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Daniel Hack Tuke, Psychiatrist and author of Illustrations of the influence of the mind upon the body in health and disease, designed to elucidate the action of the imagination

Illustrations of the Influence of the Mind upon the Body in Health and Disease. Designed to elucidate the Action of the Imagination is a non-fictional book written by Daniel Hack Tuke, published in 1872. In 1873 the book was republished by Henry C. Lea in Philadelphia, as well as 2nd American edition in 1874 by Henry C Lea's Son & Co.

The 1872 edition of Illustrations of the Influence of the Mind upon the Body in Health and Disease. Designed to elucidate the Action of the Imagination by Daniel Hack Tuke, provided by the Special Collection of Maastricht University Library.

In his work, the Psychiatrist presented a collection of cases collected from own experiences as well as reports of other Psychiatrists, Doctors and Lecturers of his time to show the influence of mental states on the physical body in causing and curing disease. Tuke aimed to achieve more acknowledgement and understanding of the mental causes of disorders as well the integration in the treatment of such, coining the term "psycho-therapy".

Context

Tuke was born into a family of Quakers and was early confronted with the topic of psychiatry: His great-grandfather William Tuke was founder of the York Retreat, and both his grandfather and father continued running it later on as co-founders. His family demanded human and "moral" treatment of mentally ill patients, shaping Tuke's later opinion and career. During his visits of mental hospitals, studies at Heidelberg University and career as lecturer he encountered several cases of disorders and phenomena seemingly caused by the states of the mind, which he often felt to be misunderstood or forgotten by his colleagues. This led him to publish a Manual of Psychological Medicine in 1858 and Insanity among women in 1861, followed by Illustrations of the Influence of the Mind upon the Body in Health and Disease. Designed to elucidate the Action of the Imagination and further works later on.

First page of Illustrations of the Influence of the Mind upon the Body in Health and Disease, by Daniel Hack Tuke, provided by the Special Collection of Maastricht University Library.

The author lived during a historical period known as Victorian era, which in England was a time of rapid population growth and improved life conditions for the wealthy population. This led to an increasing interest in science and Psychology, which was considered a scientific discipline for the first time. . The Victorian Psychology of the time equally shaped Tuke's work: There was a strong desire for readings and theories based on different approaches than Freudian Psychology. Psychology emerged as an inclusive new branch, trying to answer advanced questions, with theories based partially on nowadays so-called pseudosciences, such as phrenology, physiognomy, mesmerism as well as the study of extrasensory perception. Tuke especially worked on such an interdisciplinary approach, not limiting himself to one specific opinion. Representatives of the time are Herbert Spencer, George Lewes and Alexander Bain, who published widely acknowledged works on the mind, differing from previous opinions. Thomas Laycock and William Benjamin Carpenter published additional pre-Freudian writings in the 1840s and 50s. Tuke was in contact with those specialists, who he later quoted in his work.

The time was marked by the continued conflict between materialism and dualism, as some specialists, such as Tuke, considered the separation of the material body and the immaterial mind making independent impressions on the body. Around 1870 however, a strong material shift was reintroduced by experiments of David Ferrier, John Hughlings Jackson and other neurologists, who attempted specific cerebral localisation. Their ambitions to link emotions and thoughts directly to certain brain parts, today known as neural correlates, was recognised by Tuke as he picked up such ideas in his book.

Beginning of the list of works Tuke refers to in Illustrations of the Influence of the Mind upon the Body in Health and Disease. Designed to elucidate the Action of the Imagination.

Even though bigger acknowledgement was given to dualism and the influence of mental states on the body, the degree and ways of working were not unitedly agreed on. So did some psychologists at the time still consider the mind as passive, merely reacting to inner and outer impressions. Such thoughts are mostly impressed in Victorian novels. While there is little consent of general theories at the time of Victorian psychology, this motivated Tuke to collect, sort and classify all the medical cases in his book and use such to illustrate his opinion of the influence of mind on the body and health.

Additionally, the general lack of an academic approach to psychiatry motivated specialists of the time to overcome the predominantly biological, hierarchical theories of mental, physical and cultural differences, which were mainly privileging white men. Tuke held rather liberal attitudes towards socially excluded social classes, dismissing the association which was often made between such and mental diseases. He therefore attempted to analyse the to him presented cases in order to find evidence against such accusations.

Contents

Insight into the content list of Illustrations of the Influence of the Mind upon the Body in Health and Disease. Designed to elucidate the Action of the Imagination by Daniel Hack Tuke.

Tuke aims to illustrate his opinion by reporting critically categorised medical cases to target both laymen and specialists. As he states in the introduction and the last chapter, he hereby hopes to improve general acknowledgement and understanding of mental disorders as well as increase belief in and use of treatments utilizing the impact of mental states, such as Hypnotism and Bradism. By proofing the influence of mind he also aims to increase researchers motivation to investigate the underlying mechanism better and improve mentioned treatments.

The book is separated in 3 parts, one dedicated to each state Tuke interprets the mind as:

1.        Intellect

The impact of imagination is illustrated by aligning it with its psychological and physiological principles. Tuke admits the general lack of consensus on interpretations of subjective experiences, such as distinguishing externally caused sensations, emotions and inner free will. The dualistic interaction problem between mind and body is a constant issue which Tuke illustrates by providing different opinions. Tuke further explain the impact of attention on mental states, with references to e.g. Plato, Cicero and Kant for different ideas on the origin of mental states and ideas.

