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diff --git a/19065.txt b/19065.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a74ab7d --- /dev/null +++ b/19065.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3050 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Swimming Scientifically Taught, by +Frank Eugen Dalton and Louis C. Dalton + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Swimming Scientifically Taught + A Practical Manual for Young and Old + +Author: Frank Eugen Dalton and Louis C. Dalton + +Release Date: August 16, 2006 [EBook #19065] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SWIMMING SCIENTIFICALLY TAUGHT *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Lybarger, Brian Janes, Melissa Er-Raqabi +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + +The following anomalies have been left as found in the original page +images: + +Spelling: + +both 'sangatte' and 'sangette' +both 'armpit' and 'arm pit' +chilled; always swim around and 'excercise' +journalists who 'acompanied' + +Punctuation: + +water; at the same time double the body up.[,] +championship for many years by following his teachings[.] +can[,] throw your arm around his neck +Thirdly.[,] Continue + + + + +SWIMMING +SCIENTIFICALLY TAUGHT + +[Illustration: FRANK EUGEN DALTON] + + +SWIMMING +SCIENTIFICALLY +TAUGHT + +A PRACTICAL MANUAL FOR +YOUNG AND OLD + + +BY +PROF. FRANK EUGEN DALTON, P.S.A. +_Instructor in Scientific Swimming at the Dalton Swimming +School, and Originator of the Dalton Method_ + +AND + +A CHAPTER ON ADVANCED STROKES + +BY +LOUIS C. DALTON +_Of the Dalton Swimming School_ + + +_WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS_ + +FIFTH EDITION + +[Illustration] + +FUNK & WAGNALLS COMPANY +NEW YORK AND LONDON + + + + +COPYRIGHT, 1912 AND 1918, BY +FUNK & WAGNALLS COMPANY +(_Printed in the United States of America_) +Revised Edition, Published May, 1918 + + +Copyright under the Articles of the Copyright Convention of the +Pan-American Republics and the United States, August 11, 1910 + + + +TO MY FATHER +THE LATE CAPT. DAVIS DALTON + +who swam the English Channel from Cape Grisnez near Boulogne, France, to +Folkestone, England, August 16-17, 1890; whose enthusiasm and unflagging +interest in all matters pertaining to swimming and life-saving have been +excelled by none, and who was a faithful practitioner of the methods +herein set forth, this book is affectionately dedicated by his son, + +THE AUTHOR + + + + +PART I--INTRODUCTION + PAGE + +THE IMPORTANCE OF SWIMMING 15 +LEARNING BY THE BOOK 22 + +PART II--VARIOUS KINDS OF STROKES + +THE BACK STROKE 27 +THE DALTON STROKE 37 +THE BACK AND DALTON STROKE 39 +THE BREAST STROKE 41 +CHANGING FROM BACK TO BREAST STROKE 53 + +NEW PART II--ADVANCED STROKES +BY LOUIS C. DALTON + +THE SIDE STROKES 56 +THE TRUDGEON STROKE 60 +THE SINGLE OVER-ARM STROKES 62 +THE ENGLISH RACING STROKE 66 +THE DOUBLE OVER-ARM STROKE 68 +THE CRAWL STROKE 70 + +PART III--FLOATING, DIVING AND SCIENTIFIC +SWIMMING + +TREADING WATER 81 +FLOATING 84 +DIVING 89 +SWIMMING LIKE A DOG 106 +PLUNGING 107 +SCULLING 109 +SWIMMING BACKWARD ON THE CHEST 110 +THE WASHING TUB 112 +THE PROPELLER 113 +THE TORPEDO 115 +THE CATHERINE WHEEL 117 +ROLLING 119 +SWIMMING LIKE A PORPOISE 121 +THE PENDULUM 124 +SOMERSAULTS 127 +DOUBLE SOMERSAULTS 129 +WITH ONE LEG OUT OF WATER 131 +SWIMMING WITH CLOTHES ON 132 +WITH HANDS AND FEET TIED 134 +OVER AND UNDER 136 +SWIMMING UNDER WATER 139 +MONTE CRISTO SACK TRICK 142 +NOTABLE FEATS BY CELEBRATED SWIMMERS 144 + +PART IV--WATER POLO + +WATER POLO 153 + +PART V--CRAMPS, HOW TO SAVE LIFE, +RESUSCITATION, ETC. + +CRAMPS 181 +HOW TO SAVE LIFE 182 +RESUSCITATION AFTER RESCUE 187 +HALL'S METHOD OF RESUSCITATION 189 +SYLVESTER'S METHOD 191 + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + PAGE + +Frank Eugen Dalton _Frontispiece_ +Fig. 1. The Back Stroke--First Arm Movement 29 +Fig. 2. The Back Stroke--Second Arm Movement 30 +Fig. 3. The Back Stroke--Third Arm Movement 31 +Fig. 4. The Back Stroke--First Leg Movement 32 +Fig. 5. The Back Stroke--Second Leg Movement 33 +Fig. 6. The Back Stroke--Third Leg Movement 34 +Fig. 7. Floating Position 35 +Fig. 8. The Dalton Stroke 37 +Fig. 9. The Breast Stroke--First Arm Movement 41 +Fig. 10. The Breast Stroke--Second Arm Movement 42 +Fig. 11. The Breast Stroke--Third Arm Movement 43 +Fig. 12. The Breast Stroke--The Leg Movement Exemplified Out of the Water 44 +The Breast Stroke--Teaching with Trolley and Instructor 47 +Fig. 13. The Breast Stroke--The Leg Movement 49 +Fig. 14. The Breast Stroke--The Start 48 +Fig. 15. The Breast Stroke--Second Position 50 +Fig. 16. The Breast Stroke--Third Position 51 +Louis C. Dalton 54 +Fig. 17. The Side Stroke--First Position 57 +Fig. 18. The Side Stroke--Second Position 58 +Fig. 19. The Side Stroke--Third Position 59 +Fig. 20. The Trudgeon Stroke--First Position 60 +Fig. 21. The Trudgeon Stroke--Second Position 61 +Fig. 22. The Single Over-Arm Stroke--Second Position 63 +Fig. 23. The Single Over-Arm Stroke--Third Position 64 +Fig. 24. The English Racing Stroke 66 +Fig. 25. The Double Over-Arm Stroke 69 +Fig. 26. The Crawl Stroke 71 +Fig. 27. The Crawl Stroke--Bent Knee Position 73 +Fig. 28. The Crawl Stroke--Legs First Position 75 +Fig. 29. The Crawl Stroke--Legs Second Position 76 +Fig. 30. The Crawl Stroke--Breathing Position 77 +Treading Water 83 +Floating Position 85 +Incorrect Floating Position 86 +Easy Floating Position 87 +Teaching Diving to a Beginner 91 +A Bad Dive 93 +Correct Position in Mid Air 94 +Correct Position on Entering the Water 95 +Mrs. Frank Eugen Dalton--Position for a Dive 97 +The Standing-Sitting Dive 98 +The Back Dive 99 +The Dolphin Dive 101 +The Australian Splash 102 +The Neck Dive 104 +Swimming Like a Dog 106 +Correct Position for Long Plunge in Water 108 +Swimming Backward on Chest 110 +The Washing Tub 112 +The Propeller 113 +The Torpedo 115 +The Catherine Wheel 117 +Rolling 119 +Swimming Like a Porpoise 122 +The Pendulum 125 +Forward Somersault 127 +Double Somersault 130 +One Leg Out of Water 131 +Over and Under 137 +Monte Cristo Sack Trick 142 +Water Polo 161 +Water Polo--Diagram 177 +The Best Method of Saving Life 184 +Sylvester's Method--Figure 1 191 +Sylvester's Method--Figure 2 192 +Sylvester's Method--Figure 3 193 +Tail-piece 195 + + + + +PART I + + +INTRODUCTION + +THE IMPORTANCE OF SWIMMING + +That all persons ought to know how to safeguard themselves when in deep +water is becoming more and more recognized as time passes. While +swimming is probably the oldest pastime known to man, and has had, and +still has, its votaries in every country, civilized or uncivilized, it +is curious that this most useful science should have been so much +neglected. + +For an adult person to be unable to swim points to something like +criminal negligence; every man, woman and child should learn. A person +who can not swim may not only become a danger to himself, but to some +one, and perhaps to several, of his fellow beings. Children as early as +the age of four may acquire the art; none are too young, none too old. +Doctors recommend swimming as the best all-around exercise. It is +especially beneficial to nervous people. Swimming reduces corpulency, +improves the figure, expands the lungs, improves the circulation of the +blood, builds up general health, increases vitality, gives +self-confidence in case of danger, and exercises all the muscles in the +body at one time. As an aid to development of the muscular system, it +excels other sports. Every muscle is brought into play. + +In other important ways it is a useful, and even a necessary +accomplishment; no one knows when he may be called upon for a practical +test of its merits. The _Slocum_ steamboat catastrophe in the East +River, New York, several years ago, gave a melancholy example of what +better knowledge of swimming might have done to save the lives of +passengers. That awful tragedy, which plunged an entire city into +mourning, was too appalling to have its details revived here, but, +regardless of the fact that the life-preservers on board were found +unfit for use, the loss of life would have been made much smaller had +the unfortunate passengers known how to keep their heads above water +until help arrived. Millions of people are transported yearly by river +craft, and just for lack of knowledge of how to swim a repetition of +the _Slocum_ disaster might occur any summer. + +Only about 20 per cent. of the entire population of the United States +know how to swim. A visit to any of the beaches along the Atlantic coast +will convince any one of this fact. There is no excuse for this +ignorance, especially in a city like New York, with miles of water front +and fine beaches at its very door; nor is there excuse in other places +where an ocean, lakes and rivers afford opportunities for swimming. + +Swimming is a tonic alike for muscle and brain. The smallest child and +the weakest woman can enjoy it equally with the strongest man. When +slaves of the desk and counting-house are looking forward for an all too +brief vacation and seek the mountains or seashore to store up energy for +another year's work, they should know how to swim. Poor, indeed, is the +region which can not boast of a piece of water in which to take an +invigorating plunge. + +The importance of being able to swim was very generally recognized in +ancient times, notably by the Romans. Roman youth, as early as the +Republican era, when trained to bear arms, were made to include in +their exercises bathing and swimming in the Tiber, where competitions +were frequent. Cassius in his youth became renowned as a swimmer. +Shakespeare, in a familiar passage, describes a race between him and +Julius Caesar, Cassius being made the speaker: + + "I was born free as Caesar; so were you: + We both have fed as well, and we can both + Endure the winter's cold as well as he. + For once, upon a raw and gusty day, + The troubled Tiber chafing with her shores, + Caesar said to me, 'Dar'st thou, Cassius, now, + Leap in with me into this angry flood + And swim to yonder point?' Upon the word, + Accoutred as I was, I plunged in, + And bade him follow; so, indeed he did. + The torrent roared; and we did buffet it + With lusty sinews; throwing it aside + And stemming it with hearts of controversy; + But ere we could arrive the point propos'd, + Caesar cried, 'Help me, Cassius, or I sink.' + I, as AEneas, our great ancestor, + Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder + The old Anchises bear, so, from the waves of Tiber + Did I the tired Caesar: And this man + Is now become a god." + +Macaulay, in one of his "Lays of Ancient Rome," describes the scene +which followed after Horatius had been left alone to face the troops of +Lars Porsena, his codefenders having escaped across the bridge: + + "Never, I ween, did swimmer, + In such an evil case, + Struggle through such a raging flood + Safe to the landing place, + But his limbs were borne up bravely, + By the brave heart within, + And our good father Tiber + Bore bravely up his chin." + +It was not until the nineteenth century that swimming really became a +science. In fact, it was only within the last half-century that a real +awakening to its importance occurred. At the present day swimming has +come to be regarded as an indispensable adjunct to the education of the +young. In many parts of Europe it forms part of the school curriculum. +Of such paramount importance is it there held to be that, on entering +the army, the first thing taught a young recruit is swimming. On this +side of the Atlantic its importance is becoming more evident daily. +That the benefits to be derived from it have manifested themselves to +municipalities is evidenced by the fact that, in addition to free +swimming baths on the water front of New York in summer, there have been +established several indoor bathing pavilions which are open and +accessible all the year round. + +Swimming, aside from its importance as a possible means to +self-preservation in case of shipwreck, the upsetting of pleasure-boats, +or any of the numerous accidents that so frequently happen on the water, +and also, on occasion, as a means of saving life, is not only one of the +best physical exercises known, but when one swims for exercise he is +also conscious of receiving great pleasure. Most other forms of +exercise, after they have been participated in for some time, are apt to +become something like efforts, or even hardships. Swimming, on the other +hand, continues to be exhilarating. + +Unfortunately, those who have been best able to teach the science of +swimming, because of having technical knowledge and proficiency, have +not made systematic attempts to disseminate knowledge through scientific +methods. In this respect the author claims to differ with most other +instructors. He has endeavored, in this work, to treat the subject +scientifically and to use simple and concise language. His success as a +teacher is attested by thousands of pupils who have acquired the +principles of a system long known as the Dalton system. + + +LEARNING BY THE BOOK + +The question is often asked whether it is possible for a person to learn +to swim by studying a book or a series of articles. Much depends on the +person. In the case of a very nervous person, it is improbable that this +may be satisfactorily accomplished, for it is then absolutely necessary +that a pupil must have an instructor, in order, at the start, to obviate +dread of the water. + +Where this dread of water or nervousness does not exist in any marked +degree, study of a work such as this may be of unlimited advantage. By +carefully following its instructions it will be possible to become a +very fair swimmer without the aid of an instructor or any second person. + +Naturally, it is not claimed that a majority of such self-taught +swimmers will ever become experts at the art, altho even this is +possible in a great many cases; but there is a moral certainty that, +with the exception of the aforementioned nervous beginners, a fair +knowledge of the science of swimming may be attained in this manner. +Numbers of very good swimmers have had no other tuition than which came +from study of a book. Especially is this true when following the +directions outlined in this book in the matter, first, of practising +keeping the eyes and mouth open under water, which will eliminate all +nervousness; and, second, in practising the movements used in the breast +and back strokes, which are of inestimable aid when actually taking to +the water. + +Of course, where the swimmer desires to attain true scientific knowledge +of the art, the beginner needs the aid of an instructor who may watch +for and correct any faults noticeable, for the simple reason that bad +habits once contracted are more difficult to eliminate later on. + +If the lessons herein set forth are carefully followed, there is no +reason why, with the exceptions before mentioned, one should not become +a good swimmer. + + + + +PART II + + +VARIOUS KINDS OF STROKES + +THE BACK STROKE + +It may seem odd to the beginner (and to a great many proficient +swimmers, for that matter) that in teaching swimming by the Dalton +system, I always begin by having pupils swim first on the back. Most +instructors do just the reverse; but during nineteen years of a +successful career in teaching, the proficiency of the graduated pupil +has justified the method. There are a number of very good reasons why +learners should begin by first swimming on the back. More especially is +this true of nervous or timid pupils. + +In the first place, the body floats more naturally and much easier on +the back. In the breast stroke, which is the first one taught by most +instructors, the head has to be kept out of the water and must be +supported as dead weight by the rest of the body, as explained later on. +On the contrary, in the back stroke, or swimming