The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-06-19
lhe Story Of a Joke.

IL is we'll established fact that the
mind has direct and important action
upon the body, and to a much greater
extent than persons in general suppose.
During the prevalence of an epidemic,
for instance, such as the cholera, thous-
ands become!afflicted through their own
fancy, who would otherwise escape the
fell destroyer. We remember when this
scourge was last upon us of hearing
several individuals spoken of as likely
to perish with the disease, for the simple
reason that they were constantly in
dread and fear of it and we noted the
fact that these same persons rarely live
out the season while, on the other
hand those who seemed TO care little
about it, and in some cases ScOtfed at
and detied it, were seldom touched by
the invisible foe.
No one can tell what the mind is, or
how it acts upon the body; but we have
constant evidence of its presence and
power through one of its attributes, the
will; and we are sometimes astonished
at its increased force when stimulated
by passion or fear. s-
In conversation with distinguished
physician of our acquaintance upon
this subject, he related a case of the
striking effect of Imagination, or mind
upon body, which came under his own
observation while a student at n hospi-
tai, A lecture by one of the faculty,
touching upon Imagination and its
strange effects, became subject of dis
cussiOn in his class; and the question
shortly rose, whether it was not rather
the body that affected tile mind than
the mind the body.
81 CONTEND" said one, "that the body
first becomes affected by some morbid
influence, and the mind of course takes
its tone therefrom."
81 maintain" said another, "that
the mind may be first affected, and so
impair the body, as in cases of mental
excitement, such as grief, Joy, fear,
horror, shame, cfagrin and disappoint-
ment."
The students took sides on Tie ques-
tion, and tile matter was ably argtled
pro and con, each party about equally
maintaining its assumed position. In
all questions of nature permitting n
strong argument Oh either side, it is
fair to pEesume that both parties have
truth for foundation, and neither has
the whole truth; and so 1t was in this
| case-the fact being that the mind does
affect the body, and the body the mind.
But something more than argument
was wanted in this case, medical stu
dents like to try experiments, and wit
ness practical demonstrations; and 1t
was finally agreed that a perfectly
healthy subject should be selected and
put under the effects of imagination.
A young, robust; rosy-cheeEed farmer,
who occasionally came into town to dis
pose Of his fruit, and who had found
some Of his best customefs among the
students, was finally fixed upon as an
individual in every way satisfactory
for the trial. The plan was for some
of the stu1shts, at diiTefeut times and
ia different places, without any appear
ance of coilusion, to be struck with his
altered lOOks-tO perceive some secret
malady beginning to affect him-and
finally to predict his death ut given
time. With this understanding they
went deliberately to work the next time
he appeared among them. Some three
or four of them sauntered out to his
cart, FROM which he vas selling apples;
and each, as he came up took loag
and unusual stare at him, as If sudden
" discovering something very peculiar;
and then all SEEMED to Consult together
in a very serious manner, occasionally
glanclng at him with looks of pity yerg-
ing on alarm.
"How are you to day, Mr.. Bussett2''
at length inquired one of the party, in
a grave, quiet tone, with look Of oom.
miseratlon; while the others crowded
up, stared hard in his face, and seemed
anxious for his answer.
"l'm right well, l thank yOul" re
piled Bassett, with pleasant smile
chow do you find yourself? I've got
some good eating apples here, gentle
men-the same kind you liked so well
! before" cha
"How old arc you, my friend?" pur-
sued the one who had first addressed
him, still looking him steadily aud seti-
Ously in the eye.
"Going on "a" '
"Just the age, too" remarked the
other to his Companion in low tone,
which Bassett overheard, as was inten.
ded he should. "Are you married2"
he inquired of the young farmer.
''No; not yet, exactly" laughed Bas-
sett.
"Intend to be, suppose?"
"Well, perhaps, some time or other,
If live - 81.
VERY well put ln-if you llyel" re-
turned the questiohor, with solemn EN-
phasls
For the first time the young farmel
looked at the speaker Ia some surprise
why, what do you mean by that
II liye?" be inquired.
''Is Il best 10 tell him?' said the stu,
Z dent ia a low tDne addressing hia eora