The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-16
TO KILL OR CURE BY THOUGHT.
WONDERFUL INSTANCES OF THE
EFFECT ON THE BODY OF
MERE SUGGESTION.

tent Disease Readily Relieved by
suhconsciOus Action of the Mind.
If People, Women Especially,
UouId Realize the Absolute Use
Iessness of worrying Over Either
Heal or Fancied Complaints, the
General Health and Happiness of
.be Human Race Would BE Much
Improved.
New York, April 1.-THE fact that
thought may affect the growth and func-
tions of the body is coming to be regarded
as possibility by even the most con-
servative and material of scientists. The
more advanced and speculative members
If the medical profession have expert
rnented along that line for a number of
years with very interesting results.
In speaking of the effect of thought on
the body 1 am not exploiting Christian
Science. faith cure, or anything of that
kind: but am merely giving my individ-
nal opinion, which is based on rather a
wide experience as a general practitioner
of medicine.
In order to understand how a thought
can inTlQellCG the EilSSlSul VI sans II -
necessary to have some conception of what
is called the subeonscious mind, which
is that part of the mentality that carries
on such Involuntary actions as the circu-
lation of the blood, the digestion of the
food, etc. If these obscure functions were
dependent upon the exercise of the con-
sclous will the very necessity of draw
tn, ant cavar9l times
a minute during ones lifetime would be
such stupendous effort as to appall the
bravest and most energetic OF creatures
But these matters have all been simph-
fled by a beneficent creator through the
action of the subconscious mind. This
mind while distinct from the thought,
or intellectual faculties, may, however,
be affected by them, and that syrnpa-
thetic relationship is the foundation of all
the phenomena of the faith curlst ana the
mental healer.
Though these effects are generally I'M
conscious on the part Of the subject, there
is no reason why this should be neces-
sary So and few simple experiments
wifi convince almost any gre
may have a conscious effect on the body.
one of the simplest experiments, though
one which is of no use in a practical way,
is to fix the mind intently on a certain
part of the skin, say the inside of the
wrist If the mind is not allowed so
waver from the point, in few minutes
the surface of the wrist will be suffused
by warm glow and an itching, burning
sensation will appear. One of the most
general effects Of this concentration OF
thought on some part of the body is the
restlessness which ensues and the conse-
quent difficulty of holding the part still
for any length of time. 1t is, therefore,
A.. I,oxxy 3J,n efaV al
dwelling of the mind upon some slight or
imaginary Ill may aggravate the condition
If existent, or even cause 1t to appear If
imaginary
A curious case of this kind came under
my observation not long ago A young
woman patient of mine consulted me about
hard lump in her throat, which had been
gradually getting larger for some time.
she seemed very much troubled about it,
and confessed to me that there were few
moments of the day in which the fear
OF its developing into malignant growth
was absent from her mind. On examina-
ton l found in her throat the purple con-
eestion which is frequently encountered in
connection with cancer. After consulting
another physician I decided that, on ac-
count of her fear of cancer, it would be
not only useless, but cruel 20 enlighten her
as to the real condition of her throat So
We constantly referred TO the swelling as
simple and common enlargement of a
giand. The patient, thus treasured, ceas-
ca thinking about her throat, and after
lew weeks the swelling actually began
10 diminish in size, and at last complete
~ disappeared Hers was doubtless an
exceptional case. but It goes TO show that
such fear thoughts may have tangible eff
lects on the physical plane
mere is an Old superstition, which
countless originated among people who I'M
uetstood the principles of mental thera-
peuCcs' that If child of stunted growth
Is placed beside young saplin and peg
"rlVen into the sapiing on a level with the
top Of the childs head, as the young tree
grows and the peg Increases, the child
VIII also begin TO grow. If the child real
~ We're to become interested in the pro-
Ctdure and should earnestly watch the
growth of the sapling, l can understand
now such attention OF its part might i'm
press IFS subconscious mind with the idea
oil growth so strongly that its body would
respond 10 the impulse and actually begin
10 grow.
| think that the rapid growth of a child
oas often been augmented by the constant
eHcamations of It's relatives and friends of
Why, how that child is growingi" Nerv-
Gus children become more nervous when
thelr attention is called to their condition
ny doctors consultations with anxious
parents in their presence. while the little
sufferers from st. Vitus' dance, or Che
rea, become much worse on seeing that
'helr antics attract the plying attention
OF their elders Most doctors have found
tnat a child whose parents ere terrified
when case of measles or scarlet fever
breaks out in the neighborhood, is much
more ant 10 contract the disease than Is
Inc little ragamuffin who comes and goes
when he pleases, without thought or fear
or measles
Every physician will remember the
great number of 1ysenteric and diarrheal
cases he was called upon to treat during
the cholera scare a few years ago AT
mat tine there were about three times as
many cases OF that kind as ere usual dur
ing tho summer months. and most OF them
were Undoubtedly caused by fear alone.
whole volume might be written on the
SUBJECT Of the paralyzing and ruinous ef-
I,ct OF fear. I have known many mid
ule aged women In whose family hstp-
Ile" there was not trace OF mental weak