| April 3, 1873) > 
rate one, that these ailments are still more exacting, not 
only with other portions of the “civil community,” but 
also with the seamen of the Royal Navy, and with the 
men who fill the ranks of the army, and notably so of the 
Guards ; it being notorious that men of tall stature are 
more liable to be attacked by, and less able to resist, | 
diseases of this nature than men of more compact build. 
But here we must confess that this portion of the book 
does not leave upon our minds quite so comfortable an 
impression as we could desire. It is felt throughout that 
the parties compared have little in commoa in the essen- 
tials that make such comparisons valuable. True the 
University Oars as a rule are tall, above the average 
height even of men in their own rank of life ; but they are 
“ picked” men—picked for strength as well as stature— 
picked for physical power already proved—whose whole 
life from infancy up to manhood has been one varied 
series of all that art, nature, and science could bring to 
bear favourably upon their growth and development. 
While on the other side do we not find the reverse of 
these conditions prevailing ? does not the author himself, 
elsewhere, describe with painful emphasis the wretched 
forms, stunted frames, unhealthy occupations and debas- 
ing habits of a large portion of the “ civil community ;” 
and is it not notorious that soldiers in regiments where 
heizht of stature is the chief requisite, were probably 
throughout their growing time subject to privations in 
food and clothing and housing, which coupled with rapid 
growth, and their surroundings after enlistment, presented 
the very conditions most favourable to the development 
of the diseases in question ? ; 
While expressing an opinion of qualified satisfaction 
with the comparisons instituted, we can in no way question 
the accuracy of the figures given ; but we must record our 
feeling, which we believe will be one generally felt, that 
such evidence fails in accomplishing the purpose for 
which it was advanced. 
We have stated our belief that, could the truth be 
ascertained, as many or more injuries would be found to 
have occurred in the same space of time (a similar number 
of men having been so engaged) in hunting, at foot-ball, 
or at cricket ; probably too as many of these injuries 
would have proved fatal. But in stating this we are 
brought face to face with the fact that, in all instances of 
hurt or of injury so sustained, they would arise from 
accidents. But this is not the case with the injuries 
which spring from Boat-racing ; here, be they trifling or 
be they severe, be they few or be they many, they seem 
to be the natural outcome of the exercise itself ; 
not a hurt, in a sense in which we commonly use that 
word, of bruise, or break, or strain, and to which 
we may apply support or remedy, but an unknown 
evil, unfelt, unsuspected, at the time, but to which 
existence has been given—to be developed in after-life, 
when we least suspect it, and are least able to cope with 
its advances. Now the question which presents itself 
here to us, and must present itself to any one who Cares 
for the continuation of this favourite exercise and yet would 
free it from this grave drawback—is this: Are these 
injuries, these evils inevitable? Yes, we answer, at 
once, and without reservation or qualification, to two 
- points of misconception only is hurt or injury in these 
contests to be attributed: correct these and this exercise 
NATURE 
. 
419 
will stand out at once, relieved from all let or hindrance, 
free, freer than any other, because it is exempted from 
the acczdents that lie in the path of others. Correct these, 
and the tripartite list which Dr. Morgan has supplied of 
benefited, uninjured, and injured, would be transformed 
into one uniform list of the first-mentioned only, for every 
one would be benefited who pursued this pastime. 
In the contest which took place on the Thames last week 
the points which would probably strike an ordinary spec- 
tator most forcibly would be these :—first, the length of 
the course (four and a quarter miles), and second, the short= 
ness of the time in which the boats covered the distance 
(not quite 20 minutes), and he would probably think that the 
first was too long, and if he did not actually think that 
the second was too short (for who admits that a race can 
be run or rowed too quickly ?), he would marvel all the same 
at its performance, and wonder how men coxz/d propel 
a boat over such a long course in sucha short space of 
time. Whether the course could be shortened with 
advantage, and yet sufficiently test the crews, we will not 
here discuss, although we think it is open to discussion ; 
and how it is possible to propel a boat over it in the 
above-mentioned time, is only to be explained by one 
means, 7.¢., by a critical examination of the boat itself, 
and, let us add, a glance at its crew. 
will see eight as fine young men as he probably ever saw 
in his life before; in the former he will see a machine 
bearing no resemblance to anything he ever saw afloat, 
either on river, lake, or sea, or possessing in shape, or 
size, or bulk, or weight, any of the proportions which other 
boats possess: so slim for its leng h, so straight, so 
sharp ! constructed at all points to cleave the water like 
a knife-blade! fitted out at all points to save every frac- 
tion of weight in rowing or steering gear, to utilise and 
concentrate every ounce of propelling power exerted by 
the oarsmen from stroke to bow. 
Now although the perception of this may to some 
extent explain the extraordinary rapidity of the race, it 
will not remove from the spectator’s mind the idea of its 
severity. To him it will still appear that the work will 
have been tremendous, and he is right: the work was 
tremendous, though not perhaps in the manner or of the 
kind which he imagines, or of what is commonly under- 
stood when the word wor? is used. 
“Tn rowing, as in some other exercises, where the volun- 
tary muscles of the trunk and of the upper limbs are 
engaged, the breath is “held” in the lungs during the 
muscular effort, in order to keep the chest distended, or 
firm, or as it is technically called, “ fixed,” that these 
muscles may have firm and unyielding points of attach- 
ment during the contractile efforts—fixed fulcra for their 
levers; and when this is prolonged or repeated over 
any considerable space of time, it becomes a highly 
disturbing influence to respiration, and doubly so if the 
exercise be one which greatly augments the respiratory 
requirement ; for the act of fixing the chest is accom- 
plished by retaining the chest at its point of expansion, 
when in the natural order of respiration it would be 
collapsing. And while in ordinary effortless breathing, 
or in exercises where the lower limbs are solely or chiefly 
employed, such as walking or running, the inspiration and 
expiration follow each other in uninterrupted succession— 
each occupying about the same space of time as the other, 
In the latter he 
rte s 