on the back, the head +rests on the water and needs no support from any other member of the +body. + +For the same reason the face, being up and away from the water, the +beginner encounters no difficulty in breathing, and there is no danger +of the water entering the mouth, which is often the cause of much +annoyance to new pupils. + +Then, again, while on the back, as the face is turned upward, the +beginner, especially in the case of a nervous person, gains confidence +from the very fact that he is not constantly looking into the water. And +also, in contradistinction to all other strokes in swimming, the arms +and legs move together--both arms and legs performing practically the +same movements at the same time. + +Thus the pupil, realizing the comparative easiness and the absence of +any difficulty in, having mastered this stroke, is imbued with such +confidence that it becomes simply a matter of time and practise to +acquire all other forms of swimming that he may wish to learn. + + * * * * * + +[Illustration: FIGURE 1] + +The first thing I do with a beginner, after he or she has donned a +bathing suit (a suit in one piece is preferable, as it will not +interfere with breathing) is to get the pupil to lie on the back, at +full length on the marble, with the heels together, the toes out, the +hands at the side of the body. Placing myself back of the pupil's head, +the hands are drawn, with the fingers bent, up along the body till they +touch the shoulders (Fig. 1), the elbows being well turned out. Then the +arms are straightened out horizontally from the shoulder, the palms of +the hand down (Fig. 2). Then the arms, being rigid, are brought down +sharply to the side of the body (Fig. 3). These movements should be +repeated several times until the pupil gets accustomed to them. + +[Illustration: FIGURE 2] + +Next the leg movements are shown. The heels are drawn up toward the body +as far as possible with the knees well turned out (Fig. 4); the pupil +then kicks the legs apart as far as possible, the toes being pointed out +straight (Fig. 5). Next the pupil brings the legs sharply together until +the heels touch, the toes being turned out (Fig. 6). After these +movements have been repeated several times the pupil can try the arm and +leg movements together. The arms and legs are drawn up together as in +Figs. 1 and 4, then the pupil straightens out the arms and legs, as in +Figs. 2 and 5, finishing the stroke by bringing the arms and legs +sharply together, as in Figs. 3 and 6. + +[Illustration: FIGURE 3] + +When these movements have been mastered by the pupil, I take him or her +into the water, waist deep, putting one hand under the back, the other +under the chin, forcing the pupil backward until the ears are under the +water, then bringing the pupil's hands to the sides, and slowly starting +the movements. After the arm movements are mastered, I take up the leg +movements, care being taken that the knees do not come out of the water. + +[Illustration: FIGURE 4] + +To teach pupils how to regain their feet, I show them how to bend +forward from the waist until the face is under water, then the pupil +will find his or her feet slowly sinking; when the toes touch the bottom +the head can be raised out of the water. + +To accustom pupils to the water I teach them to open the eyes and mouth +under water. This is much simpler than non-swimmers imagine. Care is +taken not to open the eyes too wide. At the first few attempts the +pupil will feel amazed, on opening the eyes the first time, at the +distance of the vision under water. This is a very good thing to know, +and helps beginners to overcome fear of water. + +[Illustration: FIGURE 5] + +To teach pupils to open the mouth under water I place a rubber ring six +inches from the surface and have the pupil bring it to the surface with +the teeth. By being careful not to attempt to breathe while under water, +the mouth may be opened to any extent without the least danger of +swallowing water. + +It is wonderful the amount of confidence instilled in a novice on +realizing his ability to open the eyes and keep the mouth open under +water. + +[Illustration: FIGURE 6] + +A preserver tied around the waist obviates the necessity of an +instructor holding the pupil, and he can, therefore, better direct the +movements, so that the pupil, while being held up by a preserver, makes +headway, care being taken to do the movements slowly and together. Then +the pupil is shown how to turn around. The knees should be drawn up, as +in Fig. 4, and then to turn to the left, use the right arm only, the +left arm should be held in a straight line with the shoulder; then +continue to use the three arm movements with the left arm, until one +has turned completely around in the water. To turn the other way, use +the other arm. + +[Illustration: FIGURE 7] + +Next the pupil is shown how to float. The knees are drawn up and turned +out, the arms extended back beyond the head, as in Fig. 7; the hands, +about six inches apart, are kept under water. Deep breaths should be +drawn through the mouth and forced into the lungs. The pupil will notice +that, at each inflation of the lungs, the body will rise in the water, +and sink correspondingly when the air is expelled. This practise shows +how buoyant the body is. The more limp one lies, the more buoyant the +body becomes. + +Since I started the Dalton Swimming School twelve years ago, at 23 West +44th Street, New York City, I have always shown my method of teaching +swimming scientifically, which is exactly the reverse of the methods of +other instructors; that is, teaching pupils how to swim on their backs +first, before teaching them the breast stroke, which I contend is the +hardest stroke of all, when done correctly. Another innovation of mine +is the use of the Dalton nose-clip, a clip that pinches the nostrils +tightly together, keeping the water out of the nose and forcing the +pupil to breathe through the mouth, which is the correct way of +breathing while swimming. The more air one gets into the lungs the +lighter one is in the water, making swimming easier. That is the reason +so many would-be swimmers, simply because they try to breathe through +the nose, get winded very quickly. The main thing about breathing in all +the strokes is to keep the mouth open all the time. With the mouth open, +air can come in and out of its own accord and the pupil does not have to +worry about the breathing. + + +THE DALTON STROKE + +[Illustration: FIGURE 8] + +In my next lessons I teach pupils my own stroke--that is, the Dalton +stroke. This is employed when on the back, only instead of going +head-first through the water, as in the back stroke, the pupil goes feet +first. The legs are held out, perfectly straight, then one leg is dropt +down in the water, the upper half of leg from knee to thigh remaining +stationary (Fig. 8). Then, as that leg is drawn back to its original +position, the other leg is brought down in precisely the same manner, +the dropping of both legs alternately in much the same way as when +walking. To do this effectively, pressure must be applied to the +positive stroke; that is to say, while the foot is being drawn down. The +reverse movement, or straightening of the leg, must be made gently. The +knees should be brought to the surface of the water each time; this is +in a slow but restful movement. The arm movements consist of having arms +straight alongside the body, the palms of the hands being turned out, +the thumbs down, making small circles with the hands and wrists, as in +Fig. 8, propelling one's self ahead with small scoops. It is hard at +first to combine the two arm and leg movements, but practise makes +perfect; and after the movements are accomplished in unison the pupil +will find this a very easy and restful stroke. + + +THE BACK AND DALTON STROKE + +In teaching this stroke I revise both the back and the Dalton stroke +with the life-preserver on. After the pupil has covered a distance with +the back stroke, instead of making a turn to retrace, I show the pupil +how to revert to the Dalton stroke, thus avoiding the necessity of +turning around. When changing from the back stroke to the Dalton stroke +the legs should be brought together and the hands put straight to the +sides of the body; then either stroke can be continued. The next move is +to let a little air out of the life-preserver. The pupil then begins +again on the same strokes. After several trips up and down the pool more +air is let out, with more trips up and down the pool, and so on until +there is no air left in the preserver. + +So slight will be the difference that the pupil will hardly notice it. +As long as the back is well hollowed, the upper part of the body will +float, but directly the body is doubled up the head and feet begin to +sink, so that the teacher must follow close after the pupil to make the +pupil keep the back well hollowed and the chest expanded. Beginners +will be surprized at the ease with which back strokes propel the body +through the water without any undue effort. To one who has never been +used to swimming without support it gives a wonderful feeling of +exhilaration to propel one's self through the water and then, when +tired, to slowly bring the arms back under water until the thumbs come +together behind the head and the knees are drawn up to the floating +position, while the pupil inhales deep breaths through the mouth, +thereby sustaining the body well up in the water. + + +THE BREAST STROKE + +[Illustration: FIGURE 9] + +The breast stroke has been handed down from an early Roman period. It is +the oldest of all strokes, but it is the hardest to learn properly, as +the head has to be supported clear of the water. Any part of the body +when held above water is dead weight, and as the head is all bone, +muscle and brains, it is the heaviest part. This is why, in using the +breast stroke, it is much harder to keep the mouth and nostrils above +water. The breast stroke is so universally identified with swimming that +every beginner wants to learn it. It is only on this account that I +teach the breast stroke. + +[Illustration: FIGURE 10] + +[Illustration: FIGURE 11] + +[Illustration: FIGURE 12] + +In order to make this stroke clear to beginners I have divided it into +four movements each, for the arms and legs. It is a good plan to +practise these movements first out of the water. Get the pupil to stand +behind, or by the side of, the instructor, and so follow the arm +movements. Let him start by having the palms of the hands together, just +below the chin, the elbows dropt down and within a few inches of each +other, as in Fig. 9. In the first movement shoot the arms straight +ahead, holding the hands together, as in Fig. 10. In the next movement +turn the hands till the palms are turned slightly out, with the thumbs +touching and pointed downward. In the third movement bring the +straightened out arms around in line with the shoulders, as in Fig. 11. +In the fourth movement bring the hands together till the palms touch, +the elbows being dropt, and the wrists touching the chest, as in Fig. 9. + +When the pupil has become accustomed to using the arms, the leg +movements are taught, each leg separately. The heels are brought +together and the toes turned out. Then the left leg is drawn up to the +body, the knee turned out, as in Fig. 9. This leg movement is +simultaneous with the arm movement, as in Fig. 9. Then the leg is kicked +straight out sideways from the body and brought smartly back alongside +the other leg, as in Fig. 12. These two movements of the leg are +performed while making the one movement of the arm, as in Fig. 10. The +arm movements from Fig. 10 to Fig. 11 are accomplished while the legs +are stationary, as in Fig. 11. Then the left knee is drawn up, as in +Fig. 9, while the hands are brought back to the chest, as in the same +figure. + +After a little practise with the left leg, the same movements are +practised with the other leg and arms. It is hard to practise the arms +and both legs together out of water, as in order to do so one has to lie +on a piano stool or bench. I discourage this method because the pressure +on the abdomen is injurious. After some practise of these movements out +of water, we then take the pupil into the water. When the beginner +enters the water, it is best for him to be held in a horizontal position +by an overhead trolley attached to a belt strapped around the waist, or +else held up in the water by the instructor, as per illustration. The +four arm movements are tried first, care being taken that the hands do +not come out of the water. At the same time they should be kept as near +the surface as possible without splashing, care being taken that, on the +last movement, the elbows are dropt and the hands kept up in the water. +This movement keeps the head up in the water. Should the hands be dropt, +the head will sink. The pupil should keep his mouth open all the time, +not worrying whether the water enters or not. By this means breathing +becomes natural. + +[Illustration: THE BREAST STROKE--TEACHING WITH TROLLEY AND INSTRUCTOR] + +The leg movements are then taken up. The best way is for the pupil, +with the left hand, to hold onto the rail that lines the pool and to use +the palm of the right hand lower down in the water, against the side of +the pool, as in Fig. 13, thereby holding the body and legs up in the +water, if the back is arched. The legs should be drawn up, the knees and +toes well turned out, and the legs then kicked straight out and brought +smartly together. This combined movement forces a wedge of water to be +shot behind the legs, forcing the body ahead. The legs are kept +stationary for a moment and then drawn up to the starting position. + +[Illustration: FIGURE 14] + +[Illustration: FIGURE 13--THE LEG MOVEMENT] + +[Illustration: FIGURE 15] + +After practising these movements it is a good plan for the pupil to +throw himself gently on the water with his face submerged, and so do the +leg movements alone, the arms being held straight in front a couple of +inches below the surface. As long as the head is under water the legs +will not sink. It is surprizing the confidence one gets in doing these +leg movements with the face under water. It takes away all fear, +especially if the eyes are kept open. When the pupil's breath gives out, +he or she should bend backward by hollowing the back, bringing the arms +around in line with the shoulders, when the feet will slowly sink and +the pupil can easily regain a standing position. + +[Illustration: FIGURE 16] + +When the arm and leg movements are to be done together, the pupil has to +concentrate his mind on the four movements. To start, one must have the +legs straight behind, keeping them motionless till the pupil gets to +fourth movement of the arm stroke, when the arms and legs should be the +same as in Fig. 14. On the first and the second movements, which form a +continuous movement for the legs, shoot the arms straight out and hold +them there until the straightened out legs come together, as in Fig. +15. Then the legs should be kept rigid, while the hands are turned and +the arms brought around in a straight line with the shoulders, as in +Fig. 16. Finish the stroke by drawing the legs up and the hands in to +the starting position, as in Fig. 14. These combined movements will be +difficult at first, as the movements do not go together, as in the back +stroke. + +When the rhythm begins to assert itself, the best way to practise is +with the head under water. Then the pupil can think of his arm and leg +movements without the bother and exertion of holding his head above +water. + + +CHANGING FROM BACK TO BREAST STROKE + +The change from back to breast or _vice versa_ is simple if done slowly. +Let us assume the pupil while swimming is using the breast stroke and +wishes to turn over. When in position as in Fig. 15, the pupil should +roll over on the left side, lifting the right arm out of the water; he +will then be in the second back stroke position, ready to continue. + +To turn from the back to the breast the movement is a little quicker, to +prevent the legs sinking too low. From position on the back as in Fig. +5, roll over on the right side, lifting the left arm out of the water so +that the hands meet straight in front. Then quickly snap the legs +straight together and bring the arms around in line with the shoulders +and resume your regular breast stroke. + +These turns should be practised by rolling on either side. The pupil may +also bend forward when on the back, as in standing up, and continue with +the breast stroke. + + + + +[Illustration: LOUIS C. DALTON] + + + + +NEW PART II + +ADVANCED STROKES + +By + +LOUIS C. DALTON + +THE SIDE STROKES + +The side stroke is used for long distance swimming and is easy to learn +on either side. The pupil should count the movements and be deliberate +while doing the strokes. Splashing and fast strokes always denote an +indifferent swimmer. Easy and graceful swimming can only be acquired by +taking slow strokes and keeping the hands under the surface, thereby +obviating all tendency of pushing the arms through the air instead of +the water. While practising these movements the head must be kept down +so as to be supported by the water. + +_Right Side._--Practise these movements on the floor. _Arm +Strokes._--The beginner extends the right arm until it straightens in +front, keeping it in this position, thus making it easier to acquire +balance. Place the left hand at the left side. Movement I.