New-York tribune., 1896-11-15
AILMENTS OF MODERN LYRp
MECHANICAL DEVICES THAT BRnsn
EVILS IN THEIR TRAIN.
THE TROLLEY FOOT" TELEPHONE EAR- ~
CYCLE TOE AND TELEGRAPHERS AND
TYPEwRITER's cRAMP

Just the inventive genius Of the age haa
forced novelties into the higher professions ana
the expert mechanic finds his field growing larre,
continually. so the physician new or special
diseases confronting him resulting from new con.
ditions In modern life. These new diseases receiv.
names from the lay world which are adopted n
the scientific people.
That has been done before though" said
physician. "and railroad spine 'housemaids
knee engineers ear and painters collie az
designations which would probably never have
been given to certain complaints II they had not
been suggested by laymen. OF course. there are
scientific names for ALL. he added. but they an
not used except in medical literature, and then
they are not so expressive. What Latin scientific
term could properly express 'pollceman's Sleep
that condition between sleep and wakefulness when
a man may stand or walk and still; be unable 10
see a side door open or to hear the grCwi OF ~
growler?"
Among the new malades which the physicians
attribute to recent mechanical and scientific h.
ventions Is the trolley foot" The motorman y
electric and cable rings the warning gong
by pressing his foot Upon knob or button. aed
it Is said that the constant pressure produces an
ament which had never been known until The
new came into use.
I'm the first place." said motorman, 1T wean
out the shoe quicker than you have any idea; but
| that's the shoes fault. Then. tapping the knob
produces tickling sensation at first. and then ths
| foot gets infamed. or course We know that Il
can't be anything serious. and keep right on kick
| ing the thing. and after few days the nnama'
| ton wears or the skin gets hard and we think
| it's all over and that we'll have no more trouhh
But that's a mistake Shooting pains and nervous
twitchings follow, and these are worse when one
| is of duty then when kicking the gong" II va
explained that In most instances the dimcuv
| wears away. but that trolley foot had caused
many men to quit the service Of the railroad CO..
| porations.
Telephone ear. result OF constant uss "
| the telephone. has given the specialists co.,
siderable work. The structure OF the ear is no' "
| any way affected by the use OF the instrument
| but the unnatural use Of the organ Frequently
causes a nervous strain. which Is reflected IN Ne
| aural nerves When asked about the cure ses
| telephone ear biologist said:
| "I have never seen a case which was not curee
| In a short time after tho cause was removec'
When the patient stops using the telephone tne
ringing noises and the headaches soon disappear.
| R,cvcIe back and bicycle toes are among the "
which are charged to the improper use OF the
bicycle THE man or woman" said a physician
"who doubles up on a wheel cannot escape 'ns
.bicycle back II he lives long enough ana 'ns
coward on a bicycle Is apt TO contract the o'cyes
| toe which results from curling up the foot
| IS a strange thing" he added, but 1t Is true tn.'
| the nervous rider. who constantly th'hAs "e
| about to tumble will have excruciatins pains u
h,s toes after a short ride and he will be troubled
in that way until he gains confidence ehous" -. T.
himself to stop the nervous contraction -en,y on ~
| natural consequence. The men who work IN mne: :
| and who are compelled to stoop for hou.s s;.s -
time have what is known as miners DacK' WIZ .,s
| is Identical with bicycle back but while We p''
| tho miners we condemn the wheeimen. -.A.
Teiegrapher's cramp is another one OF Inc mvS IT,
| ern complaints Ii results from the manipulssuYsss sss
Of the Geographic key. and Affects the sane, ans.,s
| in the same way as writer's cramp. Inc nnss,s ~
which are used on the key and the whole ioteaa' -
are frequently made useless. and are restoteu A.
| a normal condition only after scieh'i"c "o"'
| by gymnastics and massage ~ -. ..,..,s-
Typewriters cramp is much IKE the sssS ,sssSi q
| rwritinr on the machine, so both hands are ON
| invoived i'm the abnormal condition.