The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1893-12-14
MIND AND BODY.
DISEASE AN ANOMALY.
Then What is the Secret
y. y Hprnld.

thy diseases. ."-Psalms, Gill, = ).
One Of these statements IS somewhat
stimulating to our curiosity. he al- J
parent meaning Of the text l. that we
must find relief from moral, evil and ;
phvsical aiIment from the same source,
or. in other words, that Gods providence
extends over the whole area of human
life and SUPPLEMENTARY a. well as
soul
That is startling announcement
and one which cOntravenes the social
traditions we have inherited from IN
Vulnerable ages. We have been taught
70 think of God as having close relations
TO the spiritual nature, but as lndlffer-
ont 10 the condition Of the physical
avatan Have we been mistaken IN
this matter and is it our duty to find
health as we'll as contentment and hap
niness in religion? The subject Is
worth talking about, and few casual
suggestions may not be out Of place.
No one can doubt that man was IN
tended to be healthy animal, that dis
ease is an anomaly? inevitable, perhaps.
l A.,
rance, but still an anomaly. 1t Is
hardly conceivable that pneumonia ana
consrmption were originally included
in Gods purpose respecting mankind.
On the contrary, it is almost undenlable
that beings are so constituted that they
ought to live in perfect health and die
Of old age, going out at last IKE the
flame of the candle. which tilckers
hecal1se there is no more fuel Tor the
wick to absorb, and then vanishes.
The magnificent professions OF med
icine and surgery, therefore, have their
basis in mans ignorance OF the laws OF
nature or his reckless disregard OF them
and in the stern DEGREES OF heredlty bE
which diseases perpetuate themselves
But every physician knows that tho
mental attitude of his patient Is a yer!
serious factor Of the case in hand. Ina
;s TO say. the mind is as important and a
effective a curative agency as drugs.
There are diseases which Will ylelt
ONLY to heroic treatment by knl1e o
medicine but there are other ailments
perhaps majority of them, which ar
exaggerated by the imagination.
the sufferer can be persuaded to thin
that # is nothing he brushes the pal
aside and goes about his business. |
on the other hand, he is convinced tn;
he is seriously i'll, he takes to his be-
His trouble is not so much IN bis bod
as in his mind. and if the physician ca
chance the current of his ideas he do
literally minister to mind diseased al
checks O, oyercOmes the maladN.
It is then a very interesting questl'
how far a mans mind can control |
body and to what extent the physlC
ad- functions can be kept at their order
leir work bv mental or spiritual process
lse- For example. one has an lmpreSsl
that he is afflicted with heart d1hea
The haIucination increases IN 1oi
uutil he is so weak he can hadrly Or
himself along The effect Of his nOtl
ion. on his body is palpable and real.
ing is weak because he thinks he IS. !
we're impresslons seriously interferes W.
'i'o his bodily functions and II 1t lasts 10
enough and is vivid enough 1t Is pO
set
, IT bic for him to die or II. ne uliilcui
however. is not with the physical org
re- h1t with the brain, which has raacl
'and = wrong conclusion. The physlc
examines him thoroughly, laughs
his fears and declares that he Is as Sor
as a bit of hickory. He accepts t
or" scientific dictrm and his imaginary
ease is instantly cured The man
nave was ready to make his Will thirty n
utes ago. and who walked with lntlI
or and painful effort, starts OF with
tair mind. and. therefore, a new body,f
ten mile tramp as light hearted
loeo' sprngy as boy
One doesn move freely with
more, w
=; IN rheumatic gout, and that is by no me
me. an imaginary disease, but awhile 81
settle one such suddenly heard the cry
anu Fire ~ The gOut was gone IN