Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-01-21
IMAGINARY DISEASE.

10 "ANoetih6 WIN ~ PoS1OhdA-o ene
women are screaming with bysteria. Halt
the diseases that sf1,ct our adult population
are imaginary. Melancholy is often regarded
as an evidence of biliousness, which can
only be cured by making the stomach an
apothecars's shop. Patent medicine nos
Irums thrive on melancholy. Lugubrious
people can read a patent medicine sdyer-
tisement and fancy they are in the last
stages of the disease it proposes to cure
and the silly work Of destroying healthy
stomach and SCATTERING q strong body begins.
The victim of this Kind OF delusion Is often
big, burly athlete, pining away in secret
melancholy. A distinguished German ply
stefan has lately made the statement that
fully one-third of the patients whom he
has treated in bis long professional life
kave been the victims of imaginary
disorders. He further states that in
many cases n frank statement elbows
bona fde sickness. The doctors in this coun-
try would 10 doubt corroboraie the Germans
testimony. These hypochondriscs, then,
furnish the medical profession with q third
part of their income; and IL We reckon that
third is The portion laid up from their
earnings, the conclusion is inevitable that
the savings OF the doctors are due 10 the
lively imaginations OF large part of the
community. There is, of course, no reason
why a physician should not prescribe q
read pellet to nervous old lady; his time
is valuable, and if the old lady chooses 10
consume it by informing him OF her fictitious
ills, abe should pay for his advice. The
lawyer, who draws a series of wills for the
testy rich uncle of comedy, does not dis
suade the old gentleman from his constant
changes Of mind. The lawyer is employed
TO draw the will in proper form, not to give
general good advice TO his client; the physi-
clan knows that if he does not prescribe for his
patients imaginary mslady, his nsxt-door
neiehbnr will be only loo glad 10 take the
goose which lays the golden eggs" of his
hands. And if frank explanations Of the
case would cause the patient to become
really sick, it is difficult to see what other
course than the prescription OF harmless
remedies is open 10 the physician. Probably
these imaginary invalids are the ones who
yign their names 10 certificates of remark
able cures by patent medicines. A firm faith
in the efficacy Of any medicine ought GER
tainly to drive away q disease which never
existed. DR.. Alternately proposed the proper
prescription for one of these bypochondriacs.
The patient insisted that he had mouse in
his stomach which was constantly gnawing
at his viials, and in despair asked if there
was any cure. The physician told him there
was no difficulty, and called for the biggest
tom-cat on the premises. One was
furnished, and DIR. Alternately told the
patient to open his mouth, as he inten led to
send the cat down after the mouse. The
hypocbondrisc was cured OF his malady, and
he discovered that a good joke was sure
sntidote for imaginary disease. Cowper
made himself insane by fearing he would be
insane, and men and women often become
sick by fancying they are sick. History re-
ports the case of culprit doomed TO death
W oPchihk tue Ncln1. Ilc was OliuQtOlQeQs
an incision made into the arw, but the
veins were not opened. 1t was 20 arranged
that warm water was TO trickIe down the
arm, and 10 be heard as it filed up the yes.
sci. The physicians told the victim he
would live only few moments, and with
their fingers on the pulse of each arm, wonld
exclaim, "He's sinking" '.He's almost gomez
The pulse grew weaker just as the physicians
represented, and the culprit died from an
imaginary loss OF blood. The same hall aci.
nation often brings disease and death. This
melancholy brooding and fear of disease is
often converted into monemanis, and the
victim tells you, in the language OF Rodgers:
"You may call 1t madness, folly;
You cannot chase my gloom away
There's such charm In melancholy,
would not, If could, be gay"
1t is easy for the victim of imaginary dis
ease TO degenerate into the morbid seusi-
billy of confirmed hypochondria. For such q
person society has no charms. All such
make merit Of their aversion to social ia
tercourse, and pride themselves on being
independent Of the frivolous amusements
OF the world. Woe 10 the individual who
prefers to be alone, for this of itself is pre-.
monition Of disordered mind. Diseases
that are imaginary are generally the result
OF over.taxed energies. Recreation, levity or
q hearty laugh are the only remedies They
will cure, while patent medicines incresse
the horror. In this beautiful world
of ours there is no cause for
or hypochondria. Many who
imagine themselves sick are OF that class
who are never happy unless they are miser-
able. ii they smile BY accident, their features
soon relax into the natural scewl. II the
young would escape imaginary disease and
the misery OF the hypochondris, let them
grow old gracefully by driving from their
hearts that peevishness and moroseness
which is the precursor OF the ailments which