School athletics and boys' races / by William Collier ; issued by the Medical Officers of Schools Association.

  • Collier, William.
Date:
1909
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: School athletics and boys' races / by William Collier ; issued by the Medical Officers of Schools Association. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    been gathered from observation on the spot. (Vide Appendix A. and Mr. Armstrong’s speech.) Other observers—Sir Lauder Brunt on, the Rev. D. James, Or. McClure, the Rev. the Hon. Canon Lyttelton, Dr. Goodhart and Mr. Farmer— contributed to the discussion. The consideration as to what evidence of physical damage resulting from school athletics is to be found amongst boys who have just left school was considered by Sir T. Clifford Allbutt, Dr. Collier, and Dr. Robert Michell. In regard to Question 3, it is notable that all the speakers, including those who most severely criticised ‘ ‘ long ’ ’ races, agreed in believing that the sound and healthy boy was not liable to suffer damage if he competed with those approximately his equals in age and physical capacity under conditions of proper supervision and training. Thus, Sir Lauder Brunton, while objecting to boys who are not fitted for them being compelled to run in long races, showed that the healthy immature animal, whether horse or man, could safely compete with his fellows in very strenuous exertion, if properly fed, trained, and tended. Sir Clifford Allbutt concluded that the healthy boy could not injure his heart by any muscular effort which he was able to exert in competition with his fellows. And even Mr. Farmer stated that there was at least one public school at which efficient medical supervision ensured every conceivable precaution against undue and unnecessary strain. (Replies bearing on both parts of this question will also be found in Appendix A). The series of resolutions (vide Appendix B) submitted to and approved by the meeting practically codifies (with one important exception) the practice more or less generally followed in public schools at the present time. The Council believes (and the Association has endorsed this belief) that the general adoption of these Resolutions in their entirety by all schools would reduce the risk of school sports to within that minimum which cannot be eliminated from any form of strenuous exercise. The exception alluded to concerns the provision of an ample interval between a full meal and the active exercise which is subsequently undertaken. This rule is regarded as being of the very greatest importance. Its disregard is fraught with very serious risk. W. Attlee. F. E. Batten. C. J. Thomas. ] Hon. Secretaries, | M.O.S.A.