Article April 13, 1899 Issue

Diseased through Sympathy

As a result of reading a sensational article in a local newspaper about cerebro-spinal meningitis, Bertha Schreiber, seventeen years old, of No. 1526 Elliott Avenue, St. Louis, Mo., is dying of that disease at her home.

Hers is what is known in the medical world as a case of sympathetic contagion. According to her physicians, her malady is due solely to the strong impression made upon her mind by the article in question. It was printed about two weeks ago.

It was a story of the sufferings of victims of the disease, enlarged on the painful details of the ailment, told of its prevalence, and was accompanied with illustrations. Shortly after reading it the girl; complained of feeling ill. The physicians attributed her illness to her imagination. She grew steadily worse. Hypnotism was employed; but it failed, as have all other remedies used.

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April 13, 1899
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