The Lincoln County herald., 1871-08-10
viii COnquering Death.


viii COnquering Death.
The power Of the mind over the body
is far more likely to be underrated than
overrated. A great many persons make
themselves sick by their morbid inagina.
tions and perhaps as many more by the
mistaken sympathies Of their friends.
And, on the contrary we have known
more than one instance in which life hiss
been prolonged for months and even
years, by a cheerful and untroubled
spirit. The following anecdoto for the
truth Of which we do not vouch, though
1t is written by a contributor who evi
deutly has full faith In its literal accu.
racy, shows the power Of strong spirit
over the weakness Of the flesh. EDS
In one of the largest hospitals in Eu
rope q man lay dying OF disense that
permitted the span of his human life to
be measured with accuracy by the physi
clans. As the visiting physician, an EN-.
iuent man in bis profession, made bis
round, accompanied by his class, the
patient eagerly addressing him, said:
"Sir, l want to ask you q question
will you answer it truly, as you stand in
the presence Of God ?"
Certainly, l will" replied the doctor
solemnly.
at is this; doctor, how long can. l
possibly live ?"
The doctor stared, and evidently re-
gretted his promise, but the man urged
him to speak freely.
"Well," he said at length, after still
more careful examination Of the patient,
my poor fellow, am sorry to tell you
that you cannot possibly live longer than
twenty four hours"
"Twenty -four hours |" cried the dying
man, "and this is but the sixth Of the
month, doctor; tell you | must live
until the sixteenth"
at is impossible, utterly impossible. a."
replied the doctor 81 named twenty
four hours as the possible time you may
live; but it is probable every moment
may be your last; do not think me cruel
I have promised not to deceive you"
"You have, doctor, but still | tell you,
| must live until the sixteenth; do your
bost to help me-"
II will do my utmost; but I warn you
once more that it will not avail" replied
the doctor, who became every moment
more interested in the case.
Leaving tho bedside for minute he
wrote his directions, ordering that the
strongest nourishment Of every descrip-
tion should be given the dying man, and
placing tho paper az the beds head, as is
usual, he went on to the next case, saying
to the nearest pupil. at Is oil useless, he
will not be alive to- morrow when | make
my round"
But the morrow and the day after, and
still The next and the following rolled by
and as the doctor went his rounds, to his
increasing wonder the patient still olune
tenpciously to the fraiI thread Of lifo tha
daily became more weak and attenuated
although to oil human perception it re
mained the same. At length the six
tsenth day was reached, aud to the doc
tors amusement the patient still lived
As he approached the bed tho man looked
up with anxious eyes, exclaimiDg:
20 doctor. ! am 80 glad you hav'
come; please will you write short let
ter for me :"
"Wth pleasure what shall say ?
be continued, as he placed the paper bs
fore him.
"Write, 4 certify that on the sixtesnt|
Of June, i8-, James Smith died in tn
hospital iu this city;' and that 10 oil
now sign your name, doctor, and address
it to the war department. )"
:, "But I cannot, my dear man. you hav
lived now nine days longer than
thought you could, and who shall %
how much longer YOU msy exist"
i "Sign, doctor. sign, I implore you, 40
direct it" cried the dying man is .
almost frantic tone.
} Tho Doctor was overcome, and 10 90
; isfy him signed and addressed the not
which be handed to che patient, who rea
i. il with eyes almost Staging from the
sockets.
n thank you, doctos, 4 10 oil right
now my poor wife will get my peusio
: which 70 due to-day" and with dig
t, Of relief the gallant old soldier, who ha
, held death at bay for nine days that b
wife might get bis pension. toll back
!, sorpss. --0hristian Weekly.