Can the Thoughts of Those Around Us Influence Our Health?

When I was growing up, our family would visit my father’s many relatives in Southern California. Regrettably, the conversations during these visits often centered on illness, symptoms, and fears of disease.  My mother was a student of Christian Science and we never talked about disease at home in this way.  We didn't ignore health problems, we just rarely had any problems to talk about.

By contrast, my father's family seemed to enjoy talking about disease even more than the Dodgers.  I remember one aunt in particular who would often question my health the moment I walked in the door! Admittedly, I was a skinny little kid for my age, but healthy nonetheless. Surrounded by these discussions, I would sometimes leave feeling nauseous!

Many years later, my brother and I were sailing for a week in the Canadian Gulf Islands. When we arrived back at Friday Harbor, we learned that our father was seriously ill and our mother urged us to come as soon as possible.

When we arrived, my father lay unconscious in a Seattle hospital bed with our mother and other family members by his side. An attending physician asked to speak with me and urged me to prepare my family for the inevitable. He was certain that my father’s death was imminent. I appreciated the physician’s motive in sharing this advice and the care he was providing, but I just could not give up on my Dad.  I didn’t tell my family about the dire prognosis and instead remained hopeful and expectant of a full recovery.  Not long after, he improved and was taken home where he regained his health and lived for 14 more years. 

The experience reminds me of an opposite outcome during the Civil War in 1863.One of the most successful general of the Confederation, Thomas (Stonewall) Jackson was accidentally shot by his own men at the battle of Chancellorsville.

A few days after the accident and had his left arm amputated, the young general was reported to have been cheerful and eager to return to the command. Despite its strength and the hope of full recovery, his doctors did not agree and were convinced of his condition was fatal. Even signs of improved health has not changed their prognosis.

Finally, after eight days, he accepted their arguments, made final arrangements with his wife, fell into a state of delirium, and died.

History attributes his death to pneumonia, but no one really knows. In 1975, practicing physician Beverly C. Smith, M.D. became interested in analyzing the medical care given to Jackson. She authored an article in the Summer 1975 issue of the VMI Alumni Review that states that the cause of General Jackson’s death remains a medical mystery. Dr. Smith further notes, “This is a fascinating medical problem. There was no autopsy and the true answers will never be known.

Civil War Librarian: New and Noteworthy---The Battle of Brandy ...

Fought on June 9, 1863, the Battle of Brandy Station, Virginia was the largest predominantly cavalry engagement of the American Civil War. Many Civil War enthusiasts regard the battle as solely a cavalry fight but there were eleven Union regiments engaged. Also, though many view it as the beginning of the Pennsylvania Campaign, it may also be seen as the conclusion of the Chancellorsville campaign. Wittenberg's effort would have been strengthened by noting the Union cavalry's raid that began April 27, before the Battle of Chancellorsville. He does develop a picture of the Federal cavalry's growing aggressiveness by covering the purge of Rebel guerrillas from the Northern Neck region between the Rappahannock and Potomac Rivers in mid-May. is his handling of primary sources of the combatants. There are about 100 indented and italicized comments from the soldiers. The voices of the soldiers are heard throughout the narrative. Wittenberg takes a non-partisan stance towards the sides; both criticism and compliments fall on Blue and Gray. Stuart's three grand reviews and sham battles [May 22, June 4 and June 5] are not overweighted against him. But for Wittenberg , more illustrative are Stuart's over wrought responses to the Richmond press' reports that hold him accountable after the battle. The author does not advance speculations about the press editorials and Stuart's decision to ride around the Union army in late June and early July. Also, Wittenberg organizes his work into chapters that are not focused on the clock but focused on the brigades' and divisions' engagements. The divisions with their brigades and regiments are well developed and the are not diminished by overcrowding pages and chapters with everything that was going on at a particular hour of the battle. Of the 14 chapters, eight are devoted to specific segments of the battle though other fighting was going on at the same time. This helps with the continuity within the day long engagement between nine Federal brigades[seven cavalry and two infantry] and five Confederate brigades. contain topographic features and elevation lines. Missing is a map that shows the entire battlefield. An additional and enjoyable feature is the Epilogue that tells the story of two Federals who were detained as prisoners captured at Brandy Station and were sent to Richmond's Libby Prison.

History of the county of Schenectady, N.Y., from 1662 to 1886 ...

The Battle of Chancellorsville, the attack of Stonewall Jackson and his army upon the right flank of the Army of the Potomac at Chancellorsville, Virginia, on Saturday afternoon, May 2, 1863

Chancellorsville

The battle of Chancellorsville

The battle-fields of Virginia, Chancellorsville; embracing the oerations of the Army of northern Virginia, from the first battle of Fredericksburg to the death of Leiutenant-General Jackson