Fear And Worry, Plus Disease, Take Heavy Toll In Pain And Death Yearly.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18889, 12 October 1929, Page 8

Fear And Worry, Plus Disease, Take Heavy Toll In Pain And Death Yearly.

TO—DAY'S SIGNED ARTICLE.

(Written for the “ Star ” by

PHILIP M. LOVELL.)

Many authorities on the subject have said that a good mental state is fifty per cent of the victory against disease. Sometimes our jnental state is fifty per cent of the defect, provided, of course, such a mental state be negative. Hence, you can easily see the importance of the thoughts we think in relation to the troubles of our body. On all sides we are surrounded with influences which either add or detract from our mental and vital resources. When we fill ourselves with fears and phobias, worry and anxiety concerning the diagnosis or outcome of our troubles, we certainly do not help in their solution. There has never been anything added to disease in the form of fear or worry which has hastened the cure. In fact, it is just the reverse. Add fear and worry to a physical body, below par, and we have an almost unbeatable combination which takes its toll in pain and death.

The Vital Spark. The rules of mind governing the body are evidenced physiologically as well as abstractedly or psychologically. They are not based upon pure theory, but can be easily demonstrated and proved. To illustrate:

The difference between a dead and i* live body is very little chemically or physically. Yet we know that there 13 a difference —the vital spark which flows through all our tissues and makes life evident. Without this electricity or vital spark the tissues are either sick or dead. The source of the electricity is the brain —the power-house—the dynamic seat from which go forth the impulses of good health or disease. Over the same electric wires which we call the nervous system, thoughts go forth also—some to spread their message of good cheer, faitn, hope and for-ward-looking reasoning. With those who are negatively minded the same electric wires carry charges of current which devitalise, exhaust and rob an already weakened system.

Thoughts are living things and play their part in the vital economy of the body. We know, for instance, that through our emotions, which are a form of thought, we can poison our digestive system and create conditions bordering on complete collapse. Fear psychology and prejudice dominate the human body in the field of disease perhaps more than anything else. Dread Scourge.

This popular bigotry or psychology is responsible for a good deal of suffering and for much premature death. It has been built up through many, many years of careful miseducation and misinformation. For instance we mention the word cancer or tuberculosis to any of our audience past the age of forty and at opee a shudder of fear and terror goes through them as they think of the dread scourge or the great white plague. Yet suppose they had either one of these diseases. It needs no demonstration to prove that it is necessary to conserve every particle of vital energy the body has. Yet terror robs us of more than we can spare and brings the end so much nearer.

Analysis easily proves that many who do not respond to treatment are filled with morbidity and fears of any kind and description. They are their own worst enemies.

On the other hand, those who have the right psychology are filled with inspiration and with a powerful faith and conviction which knows that all will be well with them—they respond illlillllHllllllllllllllllllllllltlllllllltllllllHllllllllllllllllilllilllllllllllllllllltlllllllllilii

so splendidly that it does not takt long before they are radiantly wel again. The same prejudices are evident iii other directions. There are many who are what I tern- “ health shoppers.” They diliy-dallv and go from doctor to doctor and fr on system to system- They have faith it no one, and are filled with doubt* about everyone. They make the rounds, but are al ways negative-minded. Have Faith. You may believe in osteopath* Christian science, medicine, or any thing you like—but believe in it l Hav* faith in it! Trust »t! Whatevei method of treatment you use i: doubly effective if you take it with th< firm ponviction that you know you wil get well from it! Don’t dilute '-our treatment wjtl qualms or doubts or fears! There is a biblical expression whicl says faith moves mountains. In fev fields can we accept this in as literal/ sense as in the field of health and dui ease. Faith can cure disease, especially when such faith is coupled with san« living and corrective treatment. Heading an X-ray. The X-ray is probably the greatee mechanical contribution to the art o diagnosis as yet produced. I, for one, will certainly never balittU its merit for diagnosis alone. Like so many other splendid megs ures, it has carried with it an eno mous quantity of abuse. Innumerable operations have b«ei performed largely on the basis of it pictures. Some have been justified many have not. Why? The X-ray can never tell anything but the truth. Being inanimate, how ever, it cannot shout its findings. I must be examined and read by on who know*. Here is where the mistakes come in Anyone can read a photograph. 1 barn can never be confused with ai elephant's trunk. The average la’ reader is familiar with both; but ho\ much does the same person know abot} anatomy ? The two-dimensional photographs o three-dimensional objects is difficult t the most highly skilled expert, ye some doctors read such X-rays with im punity, diagnose with certainty an< operate without further reflection. The X-ray shows neither colour no grain nor engorgement. Even siw shape and form it often show* poorly. Experts Heeded. It is a vague s! dowgraph, ill define* and often poorly putlined. Of course it has merits, but its merit is not si great that we can accept one doctor’t X-ray reading with finality. Xf an X-ray ia taken f or any paths logical condition, it should he ?uni by several experts before action U taken. The final doe tors, who w 0 either confirm or disagree with the original diagnosis, should not bo fives corollary information which would help them to confirm a doifbtfal diagnosis. Go to see two, three or four doctors Present the X-ray film to each, and asfc him his opinion of the picture without volunteering further information. If they all agree without requiring further facts, the chances are that the diagno sis is correct.

( Anglo-American N£. Copyright.)