Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-12-30
THE EFFECTS OF FEAR
RENDERING THE SYSTEM SUSCEPTIBLE OF DISEASE

There are four classes of persons who en-
Joy remarkable immunity from infectious dis
eases, and three certainly of these classes are
composed of the very persons who would be
thought most liable 10 suffer from such epi-
demic-we mean physicians, nurses, children
and that Of excellent, kind hearted females,
who delight, land to their honor be !, told,
in going about among the sick, watching with
them, and performing for them those numer-
Gus friendly Offices that alleviate their pains,
and spare them many an hour of gloomy SOL
itudc.
The physician is constantly passing from
the open air to the sick chamber, and pass
ing from the latter again into the former.
He is fa,igued by his labors, and naturally
perhaps of slender constitution, yet he es-
capes while the friend or relative, strong,
robust, and living at ease in healthy situa-
ton, makes but single short visit to the
patient and inlbibes his disease. The nurse,
under circumstances in one respect the re-
verse of those above related, lives on day
after day, and night after night, in the atmos-
phere Of disease, and yet enjoys similar
immunity. The benevolent watcher, famil-
lar 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 suffering
from the plague, without catching the malady.
The causes of this immunity arc unquestion-
ably various. The system in some of the ca
SEES above stated, becomes gradually accus-
toned to diseased atmosphere, and less sus-
ceptible ofits peculiar stimulous. But, when
we view the whole ground, and reflect on the
peculiarites of all 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 irresisti-
bly, to the conclusion that fear, apprehension
more than any other singular agent bring.
the system into condition suitably 10 the
reception of morbid influence and that the
absence of fear, more than natural strength
of constitution or vigor Of health, renders i
insensible to such influence. Infants from
the limited extent of their reasoning power.
and their observation, are protected entirel,
from any of the peculiar effects of the fear o
disease and the other persons mentioned
by their familiarity with sickness and its usu
al paraphernalia, and by the active part the
are called 10 take in the care of the deceased
seldom if ever think Of any personal hazard
. The occasional visitor on the other hand
unaccustomed to the solemnity, the scenes
and the circumstances ola sick chamber, i
awed, embarrassed, agitated, perhaps, by tn
impressive manner, look, movement, an
conversation ofall present. sympathise
> deeply with his friends. imagines himself i
r the same condition, fears that he has alread
i inoibed .i'c scuj, &c a;scaso, and takes hi
departure only to have those fears realized
y Every physician Knows that in times of chi
t demc those persons who ask with most ear
4 nes,ness and anxiety what means of preven
tion they can adopt, are uniformly the first t
require the means of cure.
i We would impress the fact strongly on tn
V minds ofall. In sickly seasons live temper
,, ately, and trouble not yourselves abou, you
y personal danger. fyour friend is attacked
y and you can serve or console him, think nc
of your exposure, but visit and minister
d him; and if you do this with dislntereste
Il zeal, with ready hand and willing hear
o with clear conscience and undaunted spin
! it, you will find your reward in an almo.
h certain immunity. We know no other pro
n tection-we can give no better COUNSEL
i. B0st. Medical Journal.