Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-06-09

ter Dreak the windows, and not a word from the
minister yet. Here is another snarl for the Oea-
con 10 ontwlst, | guess.-Lady's Book for May.
POWER OF THE IMAGINATION.
Many Northumberland instances are related of
he amazing influence which the imagination pos
sesses not only over the feelings, but upon the ac-
la STATE aud functions of the bodily organization.
Perbaps the power which morbid imagination
may Gxercise over the body, was nover more
strongly illustrated than in the well known case
Of Lord Lltteton, dissolute young nobleman of
extraordinary genius and talent. The story has
often been fold. Lord Lttleton one night saw in
a dream young lady, who told him that on
Saturday evening, at ten o'clock, he certainly
would die This he related to some OF his init.
mate acquaintance, and invited number ofthem
to pass The appointed evening with him and wit
ness the ialsehooI OF the prediction. They did
50 the evening came; he endeavored TO make
himself merry as the hour approached, but it had
fastened OH his Imagination with firmer hold
shan he was aware of, just before tea, he conf
planned of being indisposed proposed to retire
and died in the act Of getting into bed cler
gyman who then lived near Iiagey, has said that
Doctor johnson, of whom Littleton speaks in
very high terms in one of his letters, as phys-
clan in his neighbDrhood, told him that had he
been sent for in season he could have saved him.
The following well authenticated tale was ORR
gnally published in the ZOonomia, and was sub
sequently versifed by the poet Wo Ellsworth:
"A young farmer in Warwickshire, finding
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 OF length all old woman, like witch 10
a play, approac he'd and begun 10 pull up the
hedge; he waited till she had tied her bundle Of
sticks, and was carrying them of, that he might
convict her of theft, and then springing from his
conceament, he seized his prey with violent
threats. After some alteration, in which her
load was left upon the ground, she kneeed upon
the bundle of sticks and raising her arms 10
heaven, beneath the bright moon then at the full,
spoke to The farmer, already shverng with cold,
Heaven grant that thou mayest never know
again The blessing 10 be warm He complained
of cold all the next day, end wore all upper coat,
and in few days another, and 10 fortnight took
to bis bed, always saying nothing made him
warm he covered himself with very many blank.
cts, and had sieve over his face he lay. From
this one insane idea he kept his bed above twen-
ty years, for fear of the cold air, till at length he
died"
The following remarkable aud interesting case,
furnishing strong illustration Of the strength of
the imagination, and the importance OF sound
Judgment and practical good sense 10 d curer OF
mental diseases, was published some years ago in
an English periodical:
"a ssideR, at Jenu, about sixteen years Of
age, having a weak aud irritable nervous frame,
but in other respects healthy, left his apartments
pale dismal countenance, assuring his companion
that he was doomed to die in thirty-sx hours, or
at nine o'clock in the morning OF the second day.
The sudden change of young mind, naturally
alarmed his friend; but no explanation was given
of the cause. Every attempt at ridiculing his
whimsical notion was fruitless; and he persisted
in affirming that his death was certain and newt
be. A numerous circle OF his fellow students
soon assembled, with view 10 dispe these
gloomy ideas, and TO convince him OF his folly, by
arguments, satire aud mrth. He remained how
ever mistaken in his strange conviction; being
| apparently inanimate in their company; and ex-
pressing his Indignation at the frolics and witt =
cisms applied to his peculiar situation. Never
heless, it was oniectured that calm repose du-
ring the night would produce more favorable
change in his fancy but sleep was banlshed, and
the approaching dissolution engrossed his alIen-
ton during the nocturnal hours.
Early The next morning, he sent for Professor
| Huieland, who found him making arrangements
for his burial taking an affectonaie leave OF his
friends; and on The point OF concluding letter 10
| h's father; in which he announced the fatal ca
tastrophe that was speedily TO happen. Alter ex-
aiming his condition Of mind and body, the
Professor could discover no remarkable deviation
from his usual state Of health, excepting a small
! contracted pulse, a pale couDtenance dull or
drowsy eyes, and cold extremities: these symp-
toms, however, sufficiently indicated general
spasmodic action of the nervous system, winch
! also exerted its influence over the mental iacu-
| ties. The most serious reasoning OH the subject
and all the philosophical! and medical eoqnence
of Dr. Hufeland, had not the desired effect; and
though the student admitted that there might be
no ostensble cause OF death discoverabe, yet this
very circumstance was peculiar to his case; and
such was his memorable destiny, that he must die
next morning, without any visible morbid synip-
toms. In this dilemma DR.. Huieland proposed 10
treat him as a patient. Politeness induced the
latter TO accept of such offer, but he assured the
| physician that medicine would not operate.
As no time was TO he lost, there being only "a
hours left for his life, DIR. Huielund deemed prop
err 10 tiirecs such remedies as prove powerful OK
ctanls in order 10 rouse the vital energy OF hi:
pupil and relieve him from his captivated fancy
Hence he prescribed strong emetic and purga
tive; ordered blisters 10 be applied 10 both calves
OF the legs and at the same time stimulating clys
tiers to be administered. Quietly submitting e
the doctors treatment, he observed that his bod,
being already half a corpse, all means OF recover
ing it would be in vain. Indeed DIR. hutelant
was not little surprised, on his repeating his vsi
in the evening, to learn that the enetic had bu
very litlle operated and that the blislers had no
even reddened the skin. The case became NOR
serious; and the supposed victim OF death begal
10 triumph over the incredibly OF the proiesso
anu his friends Thus circumstanced, DE- Hnie
land perceived how deeply and deslructiveiy tina
mental spasm must have acted on the body, /
produce degree of insenslblllty from which IN
worst consequences might be apprehended.
the inquiries into the origin OF this single belle
| had hitherto been unsuccessful. Now only, h
disclosed the secret 10 Of his intimate friends
namely that on the preceding evening he had mt
with white figure IN the passage, which nodde
10 him, and, in the same moment he heard yoc
, excaiming-'The day after tomorrow, at min
o'clock in the morning, thou shal, die? lie con
I tlnued 10 settle his domestic affairs made nj
, will infinitely appointed his funeral; and eve
r desired his friends TO send for clergyman !
which request, however, was counIerac'ed'-
9 Night appeared-and he begon to compute n
hours he had to live, till the omlnous next moi
a ming.
n His anxiety evidently increased with the s,r
8 ing of every clock within hearing. DIR. Huielar
s was not without apprehension, when he reco'lee