--Draw the +left arm slowly up to the chest, palm out. Movement II.--Extend the left +arm as far forward as possible. + +Movement III.--Draw the left arm down to the side of the upper (left) +leg, being careful not to bend the elbow. _Leg Strokes._ Movement +I.--Bend both legs back together from the knees down. Movement +II.--Extend the left leg backward from the hip as far as possible, and +the right leg forward from the hip as far as possible. + +[Illustration: FIGURE 17] + +Movement III.--Snap the legs, which should then be perfectly straight, +together. Now combine both Movements I. as in Fig. 17, then Movements +II. as in Fig. 18, and Movements III. as in Fig. 19. After the pupil is +more advanced he may use his right arm by extending it out from and +bringing it back to the right side of the body. + +_Breathing._--Inhale as the left arm is swept alongside the body. Exhale +when left arm is extended forward. + +_Left Side._--The same procedure as for the right side may be followed +lying on the left side. This is important to learn as the pupil should +swim equally well on either side. It will also help him to acquire good +form. _Arm Strokes._ Movement I.--Draw the right arm forward close to +the chest, palm out, elbow at the side. Movement II.--Extend the right +arm forward as far as possible, keeping the hand about six inches below +the surface. Movement III.--Sweep the right arm sharply down to the +right side, then rest. The left arm is not used, but held straight in +front to help balance the body. When the pupil is proficient the left +arm may be extended out and brought back as on the right side. + +[Illustration: FIGURE 18] + +[Illustration: FIGURE 19] + +_Leg Strokes._ Movement I.--Bend both legs back, from the knees down. +Movement II.--Spread the legs as wide apart as possible, the right back +from the hip and the left forward from the hip. Movement III.--Snap the +straightened out legs together. _Combine the Arm Movements with the Leg +Movements._ Movement I.--Draw the right arm close to the chest, palm +out; bend both legs back, from the knees down. Movement II.--Extend the +right arm forward and spread the legs wide apart. Movement III.--Sweep +the right arm down to right side and snap the legs together, then rest +while your body is being propelled through the water. Hold the head so +the mouth is above the surface, and breathe as on the right side. + + +THE TRUDGEON STROKE + +[Illustration: FIGURE 20] + +This was one of the racing strokes before the advent of the Crawl, and +was considered by some swimmers the fastest stroke. It is quite tiring +and should only be used for short distances. A great many swimmers +modify this stroke to suit themselves, but there is only one scientific +way. The arms are held perfectly stiff, and lifted well above the water +on every stroke. First practise with the arms alone. Lie on right side +with the right arm extended forward at full length, left arm perfectly +rigid at left side. Draw the right arm sharply down through the water +to the right side, turning the body at the same time, lifting the left +arm out of the water and extending it straight in front. + +The legs should be drawn up, heels together, knees spread as the right +arm starts to come forward (Fig. 20). Then spread the legs apart as the +right arm is extended forward. Snap the legs together as the right arm +is swept below the surface to the right thigh. These three leg movements +must be done very quickly. The head rests on the water, the mouth just +above the surface for breathing. + +[Illustration: FIGURE 21] + +When the left arm is brought forward and later down to the side, the +legs remain motionless (Fig. 21). For racing purposes, the arms may be +bent at the elbows. + + +THE SINGLE OVER-ARM STROKES + +Pupils after mastering the side and trudgeon strokes take to this stroke +very quickly, because in reality it is a combination of both. + +_Right Single Over-Arm Stroke. Arm Strokes._ Movement I.--Lie on the +right side, right arm drawn in toward the body, hand pointing forward, +left arm resting at the left side of body, palm out. Movement II.--Lift +the left arm out of the water and extend forward, but at arm's length, +away from the head, the right arm motionless. Movement III.--Sweep the +left arm sharply down to the side and extend the right arm straight +ahead. _Leg Strokes._ Movement I.--Bend both legs back from the knees +down, keeping the knees and ankles together. Movement II.--Place the +right leg back from the hip, and the left leg forward from the hip. Be +sure the legs are perfectly rigid. + +Movement III.--Snap both straightened out legs sharply together, then +rest. + +_Combine with the Arms._ Lie on right side. Movement I.--Hold the left +arm down to the side, palm out, right arm drawn in toward the body, hand +pointed forward, legs bent back from the knees down. + +Movement II.--Lift the left arm out of the water, at the same time +spreading the legs apart, keeping the right arm motionless (Fig. 22). +Movement III.--This movement must be done sharply. Draw the left arm +down to the side, extending the right arm straight ahead, while snapping +the legs straight together as in Fig. 23. + +[Illustration: FIGURE 22] + +_Left Single Over-Arm Stroke. Arm Strokes._--Lie on left side. Movement +I.--Place the right arm at right side of body, palm out, the left arm +held close to the side. Movement II.--Lift the right arm out of the +water, being careful to hold it as far away as possible to avoid +splashing, the left arm motionless. + +Movement III.--Sweep the right arm sharply down to the right side, and +extend the left arm straight ahead. _Leg Strokes._ Movement I.--Bend the +legs back from the knees down, knees and ankles together. Movement +II.--Bring the right leg back from the hip, and extend the left forward +from the hip. Movement III.--Snap the straightened out legs sharply +together. + +[Illustration: FIGURE 23] + +_Combine the Arms and Legs._ Movement I.--Hold the right arm at full +length to right side, palm out; the left hand should be held well in +toward the body, pointing forward; bend both legs back from the knees +down, knees and ankles together. Movement II.--Lift the right arm out of +the water and spread the legs apart; while doing this movement the left +arm is motionless. Movement III.--Bring the right arm sharply down to +the right side, extending the left arm forward, and snapping the legs +quickly together. + +_Breathing._--Inhale through the mouth, at the moment when each arm is +performing the downward stroke on either side, as the mouth will then be +clear of the water. Exhale immediately the arm is extended forward. + +Anybody who is ambidexterous will find it easier to learn the left +single over-arm stroke before the right. + + +THE ENGLISH RACING STROKE + +[Illustration: FIGURE 24] + +The English Racing Stroke is a great deal more difficult to learn than +any of the advanced strokes that we have reached so far, but once the +student is proficient, it is one of the prettiest strokes. My brother, +Prof. F.E. Dalton, swims this stroke faster than some swimmers do the +crawl, and in action he does it most gracefully (Fig. 24). _The Arm +Movements_ should first be learned. Lie on the right side (but if the +pupil prefers it can be done equally as well on the left). Hold the left +arm at the left side. Then raise it out of the water, bending the elbow; +the hand should enter palm out, and about six inches below the surface, +then extending it as far forward as possible. Next sweep the left arm +down to the side sharply. Extend the right arm straight ahead, drawing +it in toward the body with a semi-circular scoop. + +The leg movements are very difficult and a great deal of practise is +necessary before the pupil will be ready to combine with the arms. + +The legs are spread apart and snapped together as in the side stroke, +but instead of stopping with this scissors kick make an extra small +circle kick. + +_Breathing._--Inhale by turning the head as the left arm is swept down +to the left side; exhale under water when the left arm is extended +forward. Pay great attention to breathing on each stroke, as this is a +great deal more essential than acquiring a little speed, if you wish to +swim any distance. Because of improper breathing people who can not swim +very well complain more about getting winded quickly, than they do of +anything else. + + +THE DOUBLE OVER-ARM STROKE + +The Double Over-Arm Stroke, while difficult to master, will not prove so +for the student who has learned the English racing stroke. Learn the +double over-arm to acquire form. For racing the Crawl will answer. + +_Arm Strokes._--Place the left arm at the left side, then lift it out of +the water, bending the elbow and stretching it as far forward as +possible; now draw the hand down through the water so it is swept to the +side. The right arm should be at the right side in position to come +forward perfectly rigid at third movement of left arm. There must be +enough roll of the body to allow the right arm to come out of the water +to insure proper breathing. Sweep the right arm down through the water +as the left arm is raised out of the water. + +Hold the face under the water excepting when you inhale after the left +arm has passed the mouth; exhale when under as the right arm comes +forward. + +_Leg Strokes._--The legs perform the regular scissors kick at the same +time with left arm action, then cross them over and make a smaller +scissors kick in conjunction with right arm action while the body is +rolling, as in Fig. 25. The arms and legs should be relaxed except when +the arms are making their sweep and the legs are snapping together, +otherwise the pupil will be under a constant strain which is not +conducive to good form in swimming. The pupil may find it very difficult +at the start to time this stroke. + +[Illustration: FIGURE 25] + + +THE CRAWL STROKE + +The Crawl and Trudgeon Crawl are by all means the fastest strokes for +propelling the human body through the water up to date. The crawl stroke +as originally introduced was a combination of the trudgeon arm stroke +with a leg drive used by the natives of the South Sea Islands. This +stroke has since been so changed by leading swimmers, it is probably +entirely different from that originally introduced. A great many amateur +and professional coaches advocate the teaching of the crawl to +beginners. I would have the pupil note the difference between a Coach +and Swimming Instructor. The Coach's pupil knows how to swim, but the +Instructor must first teach his pupil. The coaches are so much in favor +of the crawl they advocate everybody being taught it when first +learning. On the other hand, the Instructor knows that it would take +twice as long to teach the crawl to a nervous beginner. + +[Illustration: FIGURE 26] + +I have had, in consequence, a deluge of requests from novices that they +be taught the crawl, so I wish to spread broadcast the fact that it is +_absolutely_ essential for pupils to acquire confidence by first +learning the simple Back and Dalton strokes. The principal reason for +this is the fact that beginners, 85% of whom are nervous, extremely +so, will naturally not immerse their faces, and as this stroke must be +swum with the face under water it will readily be seen why I differ with +the coaches referred to. The crawl, like all other strokes in swimming, +must be done slowly to attain speed, and the body relaxed. + +Bend all your efforts to acquiring form; speed will come later with +constant practise, patience and perseverance. The crawl may be done +correctly with varying details, depending on the physique of the +swimmer, and ability of the coach to apply the proper methods to his +pupil. I have swum the crawl in all its various details, and will +explain the method I have found fastest and easiest for the pupil. The +crawl, except for short distances, is not the stroke used for racing. +The trudgeon crawl is the stroke par excellence for racing purposes. + +_Leg Strokes._--Extend the arms at full length in front of the head with +face under water, while practising with the legs. While doing this hold +the breath, but not after you have learned the completed stroke. When +practising these movements you must kick the legs a trifle faster than +will be necessary when combining with the arm movements. + +The legs must be relaxed, especially at the hips, kicking them up and +down alternately; in doing this do not open them more than from about +ten to fifteen inches as in Fig. 29. This will depend a great deal on +the physique and buoyancy of the swimmer. The toes should be pointed +behind and the feet turned inward. Be careful that you do not make the +mistake of kicking them too high or opening them too much, also that +they do not come out of the water. In doing this thrash stroke you will +readily know if you are making these mistakes, because the legs will +become tired and cramped very quickly. Some fast swimmers bend their +legs at the knees as illustrated in Fig. 27, others take a sort of +pedalling motion by bending the ankles back and forth. + +[Illustration: FIGURE 27] + +This is done by bringing the toes up as the leg rises, and pointing them +down as the leg snaps back. At the present time the fastest sprinters +swim without the great bend in the knee; some bend them slightly to help +relax the legs. + +The trudgeon crawl kick is a combination of the crawl and the trudgeon, +and the reason it is used for sprinting in preference to the crawl is +because it is less tiring, thus affording greater speed for long +distances. This may be swum in either two, four, six, or eight beats. +The eight-beat is not used very often. The six-beat is used by most of +the fastest swimmers, but the four-beat is the easiest for pupils to +learn and time; it also is very speedy. The legs should be kept close +together at all times and after taking two, four, six or eight beats, +whichever the case may be, the kick should be formed that the first and +fourth kicks amount to narrow scissors kicks, then follow with the +regular thrash kick, which is straight up and down, as illustrated in +Fig. 28. Point the legs and turn the feet in slightly. + +Quite a few swimmers