The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-10-18
The Conquest Of Pain.

1t is said that even the most acute
physical pain can be overcome by de-
termined effort of the will, and in a re-
cent number of a medical journal DR..
Carpenter quotes several eorroborative
instances.
DR.. Edward H. Clarke suffered from
a fatal malady which produced the
most agonizing pain; and yet he could
determinately withdraw his conscious
ness, so to speak, from that pain by
fixing it upon another object, that OBJ
ject being the working out of his own
neutral train of thought in the compo,
sition of book.
This is well known to have been the
case also with regard to Sir Walter
Scott, who, during a very severe and
painful illness, dictated the bride of
Lammermoor. The most remarkable
fact about the composition of this work,
was that, after his recovery, he entire
ly forgot all that he had done, the book
on its publication coming to him as an
entirely. new work with which he had
had nothing whatever to do. He only
remembered the general outline Of the
story upon which he had composed his
novel; this he had heard in early life,
and it remained with him; but of the
working up of this story into the novel,
while he lay on his sofa contending
with paroxysms of agony, he had no
recollection, -i. ;s .a-e7 Az ~
Thus, in the case of Walter Scott, as
in that of DIR. E. H. Clarke, we see the
effect of determined fixatien- of the at
tention upon aitrainsof ideas in master
ing physical pain.
Another most remarkable example Of
the same thing is in the case of Robert
Hall, celebrated preacher He used
to go into the pulpit suffering the most
agonizing pain, which was found after
his death TO have resulted from large
calculus in his kidney, With projecting
points, the terrible suffering produced
by which every medical man win at
once appreciate and was obliged
habitually to take some Of the largest
doses. of opium thatwe ever admins
tered. But from the moment he began
his extempore sermon (the Introductory
service having been. performed by his
colfeaguel, he seemed utterly uncon-
sciods of his condition.
During the latter portion of his life,
which was passed in Bristol, says DIR.
Carpenter, sI was often his hearer;
and like every one else, was most
deeply interested in his discourses,
while at times quite carried away by
the torrent of his eloquence. Twas as
sured by eyelwitnesses that when he
went down into the vestry he would
sometimes rolf on the floor in agony,
though during his pulpit address he
had ceased altogether to feel pain
VIII and faith together can indeed
work wonders. Youtb's Companion.
"a raneheress of Washoe Valley,
Nevada, has invented novel method
of preserving eggs for winter use.
During. the summer she breaks the
eggs, pours the contents into bottles,
which are tightly corked and sealed,
when they are placed in the cellar, neck
DOWN She claims the contents of the
bottles come out as fresh as when put
in. aad ~ E s7ata
"A flock of shep was passing along
sone of the streets in Malone, N. Y,
recently when one of the knowledge
seeking leading bucks jumped through
the window of a millinery store. The
rest Of the flock soon followed and the