Remarks on the influence of mental cultivation and mental excitement upon health / [Amariah Brigham].
- Amariah Brigham
- Date:
- 1844
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Remarks on the influence of mental cultivation and mental excitement upon health / [Amariah Brigham]. Source: Wellcome Collection.
55/166 (page 49)
![Latin language, and yet suddenly, during the excite- ment of a nervous fever, became capable of speaking this language with fluency.^9 But the most remarkable and instructive case within my knowledge, one that serves to show the influence of the organization and action of the brain on the mental and moral character, and which appears to me very deserving of the consideration of the metaphysi- cian, is related in the American Journal of Medical Sciences, for 1829, by Professor Horner, of the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania. Master William M. the fourth child of his parents, was born in Philadelphia on the 4th of June, 1820. At birth his head was of ordinary size, but very soon, after an attack of dropsy of the brain, it began to grow inordinately. After he began to walk, its size was so great that he attracted much attention; and he was apt to fall, especially forwards, from readily losing his equilibrium. His health was generally good. December 12th, 1828, he fell against a door, and bruised his forehead; in an hour afterwards he vomited, became very sick, and died the next evening. During his short sickness he had no headache, and complained only of his stomach. On examining his head the day after his death, it be juGtified for entirely withholding their belief in the magnetic phenomena. The Report alluded to has been translated into English by Mr. Colquhoun, Sheriff of Dumbartonshire, and is very well worth perusing R. M.] [29 For reasons stated in note 26, I dissent from the truth of this remark. It is curious to see an acute mind like Dr. Brigham’s de- ceived in this manner.—R.M.] £](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b22026514_0055.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
