The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-12-25

Mlllln my Own acquaintance. An Alhsig
physician OF eminence was spending month
10 the AdiT0ndacks not many years ago and
one morning, with his wife and q guide, left
the hotel in canoe. The guide was ln the
stern with paddle; the wife sat in the middle
of the boat, with her arm cRrolcssly passed
through a cord attached 10 the Euuwae, and
the husband sat IN the bows with a gun 10 ms
hand. Attempting 10 shoot hawk that was
soaring over their heads the latter overturned
the canoe. he and the guide were drowned,
The lady, hanging by the wrist hoated sbont
upon the water with tho canoe all that day and
the night following unable either 10 sink or 70
release herself When she was rescued the
next morning her abundant hair was perfectly
white, although il had been beautiful glossy
black but "a hours before.
But can q man die Of fright2 j have asked
this question OF the most eminent medical men
Of army experience in Washington, and OF
many old soldiers.
Surgeon General Moore IretiTed) said il
IS entirely possible for a man 20 be scared TO
death lie may be killed by Joy or by grief,
or by any other intense emotion; predisposing
that he has a weak heart OF is keenly suscep-
tible 10 external impressions. 10 would be i'm
possible 10 Brighten a dull, heavy man TO death,
or one who is perfectly healthy in all his
organs. j have within my own knowledge a
case OF a man who died from JOY upon the re-
cept Of a message of great importance. lie
was so affected that he fell dead. have known
men, also, 30 be temporarily disabled by
EXCESSIVE FEAR,
but do not remember any case within my ex-
perence where q man was actually scared 20
death. man turns pale when he is frightened.
Paleness Is q sign of disordered condition OF
the blood. The blood is forced back upon the
heart, and If the vessels of the heart are weak
they burst and death ensucs Fright or any
other strong emotion might cause apopleXy. j
have read of a well authenticated case where q
man died of fear. He was the victim Of q
practical Joke. His torment0rs took him into
q dark room, held a mock trial, and pretended
30 sentence him 10 death. The sentence was
that he should be bled TO DEATH and they pre-
tended 10 prick his veins Then DE was turned
over on his side and made 10 believe that the
blood was trickling from him. IN order TO
strengthen this deception they dropped water
from pot into pan, and the victim, hearing
She dripping, believed that his blood was leay-
ing his body, and after suffering all the agOnies
Of dissolution, finally died OF fright"
Representative Henderson, of Iowa. reports a
similar case that was told him by his brother
~ having occurred IN a medical college al
which the latter was q student ia Aberdeen,
Scotland. There was an old professor in the
institute who was very obnoxious 10 the
students and 10 punish him they arranged a
practical Joke Entering his room at night,
masked, they seized him, bound him and took
him 10 d carriage which was driven around the
University grounds for 20 minutes OF hall an
hour ina order 10 make him believe that lie was
being carried to the other end Of the city.
Then they took him into 3 room where mock
trial was proceeded with, and he was sentenced
10 death. They prepared an executioners
block, compelled him 10 kneel and place his
head upon il, and then they struck him across
She back Of the neck with damp cloth. The
shock produced Rpoplcxy, 10 the CONSERVATION
OF the students, who hastily carried his body 20
his own room, and left il on the floor IN such 8
position as 10 lead 10 the belief that he had
fallen IN q ct when alone.
Dr. John s. Billings. Curator Of the United
States Army Medical Museum, who is recog-
nized m authority on any subject he under
takes 10 discuss, says: Yes; with a prOyisO.
+" No case has ever come under my personal
observation he said, " but ] know enough OF
the power u mental impressions upon the vital
organs 10 believe that the numerous instances
cited by writers may be true; that commissions,
or paralysis and even death from the failure OF
the hearts action, may be caused by strong
emotions. We know that mental shocks can
produce great increase OF decrease Ia the quality
Ofsecrctions. ForeKample: The sudden fright
OF d nursing mother may produce such chemi-
cal change IN the quality Of the milk, that the
infant taking il would be poisoned. ] have
seen cases Of commissions In infants which could
only be attributed 10 such causes Fright las
produced epilepsy in children.
THE SUDDEN FRIGHTENING
Of child In jest has caused fatal illness, and IN
certain cases haE produced cpllcptic commissions
which have lasted for q considerable time"
I" Have you ever had brought TO your at.
tention the case Of soldier frightened q
death in battlef"
(" No"
Bo you believe such thingeyer occurred 20
do not know; il D. possible But don't
Hee how s man who could be frightened tC
death could pass the physical tests necessary Il
be q soldier"
+" In Oh Of the records Of the surgical and
medical corps ln the late war, has any sucl
case been brought 10 your attention."
no. But ] will admit il 10 be perfectly
possible that with certain form OF disease Of
the heart strain or shock will stop It's action
The exercise OF walking up fight Of stain
might result fatally. You could readily see
how an artery that was ready 10 break would
when strain was put upon IT, rupture easily
ApOpeXy ID produced by abnormal pressur,
upon TIC arteries Of the brain. You know, o.
course, the old stories told in med ical books
Hnd some Of them ] think are authentic. To-
example nm execution carried on IN Jest A
man b. condemned 10 be beheaded and blind
folded, b. led 10 the block upon which h,
places his head. Then q wet towel draw
across bis neck produces such shock as 1,
oause death.
Dr. Frederick Manson, IN 1876. reports
case 81 girl two years aud three months o
age, frightened by q boy IN q red mask il
which sitter 80 hOuE Of commissions death fnl
lowed. Several cases arc on record where fea
of surgical operation has produced death
The London Lancet in 1926 REPORTS q case OF
c0lored man Of middle age robust and in goo,
health, who was laboriug under a moderat
sized sneurism OF The femoral artery. Al
operation was proposed 10 him. 10 which n
readily assented but upon entering The thoate
be tainted, Hnd finally died from fear TIN
Boston Medical aud Surgical Journal reports d.
case Of a small black boy by tho name Of Isaacs
ln Philadelphia who waE frightened 10 dealt
by drunken man by tho name Of Wilson.
And such shocks lave cured disease a
well. DR. H. y. Coleman reports a case q
chronic Rheumatism Ina q soldier who was at
tcrly helpless aud whose limbs were shrivelcd
During battle he was exposed 10 sudden an,
unexpected danger aud the effect was marvel
Gus and instantaneous. ID produced d com
plclel Immediate, and permanent cure cas-
Dr. reported by Dr. Hamilton Of a soldier aill let
ed with dropsy, which, under the influence o
terror, was removed by the kidneys in an hour
a case is reported by DR. Sharpof a farmer 8
years old, afflicted with chronic rheumatism s
that bis thighs aud knees were contracted A
right angles. While driving his horse RAJ
away and overturned tho cart The farmer 60
on bis feet seized the animal, and By the tim
be reached homo was entirely cured. Tn
Nashville journal Of Medicine and Surgery 1872
Eeporls tho case Of one Maze private in th,