Says another lady, “Four or five years ago I was in very delicate health and unable to bear the slightest fatigue. Now I do seventy miles a day without fatigue.”
One more quotation. It is from the pen of a lady-doctor. “Cycling is of the highest value to women from a health point of view, and is suitable for middle-aged persons bordering on stoutness and not able to walk far. Delicate girls also derive great benefit from the exercise.”
These ladies speak from experience and quite bear out my own views.
Torpidity of the liver is all too common, even among girls, nowadays. It is characterised by headaches, low spirits, and a dull, sleepy feeling, with many more symptoms I need not mention, all of which soon disappear if a regular course of not too hard cycling be adopted. But one must be careful not to give in too much to the appetite the bike will create, else matters may become worse instead of better.
When the cycle is used as a curative agent, it is well to aid the remedy by the judicious use of medicines suitable for the complaint.
Anæmic or bloodless girls, for instance, may take tincture of iron, five drops in a wineglassful of water three times a day just after food. This is an almost homœopathic dose; but it can be continued for a month or two, whereas larger doses are apt to heat the blood. Remember, however, that a drop from a tiny bottle is not a full one. About eight or ten small drops would not hurt.
Aperients (Friedrichshall water or Pullna) will be needed in cases of threatened obesity.
In liver trouble these may also be used, and a tonic of quassia solution, with ten drops of dilute nitro-murietic acid to each dose. This is a very excellent tonic, and should be taken about ten minutes before meals.
If a girl has a cough she must not ride too hard. Some chlorodyne lozenges are good things to take on the road.
Hints about Riding.