The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-09-04
Effect Of Imagination.

The case of DR.. Taft, of Hartford, who
was informed by eminent physicians that
one of his lungs had been destroyed by
disease and that he could not live six
months, but who did not believe it and
lived on comfortably till sixty years of
age, leads the New York Hour to com.
ment on the frequent blunders about
certain internal maladies and the effect
of imagination upon physical health:
1t cannot be doubted that every year
thousands of people are frightened into
their graves by unfavorable reports on
the condition of their lungs. Each vital
organ has disorders and weaknesses pc.
culiarly its own; and the lungs have
their full share. Pain in the chest is
always attributed, by persons afflicted, to
diseased lungs, aud the influence of the
imagination upon the vital organs is 80
powerful that the malady may be quick.
ly increased. There are some forms OF
malarial fever which induce terrible ach.
ing in the chest. The victim knowing
nothing of pathology, or even OF physi.
ology, attributes the cause to either
pneumonia or consumption, and begins
at once to break down. Consultation
with an ordinary country practitioner
usually verifes his fears, and unless he
dimes at Widespread table and has q
good appetite seldom accompa-
nies malaria-he either gives up and dies
or he hurries away to health rest for
consumptives.
Heart disease is another popular hum
bug which physicians too often support.
The heart is the most vital of the physi.
cal organs, but, like all the others, it can
and does endure a great deal of abuse.
1t is very easily affected sympathetically,
so any temporary disorder of stomach,
lungs or liver may make it's action irreg-
ular or cause pain which seems to be
located directly in the heart. Almost
every one has many acquaintances, ap.
parently healthy, who have told him in
strict confidence that they have heart
disease. A we'll known physician had
son whose heart, tested by every applI'
-ance which professional skill could sug-
gest, seemed to be terribly diseased, so
the youth was for ten years treated as
delicate invalid. Finally, the father no.
ted that his paroxysms of pain, followed
by extreme exhaustion, always came
alter meals which either were extremely
hearty-the patients appetite being 6tful
or after repasts, the viands OF which
were incongruous or very rich. he i'm.
mediately changed his treatment, sought
the malady in the stomach instead of the
heart, found it was indigestion, acted
accordingly, insisted upon regular meals
with plenty of nutritious but plain food,
and the heart disease disappeared as if
by magic.
It should be remembered by the af1ict.
ed or the frightened that all the vital or.
gans are out of sight, and that the ex.
treme of skill and experience can only
ascertain their condition.
The kidneys are the only exception to
this rule for their condition for the time
being can be Judged to some extent by
what comes from them. But even this
test may be misleading, and it is the
means Of a frightful amount of the abuse
of the feelings and pockets by quacks
and unscrupulous physicians. The ex
creta of the kidneys is uniform only in
persons whose habits of eating, drinking,
sleeping, bathing and working are abso'
lutely regular.
The natural deduction from all this is
that no person should give up to fears
regarding the heart, lungs or any vital
organ until he has first tried the effect OF
absolutely regular and intelligent physi.
cal habits. Plenty of well.cooked food,
few or no stimulants, regular rest, fre-
quent bathing, and either steady work or
plenty Of moderate physical exercise,
have in short time restored to health
thousands of persons who have been
given up to die of vital disorders. Such
treatment costs no more than the ordinary
methods Of life, and as soon as fairly
begun it becomes very pleasant. Be.
yond doubt it is far preferable to dying
of fright.