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The Mortality of Football.

MEDICAL DIAL.

The glorious season of football has come and gone, battles have been fought and won, the dead have been buried and the wounded are in hospitals; some of these are slowly recovering, some are raving maniacs, others are maimed for life. Under the guise of athletic training our colleges are yearly providing a pastime as barbarous as the bullfight, and educating the public in brutality as demoralizing as the prize ring.

But it would be still better if we could replace the game by one free from danger and at the same time secure the physical development of a much larger number. We once witnessed an international game of lacrosse, and a study of that contest impressed us with the idea that for a

training in agility and rapidity of ac-
tion in eye and muscle it is an ideal
pastime. In the first place, the cos-
tume of the players is graceful and
pleasing to the eye of the onlooker-
the football player is clothed for wal-
lowing in the mud. The lacrosse play-
ers display the fleetness of the deer,
the football player the brute strength
of the ox.
Let us have more lacrosse

The Football Game.

The latest returns at our disposal sum up a total of 12 deaths, more than 80 serious injuries, including fractured skulls, injured spines, brain injuries resulting in insanity, broken legs, arms and collar bones, with sprains, and less football. bruises and minor injuries without number. This is a terrible price to pay for the benefit which a few students have gained in the way of physical development. That college makes a poor showing which turns out fifty athletes and five hundred gamblers, not speak of the killed and maimed.

We cannot shut our eyes to the fact that the game is year by year becoming more brutal. One account describes a player as injured by a "kick on the head"; another as "stabbed in the back." There may be some truth in the old saying that "all is fair in love and war," but how much farther could these kicks on the head or stabs in the back be carried before they constituted the crime of murder?

If the game is to continue as the leading feature of college athletics, for the sake of humanity and common decency let these brutal features be eliminated, let the side which wins by such "dirty work" be ruled out of the game, and let the slugger who kicks or stabs be tried in the criminal courts like other ruffians.

The football game as now played by the students of our colleges, high schools and other institutions for education is claiming and receiving more attention than any other game or drill except, perhaps, that of the military. Its claims for such enthusiasm and general notice may be considered from several points of view, and its merits and disadvantages noted.

And first as to its claims as an athletic exercise. On this point it may be said, and it will not be disputed, that it is calculated to improve the muscular powers wonderfully in those who are elected to participate in the game, but it can never become a national game in the sense of universality, such as baseball, golf, lawn tennis, croquet and others which are adapted to the average physical health and strength of the majority of the human family. So long as it is usual to select a score or two from a thousand or more students of a college to play, while all the others are only rooters (so-called) to encourage the active members in the game,

it cannot be of much advantage to the body of students, as a whole, as an athletic exercise. As a national, or universal game, for the improvement of physical health in general, it must therefore be labelled "a failure."

Secondly-the game from an intellectual point of view. It is claimed, and this will not be contradicted, that the members of the "elected eleven" are usually at the front in all their classes in our schools. This is not much of an argument in favor of the game as a stimulant in intellectual studies when it is found that in the selection of members a symmetrically developed muscular system, of more than ordinary. power, usually is found in men of more than average brain force, who can maintain their standing with ordinary and less gifted persons without extraordinary application. Our best athletes are our best scholars because they have more than the ordinary ability for the start and more endurance in the intellectual race. As an argument that the game of football develops the intellectual faculties as a whole, it is not reasonable or sound. In some respects it does quicken the mental processes, and stimulates the powers of observation. Watching the opponents for openings for attacks, and responding promptly to assaults, are among the chief advantages to be gained in an intellectual view-these are substantial merits that can be freely admitted,but would not materially assist the student in the pursuit of scientific. knowledge or in most of the common duties of life.

Thirdly-Some one has stated that the game is a promoter of good morals. This may be true if limited to the "elected elevens"; but if all the enthusiastic followers of the game are included many facts and circumstances

would rather present a contrary aspect. The victorious crowd after a game are not found at the churches or prayer meetings, but more frequently in the streets with boisterous manners, and at the saloons and other places of amusement.

Fourthly Then there is the feature. of betting on the result, which cannot be eliminated and cannot fail to have an evil effect on the excited and imita

tive youths. Thus the argument of morality, except to a limited number, cannot be sustained by competent evidence.

