Hysterical opponents of Canberra's light rail make imaginative forecasts of the horrors it will bring. Here to assist them is a public transport horror raised in Sydney's press 100 years ago this week. The dreaded 'Strap-Hangers Palsy'!
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"STRAP-HANGING IN TRAM CARS. THE DIRECT CAUSE OF
NEW DISEASES."
"Strap-hanging, which is the euphonious name for the way standing people have to ride in public conveyances has just been discovered to be the cause of some new diseases. These diseases are not manifestations of the millions of germsdeposited upon the straps by diseased or dirty hangers, but are the result of muscular and nervous tension caused by the strap-hanging attitude itself. The most common of these Dr. Hirshberg an American specialist, has
called "strap-hanger's bump,' 'strap-hanger's palsy,' and 'strap-hanger's neuritis.' "
"All come from the 'unnatural standing position the strap-hanger is forced to assume and the frequent twists and strains his body encounters. The character and severity of all these new ailments are more or less determined by just how the rider grips the strap.
"The case of a Mr. W. M. Price, who has been-strap-hanging for many years, is quoted. His bump is a well defined protuberance more than half an inch in diameter at the base and three-eighths of an inch high. He was told it would have to be cut away ..."
"[A strap hanger's palsy expert] Dr. Charles Morrison is convinced that there are hundreds of instances of it which have escaped
a correct diagnosis."