believe their legs are of little assistance, but +you will find, if you practise the movements alone the way I suggest, +the legs will play a very prominent part in your stroke. + +You will be able to make good speed without using the arms. When these +movements are thoroughly mastered, after trying all the different +variations to discover which suits your particular need, you may then +turn your attention to learning the arm stroke. + +[Illustration: FIGURE 28] + +_The Arm Strokes._--The arms should be practised with the face under +water, moving the legs only sufficiently to prevent them sinking too +low, and also so you can obtain the correct position in the water. The +arms should be bent at the elbows after they are brought out of the +water. The reach should be straight out from the shoulders, placing the +hands as far forward as possible before entering the water; by so doing +you will conserve your energy. Hold the hands like a scoop; they should +be about six inches below the surface before taking the sweep. While +doing this the elbows must be perfectly stiff, sweeping the arms with +considerable force under the surface as far back as the thighs, the +body being propelled forward by the powerful force. Swing the arms from +the shoulders and just lift them enough so they clear the water. Relax +the arms at all times excepting when they take the sweep through the +water. + +[Illustration: FIGURE 29] + +Some swimmers draw the arms under the stomach, others use the arms +entirely straight, a few place the arms in close to the head and extend +to full length under water. As in the leg stroke, if the pupil tries the +different methods he will find which stroke is the easiest to +accomplish. Having mastered the arms, combine with the legs before +attempting to breathe, as this in itself is quite difficult. + +_Breathing._--The breathing must be done entirely through the mouth. On +the crawl the head and not the body must be turned, and just +sufficiently to allow the mouth coming above the water as the left arm +passes the head, and a deep breath can then be taken. When the left arm +comes forward, turn the face under the water and exhale; repeat on every +stroke. + +[Illustration: FIGURE 30] + +Do not raise your head when breathing or hold your breath for a +consecutive number of strokes. Constant practise will loosen the muscles +of the neck, when you will find it much easier. In the trudgeon crawl +there is a greater roll to the body, and you breathe when rolling toward +the right side, as in Fig. 30. + +Having learned the arm and leg movements with the breathing, it is now +essential that the position of the body be correct (see Fig. 26). Do not +make the mistake of burying your head too deep or the legs, either; +hollow the back so as to present a slight slant to the water. If the +legs and back come too high raise the head a trifle. + + + + +PART III + + +FLOATING, DIVING AND SCIENTIFIC SWIMMING + +TREADING WATER + +Treading water is a very useful and necessary adjunct to swimming, +especially so to the person who either falls overboard or goes to the +rescue of a drowning person, or when trying to remove one's clothes. In +the game of water polo, also, this method of swimming is practised a +great deal. + +To tread water is like running up-stairs rapidly; the legs have to be +brought up and down all the time; the hands should be kept on the +surface of the water, the palms continually pressing against the water, +and thereby helping the legs to hold the body up. + +It is possible to stand perfectly still in deep water, it being merely a +question of balance. + +Stand perfectly still, with the arms in line with the shoulders and the +head kept well back in the water. The head will sink below the surface +once or twice until the proper balance is reached. When this is attained +try breathing through the mouth. The swimmer can stand still for an +indefinite period. + +[Illustration: TREADING WATER] + + +FLOATING + +Floating on the surface of the water is enjoyed immensely by all good +swimmers. This feat may seem quite simple, but it is not very easily +accomplished. There are many persons who are fairly good swimmers, and +yet are unable to float properly. The best of swimmers have often +attained this feat only after long and persistent practise. It is +possible to learn to float without being able to swim, but in that case +only by persons not subject to the least nervousness. As a means of +securing rest during exercises in the water, floating gives an ideal +position. Without the ability to float one lacks the absolute +self-confidence in the water so necessary in order to perform numerous +aquatic feats. + +As a rule, women learn to float more quickly than men, because their +bones are lighter. Oftentimes women are able to float the first time +they enter the water. Strange as it may seem, while this accomplishment +is a very difficult matter for some men to master, with women it is +almost natural. Nothing is more enjoyable to a good swimmer than +floating. Especially is this true while bathing at the seashore, when +the sea is often rough and the breakers high. + +[Illustration: FLOATING POSITION] + +The positions for floating or for swimming on the back is practically +the same, the only difference being that in floating the body lies +perfectly motionless, while in swimming on the back the limbs are +constantly in motion. There is no position more comfortable to a swimmer +than floating; it is the position of rest, and no bed is so soft as the +ocean. To be able to lie perfectly at ease with only the toes and the +lower part of the feet peeping above the water is one of many pretty +accomplishments in swimming. Yet it requires considerable practise to +become perfect in the art. + +[Illustration: INCORRECT FLOATING POSITION] + +After the novice has mastered the back stroke, it is essential that he +should learn how to float in different positions. Begin then by +extending the arms above the head, thumbs locked, and back hollowed; +then bend slowly backward until the back of the hands and head rest in +the water, when, by giving the feet a slight push forward, the legs will +rise slowly to the surface. Keep the mouth open and breathe deeply, as +the more air injected into the lungs the higher the body will float. +The head, being the heaviest part of the body in the water, should +therefore be kept well back. Should the legs show a tendency to sink, +extend the straightened out arms under the surface in line with the body +above the head; this will counterbalance the legs. + +[Illustration: EASY FLOATING POSITION] + +Another method is to draw the heels up close to the body, spreading the +knees wide apart so that the heels will touch each other. Should the +body roll from side to side, spread the arms until the body is steadied; +sometimes a slight stroke from the side which is rolling is sufficient +to maintain the balance. As women float much easier than men on account +of the smallness of their bones, stout persons are more buoyant in +floating than slim ones. Floating in fresh water is more difficult than +in salt water. Few male swimmers can float in fresh water at all. + +To regain the feet in floating seems to be a difficult thing for +beginners, and yet it can be done with comparative ease and little +splashing if the arms are brought in front, using the hands as a scoop +while pulling the body forward from the waist up. By bringing the body +and the head forward until immersed, the legs will be forced to the +bottom. One thing beginners should always remember is to keep the lungs +well inflated and the head well back in the water; in fact, everything +should be kept under water with the exception of the mouth and the nose. + +Another important thing to remember in floating is to keep the body +limp, and breathe naturally and regularly. + + +DIVING + +After a person has mastered the first rudiments of swimming, such as the +back, breast, and floating strokes, he is naturally anxious to learn to +dive. There is nothing more fascinating to a swimmer than a sharp, clean +plunge into cool water. + +The whole secret of diving is the possession of plenty of pluck and +self-confidence. One need not be an expert swimmer to be a good diver. +In fact, some persons can dive very well and at the same time are +mediocre swimmers. As in other branches, practise makes perfect. + +While in ordinary swimming diving is indulged in merely for the pleasure +derived therefrom, in racing diving is a very important factor. +Frequently races are won mainly from the ability of the contender to +dive properly; in other words, to get away with a skimming plunge, thus +securing a good start and getting into a stride that carries him to +victory. + +This form of swimming is also of the utmost importance in the matter of +life-saving. As a luxury in sea-water bathing nothing equals a plunge +from a good height. + +I advise beginners to practise from a float or springboard, the latter +being preferable, as the spring naturally throws the legs up into the +air, thereby preventing the diver from landing flat on his stomach, as +most beginners usually do. The essential points to be considered in +diving are to keep the head well tucked in between the extended arms, +the thumbs locked, the arms forming an arch above the head. In standing, +preparatory to the dive, the knees should be slightly bent, so that the +spring comes from the bended knees and toes. + +[Illustration: TEACHING DIVING TO A BEGINNER] + +In teaching diving to a nervous pupil, at first I generally hold up the +left leg as he is bending over to dive. The farther over he bends, the +higher I raise the leg, as per illustration. Then it is impossible for +the swimmer to fall flat on the water; the upraised leg prevents that. +This is the way that I advise all would-be divers to make their first +attempt. After a while the diver will throw up both legs in the air +behind him. To obviate entering the water with the knees doubled up, +as so many do (see illustration), the toes must be pointed straight up, +back arched. Pointing the toes tends to straighten the legs out (see +page 94). Another method I use in teaching a diver to spring well out is +to hold a long stick across the water, about four feet away and three +feet above the diving-board. This makes the diver spring well out and +throw his legs up behind him. It is well to impress the diver always to +keep his thumbs interlocked. Otherwise, if he should be diving in a +shallow place, the hands would spread and the head would strike bottom; +locking the thumbs prevents this. + +After deep and shallow dives have been mastered, the pupil can take up +various fancy dives, such as the "side dive," "standing-sitting dives," +"standing, sitting-standing dive," "back dive," "jack-knife dive," +"front-back dive," "back somersault," "front somersault," "sitting +jump," and numerous others. + +[Illustration: A BAD DIVE] + +[Illustration: CORRECT POSITION IN MIDAIR] + +[Illustration: CORRECT POSITION ON ENTERING THE WATER] + +The side dive is made by standing sideways on the diving-board, the +forward foot turned so that the toes grip the edge of board. When +springing out, the back should be well hollowed and the face turned +up, the head well tucked in between the arms. + +The "standing-sitting dive" must be made from a good springboard. The +diver stands at the edge of the springboard, the arms straight down, +with the hands at right angles with the arms, the palms downward. With a +slight spring the pupil drops to a sitting position, the palms flat on +the springboard, and the legs straightened out rigidly in front. Thus +the impact, assisted by a push-off with the hands, will jerk the diver +head foremost into space. The diver then turns over, straightening the +body and entering the water as in an ordinary dive. + +In the "standing-sitting-standing" dive from a standing position the +diver assumes a sitting position as in a "sitting" dive, drawing the +knees under to regain the feet again and pushing off for the dive. + +[Illustration: MRS. FRANK EUGEN DALTON POSITION FOR A DIVE] + +[Illustration: THE STANDING-SITTING DIVE] + +[Illustration: THE BACK DIVE] + +The back dive requires a depth of at least five to six feet. The toes +should be well up to the edge of the pool and the back well hollowed. +This is the main essential; one also must point the toes out well. This +is a very difficult dive and requires plenty of nerve and practise. + +The "jack-knife dive" is made from the back-diving position by springing +up in the air, doubling the body up from the waist, and throwing the +legs up behind, trying to enter the water as clean as possible facing +the springboard. + +The "dolphin dive" is the straight front dive, only the body must be +turned sharply in the air from front to back. The easiest way is to +practise this from a springboard about six feet above water. + +The back somersault from the springboard requires the swimmer to double +up while in the air; the arms should be lowered from the shoulder and +bent up from the elbow, and the knees drawn up, so as to make the body +ball-shaped, when the turn-over can be made easier. + +The front somersault is exactly the same, only with the face forward +instead of backward. + +[Illustration: THE DOLPHIN DIVE] + +For the Australian splash one stands in the regular diving position, +springing well out and doubling the body in the air, with the hands +clasping the knees. One must keep the head well forward with the toes +pointing down. + +[Illustration: THE AUSTRALIAN SPLASH] + +The "neck dive" must be done from a springboard well above the water. +Grip the front of the board with the hands, with the head well over the +edge, throwing the legs in the air, turning the body over, and back +somersaulting into the water, feet first. + +When a swimmer has improved and added speed to his racing stroke, he +should practise shallow racing dives and how to turn sharply in a tank. +This is very important, as many a race has been lost through the +inability of the racer to turn sharply when reaching the end of a tank. +To practise this, swim slowly to the end of the tank, gage your strokes, +so that the right hand grasps the bar which is usually placed around the +tank a little above the water. Throw the left arm over the right arm +against the marble side of the bath under water; at the same time double +the body up, switch around, gathering yourself well together, and shoot +forward with the arms extended. Ten to twenty feet can be covered on a +good push-off. The method usually followed by swimmers in America is to +double up and turn to the left when they are within a foot of the end of +the bath without touching with the hands, but pushing off with the feet. +In races in England this turn is not allowed, as the racer must touch +the end of the bath with his hands. + +[Illustration: THE NECK DIVE] + +A racing dive is a very shallow dive. The quicker the swimmer gets to +the surface the less time is wasted in getting into his stroke. Both +these things are very important and should be well practised. When +training in a tank, the racer should never go the full distance, but +reserve his speed for the day of the race. In a tank it is a good plan +to count the number of strokes required to do the length, so that you +know just when the end of the bath is reached without turning the head. +A straight course is always advisable. This can be kept by swimming +parallel with the side of the bath. It is good practise to get a friend +to time your lengths, and get used to diving at the word "go." The best +position for a racing dive is with the hands in front of the body, the +knees bent, and the mouth open, so that you get all the air possible +before striking the water. Always spring out as far as you can. Never +mind if it is a flat dive. This is much better than a deep, clean