FEAR IN.THE SOLDIER. STIMULANT OF ACTION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1931, 25 January 1919, Page 4

FEAR IN.THE SOLDIER. STIMULANT OF ACTION.

PHYSIOLOGICAL PROCESS. One of the delusions on the subject of bn I lie, encouraged by a defective psychology, relates (o heroes. An army of heroic souls would be undisciplined, liable to defeat, and certainly incapable of mass action.in the technical sense. The fact is that fear in the soldier is of advantage because it stimulates concerted action, Hie tendency to (ding to the regimental or company formation, to obey the word of command. -Let no soldier, therefore, writes Doctor George T. W. Patrick, have any fear of fear. Fear is good for him. Flight and panic may indeed occur, hut rather as a result of loss of confidence in the leader, or lack of organisation than of fear. Fear, indeed, is most valuable to a soldier. Without great emotional excitement he will not attain Ids maximum [lower. In fact,.psychologists have recently shown through laboratory (Vjierimcnls Hie mechanism of fear and its effects ujion the body. Dr. Waller H. Cannon's cxjicrimenls are well known.. He ban discovered a number of interesting internal changes which take jilacu in the body a- a result of fear or other strong emotions, and are exceedingly useful in jircparing the individual for movements of defence or fighting. The most imjiortant of these changes is the effect njmn Hie adrenal glands. Under (he induonce of any strong emotion, such as fear or anger, these glands secrete and pour into the circulating blood a substance called adrenalin. The effect of (his, circulating through the blood, is instantly to jircjiare the body for violent action. The jmpils of the eyes are dilated, the activities of the stomach are checked, the heart is stimulated, and sugar is liberated from the liver. The increase of sugar in the blood means an instant increase in muscular energy. The blood is drawn away from the stomach and the digestive system, where for a time it is not needed, and jiour.s to the muscles of the legs and arms and to the lungs and heart, where it is required for sudden action. Jn such circumstances jirolongcd exertion and incredible endurance become jiossihle. One of the most remarkable effects of adrenalin is that it greatly increases Hie clotting of the blood, so that if a wound is received (he danger from bleeding is greatly decreased. Militarism, indeed, is in the blood of ail of us. it only wants rousing. Writers on (he war tell us that when the blacksmith, the farmer, the teacher, the salesman; meet at the training-eamj), pul on their suits of khaki, get into the swing of military life, there is effected in them a striking change of jiersonality. They become new men, strange to their friends and to themselves. But (his is not quite accurate. They become not new men, but old men, racially old, old fighters. All the military virtues are deeji-sealcd, tired in the very structure of our nervous (issue. Pugnacity and ferocity in the life of the civilian may never be exhibited, but they are there as slumbering instincts. Let the occasion arise, let the environment be favourable, and these old jmssiuns will blaze into life again.