Observations placeholder
Hack Tuke, Daniel – Sickness - Bloody perspiration induced by powerful emotions – Fear
Identifier
026132
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 IX. INFLUENCE OF THE EMOTIONS UPON THE INVOLUNTARY MUSCLES.
BLOODVESSELS.
The rupture of the cutaneous capillaries, or the transudation through their walls of blood so as to occasion " sanguineous perspiration," should be enumerated here among the results of emotional excitement.
I can, however, only refer to one well-marked case of the kind — that of "a sailor, aged 30, who was so alarmed by a storm that he not only fell on the deck speechless, but on going to him, Paulini observed large drops of perspiration of a bright red color on his face. At first, he imagined that the blood came from the nose, or that the man had injured himself by falling; but on wiping off the red drops from the face, he was astonished to see fresh ones start up in their place. This coloured perspiration oozed out from different parts of the forehead, cheeks, and chin ; but it was not confined to these parts, for on opening his dress he found it formed on the neck and chest.
On wiping and carefully examining the skin, he distinctly observed the red fluid exuding from the orifices of the sudoriparous ducts. So deeply stained was the fluid that on taking hold of the handkerchief with which it was wiped off, the fingers were made quite bloody.
As the bloody perspiration ceased, the man's speech returned." (Studies on Functional Nervous Disorders. By Dr. C. Handfield Jones, F.K.S. 1870)
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The interesting fact has recently been recorded by Mr. Frank Buckland, in " Land and Water," that a hippopotamus, being excessively savage after her confinement, perspired profusely, the perspiration being the colour of blood. Professor Gulliver found on examination that it contained numerous blood-corpuscles.