The Devil’s Bait
By Leslie Jamison
What’s your verdict on Morgellons disease; is it a “disease or delusion”?
Personally, I think that this is a real disease that hasn’t been discovered yet. Leslie Jamison the author of “The Devil’s Bait” wrote about an illness called Morgellons. Jamison went to a convention that created awareness for this potential disease. This virus creates a feeling of intense itching, and “bugs” under the skin. There are also little fiber-like strands that land on the skin that creates a sharp sensation when touched. These symptoms are unlike other diseases known by doctors around the world. I believe that is a real disease because of a story from a lady at the convention named Sandra. Jamison tells her story describing how she “pulls out her cell phone to show me a photo of something she coughed up… She thinks it’s a larva,” (Jamison). This evidence makes me believe that this disease is real and not imaginary. Sandra’s proclaimed theory about her condition is that the fibers are connecting to her body because “the organisms inside her are gathering materials to make their cocoons,” (Jamison) This would explain the symptom of the fibers on the skin. The direct evidence of the larva she coughed up would be evidence of the symptom of feeling of bugs under her skin. This is concrete evidence that the doctors and researchers should conduct more tests to help these people.
In my own response to this article I found myself trying my very best to find reasons as to how this disease could be attributed to a mental cause. The examples you chose to highlight in this blog post though, especially Sandra’s video, if they are to be proven would disprove my own idea completely. The explanation I gave the disease is one that would “protect” me from harm more solidly than if your explanation is true and perhaps that is why I chose to and others choose to disregard the validity of the victims’ claims.