dive, +and less time is lost. + + +SWIMMING LIKE A DOG + +Children generally manage to swim like a dog in their initial attempts. +This is a very easy and simple method of propulsion, mainly for the +reason that the arms and legs are never lifted above water. + +[Illustration: SWIMMING LIKE A DOG] + +Legs are kicked out straight to the rear, sole of each foot striking the +water squarely and alternately, instead of working together. Hands are +placed in front of the body, with palms down, and are successively +brought down under the body and up again. + + +PLUNGING + +To become a good plunger the swimmer, first of all, has to have good +lungs. He must be able to hold his breath for at least one minute under +water. Ability to float face down, as in the dead man's float, is also +essential. Many would-be plungers find that their feet sink after having +gone about 25 feet, the reason being lack of practise in floating. + +When practising for plunging the take-off should be about three feet +above the water. The thumbs should be locked, the knees slightly bent, +and the edge of the diving-board gript well with the toes. Empty the +lungs by exhaling, then fill again with a long, deep breath, and at the +last inhalation spring forward, with all the force possible, taking care +not to go deep in the water; about two feet down is sufficient. Keep the +head well down and the toes pointing up. The back should be arched and +the legs bent up from the knees; this will counteract the tendency of +the legs to sink. Unless one makes a straight dive by pushing off +equally strong with both legs, the body will go sideways to the side of +the pool. Floating on the back and chest is mainly a question of +balance, and comes only after considerable practise. + +[Illustration: CORRECT POSITION FOR LONG PLUNGE] + +The time limit allowed in a plunge is 60 seconds without raising the +face out of the water. The record is over 81 feet, 5 inches, and was +made in England by H.W. Allason. + + +SCULLING + +This is one of the simplest methods of swimming on the back, the +forearms and hands alone being in motion during the performance. The +swimmer turns on the back with the legs straight out and together, or +crossed, the arms being flexible and near the body. The hands, with +palms downward, must be in line with the thighs, with the fingers +slightly raised. The hands are worked from the wrists, from right to +left, in addition to a slight movement (right to left) of the forearm. +This forces the body, head first, very gracefully through the water. + + +SWIMMING BACKWARD ON THE CHEST + +[Illustration: SWIMMING BACKWARD ON CHEST] + +In performing this trick of backward on the chest, the body is placed in +position as in the breast stroke, the legs and arms together, +outstretched in line with the body. The feet must be moved slowly from +the knees, each leg separately. The feet are alternately pushed backward +and the toes extended to the rear. The feet must not come above the +water. The action of the hands is performed with the palms facing +outward, each hand being pushed alternately forward. + +Another method of using the hands is the reverse of the breast-stroke +movement; in other words, the breast stroke movement is done backward. + +Begin with the arms out straight in front, the palms together, and then +draw the arms backward until the wrists touch the chest. Next throw out +the arms horizontally in line with the shoulders, the palms turned out, +thus sending the body backward by bringing the outstretched arms +straight together until the palms touch. If the performer be an expert +swimmer he can, by using this arm movement, dispense with the leg +movements. This is a "stunt" well worth practising, as it looks very +effective in the water. + + +THE WASHING TUB + +[Illustration: THE WASHING TUB] + +This is a very simple performance and requires little practise. The +swimmer turns on his back, doubles the body by bringing the knees up to +the chin, with the legs crossed. The body is kept in position by working +the hands the same as in sculling. As soon as the swimmer has obtained +his balance, he pushes the water away from his body with the right hand +and uses the left hand in the opposite manner, or, as it were, pulls the +water toward the body with the left hand. + + +THE PROPELLER + +This is a very graceful movement and never fails to excite admiration in +onlookers. To do it properly requires considerable practise. One must be +able to float well. There is always a tendency to raise the head above +the proper level, which in turn causes the feet to sink. + +[Illustration: THE PROPELLER] + +To begin, the swimmer should turn on the back, placing the hands at the +side of the body, keeping the head back and the feet together. Slight +movements of the hands from the wrists will keep the body floating. Then +make a long sweep of the arms from the body, under the surface of the +water, until they are at full length beyond the head. Thus the body will +be propelled with the feet foremost. As soon as the body is in motion, +the hands should be moved by the wrists and forearms only, in a +scoop-like manner, with the palms turned outward. The body may be turned +round by lessening the movement of one hand and increasing that of the +other, the body turning to the side on which the lesser movement is +taking place. Bringing the arms to the side again as in the original +position will bring the body to a standstill. This trick, seemingly very +simple, is somewhat difficult of accomplishment, and requires +considerable practise. + + +THE TORPEDO + +This is a rather difficult performance. It requires a great deal of +practise. The movements are almost identical with those in the +"propeller," the main difference being that in this trick the head is +kept under water. + +[Illustration: THE TORPEDO] + +To begin, the performer should lie flat in the water on his back, with +his arms stretched out beyond his head. The palms should be turned +upward. Then the legs should be raised from the hips, and kept rigid. +This will cause the body to become submerged, all but the ankles and +feet. One then must work the hands the same as in "propeller," but at +the end of each stroke make a slight upward pressure with the palms, so +that the body may retain its position below the water. + +The movement of the hands will cause the body to move forward, feet +first. The swimmer should at all times keep his eyes open in order to +guide himself in a straight line. + + +THE CATHERINE WHEEL + +[Illustration: THE CATHERINE WHEEL] + +This is a very effective "stunt." After assuming the floating position, +turn on the right side, with the arms at full length, the hands close to +the body, and the knees drawn up. Begin by moving the legs sideways; +that is, bring each knee up alternately, straightening out the legs and +making a wide sweep with each leg before bringing it up again. The legs +are used the same as paddles on a side-wheeler, as in the illustration. +This should be practised on both sides. One hand is made to scoop the +water toward the body in front, while the other is manipulated the same +way at the back. With a little practise one thus may simulate a +Catherine wheel--at least when the act is done rapidly and efficiently. + + +ROLLING + +To roll in the water one has to be able to float well; to roll easily +the body must float as high in the water as possible. No movements of +arms or legs are required at all, the balancing being done with the +head. + +[Illustration: ROLLING] + +First get into a floating position, the arms extended beyond the head, +the ankles crossed as in the illustration. Then fill the lungs well with +air, and gently rock the body from side to side, increasing the motion +until the body rolls nearly over on its side. Having reached this +position, turn the face well over on the right side, and the body will +roll over and turn up again on the other side. After the first complete +roll, once momentum is started, the second becomes easier. Several rolls +can be made before stopping, provided the breath holds out. Always +finish in the floating position. When one has learned how to roll over +on the right side, rolling on the left side should be practised, until +that movement becomes as easy as the other one. After practise the rolls +can be made very easily and gracefully, without splashing. The legs must +always be kept crossed and together, never letting the hands come out of +the water. + + +SWIMMING LIKE A PORPOISE + +This trick, very interesting and pretty, is quite mirth-provoking to the +onlooker, especially if indulged in by a number of swimmers. Unlike the +vast majority of tricks performed in the water, it does not call for +ability to float well, the only qualification being that one must be a +fairly good swimmer. + +Begin by lying flat on the water with the face downward. Then take a +deep inspiration after having cleared the lungs. As the chest begins to +inflate, the body must be allowed to sink under water. At the end of the +inspiration the head should go below the surface. After a couple of +breast strokes under water, turn the head upward. By executing a strong +kick with the legs, the head will rise out of the water. As the body +rises, make one stroke with the arms, and, as soon as the head comes up, +the arms should be recovered to the first position of the breast stroke +and pushed together downward through the water from its level to the +side of the body. Simultaneously, as the hands are moving toward the +body, the legs should be straightened with a sharp kick. This will +force the head and shoulders out of the water. + +[Illustration: SWIMMING LIKE A PORPOISE] + +A sudden inclination of the head toward the chest will assist the body +in rolling over, when the back and legs will become visible after the +head is again under water, the legs being the last to sink. By carefully +regulating the breathing, this movement can be effected a number of +times. + + +THE PENDULUM + +This is another very clever trick, requiring considerable practise; the +main essential is ability to float. The "pendulum" is primarily a +balancing feat, a well-inflated chest being the main requisite. + +The body should first be allowed to float on the water, with the arms +stretched out beyond the head and in line with the body. The head must +be thrown well back while the body is kept perfectly still. Then take a +deep inhalation, bringing the head well forward, as if to look at the +feet. Simultaneously with this movement draw hands toward the head. +These combined movements will cause the body to sink, and thus assume a +perpendicular position in the water. + +When the body has assumed a perpendicular position, the arms must be +brought to the front of the body, stretched well out, and at the same +time the head must be sunk between the arms until the face and arms lie +on the surface of the water. When the arms and head are down, the feet +will rise and the body float on the surface with the face down. + +[Illustration: THE PENDULUM] + +To come back to the first position, the head must be tilted backward and +the hands drawn to the back of the head. Again the feet will sink and +the body be swung back to a perpendicular position with the face above +water. One must then stretch the arms at full length behind the head, +with the palms upward, gradually inclining the head backward until the +legs once more rise to the surface, and the body floats face upward. + +Repetition of these movements produce a swinging similar to that of a +pendulum. The movements must be accomplished with regularity, at all +times keeping the legs straight and together. + + +SOMERSAULTS + +This is one of the easiest and simplest tricks. With very little +practise it can be mastered by most ordinary swimmers. Of course, this +statement refers to the ordinary somersault, either backward or forward, +which is nothing more than a turning over of the body while in the +water. + +[Illustration: FORWARD SOMERSAULT] + +In the back somersault the head is tilted back as far as possible, the +legs well drawn up, and the arms thrown out horizontally from the +shoulders. Then the body is turned on the back and a stroke taken with +the arms and hands. As the body is doubled up, this action causes it to +turn completely over, the head going under first. + +In the forward somersault, the head is prest down upon the chest, the +legs doubled up, the same as in the back somersault, the arms at right +angles with the body, and the palms downward. The stroke is made similar +to that in the back somersault, but the movement is started in front. + +If there are a number of these motions to be made, the lungs should be +well filled before beginning, as there is no time for proper breathing. + + +DOUBLE SOMERSAULTS + +As this trick requires two swimmers, it makes necessary a great deal +more practise. To begin, the swimmers stand on the bottom of the pool, +one in front of the other. The forward swimmer throws out his arms at a +right angle with the body, even with the shoulders, and spreads his legs +until his feet are about twelve inches apart. Then the second swimmer, +after taking a deep breath, dives under water and places his head +between the legs of the other, bending his legs backward until they come +close to the head of the forward swimmer, who in turn tilts his head +backward so that it may be grasped by the legs of the other. + +When in this position, the swimmers begin to turn backward, using the +arms the same is in the backward (single) somersault. The head of each +swimmer should be tilted well backward. As the head of the forward +swimmer disappears below the surface, the head of the other should +appear. After several turns the grip of the legs may be released and the +swimmers rise to the surface in their original positions. + +[Illustration: DOUBLE SOMERSAULT] + + +WITH ONE LEG OUT OF WATER + +In this act the swimmer should lie on his back, the same as in sculling, +raise one leg until it is at right angles with the body, keeping the +other leg straight and rigid. The action of the hands will propel the +body forward. + +[Illustration: ONE LEG OUT OF WATER] + +When becoming proficient in this movement, the swimmer can practise +raising the other leg. This requires considerable more force in the +working of the hands, so that both legs may be kept in position. By +performing the motion of the hands directly under the legs, less +difficulty will be experienced. + + +SWIMMING WITH CLOTHES ON + +This is an accomplishment that should be learned by all swimmers. In +addition to the sense of security given in time of accident, it is +productive of great amusement at race meets and exhibitions, and never +fails to excite admiration and wonder in the onlooker. Of course, this +can be practised with an old or cast-off suit. + +Practise first with a coat, then with a coat and waistcoat; next add +trousers, and last the shoes and stockings. This will gradually accustom +the beginner to the extra weight of the clothes. + +In case of an immersion in clothes, with no help in sight, the sooner +the swimmer removes his clothes the longer he can support himself. The +easiest way is to float on the back and remove the coat, taking out one +arm at a time, using the legs as in the Dalton stroke; next remove the +vest, still lying on the back; then unbutton the trousers and pull the +right leg down with the left hand. To remove the left leg, use the left +hand and kick out with the right leg. To remove the shoes, lie on the +back and draw up one leg at a time, crossed over the other leg, and so +try and undo the laces. If a knife is handy, cut the laces and kick the +shoes off. This is one of the most effective feats practised at +exhibitions. + + +WITH HANDS AND FEET TIED + +This trick is most frequently performed with the wrists and ankles tied +with a rope. The performer