Medicine: Claustrophobia

To protect its staff, London’s Bank of England last winter built an underground air raid shelter. Last fortnight, bank members in charge of Air Raid Precautions sent an elaborate health questionnaire to all employes to find out if they could withstand prolonged imprisonment in the narrow, crowded shelter. Among the questions: “Do you suffer from claustrophobia?”

To the amazement of A. R. P. organizers, 95% of the women employes answered “Yes.” Calling in the chief of the women’s division, the organizers asked her if she had explained to the girls exactly what claustrophobia meant. “Oh yes,” said she, “I told them it meant being afraid of confinement.”