Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-11
THE latest problem to challenge the

THE latest problem to challenge the
attention Of those who are inter-
L ested in social conditions is that
presented by the poisoned needle craze
that has swept over New York and ada
cent sections of the country within the
past several months
A rather superficial attempt at explana
tion seems inclined to regard this craze
as an entirely novel phenomenon due to
the unusually free discussion of sex prob
lens and to the "thrillers" of the lower
grades of moving picture shows.
While these factors, no doubt have had
their influence, the truth is that in this
new form of delusion we have simply an
other example of the workings of one OF
the most generally recognized principles
of psychology-the principle of sugges-
ton.
The study of the origin and remarkably
rapid development of this new hysteria is
particularly interesting for the reason
that it is typical of great host of men
tai epdemics that have swept over COM
munities and even entire nations in earlier
times, but which we of the present day
are inclined to regard as impossible now
because of our assumed superior intell-
gence We think of witchcraft, for *
ample, as one of the manias OF an age
lost in superstition, and we fatter our
selves that such thing could not exist
in the present state of civilization. And
yet we actually find f1ourishing in what
we fondly believe to be the very centre
of enlightenment a popular obsession
which in its absurd credulity certainly
equals, if it does not surpass, the witch
craft delusion of more than two centuries
ago.
The simple fact is that the laws of the
human mind remain unchanged from gen.
Grafton to generation, no matter how the
manifestations of its activity may vary
from time to time.
The first indications Of this most re-
cent epidemic of hysteria were reported
few short months ago. young woman
standing in front of box office window
at theatre suddenly screamed that
strange man had pricked her wrist with
complained of feeling of dizziness, but
the incident was not regarded as espe-
cially serious and the mysterious offender
was allowed to disappear in the excite
ment of the moment.
This occurrence was printed in all the
newspapers as a curious piece OF news,
although no attempt was made to give 1t
prominence through great amount OF
space or conspicuous headlines.
But the seed of suggestion, small as it
was happened to fall into soil especially
adapted for it's reception and nourish-
ment The recent agitation against the
white slave trade had made the general
nublic familiar with the methods USED III
obtaining recruits for this traffic. Among
these methods was one which especially
IMPRESSED the imaginations of women De-
cause of its spectacular as we'll as inslo-
ious character. 1t consists In the use VI
q powerful narcotic which is stealthliy ad-
ministered to the intended victim just
as she succumbs to its Supplying enects
the villain appears on the scene, taxes
that he is a relative or friend, rushes her
into "a waiting taxicab and carries her
away to her dismal fate.
Here, then, in this published account
was a concrete instance of the very dan
ger to which attention had been pre-
viously called in a general way IL al
forded the imagination definite nucleus
about which to build, and in the cases Oh
certain women with more or less unstaDie
minds, the result was the development OIL
real obsession. That is, through con-
tinued brooding upon the dangers III
volved in such situation, this idea De-
came permanently fixed in the so-called
subconscious mind.
Now it is a prominent characteristic OF