Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1894-11-21
ACUTE IMAGINATION.
Instances of Tricks the Brain Has
Played on Mortals.
Experiments Made by Doctors Which
We're Cruel In Their Treatment
and Resulted Fatally.

tice 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 dis
agreeable to pass near it, but it that it
was disgrace to allow it to remain
there. A strong sense of duty. said
one of the complainants, impelled him
to draw attention to the scandal. The
policeman at once called verger, who
found on inquiry that the box was
empty and had never been used to con-
ceal a corpse. However, he had the
box removed, and in this way prevent
ed the recurrence of the horrid smells
of which visitors to the abbey had com.
planned.
A still more curious case of the way
in which the Imagination may usurp
the senses of smell and sight is record
ed of hospital patient. Two Paris
medical men interested in this subject
of freaks and delusions of the i'm agina-
tion told the patient in order to cure
him both his legs would need be am
putated. The man was thunderstruck.
Until that moment he had imagined
himself to be improving in health.
"Oh, good doctors" he exclaimed in
accents of terror, ''you have made
some mistake. There is nothing wrong
with me. If my legs are cut off, what
will my poor wife and children do to
get their daily bread?"
u am very sorry, my good fellow, "
responded one of the medical men,
but your life depends upon the opera
tiou."
The patient was wheeled into the
operating theater, and there, without
chloroforming the the man, the doc
tors pretended to proceed with the am
putation.
"Ah." said the operator, with an
assumed sigh of relief, "there's one
leg off,"
"Oh, holy Virgin Mary, the pain is
frightful; am dying" shrieked the
patient.
Then the operator hurriedly "amputa.
ted " the second leg. The patient faint.
ed. When he came to, the doctors
were Mortified to find that he had be-
came insane. He actually believed
himself legless. Two months after the
pretended operation he died. Up tc
his last moments he believed that hit
lower limbs had gone. In this case
there was no suspicion of hypnotism
1t was simply phase-exaggerated
no doubt-of madness produced by ar
imagination too cruelty played with
by the medical men.
Few more striking instances of tn,
force of imagination have been giver
than that in which a German physi
clan tried an experiment on three crimi
nails condemned to death. To com
plete the illusion he entered the larg,
cell in which for the purpose the pris
oners were placed, accompanied by tn
Governor and other official of the Jail
Now, gentlemen, said the Cover
nor, addressing the condemned men
1.-THE emperor. has decreed that each O
you are to be executed in differen
ways. You,-," he pursued, address
ing the first criminal, are condemne,
to swallow dose of poison, Will
you,-," turning to the next twill b
bled to death. and you," speaking t.
the last man, who was trembling vic
lently, twill die from an injectment O
poison in the arm"
Each criminal was placed in a chair
pinioned and blindfolded. Then sal
the Governor, now look at this watch
Now, doctor you may begin"
The physician solemnly poured int
n cup an evil tasting but Harmless
liquid and held it to the first prisoner
mouth. The man clinched his teet
and refused to drink the poison.
kill me-" he cried. Murder m
in any way but this" Before h
could speak again the jailors seize
him and forced the liquid down hi
throat.
HE will be dead in two minutes,
whispered the doctor to the governor
The criminal heard the remark an
gave a blood curdling shrek. Whe
the doctor turned round, he saw ths
the man apparently tainted. He turr
to the next criminal, who tremblingl
awaited his fate. He clinched h
teeth, recovered himself and met th
doctors inquiry, "Are you ready ?
with the "Yes" of a stole. His ar,
was then pierced with lancet, thoug
no vein was opened.
You see how pale he has become,
said the doctor in the mans hearin,
HE is losing blood rapidly" Tn
physician went on describing the SYM
toms and at length pronounced IL
words, Now he's dying" For IN,
ment the prisoner shuddered violentl,
Then he became still. The doctc
looked at the criminal, bent his ear
the mans heart and then to his di
may found that he had actually e:
pired.
This unlocked the result, although
! merely anticipated by day the actul