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.,

CHAPTEE XVII.  PSYCHO- THERAPEUTICS. PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF THE MIND ON THE BODY TO MEDICAL PRACTICE.
SECTION III. — Systematic Excitement of a definite Expectation or Hope, in regard to the beneficial Action of totally inert Substances.

We may in a definite manner excite Hope, and direct it in a particular channel, by leading the patient to expect a certain result from drugs in which he has faith, but which are totally inert.

That this course may be systematically and successfully pursued, the cases which follow prove :

M. Lisle, who has, among French physicians, especially recognized the importance of acting upon the Imagination, making it, as he expresses himself, "im levier puissant, plus precieux que tous vos remedes," but who declares he is not able to explain why it is so potent an agent, adopts the plan of treating some of his cases by pills composed of nothing more potent than bread-crumb, and the results are what might be expected from the facts contained in this work.

"I am not German or metaphysican enough to venture into this obscure region. I prefer frankly confessing my ignorance, and even that I only know that I know nothing about it. The fact stares me in the face, patent and indisputable, and that suffices me."

Of these pills, covered with silver leaf, he has two sets; the boxes containing one set labelled "Pilules argentees anti-nerveuses," and the others " Purgatives." He had in his establishment a hypochondriac who believed himself to be the victim of obstinate constipation, although in point of fact the bowels were regular. Of purgatives he had taken every form, but he affirmed, without any result.

 Dr. Lisle refused to give him any medicine, and was in consequence incessantly importuned, and even abused by his patient. At last, one day, wearied out, he professed to yield to his solicitations, and told him he was about to give him the most violent purgative he knew, and that it would certainly render him very ill.

With the greatest delight he obeyed Dr. Lisle's orders to take five of the pills from his "purgative" box, an interval of a quarter of an hour being allowed between each. After the third dose the patient was well purged, and within seven hours the bowels were acted upon more than twenty times. He was jubilant at the successful operation of this new purgative, but was almost in a state of collapse with the attack, which, Dr. Lisle says, he can only compare "a une attaque de cholerine des plus intenses." However, this proved to be a crisis in the patient's history, and the commencement of his recovery from Delusional Insanity ("L'Union Medicale," October 23d, 1861).

CHAPTEE XVII.  PSYCHO- THERAPEUTICS. PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF THE MIND ON THE BODY TO MEDICAL PRACTICE.
SECTION III. — Systematic Excitement of a definite Expectation or Hope, in regard to the beneficial Action of totally inert Substances.

The following series of cases from "The British and Foreign Medical Review," January, 1847, was communicated by a naval surgeon, whom the editor, Sir John Forbes, characterizes as an officer of long standing and much experience, whose name and high character were known to him :

"A seaman had suffered from four successive attacks of constipation. So far as could be detected, there was no organic disease to account for its occurrence. The symptoms were such as usually follow protracted constipation of the bowels ; and on all four occasions large and repeated doses of the strongest purgatives (croton oil included), powerful enemata, cold affusion, and hot baths, had all been required to be persevered in to procure relief. On the fifth attack, he was put under grs. ij of bread pill every seven minutes ; much anxiety being, of course, expressed to guard against any overdose, as well as to watch the effect of what was thus given. Within two hours he became sick (one of the symptoms expected from the medicine), and his bowels were freely opened almost immediately after; nor did they again become constipated, so far as I am aware."