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Chapter XII: Suggestive Healing.2041
Maudsley says: “Emotion may undoubtedly favor, hinder, or pervert
nutrition, and increase, lessen, or alter a secretion; in doing which there is
reason to think that it acts, not only by dilating or contracting the vessels
through the vasomotor system, as we witness in the blush of shame and the
pallor of fear, but also directly on the organic elements of the parts through
the nerves, which, as the latest researches seem to show, end in them
sometimes by continuity of substance. To me it seems not unreasonable
to suppose that the mind may stamp its tone, if not its very features, on the
individual elements of the body, inspiring them with hope and energy, or
inflicting them with despair and feebleness.”
Darwin has told of the effect of grief upon the physical functioning,
particularly upon the circulation. Homesickness is mentioned as apt to
derange the proper functioning of the body. Good news will promote
digestion; bad news will retard it. A disgusting sight will cause nausea.
Sir Samuel Baker says: “Any severe grief or anger is almost certain to be
succeeded by fever in certain parts of Africa.”
Sir B. W. Richardson says: “Diabetes from sudden mental shock is a true,
pure type of a physical malady of mental origin.”
Sir George Paget says: “In many cases I have seen reasons for believing
that cancer has its origin in prolonged anxiety.”
Murchison says: “I have been surprised how often patients with primary
cancer of the liver have traced the cause of this illness to protracted grief or
anxiety. The cases have been far too numerous to be accounted for as mere
coincidences.”
Numerous medical authorities report that cases of cancer especially of
uterine cancer or cancer of the breast have their origin in mental anxiety.
And other report cases of jaundice arising from the same cause. Other
attribute anaemia to mental shock and worry.
Sir B. W. Richardson says: “Eruptions on the skin will follow excessive
mental strain. In all of these and in cancer epilepsy and mania from mental