The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1884-10-16
Effects Of the Imagination On Health.

Hne'ts OF the Imagination on Health.
The case of DR.. Taft of Hartford
who was informed by eminent pbv,
slcians that one of his lungs had
neen I destroyed by disease. and
that he could not live six months
out VINO did not believe it. and
lived on comfortably till sixty
years OF age, leads to comment on
the frequent blunders about certain
internal maladies and the effect of
IMAGINATION upon the physical
IL cannot be doubted that every
year thousands of people are fright
eneu INTO their graves by unfavora.
bic reports on the condition of their
lungs. Each vital organ has dis.
orders and weaknesses peculiarly its,
own; and the lungs have their full
share. Pain in the chest is alwavs.
attributed, by persons afflicted. 10
diseased lungs, and the influence OF
the imagination upon the vital or.
gans is so powerful that the nal.
ady may be quickly increased.
There are some forms of malarioi
iever which induce terrible achipg
in the chest. The victim, knowipr
nothing of the pathology, or even OF
physiology, 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 a we'll
spread table and has good an.
tlte-which seldom accompanies
malaria-he either gives up and
dies, or he hurries away to a health
resort for consumptlves.
Heart disease is another popular
humbug which physicians too often
support. The heart is the most vi
tai of the physical organs, but like
all others it can and does endure q
great deal of abuse. 1t is very
easily affected sympathetically, so
any temporary disorder of the stom-
ach, lungs or liver may make its ac-
tion irregular or cause pain which
seems to be located directly in the
heart. Almost everyone has many
acquaintance, apparently healthy,
who have told MIN in strict conf
dence that they have heart disease.
A well known physician had a son
whose heart, tested with every ap-
pliance which professional skill
could suggest, seemed terribly dis
eased, so the youth was lor ten
years treated as a delicate invalid.
Finally his father noted that the
paroxysms of pain, followed by
extreme exhaustion, always came
after meals, which either were ex-
tremely hearty-the patients ap-
petite being fitfal-or after repasts
the viands of which were incon-
gruous or very rich. lie immedi-
ately changed his treatment, sought
the malady in the stomach instead
of the heart, found it was indiges-
tion, acted accordingly, insisted up
on regular meals, with plenty Of
nutritious but plain food, and
the heart disease disappeared as if
by magic.
1t should be remem bered by the
afflicted or the frightened that all
the vital organs are out of sight,
and that the extreme of skill and
experience can only imperfectly as
certain their condition. The kid
neys 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 mislead-
ing, and lis the means of fright
ful amount Of abuse of the feelings
and pockets of quacks and and un-
'crupulous regular physicians. The
excreta Of the kidneys is uniform
only in persons whose habits Of
eating, drinking, sleeping, bathing,
md working are absolutely regular.
The natural deduction from this
S That no person should give way
% fears regarding the heart, lungs,
'r any other vital organs until he
las first tried the effect of absolute
y regular and intelligent physical
habits. Plenty of,well cooked food,
eW or no stimulants, regular rest,
frequently bathing and either
'teady work or plenty of moderate
physical exercise, have in a short
ime restored to health thousands of
PERSONS who been given up to die of
'ital disorders. Such treatment
'osts no more than the ordinary
Methods of life, and as soon as fair
y begun it becomes very pleasant.
'eyond doubt it is far preferable to
lying of fright.-Exchange.