The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-04-11
PSYCHIC CAUSE
 FOR INFLUENZA

The solution of the mystery of the worldwide spread of influenza lies in the fact that the entire universe has been shaken by tense anxiety, by mind strain during and since the war, not on one particular account rather than another, but generally. and in almost every way. To this must be added the food shortage, which has been felt in the most distant countries, writes Dr. Hadyn Brown, the distinguished Brit ish medical authority, in the Pail Mall Gazette.
 Food shortage and anxiety have in truth, not been peculiar to us. In Mexico, in China, in Japan, they have felt the food pinch on the one hand, and, on the other, they have been un- certain, anxious, as to war influence on their own fate. Tn varying degrees Mexicans, Chinamen and Japanese must have been deeply concerned IS to the decision, long suspended, to be reached on the battle fields of Europe. A German victory meant domestic difficulties of one sort or another for them all. Mexico had also its anxieties as to the action of the United States. Aa China, there has been almost cease less anxiety, too. Japan has suffered fin similar fashion from Ctart to finish. No one will suggest that South Africa, yet another far away land, has es- caped anxiety - or influenza. Thus, practically without end, we could con- tinue, and it would be difficult indeed to find q state in which the minds of the people have not been subjected to the gravest strain.
 Where have normal food conditions prevailed consistently throughout? Here we have felt the reduction of drfai CP and nf foods containing vitamines generally.
 In my opinion. far too great stress has been laid on disease organisms. I do not believe these to have been more virulent than in previous ep- idemics.
 The medical profession is at sixes and sevens becaU 1t always has been badly organized. This seems ever likely to be a serious question for the country unless the Ministry of Health can begin by taking it in hand. Doc tors are never ready to advance re- search. They are not ready at the present moment regarding consUmp- ton, cancer, veneral diseases, etc.
 Even the Royal Society of Medicine represents only a scientific conglomer- ate of conflicting ideas and opinions, out of which rarely does there issue anything of real value of science or to the public at large Most imperfect organization is at the bottom of the disgraceful ineptitude of the medical profession in the presence of some of the commonest diseases that are always with us. What, then, is to be expected should epidemics arise &n any magnitude? Individual medical men are clever enough; in the mass they are amorphous.
 To turn again to influenza, what is called the anxiety neurosis is the chief factor which creates a favorable soil. have carefully studied the prodro- nal life of many cases. I have found strain, rush, anxiety to be there. The remarkable fact that consumptives and those who are debilitated general ly escape either entirely or from serious attack I account for In this way: They are not anxious; they have ceased to be; they have no reserve for developing anxiety. On the other hand the f1ortd and youthful do possess the essentials for anxiety, worry affecting them deeply. They are endowed with full blooded optimistic habit, which in