Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-05-03
A CASE OF IMAGINATION.

1t is a well-established fact that the
mind has direct and important action
upon the body, and to a much greater
extent than persons III general suppose.
During the prevalence of an epidemic,
for instance, such as the cholera. thou
sands become afflicted through their own
fancy who would otherwise escape the
fell destroyer. We remember, when Ghis
scourge was last upon US, of hearing
several individuals spoken of as likely to
perish from the disease, for the simple
reason that they were constantly In fear
and dread of it; and we noted the fact
that these same persons rarely lived out
the season; while, on the other hand,
those who seemed to care little about it,
and in some cases scoffed at and defied
it, were seldom touched by the invisible
foe.
No one can tell how the minds or how
it acts upon the body; but we have con-
slant evidence Of its presence and power,
through one of its tributaries, the will;
and we are sometimes astonished at it's
increased force, when stimulated by fear
or passion.
In a conversation with distinguished
physician OF our acquaintance upon this
subject, he related case of the striking
effect Of imagination, or mind, upon the
body, which came under his own obser-
walton while student at hospital. A
lecture by one of the faculty, touching
upon imagination and its strange effects,
became a subject of discussion in his
class; and the question shortly arose
whether it was not rather the body that
affected the 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, g 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, chagrin and dlsappoint-
ment.
The students took sides on the ques-
ton, and the matter was ably argued
pro and con, each party about equally
maintaining its assumed position. Ii
all questions of a nature permitting {
strong argument on either side it Is fail
to pr sumo that both parties have truth
for a foundation, and neither has tht
whole truth; and it was In this case
the fact being that the mind does affec
the body, and the body the mind.
But something more than argumen
was wanted in this case; medical student
like to try experiments, and witnes
practical demonstrations; and it wa
finally agreed that a perfectly health,
Subject should be selected, and pu
under the effect OF imagination.
young, robust, rosy-cheeked farmer
who occasionally came into the town t
dispose of his fruit, and had found som
of his best customers among tn
students, was finally fixed upon as an in
dividual every way satisfactory for til
trial. The plan was for some of tn
students at different times and In differ
emit places, without any appearance c
collision, to be struck with his altere
Iooks-to perceive some secret malad
affecting him-and finally to predict hi
death at a given time. With this under
standing, they went deliberately to wor
the next time they met him. Some tire
orfour of them sauntered ont to his car
from which he was selling apples, an
each as he came up took long and III
usual stare at him, as If suddenly dl
covering something very peculiar; al
then all seemed to consult together IN
very serious manner, occasionally glan
ing at him with looks of pity veIging {
alarm.
Glow are you to-day, Mr.. Bassett
at length inquired one of the party, ia
grave, quiet tone, with a look OF con
miseration; while the others crowde
up, stared hard in his face, and SCENE
anxious for his answer.