The daily progressive-miner., 1919-04-16
'Sobbing Sickness"
 One Result Of War
By Julian Grande

but since the armistice l nave been obliged to remain here, in the heart of Europe. Consequently I cannot say how the war seems 10 have affected the people either in my own country or in the United States. If, however, were asked how it has affected peo- ple on the Continent generally, should say that it has made them more nervoucs. and some of them even ner- yous wrecks.
 Perhaps nowhere was this more mo- ticeable than at the meetings of the In- ternation:.l Socialist Labor Congress, attended oy delegate '-o,n tw"nty-sev- en countries. have spoken to dele gates from most of these lands. and there was not single one who did not show signs Of extreme nervousness. Either he was constantly clasping and unclasping his fingers. or he was fidg- ssing in his chair, Or constantly blink ing his eyes. Moreover. if I asked one or other to jot down something for me on paper. I noticed that his hand posi- lively trembled as he wrote; and when delegate addressed the Congress he usually exhibited still more marked signs of overstrained nerves. Several delegates to whom spoke volunteered the information that they slept very badly at night. and this testimony was quite independent, for not one knew what the others had been saying to ne. To some suggested that perhaps ;hey were doing too much mental work. No" was the reply, "even the saboring classes in our country are not sleeping well just now"
 h Austria, for instance, the people are suffering from what may be called 8 sobbing sickness. which is the re- suit primarily of nervousness. Both and very often continue sobbing in men and women suddenly begin to sob, and very often continue sobbinv in their sleep. Some doctors seem to think this malady is due to unwhole- some food. which causes stomach dila. tation: oters attribute it to nervous ness alone. In some cases this nervous ness has become so acute that people have attacks in the night not unlike epilepric fit. The sufferer begins by feeling choking sensation, then cries our, and finally becomes quite uncon. scious, very often remaining so for twenty minutes or even half an hour. after which he falls into deep sleep Afterward he remembers nothing what ever about what has happened to him. The result Of thissobbing sickness and these attacks is, of course, still further to weaken people already very great. ly enfeebled.
 Another effect Of the prevailing nervousness is naturally to make peo- ple far more irritable than usual; and the physical weakness combined with the oyerwrought state of their nerves also makes them disinclined for effort Or exertion. Religion. it is significant, seems to have lost all influence over them. Not only have adults become careless and indifferent. as regarc morality, as it proved by the grave in. creases Of certain diseases, with which The medical authorities no longer know how 10 cope. but the condition e the children in the cities and towns, particularly Of Austria, is distressing beyond words, For example, the num- Der Of offenses against the law com. 1! mitted by children and young persons under IS in Vienna alone was in 1913, 7 : S85. but in 1917 14.029-a nearly 78 per cent increase. And HOW it is scarcely possible to keep count of thefts and other misdemeanors of which even young children are guilty. ]
 Again, the children often cannot be made to attend school, and the youths cannot be induced to do any work. The ] children play truant for days and weeks together. and the youths leave their work for any trivial reason or l none.
 Children and young people are con. stantly quarreling until they come to blows; they have no respect for their teachers, parents, Or elders; they in- suit and abuse older persons and even spit at them sometimes and threaten violence Thieving. however, is the i commonest offense. Some children no doubt steal because they are hungry, l but this is not always the motive, and at present in Vienna there is an epi- demic Of thieEing as well as of nervous ] ness. and there are even organized gangs Of child thieves in the Austrian capital
 The other day Dr. Waltz, Roman Catholic Bishop Of Innsbruck, fwho. by the way, used to be the spiritual ad. wiser 10 the former Austrian Empor. or,) told nc that the English and A. nericans ought to send troops to Wien. na. but in my view 1t is rather medical !