Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-08-28
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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 di-
sease 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 comment on the fire.
quent blunders about certain internal mala-
dies and the effect of imagination upon
physical health:
1t cannot be doubted that every year thou
sands of people are frightened into their
graves by unfavorable reports on the con-
dition of their lungs Each vital organ has
disorders and weaknesses peculiarlyits own;
and the lungs have their full share. Pain
in the chest is always attributed, by persons
afflicted, to diseased lungs, and the infiu-
ence of the imagination upon the vital
organs is so powerful that the malady may
be quickly increased. There are some forms
of malarial fever which induce terrible ach-
ing in the chest. The victim knowing
nothing Of pathology, or even OfphysiOlogy,
attributes the cause to either pneumonia or
consumption and begins at once to break
down. Consultation with an ordinary coun-
try practitioner usually verifes his fears,
and unless he dimes at Widespread table
and has good appetite-which seldom ac-
companies malaria-he either gives up and
dies or he hurries away to health rest for
consumptives.
Heart disease is another popular humbug
which physicians too often support The
heart is the most vital of the physical Or
gans, but, like all the others, it can and
does endure a great deal of abuse. 1t is
very easily affected alphabetically, so any
temporary disorder of stomach, lungs or
liver may make its action irregular or cause
pain which seems to be located directly in
the heart. Almost every one has many
| into hn
have told him in strict confidence that they
have heart disease. A well known physi-
clan had son whose heart, tested by every
appliance which professional skill could sug-
gest, seemed to be terribly diseased, so
the youth was for ten years treated as
a delicate invalid. Finally, the father
noted that his paroxysms of pain, followed
by extreme exhaustion, always came after
meals which either were extremely hearty
the patients appetite being fitful-or after
repasts, the viands Of which were incongru-
GUS or very rich. He Immediately 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 disappear
ed as if by magic.
1t should be remembered by the afflicted
or the frightened that all the vital organs are
| OuI VI SlSuU, duu IudI Gle exITe1le Vi skill
and experience can only imperfectly ascer-
tain their condition. The kidneys are the
only exception to this rule for their condi-
tion 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 INSCRIPTIONS physicians. The excreta
of the kidneys is uniform only in persons
whose habits of eating, drinking, sleeping,
bathing and working are absolutely 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 regu-
lar and intelligent physical habits. Plenty
of well-cooked food, few or no stimulants,
regular rest, frequent 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. Beyond doubt it
is far preferable to dying of fright.