New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-11

A few years ago, when the bicycle new,
showed the affects of strain joined with
lar exhaustion in much the same way, resulting from
too forcible attempt to accomplish things for which
they fitted.
These cases of hvsteria arise invariably in women
who nervously strong. The excitement of auto
mobiling seems to appeal to them peculiarly, and
the they get of it the more they seek As with
any other stimuant, the indulgence is continued
increasingly the point of collapse. Hystcra and
meanchoia then established and may have
any eccentric results, such Deafness paralysis
of the legs any complication to which any special
weakness renders the patient liable. Complete alb
stinence and entire the first necessities of
the treatment, though mild indulgence in the favor
tie pursuit later sometimes assists On the
other hand, complete reVuls1on from automob1i1ng
sometimes takes place, and the first movement of the
machine after abstinence through hystca causes such
discomfort that the patient is compelled to get out
Worst of all is the nervous prostration, more COM
mon among men, which is due to the general over
strain of the system, perhaps increased by
not keeping the body protected with 1mperVlous
wraps This trouble comes gradually. Often
the man is not of his danger until he gives
out losing power and control of his nerves. the trouble
having been steadily increasing for years, which ends
in his final breakdown. The general effect of the
strains resulting from sport too literally
INDUCED in are lust the oVcrwOrk and worry,
except that they have the advantage OF having their
causes under control, whereas work and worry can
pursue their victims and give them quarter.
A typical case of this kind is a NewYOrk business
man. now under treatment at his home in New Jersey.
Two wears ago, having a large fortune, he withdrew
almost entirely from business ard devoted himself
to automobiling which, with him with many Others,
became passion. At present the garage at his home
has the proportions OF locomotive fodndhouSe
with a collection of numerous types OF machines repre-
sentng various speeds and powers For two years
he has been INDUCING in high speed daily, and neither
he nor his friends observed any Ill effects. Two
weeks ago, however after period OF several days
running he found himself unusually irritable. Finally,
after a night during which he had slept badly, he
rose early and found that the slightest untOward
event-a breakfast dish badly cooked, the absence
of the morning paper and tres of this knd-excited
in him an exaggerated evaporation. About noon
he broke down completely and burst into tears. His
nerves were entirely beyond his control, and he
assailed bv all of morbid lmag1n1ngs He was
in fact complete wreck, has since remained
So and whether not he Will ever be cured cannot
at present be determined.
He weighs about one hundred sixty pounds, and
his body is we'll nourished His appetite IS unim-
paired and bodily nutrition is thus tar unaffected
though it probably will be through the injurious
physical effects upon the secret1ons of continuous
denresson His muscular strength is seriously affected
He is as weak as child has lost control of his nerves,
weeps at the slightest prOvOcat1on and IS IN tact an
example of prOStraton IN It's extreme form
His case is simply due to the effects OF high
speed Its chief interest by way OF warning IS
the cumulative way in which it developed He had
no warning of any kind to induce him to lessen the
indulgence. The abnormal conditions developed
secretly to their climax, and with the climax came
complete collapse This is the dangerous character
istic of all cases of this kind.
The only moral to be drawn is that the human
body Is not fitted for high-speed automobing and
that those who indulge in it must pay for any undue
or too long protracted excess. All automoblll5ts
given to high speeding should now and then consult
their physicians to learn of any threatening conditions
which may be developing in them and which they