diff options
Diffstat (limited to '44029-0.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 44029-0.txt | 3539 |
1 files changed, 3539 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/44029-0.txt b/44029-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..57fd602 --- /dev/null +++ b/44029-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3539 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44029 *** + +Note: Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive. See + https://archive.org/details/mindbodyormental00atki + + + + + +MIND AND BODY + +Or + +Mental States and Physical Conditions + +by + +WILLIAM WALKER ATKINSON + + + + + + + +L. N. Fowler & Company +7, Imperial Arcade, Ludgate Circus +London, E. C., England + +1910 +The Progress Company +Chicago, Ill. + +Copyright, 1910 +By +The Progress Company + +P. F. Pettibone & Co. +Printers and Bindors +Chicago + + + + +CONTENTS + + + Foreword 9 + + I. The Subconscious Mind 15 + + II. The Sympathetic System 29 + + III. The Cell-Minds 39 + + IV. The Mental Basis of Cure 58 + + V. The History of Psycho-Therapy 84 + + VI. Faith Cures 115 + + VII. The Power of the Imagination 135 + + VIII. Belief and Suggestion 155 + + IX. Psycho-Therapeutic Methods 173 + + X. The Reaction of the Physical 196 + + + + +FOREWORD + + +Mind and Body--Mental States and Physical Conditions! To the mind +of those who have contented themselves with merely the superficial +aspects of things, these two things--mind and body; and mental states +and physical conditions--seem to be as far apart as the two poles; seem +to be opposites and contradictories impossible of reconciliation. +But to those who have penetrated beneath the surface of things, +these two apparent opposites are seen to be so closely related and +inter-related--so blended and mingled together in manifestation--that it +is practically impossible to scientifically determine where the one +leaves off and the other begins. And so constant and close is their +mutual action and reaction, that it often becomes impossible to state +positively _which_ is the cause and which the effect. + +In the first place, Science now informs us that in all living +substance, from cell to mammoth, there is and must be Mind. There +can be no Life without Mind. Mind, indeed, is held to be the very +"livingness" of Life--the greater the degree of manifestation of Mind, +the higher the degree of Life. Moreover, the New Psychology informs +us that upon the activities of the Subconscious Mind depend all the +processes of physical life--that the Subconscious Mind is the essence +of what was formerly called the Vital Force--and is embodied in every +cell, cell-group or organ of the body. And, that this Subconscious Mind +is amenable to suggestion, good and evil, from the conscious mind of +its owner, as well as from outside. When the subject of the influence +of Mental States upon Physical Conditions is studied, one sees that +the Physical Condition is merely the reflection of the Mental State, +and the problem seems to be solved, the mystery of Health and Disease +solved. But in this, as in everything else, there is seen to be an +opposing phase--the other side of the shield. Let us look at the other +side of the question: + +Just as we find that wherever there is living substance there is Mind, +so do we find that we are unable to intelligently consider Mind unless +as _embodied_ in living substance. The idea of Mind, independent of +its substantial embodiment, becomes a mere abstraction impossible +of mental imaging--something like color independent of the colored +substance, or light without the illuminated substance. And just as we +find that Mental States influence Physical Conditions, so do we find +that Physical Conditions influence Mental States. And, so the problem +of Life, Health and Disease once more loses its simplicity, and the +mystery again deepens. The deeper we dig into the subject, the more do +we become impressed with the idea of the universal principle of Action +and Reaction so apparent in all phenomena. The Mind acts upon the Body; +the Body reacts upon the Mind; cause and effect become confused; the +reasoning becomes circular--like a ring it has no beginning, no end; its +beginning may be any place we may prefer, its ending likewise. + +The only reconciliation is to be found in the fundamental working +hypothesis which holds that both Mind and Body--both Mental States and +Physical Conditions--are _the two aspects of something greater than +either--the opposing poles of the same Reality_. The radical Materialist +asserts that the Body is the only reality, and that Mind is merely +its "by-product." The Mentalist asserts that the Mind is the only +reality, and that the Body is merely its grosser form of manifestation. +The unprejudiced philosopher is apt to stand aside and say: "You are +both right, yet both wrong--each is stating the truth, but only the +half-truth." With the working hypothesis that Mind and Body are but +varying aspects of the Truth--that Mind is the inner essence of the +Body, and Body the outward manifestation of the Mind--we find ourselves +on safe ground. + +We mention this fundamental principle here, for in the body of this +book we shall not invade the province of metaphysics or philosophy, +but shall hold ourselves firmly to our own field, that of psychology. +Of course, the very nature of the subject renders it necessary that +we consider the influence of psychology upon physiology, but we have +remembered that this book belongs to the general subject of the New +Psychology, and we have accordingly emphasized the psychological side +of the subject. But the same material could have been used by a writer +upon physiology, by changing the emphasis from the psychological phase +to the physiological. + +We have written this book to reach not only those who refuse to +see the wonderful influence of the Mental States over the Physical +Conditions, but also for our "metaphysical" friends who have become +so enamored with the power of the Mind that they practically ignore +the existence of the Body, indeed, in some cases, actually denying the +existence of the latter. We believe that there is a sane middle-ground +in "metaphysical healing," as there is in the material treatment +of disease. In this case, not only does Truth lie between the two +extremes, but it is composed of the blending and assimilation of the +two opposing ideas and theories. But, even if the reader does