Year: 1875

OF II Scientific Theory.


The Popular Science Monthly cites
some curious incidents of the acute de-
yelopment OF certain mental faculties in
disease. AS the impairment Of one
faculty intensifies the power OF another,
so physical prostrations OF q similar
nature produce the same phenomena.
Imagination and memory, rs tho most
impressionable faculties, are subject to
physical influences. Imagination has
produced death when the physical all
ment did not warrant it, and courage
has not unfrequently enabled men
stricken with disease to overcome its
ravages. 1t is estimated TINT large
proportion Of the deaths Of n cholera
visitation result from terror. This dan
ger is distinctly recognized by physi-
clans, who often combat the terror they
encounter rs much as tho real disease.
The effect OF imagination is illustrated
in the textbooks Of mental philosophy.
by instances where criminals condemned
to death were placed in warm bath,
with the information TINT they were to
be bled to death; then came slight cut
and finally death. Such is the effect Of
imagination on mind and body. Hypo-
chondria and inconsistencies are names
given by tho doctors to mental diseases
that have often had fatal results.


The Monthly states the case Of near
relative suffering from extreme nervous
debility, who begged to be taken to an
asylum for tho insane on account of n
vivid and unnatural impression OF
thinking Of two things at the same
time." The same person was also
afflicted with startling consciousness OF
things happening to her children OF q
distance, which proved to be correct, the
anticipation OF what people were going
to say, aud the power of reading the
motives OF others. A similar phenomc-
non came within the experience OF a now
famous actor, who, in his younger days,
was given to u FREQ use OF stimulants.
He anticipated the words md thoughts
OF those who were speaking to him, and
would frequently approach q stranger
on tho streets and startle him with call
i1g his name, speaking his thoughts,
telling him some secret Of his past life
OR some undisclosed intention for the
future. The impulse to do this at times
was irresistible. OF late years this NOR.
bid perception has passed away entirely,
and, rs is stated, it would Seem to be
because it has not been subject to the
excitation OF stimulants.


DR.. Steinbeck once found m illiterate
peasant praying aloud in Greek and
Hebrew when he was prostrated With
disease it was subsequently ascertained
that he had heard the parish minister
pray in those languages when ho was Il
child, and, though ho could not recall a
word OF them when in health, they came
back to him III disease. Abercrombic
relates how the attendants OF an asylum
found young girl inmate playing diff
cult and exquisite music on the violin,
with no previous instruction or practice
only she had been accustomed to sleep
in room adjoining that occupied by m
itinennt musician OF great talent. She
could only play these airs when asleep.
Memory in aged persons often grows
more vivid with advancing agc and de-
cliuing powers. Sir Walter Scott, who
had oyerstraiued his physical powers,
speaks Of being haunted by u "scnSc OF
pre-existence. Tie facnlty OF intensity.
ing in sleep tho thoughts or study Ill
which one is engaged in waking hours
belongs to the sal c phenomena. A stu
dent in Germany, anxious to acquire the
language, and deeply immersed in the
study OF it, in order to attend lectures,
found that he could carry on CONVERSE
ton luently i'll his sleep, though he
could only stumble along when awake.
The latest mania Of "mind reading is
perhaps another development in the
same direction.