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Hack Tuke, Daniel – Sickness - Eye disease induced by powerful emotions – grief
Identifier
026104
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
A description of the experience
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 III.— Loss of Muscular Power : Paralysis.
A case of ptosis from grief is recorded by Dr. Sutherland. [Ptosis (from the Greek word πτῶσις "falling", "a fall", "dropped") refers to droopiness of a body part.]
" Sudden shocks, as is well known, cause local paralysis; thus ptosis of both eyelids was produced in a patient of mine, when she heard of the intended marriage of a gentleman to whom she was engaged, under more than usually painful circumstances ; the ptosis of the eyelids soon disappeared, but the symptom was followed by an attack of melancholia, with a strong suicidal tendency" (Studies on Functional Nervous Disorders. By Dr. C. Handfield Jones, F.K.S. 1870, p. 120).