The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1880-06-17
A CASE OF IMAGINATION.

4 lis well-established fact that the
mind has q direct and important action
POn the body, and to a much greater
Etent than persons in general suppose.
laring the prevalence of an epidemic,
br Instance, such as the cholera, thou
ands become afflicted through their
own fancy, who would otherwise es-
cape the fell destroyer. We remember,
when this scourge was last upon us. of
lesring several individuals spoken of as
likely to perish with the disease, for
he simple reason that they were con-
sanity in dread and fear of it; and we
noted the fact that these same persons
arely lived out the season; while, on
NE other hand, those who seemed to
are little about it, and in some cases
sofed at and defied it, were seldom
naehed by the invisible foe.
No one can tell what the mind is. or
now 1t acts upon the body; but we have
0oassant evidence OF its presence and
power through one of its attributes, the
sllli and we are sometimes astonished
alts increased force, when stimulated
y passion or fear.
~ . conversation with distinguish
y physician of our acquaintance upon
as subject, he related Il case of the
viking effect of Imagination, or mind.
sVa body, which came under his own
%'sf'atlon while student at a hos
iaa, A lecture by one of the faculty
~ucnihg upon imagination and it's
Mange !. effects, became a subject of
sseasslon .Is in his class; and the ques-
sa "a shortly arose, whether it was not
alaer the body that affected the mind
wan the mind the body.
i CONTEND" said one. "that the
~, Wy nrst becomes affected by some
.aa muiola influence, and the mind of
'Oarse y takes its tone therefrom."
4 maintain" said another. "that
ae ;m. mlnd may be first affected, and so
.,a;a 'ullalr the body, as in eases of mental
Ssa.,'elnent, sa. such as grief, Joy, fear,
%lol, maa. :, shame, chagrin and disappoint-
Il. .Ae students took sides on the ques-
rn NM a anu the matter was ably argued
nj n.;,s sla con, each party about equally
N nail,ihg ana. Its assumed position. In
= ,,oa qaestlons of nature permitting a
Il. so.g argument on either side, it is
m mtb - t presume that both parties have
Saea H. y, Ior a foundation, and neither has
- sso saoie truth; and so it was in this
H.. .ne TACT being that the mind does
'4pss r.. the body, and the body the mind.
gss s w.S semethlng more than argument
sa.' S wanted =! in this case; medical stu
sss sa'S IKE to try experiments, ana wit
r,s Ptaotical demonstrations; and it
ss,.i a. innally agreed that a perfectly
\, y SUBJECT should be selected and
oaaa a. anaer the effects of Imagination. A
,ba robust, rosy-cheeked farmer,
u iisnas OCCASIONALLY came into the town to
on,a po'e OF his fruit, and who had found
nsas s VI MS best customers among the
'd;s;aI.,, ed,s, was finally fixed upon as an
3 ,auat .s;1 IN every way satisfactory for
y s,. aiai' The plan was for some of
iFsra"a.e iFaaeiHs, at different times and in
pee . =. places, without any appear
l !, u collusion, to be struck with
.cre. .eleo Greg iooks-to perceive some
Ana ~. siaiady beginning to affect him
ijren an !: .:.naiiy to predict his death at
,er m ulhe. With this understanding
:. NJ went deliberately to work the next
lrpe nc &c appeared among them. Some
Is e.s. iouf OF them sauntered out to
Is. aa, :, ifom which he was selling ap-
mo- no. anu snl, each, as he came up. took
,aaa~,u ~au unusual stare at him, as if
sea,;y a,rnly discovering something very
IL to, and then all seemed to con-
:" 'osether in a verv serious manner