Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-07-19
Police and Death OsDa'tmsnls De-
clare People afs Driven
Crazy.
4 CITY OF NERVOUS wrecks
Brain Hacking Noises, Doctors Say are
Killing Patients In hospItais-can-
not Understand How People Can
Live In Such City for Any Length
Of Time.

NEW YORK. July 10. - I'm
necessary and nerve racking
noises. against which the police and
health departments are preparing to
wage a campaign, are considered by
well known city physicians as the
means OF seriously aggravating ner-
vOus disorders.
DIR. Thomas Darlington. president OF
the board OF health. for much OF
which there is no excuse. could be
greatly reduced without in any way
interfering with the legitimate activi-
effect of the incessant racket on the
human system Is bad, as all physi-
clans. either in general or special
practice. in this city already know.
1T Is for them, however," he sato
yesterday, TO discuss that phase Of
the matter. for the board Of health
concerns itself with the noise nui-
sance as a question of public policy"
Dr. Francis J. Quinlan. an eminent
ply stefan OF this city and formerly
president OF the County Medical So
ciety. is indignant over the increase
OF unnecessary noises In the metropo-
lis.
mo description" he said. ''can do
justice to the nerve racking din OF
New York. had occasion few
nights ago to visit Broadway and One
Hundred and Sixth street to see
poor patient. There Is a curve at
that point, around which the cars go
with fiendish clamor.
How it Is possible for anybody to
sleep in that neightorhood l do not
know. That Is only one example OF
the fearful conditions which obtain In
this city. What with the heat. worry.
hurry OF life and the nervous strain.
should think that the din and bang
of the streets would drive the inhabi-
tants to prostfation. to madness and
to suicide. I do not doubt but what
1T Is one OF the contributory causes
to deafness, which il on the increase
in New York, and to various nervous
diseases.
Has Effect on Brain.
Every discordant noise is a blow
upon the nerves. It Ia an invisible
tiohe, yS1 IL ICdSSS ITO hot uposA
the delicate tissue 1t jars that sensi-
tive body, the brain, capsulated and
surrounded by its fluids, and thrills 1t.
not with a mere electric shock, but
with a hideous and repulsive gyra-
ton.
with the noise OF the city resi-
dents are as between two fires. They
no sooner get through the clamors OF
the day than they are exposed to the
uprsar Of the night The injury which
| Is done to the human organism by
this unnecessary turmoil is none the
less real, although unlike contus-
Ion. 1t Is not seen upon the surface
Noise affects the nervous centres
Iof the system and the continued
shocks received by persons who are
not strong physically, or who may
have some organic disease. constitute
Ia serious menace One Of these hid
Ieously pitched automobile sirens
makes an uproar which might we'll
give a start to q man with hardened
arteries which would cause his death
should the arteriosceler0tic condition
be well developed.
tV0V 00VoSvOS wy
There certainly should be some
way Of putting a stop to the sound
ing Of the continuance, for II has the
voice Of the banshee testen by sew
eral notes. The injury to the ner-
vous system caused by noise Is con-
siderable. even when. a. the saying
goes. we get used to IL. The blow
leaves its hidden effect. and some Gay
there Is likely 70 ~ . breaking OF
the chain. and no chain Is any strong
|er than It's weakest link
The city should he 50 poiiced tnat
IN continuation Of these unneeded
noises would be impossible. the
board Of health has almost dscfatort-
al power In this matter and 1t could.
with the cooperation ~ the poiice
department greatly diminish TINS
plague. The citizens of New YORK
should TO, any longer tolerate sucn
a state 81 affairs"
Excessive noises" said DE. Joseph
Collins. a eli known specialist In ner-
VOWS diseases. cause mach injury. es-
pcciaIIy 70 persons Who have ncuras-
then.c tcndcpcies. They probably 10
not in;urc normal persons. bu, tn
city like New York mosf of the IN
habItants are abncrmaI'y nervcus
The pace u modern life b constantly
growing more rapid and the nervous
system Ends n difhcuh 10 keep pace
with u. The race is living faster
than ever before and the nervous sys-
ten mus; accommodate itseif 10 new
conditions
We are In an axe 81 fyinx ships
and 80 are not ready for thcm. Us
~ovcrics ~ science have carried civ
IiZsticn 20 a poin, where us activities
are q source n. constant strata The
c0ec, Of posse on ,hn@e already uuHcr !