The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-04-20
An ELOQUENT Address.
DIR. FAUNTLERoY BEFORE THE MEDICAL AN
CHIRURGICAL FACULTY OF MARYLAND.


On Thursday last, at the third days session
of the Medical and Chrurgical Faculty Of
MARYLAND, held in Baltimore, Dr. A. M. Faun
tleroy, of this city, delivered an address which
/ is reported as follows by the Baltimore Gazette.
The hall was filed by the medical profess
sion After the minutes had been read and
approved the president introduced Dr. A. M.
Fauntleroy, of Staunton, Va, late superintend-
ent for the Hospital for the Insane at that
place, who read highly interesting treatise
on 1.-THE reciprocal influence of morbid phys
cal and psychical conditions of the nervous
system" After an eloquent introduction,
wherein tribute was paid to Iaryland's
practitioners and reference made to the graf
flying indication that geological boundaries
had been ignored in the selection of the speak
er, DR.. Fauntleroy said;
The correlative action Of body and mind is the
foundation upon which medical psychology reposes,
and constitutes consideration which general med
icne cannot fail to recognize of great 1mpor
lance in the observation and treatment of socaled
bodily disorders. We're our minds and senses 50
expanded, strengthened and Illuminated as to en-
able us to see and feel the very molecules of The
BRAIN were We capable of following all their mo-
charges-if such there be-and We're we Intimately
acquainted with the corresponding state OF thought
solution OF the problem. How are these physical
processes connected with the facts OF consciousness
The utmostthat can be affirmed is the association
of the two classes of Phenomena, Of whose real
OF union We are in absolute ignorance. And the
problem of the connection OF mind and body is as
serted to be as iEsoiubIe in its modern form as IL
in the prehistoric days. nave had for several
years under my observation simple but interest
ing case In the influence OF the psychical upon the
physical. When the subject is not annoyed anu
worried in his business relations digestion is un-
disturbed and the appetite may INDUCED I'd Lot-
tUnl, while his manner is anable to marked de-
gree; but If any worry complication In business
occurs, presto comes disordered digestion, requtr-
Ing regulation of the dietary and producing d
marked alteration in temper and social bearing.
While emotional excitement may give rise to cpl
lepsy, this neurotic disorder may in occasion
morbid pSychical phenomena often prominent and
distressing in character. In so-called cases OIL
marked epilepsy the convulsive seizures correl
ated to marked psychical disturbances. The ap-
proach OF paroXysm may be foretold by queru-
lousneSS fretfulnesS and perverseneSs of temper,
an observation OF some practical value suggest
ing resort to preventive measures. Chorea (St. |
Vitus dance has followed violent emotional excite
men and early in the stages psychcaI disturbances
are usually developed, becoming more pronounced
as the disorder progresses Morbid feelings nursed
and cherished especially In those without mental
occupation, may lead to the distressing results
tmpalring the nSultory, aimentary gepito-urinary
and nervous systems, and the disordered organism
react1ng upon the mind intensines the emotional |
disturbance until every sensation assumes a nor
bid character, and the victim imagines himself |
prey to all the manifold ills to which flesh Ia heir
and as to ali such cases doubt you are ready
TO adapt the solemn invocation "Good Lord deliver
us! In govt the psychtcal disturbances are rare |
ly ABSENT and usually consist in hypochondria fr
rltapity ana changeabiliy of the mental tone, ana
iehu PiauSlplllty 10 The theory now advanced to
It's neuralgia nature.
And again, we may have instances of the recipro-
cal action OF morbid bodily and mental inf uences
IN Wnlch the services OF the medical iurist rather
than those of the medical practitioner may be de-
manded. The example alluded to is the Outcome
tam arar
sWayed by the impulses of mind long habituated |
to the indulgence OF emotional likes and diskes in
Whom, by baneful habit, self-feeling and 1mpor-
lance nave become more and more DEVELOPED. while
sense OF and respect for social and ethical obga-
tlon nave vanished almost entirely from ylew Sucn
Is crank research into the causation Of insanity
as well as the observation OF its phenomens affords
evidences OF the reciprocal action Of morbid bodily
ana mental Influences which are nowhere else in |
tne broad domain OF pathology saliently exhibit
ed. The causal influences Of insanity are numer-
Gus and operate on the genesis Of the disorder |
either on the corporeal or the mental side, SO to
speak, OF mans constitution. Though for conye
n1ence Of reference they are spOken Of as acting |
separately yet in the they are never
ASSOCIATED. For observation and experience incuI-
cate the lesson that the morbid train of influences
Is usually long and complex, embracing casual in
huences both physical and moral. On the one hand
the atmosphere We breathe, ii has been said, full
OF psychological germs calculated to infect the
vous system with disease, whether arising from the
commercial, the political or the religious world |
hopes ana Tears appealing to the deepest motives
OF our nature; political excitement producing lu-
mults OF passion and bitter feeling; commercial |
waves or good and bad fortune causing alternately
intense JOY and intense disappointment and cha
grin-all these acknowledged dangers to the mental
equilibrium surround the daily life of the denizen
of the world. On the other hand, the organism
may be and not 1nfrequently is staggering under
the burden of a faulty nervous systematic sad pat
r1mony OF an Incorporate, epileptic, neuralgia,
nyStef1cal or Insane anceStry-SO that the man OF
to-day may through antecedent generations have |
mad woven into the texture of his nervous system
baneful pred1spostion latent tendency to tnsani
W, which the m1idest disturbing physical agency
or mofpld physical excitement may render actual
In conclusion the doctor said: 81 shall be more
than gratifed If have persuaded any practitioner
OF medicine that man Is something more than
living machine; that while many OF the actions of
MS organism are indicative of autonomy, yet asso
ciateu win the metaphysical forces there is psy
geological energy patent for good we'll as for evil
would beg you to remember that while the psy
cnlcal may, under morbid conditions. work to the
disturbance and detriment of the physical actions
oI Inc organism, yet 1t may be welded as real
weapon In the daily practice of the healing art AS
an illustration OF the practical bearing of this sug
gestfon, might refer to the recent and memorable
instance which America has afforded of the power
0I mental determination to bear up courageously |
anu nODly under the SevereSt bodily suffering I |
would invoke you to study Of the mind as well as
d the body, in order that psychology may be made
more and more an appreciable agency in the prac-
tice Of physic.''
The conclusion of this eloquent address was
the signal for enthusiastic applause, and upon
motion of DR.. Tiffany vote of thanks was
rendered to DR.. Fauntleroy, and he was re-
auested to furnish a copy of his address for
publication. He was also, on motion of DR..
5. G. Chew, elected an honorary member of
the faculty.