Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-09-30
SEPTEMBER 80, 1862.
fun out of it, and like the fishes in the Arabian

There is an old proverb, that " Fancy is as
good for a fool as physc," and believe the say.
ing might be carried further still for there is
such thing as corporeal disease, depending
entirely upon the mind and that with very
wise men too. The effect of mental remedies
we oil know, even 10 very severe and merely
muscular diseases. Whether Doctor Par was
cured Of his agueiSh sensations or not, cannot
tell but have known several instances Of men,
tai remedies applied with success to say moth
ing of having actually seen the incident display
ed by old Bunbury's caricature of rheumatic
man enabled to jump over high fence by the
presence of mad bull, will give you one in
stance of complete, though temporary cure,
performed upon a young lady bys.what can
only consider fnenialageney. Ono -Ofshes sdaugt-!
tersof Roman Catholic family, named v
very beautiful and interesting girl, had entirely
lost the use Of her limbs for nearly three years
and was obliged to be fed and tended like a
child. Her mind was acute and clear, however,
and as at that time the celebrated Prince Hohen.
loe was performing, by his prayers, some cures
which seemed miraculous, her father entered in
to correspondence with him, to see if anything
could be done for his daughter. The distance
of some thousand miles lay between the Prince
and the patient but he undertook to pray and
to say mass for her on acertain day and at GER
tain hour, and directed that mass should be Gel
ebrated in the city where she resided, exactly at
the same moment. AS the longitude of the two
places was very different, great deal of fuss
was made to ascertain the precise time. All this
excited her imagination good deal, and at the
hour appointed the whole family went to mass,
leaving her alone, and in bed. On their return
they found Miss V, who for years had not
been able to stir hand or loot up, dressed, and
in the drawing room. For the time, she was
perfectly cured but have been told that she
gradually fell back into the same state as before
Mental medicine does not always succeed,
however and once, in my own case, failed en-
tirely. When travelling in Europe, in the year
1925, | was attacked with very severe quartan
fever. was drugged immensely between the
paroxysms, and tho physicians conspred with
my friends to persuade Inc was quite cured
They went so far as without my knowing it, tc
put forward a striking clock that was on the man
tel piece, and when the hour struck, at which
the fiji usually seized me, without any appear
ance of its return, they congratulated me on my
recovery and actually loft me. Nevertheless
at the real hour, the fever seized me again, an
shook me nearly to pieces. Neither is it thc
mental medicine sometimes fails but it som'
times operates in a most unexpected and dlsal
trous manner; especially when applied to ment
!. disease and &fiF rather inclined to believe
that corporeal malady may often be best treate
by mental means mental malady by corpore'
means
A friend of my youth. poor Mr.. S--lo'
his only son, in very lamentable manner. H
had but two children this son and daughte
Both were exceedingly handsome, full of taller
, and kindly affection and the two young peopI
were most strongly attached 10 each other. Sue
denly tho health Of young s. was perceiV
ed to decline lie became grave-pale-sad-
emaciated. His parents took the alarm. Physi
clans were sent for. No corporea disease Of an
8 kind could be discovered. The doctors declare
/. privately that there must be something on h
e mind, az it is called, and his father with the u
g mos. kindness aud tenderness, besought him
confde in him, assuring bin that if any thin
within the reach of fortune or influence cou
v give him relief, his wishes should be accomplish
ed, whatever they might be.
&" You can do nothing for me, my dear father
- replied the young man, sadly )" but you deserv
all nv confidence, and will not Withhold i
- That which is destroying me, is want of res
v Every night, about an hour after lie down,
: figure dressed in white, very like the figure
my dear sister, gides into the room, and sea
itself on the right side Of my bed, where it II
| mains all night. If am asleep at the time {
its coming, am sure to wake, and rema
d awake all night with my eyes fixed upon 1t.
believe it TO be delusion; but cannot Danish
n and the moment it appears, am completely III
der its influence. This is what is killing me-"
+ The father reasoned with him, and took eve
k means that could be devised either BY friends (
!; physicians, to dispel this sad phantasy. Thf
/" gave parties they sat up late they change
k the scene: but it was all in vain. The figure st
returned and the young man became more al
), more feeble. He was evidently dying and
:, last resource it was determined to have r
q course to trick TO produce strong effect up
|, bis mind The plan arranged was as follows
His sister was to dress herself in white, as
4 had represented the figure to be dressed al
about the hour he mentioned, to steal into
room, and seat herself on the other side of t
= bed, opposite to the position which the phantG
~ of his Imagination usually occupied, while
parents remained near the door to hear the rNsu
: She undertook tho task timidly but executed
10 well. Stealing in with noiseoss tread, she
nroached her brothers. bed side, and by lAe tal
S' moonIighl. saw his eyes fixed with unnatuI
70 stare upon vacancy, but directed to the 9th
u side She seated herself without making I
le east noise. and waited to see if ho would tn
% his eyes towards her. He did not stir in
10 east however but lay, as if petrided by Il
T. sight his fancy presented AT length she ma
o. n slight movement to call his attention, and
"a garments rustled Instantly the young man tul
IS ed his eyes to the left, gaaed at her--look
40 back to the right--gaged at her again and til
u exclaimed almost with shrek, )" Good Go
there are two Of them"
He said 90 more. His sister darted up to hi
The father and mother ran in with lights
, The effect had been fatal. He was gone,
; Nor is this the only case in which ma
y Lrowp tho most detrimental result OCCUR II,