Another fake Catholic miracle.

[Clueless Morgan]

Jehanne, maybe this was what Crichton was referring to:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conversion_disorder

Conversion disorder (CD) is a diagnostic category previously used in some psychiatric classification systems. It is sometimes applied to patients who present with neurological symptoms, such as numbness, blindness, paralysis, or fits, which are not consistent with a well-established organic cause, and which cause significant distress.

...

In some cases, conversion disorder begins with some stressor, trauma, or psychological distress. Usually the physical symptoms of the syndrome affect the senses or movement. Common symptoms include blindness, partial or total paralysis, inability to speak, deafness, numbness, sores, difficulty swallowing, incontinence, balance problems, seizures, tremors, and difficulty walking. These symptoms are attributed to conversion disorder when a medical explanation for the afflictions cannot be found.[6] Symptoms of conversion disorder usually occur suddenly. Conversion disorder is typically seen in individuals 10 to 35 years old.

The original theory by the Ancient Egyptians, the condition was thought to affect only females, and was considered to be due to spontaneous movement in the uterus.

Those damned uteri always causing problems...