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 III.— Loss of Muscular Power : Paralysis.

In the following case, under the care of Dr. Stewart, reported by Dr. H. Jones, hemiplegia was accompanied by impairment of speech :

"Mr. , set. 40-45, of gouty family and very nervous temperament, had long been subject to attacks resembling laryngitis.  Just before his illness on this occasion, he had been in great anxiety on account of his wife's health; had been fatigued while nursing her, and with various cares. He had no renal disease.

While going up stairs to his wife's bedroom, in advance of the medical attendants, he suddenly staggered, and would have fallen backward had he not been caught. He was now found to be quite hemiplegic on the right side, consciousness unimpaired, speech nearly lost, face very much distorted. He was put to bed, slept tolerably, and next morning when seen at 8 a.m., all symptoms of palsy had disappeared, but returned again after breakfast. The paralysis ceased and recurred again several days in the same manner, but he was always free from it in the morning. Sometime after it ceased to recur, any nervous excitement or extra fatigue would reproduce the disorder in a greater or less degree. Shortly afterwards he was seized with complete aphonia, and the same has repeatedly occurred subsequently, but has twice been removed by galvanism. In the winter of 1861-62, he had a return of the paralytic symptoms, accompanied by rheumatic pains" (Studies on Functional Nervous Disorders. By Dr. C. Handfield Jones, F.K.S. 1870, p. 481).

Dr. Jones adds, that in the opinion of three eminent medical men, there existed no organic disease, and remarks that the paralysis is fairly attributable to the exhaustion of nerve power, the chief cause being great anxiety.