Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1894-03-31
ACUTE IMAGINATION,
INSTANCES or TRICKS THE BRAIN
Has PLAYED on MoaTALs

We're truet ~ tHfsf hfE@t1@e"a -" w.
suited Fsssny--fss.nisy rrsdssed BY
wright
II In said that some 20 years ago long
wooden box, resembling plain panper's
coffin. might be seen inside the north
aisle of Westminster abbey. For two
days II WINS passed without notice by the
many people who visited the minister.
Then complaints were made to the police
officer at the door that the smell arising
from the body contained In the box was
not only disagreeable TO pass near II. but
that II was Disgrace to allow u to re-
main there. A strong sense of duty, said
one Of the complainants. impellcd him
TO draw attention to the scandal. The
policeman at once called a verger, who
found ON inquiry that the box was
empty and had never been nsed TO con-
ceal corpse. However, he had the box
removed. and in this way prevented the
recurrence Of the horrid smells Of which
visitors to the abbey had complained.
A still more curious case Of the way
In which the imagination may usurp the
senses Of smell and sight Is recorded OF
hospital patient Two Paris medical
men interested In this subject Of freaks
and delusions OF the imagination told
the patient that in order TO cure him
both his legs would need he amputated.
The man was thunderstruck. Until that
moment he had imagined himself to be
improving In health.
.sOh. good DOCTORS" he exclaimed in
accents Of terror. lyon have male some
mistake. There Is nothing wrong with
me. II my legs are cut of. what will
my poor wife and children do to get
their daily breadg'
Il am very sorry. my good fellow
responded one OF the medical men, hut
your life depends npon the operation"
The patient was wheeledinto the oper
ating theater, and there, without chic
reforming the man. the doctors pretend
cd to proceed with the amputation.
| "Ah." said the operator, with an as
sumed sigh of relief. ..there's one leg off,"
''Oh, holy Virgin Mary, the pain is
frightfuli ! am dying" shrieked the pa
| tient
Then the operator hurriedly ''ampu-
tated" the second leg. The patient faint
ed When he came to, the doctors were
horrified to find that he had become in
sane. He actually believed himself to
be legless. Two months after the pre-
/ tended operation he died. Up to his last
moments he believed that his lower limbs
had gone. In this case there was no sus-
picion of hypnotism. II was simply
phase-exaggerated. no doubt--of mad
ness produced by an imagination too
cruelty played with by the medical men.
Few more striking instances Of the
force Of imagination have been given
than that In which German physician
tried an experiment on three criminals
condemned to death. To complete the
Illusion he entered the large cell in
which for the purpose the prisoners were
placed, accompanied by the governor
and other officials of the Jail.
Now, gentlemen said the governor,
addressing the condemned men, 1.-THE
emperor has decreed that each Of you
are TO be executed In different ways.
You. - he pursued, addressing the
first criminal, ..are condemned to swal-
low dose OF poison. while You, -"
turning to the next. will be bled to
death. and you" speaking 10 the last
man, who was trembling violently,
will die from an injection Of poison in
the arm
Each criminal was placed in a chair.
| pinioned and blindfolded Then said the
governor. looking at his watch:
Now, doctor. you may Begin
The physician solemnly poured into a
cup an evil tasting but harmless LIQUID
and held 1t 10 the first prisoners month.
The man clinched his teeth and refused
to drink the poison.
Kill me!' he cried. Murder me in
any way but thisr Before he could
speak again the jailers seized him and
forced the liquid down his throat.
He will be dead In two minutes"
whispered the doctor TO the governor.
The criminal heard the remark and
gave blood curdling Shrek. When
the doctor turned round, he saw that
the man apparently tainted He turned
TO the next criminal. who tremblingly
awaited his fate. lie clinched his teeth.
recovered himself and met the doctors
inquiry, Are yon ready with the
Yes Of a stole. His arm was then
pierced with lancet. though no vein
was opened
"fou see how pale he has become
said the doctor in the mans hearing.
He Is losing blood rapidly" The phy.
stefan went on describing the symptoms
and at length pronounced the words.
Now he's dyingr For a moment the
prisoner shnddered violently. Then he
became still The doctor looked at the
criminal. bent his ear to the mans heart.
and then 10 his dismay found that he
had actually expired.
This unlocked for result, although Il
merely anticipated by day the actual
hanging OF the criminal, at once caused
the experiments to be Suspended. By
this time the first prisoner had recoy-
cred, as though from bad dream. but
the third man was heard slowly mur-
muring the Lords Prayer ere he received
the poisonous injection. He gave n
mad cry Of JOY when no learned that his
death would not occur until the morrow.
Another remarkable but less deadly
trick played by the imagination Il often
noted. Many people conceive an aver.
sion for some particular flower. perfume
or color. One man. noted for this ifio-
synerasy. hated green colors. He had a
notion-how Ii originated no one can toll
that green was dangerous to him. Ac-
| CorJfuCiv he was ruvsaix ut.la a.. -. -