should plunge into the water as for a shallow +dive and rise to the surface without making a stroke. The legs are then +drawn up until the heels are quite close to the back of the thighs, then +the legs are kicked out together. The arms are drawn down through the +water, in front of the body, and then shot out. Care must be taken that +too much force be not employed, or much of the beauty of this movement +will be lost. Naturally, the pace will be slow, but this does not +detract from its neatness, nor lessen the admiration that this trick +always calls forth. + +This work is often performed by experts, having their arms tied to their +sides or behind their backs. When performing in this manner, one must +swim on the back, and the legs only can be used for propulsion. In this +instance better progress is made, as it is much easier to swim on the +back with the hand and feet tied than it is to swim on the breast under +the same conditions. One of the main essentials in the performance of +this trick is ability to float. These performances, also, are much +easier in a tidal river or stream than in still water, as the body is +carried forward with the motion of the water, and less exertion is +necessary to remain on the surface. + + +OVER AND UNDER + +[Illustration: OVER AND UNDER] + +This is one of the prettiest exhibition tricks that can be accomplished +in the water. If performed by a lady and gentleman it never fails to +elicit great applause. The swimmers begin with floating alongside of +each other. Then one slowly paddles ahead of the other with his hands +until his toes are in line with the shoulders of the other. When in that +position, the first grasps the neck of the other with his toes. Then the +other slowly brings his or her arms back under water and catches hold of +the ankles of the first. After balancing for a moment, the other dips +his or her head below the surface, at the same time giving a strong pull +at the ankles of the first, which draws the first directly over him. The +first one allowing his arms to float straight behind him. While the +first is slowly sailing over the other submerged, the latter watches the +former, and when the neck of the first is in line with the feet of the +other, the latter raises his feet and grasps the neck of the former, who +allows his body to rise to the surface. The performance is then +repeated by the first grasping the ankles of the other, and continuing +as before. + +These movements must be done slowly and gracefully, each swimmer +allowing the other time to inflate the lungs before the next pullover is +made. After these movements have been gone through about a dozen times, +and when in position for the final pull, the forward one should loosen +the grip on the neck and propel himself ahead to the side of the other +swimmer, when both can bend forward in unison, making a very neat and +graceful finale. + + +SWIMMING UNDER WATER + +To be able to swim under water is quite an accomplishment and often may +be of very valuable service, but as an achievement in competition or for +exhibition purpose it is not to be encouraged because of the danger of +prolonged immersion, and the fact that many competitors do not know when +to desist. + +Under-water swimming should be practised by experts only, but care must +be taken not to prolong the immersion in order to reach a definite point +or to accomplish a certain distance before rising to the surface. It +often happens that swimmers, in order to achieve a certain distance, +remain under water after pains in the back of the neck give warning of +oncoming unconsciousness, in which case they may lapse into a state of +insensibility, and there is grave danger of drowning. + +When these contests take place in baths, it is not a pleasant sight to +watch a swimmer struggling on, against odds, in the hope of beating a +rival for the coveted prize. The action of the arms and legs become +slower and slower, until at last, from sheer exhaustion, the body rises +toward the surface for a short distance and then sinks to the bottom +motionless. + +One of the advantages of being able to swim under water is the ability +it imparts to the swimmer to reach the body of a drowning person, or to +bring the body of a drowned person to the surface. + +In swimming under water, the ordinary breast stroke is the one used. To +swim downward, the head is prest down toward the breast, and when +wishing to rise the head is deflected backward. + +If swimming under water for a long distance, the body should be kept +near the surface, for the reason that the pressure is greater in the +corresponding depth. Care should be taken to fill the lungs before +starting, and as soon as the first symptoms of asphyxiation are +noticeable, the swimmer should rise to the surface. + +Among the notable feats accomplished under water may be mentioned that +of James Finney, in England, in 1882, who accomplished a distance of 340 +feet. William Reilly, of Salford, an amateur, swam 312 feet under +water. + +The time limit for under-water swimming is about a minute and a half. At +the Crystal Palace, London, England, in 1892, in a diver's tank 15 feet +deep, Prof. F.E. Dalton picked up 74 plates in a single immersion. + + +MONTE CRISTO SACK TRICK + +This is one of the most sensational performances of the professional +swimmer. From a spectacular point of view it is very effective. To do +this trick one must be an adept at under-water swimming; an assistant is +necessary in order to tie the knots properly. + +[Illustration: MONTE CRISTO SACK TRICK] + +The sack to be used must be large enough to allow plenty of room for the +swimmer to move about. At the bottom of the sack place a number of heavy +weights. A hole must be cut at the top to allow the rope to be passed +through. + +The swimmer gets into the sack, taking firm hold of the loosened ends of +the doubled rope and that part of the sack close to it. The assistant +then takes hold of the ends of the rope and ties them around the sack. +The knots must be made on the other side of the sack from that on which +the ends have been passed through. After warning the swimmer, so that he +may inflate his lungs, he is thrown into the water. The weights at the +bottom of the sack will cause him to sink feet first. + +After remaining in the sack a few seconds the performer releases the +ends of the rope held by him and pushes the sack open with his hands, +when he is free to rise to the surface. + +This appears to be a very dangerous feat, but in reality is a very +simple one for a good swimmer. + + +NOTABLE FEATS BY CELEBRATED SWIMMERS + +Considerable interest was aroused in the early part of August, 1875, +when the statement was made that Captain Matthew Webb, an Englishman who +had served as second mate on several ships in the Indian and North +Atlantic trade, intended to attempt the remarkable feat of swimming +across the English Channel. His first attempt resulted in failure. This +took place on August 12, 1875. After swimming for 6 hours 48 minutes and +30 seconds, during which period he covered 13-1/2 miles, Webb was +compelled to leave the water owing to having drifted 9-3/4 miles to the +eastward of his course by a northeast stream and stress of weather. Webb +started from Dover 2 hours 25 minutes before high water on a tide rising +13 feet 7 inches at that port. When he gave up no estimate could be +formed as to the probable distance he would have gone west on the tide. + +In his second and successful attempt, on August 24 of the same year, +Webb started from Dover 3-1/4 hours before high water on a 15-foot +10-inch tide, which gave him one hour and three-quarters of the +southwest stream. His point of landing was 21-1/2 miles from Dover, as +the crow flies, but the actual length of the swim was 39-1/2 miles. Very +little rest was taken by Webb on the way. When he did stop it was to +take refreshment, and then he was treading water. During the whole time +he had no recourse to artificial aids. Of this there is indisputable +proof. The journalists who acompanied him across in a boat were careful +in their observations, and were men whose accuracy could be depended on. +The temperature of the water was about 65 degrees. Webb never complained +of cold. + +For the first 15 hours the weather was fine. The sea was as smooth as +glass, the sun obscured during the day by a haze, so that the heat did +not affect Webb's head, and in the night a three-quartered moon lighted +him on his way. The worst time began at 3 A.M. on August 25th, as +drowsiness had to be overcome and rough water was entered. At this hour +he was only some 4-1/2 miles off Cape Grisnez, France, and altho he was +not then strong enough to strike out a direct course athwart the new +northeast stream for land, he was fetching well in for Sangette, where +he would undoubtedly have landed between 7 and 8 A.M. had adverse +weather not set in. He finally landed on the Calais sands after having +been in the water 21 hours 45 minutes. After performing this feat, Webb +for some years gave exhibitions of diving and swimming at an aquarium in +London and elsewhere. In July, 1883, he came to America for the purpose +of swimming the rapids and whirlpool at Niagara, and in this attempt +lost his life. + +On September 1, 1875, Miss Agnes Beckwith, then only fourteen years of +age, swam from London Bridge to Greenwich, a distance of five miles. +Beginning her journey at eight minutes to five, Miss Beckwith covered +the first mile and a half in 18 minutes. Limehouse Church--a trifle over +halfway--was passed in 33 minutes, and Greenwich Pier was reached in 1 +hour 7 minutes 45 seconds. + +On September 4, 1875, Miss Emily Parker, who had previously undertaken +to swim the same distance as Miss Beckwith, not only equalled but +excelled the performance of Miss Beckwith. She went on to Blackwall, a +distance of seven miles, the time being 1 hour 37 minutes. + +On December, 1899, Captain Davis Dalton swam for 12 hours continuously +at the Latchmere Public Baths in London, England. + +On August 17, 1890, Captain Dalton left Folkestone for Boulogne with the +intention of swimming back across the Channel to Folkestone, a distance +of 27 miles. Dalton exprest his conviction that he could perform the +journey in 20 hours, and if successful would beat the time of Captain +Webb. He entered the water at four o'clock on Sunday afternoon, and +accomplished the journey, without any remarkable incident, at half-past +three the following afternoon. + +In July, 1891, Captain Dalton swam from Blackwall to Gravesend in the +River Thames, London, covering the entire distance on his back. + +In December, 1891, Captain Dalton swam for 16 hours continuously at the +Dover Baths, England. + +On August 27, 1902, after several brilliant attempts, Montagu Holbein +swam the English Channel, but was compelled to desist when only two +miles from the finishing point, after staying in the water for 22-1/2 +hours. + +The following feats have been recorded as accomplished during the year +1911: + +William T. Burgess, of Yorkshire, England, crossed the English Channel +from South Foreland, Dover, England, to La Chatelet, two miles east of +Cape Gris Nez, France. Burgess started at 11.15 A.M., September 5, and +finished at 9.50 A.M., September 6. Time, 22 hours 35 minutes. The +distance is 40 miles. Burgess is said to have covered nearly 60 miles, +owing to changes in the tide and currents. + +On June 11th Martin M. Harris, in an attempt to swim from Chester, Pa., +to Market Street, Philadelphia, Pa., a distance of 16-1/2 miles, was +forced to retire at Greenwich, after covering 13-1/2 miles in 4 hours 8 +minutes. + +On June 25th Charles Durburrow swam from the Million Dollar Pier, +Atlantic City, N.J., to Ocean City, about 8 miles, in the open sea in 5 +hours 33 minutes. + +On July 22d Jabez Wolffe, in an attempt to cross the English Channel +from Sangatte, France, had to retire when within a mile of St. +Margaret's Bay, England, owing to adverse tides, after 15 hours' +swimming. + +On July 23d Charles Durburrow, in an attempt to swim from the Battery, +New York City, to Sandy Hook, was forced to give up, owing to adverse +tides, when 1-1/4 miles from Sandy Hook, after swimming about 20 miles +in 6 hours 43 minutes. About this time Joseph O'Connor swam from +Watertown, Mass., in the Charles River, to Cambridge Bridge, Boston, a +distance of about 8 miles, in 6 hours 46 minutes. + +On August 6th Samuel Richards swam from Charlestown Bridge, Boston, to +Boston Light, a distance of about 10 miles, in 6 hours 15 minutes. + +On August 13th Noah Marks swam from Chester, Pa., in the Delaware River, +to Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa., a distance of 16-3/4 miles, in 5 +hours 19 minutes. Miss Rose Pitonoff swam from East Twenty-sixth Street, +New York City, to Steeplechase Park Pier, Coney Island, a distance of +about 20 miles, in 8 hours 17 minutes. + +On August 20th Miss A. Akroyd swam from Charlestown Bridge, Boston, to +Boston Lightship in 7 hours 12 minutes 57 seconds. + +On August 27th Miss Elaine Golding swam from the Battery, New York City, +to Steeplechase Park Pier, Coney Island, a distance of about 14 miles, +in 6 hours 1 minute. Raymond Frederickson finished first in a swim of +the U.S. Volunteer Life Saving Corps from the Battery to Coney Island in +6 hours 2 minutes 30 seconds. + +On September 3d Miss Adelaide Trapp swam from North Beach to St. George, +Staten Island, New York, a distance of about 14 miles, in 5 hours 10 +minutes. William D. McAllister won a long-distance swim from L Street +bath, Boston, to Spectacle Island and return in 4 hours 50 minutes. + +All of these swims were made with aid from tide or current. + + + + +PART IV + + +WATER POLO + +AS A PASTIME + +Water polo has become one of the most popular and fascinating of all +water sports. It can be indulged in by very good swimmers only. It +affords abundant opportunity for the exhibition of skill and endurance. + +For the following account of water polo the author is indebted to a +volume from Spalding's Athletic Library, entitled "Water Polo," written +by L. de B. Handley, permission to use it having kindly been granted by +the publishers: + +The value of an athletic game or contest is determined by four things: +Its physical-culture merits; its utility; its attractiveness as a +pastime, and its spectacular features. + +Water polo has few equals as a means of developing the body. The +swimming alone in it would insure general and symmetrical development, +but the player wrestles besides, during a game, and every part of the +body is given its proportionate share of this gruelling work, +developing all muscles in a uniform way. + +As to its utility, it is self-evident. Swimming has come to be looked +upon as a necessity, simply because it may be the means of saving life, +and in this water polo is the most practical of teachers. A player is +coached on how to free himself from every kind of a tackle, how to +assist an exhausted team-mate and how to apply the best methods of +resuscitation when any one is knocked out. Then these teachings have to +be practised frequently while the team is at work, and one becomes +proficient insensibly and as a matter of course. It is a revelation to +see an expert player handle a drowning person, and more especially a +frantic one. The rescue is performed in such an easy, matter-of-fact way +as to lead one to wonder at the halo of heroism that surrounds most +cases of life-saving. Hardly a player but has several rescues to his +credit, which he looks upon as a series of trifling services rendered to +a fellow mortal, and no more. + +As a pastime water polo is among the leaders. Hard and exhausting it +may be, but there is an exhilaration in dashing about the pool, fighting +one's way to goal, that no other game gives. And it has a feature that +appeals strongly to the man who