The intellect is described to excite, suspend or induce excessive or morbid sensations, e.g. in hyperaesthesia and dyseasthesia. Exact mechanism remain unclear, both Dr. Carpenter and Herbert Spencer are quoted for attempts to explain the origin of impressions. Bacons experimentum crucis is referred to in illustrating the involuntary imitation of others and the impact of attention on a certain body part which induces different sensations.

2.        Emotion

Emotions are often followed by ideational, emotional or volitional acts. While the origin of emotions is not agreed on, some possibilities, such as the Epigastric brain centre, the Solar plexus or Medulla oblongata are listed. Emotions might excite or suspend sensations, there however exists a hardship in distinguishing mental from bodily feelings.

Regarding the voluntary muscels, Tuke states 3 bodily phenomena which may be caused by emotions:

• Movements
• Spasms and Convulsions
• Paralysis.

Examples of epilepsy caused by mental excitement, stammering and cases of developed diseases such as hydrophobia through mere imagination; Tetanus and Catalepsy possibly caused merely by belief of transmission, as well as the use of emotions in hypnosis are discussed. The author emphasises, that several emotions can impact the same glands and organs and, therefore share similar effects, which may differ among people and intensity of emotions.

3.        Volition (The Will)

Tuke describes the difference between Will and Volition, often confused in daily wording. Volitional acts may stem from combined actions of intellect and emotions, with different pathways discussed by the author. Will may act upon sensations, e.g. in inducing hallucinations by acting upon both voluntary and involuntary muscles as well as organic functions. This section is held short, with a conclusion about the indirect influence of will.

Tuke further makes a distinction:

Intellect mainly works on the brain, through nerves causing sensations.

Emotions mostly impact heart and lungs, vessels and glands and therefore impact organic functions.

Will instead influences mainly motor muscles, leading to movements.

Mesmerism, also known as Animal Magnetism

Influence of the mind upon the body in the cure of disease:

The last part of the book is dedicated to psychological and physiological principles underlying mental treatments. The author refers to hypnotism, braidism, animal magnetism or mesmerism as well as the role of imagination, emotion, intellect and will in the cure of disorders of sensations, muscles and organs by referring to several individual patient cases.

Psycho-Therapeutics are introduced to illustrate ways of using mental states to relieve disordered patients, e.g. by arousing the Will, Mental states and causing expectation and hope as well as directing attention.

All of the 4 parts end with one to two pages of summary, pointing out the main takeaways for the reader.

Reception

References and Influence

Nowadays, Illustrations of the Influence of the Mind upon the Body in Health and Disease is mainly known for the first-ever occurrence of the term ‘psycho-therapeutics’, which fostered the conceptions of psychological disorder and psychological well-being as well as identity. While Tuke does receive credit for introducing the concept, specialists likewise criticise him for a vague and broad usage of it, making the interpretation of his ambitions difficult. While some consider that reinterpreting and understanding his beliefs of the benefits of hypnotism and suggestion might improve nowadays methods of the field, in reality there is still little distinction between psychological and somatic aspects of symptoms and therapies, showing that Tuke's work did not have the influence he expressed to wish for.

The later publication of further editions by Henry C. Lea and his son, including additional illustrations, indicate the general acknowledgement of the book in America. Illustrations of the Influence of the Mind upon the Body in Health and Disease. Designed to elucidate the Action of the Imagination is mainly referenced in books and articles about hypnosis, such as Edmonston, W. E., Jr.'s The induction of hypnosis., as well as the placebo effect, e.g. in Franklin G. Miller's The Placebo. A Reader.. This signifies the acknowledgement of evidence given by Tuke illustrating the reality of such highly discussed phenomena.

The author was an influential governor at the Bethlem Royal Hospital in the late nineteenth century, significantly impacting the field of psychiatry. Calling himself a compiler of information rather than provider of it led to scientists overlooking most of his work. Instead of Illustrations of the Influence of the Mind upon the Body in Health and Disease. Designed to elucidate the Action of the Imagination, A Dictionary of Psychological Medicine has been considered his main work. From 1880 on he worked with Dr. G. Savage on the Journal of Mental Science (now The British Journal of Psychiatry) for sixteen years . Additional works include Sleep-walking and hypnotism (1884), following up on cases and phenomena introduced in Illustrations of the Influence of the Mind upon the Body in Health and Disease.

Criticism

Tuke is accused to have adopted the racist standpoint of his time, particularly in view of certain linguistic choices he made in lllustrations of the Influence of the Mind upon the Body in Health and Disease. Designed to elucidate the Action of the Imagination. Lacking consensus and critical interpretations of this issue makes a judgement difficult, as Tuke's wording is generally in line with other authors of his time, such as Charles Dickens, and might be misinterpreted, caused by the change of meaning of words over time. Authors of review articles therefore call for a more critical analysis and interpretation of Tuke's work. Additional criticism targets the authors limitation to rather materialist standpoints, which he tried to overcome, but which did nonetheless provide the basis of his education and work. Some specialists criticise Tuke for having taken on a spiritual side in psychology in his work.