Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-04-21
ADDRESS of a Stanton Physician.

before the Medical and Chirurgical Facul-
ty OF Maryland in the Hopkins University
Hail. The subject of the lecture was, The
reciprocal influence of morbid physical and
psyehical condition of the nervous sys-
tenn" We learn from the Baltimore pa
pers that the hall was filled by the profess
sion, and that s'the conclusion of his elo-
astic applause" That evening DR.. Frank
Donaldson, the President of the Faculty,
held reception at his residence in honor
of DR.. Fauntleroy. at which the majority
OF the members of the Faculty were pres
emit. We infer from the sketch OF the ad-
dress published in the Baltimore papers,
that though dealing with a theme that en-
closes the highest mysteries of the profess
sion-the connection of mind and body, 1t
was popularized sufficiently to make it in
teresting even to n-professionals. The
following extract will be read with inter-
est by all:
The correlative action of body and mind
is the foundation upon which medical psy-
chology reposes. and constitutes consld-
GRAFTON which general medicine cannot
fail to recognize as one of great import
ance in the observation and treatment of
so-called bodily disorders. We're our minds
and senses SO expanded, strengthened and
illuminated as to enable us to see and feel
the very molecules of the brain; were we
capable of following all their motions, all
their groupings. all their electric discharg-
es-if such there be-and were we init
mately acquainted with the corresponding
state of thought and feeling. we should be
as far as ever from the solution of the
problem. How are these physical process
es connected with the facts of conscious
ness? The utmost that can be affirmed is
the association of the two classes OF phe-
nomena, Of whose real bond of union We
are in absolute ignorance. And the prob
lem of the connection of mind and body is
asserted to be as insoluble in its modern
form as it was in the prehistoric days. [
have had for several years under my OBJ
servarion simple but interesting case of
the influence of the psychical upon the phys
ical. When the subject IS not ANNOYED
and worried in his business relations di-
gestion is undisturbed and the appetite
may be INDUCED 0d libitatnl while his man
ner is affable to marked degree; but il
any worry or complication IN business oc-
occurs, presto comes disordered di-
gestion. requiring a regulation OF the
dietary and producing a marked altera-
ton in temper and social bearing. While
emotional excitement may give rise to cpl
lepsy, this neurotic disorder may in turr
occasion morbid psychical phenomena Of
ten prominent and distressing in charac-
ter. In sO-caled cases of marked epilep-
sy the convulsive seizures are correlated to
marked psychical disturbances. The ap-
proach of a paroxysm may be foretold by
querulousness, fretfulness ami perverse-
ness of temper. an observation CT some
practical value as suggesting a resort to
preventive measures. Chorea (St. Vitus'
dance) has followed violent emotional ex-
element and early in the stages psychical
disturbances are usually developed. becOm-
ing more pronounced as the disorder pro-
presses. Morbid feelings nursed and cher
shed, especially in those without mental
occupation. may lead to the most distress
ing results, lmpairing the insulatery, ali
mentary, genito-urinary and nervous sys-
TENS, and the disordered organism react
ing upon the mifd intensifes the emotion
al disturbance until every sensation as
sumes morbid character, and the victim
magines himself prey to all the manifold
ills to which flesh is heir, and to all such
cases doubt not you are ready to adapt
the solemn invocation, "Good Lord deliver
US! In govt the psychical disturbances are
rarely absent, and usually consist in hypo-
chondria, irritability and changeability of
the mental tone and lend plausibility to
the theory now advanced as to its neurot-
ic nature.
And again, we may have instances of the
reciprocal action OF morbid bodily and
mental influences in Rhich the services of
the medical jurist rather than these of the
medical o. actitioner may be demanded
The example alluded to is the outcome or
resultant of naturally nsurotic tempera-
ment swayed by tbs impulses of mind
long habitnated to the indulgence of emo
tional likes and dislikes. in whom by bane
full habit, saif-feeiing and Importance iaYe
became more and more developed, while a
sense of and respect for social and ethical
obligation have vanished almost entirely
from view. Such is crank Research into
the causation of insanity as we'll as the
observation of its phenomena affords evil
dences of the reciprocal action of morbid
b oily and mental influences, which are
nowhere else in the bi DAD domain of path
ology SO saliently exhibited. The causal
influences of insanity ale numerous, and
operats On the genesis Of the disorder
either on the corporal or the mental side.
so to speak, of mans constitution Though
for convenience of reference, they are spo-
ken OF as acting separately, yet in the con-
crete STATE they are never dissnciated. For
observation and experience inculcate the
lesson that the morbid train of influences
is usually long and complex. embracing
causal influences both physical and moral.
On the one hand the atmosphere we
breathe, it has bean said, is full of psyche
logical germs calculated to infect the ner
vous system with disease, whether arising
from the commercial, the political or relig-
ious world. Hopes and fears appealing to
the deepest motives of our nature; politi-
cal excitement producing tumults Of pas
sion and bitter feeling; commercial waves
Of good ard bad fortune causing alter
na;ely intense joy and intense diappoint-
ment and chagrin-all these acknowledg
ed dangers to the mental equilibrium sur
round the daily life Of the denlzen of the
world. On the other hand, the organism
may be and not infrequently is staggering
under the burden of Il faulty nervous sys-
tem-the sad patrimony of an incorporate
epileptic, neuralgic, bysterical or insane
ancestry-so that the man Of to-day may
through antecedent generations have had
woven into the texture Of his nervous
system haneful predisposition or latent
tendency to insanity, which the mildest
disturbing physical agency or morbid phys
lcaI excitement may render actual.
In conclusion the doctor said: 81 shall
be mole than gratfied it | have persuaded
any practitioner of medicine that a man
is something more than living machine;
that while many of the actions of his Or
ganism are indicative of autonomy, yet as
sociated with the metaphysical forces there
IS a psychological energy patent for good
as we'll as for evil. would beg you to re-
member that while the psychical may, un-
der morbid conditions, work to the dis