The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-11
IMAGINATION CURE.
KEY TO THE MYSTERY OF A CLASS
OF OBSCURE PHENOMENA

\ Story Of Noodooism In South Carolina.
Bogus Charn-Dr. Carpenter on "Er-
pec;ant Attention" and Its Effccts--sor-
Gerry and witcbcraft.
? 4 south Carolina story appeared tho other
day, which, rightly considered. throws much
light upon TIC interesting subject OF negro
Supersii;ions, and. in fact, popular supcrsti,
lions generally. negro woman had been
ill for some time, and physicians were in
vaiu,' so at last she consulted voodoo doc
tor, who prescribed application TO a local
sorccrcr Of reDute Tie soroerer oracuiarly
declared tat o search o. the sick womqn's
premises would reveal the presence Of n
charm by which Sic had been "yoodooed,"
and gave a description Of what would be
found. Now the Lu. band of the sick woman
told doctor all about the alleged charm,
and tie doctor for joke fabricated q charm
ID answer the description, and hid 10 where
% would De found
50 far all Do PAIN sailing, but what appears
20 be regarded as extraordinary is tho fact
that from the moment tie bogus charm was
uncnrncl ihe patient began 10 mend, and
rapidly rcgaiucd her normal state Of health.
This l8 referred to as "tnc straugcst part OF
The story, hut really the s'rangest part Of
fbe story is the circumstance thar ot this day
any oao should think be matter al all mys-
teriole or should fail 20 apprehend the
obvious aud perfectly simple explanation
of lr
a MOST POTENT ENERGY.
Wha. cured this voman-and there Is no
inherent imrroJabiliy IN thc statement that
she is curci-was what cures thousands Of
people who have lcou made sick hy 1t IN the
first place II was. On word, imagination,
which is, howovcrpsych.ca itsnature among
the most potent Of physical agencies. The
mass OF Authentic evidence going 70 show
that tie Imagination can and commonly does
influence the body in the most direct ana
powerful manner long since put beyond con
troversy the fact tia, body IS under the con
troll Of mind TO az extent which might seem
scarcely credible 10 such as have not studied
the subject
Dr. W. b. Carpenter, in his admirable
treatise on mental physiology, prefers 10 &c
nominate the influence which effects organic
changes in cases Of disease "expectant at
tent0nn His theory is-and 1t Is now gen
orally ecceptcd-that in these cases the pa
tient believes something Will happen, expects
n favorable crisis, fixes lis or her mind upon
the affected part or the sickness generally
and thus uncOnsciously sets up therapeutic
action More closely analysed It will be-
found that the mental process involves an
exercise Il faith and an act Of yohtion. The
patient anticipates a cure. believes IN Us pos
siblhty. and so contributes to its accomplish
ment.
sOICERY AND WITCHCRAfr
Every physician knows that in serious i'll
ness it. is Of the first importance that the pa
uent houli be- hopeful, and should viii re-
covers. When tie desire Of life has from
any cause ceased or great mental depression
exists. comparatively slight attack Of dis
ease may prove fatal When the desire OF
life d, strong iuja attacks on the vitality may
be rouu'sed Tho part played 10y The vii
and tho Imagination in disease is always in
Rueutal and often the dominant one. Ih.
old tales of sorccry end w.tchcrait are hy NJ
means al fiction. The things related hap
pened in aces when people believed easily il
occult and malignant powers, and the expla
nation II q great deal IN those days must ID
sought here. and not ID the theory of ballu
cinat0n. ID an ignorant negro firmly be
heves that BE is "voolo0cd,n lac may, anr
- often does, fal sick. There is no deiusiof
about that The illness is real But 10 d
caused by dcluson mono The less, for it IS th'
direct result Of faith Dad powers which do mo-
exist
The subject is one of deep interest and Sc
rious importance to medical science Nor
and more the wise ANA skilliul physician
must aldrc,s himself o. curing the body VIII
The help OF The mind lIomust 'administel
toamind diseased, iu fact frequently II be
wishes TO restore the physical organism u
health; and tucsinipier the mind TO bo deal
with the easier VIII it DE found. rs rule t
employ DO thorapautically In the Souti
Carolina case bogus charm operated Pre-
ciseiv as II was expected the real ono woui'
dO-Ncw York Tribune