Chapter XIV: Mutual Influence of Mind and Body in Disease, 288

Inadequate views of this influence prevalent. Importance of
understanding it. Connection of mind and body. No proof that mind
is essentially indestructible. Manifestations of mind connected
with and dependent upon the material organization. Brain in some
sense seat of mind—central organ of the nervous system, with which
mind is connected. Other subordinate nervous centres. Bichat’s idea
of the seat of the moral sentiments. Weakness of mind in sickness.
Slight causes affect it strongly. Importance of quiet in sick
room. Difficult to secure it. Visitors. Conversation. Children as
easily disturbed as adults. Holding up physician as a bugbear to
them. Exciting the mind commonly irritates bodily disease, whether
in the brain, or in some other organ. Death of Hunter caused by a
fit of passion. Duty of physician sometimes to excite the mind in
various ways and degrees. Influence of imagination upon the body.
Use to be made of mental _association_ in the treatment of disease.
_Diversion_ of the mind. Influence of change of scene on the invalid.
Monotony of sick room. Settled gloom with which the sick sometimes
afflicted. How removed. Want of tact in managing whims of the sick.
Notional dislikes. Fretfulness and impatience. Deranged sensations
erroneously supposed to be mere imaginations. Importance of a
faithful study of mental influences to the physician.