112
Counsels on Health
health and thus in possession of one of the richest blessings they could
enjoy.
I have been shown that many who are apparently feeble, and are
ever complaining, are not so badly off as they imagine themselves to
be. Some of these have a powerful will, which, exercised in the right
direction, would be a potent means of controlling the imagination and
thus resisting disease. But it is too frequently the case that the will
is exercised in a wrong direction, and stubbornly refuses to yield to
reason. That will has settled the matter; invalids they are, and the
attention due to invalids they will have irrespective of the judgment of
others.
I have been shown mothers who are governed by a diseased imagi-
nation, the influence of which is felt upon husband and children. The
windows must be kept closed because the mother feels the air. If she is
at all chilly, and a change is made in her clothing, she thinks her chil-
dren must be treated in the same manner, and thus the entire family are
robbed of physical stamina. All are affected by one mind, physically
and mentally injured through the diseased imagination of one woman
who considers herself a criterion for the whole family. The body is
clothed in accordance with the caprices of a diseased imagination, and
smothered under an amount of wrappings which debilitate the system.
The skin cannot perform its office; the studied habit of shunning the
air and avoiding exercise, closes the pores, the little mouths through
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which the body breathes,—making it impossible to throw off impu-
rities through that channel. The burden of labor is thrown upon the
liver, lungs, kidneys, etc., and these internal organs are compelled to
do the work of the skin.
Thus persons bring disease upon themselves by their wrong habits;
yet, in the face of light and knowledge, they will adhere to their own
course. They reason thus: “Have we not tried the matter? and do we
not understand it by experience?” But the experience of a person whose
imagination is at fault should not have much weight with anyone.
The season most to be dreaded by any going among these invalids
is winter. It is winter indeed, not only outdoors, but in, to those who are
compelled to live in the same house and sleep in the same room. These
victims of a diseased imagination shut themselves indoors and close
the windows; for the air affects their lungs and their heads. Imagination
is active; they expect to take cold, and they will have it. No amount