Cambridge Library CoLLeCtion Books of enduring scholarly value Cambridge The city of Cambridge received its royal charter in 1201, having already been home to Britons, Romans and Anglo-Saxons for many centuries Cambridge University was founded soon afterwards and celebrates its octocentenary in 2009 This series explores the history and influence of Cambridge as a centre of science, learning, and discovery, its contributions to national and global politics and culture, and its inevitable controversies and scandals University Oars University Oars is a compilation of letters of response to the author from the participants of the Oxford and Cambridge boat races John Edward Morgan, himself a former university oarsman and physician to the Manchester Royal Infirmary, spent four years sending inquiries and compiling responses in his effort to shed some light on an important perceived physiological problem which he sought to investigate for the welfare of the rising generation Published in 1873, his responses numbered 251 out of 255 letters sent to university oarsmen, detailing the athletes’ current physical and mental condition Morgan’s findings dispel the widely held notion of the time that the famous test of strength and endurance had adverse latent physiological and psychological effects on its stalwart participants Cambridge University Press has long been a pioneer in the reissuing of out-of-print titles from its own backlist, producing digital reprints of books that are still sought after by scholars and students but could not be reprinted economically using traditional technology The Cambridge Library Collection extends this activity to a wider range of books which are still of importance to researchers and professionals, either for the source material they contain, or as landmarks in the history of their academic discipline Drawing from the world-renowned collections in the Cambridge University Library, and guided by the advice of experts in each subject area, Cambridge University Press is using state-of-the-art scanning machines in its own Printing House to capture the content of each book selected for inclusion The files are processed to give a consistently clear, crisp image, and the books finished to the high quality standard for which the Press is recognised around the world The latest print-on-demand technology ensures that the books will remain available indefinitely, and that orders for single or multiple copies can quickly be supplied The Cambridge Library Collection will bring back to life books of enduring scholarly value (including out-of-copyright works originally issued by other publishers) across a wide range of disciplines in the humanities and social sciences and in science and technology University Oars Being a Critical Enquiry Into the After Health of the Men Who Rowed in the Oxford and Cambridge Boat-Race, from the Year 1829 to 1869, Based on the Personal Experience of the Rowers Themselves John E dward Morgan C A M B R I D g E U n I v E R SI t y P R E S S Cambridge, new york, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape town, Singapore, São Paolo, Delhi, Dubai, tokyo Published in the United States of America by Cambridge University Press, new york www.cambridge.org Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9781108000581 © in this compilation Cambridge University Press 2009 This edition first published 1873 This digitally printed version 2009 ISBn 978-1-108-00058-1 Paperback This book reproduces the text of the original edition The content and language reflect the beliefs, practices and terminology of their time, and have not been updated Cambridge University Press wishes to make clear that the book, unless originally published by Cambridge, is not being republished by, in association or collaboration with, or with the endorsement or approval of, the original publisher or its successors in title UNIVERSITY OARS UNIVERSITY OARS BEING A CRITICAL ENQUIRY INTO THE AFTER HEALTH OF THE MEN WHO ROWED IN THE FROM THE YEAR 1829 TO 1869, BASED ON THE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF THE ROWERS THEMSELVES JOHN ED MORGAN, M.D., M.A OXON., F.R.C.P LATE CAPTAIN OF THE JOHN + (COLL UNIV.), PHYSICIAN TO THE MANCHESTER ROYAL INFIRMARY, AUTHOR OF " DETERIORATION OF RACE," &C ' Row and work, boys of England, on rivers and seas, And the old land shall hold, firm as ever, her own." MACMILLAN AND CO 1873 [All Rights reserved.