Page:Hockey, Canada's Royal Winter Game.djvu/41

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A player who intends to aspire to senior ranks, should, in justice to himself, consult a physician and have his heart examined. If the advice that he receives is to abandon the game, let him do so at once before it is too late, because, so fast, so intensely exciting is the play that, if long continued, it may easily be the cause, to a forward with a weak heart, of the enlargement of that organ. This serious danger, however, should scarcely be mentioned, because it seldom happens that a man who is strong enough to play hockey the least bit well, is liable to contract this formidable disease. Proper training and careful practice soon put a man in a condition to stand the hard strain of an interesting contest, without any injury to himself, because the muscles are developed, and the "wind" increased to such an extent, that in the short space of two half hours, his endurance is not overtaxed, however fast the game may be.

It happens that by frequently falling on it, a player contracts water on the knee. But in what game is a man not exposed to the same accident?

It is realy surprising how many players court danger by playing hockey in short pants which affords no protection to the knees. This is a foolish, dangerous practice. A pair of pants, well padded at the knees, prevent the player