Article August 3, 1899 Issue

Miscellany

THE papers of Cincinnati, O., give the following account of an experiment recently performed on a patient at the Cincinnati Hospital.

The doctors at the Cincinnati Hospital to a man are disbelievers in faith cures of the doctrine of the Christian Scientists, yet several of the internes have recently been forced to admit that the mind really exerts an influence over matter, and sickness is occasionally due to imagination. An experiment of a convincing character was recently made at the hospital upon Abraham Pullum, one of the colored patients.

Pullum, who is thirty-five years old, is more superstitious than the average Ethiopian. He came to the hospital a year ago suffering from fits, which he believed were superinduced by a tumor in his right side. When his spells would come upon him his respiration and pulsation were greatly increased, and not unfrequently his temperature would rise several degrees above normal. Medicines given for his relief exerted but little influence, and Pullum was beginning to be looked upon as incurable. He told the doctors that if the tumor in his side was only removed he would get well. Several examinations were made and the doctors became convinced that the patient had no tumor and Pullum's sickness was largely due to imagination. They, however, agreed upon an experiment. One bright morning Pullum was placed under an anesthetic and a neat incision was made in the scarf skin in the region of the supposed tumor and the wound dressed before the patient returned to consciousness. When he awakened he was told that the tumore had been removed. Each morning a doctor came and redressed the wound, always taking care that a towel covered Pullum's face before the bandages were removed. In time the would healed and since then Pullum has never had a fit, and to-day he is a well man. He is now being retained as an orderly in one of the hospital wards.

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