From the latest edition of my hometown newspaper in central Illinois, an interesting entry in the "Seems Like Only Yesterday...125 Years Ago - May 26, 1881" column.

" Delavan has a bicycle club. Every urchin in town who had one of those sensible and health promoting three-wheel velocipedes has had it converted into a two-wheel rig and is happy. As a result of this craze among the juveniles, the local supply of arnica and court plaster is inadequate to the demand, while devoted mothers are frantic at the wreck of pants and jackets brought in for repairs every evening. "


For those like me that doesn't know what arnica and court plaster is:

Arnica: A tincture of the dried flower heads of the European species A. montana, applied externally to reduce the pain and inflammation of bruises and sprains.

Court Plaster: Cloth coated with an adhesive substance and used to cover cuts or scratches on the skin.