GYMNASTICS

this form of athletic sports has changed little since ro10. the undoubted influence of the revived olympic games upon the modern development of athletic sports and exercises has not greatly affected gymnastics, perhaps be- cause of the already high state of efficiency reached prior to the revival, the international gymnastic federation, which has but one affiliated nation outside europe, t.e., the united states, was founded in 1881, and 2zoth-century efforts have tended rather to consolidation and perfection than to extension and progress. one important feature was the foundation, in 1923, of an inter- national federation for the promotion of the educative, instead of the executive, branch of the art. both federations have their british affiliations, that to the federation internationale de gymnastique being the amateur gymnastic ass’n and that to the federation internationale de gymnastique educative being the ling association. | gy naecology—gy roscope the enormous development of athletic sports throughout most of the european countries has not caused gymnastics to suffer; the great festivals at nuremberg, leipzig, frankfort and in sweden, france and switzerland continue to attract thousands of gymnasts. on the continent of europe the movement is national: in great britain, and to a lesser extent in the united states, interest in gymnastics is individual. the repetitive char- acter, the absence of the competitive spirit, perhaps also the collective discipline so necessary, appear to have too little in common with the anglo-saxon character for gymnastics ever to arouse the enthusiasm which prevails in the european coun- tries. the inclusion of gymnastic competitions at the olympic games has not appreciably affected the situation. (sce atu- letics; otympic games.) (ep...) gynaecology: see women, diseases of,