STRAIN AND OVER- ACTION OF THE HEART. 19 



and exercises, does great harm, especially in a country where 

 our young men, as a class, are too apt to neglect them. Much 

 of, or all the injurious effect could be, in any case, avoided by 

 the oarsman consulting a careful physician prior to his taking 

 up boating as his cliief amusement, and by having his heart 

 examined from time to time. Nor can I find that the health 

 of many has been injured, in after life, by active rowing in 

 their youth ; and for confirmation of this view I refer you to 

 an admirable and much fuller examination of the subject than 

 I have been able to make — to the interesting book of Dr. 

 Morgan, lately published, entitled, " University Oars," being a 

 critical inquiry into the after-health of tlie men who rowed in 

 the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race from the year 1829 to 

 1869. 



The physical consequences of base ball are in this country 

 matters worthy of careful attention ; for base ball is our na- 

 tional game; it is to our young men what the game of ball 

 and foot racing were to the Grecian youths, or wliat cricket still 

 is to the scholars of Eton and Harrow. And I am glad to re- 

 port that I have seen it responsible for but few disorders — not 

 even for as many cardiac affections as might be supposed. 

 True, I have known some for which it is chargeable, and 

 usually in growing lads who had indulged in it immoderately. 

 Here are a couple of cases in point that applied for relief at 

 the Jefferson College clinic : — 



T. S., sturdy and small, twenty years of age ; never had 

 palpitation before he began to play base ball violently four 

 years ago. After a time he noticed shortness of breath in 

 playing ; but, nothing daunted, lie continued until, after three 

 or four j^ears, he found it impossible to take an active part in 

 the game. His habits, in all respects, were good ; he was a 

 moderate tobacco chewer; not a smoker. The heart was very 

 much hypertrophied, without valvular trouble. Considerable 



