Man may Think himself to Death

with contributions from J. A. Froude

The Grand Rapids (Mich.) Herald

Thousands of people actually think themselves to death every day by allowing their minds to dwell on morbid subjects.

As a rule the thought that kills relates to something the individual dreads more than anything else in the world. There is the germ of fatal thought in ninety-nine persons in every hundred, and the exception is only proof against the thought disease by having been inoculated with the lymph of profound optimism or philosophy.

The idea that one has some incipient disease in one's system, the thought of financial ruin, that one is getting on in life without improving prospects—any of them, or a thousand similar thoughts, may carry a healthy man to a premature grave. A melancholy thought that fixes itself upon one's mind needs as much "doctoring" as physical disease; it needs to be eradicated from the mind, or it will have just the same result as a neglected disease would have. The thought-disease sometimes cures itself after running its course; so does smallpox. But who would settle down to suffer from smallpox and chance recovery, as thousands of foolish persons settle down to let the thought-disease which has attacked them, do its worst?

Every melancholy thought, every morbid notion, and every nagging worry should be resisted to the utmost, and the patient should be physicked by cheerful thoughts, of which there is a store in every one's possession, bright companions—cheaper than drugs, and pleasanter.

There have occurred scores of dozens of cases where healthy persons have thought themselves into having tumors and cancers—cases which admit of no doubt whatever that the diseases resulted from constant morbid fear. There might possibly be fewer cases of cancer if some great doctors could assure the world that it is not a hereditary disease; but morbid-minded persons, on hearing that there is cancer in their families, generally do the very worst thing they can do under the circumstances—they conceive an awful dread that they will be afflicted with it. They dwell upon the fear constantly; and every trifling ailment which troubles them is at first mistaken for the premonitory symptoms of cancer. The morbid condition of mind produces a morbid condition of body, and if the disease does happen to be in the system it receives every encouragement to develop.

The Grand Rapids (Mich.) Herald.

Be sincere with yourself, whatever the temptation. Say nothing to others that you do not think, and play no tricks with your own mind. Of all the evil spirits abroad in the world insincerity is the most dangerous.—J. A. Froude.

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