Recalling the fact that this condition of lowered proteid metabolism
was maintained for a period of five months, we may next consider the
effect of this changed nutritive condition upon the health and strength
of the men. The question of body-weight we have already considered. More
pertinent is the question, to how great an extent was the strength and
bodily vigor of the men modified by the diminished amount of proteid
food? The answer to this question is found in the subjoined report from
Dr. William G. Anderson, Director of the Yale University Gymnasium.
YALE UNIVERSITY GYMNASIUM,
NEW HAVEN, CONN., April 6, 1904.
To Professor RUSSELL H. CHITTENDEN, _Director of the Sheffield
Scientific School, Yale University_, NEW HAVEN, CONN.
DEAR SIR,—I hand you herewith a report of the physical training
of the squad of soldiers sent by you to the Yale Gymnasium.
These men have taken one hour’s exercise daily for six months,
Sundays excepted,—October 1, 1903, to April 1, 1904.
Before beginning the bodily development of the men we measured
each one and took what are known as the American Collegiate
Strength Tests. These measurements and tests have been taken
twice each month. For details as to measurements and methods of
testing the strength of the body, see the “Notes” attached to
this report.
The members of the squad were called to the floor each morning
as soon after nine-thirty as they could don the required suit.
For twenty minutes they were put through a series of setting up
exercises and body-building movements; then followed exercises
on the apparatus, such as bars, rings, ladders, etc. This was
followed by a jump or game.
The exercises were progressive as to duration, force, extent,
and number of movements. At the end of the six months the
men were being put through gymnastics that were exacting and
fatiguing. As the progression was carefully made, the men
did not suffer from soreness to any marked degree. By way of
comparison it may be said, the gymnastic training given the
soldiers was much more severe than is given to the Freshmen of
Yale in their required physical training. Perhaps the Varsity
Crew are “put through” as rigid gymnastic training as any of
the athletes in college, so we copied the exercises taken by
oarsmen in order to “try out” the soldiers. This work was
easily taken by all the “Dieters,”—no complaint, so far as I
know, having been entered.
The improvement in accuracy and grace of movement has been
noticeable, while there has been a gain in skill as well.
I do not consider these men, as a body, well put up. They did
not rank favorably with applicants for policeman or fireman
and were noticeably timid in exercises that called for
courage. In the vault over a fence there was a very marked
fear. This was the poorest and least satisfactory test of all
we made. At the end of the six months the hesitancy to vault
had entirely disappeared, the event being looked upon by the
men as a “cinch.”
The gain in self-reliance and courage has been as evident as
the increase in the figures of the strength test. I consider
this a valuable acquisition as it stands for a good body
condition. Among athletes, especially gymnasts, a weakened or
tired body is made known by fear or uncertainty. Our students,
as well as professional athletes, admit this.
I attribute the timidity of the soldiers in these seemingly
simple tests to their general physical condition at the outset,
and the increase in self-reliance to the better condition of
their bodies at the end of the six months’ training. The story
told by the measurements is both interesting and significant,
but of less importance than the ability to improve under
training, which ability cannot be measured with a tape or
weighed with scales.
In the majority of cases there was a loss in body-weight, but
this we look for, as the larger number of soldiers were fairly
well supplied with adipose tissue. Both Sliney and Oakman are
exceptions, these men being “fine” at the outset. I mean thin
and muscular with little fat. The latter, Oakman, is an old
man judged from the physical activity standpoint, and lost
noticeably during the tests and exercise. I refer to weight
and girth measurements only. He made a very large gain in his
strength tests and was among the leading men in all that called
for courage and self-control. Sliney, nervous, irritable, and
aggressive, balanced his losses with his gains in the tape and
scale events, but made great improvement in the use of the
dynamometers. Fritz and Cohn were quite fat and showed the
expected loss in weight, but not in other respects.
For comparison I have quoted from Dr. J. W. Seaver’s
anthropometric charts and have selected the “Average Student
Measurements” (2390 men) as well as the mean measurements of
500 athletes and gymnasts. A glance at either set of figures
will give an idea of how the soldiers compare with men living
on a regular diet and surrounded with the very best environment.
The strength tests stand for mental states more than the tape
line and calipers, and are suggestive of improvement in body
conditions for the reasons mentioned above. These records are
far above those made by Academic Freshmen in Yale, but it must
be added that the soldiers have taken more exercise than the
collegians.
The hearts and lungs of the men are in excellent condition,
while the soldiers as a body are in better shape physically,
are stronger and healthier than in October. The skin of the men
is clear and ruddy.
The figures for comparison in the Strength Test Table are from
the records sent me by Dr. Geo. Meylan, the Director of the
Columbia University Gymnasium. I understand that others than
college men are represented in his data. In the figures given
in my own tables I have omitted the small fractions in the main
body of the tables, but have recorded them in the totals.
The greater portion of the training of the soldiers has been
under the personal supervision of Wm. H. Callahan, M. D., the
Medical Assistant at the Gymnasium, to whom I am indebted for
help and suggestions. Mr. Wm. Chase, Mr. Anton Muller, Mr. John
Stapleton, and Mr. H. R. Gladwin, Assistant Instructors in
the Gymnasium, have led the drills and have looked after the
actual muscular training of the men. I gladly acknowledge the
co-operation of these gentlemen in the physical development of
the squad.