ADVERSE MEDICAL CONSEQUENCES OF ROLLER SKATING FOR AMERICAN GIRLS, AS VIEWED IN 1885

[摘要] During the 1880s roller skating became enormously popular among American children. But this physical activity was considered detrimental to the health of young girls as is evident in this letter published in 1885.1Sir: I am very much interested in this subject of "roller-skating" for girls; especially so because I have from thirty to forty girls under my care for physical training and treatment. Theoretically, I believe it was going to be a good thing, but my experience is forcing me to the conclusion that no good, moral, mental, or physical, comes from this source. With the utmost care as to time and amount, I find it unsatisfactory. It seems to bring out any latent predisposition to disease. I have been compelled to forbid those who had the slightest tendency to kidney or heart trouble, in fact, any organic trouble, indulging in the sport. In one case only, of enlarged liver, subject to acute attacks of congestion, etc., I have seen no bad effect. A case of anaemia, the most intractable one I ever had to deal with, I am sure was caused by skating excessively. The disease had so far yielded that I, in an unguarded moment, said "Yes" to a plaintive "Just one hour, please?" and the result was severe vomiting of the next meal. She had been able to take no food without great uneasiness since, and I see I'll have much of the old ground to go over. Those who have skated very much . . . have leucorrhoea, and confess it is aggravated by the limited amount of exercise I have allowed.

[学科分类] 儿科学