Fifthly-The medical point of view. This appears the most serious of all considerations, and should be carefully and candidly stated. Some of the most objectionable and dangerous features may have been recently eliminated as far as those in authority have been able to dictate; but the long list of killed, maimed for life and numerous other injuries of more or less severity testify to the great danger yet remaining from accidents and other causes to those who mingle in the fray. When a professional prize fighter like Corbett says he would rather take his chances of injury in a regular prize fight than in a mix-up in a football game, we can understand great danger of physical disability to the players still remains as a not unlooked for result. A bruised shin, or a black eye, or a fractured clavicle, arm or leg, are minor injuries compared with brain shocks and hernias and the foundation of heart dis

ease.

Digitalis and Aconite in Cardiac Dis

ease.

Dr. Hobart A. Hare read a paper on the above subject at the last meeting of the American Medical Association, and explained how the valuable powers

of digitalis could be secured and at the same time some of its disadvantages avoided. The Doctor thinks too large doses are often given, and continued longer than necessary. Large doses may be required at first, but they should be rapidly decreased, as he has found small amounts, as one or two minims of an active physiologically tested tincture, given three or four times a day, produce excellent results; the patient resting to give the heart therapeutic aid. "Digitalis," he says, "may do more. harm than good if the coronary arteries are so nearly closed that it is with great difficulty the heart can force blood through them in increased quantity, and again if the myocardium is in a state of advanced degeneration."

Dr. Hare is also of the opinion that in some cases of valvular disease the patient does not need digitalis, or any other cardiac stimulant for his relief of cardiac symptoms; but suggests rest and the administration of aconite, "which has a steadying effect on the heart through its influence on the vagi as has digitalis." By its sedative action on the heart muscle in hypertrophy, which sometimes produces an excessive irregularity, and by its relaxing effect on the blood vessels good results follow. In closing the discussion on the paper, Dr. Hare said: "That if you gave digitalis without nitroglycerine to guard against the increased rise of pressure, you stimulate the heart without removing its burden; if you cơmbine the nitroglycerine with the digitalis you both stimulate the heart and also relieve it of some of its burden."

Rest and careful moderation of muscular exercise are powerful remedies in the matter of restoration of any weakness of the heart, as well as in the prevention of sudden collapse in hearts diseased beyond expectation of recov

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Oxygen and Sodium Chloride as Life Elixir.

From the physiological laboratory of the University of Chicago comes the report that a new scientific fact has become established.

Professor David J. Lingle announces through the last issue of the American Journal of Physiology that not only does sodium chloride act as a stimulant to the heart's action but that there is a more important element in this connection, which is oxygen, the main

tainer of the heart's action.

Professor Lingle, who is an assistant of Prof. Loeb, came upon his discovery partly by accident. When experimenting with a strip of turtle's heart which he was removing from a solution of sodium chloride, he noticed that its beats greatly increased when brought in contact with the air. Further experimentation showed that in placing a piece of the heart, which had ceased to beat on account of mechanical violence imparted in the preparation, into a solution of sodium chloride that the strip of heart began to beat. Upon placing the now beating strip in a jar of oxygen this condition was maintained for seventy-two hours. Never before has any one been able to accomplish this for such a length of time.

Professor Lingle sums up his investigations as follows:

"1. Sodium chloride is absolutely necessary for the origination of rhythmic activity of heart strips.

"2. Agencies like caffein that can intensify rhythmic activity cannot originate it.

"3. What has been described as the sodium chloride arrest is probably due to a lack of oxygen in the salt solutions. The presence of oxygen in these postpones its development and starts the rhythm again.

"4. Ordinary salt solutions do not contain enough oxygen for normal activity of heart strips.

"5. Oxygen gas and sodium chloride, if properly used, will keep strips beating as long as a mixture of salt solution.

"6. Oxygen gas has a powerful influence on rhythmn, but is of itself powerless to originate rhythm.

"7. Oxalate solution that precipitates calcium will permit beats to begin if sodium chloride is present."

More Announcements Expected. It is expected that many new and important steps and discoveries in the field of physiology will be announced. at the meeting of the American Physiological Society during the holiday season in Washington. Professor Mathews and Dr. Fisher are busily engaged at the University of Chicago.

