, 1935-08-19
Emotional Troubles
Back of Suffering
by DR.. MORRIS FIsHBEIN
Editor, Journal or the American Medical Association
and o. Hygela. the Health Magazine

and o. Hygeia. the Health Magazine
At least 10000 children in the United States stutter.
Only one OF 10 RECEIVERS from this difficulty during
the period Of elementary education
Usually persons who stutter are highly emotional,
and suffering Is always intensified when they be-
come worried or irritated or when for any reason an
emotional disturbance occurs.
On ~analyzing the background OF those who stutter.
one finds That the childhood has been marked by
incompatibiity between parents, by ~incompatibinty
between children and parents. by wrong relation
ships to nurses, teachers. or tutors, or by some other
similar failure to establish normal emotional rela-
.~tlonships.
Therefore. the first step In controlling any attack
OF suffering Is TO find out the emotional difficulty
that is at fault, and by explanation or understanding
to relieve the sufferer from his mental stress.
However. even after this is done. there remains the
necessity OF overcoming a bad habit SO far as the
actual process Of speech itself Is concerned
This overcoming involves not only continuous train
ing in speech. The sufferer has failed TO learn to
speak correctly and his errors Of speech have been
intensified by long misuse Of the tissues Of the body
involved In speaking.
In many instances a complete physical examina-
ton VIII reveal difficulties OF breathing. infections In
the throat. i~rritations involving the ~laryngeal cords.
or similar disturbances.
One OF the modern steps In studying such cases IS
to have a photograph record made OF the speech as
it actually takes place, and then. by analysis Of the
record. to select the most obvious faults and work
upon them first.
One advantage Of this procedure is the ability OF the
teacher OF speech to make another phonograph rec
ord some time later and thus TO be able to measure
definitely the amount OF the improvement.
DR.. J. S. Greene. who has given intensive study to
the speech problem. feels that practice in reading
aloud, whether BY the individual or by a group, Is a
valuable exercise.
It serves to take the mind Of the individual away
from the problem Of speech. and at the same time
Gains his emotions and lessons his fear that he viii
not be able to speak correctly.
An interesting observation made by a distinguished
physician concerned the general mental habits Of the
sufferer. He pointed out that people who stutter
interfere with themselves not only when they talk. but
in MANY other activities Of life as well.
Sometimes their muscular movements are jerky.
They will drive a motor car in an interrupted man
ner. rather than smoothly. as associated with good
driving.
Musicians who stutter sometimes become obstruct-
cd In PLAYING certain notes. Occasionally such persons
stutter in their thinking and find themselves con-
fused.
All these facts should emphasize the necessity OF
a thorough physical study OF every sufferer and in
dictate the various measures necessary to bring about
cure.
We have TO find Jobs for 100000 people and we
are not creating them BY lengthening hours and cut
ting wages. = Edward F. McGrady. assistant secretary
OF labor.
We are farther out OF the depression right now than
most people realize. In my opinion. we viii be In
good shape by next summer. - Postmaster General
James A. Farley.
Every barrel OF flour consumed in New York City
pays toll to racketeers which goes right into the price
OF every loaf OF bread. Thomas z. Dewey, named
special prosecutor OF citys racketeers.
The great debt which civilization owes to italy. It
owes to the Italy OF Dante. Mazzini. and Calico. not
to the Italy OF Mussolini. RABBI David Sherman.
Cleveland, o..
Neither chemists nor chemistry make a war. DR..
+. r. Armstrong. British chemist.
Thank God it's a boy. Thank God it's over. -
John Jacob Astor III.