Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-10-07

YIyHE report OF inc COnlii'SoloH VI
i recently appointed to trace the effects of
gasess sabBaths on the victims of conven-
tionai motor mania is written with all the
vibrant human sympathy and the wealth oil
tender insight that is possible only TO scien-
lists long bald. One fact stands out dch-
nitely as an answer to many of the crowd
ing questions and hopes of the hour. Those
who are not permitted to drive their motors
on Sunday seldom go to church. They wor-
ship, almost invariably, in the garage
ttTN FUTURE years. observe the pundits
J. lightheartedly, "science viii be able to
explain the tremendous potency of gasoline
a distillate of crude oil much used as mo-
tivating power for internal combustion en-
gines-to populate the subconscious areas OF
the human mind with flaring deusions. The
withdrawal of this substance and the result
ant necessity of its addicts to pass twenty
four hours in a world devoid Of the sensa-
tions of rapid movement cause in the VIC
tim an INFINITE variety of painful reactions.
THE brooding tendency is uppermost in
the gasoline addict in the interval of enforced
| denial. Fantasy colors all the commonplace
conceptions. One subject, whose delusions
fOtlnd repeated III many othcis' sou'N
| not be induced to walk in the open.I Under
| pressure TO walk he exhibited great agita-
| ton. Ordinary obstacles in his path caused
| profound irritation. He insisted under the
| most patient examination on one occasion
| that an ordinary garden fowl In the roadway
was accustomed 10 precede him when he
went afoot and that 1t strode back and for
ward in his path with a manifest swagger
| and a manner unbearably insolent. Now, 1t
| is true that the fowl did proceed with an
| altogether extraordinary air of nonchalant
assurance. But the contention of the subject
| that the creature was accustomed regularly
| TO turn it's head and sneer at him is because
| of the physiological limitations inherent in
all fowl obviously absurd
| ULNLDERLY females In the roadway were
| IL also sure in the case of this same sub
| ject, to induce automatically all the painful
| signs of homicidal mania--the quvering nos
| tril, dilatcd pupils and hot sweat. Should the
| elderly female prove to be wearing black
| mittcns the homicidal symptoms were in
| stantly allied with others of a far more sub
| tie and painful character. The subject under
such circumstances would tiptoe softly from
|
| to the unsuspecting lady. press his hand
| suddenly to the top button of his waistcoat
| and emit a hoarse and blood-curdlng cry
before essaying a deadly lunge. This. We
have every reason to believe. was a fantastic
| stimulation Of the means commonly employed
| by the drivers of engfned vehicles to warn
pedestrians before proceeding with the KILL
| GIT MUST be said with all possible definite
L ness that the twenty-four hours which the
| gasoline addict must spend once a week
without the subtle comforts Of gasoline dis
| tillate are a period of blank melancholy with
| short periods of acute suffering. The addict
seldom can be induced to read. Efforts have
/ often been made without avail to direct them
| 10 a place called church. They stoutly re-
fuse to gain any comfort from the calm
perusal of Christian scripture. Yet in this
connection a remarkable manifestation oc-
ours Though almost entirely without any
special interest In the life, the gasoline addict
win. nevertheless. manifest an astoundingy