Jumping the Rope

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jul 21, 1881

JUMPING THE ROPE.—Dr. Peck of the Surgical Institute, Indianapolis, recently performed a surgical operation on the leg of a young girl sent there for treatment. The bones of both her legs will have to be partially removed, and the little sufferer will have to submit to two painful operations. The cause of her affection is jumping the rope, a pastime engaged in generally by young girls, resulting in necrosis or death of the bone.

The doctor stated to a reporter that similar cases were constantly occurring from this same cause, but more frequently resulting in necrosis of the spine, and that not a month passes but that some cases of this character come to the Institute for treatment.

He says that rope jumping produces continuous concussions on the joints which impinge upon the bone, causing at the first stage periostitis, and finally resulting in the death of the bone. He thinks that parents and teachers should be warned of this dangerous sport, and eradicate it entirely from the playgrounds of children, as it is ruinous in its effects, and is the prime cause of more cripples among the female portion of the community than probably any one cause.

He also added that, during the practice of his profession, deaths had been occurring coming under his observation, which were the result of this pernicious pastime. In conclusion he said: “I would warn children against rope jumping, and would advise parents and teachers to prohibit it under all circumstances.”—Indianapolis Sentinel.