On Warts -By Lewis Thomas

Lewis Thomas (1913-1993) | Image: Wikipedia

In the essay "On Warts", Lewis Thomas talks about how strange and interesting warts are. These small skin bumps are caused by viruses. He describes them as complex and even beautiful in structure, comparing their sudden appearance to mushrooms popping up overnight. Under a microscope, they look carefully designed, almost like they are meant to protect the body. But in reality, these overgrown skin cells are not a defence; instead, they help the virus grow and multiply.

One surprising fact is that warts often disappear on their own, and even more strangely, they can go away when a person is hypnotised and simply told they will disappear. This idea has been supported by old medical stories and scientific studies. In one experiment, patients were told under hypnosis that warts on one side of their body would vanish, and in many cases, they did. Sometimes, the warts even went away on the wrong side or on both sides, showing that the brain is somehow involved without us knowing it.

Thomas is fascinated by how the unconscious mind can do something so specific. He wonders how the brain can give such accurate orders, like stopping blood flow to the wart or using the body’s immune system to remove it. He says the unconscious part of the mind seems much more powerful and intelligent than we usually think. As scientists have learned more about viruses and immunity, the mystery has only grown. Thomas admits that, consciously, he would never be able to do something so complex.

This makes him think there must be a smart inner part of us, something like a control centre in the brain, that works much better than we realise. He compares it to a scientist or a manager who knows how to run the body perfectly, making sure the right immune cells go to the right place at the right time.

Thomas jokes that there might be a brilliant expert living inside us, running everything perfectly, like a doctor or scientist. He believes that if we understood how this process works, we could learn more about how the immune system works and how the body fights diseases. He ends by saying this mystery is so important that maybe there should be a whole research centre just for warts. In the end, Thomas says that if we could understand how hypnosis makes warts disappear, it could teach us a lot about how the immune system works, how the mind and body are connected, and how the body knows which cells are harmful. He even jokes that we should create a special research centre, “The National Institute of Warts and All”, to study this deeply, because it could help us discover new ways to understand and treat diseases.

Understanding

1. What causes warts? What is it that makes them go away?

Warts are caused by viruses that infect the skin and cause cells to grow in a strange way. They often go away on their own, but they can also disappear through hypnotic suggestion, which means a person is told under hypnosis that the wart will go away, and sometimes, it actually does.

2. What does the expression "warts and all" (18) usually mean? What other well-known, more official phrases are parodied in the last sentence?

The phrase “warts and all” means accepting someone or something completely, including all their flaws. In the last sentence, Thomas humorously suggests creating a “National Institute of Warts and All”, which mimics the names of real scientific organisations like the National Institutes of Health or the War on Cancer. He is joking, but also making a serious point about the need to study the strange case of warts more deeply.

3. What is the main purpose of the essay? How well is that purpose accomplished?

The main purpose of the essay is to explore the mystery of warts and the power of the unconscious mind, especially how the mind can make warts disappear. Thomas wants readers to think about how little we understand the body’s inner workings. He does this very well by combining scientific facts, personal thoughts, and humour in a clear and engaging way.

4. How does hypnotic suggestion work on warts?

When someone is hypnotised and told that their wart will disappear, the body seems to somehow follow that command. Scientists aren’t exactly sure how, but it might involve the immune system or changes in blood flow. The strange part is that the mind can give such specific instructions without the person even knowing how it works.

5. The wart curer must be a "cell biologist of world class" (14). Why?

Thomas says this because whoever or whatever is inside the body that removes the wart seems to do it with great skill. It must be able to understand viruses, control blood flow, and direct immune cells very precisely, just like a top-level scientist. This shows how amazing and complex the unconscious mind or inner body system must be.

6. How do you reconcile the fact that Thomas is a scientist with the fact that he puts his faith in an apparently unscientific cure?

