rounds." Dr. Hill mentioned that he ,and another doctor had. induced Mr Just and Mr Holding, two of the runners who competed at the Olympic games, to submit themselves to experiments at Stamford bridge. Mr Just was given oxygen, and then ran half a mile unpaced, breaking his own record. Mr Holding also ran quicker than he had ever run in his life after taking oxygen,., and both declared that they felt in such good condition that they could race again without; the least fatigue. Mr Holding did run another 100 yards inside liis own record. "There is no doubt," said Dr. Hill, "that the taking of oxygen before all athletic; event would result in the breaking'of records. We have tried it in hockey and footbal teams, and in every case oxygen has a good effect. All these athletes are exhausting thenhearts by using up oxygen quicker than they can inhale.it, and their hearts are damaged by a want of oxygen. If they took ■ oxygens before,. during, and after a game, the heart w'ould be restored, and they would not suffer fr(>m the ill-effects of their exhaustion." .The lecturer added that he did not believe that "the ascent of Mount Everest would ever be accomplished" without the aid of oxygen, for. the carrying <«f which he had invented an apparatus.