"Connecticut Slim's" The American Pocket Medical Dictionary, Fifth Edition

Quoted from a note found in the pocket dictionary: In the early days (early to mid-1970s) people encountering the hoboes would always ask, "Why did you become a hobo?" All the 'bos had an answer, but "Connecticut Slim" had the best answer, and responding to that question gave hum the opportunity to be the entertainer, showman, and jokester he was. He would respond with "I gots the disease!" "What disease?" "What are you talking about?" The unsuspecting inquirier would ask. With the question, "Connecticut Slim had them "hooked" and he would start to "reel them in" because he was not in charge of the conversation. With great flourish and exggerated motion, he would bring forth from his breast pocket his well-worn medical disctionary. He would show his "mark" on the cover of the book so they would know he was not speaking with authority. He would methodically turn to page 173 and loudly proclaim, " I got drapetomania!" And of course, no one knows that that was, but "Connecticut Slim" proceeded to tell them: "It's is an insane desire to wander away from home. Kind of like alcoholism". Then he would show them the definition on page 173, proof that once hoboing got to you, you couldn't fight it.