Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-05-10
Bodily Illness as a Mental Sti mu.
lamts

During special states of disease the mind
sometimes develops faculties such as it does
Some Of the abnormal qualities thus exhibited
by the mind seem str1kingiy suggestive of the
possible acquisition by the human race of SINH
lar powers under ordinary conditions. For this
reason, though we fear there is no likelihood at
present OF any practical application Of the
knowledge we may obtain on this subject, IL
In examining the evidence afforded by the
strange powers which the mind occasion ally
shows during diseases Of the body, and espec-
laily curing such diseases as are said, in I'M
scientlnc but expressive language, to lower the
tone OF the nervous system. We may begin bY
citing case which seems exceedingly signia-
can't. Miss d. Martineau relates that a con-
genital idiot, who had lost his mother when he
was less than two years old, when dying, ssud-
denly turned his head, looked bright and SEN
sible, and exclaimed In tone never heard from
him before, NOh, my mother, how beautiful.
and sank down again-dead." DIR. Carpenter
cites this as case Of abnormal memory, Illus
trating his thesis that the basis of recollection
may be laid at q very early period OF llfe."
But the story seems to contain deeper mean
Ing. The poor idiot not only recalled long,
past time, face that he had not seen for years
degree OF intelligence which he had not pos
sessed when In health. The quality OF his
brain was such. 1t appears, that with the ordi-
nary activity OF the circulation, the ordinary
vitality Of the organ, mental action was uncer,
tain and feeble; but when the circulation I'd
all Dutceased, when the nerv0rs powers wee
may have become no stronger actually, became
relatively stronger, In such sort that for the
time being, mere moment before dissolution
the idiot became an intelligent being. some
Wnat similar case Is on record In which an Ia
sane person, during that stage OF typhus fever
In which sane persons are apt to become delir-
ious, became perfectly sane and re lsonable, his
insanity returning with returning health Per-
sons OF strongest mind In health are often de-
lr1ouS for short time before death. Since,
then, the idiot In the same stage of approach
Ing dissolution may become Intelligent while
the insane may become sane under the condIt-
ions which make the sane become delirious, we
recognize relationship between the mental
and bodily states which might be of conSt1e:.
able use In the treatment OF mental diseases.
IL may wen be that conditions OF the nervous
system Whlch are 10 be avoided by persons of
normal mental qualities may be advantageously
Superfnduced In the case of those OF abnor-
mally weak or abnormally violent mind, It is
noteworthy that different conditions would
seem to be necessary for the idiotic and for the
Tor generalization. For the idiot of Miss Mar
t1neau's story became Intelligent during the in
tense depression OF the bodily powers imme-
diately preceding dissolution, whereas the In
sane person became sane during that height OF
fever when delirium commonly makes lis an.
pearance. Sir II. Holland mentions a ca te
which shows how great bodily depression may
anect person OF ordinarily clear and pOGer
lul Inlnd: IL descended on one and the same
Gay" ne says, "two very deep mines In the
HarA Mountains, remaining some hours under
ground In each. While in the second mine
and exhausted both from fatigue and inanit-
len, felt the utter tmpossibllty of talki 10
longer With the German Inspector who accom-.
panied me. Every German word and phrase
deserted my recollection; and it was not until
at rest, that / regained them again .D-TIbe
CoTnhiH Magazine