afely delivered, she suddenly and without apparent cause died in six
hours. Every region of the body was examined with minutest care by an
eminent physician, but no signs indicative of the cause of death were
found. Mordret cites a similar instance of death from fear of labor.
Morgagni mentions a woman who died from the disappointment of bearing a
girl baby when she was extremely desirous of a boy.

The following case, quoted from Lauder Brunton, shows the extent of
shock which may be produced by fear: Many years ago a janitor of a
college had rendered himself obnoxious to the students, and they
determined to punish him. Accordingly they prepared a block and an axe,
which they conveyed to a lonely place, and having appropriately dressed
themselves, some of them prepared to act as judges, and sent others of
their company to bring him before them. He first affected to treat the
whole affair as a joke, but was solemnly assured by the students that
they meant it in real earnest. He was told to prepare for immediate
death. The trembling janitor looked all around in the vain hope of
seeing some indication that nothing was really meant, but stern looks
met him everywhere. He was blindfolded, and made to kneel before the
block. The executioner's axe was raised, but, instead of the sharp
edge, a wet towel was brought sharply down on the back of the neck. The
bandage was now removed from the culprit's eyes, but to the horror and
astonishment of the students they found that he was dead. Such a case
may be due to heart-failure from fear or excitement.

It is not uncommon that death ensues from the shock alone following
blows that cause no visible injury, but administered to vital parts.
This is particularly true of blows about the external genital region,
or epigastrium, where the solar plexus is an active factor in
inhibition. Ivanhoff of Bulgaria in 1886 speaks of a man of forty-five
who was dealt a blow on the testicle in a violent street fight, and
staggering, he fell insensible. Despite vigorous medical efforts he
never regained consciousness and died in forty-five minutes. Postmortem
examination revealed everything normal, and death must have been caused
by syncope following violent pain. Watkins cites an instance occurring
in South Africa. A native shearing sheep for a farmer provoked his
master's ire by calling him by some nickname. While the man was in a
squatting posture the farmer struck him in the epigastrium. He follo