The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-17
THE TUBERCULOSIS
By H. ADDING1oN BRUCE

Of uncommon interest and perhaps also of uncommon significance are the findings oi an analytical survey of the psychic makeup of thirty tnberculous women The survey was made by psychologically trained Washing ton physician, Dr Anita Mary Muh1, and in- cluded private and hospital patients of vary ing ages, nationalities and conditions of life.
 Naturally, the patients markedly differed from one another in personality traits. Yet certain traits were present in surprising uni formity. Without exception the thirty wo- men were found to be unusually moody, ab- normally sensitive, restless, irritable, defl' cient in external. interest, and most suggestl- ble. With a single exception all were ambi- tious yet physically inert, and showed mem ory weakness in some degree. With two ex- captions all were addicted to day dreaming and were deficient in self-expression.
 This meant that they were,e one and all, both wasters and misers of energy Inquiry into their early histories also revealed that. at any rate from childhood, they had lived lives of emotional stress and strain. The question naturally suggested itself:
 r Could this account for their lessened abil- ity to resist as other people do, infection by the bacillus of tuberculosis?"
 Dr. Muhl unhesitatingly answers this question in the affirmative. Her answer is best given in her own words, as found in the Psycho Analytic Review.
 Not many will agree with me- but it is my own personal opinion that these people probably would not break down with the dis ease in adult life if it were not for the energy misuse which occurs; the tying up of too much, on the one hand and the expediture of too much on the other.
 Many of these patients got their infections in early childhood and took care of them for years, only to break down with the disease in adult life. Why? Because when they struck some particular period of stress which required still more energy for adjustment, the reserve, never so great as in the average person, was used up, and they had not enough left to take care of the physical difficulties.
 For myself, while recognizing that a sur vey of thirty patients is hardly sufficient to warrant generalizations, I am inclined to be- lieye. that Dr. Muhl is right. Certainly it is a well established psychological fact, that ex- cessive emotionality has weakening effect on the whole organism and pfedisposes to disease.
 Suggestive, too, is this. statement of Dr. Muhl:
 Although no attempt at psychotherapy was made during the experimental study, many of the patients benefited great deal from just the amount of analysis done in order to obtain the necessary data. Many conflicts were banished, many resentments cleared up fears dispelled. talents uncovered, and better understanding of self and en- yironment established, so that the patients to talk over their difficulties" -
 Decidedly, in any case, the subject is one deserving of attentive and extensive investiga- tion. If Dr. Muhl is right we have available a new eweapon-trainin for emotional con- trol-for the prevention of tuberculosis and weapon that may be indispensable to real conquest. of the great white plague