The National Register.
London, England, 1816-05-26 00:00:00

Cpctsical*onitor.
NUMBER XIV.

SAT.VS Pn?l'Ll 6I'PREMI LEX.

Parlor in lore 'ed. 1 : Medea 'N CO pore. ON
Risks abest
Noe jieliegr 10110110. ••—•••••""'''

Ac. MET.

THERE is scarcely any disease more intolerable to
those who labour under it, end yet which obteina km+
pity and commiseration from indifferent persons, than hy-
pechondrimis, or, as it istrtquentlyealled in familiar lan-
guage, the ANL The former of these tircumstanees is
the consequence of those distressing feelings which inva-
riably attend this complaint ; and the latter arises from an
:Tinton, universally entertained, that imaginary fancies
alone constitute the indisposition of the patient ; and that
!te has no more to do than to think himself well, to bo-
ra= so. How erroneous this opinion is, appear, if
we merely enumerate a me of the principal symptoms
which are found to annoy the hypochondriac. Whatever
share moral causes may have in producing the disease, it
is certain that there exists great bodily indisposithm. A
want of appetite usually accompanies this complaint, and
the food which is taken does not undergo proper digestion ;
acidities, heart-burn, oppression of the stomach, irregular
action of the alimentary canal, languor, aversion to ex-
ercise, and inability of much muscular cxettion, are among
the deviations from a healthy state, which usually take
place. Were these the only symptoms, the complaint
would not differ from dyspepsia, or ordinary stomach dis-
orders ; but there is added to them, a peculiar state of
mind, very different from the ordinary and general dia.
position of the individual, when in a state of health. A
very great and unaccountable depression of spirits, an ex-
cessive irritability of temper, easily provoked by the
slightest and most inadequate causes ; vague and un-
limnded suspicions are excited and maintained without
the least apparent reason, and the unhappy sufferer is con-
stantly tormented with the fear of dying ; for, to nu other
termination of his complaint does he ever look forward,
although hypochondriaais has nu mortal tendency, except
when the state of melancholy is so excessive as to induce
the patient himself voluntarily to seek this last and deplo-
rabic relief. I lyp.xliondriasis may be said to occupy the
middle paint between dyspepsia, a mere disorder of the
organs principally concerned in digestion, and melancho-
lia, one of the species into which mania or madness is di-
vided. It is bath a bodily find a mental disorder, although
perhaps the one is the consequence of, or dependent upon,
the other ; the primary affection, whether of body or
mind, giving rise to the subsequent trent of cons anal
symptoms. There are some physicians who so decidedly
attribute the whole complaint to a derangement of the
digestive functions, as to speak confidently of curing the
complaint by fceely emulging the biliary ducts, anti who
require no other weapons than a few doses of calomel to
rout the enemy, and put him completely to flight. That
the dyspeptic symptoms may be thus occasionally relieved,
there can be no doubt ; that the patient. is by these means
alone to be cured, may be justly questioned. The ma-
nagement of the mind claims no inconsiderable share in
conducting the cure ; and, without attention to this cir-
cumstance, all endeavours will frequently prove abortive.
In the greater number of cases, it is probable that the
deranged functions of the body depend upon the mental
disorder, an opinion which is confirmed by observing the
usual predisposition to the disease, and by the methods
ft earl most effectual in removing it. This mental share
of the disease does not occur in every constitution, and at
every age, however aggravated the disordered state of the
corporeal functions may, from any cause, he. Persons of
a melancholic temperament arc alone subject to hypo-
chondriasis ; and, in these, it does not occur usually until
middle life. How much the body is influenced by the
state of the mind we all know ; it is not therefore to be
wondered at, that the functiens of the flintier should be
deranged, when the latter is from any cause perturbed
or distressed. If there be cases in which hypochondriesis
entirely depends upon a disordered state of the digestive
otems, and can-be cured by an attention to these, it is
well—of such cases we need not speak : but, as it is ter.
tain that the greater number of cases will be of a differ-
ent deserlrion, let us attend a little to the causes and
appropriate treatment of those. One of the most power-
cal exciting causes is an inactive and unemployed mind;
one of the most invincible obstacle. to a cure, that con-
stant and anxious attention of the patient to his own
feelings, which leads him to notice every the least varia-
tion ; and that state of alarm, which anticipates danger
from the most trifling sensation. Who are the victims
to this deplorable malady? the idle and unoccupied,
those who arc absolved from the necessity of earning
their daily bread by manual labour, and who enter into
no useful pursuit which may call forth an active exertion
of the powers of the mind. The languor and inactivity
of the mind arc communicated to the laxly ; the re-action
of each upon the other confirms the malady of both.
However trifling in our estimation may be the illness
* of any individual, it is really and essentielly excessive
to him who thinks and feels it so. A great source of
failure in the treatment of this complaint is the employ-
ing ridicule and derision, where comfort and relief are
ought for. The physician who appears at least to
enter into the patient's view of his complaints, who, by
ao-!, h,. lerselner, mantras hie canfelerce, and who ha