has attained manhood and its numerous +responsibilities--the rarity of accidents. Bruises and knockouts one +gets a-plenty, but those serious injuries which mar football, hockey and +lacrosse are totally unknown. + + +ITS EVOLUTION IN AMERICA + +There is a belief that a game similar to water polo was played by the +ancients, but no actual proof of it has been found. Rules were first +formulated in England in 1870, and we adopted them in America about +1890, but our present game bears absolutely no resemblance to the one +that was then played. In the latter, points were scored by throwing an +inflated rubber ball nine inches in diameter through an open goal marked +by uprights and a cross-bar; and passing was the feature of the game. +Americans found it unsuited. The few available tanks were so small that +there was no place for action, and the outdoor season was too short to +be satisfactory. + +The idea was then conceived of changing the goal into a solid surface, +four feet by one in size, and to oblige the scorer to touch the ball to +the goal while holding it, instead of passing it. + +The innovation met ready favor, but, as may be imagined, transformed the +game. From an open passing one water polo became one of close formations +and fierce scrimmages. These, at first, were disorderly scuffles, where +weight and brute strength reigned supreme, but little by little strict +rules were formulated to eliminate rough tactics, and then science +became an important factor. + +In 1897 a man entered the field who was destined to revolutionize the +system of play. + +Harold H. Reeder, of the late Knickerbocker Athletic A.C., besides being +a good leader and a brilliant individual player, knew how to handle men. +He realized that in a growing sport new ideas would mean development, +and he made it possible for the members of his squad to experiment with +those they had. The system he used is worth a few words of explanation, +because it was accountable for the wonderful strides made since 1897, +and because every team will profit by its adoption. + +Reeder, well aided by Prof. Alex. Meffett, began by teaching every +candidate the rudiments of the game; veterans and greenhorns alike were +put through the mill. Each was schooled in the principles of swimming, +diving, catching, passing, scoring, interfering, tackling and breaking, +until these points had been thoroughly mastered, and only then did the +team practise begin. But again, no player was allowed in unprepared. +Reeder instituted blackboard practise and saw that every one attended +it. Placing before his assembled squad the possible formations, he made +players selected at random explain the duties of every position in each +formation. By this system he obliged every player to use his brains, and +he found out the amount of water-polo intelligence that each possest. He +also imparted to each the ideas of all the others, he taught them how to +fill every position and he brought to light many new plays. + +The progress which the innovation was responsible for no one realized +until the aggregation of yearlings from the Knickerbocker Athletic Club +defeated the formidable array of champions representing the New York +Athletic Club. Reeder abandoned the game two years later, but his good +work lived after him, and some of his team-mates held the championship +for many years by following his teachings. + + +HOW THE GAME IS NOW PLAYED + +Water polo as played to-day in America is rather dangerous for outdoors, +and indoor pools are generally used. It is a contest between two teams +of six, having as object the touching of the opponent's goalboard with +an inflated rubber ball seven inches in diameter, which the referee +throws into the water at start of play. + +In order to score, the ball has to be touched to the goal while in the +hand of a player; it can not be thrown. The goals are spaces four by one +foot, situated at each short end of the playing area, eighteen inches +above the water level. The size of the playing area is optional, tho the +recognized dimensions are 60 x 40 feet or 25 x 75 feet, with a uniform +depth of seven feet of water. Imaginary lines are drawn across the tank +(see Fig. T), parallel to the short ends, at four and fifteen feet from +them. The first, called four-foot line, serves as protection to the +goal-tenders and can not be crossed until the ball is within; the other +is the foul line, and serves to mark the spot on which the forwards +line up on being given a free trial. The four-foot line also marks the +goal section, a space 4 x 8 feet, in which indiscriminate tackling is +allowed when the ball is within. + +Each team of six is divided into a forward line (center, right forward +and left forward) whose duty it is to attack the opponent's goal; and a +backfield of three (half-back, right goal-tender and left goal-tender), +upon whom devolves the defense of the home goal. + +At the start of play the two teams line up their respective ends, the +referee places the ball in the middle of the playing area and then blows +a whistle. At this signal the twelve players dive in, the forwards to +make a dash for the ball, the backs to take up their positions. The +forward who first reaches the ball tosses it back to the defense men, +who hold it until the line of attack is formed and then pass it back. +Immediately a fierce scrimmage takes place and either a score is made or +the ball changes side and a scrimmage occurs at the other end. After the +score the teams line up as at start of play. + +[Illustration: Courtesy of "Spaulding's Athletic Library." WATER POLO] + +Time of play is sixteen minutes, actual, divided into two halves of +eight minutes each, with an intermission of five minutes between halves. +Only two substitutes are allowed, and they can only be used to replace +an injured or exhausted player. + + +PREPARATORY WORK + +No man should attempt to play water polo who is not in the best possible +physical condition. Before joining the squad, every candidate, be he a +novice coming to learn the game, or a veteran resuming training, should +prepare himself for the hard work in sight. I don't mean that he should +be down to edge, but in good ruddy health. As a matter of fact, a man is +far better off if he can start the season with eight or ten pounds of +extra avoirdupois; and four or five pounds above "pink of condition" may +be carried throughout the season with good results. They will prevent +one's getting cold while in the water and keep one from going stale, a +very easy matter in water polo. + +Preliminary exercise should be taken daily for a week or two in +anticipation of starting practise. Long swims are advisable at this +early date, but should be abandoned while preparing for a contest, as +one sprints only in a game. + +The best system to follow is a very simple one. + +A few minutes in the steam-room (not more than five) or some +calisthenics to warm up the blood, then a fast hundred. This done, rest +until you have regained your breath. Taking the water-polo ball next, +pass it to given points of the tank to secure accuracy, and sprint after +it each time. Then get against the side of the tank, and placing the +ball ten or twelve feet away, try to secure it with one hand on a +push-off. This, done half a dozen times daily, will insure accurate +passing, catching and obviate fumbling. + +Another excellent exercise is to place the ball fifteen or twenty feet +from you and then swim after it under water, trying to get it without +coming to the surface. This has the double object of getting you used to +under-water work and accustoms you to looking for the ball while +submerged in a scrimmage. + +Gymnasium work is not advisable unless one's physical condition is badly +in need of building up, and even then only the lightest kind should be +taken. It has too great a tendency to harden the muscles; a swimmer's +should be soft and pliable. + +Breathing exercises can be highly recommended; there is nothing better +for the wind. A good system is to take it while walking in the open air. +By inhaling for the space of six steps, and exhaling for six, the lungs +are properly worked. In cold weather breathe through the nose. + + +HOW TO DEVELOP THE NEW PLAYER + +The game of water polo is such a strenuous one that even the best of men +often tackle it with misgivings. The new player should on no account +attempt to take part in a scrub game until he has thoroughly mastered +the rudiments. The man who goes in against an experienced tackler, +ignorant of the means of protecting himself, receives punishment so +severe as to give him a completely erroneous idea of the game. + +If the candidate has followed the suggestions given above he will be +physically able to stand the gruelling, but more is needed; he should be +able to take care of himself. To teach him how, he must be taken in hand +alone, and shown the various tackles and breaks. + +This is best done on _terra firma_; in the water the man will be +thinking of the ducking in sight and his mind will not be in receptive +mood. It is also essential to make him understand a hold thoroughly +before proceeding with another. + +Once a man has the movements learned, he can be put in the water with a +skilled player and allowed to practise on the latter, who should let him +secure the holds without opposition at first, but gradually increase the +resistance until he becomes proficient. If there is no one to coach and +no good player to practise against, the new men should work on each +other. + +Water-polo holds are a good deal a matter of individuality; each man +builds up a set of his own, but one tackle and one break will serve as a +foundation for all. + +To learn the tackle, give your coworker the ball and let him come toward +you. When he's a couple of feet off, take a good, hard stroke, lift +yourself as high out of the water as you can throw your arm around his +neck, and pulling his head down until it is jammed hard against your +chest, wind your legs around his body. Then you have him at your mercy, +and you can proceed to take the ball away from him. This tackle should +be learned by forwards and backs alike; all need it. + +The best break known is the following: We will suppose that you carry +the ball in the right hand. On approaching your opponent throw your +left shoulder forward, presenting a three-quarter view. To tackle you +effectively he must use his right arm, as you could easily repel a +left-handed one in your position. As soon as his right arm goes up, +place your left hand squarely under his armpit and let yourself sink, +twisting around, face toward him, as you pass under, and as soon as you +are on your back force his body over you. Then plant both feet on him +and shove off. In most cases, if you succeed, you will find yourself +between your opponent and his goal, where all you have to do is to touch +the board for a score. + +To use the legs at every possible chance should be a principle of the +player. Once an opponent is caught in a good leg-hold he is rendered +helpless. Incidentally, the wise player ceases struggling when he +recognizes that he is caught beyond freeing. It is an excellent rule +also to avoid being tackled uselessly; if a body encounter is liable to +let you out best, or will help your side, go into it heart and soul, +just as hard as you know how, but never make a senseless sacrifice. + +Passing and catching are all important factors in water polo and should +be practised constantly. In passing it is well to bear in mind that the +object in view is to give the ball securely to one's team-mate. Pass +high and carefully; a low throw may be intercepted and a hard one +fumbled. Specially in close quarters high passing is essential. + +To cover one's opponent when the other side has the ball and get away +from him when one's own has it, should be the religion of every player. +In covering him, always stay back of him, where you can watch him, and +tackle him just in the nick of time if the ball is passed to him. + +Many new men have an idea that one knows intuitively how to score, but +it is not so. The various ways must be learned. One only does in a game +what one has become used to in practise, for there is little time or +chance to think in the excitement of a keen contest, and it is those +things which have been ground into one by dint of repetition that stand +by one. To get used to scoring, place yourself three or four yards from +goal and then sink yourself, or let some one else put you under, and try +to come up and hit the board with eyes closed; you will soon find what +a difference practise makes. You must also learn how to hurdle by +letting some one tread water between you and goal and score by placing +your free hand on his shoulder and lifting yourself over. + +A short course of the above, and you will be ready to line up. + + +A FEW POINTS + +On entering the tank for an important game, every player should forget +his individuality and submit passively to the orders of the captain. +There must be only one head for a team to succeed, and an order should +be executed without hesitation and without questioning; right or wrong, +the best results come through blind obedience. The man giving the orders +often sees an opening that the other does not. + +Let no personal difference affect your game; play to win, not to pay off +an old score. It is the goals made, not the men disabled, that give one +victory, and victory is what every player should seek. + +To the forward, discrimination is a valuable asset. When caught in a +tackle so far away from goal that getting free will not help you pass +the ball at once, don't allow your opponent to punish you. But if you +are nailed within easy reach of goal, fight as long as there is breath +of life in you. Never mind how helpless the task may seem, a team-mate +may come to the rescue at any moment, and then you'll score. + +The forward should always play the ball in preference to the man and +keep free as much as possible. And above all--play fast and hard. + + +AMERICAN RULES + +1. The ball shall be the regulation white rubber association football +not less than 7 nor more than 8 inches in diameter. + +2. The goals shall be spaces 4 feet long and 12 inches wide marked +"Goal" in large letters. One shall be placed at either end of the tank, +18 inches above the water-line equally distant from either side. + +3. To score a goal the goal must be touched by the ball in the hand of +an opposing player and the greatest number of goals shall count game. + +4. The ball shall be kept on or as near the surface of the water as +possible, and shall never intentionally be carried under water. No goal +shall be allowed when scored by an under-water pass. + +5. The contesting teams shall consist of six a side, with two reserve +men who can be substituted at any time when the ball is not in play. A +player withdrawn can not return to play. Only six prizes shall be given +to the winning team. + +6. Time of play shall be 16 minutes actual time, divided in two halves +of 8 minutes each and 5 minutes rest between halves. Time occupied by +disputes, free trials for goal, repairing suits, and lining up after a +goal has been scored shall not be reckoned as time of play. + +7. The captains shall be playing members of teams they represent and +shall toss for choice of ends of tank. The ends shall be changed at half +time. + +8. The referee shall throw the ball in the center of the tank and the +start for the ball be made only at the sound of the whistle. + +9. A ball going out of the tank shall be returned to the place from +which it was thrown and given to the opposing team. + +10. A mark shall be made four feet from each goal on the side of the +tank and an imaginary line between these marks shall be called the +four-foot line. No man will be allowed within this line until the ball +is within it. The goal-tenders, limited to two, of the defending side +are alone exempt from this rule. When the ball is within the goal-line +the goal-tenders shall not be allowed any artificial support other than +the bottom of the tank. + +11. No player is allowed to interfere with an opponent unless such an +opponent is within four feet of the ball, except when the ball is within +the goal section, when indiscriminate tackling will be allowed in the +goal section, the goal section to be a space of four feet by eight feet +within the goal-line and between two parallel lines drawn at right +angles to the goal-line and distant two feet from either end of the +goal. + +12. Upon a goal being gained, the opposite teams shall go to their own +end of the tank, and the ball shall be thrown by the referee into the +center and play started as at beginning of game. + +13. Each team shall have two judges, one at each goal-line, who, upon a +goal being made, shall notify the referee and announce the same. + +Only in case the judges disagree shall the referee have power to decide +whether a goal be fairly made or not. + +14. The referee shall decide all fouls, and if in his opinion a player +commits a foul he shall caution the team for the first offense and give +the opponents a free trial for goal at each succeeding foul. + +A free trial for goal will be given by lining up three backs of the +defending team within the 4-foot line and giving three forwards of the +opposing team the ball on the 15-foot line, when they may try for a goal +until a goal is scored or the ball goes outside the 15-foot line. Only +three men from each side will be allowed within the 15-foot line, until +the ball goes outside that line or a goal is scored. + +FOULS.