350 THE LAWS OF ORGANIC 



SECT. III. The Influence and Effects of Passion. 



CCCCXVII. In all ages the mind has been 

 supposed to operate in a mysterious and ex- 

 tensive manner upon the body, not only in 

 the state of health producing acute affections, 

 but also increasing the susceptibility of the con- 

 stitution to every variety of disease ; and the 

 same power has also been equally efficient in re- 

 tarding or arresting the progress of general and 

 local maladies. I shall not occupy the reader's 

 attention by an enumeration of facts in support 

 of the opinion, for these possess not only uni- 

 versal belief, but individual corroboration, but 

 shall proceed to develope the principles, which 

 are alone sufficient to explain the nature of the 

 connection and the character of the results. 



CCCCXVIII. Exciting passions are consider- 

 ably less dangerous than the depressing to the 

 well-being of the constitution. The former sel- 

 dom excite or predispose to any disease, except 

 active aneurism of the heart, apoplexy, or 

 congestion of the brain ; they very rarely pre- 

 dispose to disorders of the lungs, or tedious ner- 

 vous affections, nor do they enfeeble the diges- 

 tive functions, nor increase the liability to con- 

 tagion, all of which effects are found to follow 

 depressing states of the mind. 



CCCCXIX. The strong and vigorous consti- 

 tution is almost proof against contagious and 



