The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-11
THREE-FIFTHs OF A SECOND


 What whale of difference half a second makes in some emergencies! For instance, when you're proceeding with due care across a street intersection, first having stopped as the law prescribes, and then as you reach the crossing some recent American armed with a license and enjoying that personal liberty so precious to his ilk comes tearing down upon you at speed of not to exceed four times the legal limit for street crossings, and you have to decide whether to stop, shoot ahead or maintain your right of way at your own ex- pense
 A careful study has been made in England to learn. something about the things likely to happen in three-fifths of a second. Just why this odd time was chosen will be obvious pres ently. For one thing. travelling 35 miles an hour goes 20 feet in three-tfths of second. A lot of gas, oil, hootch and gore can flow out from under what Is wedged under truck Tn three-fifths of a second.
 Dr H. M. Vernon, English physlologist found that in normal individuals there is an interval of one-fifth of a second between the reception of an impression on the retina and the re- sponse of foot muscles on clutch pedal or brake or hand muscles steering wheel. Let | that same individual take social pint or beer or a snifter of whiskey, and his or her re- action time immediately slows down to three or four-ffths of a second. This effect of alco- | hol persists for hours after the drink Is taken, | though not at the slowest time named Now, then, your free, American driving home 1 from a little party encounters emergency which calls for alert action or normal reac- ton the part of the engine driver. But be- I tie drink, the driver takes say half a second over and above the fair and normal time to act. Thus the personal liability and property damage insurance companies, keep busy. ,.G | Legally we are still somewhere back In the mid Victorian era in handling this problem, for 1 the law written originally by some gentleman | who drove pair of bays or rode a high cycle | requires that the offender abe staggering and patiently spifflicated, tanked, plastered, So that | the dumbest cop or police court justice can see | the offenders condition. The law, in America, give those recent Americans who demand it a wide margin for personal liberty.
 | Probably not few automobile drivers who mean to be honest and square have yet to learn that a drink two of home brew or wine invariably slows the reaction time and therefore renders the driver less efficient and less safe
 A railway engine driver ran into terrible wreck which killed and maimed a large num- Der of passengers early one morning. lnyesti- gation disclosed that he had visited few | 'oases'' speakeasies late the night before The man had never been known to be drunk Yet he drove his train past one or more block signals set against him that morning Why?
 Once more l propose this toast for any man or woman who takes drink a few hours be- fore drive: Here's hoping the child or el- derly person who steps in front of my car as drive home is no one particularly near or dear
 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | Old Dan Druff SkidoOed
 For years l went about with ~ shower Oi cdy has put an end to it. I applied 1t frequently at first. Now only occasionally. I feel very grateful tO you. (k. III. C.1
 Answer-I am glad to send instructions fol the care of the hair and the control of dan. druff to any reader who asks for 1t and in- closes stamped envelope bearing his address do not consider a clipping request.
 If the Habit Has You
 Have you e lcafict the tobacco hnbit' (Mrs J. c. Al Dt | Answer--No. ma'am. But have some advc' for any correspondent who tells me the tobac co habit has him or her, and incoses stamped envelop bearing the victims address | Floating Kidney
 Does loose floating kidney in the righ side cause .? (P. F.. R1
 Answer--Tut, tut. no symptoms. As rul' loose or "noating" kidney does not cause an, trouble until some amateursh d0csor discoveri it and informs the victim. The best advice can offer persons who have loose kidney is get fat.