^ DEDICATED BY PERMISSION TO THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE DENMAN, SENIOR CLASSIC, FORMERLY FELLOW OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE, WINNER OF THE COLQUHOUN SCULLS AND UNIVERSITY OAR 384 UNIVERSITY OARS TABLE IX VARIATION IN THE WEIGHT OF OXFORD UNIVERSITY OARS WHO ROWED TWICE WEIGHT AT TIME OF Firs t Race St II 12 12 II IO II II II IO II II II IO IO II II II IO II II 12 12 II 12 IO II II 12 II II Second Race lbs St 12 13 12 11 11 11 11 13 n 12 n 11 11 11 10 11 10 10 11 11 11 10 11 11 12 13 13 11 12 11 12 11 12 11 11 0 11 10 8 13 51 i\ 12 Average gain in weight Plus or Minus lbs lbs 4- 10 O + 13 - 4i + i 8i 11 10 12 + + + 4+ + - Si 44— 4- I 11 12 + + 13 44444- c 2 1 0 4- ? + 3i 3) 4- 4- 4- I - 4- 2-8 385 UNIVERSITY OARS TABLE X VARIATION IN THE WEIGHT OF CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY OARS WHO ROWED TWICE WEIGHT AT TIME OF Firs Race St 12 II II 12 IO II II 12 12 IO 12 12 II II II IO II II 12 II IO IO II II II II II 12 12 II lbs 9 1* 12 4 8 8 10 12 12 11 0 Second Race St 12 II II 12 IO II II 12 12 IO 12 12 II II 12 II II IO 12 IE II IO II II II II II 12 13 II Average gain in weight u o Plus or Minus lbs lbs IO 12 II 6 12 12 11 0 '3 10 3 3 +1 +3 + 21 -7 - +6 +2 +2 +2 +2 +4 +3 +4 +2 +1 -9 +3 - +5 +1 - - +3 +3 +6 +6 +9 +1 + 17 386 UNIVERSITY OARS TABLE XL VARIATION IN THE WEIGHT OF OXFORD UNIVERSITY OARS WHO ROWED THREE TIMES First Race st lbs II 12 12 IO IO II Second Race Third Race lbs 4 lbs St II 12 12 II II II St II 12 12 II IO II 13 13 13 ioj 12 IO i IO 81 IO II i 31 7i 12 Average gain in weight Plus or Minus lbs + Si - ** + 11 + I + + 61 + + 3*5 TABLE XII VARIATION IN THE WEIGHT OF CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY OARS WHO ROWED THREE TIMES First Race St IO II II IO II 12 lbs 13 I a »i I Second Race St II IO II II II 12 lbs 12 Third Race lbs St II II II 12 II 12 Average gain in weight 11 Plus or Minus lbs +4 - +9 + 5i +4 +4 + 4'i UNIVERSITY OARS 387 TABLE XIII VARIATION IN THE WEIGHT OF OXFORD UNIVERSITY OARS WHO ROWED FOUR TIMES First Race St lbs II 12 a Second Race st 11 12 lbs Third Race St II 12 lbs Fourth Race st 11 12 lbs i\ Average gain in weight Plus or Minus lbs +5 + 27 TABLE XIV VARIATION IN THE WEIGHT OF CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY OARS WHO ROWED FOUR TIMES First Race St II II IO 12 lbs 12 Secoad Race st II II IO lbs 12 12 12 Third Race St 12 II IO 12 lbs v I ?3 Average gain in weight Fourth Race St 12 II IO 12 Plus or Minus lbs lbs +9 I -3 9 - +9 + 3\5 25—2 388 UNIVERSITY OARS TABLE XV SHEWING THE EXPECTATION OF LIFE IN MALES FROM 20 TO 65 YEARS OF AGE (According to Mr Finlaison.) (According to Dr Farr.) Age Expectation of Life 2O 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 3O 31 32 40 33 34 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 39 39 38 37 37 36 35 3.5 34 33 33 32 3i 3i 3O 29 28 28 11 26 25 Age Expectation of Life 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 5O 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 £4 65 24 24 23 22 22 21 21 2O 19 19 18 17 17 l6 15 15 14 14 13 12 12 II II Age Expectation of Life 20 21 22 38-39 37*83 37*34 36-87 36-39 35'9O 35*4i 34-86 34*31 3375 33*17 32-59 32-00 3i*4O 3O-79 30-17 29*54 28-91 28-28 27*65 27-02 26-39 2574 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 3O 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 4i 42 Age Expectation of Life 43 44 46 47 48 49 5o 5i 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 S 65 25-08 24*42 23*75 23-O7 22-38 21-68 20*98 20-30 19-62 18-34 17*73 17*15 16-57 l6'O2 15*47 H*43 H*39 13*84 13*28 12*72 12*17 11'63 GENERAL INDEX A Academy at Athens, 80 Academical pursuits, will training interfere with ? 