1912 Olympic Games Official Report Part 2

Dr. Wigh’s assistance was not once asked for by any of the foreigncompetitors in the rowing matches, neither did there occur anythingduring the matches themselves that necessitated his interference.Dr. Wigh points out that all the rowers, after ceasing rowing onreaching the winning post, showed signs of excessive exhaustion, sometimesin a most alarming degree. All of the men, however recoveredfrom this in an astonishingly short time. Dr. Wigh considersit indisputable, however, that the presence of a medical man at rowingmatches is most desirable, as there always exists a possibility of thisexhaustion taking a dangerous form.D. THE SWIMMING COMPETITIONS.The medical arrangements at the swimming competitions of theOlympic Games were in the hands of Drs. K. A. Fries, A. Franzénand N. Granér. A doctor’s room had been specially arranged asnear to the swimming course as possible,and one medical man atleast, and, as a rule, two, were constantly present at the SwimmingStadium when the competitions took place. Compared with the workof the physicians and the rest of the medical staff at the Stadiumproper, the doctors at the swimming competitions had but little to do.The cases treated were few in number and of little interest. Narrowescapes from somewhat serious accidents were not wanting, however,so that the constant presence of the doctors at the swimming competitionsneed by no means be considered as an exaggerated measureof precaution.842