The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-11

to-day than the automobile 1t combines ex-
element, speed, comfort, motion fresh air.
scenery and mechanical art and luxury But behind
all these turks grim specter whose word is Thou
Shalt Not ready to seize and crush to the earth
if violate too far the laws by which exist.
The chief of the delights offered and almost uni
versally INDUCED in, whenever and wherever op-
portunty offers. is high speeding; but for this one
often made to pay dearly because it may require
the body machine to be at too high speed re-
sulting in over-strain.
This is of two sorts. The worst of these is the
strain the nervous system consequent from the
high speed over uncertain road requiring minute
attention to avoid obstacles and other dangers. The
eyes strained to discern the obstacles in time to
avoid them; the brain is strained in the effort to
decide quickly which way to turn to escape danger;
the strained standing ready to carry sig
nails to the muscles which govern the auto. The
messages along these wires hurry after each other
trying to shorten the time of their delivery, which
eXhausting to the operators who have their desks
in the brain and the spinal cord The muscles too
in constant state OF strain in their effort to
time. being ready beforehand to make whatever
motion the mind requires. All these strains naturally
affect most of all the person running the auto.
The type of man the locomotive engineer
is the for this high-speed work He is noted for
his quick perception, iron and imperturbable
sef-control. Especially stable and at the time
accurate organization is required to drive
auto at high speed with minimum of bodily
and tear.
The other strain affects the passengers chiefly
1t is caused by fear of a sudden accident. Their
muscles fixed nvoluntary, the hands clenched
and the jaws set the muscles of the neck tense
ready to withstand any sudden shock. Meanwhile the
ewes strain ahead their utmost rapidly scrutinizing
the details of the road which rushing past swifter than
a To all this fear and nervousness often
added, causing the whole body and to stand
rigid at attention. prepared for any sudden
That entirely series OF diseases should result
from these new conditions is entirely natural Their
diagnosis difficult except where they COM
picated with older and wellknown Diseases to which
they have given forms. The best method of
treating them however, is often and difficult
problem. The diseases have been classified
as auto-eves, "auto-eg," various eve irritations
from dust and wind Mysteries and sciatca OF
which is serious, and forms of hysteria and
prostration which may prove serious indeed
Auto-eye.' which is a great deal at present
is spasmodic affection of the ciliarv muscles Man
is specially gifted with qIiciness of vision and
it is strain upon the eye to auto up
Sixth-ave., New-Iork at moderate speed, avoiding
the iron posts of the elevated railway. Any
responsible task than this. such flying
known country road at speed approaching mile
minute, is far greater strain than the eye in
tended to bear.
1t naturally takes much less bring this disease
if the eyes in good condition begin with,
and the OF business life. strong cigars and any
in living all influences which diminish
the capacity of the eye to meet the unnatural de-
mand. One patient of mine, lawyer, is debarred
from automobiling for long period to come per-
haps forever The ciliary affection a sudden
blurrng of the vision which arise at anv moment
and should 1t supervene when going at high speed
would endanger the lives of himself and his party.
His first attack after four-days run and it
has DESTROYED his confidence completely The only
treatment for it is entire rest and this he is now
undergoing. When he has fully recovered
however it will take much less strain to bring
than in the first instance. and he is thus