--It shall be foul to tackle an opponent if the ball is not within +four feet of him or to hold him by any part of his costume. It shall be +a foul to cross the 4-foot line ahead of the ball, unless forced over by +an opponent, or to hang on to the sides of the tank except for the +purpose of resting. + +Unnecessary rough work may, within the discrimination of the referee, +either be counted a foul or the referee may put the offender out of the +tank until a goal is scored or the half ends. + + +------+ + | GOAL | + +------------------------------------------------+ + | | GOAL | | + | | SECTION | | + |------------------------------------------------| + | 4 FT. LINE | + | | + | | + | | + | | + | | + |------------------------------------------------| + | 15 FT. LINE | + | | + | | + | | + | | + | | + |------------------------------------------------| + | CENTER LINE | + | | + | | + | | + | | + | | + |------------------------------------------------| + | 15 FT. LINE | + | | + | | + | | + | | + | 4 FT. LINE | + |------------------------------------------------| + | | GOAL | | + | | SECTION | | + +------------------------------------------------+ + | GOAL | + +------+ + + + + + + +PART V + + +CRAMPS, HOW TO SAVE LIFE, RESUSCITATION, ETC. + +CRAMPS + +To be suddenly seized with cramps is a thing liable to happen to most +expert swimmers; it is caused by various reasons--staying too long in +the water and getting chilled, going in after a heavy meal, stiffening +the legs too much, and varicose veins. Preventive: Never remain in the +water after feeling chilled; always swim around and exercise yourself; +twenty minutes is long enough for any one to remain in the water; always +turn over on the back when getting a cramp, and float, at the same time +working toward the shore with the hands, and don't lose your presence of +mind. + +Don't attempt to rescue a person from drowning unless you are a good +swimmer yourself; remember that a drowning person is generally insane +for the time, and is liable to drag you to your death unless you are +capable of swimming with a heavy load. + + +HOW TO SAVE LIFE + +To the person who accidentally falls overboard, or who is compelled to +leap into deep water, as was the case with many victims of the _General +Slocum_, the first essential is to keep one's presence of mind. Do not +feel alarmed if your head should sink below the surface once or +twice--you are bound to come to the surface, and will be able to sustain +yourself for a considerable time, even if you are not a swimmer, if you +will but keep your hands under water. The reason so many people drown is +because directly they come to the surface they raise their hands above +their head and shout for help. This is fatal. The moment the hands are +raised out of the water the body will sink below the surface. + +Another thing to remember is to keep the mouth closed until the body +attains the floating position; then try and breathe naturally through +the mouth and help propel yourself with your hands. Should you be able +to swim, try and take off your outer clothing, as the latter, when +water-soaked, tends to drag the body down, besides retarding the +movements of the drowning person. + +To risk one's life in order to save a fellow being from drowning is one +of the most heroic acts that one may be called upon to perform, yet how +many of us have the presence of mind and courage to act in such an +emergency? To rescue a person from drowning is no child's play, even for +the best swimmers; it requires pluck, nerve and stamina. Of course, I +allude to rescues which take place some distance from shore. Many a +daring swimmer has been clutched and dragged down to death simply +because he did not know the safest way to approach a drowning person. + +Of the many different ways of saving life, the safest and best method is +to swim as near the person as possible, then dive under and come up +behind him; otherwise he is liable to grab you around the neck with a +death clutch, from which it is extremely difficult to escape. When +swimming up behind the person, grab his biceps and force him on his +back; the more he struggles the more he helps himself to keep afloat. + +To prevent being clutched by a drowning person the following rules +should be carefully studied. Every action, however, must be prompt and +decisive, otherwise this method will be of no avail. + +[Illustration: THE BEST METHOD OF SAVING LIFE] + +1. If grasped by the wrists, turn both arms simultaneously against the +drowning person, thumbs outward, and attempt to bring your right arms at +right angles to your own body. This will dislocate the thumbs of the +drowning person and he must let go his hold. + +2. If clutched around the neck, immediately take a deep breath, lean +well over your opponent, place the left hand in the small part of his +back and draw your right arm in an upward direction until in line with +his shoulder, and pass it at once over his arm. Then with the thumb and +forefinger catch his nose and pinch the nostrils close, at the same time +place the palm of your hand on his chin and push firmly outward. This +will cause him to open his mouth for breathing purposes, and he, being +under you, will swallow water. Choking ensues, and not only is the +rescuer let go, but the other is left so helpless as to be completely +under control. + +3. If clutched around the body and arms, take a deep breath, lean well +over your opponent and throw the right arm in an upward direction at +right angles to the body, or draw it up between your body and that of +your opponent. Then with the thumb and forefinger catch the nose and +pinch the nostrils close, and at the same time place the palm of the +hand on the chin and bring the right knee as high as possible up between +the two bodies, placing it, if possible, against the lower part of your +opponent's chest; then, by means of a strong and somewhat sudden push, +stretch your arms and legs out straight, at the same time throwing the +whole weight of the body backward. The sudden motion will press the air +out of the other's lungs, as well as push him off, no matter how tightly +he may be holding. + +Should the drowning person act sensibly and not try to grab his rescuer, +he can be brought in by placing his hands on his rescuer's shoulders and +kicking out his legs behind him while the rescuer swims in toward shore. +Another method is to pull the person on his back by holding him under +the right arm-pit with your right hand and using the left hand and legs +to swim with. Should the rescue be close to shore, swim behind the +person and help by pushing him in toward shallow water. Should the +drowning person have sunk for the third time watch when the air-bubbles +rise to the surface. At once dive down perpendicular to the bottom when +the air-bubbles show, seize the drowning person and bring him to the +surface by pushing off from the bottom and using your legs to send you +upward to the surface. Before trying to rescue any one get rid of as +much clothing as possible, if time will permit. + + +RESUSCITATION AFTER RESCUE + +After bringing a drowning person ashore your work is only half done; the +main thing is to bring him back to life should he be unconscious. There +are several methods for resuscitating the apparently drowned. The method +adopted by the Royal Humane Society of England is, to my knowledge, the +simplest of all. It is as follows: + +Begin treatment in the open air as soon as you have brought the +unfortunate ashore. Meanwhile send for medical assistance, blankets and +dry clothing. Expose the patient's throat and chest to the wind, except +in very severe weather. Remove all tight clothing from neck and chest. +Take off suspenders. + +The points to be aimed at are: First and immediately the restoration of +breathing, and, secondly, after breathing is restored, the promotion of +warmth and circulation. The efforts to restore breathing must be +commenced immediately and energetically, and persevered in for one or +two hours, or until a medical man has pronounced that life is extinct. + +Efforts to promote warmth and circulation beyond removing the wet +clothes and drying the skin must not be made until the first appearance +of natural breathing, for if circulation of the blood be induced before +breathing has recommenced the restoration of life will be endangered. + + +HALL'S METHOD IN RESUSCITATION + +To clear the throat, place the patient on the floor or the ground with +the face downward and one of the arms under the forehead, in which +position all fluids will more readily escape by the mouth, and the +tongue itself will fall forward, leaving the entrance into the windpipe +free. Assist this operation by wiping and cleansing the mouth. + +If satisfactory breathing begins, use the treatment described below to +promote warmth. If there be only slight breathing, or no breathing, or +if the breathing fail, then, to excite breathing, turn the patient well +and instantly on the side, supporting the head, and excite the nostrils +with snuff, hartshorn, and smelling-salts, or tickle the throat with a +feather, etc., if they are at hand. Rub the chest and face warm, and +dash cold water, or cold and hot water alternately, on them. + +If there be no success, lose not a moment, but instantly, to imitate +breathing, replace the patient on the face, raising and supporting the +chest well on a folded coat or other article of dress. Turn the patient +very gently on the side and a little beyond, and then briskly on the +face, back again; repeating these measures cautiously, efficiently and +perseveringly about fifteen times in the minute, or once every four or +five seconds, occasionally varying the side. (By placing the patient on +the chest, the weight of the body forces the air out; when turned on the +side this pressure is removed, and air enters the chest.) + +On each occasion that the body is replaced on the face make uniform but +efficient pressure, with brisk movement, on the back between and below +the shoulder-blades or bones on each side, removing the pressure +immediately before turning the body on the side. During the whole of the +operations let one person attend solely to the movements of the head, +and of the arm placed under it. + +The result is respiration, or natural breathing, and, if not too late, +life. + +While the above operations are being proceeded with, dry the hands and +feet, and as soon as dry clothing or blankets can be procured, strip the +body and cover, or gradually reclothe it, but take care not to interfere +with the efforts to restore breathing. + + +SYLVESTER'S METHOD + +Rule 1. _To Adjust the Patient's Position._--Place the patient on his +back on a flat surface, inclined a little from the feet upward; raise +and support the head and shoulders on a small, firm cushion or folded +article of dress, placed under the shoulder-blades. Remove all tight +clothing from about the neck and chest. + +[Illustration: SYLVESTER'S METHOD--FIGURE 1] + +Rule 2. _To Maintain a Free Entrance of Air Into the Windpipe._--Cleanse +the mouth and nostrils; open the mouth; draw forward the patient's +tongue, and keep it forward; an elastic band over the tongue and under +the chin will answer this purpose. (Fig. 1.) + +Rule 3. _To Imitate the Movements of Breathing._--First, _Induce +inspiration_. Place yourself at the head of the patient, grasp his arms +(at the elbow-joints), raise them upward by the sides of his head, +stretch them steadily but gently upward, for two seconds. By this means +fresh air is drawn into the lungs by raising the ribs. (Fig. 2.) + +[Illustration: SYLVESTER'S METHOD--FIGURE 2] + +Secondly, _Induce Expiration_.--Immediately turn down the patient's +arms, and press the elbows firmly but gently downward against the sides +of the chest, for two seconds. By this means foul air is expelled from +the lungs by depressing the ribs. (Fig. 3.) + +Thirdly, _Continue These Movements_.--Repeat these measures alternately, +deliberately, and perseveringly fifteen times a minute, until a +spontaneous effort to respire be perceived. By these means an exchange +of air is produced in the lungs similar to that effected by natural +respiration. + +[Illustration: SYLVESTER'S METHOD--FIGURE 3] + +When a spontaneous effort to respire is perceived, cease to imitate the +movements of breathing, and proceed to induce circulation and warmth, as +described on following page. + +Rule 4. _To Excite Respiration._--During the employment of the above +method, excite the nostrils with snuff or smelling-salts, or tickle the +throat with a feather. Rub the chest and face briskly, and dash cold and +hot water alternately on them. Friction of the limbs and body with dry +flannel or cloths should be had recourse to. When there is proof of +returning respiration, the individual may be placed in a warm bath, the +movements of the arms above described being continued until respiration +is fully restored. Raise the body in twenty seconds to a sitting +position, dash cold water against the chest and face, and pass ammonia +under the nose. Should a galvanic apparatus be at hand, apply the +sponges to the region of the diaphragm and the heart. + +_To Induce Circulation and Warmth._--Wrap the patient in dry blankets, +and rub the limbs upward energetically. Promote the warmth of the body +with hot flannels, bottles or bladders of hot water; heated bricks to +the pit of the stomach, the arm-pits, and to the soles of the feet. + +On the restoration of life, when the power of swallowing has returned, a +teaspoonful of warm water, small quantities of wine, warm brandy and +water, or coffee should be given. The patient should be kept in bed, and +a disposition to sleep encouraged. During reaction, large +mustard-plasters to the chest and below the shoulders will greatly +relieve the distrest breathing. + +NOTE.--In all cases of prolonged immersion in cold water, when the +breathing continues, a warm bath should be employed to restore the +temperature. + +[Illustration] + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Swimming Scientifically Taught, by +Frank Eugen Dalton and Louis C. 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