Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-11
MIND AND BODY.
Mental influence in It's Relation to
Bodily Functions.


From the Literary Digest.
The lengths to which mind curists and
faith curists have gone in advocacy of their
special methods, to the exclusion OF all
clher modes of treatment, have caused
many persons to look askance at all asser-
tions regarding the influence of the mind
over bodily functions and processes. yet no
physiological fact is better established than
the existence of such an influence. Regard
ing some phases of it Modern Medicine
february has the following to say edito-
rally, it's remarks being suggested by an
address made recently by DR.. T. S. Cious-
ton before the Royal Medical Society of
Edinburgh, Scotland. We quote few para
graphs below:
every bodily organ and func ton is rep
resented in the cortex of the brain, by
means of which all are harmoniZed and
unified Each Heuron with its hundreds of
fiberS and its thousands Of dendrites, has
relation to some particular part and func-
ton, and is connected not only with all
other neurons, but, directly or indirectly.
with multitudes of other similar structures
which help to form the brain. Every func-
ton of the body-laughing, talking, Weep
ing, digestion, sweating, etc.-is affected
through the influence of the brain cor
tex = ,
1.-The evidence that the brain cortex reg
ulateS absorption, secretion, vase ular tone,
as well as the various tissue changes and
other activities of the body, is complete.
Sores in melancholic persons will not heal.
In cases of lung disease in idiots and i'm
beetles, there is so little resisting power
against the tubercular bacillus that two
thirds Of them die of consumption. Sir
Samuel Baker noted that grief or hunger
is nearly always followed by fever in GER
tain parts of Africa. When in Mexico two
years ago, we found that quite proportion
of chronic invalids attributed their illness
to getting angry. fit of anger in that
country being usually followed by a severe
illness. Death occurs in many cases. not
SO much because of disease as because of
the diminished resisting mental and nerv-
Gus force which opposes it. bad memory
and an attack of eczema in a man of
seventy-iive may he due to the same cause
A cheerful and buoyant mind, as we'll as a
sound brain, are all-important in both the
prevention and the healing of disease.
"Blisters have been caused by suggestions
curing hypnotic conditions. Warts
have been charmed away, govt swellings
have disappeared at the cry Of Mad dog
or Fire These are extraordinary exam
pies Of an action just as real, though less
patent, of the influence which the brain Is
continually exercising upon other portions
of the body.
Most diseases are aggravated at night
when the brain is least active. Most con-
vulsive attacks occur at that time What
mans courage is as great at 3 in the MORN
ing as at midday? What mans judgment
Is as clear them 'Hallucipations as well
as fears. are most apt to appear at night.
TO check many diseases We cannot employ
better therapeutics than to strengthen the
corteX. and thus strengthen the mental
energy. To this end the first thing the
good doctor does is to inspire confidence in
his patient DR.. Clouston thus presents a
sood foundation for a scientific mind cure
which some ingenious therapeutist will
doubtless some day work out in detail''