Date?

To The Editor:

It wasassuring the other day to learn that a New York judge has ruled thatCarnegie Hall may no longer be used for rock concerts as theyconstitute a health hazard. This decision was based upon medicalevidence obtained by Canadian physicians who examined a thousandteenagers who frequent rock concerts and learned that at their earlyage a great many of them were already suffering from severeimpairment of hearing. What many had suspected might happen hadindeed occurred!

A year of twoago at one of the Manchester's social events, William Sleith and Isat at the table that was most removed from the orchestra and couldnot hear each other although we sat next to each other. Wecontemplated pulling the plug on the amplifier, but realized it couldbe easily reinserted. I even contemplated cutting the cord, but thiswould have constituted destroying private property and would bebreaking the law. Requesting less volume of the orchestra leader waslargely ignored for in his mind quantity was being equated withquality.

At the recentBicentennial Ball, no less than six people requested less din ordecibels to no avail and some of us arrived home hoarse and with aheadache.

Two yearsago, by way of contrast, I sat at a table of the virtual edge of thedance floor at the New York Hilton and heard and danced to GuyLombardo. Even though we could shake hands with the orchestra leader,we could still converse with each other at our table without raisingour voices.

Henceforth itwill be comforting to know that we can call our local health officerto insist that the auditory trauma be terminated, or else personaldamages assessed against the leader of the orchestra for damageinflicted upon ourselves. The public's health must be preserved.

Charles E. Jacobson Jr., M.D.

45 Wyllys St.

Manchester, CT