Observations placeholder

As described in Illustrations Of The Influence Of The Mind Upon The Body In Health And Disease, Designed To Elucidate The Action Of The Imagination - Daniel Hack Tuke, M.D., M.R.C.P.,

PART II. THE EMOTIONS.
CHAPTER VIII. INFLUENCE OF THE EMOTIONS UPON THE VOLUNTARY MUSCLES.
SECTION II. — Irregular and Excessive Muscular Contraction : Spasms and Convulsions.

Dr. Arthur Mitchell, in his " Morisonian Lectures on Insanity," records a melancholy example of the influence of Fear in inducing convulsions (and subsequently idiocy).

"A healthy, well-nourished boy, nearly two years old, was lying in his cradle, when a cock perched on the hood. The boy was at first amused and delighted, and made vain efforts to reach the bird with his hands. These signs of delight, however, began to grow less evident, the child ceased to smile, but his attention continued to be intently fixed on the animal, which, in its turn, appeared to become interested in the child. Up to this point the little fellow gave no sign of terror ; but there was something like it, though still unexpressed, when the cock, stretching his neck, put his head down and looked closely at the boy's face ; and when, raising his head again, he flapped his great wings, and uttered a shrill cry, the child gave one sharp cry of pain, and was instantly convulsed. Three or four fits occurred during that and the next day, but never again. The boy, however, grew up an idiot" (British Medical Journal, March 19, 1870).