[ 558 ] 
REPORT OF DISEASES, 
Under the Care of the late Senior Physician of the Finsbury Dispensary, from the 
20th of May to the 20th of June. 
N impressive instance occurred with- 
A in the Reporter’s knowledge about 
a fortnight ago, of the calamitous effect 
of impetuous passion, A farmer was in- 
temperately indignant against a tenant, 
for some alteration which he had made 
in one of his houses, and in the crisis of 
his rage fell instantly dead at his feet. 
The vialence of his emotion exhausted 
the powers of vitality, without the inter- 
vention of disease. ‘The moment before 
the sndden rising of his rage, he was in 
the most perfect health, and had been so 
for a long time previous. ‘ Although at 
already an advanced age, his mode of 
living, and moderation in every thing but 
temper, prontised still’ a considerable 
protraction of comfortable life. Arm- 
strong had such a case as is here related 
in his view in the following description: 
«¢ Bat he, whom anger stings, drops, ¥ he dies, 
At once, and rushes apoplectic down!” * 
Tt may be doubted, however, whether 
this fatal attack may be correctly consi- 
dered as apoplectic, although that epithet 
is in general, but certaitly with too little 
discrimination, applied to almost every 
case of sudden death, which has not been 
obviously occasioned by external violence. 
The physical injury arising from inordi- 
nate passion, separate from any mis- 
chievous action to which it may lead, 
has not been sufficiently the subject of 
medical attention, Ft operates upon the 
vital functions in a state of health, so 
as to produce disturbance and disease ; 
and, in a state of actual.disease, it has 
- an alarming tendency to aggravate every 
symptom of disorder, and to increase the 
risk of a fatal termination.» Anger, when 
it is not immediately dangerous, is at 
Jeast unwholesome. It is painful, with- 
out any compensation of pleasure. It is 
a thorn without a rose. A man must be 
altogether unwise, who would sacrifice 
his health to his enmity, and really in- 
jure himgelf, because he conceives that 
he has been injured by another. But 
anger is not the only mode of mental 
perturbation which is hostile toa man’s 
physical as well as intellectual well-being. 
The Reporter has been lately consulted 
by a person whose conversation and -let- 
ters exhibit a general superiority of mind, 
attended, however, with a partial imbe- 
cility. His good sense deserts him only 
upon the subject of his health. His owa 
ee ee ee 
* Art of preserving Health, 
4 
‘cunnate or constitutional, equanimity 
_ought not, on that account, to be re- 
‘to rise above their proper level. Dispro- 
(July t, 
opinion of his disorder constitutes the 
worst part of it. Fear is its most pro- 
minent feature, and most important ine 
gredient, The corporeal part of his com- 
plaint seems to be seated in the stomach, 
and his apprehension is in a great mea- 
sure the creature of indigestion. There 
is no circumstance attending his indispo- 
sition which threatens danger, or is.in- 
consistent with a fair chance of longe- 
vity; and yet he is obstinately convinced, 
without being able to explain any reason 
for his inflexible persuasion, that he:shall - 
never recover, and that he is even actus 
ally trembling on the very edge of the 
grave. This is far from being a singular 
example of hypochondriasis, a disease 
which, whatever may be the cause, seems 
to be every day extending still wider the 
circle of its dominion. 
Another remarkable instance of the 
influence of mental agitation in producing i 
disease of the body, the Reporter had an ; 
opportunity of observing, in his attend- 
ance upon .a lady in the course of the 
Jast winter. - Her husband, who was ex- 
tremely anxious on her account, was, at 
the time of her greatest danger, seized. 
with an apparent and unequivocal jaun- 
dice; and it was observable afterwards, © 
that his complexion grew gradually more 
clear, as the prospect became brighter of 
his wife’s ultimate recovery, The writer 
of this article has at present under his — 
professional direction a merchant, whose 
solicitude about the entangled and pre- 
carious state of his commercial affairs 
has so impaired the tone of his digestive 
organs, that he is unable to retain on his 
stomach any thing which it receives. 
There is no end to examples which might 
equally illustrate the medical power of 
the passions. ’ 
Although an evenness and quietness of 
temper may in many instances appear 
garded as out of the reach of acquisition. 
The feelings which have been subject to 
an habitual restraint, will seldom be found 
portionate emotions may often, in early 
life at least, be repressed, in the same 
manner as deformities or irregularities of 
‘bodily shape are, by constant compres. 
sion, forced into a more natural figure 
and dimension. ‘Je REID.) aan 
Grenville-street, Brunswick-square, ° , 
June 25, 1811. 
ALPHABETICAL — 
