Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-09-19
DEATHS FROM FRIGHT.
AN INTERESTING QUESTION DIS
CUSSED BY A PATHOLOGiST.

xIrocis as Deadly as Bullets, but Which
Does Not Cut Any Figure-In This Coun-
try Fright Alone Causes Few Deaths.
Can man or woman in ordinary good
! health be killed by sudden fright just as by a
bullet, knife wound or falla
The burden Of opinion is on the side Of the
theory that even the most hearty person can
die OF the shock caused by fright. 1t seems
that it has been impossible to diagnose one of
these cases. Fright, if it causes cath, leaves
no peculiar marks by which the character of
such an attack can be defined. In most cases
of death there is some condition that enables
the physicians to deter mine the cause.
But in the case of death by fright there is
no lesion on the brain nor is there an condi-
ton Of the organs that definitely ~ S the
cause of demise. Nevertheless q n ,rity Of
the best physicians agree that fright alone
will cause death. DR.. William A. Ham
mond, the specialist in nervous disorders,
holds this view and most of his colleagues
agree with him Visits made at a number Of
New York hospitals and dispensaries showed
that the physicians in these institutions
DIFFICULTIES Ut AN AUTOPSY.
The physician who spoke most freely on
the subject was Condlct W Cutler, who has
charge of the New York dispensary, the old
est in New York city, and one in which some
/ l25, 600 patients are treated every year for
! all manner of diseases. DR.. Cutler is an ex-
pert in nervous disease and rccks high among
! pathologists He is decidedly of the opinion
L. IL
den fright although, he says, that in his
opinion such cases are extremely rare
1T is q question that has been widely
studied and discussed, and one which has
been the subject of so much controversy in
medical Journals. But a majority of ply
sicians now agree that fright may be set
down as a cause of death unassisted by any
other"
But is there not usually some other com
phcation! some heart or nervous trouble or
some other organic weaknessg"
Not necessarily. OF course in most cases
there is, but death might result from fright
alone even if there existed no organic trou-
bles. Nor has the mere physical strength Of
q man or woman much to do with the mat
ter. \ small weak woman is frequently less
affected by these shocks than q strong man.
something peculiar in the make up of a man
or woman. There are strong men who can
not endure the sight of blood There are
men even in the medical and surgical profess
sions who never become reconciled to some
OF the more disagreeabfe tasks that they are
called upon to perform. Then again there
are others physically weak who have nerves
OF steel, and who delight in the most difficult
u operations"
But how can it be determined that per-
son has died from fright alone"
From general conditions said the doctor.
''Of course there is no means of defining the
cause of death as in case of death by ordi-
nary causes. So far no LESSONS have been
found on the brain that would make cl-,ar the
action of the shock upon that organ Nor
are there any other marked conditions that
enable one TO make a satisfactory autopsy.
In fact have never been called upon to do
So although | have watched the discussion of
this question with interest. But TO make it
plain, it is agreed that where it is known that
ii person has been subjected suddenly 10 q
severe shock, where it is subsequently, found
that the person had in life suffered from no
disease and where it Is also found that at the
time of death the organs were In normally
healthy condition, it would appear ut once
that death was the result OF fright You
know alcoholism is put down as a cause OF
death. and yet it was but the other day that
prize was offered for any paper that would
establish the existence of LESSONS on the brain
that would prove that alcoholism alone is a
cause OF death"
NERVOUSNESS CONTAGIOUS
But is not death from fright very rareF
Extremely 50, y was the reply. AS | have
said, | never lad one come under my per
sonal observation, although l believe taat
such deaths sometimes occur.
There are" continued DR.. Cutler leases
where persons suffering from heart troubles
have had death fastened by some sudden
fright or shock, but even these cases are not
common"
But is rot insanity sometimes the result
of frightl7
Sometimes, but it is more frequently
caused by some other kiad Of severe shock
Bat both causes produce but a small percent
AGE of cases. Insanity. as a rule. Is caused
by drunken parents or Is inherited. On the
whole. this IS an important question. and one
/ in which pathologists generally are naturally
interested and concerned. II it be possible
10 finally settle the question whether a person
can be frightened 70 death or not something
important VIII have been done 1t ! a com
mon thing TO say one has been frightened TO
death. but there is not much IN the phrase
As q rule, fright, unless It be an extreme
case, does rot affect healthy grown persons.
Children subjected To extreme fright are fire.
ouently driven into commissions. Just as
women are driven into Mysteries But there
Is NOT much fear of death, even in such cases. ~
You do not think fright alone Is worth
considering very seriously Is q cause Of death
in this country
No. bgc the human frame is Il queer ma
chine and anything that bears on any OF is
organs Is worth studving the nervous sys-
tai0 i u peculiar one You nay place a
strong man among lGnat.cs and leave hin
where he VIII come INTO constant contact
with them long enough and his mind VIII be-
come affected by his association with the IN
sane.
1t mas baen noticed. Too. that one child in
school If afflicted WIKI s.. YItus' dance. vii
cause other children shout him Of her 10 be-
come affected 20 some extent One nervous
twitchIng person In room where Others are
sitting vii cause others - become nervous
g. well We are 70 a very great extent a
nervous people, and il : Necessary TO study
every phase OF Il L : here tha. the IN
portance q tie question @ death from fright
comes IL. New y ork Enli and Express