WHAT IMAGINATION WILL DO.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 364, 27 May 1911, Page 2

WHAT IMAGINATION WILL DO.

An eminent nerve specialist tells an amusing story of the influence of imagination upon the health. "A young bank clerk," he said, feeling somewhat 'run down,' was persuaded to consult a doctor. "The physician questioned the man, sounded him, and then said gravely : T will write to you to-morrow' "The next day the bank clerk received a letter from the medical gentleman telling him that his right I'lng was gone and his heart seriously deranged, and advised him to lose no time in putting his aflairs in or-

" 'Of course,,' the doctor wrote, 'you may live for weeks, but yiy.i would do well to leave nothing of importance unsettled.' "Naturally the young bank clerk was very much depressed by this sad letter, nothing less than a death warrant. He did not, of course, go to work that morning, and before noon he was having trouble with his respiration, while severe pains shot rapidly through his heart. He did not up all day, and on toward midnight he had a sinking spell that caused his people to send post haste for the doctor.

"The doctor, on his arrival, was astounded.

" 'Why,' he said, 'there were no symptoms of this sort yesterday ! What on earth have you been doing to yourself ?' "The patient's face screwed up with pain, he pressed his hand to his breast and said feebly : " 'lt's the heart, I suppose doctor.* "'The heart?' said the doctor. 'There was nothing yesterday the matter with your heart.' " 'My lungs, then,' the patient groaned. " 'What ails you ?' the doctor shouted. 'You don't seem to h.a.ve been drinking.' " 'Your letter, doctor—you told me I had only a few weeks to live.' " 'Nonsense ! Are you crazy ? 1 told you to take a month's restsay in the Isle of Wight—and you'd be as good as new again.' "The patient drew the fateful letter from a drawer beside his bed. " 'Well,' said the doctor, glancing at it, 'this is a pretty This, letter wan mtumibd for another man. My assistant must have mixed up the envelopes.' "The patient laughed. He sat up in bed. His recovery was rapid. That night, in fact, iie was well

"And what—continued the specialist who toll the story—what of the dying consumptive who had got this young man's letter ? The consumptive, delighted with the prediction that a month's change of air and scene would make a sound man ol him, packed up his bag, and took the first train for Portsmouth hopefully.

"He spent a few weeks at Vcntnor, getting about, with an altered, and indeed optimistic view of life, and returned to London stronger than lu hail been for a long time. That was ten years ago ; and to-day he is enjoying fairly good health still."