Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1832-07-12

The effect of Fear in rendering the sys-
lem susceptible Of fd;sease.-There are four
classes of persons who enjoy remarkable
immunity from infectious diseases; and
three certainly of these classes are COM
posed Of the very persons who would be
thought most liable to suffer from such
epidemics. We mean physicians, nur-
ses, children, and that class of excellent
kind hearted females who delight, and to
their honor be it told, in going about a
mong the sick, watching with them, per-
forming for them numerous friendly Of
fees that alleviate their pains, and spare
them many an hour of gloomy solitude.
The physicians is constantly passing
from the open air to the sick chamber,
and from the latter again into the former;
he is fatigued by his labors, and natural
ly perhaps Of slender constitution; yet
he escapes, while the friend or relative,
strong, robust, and living at ease in a
healthy situation, makes but short visit
to the patient, and imbibes his disease
The nurse under circumstances in one
respect the reverse of those above rela-
ted, lives on, day after day, and night af-
ter night, in the atmosphere cf disease,
and yet enjoys similar immunity. The
benevolent watcher, familiar with scenes
of distress, and interested in relieving it,
seldom suffers in consequence of her
anxious toll; and the infant hangs on the
breast Of its mother while she is suffer-
ing with the plague, without catching her
malady. Tho causes Of this imMunity
are unquestioHably various. The sys-
tenn, in some of the cases above stated,
becomes gradually accustomed to dis
eased atmosphere, and less susceptible of
its peculiar stimulus.
| But when we view the whole ground
and reflect on the pecuiarities of all tine
classes that are usually slow to receive
infection, and contrast them with those OF
the persons most frequently and easily
affected by it, we are drawn irresistibly
to the conclusion that fear, apprehension,
more than any other agent, brings the
system into condition suitable to the re-
ception Of morbid influence, and that the
absence offear, more than natural strength
Of constitution or vigor of health, renders
it insensible to such influence. Infants,
from the limited extert of their reasoning
powers and their observation, are protect
ed entirely from any of the peculiar eff
fects of the fear of disease; and the 9TH
er persons mentioned, by their familiari-
ty with sickness and its usual parapher-
MALTA, and by the active part they are
called to fake in care of the diseased,
seldom il ever think Of personal hazard.
The occasional visiter, on the other hand F,
unac customed to the solemnAy the scenes
and the circumstances Of a sick cham
ber, is awed, embarrassed, agitated per-
haps by the impressive manner, look,
movement and conversation of all pre-
sent; he sympathises deeply with his
friend, imagines himself in the same con-
,dtion, fears he has already imbibed the
seeds Of his disease, and takes his depar-
ture only to have those fears realized.-
Every physician knows that in times ol
epidemic those persons who ask with most
earnestness and anxiety what means oi
prevention they can adopt, are uniform
! ly the first to require the means of cure
| We would impress these facts strongly on
the minds Of all. In sickly seasons, live
temperately and trouble not yourselves
about your personal danger; your friend
is attacked, and you can serve or console
him, think not of your exposure, but visi,
and minister to him; and if you do this
with dsnterested zeal, with ready hand
and willing heart, with clear conscience
and undaunted spirit, you will find you,
reward in almost certain immunity. We
know no other prote ction-wc can give
no better counsel.-Bosion Medical Jour.