AIR "SHELL SHOCK" AT HOME

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 8, 4 October 1917, Page 7

AIR "SHELL SHOCK" AT HOME

A WORD TO MEN AND WOMEN (By a Physician, in the "Daily Hail.") During one of the air raids en, Xonclon a man moved by a fatal curiosity ran out into the 6treot. He was a, middleaged stockbroker, rather obese and flabby, and his nerves were not strong. At tho very moment that he reached his front gate a bomb fell at the f-nd of the street and exploded. Tho man was not touched, but ho encountered a force which laid him flat on his back *nd blocked him senseless. This is not surprising when ono remembers that tho force where the bom-b fell was equal to several tons to every square yard of space, and though he was 30 or -10 yards away it was quite sufficient to give, his nervous system a jar that placed him hors de combat. When ho came to half an hour later he was trembling violently >and could scarcely spoak. That was some time ago. To-day'he is 6till shaky and tremulous; ho cannot sleep and has terrifying- dreams; Le Sβ tired at tho least exertion; and he suffers from headaches and loss of memory, But ho is recovering-, and in time will get quite well. "Shell shock," therefore, is no longer confined to soldiers in the firing line. London and the towns of South-Eastern- England ave all liable to bo shelled or bombed from tho air and their civiian population are all exposed to-, "shell shock." If you are so unlucky as to come within the radius of "shock" the result to .you will depend largely en the state of yo.iu- nervous eystem at the moment. Tho nervous eystem of a inan or a woman is like a battery charged with electricity. The nervous energy of manis the "charge" of the battery. It may be much or little; it varies in different people and in the same person, at different times. Work in Teason, exercise, fresh air, good food, and a cheerful outlook on life increase the "charge"; exhausting labour, lack of fresh air and good food, worry, anxiety, vicious living, and fear all decreaso tho "charge" of nervous energy. The tremendous vibration from an exploding shell has tbo effect of discharging instantaneously a considerable portion or perhaps nearly the wholo of a man's nervous energy. As the war continues it will become more and more a contest of, endurance for the wholo population, civilian as well as military. Hindenburg was not far wrong when he said it would be a contest of "nerves." The shattering of nerves as well as the shattering of propert}- is one of the main objects of these air'raids. Where 500 people are killed and wounded perhaps 20,000 have their nerves affected -in some degree. The way to defeat this intention has already been quite clearly indicated. Get as "fit" as you can, try to build up a stable nervous system, charge your stock of nervous energy up to tho hilt. In conclusion, let us take a hint from the soldier. Do not contemplate or anticipate a raid; try to adopt a cheerful attitude of mind and "carry on." You never hear either in the officers', mess or the soldiers' canteen any talk about war, or at least about its terrible side. Soldiers know better than that. Tho right attitude—it may be legendary, but deserves to be true—is that of the charwoman who was surprised in the street when shopping, "Good LordT That's a bomb!" she exclaimed as the oarth 6hook and the air thundered. "Give mo31b. of potatoes, quick!" ,