64 Acrobats, 70 Active lives led by old crews, 61 Acute inflammation, 101 — intellect, 50 — rheumatism, n o Adipose tissue, 88, 113 Advantages of an island, 121 yiischylus, 70 Age, omission of, 112 Air-cells, additional, 48 Air, pestilential, 122 Alarming accident, 34 Albumen, increase of, 104 Allurements of academic life, 73 — of large towns, 82 Alma Mater, 71, 121 America, 43 Analysis, result of, Anamometer, 114 Ancient mariners, 22 Aneurism, 109 — case of, 39 Anglo-Saxon Race, 126 Antagonistic muscles, increase of, 46 Antithesis between mind and matter, 48 Appointments gained by cramming, 90 Aptitude, natural, disregarded, 118 Aristotle, 75 Army, health of, 28 Asthenic form of disease, 101 Asthma and hay-fever cured by rowing, 44 Athletes, various orders of, Athletic contests, influence of on health, Athleticism too enthralling, 69 Atlantic crossed by hardy youths, 119 Augmented constitutional vigour, 49 Australia, 27, 43 Auxiliary boats recommended, 76 Average size of the flower of our youth, 116 Axillary region, 117 B Balance of circulation restored, 53 Baneful effects of rowing, 63 — inheritance, 123 " Barbarized athletes," 66 11 Barbarous hardness," 94 Barker, late Dr, 120 Barracks in hilly districts, 122 Beddoe, Dr, on bulk, 79, 83 Benefited, 41 Benefits of war, 125 Best-lived crew, 23 Biceps, 117 — expansion of, 45 Blacksmiths, 118 Bleeding at the nose, TO2 Blindness of relatives, 32 Blood, alteration in relative proportions of, 104 — a source of irritation, 105 — disordered, 104 — quality of, 101 — loss of (O), 17 — loss of (/>), 17 — nourishing mind and muscle, 65 Blood-vessel, breaking of, n — rupture of {£>), 34 — rupture of, 107 — increase in size and number of, 47, 48 Blue ribbon of river, 6$ Boat racing, — baneful effects of, 96 Bodily frame, how influenced by hard muscular exertion, 44 Bones still malleable, 79 Brain better able to work, 49 39° UNIVERSITY Brain-work exacting, $o Breezy influx of healthy aerial tide, Brent, Mr, 112 Brewing Bavarian beer, 125 British maidens, 119 — pluck, — soldiers, three regiments of, 84 Bronchial haemorrhage, 102 Bulwarks of the state, 126 Burning of midnight oil, 82 C Cam, river, 46 — improvement of the, 120 Cambridge crews'disadvantages, 121 — to London, 56 "Camford," 93 Canada, 43 " Canker at the core," 62 Capillaries newly formed, 48 Cardiac dilatation, 109 — disease, 38 Carbonic acid given off, 120 Casino repulsive to healthy mind, 81 Casualties ascribed to Boat-racing, 98 Causes of death, 26 Centrifugal expansion, 49 Cessation of exercise, 115 Chalky or cheesy mass, 100 Chambers, Dr, 111 Champions of the prize-ring, Change recruiting to the lungs, 108 Characteristics of health, 116 Cheese-like appearance, 103 Chest, circumference of, 49 — cramped movements of, 87 — capacious, 117 — conformation of, 114 — may still be enlarged, 79 — how affected by rowing, 46—51 — cold on, 106 — development of, 47 — effects of hard exercise on, 48 — good, prized, 49 Choice of apt successors, 76 Chronic catarrhal pneumonia (description of), 100 Civic gown, 85 Clergymen, select lives, 25 Close confinement, 18 Coal-whippers, 37 Cold neglected (F), 13 OARS College Eights, Colquhoun sculls, 65 " Coming collapse," 55 Comforting assurance of man of science, 62 Compiling of lexicons, 125 Competitive examinations, 90 — contests, who are to avoid, 107 Conflicting evidence, 35 Consequences of compulsory schooling, 121 — of early inactivity, 89 Constitutional vigour, how to acquire, 49 "Constitutional," reading man's, 50 Consumption, said to be fatal to Oarsmen, 98 — tubercular, description of, 98 — a term too widely applied, 98 — inherited, 99 — distinct forms assumed by, 100 — "pulmonary," 101—105 — other forms of, 102 — description of constitutional, 103 — "systemic," 105—107 — percentage of deaths from, 27 — hereditary (6-'), 13 — forms of, 50 — remedy for, 81 Consumptive (B), 13 Cornelia, 63 Cornwall men, 79 Covered buildings, exercise in, unexhilarating, 119 Cowley marsh, 67 Crimean war, 28 Critical nature of attack, 101 Criticism of evidence, 29 Cruelty to animals, 3, 119 Cruel neglect of muscular education, 88 Cubic inches of air, 50 Cumberland men, 79 Cunningly collated facts and figures, 90 D Danger liable to be incurred, 109 — understood, 78 Decarbonizing the blood, 50 Degenerative changes, 60, 83 Delicate fibre, 31, 61, 106 — mothers, 124 — subject, 30 GENERAL INDEX Delicate inquiry, 35 Deterioration of race, 83, 122 Development, unusually energetic, 79 Diathesis, hsemorrhagic, 107 Dietetic excesses, 94 Difference between A and B,