MEDICINE 221 



4. Diseases originating from Spiritiuil Catcses} 



This class of diseases includes all evils that are caused 

 by an evil will, resulting from passions, evil desires, 

 disordered thoughts, and a morbid imagination. Such 

 psychological states produce physiological changes in 

 the physical body. Shame produces a blush in the face, 

 and terror produces a paleness. Fear causes diarrhoea ; 

 melancholy, obstructions ; anger or envy gives rise to 

 jaundice. Gaiety may cure, and grief may kill. Violent 

 emotions produce miscarriages, apoplexy, spasms, hysterics, 

 and cause malformations of the foetus, &c., &c. Such 

 things are known to all who have investigated such 

 matters ; but it is less generally known that the evil 

 imagination of one person can affect the mind of another, 

 poison his vitality, and injure or kill his body. 



The reason why this is not generally known is, that 

 the imagination of the majority of men and women in 

 our present state of civilisation is too weak, their will 

 too feeble, and their faith too much pervaded by doubt 

 to produce the desired effects ; and it is fortunate that 

 their imagination, however evil it may be, has not much 

 power as long as the state of morality is not higher 

 advanced than it is at present.^ Nevertheless, there have 

 been persons whose evil will was so strong as to project 

 the products of their imagination instinctively or con- 

 sciously upon a person whom they desired to injure, and 

 such persons are still in existence, although they may 

 not deem it prudent to boast of their gifts or to exhibit 

 their powers in public. Envy and hate produce an evil 

 imagination, and create forces that are more active 

 during sleep than during waking. The evil thoughts of 



^ That which is born from our thoughts is a spirit " {Paramir., i.). 



2 To think is to act on the plane of thought, and if the thought ia 

 intense enough, it can produce an effect on the physical plane. It is very 

 fortunate that few persons possess the power to make it act directly on 

 the physical plane, because there are few persons who never have any evil 

 thoughts entering into their mind. 



