Punishing the bulk for the sake of the few

Psychic phenomenon

Medication is, for the most element, a rational enterprise with tiny time for the supernatural. Nevertheless, the public might have a distinct view, as recommended by two separate accounts within a week of sufferers describing a state of “psychic unease” coinciding, it subsequently emerged, with the death of a close relative.

The most thorough investigation of these death coincidences, as they are referred to as, carried out by the Society of Psychical Study in excess of one hundred many years in the past, discovered their frequency to be practically 500 instances higher than may well be anticipated by possibility.

The survey may sound like one thing of a curiosity, but Prof Tom Dening, of Nottingham University, writing in the journal History of Psychiatry, notes that “by the requirements of the time, the methodology was very good and effectively considered-out”.

Therefore, in a standard case, a Yorkshireman who had emigrated to Australia reported getting woken at evening to see the figure of his aunt standing near the foot of his bed. He advised his wife of the apparition and, positive enough, in subsequent correspondence, it emerged that – taking into account the time difference among Melbourne and Greenwich – his aunt had appeared in Australia three hrs after her death in England.

This is most readily explained as a hypnagogic hallucination, or waking dream. But the problems remains in accounting for the timing of his aunt’s apparition at the time of her death. The frequency of this kind of occurrences, unaccountable by likelihood alone, “challenges the notion” that they are necessarily due to a state of altered consciousness, observes Prof Dening.

Bladder discomfort

This week’s medical query comes courtesy of Mr TS of Leeds, now in his mid-eighties and “not doing badly”, except that for the previous few months he has been afflicted by significant pain – lasting up to an hour – right after emptying his bladder. Passing urine itself is painless and he has no other urinary-relevant signs and symptoms.

He has seen a expert and had all the tests, which surprisingly turned out to be normal. He has lower out all fizzy drinks (like, sadly, his everyday G&ampT) and other prospective bladder irritants, and would be much more than grateful for any tips.

Electronic mail healthcare queries confidentially to Dr James LeFanu at drjames@telegraph.co.uk. Answers will be published on The Telegraph internet site every single Friday, at telegraph.co.uk/wellness

Punishing the bulk for the sake of the few