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206 eight had an aneurism. I asked both if they went in for gymnastics. The girl said, "Yes; I enjoy them very much." The woman said, "I haven't been doing much in it, for I'm not very strong; but I think I must go in for it more, and that will do me good." Both were extremely surprised when I absolutely forbade them to take any violent exercise whatever.

I could not explain to them that if the woman at any time gave a sudden jump or a venturesome swing her aneurism would probably rupture, an accident which would be followed by almost instant death, or that, if the girl took an unusual amount of exercise, or excited herself extraordinarily, her heart would suddenly stop action, never to beat again.

It is not long since a young lady, previously considered healthy, died suddenly in the gymnasium of one of our best girls' colleges. A young lady friend of mine, who was present, tells me her schoolfellow dropped dead from the ladder on which she had been exercising, and this is exactly the result I should have expected in my pupil had I allowed her to continue her gymnastic operations. If the young lady's parents had had her properly examined by their medical man, her life would not have been sacrificed in the attempt to preserve health.

While thus commenting upon the abuse of gymnastics, it must not be thought that I underrate their value, for especially in London, where playgrounds are small and few, a good gymnasium is a