NOISES IN THE NIGHT

Evening Star, Issue 20254, 15 August 1929, Page 12

NOISES IN THE NIGHT

MENACE TO HEALTH The increase in the volume and source of noises in this mechanical age, and "the continuation of noise far. into the . night, came up for discussion at a meeting of the British Medical Association. It was contended that it all meant a present and increasing menace to health. Increasing powers to enable local authorities to deal with the matter were advocated, and a resolution passed that noise from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. which could be mitigated or prevented, or was injurious to health, should be a nuisance within the meaning of the Public Health Act.

The matter was raised by Dr John Stevens, a prominent Edinburgh practitioner, who proposed a resolution that in the interest of public health the B.M.A. supported any measures which might be taken so to alter or amend existing legislation as to give greater power to local authorities to suppress unnecessary noise which was disturbing to the public, and that noise from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., which was capable of being mitigated or prevented and which was injurious to health should he a nuisance within the meaning of the Public Health Acts. “ The noises and vibrations to which I refer,” said Dr Stevens, “ are, in the main, those, largely mechanical, which advancing civilisation has thrust upon us, particularly in town life. These change greatly as lime goes on, but the changes in the aggregate are mainly in the wrong direction. ■‘Even if a Rolls-Royce goes noiselessly along we suffer a shock to our nerves and a terror to our lives conveyed by the sounding of its horn. Were wo to repeat on the gramophone the accumulated medley 'f sounds of a busy street we should bo' reminded of a few words of Shakespeare descriptive of life: ‘lt is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury; signifying nothing.’

“This noise by day is bad enough, but it is the extension of these innumerable noises, mostly discordant and moro or Jess disagreeable, far into and even through the night which we submit is a present and increasing menace to the public health. “ Among them are the barking of dogs, tiie clatter of milk cans, motor vehicles, and perhaps even worst of all, motor cycles. Then there are noisy parties going home from dances, or other night disturbers of the peace and ijuiet of the lieges, many of them devotees of that unrest which some unwise for pleasure take. “Wo do not claim that this noise of modern life affects the organs of hearing, though in some occupations necessarily ; ssociatcd with noise these arc affected.

‘'Vibrations even unaccompanied by sound also affect injuriously the whole bodily frame. Tho loss in working efficiency cannot_ be accurately assessed, but one esti mate is thai it impairs tho working efficiency of this country by a million pounds "per week. “Without stressing this too much, I think 1 can claim that not only is the medical profession aliva to this menace to health and fitness, but so are the public. “ Public health authorities have no adequate powers for this purpose. Motors of .ill kinds arc intruding everywhere. Could not tho horns of the motors bo less used at night in tho dark, and the light give warning of approach before there is anv need of noise?

“In tho progress of scientific medicine oho malady after another has been conquered, but the changing conditions of modern life arc liable, if not to induce new maladies, at least to modify, perhaps (o aggravate old ones. On this subject of noise it is lime to take action/’