On an old episoe of MAS*H there was soldier who was wounded so badly they didn’t think he would pull through, but who then underwent a dramatic recovery. He later explained that at one pont, barely conscious, he overheard a rumour that Marilyn Monroe was coming to visit. Apparently the idea was that such a powerful sexual icon could have a strong impact on the psyche that would in turn trigger a physiological response that would kick the body’s healing processes into overdrive.
Now certainly this could be something purely fictional cooked up for a sitcom, but I’m wondering if it wasn’t, in fact, based on true anecdotes. (Another episode dealt with a drug that they knew couldn’t be used on black troops, but which was producing side-effects on personnel of “Mediterranean descent” as well. A blurb at the end revealed that it was based on real events.)
Has anyone heared of any phenomena along these lines?
And while we’re on the subject of MAS*H, there’s another episode I’ve often wondered about. A patient with a rare blood type needed a transfusion, but the only person with a match was a very drunk bomb disposal expert. They went ahead, and afterward, when BJ asked the kid, "How do you feel?, he replied, “I feel…” and trailed off. I’ve often suspected that the script originally had the kid reply, “I feel…drunk”, but they cut that out. Perhaps their consultants informed them that a trasfusion from a drunk guy wouldn’t be enough to make you feel drunk.
You may find this of interest. I first heard of Dr. Sternberg on an NPR interview about this book. When they said she was with The National Institutes of Health, it made me accept it better.
Samclem, I guess I am not following you. I looked at the link you supplied, it does not seem to answer the poster’s questions. Could you explain your answer and how it relates to the post?
And, from my link and quote–Will believing make us well?
While I haven’t read the book, I wouldn’t be surprised if it gave an explanation, backed up scientifically, as to whether the soldier could have recovered just because he believed in something that made him want to live. I thought the book might have something more than anecdotal evidence. As opposed to posters telling how a relative recovered from near death because they…<fill in the blank>
(Who had that wonderful tag line–The plural of anecdote is NOT data. ?)
The “will to live” is also seen in hospitals, when people get excited about reaching a birthday and stick it out until then.
I believe two of the early presidents, from rival parties were both dying and just wanted to outlast each other for the July 4 celebration.
Both died on July 4, but one (Jefferson?) had last words ruing that “Adams lives”, although he had died earlier in the day.
Could be fun, Doc P, but we should probably take it to MPSIMS. I can only remember a couple more myself. Rule: Six syllable proper name in second line, six syllable single word in seventh line; both must be double-dactyls. Maybe a couple other rules I’ve forgotten.