The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-12-17
A NEW DISEASE.
Trolley Heart from Riding on Electric

say that In time IL may prove danger
,us and end in genuine heart pdlpita-
ton. The rapid introduction of the
trolley cars to Chicago's street railway
system is the cause of this new disease,
and indirectly the officials of the diff
ferent street railway companies may be
said to have unwittingly given it to the
people. The trolley heart, as the doc
tors call it, comes from the iolting and
shaking which passengers on the cleo
trio car receive when they sit at either
end of the cars or stand on one of the
platforms. The disease is less notice
able in passengers who sit down than
in passengers who stand up. 1t is also
fact that the motOrman on an electric
car is rarely troubled with it, while the
conductor is constant sufferer
The trolley cars are so constructed
that when in motion they have pecul-
lar see-saw vibration. They rise and
fall, whether the track is rough or
smooth, like small waves on the sea-
shore. This motion is not irregular,
out constant. 1t might be said to be
rythmical. 1t is felt as strongly on the
rear end of the car as in front. The
only part of the car where passenger
will not notice it is in the middle. and
many worthy citizens who have been
affected by the trolley heart now make
vigorous effort while riding to be in the
middle.
After the car is started and under full
way the rocking motion is commune
Gated to the passengers through the
feet. 1t passes from thence through
the entire nervous system to the heart.
hat organ, which had previously been
moving along in a natural way, begins
Immediately to thump loudly. Its ac-
ton is accelerated to an unnatural de-
gree, and if the passenger is at all given
to noticing the action of his heart and
the flow of his blood, he will see that
both heart and blood are doing better
service. To have this experience once
or twice is not harmful. But in time it,
is liable to grow upon the passenger
and demand the attention of the ply
sician.
Chicago's electric cars are built upon
such dwarfed plans that the average,
passenger going to work and coming
home on them rarely expects to get a
seat. He stands up and gets the full eff
feet of the cars motion, producing, as
the doctors say, the severe shock to his
nervous system if he travels any dis
lance. 1t is not fact, the medical au-
thorities claim, that the system be-
comes accustomed to this kind of treat
ment. Instead, strong resentment is
shown to it, and the protest takes the
form of heart paplitation, which con-
tinues after one leaves the car
Motormen escape the trolley heart
because when on the car they have two
objects with which they steady them
selves, and in reality become part of
the car itself. The motorman's right
hand is always on his brake handle, and
his left hand is on the controller, with
which he applies the power or shuts it
off. He is really braced against all
shocks and in that way escapes having
the trolley heart. The conductor, on
the other hand, has nothing with
which to brace himself. He is moving
through the car constantly or standing
On the rear end, and, as a rule has to
see his physician about once month in
order to have his heart regulated.
DR.. J. Frank Hubert, who attends to
the ills of the men employed by the Chi
cago City Railway company at its
SiXty-ninth and Halsted street barns,
said
1.-THE trolley hear is an actual thing
In my experience and with increased
electric car service is likely to make it.
self very apparent among the people
who travel much. | find the street
car men who are my patients frequently
suffering from it, and have to treat them
for palptaton of the heart that is
aggravating and painful. l do not
know any way for passengers to avoid
it except to sit in the middle of the car,
which all cannot do. OF course. if the
street car company geared their cars
differently, and If pneumatic springs
could be used, then the motion would be
overcome and the trolley heart be only
a joke. l am afraid it will be long
time before that happens, though" If
this trolley heart becomes an epidemic,
one can imagine that among the dam
age suits of the twentieth century
brought against street railway COM
panies many will be for heart palpita-
tion.-Chicago Times Herald.