Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-12-25
AND NOW THE DOCTORS SAY
THAT LYING is A DISEASE

In the future the ancient and often
endemic habit of lying may be treated
and probably cured, or at least relieved.
like any ordinary disease or disorder. The
theory has been advanced recently by a
prominent medical expert that lying Is,
after all. merely a mental deformity
which may be traced directly to some
purely physical cause or basis. Several
medical authorities have written more or
less fully 70 the same effect. If this be
the case, fl should be as simple a matter,
with more knowledge on the subject, to
cure a boy of lying as TO rid him Of a
bad cold or an attack of the measles.
- HE intimate relation between moral
obiiquity and the physical condi-
ton is recognized In medicine, but
It Is only lately that the relation
has been made the cause of special inves-
tigation. The Importance of such sys-
TEN can scarcely be estimated. 1t is, OF
course. a much more intelligent plan to
cure a liar than to punish him. An en-
tirely new method for dealing with Grim
inals would thus be made possible. II Is
perfectly natural that such treatment, at
the present stage OF the science. should be
directed to boys suffering from tendency
10 lie rather than to men equally afflicted
but whose cases are likely to have grown
chronic from neglect.
At a recent meeting of the sixth con-
gress about boys, held IN New York, the
subject was discussed at some length. Dr.
winthrop I. Talbot, director Of Camp
Aggaum, at Holderness. n. H, treated
the subject in a paper, entitled: Some
Physical Abnormalities of Boys Which
Club Leaders Should Understand" II
should be stated, in passing, that DR.. Tai
bor Is unusually well fitted to discuss such
a subject. Besides his wide experience as
a practical physician, his knowledge OF
boys. gained by years of actual contact
with them at Holderness, gives him
great advantage.
II win be gathered from DR.. Talbot's
remarks that he takes a very advanced
view Of the relation Of moral defects and
the physical condition, and consequently
of the possibilities of dealing with the
former by means OF the latter. To quote
his own words: "It may be stated fairly
that every moral obliquity and mental
deficiency in a boy rests on some physical
cause and basis. You cannot separate the
moral and mental from the physical"
Many physicians would probably prefer
70 not 20 so far or make the statement
so general. DR.. Talbot further illustrated
his theory BY discussing the relation OF
a specific disease, that OF lying, with the
physical condition.
Germ of the Lie In Sluggish Blood.
According TO this authority, the germ Of
lying may be said to lie in sluggish blood.
II Is not, OF course, a microbe or other
similar organism, but a condition OF the
blood directly producing such results. III,
according to this reasoning, boys blood
circulates sluggishly the boy learns slow
Is. and is called on that account stupid
This condition puts premium upon ly-
ing. It makes It easier for him to lie. 1t Is
obviously easier for him to lie than to
make the effort 70 learn which his slug
gfsh circulation renders difficult for him.
AS time goes on this lying becomes hab-
itual. When the habit has once been
thoroughly formed it is extremely difficult
to break. In other words, the boy nnds
himself a confirmed liar. and all primarily
due to the fact that his circulation Is
somewhat siuggish-a condition Whlch
could have been readily removed.
This line OF investigation has, singular
IL, been neglected. so that little is known
at present. DR.. Talbot recommended
half hours complete rest at noon and
! early evening sleep as the best correctives
for physically weak boys. The old, time
honored custom of giving mischievous,
fun blooded boys a dose of sulphur reg
ularly to thin their blood and reduce their
spirits and, therefore. their capacity for
mischief. IS familiar. With the progrc~-
of investigation along these lines. II viii
doubtless be possible to prescribe fntelli-
gently for many evil tendencies which are
now set down to original sin or some 9TH
er mysterious and inexplicable cause.
Evidence Of Mendaeity In Faces.
BY way of confirmation of this theory,
the ultimate effect of such habits upon
the appearance OF the victim, II may be
noted. are very clearly indicated. In the
accompanying portraits, for example,
even the least experienced eye will have
not the slightest difficulty in picking out
those so afflicted from the normal whole
some types. Evidently, where the entire
appearance OF the individual is so signih-
cant, there must be some distinct physi-
cal condition to account for IL.
The three photographs, selected at ran
dom, which illustrate the abnormal type.
have obviously a certain sluggish, heavy
| appearance, even lack of vitality. These
are faces. clearly, which are not to be
| trusted. In each case the moral sense is
weak or entirely lacking. The eyes,
| though alert. have curious. furtive look.
The general appearance suggests body
| far from healthy. In other words, none
| Of these negative types suggests good
clean body and mind.
One cannot readily associate the idea of
wholesome outdoor exercise with any of
these faces. The faces are doubtless capa-
BILE Of plenty Of action, but their appear
ance suggests that they work upon their
nerves, depending upon some store of hid
den nervous energy.
The other three faces were also selected
at random, with the idea OF illustrating a
common, bright, wholesome American
type. To the most superficial eye the con-
trast must be very marked.
These faces Indicate more vitality and a
more wholesome condition of the nervous
system. And they are faces to be trusted.
The contrast of these two types on the
same page tells fits own story. 1t is, OF
course doubtful IL at any time. by any pos
sibie medical treatment, the abnormal
type may be made to resemble the first
or normal type. 1t must be clear, however,
1 20 the most superficial observer that, If
taken in hand I'm its earlier stages, the
| possibilities of successful treatment are
/ great. In other words, the sluggish blood
/ OF, the one boy, which is weak in blood
corpusoles, may be so built up that his
circulation and vitality win be sufficient
70 Withstand this natural tendency.
| A certain slugglshness in the nervous
/ system may also be responsible for SINH
lar results. The nerves of a boy, for in
stance, may not be sensitive to impress
sion, so that wrongdoing may be primari-
d H4nc