A sharp controversy has been going on in the Times
on the sub- ject of the medical aspects of boat races, which Mr. Skey, an -eminent surgeon, pronounces prolific of disease to the athletes en- gaged in them. Mr. Skey even calls the University boat race "a na- tional folly." Mr. F. Willan, "Broad Blue," and other experienced -oarsmen and trainers contest Mr. Skey's assertions. They say that the training, properly managed, soon brings out a delicate man's unfitness for the exertion,—and this before he can have received any sort of injury from it, and that for men properly trained there is really no more danger of overstraining in a boat race than in any other active physical exercise. We believe this to be true. Certainly, boating men seem to think of old University oarsmen as among the healthiest and strongest of their acquaintances. At all events that a small -contingent risk will ever deter a generation of healthy young men from one of • the most exciting and delightful of the contests of life, seems to us to be a foolish dream. Of course, delicate men should stand aloof from it. Equally, of course, there would be less boating if there were no boat-racing, and less strong health if -there were less boating. If there were no political ambitions what would become of the politics?
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