Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-07-14
POWER OF THE IMAGINATION

POWER OF THE IMAGINATION.
Many authenticated instances are re-
lated of the amazing influence which the I'M
agnation possesses, mot only over the feelings,
but upon the actual state and functions of the
bodily organization. Perhaps tho power
which a morbid Imagination may exercise
over the body, was never more strongly il
lustrated than in the we'll known case ofLord
Littleton, dissolute young nobleman of ex-
traordinary genius and talent. The story
has often been told. Lord Littleton one
night saw in dream young lady, who told
him that on a Saturday evening, at ten o.
clock, he certainly would die, This he re-
lated TO some of his intimate acquaintance,
and invited number of them 10 pass the APP
pointed evening with him and witness the
falsehood of the prediction. They did so
the evening came he endeavored to make
himself merry as the hour approached, but
it had fastened on his Imagination with
firmer hold than he was aware of, just before
tea, he complained of being Indisposed, pro-
posed to retire and died in the act of getting
into bed A clergyman who then lived near
Hagley, has said that Doctor johnson, OF
whom Littleton speaks in very high terms in
one of his letters, as physician in his neigh
borhood, told him that had he been sent for
in season he could have saved him.
The following we'll authenticated tale was
originally published in the Economic, and
was subsequentlyversihed by the poetW ords-
worth:
"A young farmer in Warwickshire, find
ing his hedges broken, and the sticks carried
away during frosty season, determined to
watch for the thief. He lay many cold hours
under hay stack, and at length an old wo-
man, like witch in play, approached and
began TO pull up the hedge; he waited till
she had tied her bundle of sticks, and was
carrying them off, that he might convict her
of theft, and then springing from his conceal
ment, he seized his prey with violent threats.
After some alteration, in whichher load was
let upon the ground, she kneeled upon the
bundle Of sticks, and raising her arms to
beaver, beneath the bright moon, then at the
full: spoke to the farmer, already shivering
viii, cold, " Heaven grant that thou mayst
nevsr know again the blessing to be warm"
He complained of cold all the next day, and
wore an upper coat, and in few days ano-
Their. and in a fortnight took to his bed, al
ways saying nothing made him warm; he
covered himself with very many blankets,
and had sieve over his face as he lay
From this one insane idea he kept his bed
above twenty years, for fear Of the cold air,
ill at length he died"
The following remarkable and interesting
case, furnishing a strong illustration of the
strength of the Imagination, and the impor-
lance of sound Judgment and practical good
sense in curer of mental disease, was pub
lished some years ago in an English periodi-
cal:
"a student at Jena, about sixteen years
of age, haying a weak and irritable nervous
frame, but in other respects healthy, left his
apartments during twilight, and suddenly re-
turned with a pale dismal countenance, as
suring his companion that he was doomed tc
die in thirty-six hours, or at nine o'clock il
the morning of the second day. The sud
den change ola young mind naturally alarm
ed his friend but no explanation was giver
of the cause. Every attempt at ridiculin!
his whimsical notion was fruitess; and hi
persisted in affirming that his death was Ger
tain and inevitable. A numerous circle o
his fellow students soon assembled, with
view to dispel these gloomy ideas, and t.
convinced him of his folly, by arguments, sa
tire and mirth. He remained however un
shaken in his strange conviction being ap
paren,y inanimate in their company; AM
expressing his Indignation at the frolics ant
wiiticisms applied to his peculiar situation
Nevertheless, it was conjectured that cain
repose during the night would produce
more favorable change in his fancy; b.
sleep was banished, and the approaching dis
solution engrosscd his attention during tn
nocturnal hours.
Early the next morning, he sent for Pro
fessor Hufeland, who found him making al
rangements for his burial; taking an affec
tionate leave of his friends and on the poir
Of concluding letter to his father in whic
he announced the fatal catastrophe that wa
speedily to happen. After examining HI
condition Of mind and body, the Professc
could discover no remarkable deviation froI
his usual state Of health, excepting a sma
contracted pulse, pale countenance, du
or drowsy eyes, and cold extremities: thes
symptoms, however. sufficiently indicated
general spasmodic action of the nervous sy.
tenn, which also exerted its influence over ii
mental faculties. The most serious reason
= ing on the subject, all the philosophical an
medical eloquence Of DR.. Hufeland, had n