Note 254 — ON THE THEORY AND ART OF PRESCRIBING.

Fear, contrary to joy, decreases, for a time, the action of the extremities of the arterial system, as is seen by the sudden paleness which succeeds, and the shrinking or contraction of the vessels of the skin. M. de Haen relates the case of a painter who suffered convulsions, which were succeeded by a return of his colic. In this case the poison which had been, for a long time, admitted into his constitution in consequence of his daily employment, was, by the passion of anger, immediately brought into action. It was formerly observed by Citois, that the inhabitants of the province of Poitou, who had suffered anxiety of mind on account of any misfortune to themselves or family, were particularly susceptible of the disease.