Stop Now, Cycling Causes Railroad Spine

 Railroad Spine? Whaaaaaaat? That's right, a half-dozen of the "most prominent doctors of San Francisco determined (in 1895) that bicycling can lead to "railroading of the spine," as well as induce "heart disease to upright riders." According to Dr. James. Simpson: "People are killing themselves because of the bicycle craze... No good ever comes from wheeling. It's all nonsense, and I would not allow any of my children to ride." Continuing, Dr. Simpson said that his daughter, living in New York, had bought a wheel and was learning to ride. The good doctor replied, "I had too much love and regard for a child of mine to allow her on a wheel..." Naturally, she gave it up (or so she professed). 

At that point in the story, Dr. Simpson made the common fatal gaffe, revealing the real reason behind his diatribe: "I don't like the bicycle in the first place, and am utterly opposed to overdoing the thing... The continuous. bending and the humping injured those soft cushions of tissues between the vertebrae, until they were finally destroyed. If people must ride I consider the high handles the best, provided the wheel is used in moderation. But it does not benefit anyone." Even in 1895 haters were going to hate.

Dr. R. Beverly Cole, then admitted that he "did not know much about the bicycle," but could explain the term "railroad spine, " saying "some years ago the railroad spine attracted considerable attention in Great Britain and on the continent. The railway carriages there are lighter than ours and consequently the jolting is greater. It is in this constant jar of the spinal cord in this casement that causes the trouble... "If such a disease can rise from the jolting of a railway carriage it is much more likely to result, I should think, from the bumping of a bicycle." Dr. Cole did disagree with the opinion of Dr. Simpson in regard to riding position, however, saying "the bending posture doesn't tend to that complaint. In fact it would be more likely to result from the upright, because the whole length of the spine is subjected to the jolt."

Dr. Cole continued, "Moderate exercise on the wheel will injure no one. The trouble with the new craze is that it is carried to where there is no reason, sense or rhyme either to man or woman. And the craze will eventually lead to new and complicated diseases in both sexes, unless moderation is speedily observed."

Dr. Tenison Deane, followed up his associates, confirming the affliction, but placing more blame upon the saddles being used, saying that railroad spine would continue to "menace wheelmen" until the bicycle seat is differently constructed... As it is now arranged the saddle throws the weight of the body upon too small a space, coupled with the jolting and the unnatural position of the body leads to fatal results."

Further supporting his fellow physicians, Dr. D'Evelyn "likens the effect of bicycle riding to a physical earthquake. The spine is subject to constantly recurring temblors which eventually destroy the tissues and result in the railroad malady." He did have some good news for those riders who liked to ride fast, however, saying that "scorchers are not as liable to suffer from the corporation spine." Their end would come quicker and with less suffering. He reasoned, "the high handles combine heart trouble with the jolting of the back and the end comes more quickly."

And there you have it, if you're going to ride, make sure to do it with speed.

Chicago, c.1895