Dr. Zimmerman presents us with a great number of examples of the influence of the passions in producing diseases, or death itself; some of the most remarkable of which follow. “All the passions (says he) when carried to excess, bring on very formidable diseases. Sometimes they occasion death, or bring us at least into imminent danger. The most reputable physicians agree in opinion that terror may occasion apoplexy, and death; and indeed they consider apoplexy as the most common effect of violent passion. Without being carried to excess, a passion will sometimes occasion a difficulty of breathing, together with a sense of stricture in the breast, and an hesitation to speak; the tongue remaining as it were immoveably fixed on the palate. Hysterical and hypocondriacal affections are sometimes the effects of grief in the most healthy people. Joy is much more dangerous to life than sudden grief. Sophocles died through joy at being crowned on account of a tragedy he had composed in his old age. The famous Fouquet died on being told that Louis XIV had restored him to liberty. The niece of the celebrated Leibnitz, not suspecting that a philosopher would hoard up treasure, died suddenly on finding under her uncle’s bed a box containing sixty thousand ducats. Violent anger has sometimes produced hæmorrhages and subcutaneous extravasations; or, some vessel of the brain being ruptured by these transports, a fatal apoplexy has taken place. There have been instances of excessive anger being succeeded by epilepsy, colic, or a violent degree of fever. Sometimes it has occasioned an increased flow of bile. In some this produces vomiting; in others it goes off downwards, and causes diarrhœa; or being retained, from a stricture of the gall-ducts, will perhaps be absorbed, and occasion jaundice. In cases where anger has been succeeded by extreme grief, obstructions have taken place in the liver. The effects of terror are similar to those of anger, but in general more violent. Sometimes excessive terror seems to give to men a preternatural strength, as is the case with madmen and drowning persons. In some cases it has not only excited immediate convulsions, but caused them to return periodically. Fear has been said to make the hair stand upright, and to contract the pores from which the hairs issue in the same manner as cold does. There are instances in authors even of the colour of the hair being changed by excessive fright. Philip V died suddenly on being told that the Spaniards had been defeated, and, on opening him, his heart was found ruptured. Timid people are more liable than others to fall sick. A firmness of mind is one of the best preservations against contagion. Willis has very well observed, that they who fear the small-pox the most are generally the first to be attacked with it. Cheyne assures us that fear is extremely prejudicial in all epidemical diseases. Dr. Rogers remarks, that fear constantly increases the ravages of a contagious disease.