Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-02-04
FUN To cure GRIP
Physician Prescribes Laughter,
Not Whisky and Quinine as
Best Medicine.
OPTIMISM CHIEF kNTID0TE
Dr.. Leavitt of Chicago Declares He
Has Used Treatment with the
Best of Results.

An absolutely unheard of and as
founding theory was advocated re
Gently by DR. Sheldon Lcavitt of Chi
cago. He said that laughter is the
best cure for grip.
DIR. Leavitt declared that he is Usin:;
this treatment on his patients with
gratifying outcome and has advanced
it past the stage of abstruse caicula-
ton to the reality of a daily practice,
says the Chicago American.
Dr. L2avitt, in Il sentence. thinks
optimism is the antidote for the grip
microbe"
This conclusion is not based on the
mind over matter" theories. nor has
1t fiber Of faith healing in its fabric
He explains it on pathological reason
ing as follows:
There is i'll the body of every hu-
man being. especially every city bred
person. raiTed IL an atmosphere of
smoke and hurry and poor ventilation,
the germ OF every disease that flesh is
heir to.
why. then, has not every one, ac-
cording to this hypothesis. typhoid fe-
yer, malaria, scarlet fever, etc?
because the resisting force is able
to defeat the germs and keep them
subjected until the resistance lags or
weakens. and then the microbe which
is the most powerful this IS the grip
germ now because of atmospheric
conditionsJ grips the subject. and he is
conquered.
This resisting force is the nervous
system, and on the strength and tone
of this system is based the degree of
resistance within the body. The brain
is the center of this system, and the
brain is in strong or depleted tone ac-
| cOrding as the spirits are high. the
courage strong and optimism reigning
or the spirits depressed. cowardice i'll
command and pessimism Furnishing.
Therefore laughter, which keeps
| the spirits high and the mind cheerful,
keeps the nervous system at its highest
| tone. makes the resistance most pow
erful and curbs the disease germ,
which at this season and in this eli
matte state is most pronounced in the
! form of the grip microbe."
In thus evolving the amazing prac'
| tiCe of prescribing fun to cure grip DIR
Leavitt accepts germ theory entirely
removed from the one generally adopt
ed by the medical profession.
Germs Within the Body.
He regards the disease germ as some
thing within the human body, ready t,
spring at the moment of depleted viSnl
as against the more common belief tina
germs live in the air, are breathed il
and thus attack the body and are pass
ed through breath, eXpectoration ant
even contact as 4 contagion.
| DR. Leavitt cited an instance of on,
woman patient who not only was :
grip sufferer. but who in addition wa
of low vitality through a wastin!
chronic ailment She came to his of
fee complaining that she was feverish
her throat ached. and her bones fel
as though she had been beaten.
DR., Leavitt found that she showed
every symptom of typical grip case.
GO out and laugh" he told the as
tonished woman, who, he says. expect
ed to be put to bed with fiannels, OF
hot punches and half rations.
THE woman walked out and follow
ed instructions" says DR.. Leavitt. Ssh
made herself feel cheerful and thinl
humorous, pleasing thoughts. Withii
twenty-four hours she had nothing bu
) tickling in the throat, which sool
departed"
DIR. Leavitt added that he knows o
no drug that will cure grip. He sal
that many physicians, though not a
thoroughly given to the theory as b
, himself. follow it in general effect b.
giving the patient some harmless med
cine calculated to have no effect excep
to make the patient think he Is swal
: lowing a medical remedy, then effect
ing cure by ordering sunlight an