The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-10-22
The Blushlng Habit.


At Vienna . scientist and doctor
who has made an especial study of
blushing declares that it is disease
Of the nerves.
He declares that blushing should be
treated like any othcr nervous disease,
and that in many instances it is hered.
itary.
One Of his patients "a man) told the
doctor that the fear Of blushing, kept
alive by the jocular taunts of his
friends, had caused him such depres.
sion of spirits that he had several
times been on the verge Of suicide.
Another patient "a society womau)
suffered seriously from nervous pros.
tration in consequence Of the teasing
OF her friends, who made her blush
just "for the fun of it,"
A colleague told the Doctor of one
OF his patients who was driven mad
by blushing. Her mental condition
was greatly improved by her transfer
from chamber papered in red and
furnished in mahogany to green
room with oak furniture.
This woman is again in society but
is subject to occasional attacks Of
blushing that Affects her mentally at
the sight Of red dresses, red ribbons,
or anything in red.
He has discovered that those addict.
ed to blushing suffer less in summer
than in the cold months, and that
summer is the best time ofthe year in
which to be treated for the annoying
disease.
There are critical times, even in the
warm months for the blusher. "When
thunderstorm is in the air and in the
damp Of the early morn and late at
night persons addicted to the habit
blush most often and most violently, .
says the doctor, who distinguishes be.
tween two kinds Of blushing-blush-
ing caused by extraordinary sensitive
ness, extreme bashfulness or modesty,
and blushing because of the blusher' 8
apprehension Of the act of blushing.
A certain young lady, extremely
pretty, was driven to forswear society
because the unfortunate afliction Of
blushing extended to her beautiful
neck and arms and thus prevented her
from appearing in full dress. This
young woman suffers not only out
wardly, but she loses all self. control
when blushing. Her thoughts are
'all mixed up" and she cannot speak
connec.edly.
She underwent treatment for ner.
vousness, but the doctors could not
help her.
Another singular case was that Of q
leading actress. who consulted the
doctor. ''She had ruined her com.
plexion," said he, "by excessive use
Of white grease paint applied to cover
her bushes, which marred her per.
formance.
''She blushed whenever anything
went wrong behind the scenes or on
the stage, and had no control Of her
emotions. She is very young wo.
man: 1 never met E;ek tie trouble
among actresses of mature years."
The doctor says that strong men do
not blush except under extraordinary
circumstances; that blushing 10 truly
o mark OF effeminacy. Blushing men
are seldom cured, for they are csteu
sufferers from heart disease. ~
II have known blushing fits, go
called" !" said he, ''to last For hours.
accompanied BY irregular pulse aud
excited heart. To blushing men and
women with families I say: IF You
have q boy or gir! who bushes under q
reproaoh or for. fear Of being found
out, do not tell them of it, for if you
do you will arouse in them appre.
tensions. If the child hes any stead
mess Of mind you will undermine it;
il he has no stamina, you will com plete-
ly unsettle him. There are 70 olish peo-
pie who think their children are inno-
cent 80 long as they can blush. What