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he palms and soles。
The untoward effects of the emotions on the vital functions are quite well exemplified in medical literature。 There is an abundance of cases reported in which joy； fear； pride； and grief have produced a fatal issue。 In history we have the old story of the Lacedemonian woman who for some time had believed her son was dead； and who from the sudden joy occasioned by seeing him alive； herself fell lifeless。 There is a similar instance in Roman history。 Aristotle； Pliny； Livy； Cicero； and others cite instances of death from sudden or excessive joy。 Fouquet died of excessive joy on being released from prison。 A niece of the celebrated Leibnitz immediately fell dead on seeing a casket of gold left to her by her deceased uncle。
Galen mentions death from joy； and in comment upon it he says that the emotion of joy is much more dangerous than that of anger。 In discussing this subject； Haller says that the blood is probably sent with such violence to the brain as to cause apoplexy。 There is one case on record in which after a death from sudden joy the pericardium was found full of blood。 The Ephemerides； Marcellus Donatus； Martini； and Struthius all mention death from joy。
Death from violent laughter has been recorded； but in this instance it is very probable that death was not due to the emotion itself； but to the extreme convulsion and exertion used in the laughter。 The Ephemerides mentions a death from laughter； and also describes the death of a pregnant woman from violent mirth。 Roy； Swinger； and Camerarius have recorded instances of death from laughter。 Strange as it may seem； Saint…Foix says that the Moravian brothers； a sect of Anabaptists having great horror of bloodshed； executed their condemned brethren by tickling them to death。
Powerfully depressing emotions； which are called by Kant 〃asthenic；〃 such as great and sudden sorrow； grief； or fright； have a pronounced effect on the vital functions； at times even causing death。 Throughout literature and history we have examples of this anomaly。 In Shakespeare's 〃Pericles；〃 Thaisa； the daughter to Simonides and wife of Pericles； frightened when pregnant by a threatened shipwreck； dies in premature childbirth。
In Scott's 〃Guy Mannering；〃 Mrs。 Bertram； on suddenly learning of the death of her little boy； is thrown into premature labor； followed by death。 Various theories are advanced in explanation of this anomaly。 A very plausible one is； that the cardiac palsy is caused by energetic and persistent excitement of the inhibitory cardiac nerves。 Strand is accredited with saying that agony of the mind produces rupture of the heart。 It is quite common to hear the expression； 〃Died of a broken heart；〃 and； strange to say； in some cases postmortem examination has proved the actual truth of the saying。 Bartholinus； Fabricius Hildanus； Pliny； Rhodius； Schenck； Marcellus Donatus； Riedlin； and Garengeot speak of death from fright and fear； and the Ephemerides describes a death the direct cause of which was intense shame。 Deleau； a celebrated doctor of Paris； while embracing his favorite daughter； who was in the last throes of consumption； was so overcome by intense grief that he fell over her corpse and died； and both were buried together。
The fear of child…birth has been frequently cited as a cause of death McClintock quotes a case from Travers of a young lady； happily married； who entertained a fear of death in child…birth； although she had been safely delivered； she suddenly and without apparent cause died in six hours。 Every region of the body was examined with minutest care by an eminent physician； but no signs indicative of the cause of death were found。 Mordret cites a similar instance of death from fear of labor。 Morgagni mentions a woman who died from the disappointment of bearing a girl baby when she was extremely desirous of a boy。
The following case； quoted from Lauder Brunton； shows the extent of shock which may be produced by fear： Many years ago a janitor of a college had rendered himself obnoxious to the students； and they determined to punish him。 Accordingly they prepared a block and an axe； which they conveyed to a lonely place； and having appropriately dressed themselves； some of them prepared to act as judges； and sent others of their company to bring him before them。 He first affected to treat the whole affair as a joke； but was solemnly assured by the students that they meant it in real earnest。 He was told to prepare for immediate death。 The trembling janitor looked all around in the vain hope of seeing some indication that nothing was really meant； but stern looks met him everywhere。 He was blindfolded； and made to kneel before the block。 The executioner's axe was raised； but； instead of the sharp edge； a wet towel was brought sharply down on the back of the neck。 The bandage was now removed from the culprit's eyes； but to the horror and astonishment of the students they found that he was dead。 Such a case may be due to heart…failure from fear or excitement。
It is not uncommon that death ensues from the shock alone following blows that cause no visible injury； but administered to vital parts。 This is particularly true of blows about the external genital region； or epigastrium； where the solar plexus is an active factor in inhibition。 Ivanhoff of Bulgaria in 1886 speaks of a man of forty…five who was dealt a blow on the testicle in a violent street fight； and staggering； he fell insensible。 Despite vigorous medical efforts he never regained consciousness and died in forty…five minutes。 Postmortem examination revealed everything normal； and death must have been caused by syncope following violent pain。 Watkins cites an instance occurring in South Africa。 A native shearing sheep for a farmer provoked his master's ire by calling him by some nickname。 While the man was in a squatting posture the farmer struck him in the epigastrium。 He followed this up by a kick in the side and a blow on the head； neither of which； however； was as severe as the first blow。 The man fell unconscious and died。 At the autopsy there were no signs indicative of death； which must have been due to the shock following the blow on the epigastrium。
As illustrative of the sensitiveness of the epigastric region； Vincent relates the following case： 〃A man received a blow by a stick upon the epigastrium。 He had an anxious expression and suffered from oppression。 Irregular heart…action and shivering were symptoms that gradually disappeared during the day。 In the evening his appetite returned and he felt well； during the night he died without a struggle； and at the autopsy there was absolutely nothing abnormal to be found。〃 Blows upon the neck often produce sudden collapse。 Prize…fighters are well aware of the effects of a blow on the jugular vein。 Maschka； quoted by Warren； reports the case of a boy of twelve； who was struck on the anterior portion of the larynx by a stone。 He fell lifeless to the ground； and at autopsy no local lesion was found nor any lesion elsewhere。 The sudden death may be attributed in this case partly to shock and partly to cerebral anemia。
Soldiers have been seen to drop lifeless on the battle…field without apparent injury or organic dera