Morbus Sabbaticus
Morbus Sabbaticus, or Sunday Sickness, is a disease
peculiar to church members. The attack comes on suddenly
on Sundays. No symptoms are felt on Saturday night; the
patient sleeps well and awakes feeling well; eats a
hearty breakfast, but about church time the attack comes
on and continues until services are over for the
morning. The patient feels easy and eats a hearty
dinner. In the afternoon he feels much better and is
able to take a walk, automobile ride, go visiting, talk
politics and read the papers; he eats a hearty supper
but about church time he has another attack and stays
home. He retires early, sleeps well, and awakes on
Monday morning refreshed and able to go to work. He does
not feel any of the returned symptoms until the next
Sunday.
The peculiar features are as follows--
1. It
attacks members of a church.
2. It never makes its
appearance except on Sunday.
3. The symptoms vary,
but never interfere with appetite and sleep.
4. It
never lasts more than 24 hours.
5. It generally
attacks the head of the family and continues to spread
until every member is affected.
6. No physician is
ever called.
7. It always proves fatal in the end to
the soul.
8. No remedy is known for it except
repentance and prayer.
9. Real heart-felt salvation
is the only antidote.
