Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1894-03-08
BODILY EFFECT or EMOTIONS.
Puerperal Fever Erysipelas and Other
Diseases Sometimes Result

Puerperal Fever. Erysipelas and Other
Diseases Sometimes Result.
Many serious maladies have been at
tributed to the action Of moral inllu-
ences says tile Revue Scientihque
Senuert believed that fear was capable
of inducing erySipelaS. Hoffman also
made fear and the consequent adyna-
mia play an important part a. pre-
disposing cause in contagious disease.
Dr. IL luke laid stress on the intlu-
ence of fear IN the contAgion Of rabies.
and. in fact there are innumerable cases
on record OF emotional patients who
suffered all the pains and inconyen-
fences Of numerous maladleS, inaugu-
rated solely by emotional disturbances,
Depressing emotions frequently appear
70 play an important part in the de
velopment of tuberculosis. Puerperal
fever is also encouraged by depressing
moral emotions Il have often" says
NJ HeryieuX. "'Secn young women in a
fair way to recovery hurried into NOR
tai illness by reproacheS or mental agi-
view finds very general support among
the members Of the profession. The
emotions also play an important part
in the evolution Of diseases following
surgical operations. The facts observed
under this head are apparently in
harmony with modern theories as to
the causes of cOntagion and of immu-
nifty from infectious disease On one
Of these theories, the mesodermic cells,
and particularly the white corpuscles,
are charged with the function of pro-
tecting the organism against the inva-
sion Of disease microbes. We know
that these leucOcytes possess the pow
er of sending out prolOngations, and
of enyeloping the object of their attack.
In this way they destroy the invading
foes by a process of real intracellular
digestion Now, dilatatiOn of the peri.
pherc vessels occurs in asthenic emo
tons, as is manifest by ruddiness Of
the skin. increase of volume of circula-
ton and functional exaltation. In as
thenic emotions, on the contrary, there
are diminuton Of circulation, conuac-
ton Of the blood vessels and conse-
quentlv n condition unfavorablc to the
activity of the leucocytes.
Asthenic emotions may thus be regard
ed as corresponding in their action TO
uaumausms. chill, fatigue, inanitiOn,
loss of blood etc 1t is not merely
that the coalition Of the vessels change
under emotional disturbances, but the
leucocytes themselves exhibit the intiu-
enee of changed condition in apparent
lass of vitality with corresponding loss
of the property being attracted to the
invading microbes or the products of
their secretion 1t has been observed,
too, that under detective conditions Of
nutrition. as well aS after nervous eX-
citement or emotional disturbance, the
liability to Infection is greatly enhanced
and this appears easily applicable
on the theory that the whole organism
is under such conditions, tmpregnated
with a poison sufficient TO engage all
the activities of the leucocytes, to the
neglect of the invading foe, The inhu-
cnce OF the emotions on infection IS,
moreover, SuceptlDle oil dfetL expert
mental demonstration. Having under
my care a number Of Predetermined
persons capable of taking interest in
mOnotOuous exercise. | made use OF
them To try the effect Of fear upon Il
considerable number OF small animals
pigeons, rabbits and white mice.
Both the frightened animals and others
which had been left mt rest were then
inoculated with cultures OF pathOgenic
microbes carbuncle, chicken cholera,
pneulno-enteris, and Fracnkel's pneu-
mo-cocts. In all the experiments,
without exception the frightened ami.
mails were the first To Succumb, if the
cultures were virulcnt enough TO cause
death, while if the cultures were attcn-
uated, only the frightened animals
died. We have seen animals little sus
ceptible to the influence Of fear Moral
shock is in reality equivalent To a cere-
bral connection and without forcing
analogieS too far, it is easily cOmpre-
hensble hat it is capable of provoking
cerebral LESSONS