It was just one year ago that Professor Loeb startled the scientific world by his statement and demonstrated that the vital force of life comes from the electricity in the food which is eaten and not from heat elements contained in the food.

The Roentgen Ray in Obstetrics. Joseph Brown Cooke, Surgeon to the New York Maternity Hospital and Fel

low of the New York Obstetric Society, gives this subject lengthy consideration in the Medical and Surgical Monitor.

The writer discusses the subject from the standpoint of the obstetrician and general practitioner, rather than that of the X-ray expert. The author does not believe that this method of examination will ever supplant the older diagnostic resources, i. e., palpation and pelvimetry. These latter methods when practised by the skilled obstetrician are highly satisfactory. If they are to be displaced or supplanted it must come from the discovery of some method which presents distinct advantages over the old in accuracy or simplicity.

While it is true that an X-ray expert can outline with some precision the bones of the pelvic cavity and determine the existence of abnormalities in the non-pregnant, nevertheless to the inexperienced this is difficult. Almost insurmountable difficulties arise upon the intervention of a fetus with its envelopes and accompanying thick uterine wall.

Added to these obstacles may be mentioned the foetal movements and those of the mother, which combine to make the picture unreliable as a source of diagnostic data.

The experiments of Varnier and Pinaud in the photographing of the gravid uterus, both in the living and dead. subject, are reviewed by Williams in his book, "The Roentgen Ray in Medicine and Surgery," as follows:

"In one patient who died of pulmonary congestion, the photograph showed the outline of the uterus and within it the vertebral column of the fetus. In another who died of eclampsia when the fetus was seven months old the right border of the uterus was pressed

to the left and the head of the fetus was presented at the superior strait. They also made X-ray photographs of the gravid uterus in sixteen women, of whom seven had been pregnant from 2 to 42 months and nine from 5 to 7 months. The conclusions drawn from these cases were as follows: The maternal pelvis can be completely seen up to 41⁄2 months and more clearly the earlier the photograph is taken; but of the uterus and its contents no trace is perceived. These latter are traversed with such ease by the rays that they do not interfere with the study of the pelvis. After five months the uterus and its contents form on the negative a veil, as it were, which is badly defined and without definite contour, but which conceals the posterior wall of the pelvis and the vertebral column. In two cases a pale silhouette of the fetal head could be dimly defined in the pelvic

area.

"In a second series of seven cases the same results, (that is to say, negative), were obtained whether the fetus was alive or dead. Two of these patients had been pregnant from two to three months and five from five to eight months.

"In the living patient the head of the fetus can be photographed at the opening of the pelvis as well at 61⁄2 months as at the approach of full term, and the size of the foetus, its orientation and the amount of flexion and engagement can be estimated. In such photographs taken in the reclining position neither the spinal column nor limbs of the fetus are seen."

Dr. Cooke does not think that these results are any better than those obtained by the ordinary methods of examination. He does not think that the claims made by these investigators that the presentation, position and degree of

engagement can be estimated by the rays, are well founded. Another feature which is of importance is the discomfort and danger of long exposures, which are necessary in order to secure a legible negative.

Bouchacourt (researches published in 1900) finds the rays of service in the determination of exostoses, contractions and other deformities, but believes them unreliable in the examination of the fetus in utero.

Mullerheim's conclusions coincide with those of Bouchacourt regarding the determination of pelvic deformities, but is extreme in the belief that not only can the presentation be determined but also the dimensions of the fetal head and pelvis.

The author maintains that inasmuch as the determination of the presenting part of the fetus and its relation in size to the pelvic strait is one of the rudiments of palpation and mensuration, Mullerheim's investigations do prove that the employment of the X-rays is a material help in obstetrics.

Davis of Philadelphia has done considerable X-ray work along this line, but he is not impressed with their value in diagnosis.

The osseous portions of the skeleton of the fetus can only be seen when the uterus is removed from the body or the fetus is directly examined. According to the experiments of Varnier and Pinaud, neither the fetus nor the uterus can be determined in the pregnant woman till five and a half months have passed. At this time the fetal heart can be heard, fetal movements can be distinguished and ballotement secured showing that as a practical aid to an early diagnosis the X-ray is of little assistance.

In cases of polyhydramnios where palpation is difficult the Roentgen ray

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