MIND AND BODY

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 280, 20 August 1921, Page 5

MIND AND BODY

If we want proof Fuat emotion affects the muscles, we have W to consider the case of a young man performing the normally impossible feat of a 6ft. gate in terror of a bull (writes 11. Taverney, in the “Daily News ). But there are other cases which illustrate the opposite contention that outbursts of temper and culminating hatred (anddisplays of gentler emotions) seriously affect conditions of health. _ A little chap of seven was lying in a state consequent on a serious illness in which Bleep was a vital necessity. jhe doctor could not induce it. He nad just described the critical state ol affairs to the mother when tne postman arrived with an official-looking letter This was found to bo a formal notice that the house must be purchased or given lup. Forgetting everything else in her distress, the mother cried, “Whatever shall we do. We haven t a penny?” The lad, who had been lying in a state of scnn-coma, suddenly raised himself alertly in his cot, “there s that shilling in my money-box. Thats 12 pennies. You can have them all. "Oh, Jimmy, can we really have all that?” were the only words she could think of. More conscious of their grim irony than anything else, she kissed the little chap, but was amazed to see him contentedly asleep. Tho doctor breathed a sigh of relief when he came. “It will save his life," he said. And it did. 11l another case an elderly business man had had a nervous breakdown. Despite every attention he got worse. Insomnia set in. A specialist called into consultation agreed that, unless sleep came within a few hours, all would be over. On the day of the verdict a friend-who had looked in happened to tell the sick man that a Mr. “C. wai in financial'extremis. Tho cotton slump had driven him to the wall. Mr. >■ and tho sick man had been at enmity for years, tho former having done the latter a..grievous wrong. To the astonishment of the friend, the sick man raised himself purposefully on his elbon and said: "Look here. Will, we can t let 'C.'s* business and homo go. lake ft cheque out of that book there. There are several signed. Let him have what is necessary to save him and to carry on till he can turn round. the visitor departed on his errand, ing’ what had come over tho sick man, who had never been noted for kindliness or sentiment. When tho sl PP«I into tho room. ia few minutcv latei her patient was in the first II?* 1 ' 1 ? 1 sleep he 'had had for weeks. Within a fortnight he was down at business again. The medical man said it was “werTnot both Incidents examples of things of which our philosophy rarely dreams, but which this poor old woild needs to-day more than ever it did r