18 THE TONER LECTURES. 



Next to the question of occupation as influencing cardiac 

 disorder, concerning which, if time i^ermitted, much more might 

 be said, I shall briefly call your attention to the effect of some 

 favorite amusements. There is dancing^ which I have known 

 over and over again, when excessively indulged in, lead to very 

 great irritability of the heart. A lady whom I attend, whose 

 devotion to society is largely due to her fondness for dancing, 

 has alwaj'S a functional disturbance of the heart at the end of 

 a winter season, is better in the spring, but is sure to come 

 home in the autumn from a watering-place with considerable 

 over-action of the heart. Nay, the disturbance of the organ 

 from dancing may pass, as all the forms of cardiac excitement 

 we have been examining, into organic trouble ; especially may 

 it do so in lads and young girls. Here is an illustrative 

 case : — 



James M., twenty-two years of age, came under my observa- 

 tion in 1868, with marked dilated hypertrophy; the impulse 

 was very extended and forcible ; both ventricles, especially the 

 left, were much enlarged ; the valves were sound. Careful 

 intpiiry could detect no cause for the complaint excepting the 

 one to which the young man steadily attributed its origin 

 six years since — excessive exercise, dancing violently for 

 an hour and a half every night for six months. There had 

 not been the least palpitation, shortness of breath, or disturb- 

 ance in health previous to the six months' dissipation. These 

 symptoms have become persistent. 



The influence of rowing in producing disease of the heart 

 has been of late years much debated. My experience with 

 reference to the matter amounts to this : If there be a tendency 

 to irritable heart, or to any cardiac affection, even to angina, 

 it is aggravated by rowing, but otherwise, and not too steadily 

 followed, this exercise is beneficial. I am glad to be able to 

 record this as the result of observation; for anything that, on 

 grounds but the most suflflcient, interferes with manlj' pastimes 



