1912 Olympic Games Official Report Part 2

was not of a very serious nature, so that, after suitable treatment, heregained consciousness in a comparatively short time. He complained,however, of great tenderness to pressure on the left side of the upperpart of the abdomen (over regio hypochondrica sin.), and as thissymptom seemed gradually to increase, it was suspected that therewas some internal injury to one of the abdominal organs, probablythe spleen. In order that a surgical operation might be performedin good time in the event of its being necessary, the injured manwas conveyed in an ambulance carriage to the “Red Cross” Hospitalwhere, during the next 24 hours, careful attention was paid to hiscase. The symptoms vanished by degrees, however, so that, after astay of 2 days at the hospital, he was able to leave the establishmentfully cured, without any operation having been required.The lists of the cases of illness treated as shown in tables Nos. 2and 4, show a great diversity of internal and external complaints,with exterior injuries, most of them of a very slight description. Ofthe 5 cases of broken ribs that were treated, 3 of them were merelyinfractions of one or several ribs, without any break in the continuityof the bone in question. The diagnosis was made supportedby the intense tenderness to pressure experienced by the sufferers at acertain part of the ribs.It is, of course, self-evident that a number of cases of illness wouldoccur during a period of 10 days amongst such a great number ofpeople as the competitors and officials amounted to, and, as is shownby the above tables, the competitors and the other persons who hadbusiness of one kind or another inside the Stadium made very fulluse of the medical aid that could be had there, even for such affectionsas had nothing to do with the competitions nor had arisenwhile the patients were inside the Stadium. On the other hand, itproved that the number of cases of illness or accidents amongst thevery numerous public in the stands at the Stadium was far less thanhad been expected. Thus, among the public, there were only 7 casesof fainting, in spite of the intense heat that prevailed during the Stadiumweek. Care had been taken, however, that plenty of fresh watercould easily be had in all the stands, while the scout-boys postedthere, were always ready, active and obliging as they were, to fetchwater whenever it was required.III. The Marathon Race.The medical examination of the competitors in the Marathon racehad taken place the day before the event came off. In every case,the competitor’s heart was examined most carefully and, if there wasany possible reason for doing so, the examination was extended toother organs as well. Most of the Swedish doctors on duty at theStadium took part in the examination. Many foreign doctors werealso present, for longer or shorter periods, during the examination.Not one of the competitors was found to be in such a conditionthat his abstention from the race was considered necessary.838