Hypochondriasis

exercise in a painful manner. Their feelings refer wholly to their health, the condition of which lays claim to all their attention, and by which morbid feelings are produced in the organism either through vividly intense conceptions, or sensations occurring in the organism are interpreted erroneously. These morbid sensations, which may be produced centrally by conceptions, the hypochondriac may, to a certain extent, transfer wherever he will, as according to the idea he adopts he turns his attention to this or that part of the body. Even, however, in the cases where an actual sensation, arising peripherically, does not produce a corresponding conception, the cause of this imperfect perception must be transferred to the brain. From these considerations, as well as that hypochondriasis may be produced by the perusal of medical writings, through intercourse with hypochondriacs, through fear and anxiety during epidemics, or after an individual has exposed himself to contagious diseases, it follows that hypochondriasis may arise from peripherical or central causes, may depend upon a morbid condition of the brain, and that even in those cases where, with the most careful investigation, no organic disease