Thomas doesn’t fully reject science. Instead, he uses scientific thinking to explore strange things, like hypnotic suggestion. He finds the cure mysterious but real, and he wants science to study it more deeply. So even though it sounds unscientific, he treats it as a serious scientific puzzle worth solving.

Rhetoric/Language/Writing

1. Which of Thomas's statements do you find surprising or whimsical? Which seems exaggerated? Do such statements distract us from the essay? Explain.

One surprising and whimsical statement is when Thomas says there should be a “National Institute of Warts and All.” This exaggerates the importance of warts, but it’s meant to be funny and thought-provoking. Another whimsical idea is that there is a “chief executive officer” or “world-class cell biologist” inside us who manages everything. These statements are playful and imaginative, not meant to be taken literally.

Such statements do not distract us from the essay. In fact, they make the essay more enjoyable and help explain complex ideas in a fun and creative way. They also keep the reader engaged and make the essay easier to understand.

2. Why is the essay written in the first person? Does the essay gain from the use of the first person?

The essay is written in the first person because Thomas is sharing his own thoughts, experiences, and wonder about warts and the human mind. This personal style makes the essay more relatable and engaging. Yes, the essay gains a lot from using the first person. It feels like a conversation between the writer and the reader, which helps us connect with his ideas more easily.

3. Does the essay address scientists or a more general audience? Cite evidence for your answer.

The essay is mainly for a general audience, not just scientists. Thomas uses simple comparisons, like saying warts grow "like mushrooms on a damp lawn,” and he explains complex ideas without heavy scientific language. Also, his humorous tone, storytelling, and personal reflections show that he wants to interest everyday readers, not just medical experts.

4. Thomas says that warts appear on the skin "like mushrooms on a damp lawn" (1). List other figures of speech from the essay and explain what each contributes.

Here are a few more figures of speech from the essay:

• Turreted mounds of dense, impenetrable horn: This metaphor makes warts sound like little castles or forts, helping us picture their complex and tough appearance.
• A private sanitarium, walled off somewhere in a suburb of my brain: This metaphor describes the unconscious mind humorously as a separate place, adding charm and creativity.
• Chief executive officer or landlord: These metaphors suggest that someone important and intelligent is managing things inside the body. They make the reader think about the body’s processes in a new, fun way.

Each figure of speech makes the essay more vivid, imaginative, and easier to follow.

5. What is the writer's tone or attitude toward his subject? By what means does he reveal his attitude?

The writer’s tone is a mix of curious, amused, and respectful. He is clearly fascinated by how the body works, especially how warts disappear. He uses humour, metaphors, personal stories, and questions to show this attitude. Even though the topic is scientific, his tone is light, friendly, and full of wonder, which invites the reader to share in his curiosity.

Discussion

1. Discuss the role of the power of suggestion in curing warts.

The power of suggestion can sometimes make warts go away. When a person is hypnotised and told that their wart will disappear, the brain seems to follow that command, even without the person knowing how it works. This shows that the mind has a strong effect on the body, even in ways we don’t fully understand. The brain may send signals to stop blood flow to the wart or use the immune system to remove it, all because of the power of belief or suggestion.

2. Briefly discuss a miracle cure or faith-healing by drawing on your experience.

One example of faith-healing I’ve heard about is when people pray or believe deeply in a holy person’s blessing and then feel better afterwards. For example, some people with long-term pain have reported feeling healed after visiting a religious place or attending a prayer meeting. Even if there’s no scientific explanation, their strong belief might help reduce stress or pain, showing how faith and hope can sometimes lead to real changes in health.

3. Briefly tell what causes the common cold, and give reasons why there is no cure for it, or, if there is any way you can get rid of it.

The common cold is caused by viruses, especially rhinoviruses. There are many different types of cold viruses, and they change often, which is why it’s hard to make one cure for all of them.

There is no exact cure for the cold, but the body usually fights it off on its own in a few days. To feel better, people can rest, drink warm fluids, and take medicine for symptoms like fever or cough. Staying clean and avoiding close contact with sick people can also help prevent catching it.