largest second number

def start(lst):
    for j in range (0,len(lst)-1):
        if int(lst[j]) > int(lst[j+1]):
            lst.insert(len(lst)-1,lst.pop(j))
            start(lst)
    return lst[-2]

def second_largest_item(my_list):
    x = start(my_list)
    print('\n\t=> second largest item = ' + str(x) + '\n')

second_largest_item([ 4,61,72,2,5,85,3,1])