not fully +agree with us in our general theories and conclusions, he will find +within the covers of this book a mass of _facts_ which he may use in +building up a new theory of his own. And, after all, what are theories +but the threads upon which are strung the beads of _facts_--if our +string does not meet with your approval, break it and string the beads +of fact upon a thread of your own. Theories come, and theories go--but +_facts_ remain. + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE SUBCONSCIOUS MIND + + +In order to understand the nature of the influence of the mind upon +the body--the effect of mental states upon physical functions--we must +know something of that wonderful field of mental activity which in the +New Psychology is known as "The Subconscious Mind," and which by some +writers has been styled the "Subjective Mind;" the "Involuntary Mind;" +the "Subliminal Mind;" the "Unconscious Mind," etc., the difference in +names arising because of the comparative newness of the investigation +and classification. + +Among the various functions of the Subconscious Mind, one of the +most important is that of the charge and control of the involuntary +activities and functions of the human body through the agency of the +sympathetic nervous system, the cells, and cell-groups. As all students +of physiology know, the greater part of the activities of the body +are involuntary--that is, are independent (or partly so) of the control +of the conscious will. As Dr. Schofield says: "The unconscious mind, +in addition to the three qualities which it shares in common with the +conscious--_viz._, will, intellect and emotion--has undoubtedly another +very important one--nutrition, or the general maintenance of the body." +And as Hudson states: "The subjective mind has absolute control of the +functions, conditions and sensations of the body." Notwithstanding the +dispute which is still raging concerning _what_ the Subconscious mind +_is_, the authorities all agree upon the fact that, whatever else it +may be, it may be considered as that phase, aspect, part, or field +of the mind which has charge and control of the greater part of the +physical functioning of the body. + +Von Hartmann says: "The explanation that unconscious psychical activity +itself appropriately forms and maintains the body has not only nothing +to be said against it, but has all possible analogies from the most +different departments of physical and animal life in its favor, +and appears to be as scientifically certain as is possible in the +inferences from effect to cause." Maudsley says: "The connection of +mind and body is such that a given state of mind tends to echo itself +at once in the body." Carpenter says: "If a psychosis or mental +state is produced by a neurosis or material nerve state, as pain by +a prick, so also is a neurosis produced by a psychosis. That mental +antecedents call forth physical consequents is just as certain as that +physical antecedents call forth mental consequents." Tuke says: "Mind, +through sensory, motor, vaso-motor and trophic nerves, causes changes +in sensation, muscular contraction, nutrition and secretion.... If +the brain is an outgrowth from a body corpuscle and is in immediate +relation with the structures and tissues that preceded it, then, though +these continue to have their own action, the brain must be expected +to act upon the muscular tissue, the organic functions and upon the +nervous system itself." + +Von Hartmann also says: "In willing any conscious act, the unconscious +will is evoked to institute means to bring about the effect. Thus, +if I will a stronger salivary secretion, the conscious willing of +this effect excites the unconscious will to institute the necessary +means. Mothers are said to be able to provide through the will a more +copious secretion, if the sight of the child arouses in them the will +to suckle. There are people who perspire voluntarily. I now possess the +power of instantaneously reducing the severest hiccoughs to silence +by my own will, while it was formerly a source of great inconvenience +to me.... An irritation to cough, which has no mechanical cause, may +be permanently suppressed by the will. I believe we might possess a +far greater voluntary power over our bodily functions if we were only +accustomed from childhood to institute experiments and to practice +ourselves therein.... We have arrived at the conclusion that every +action of the mind on the body, without exception, is only possible +by means of an unconscious will; that such an unconscious will can be +called forth partly by means of a conscious will, partly also through +the conscious idea of the effect, without conscions will, and even in +opposition to the conscious will." + +Henry Wood says of the Subconscious Mind: "It acts automatically +upon the physical organism. It cognizes external facts, conditions, +limitations, and even contagions, quite independent of its active +counterpart. One may, therefore, 'take' a disease and be unaware of +any exposure. The subconsciousness has been unwittingly trained to +fear, and accept it; and it is this quality, rather than the mere inert +matter of the body, that succumbs. Matter is never the actor, but is +always acted upon. This silent, mental partner, in operation, seems +to be a living, thinking personality, conducting affairs on its own +account. It is a compound of almost unimaginable variety, including +wisdom and foolishness, logic and nonsense, and yet having a working +unitary economy. It is a hidden force to be dealt with and educated, +for it is often found insubordinate and unruly. It refuses co-operation +with its lesser but more active and wiser counterpart. It is very +'set' in its views, and only changes its qualities and opinions by +slow degrees. But, like a pair of horses, not until these two mental +factors can be trained together can there be harmony and efficiency." + +In order to understand the important part played in the physical +economy by the Subconscious Mind, it is only necessary to understand +the various processes of the human system which are out of the ordinary +field of the voluntary or conscious mind. We then realize that the +entire process of nutrition, including digestion, assimilation, etc., +the processes of elimination, the processes of circulation, the +processes of growth, in fact the entire processes manifested in the +work of the cells, cell-groups, ganglia, physical organs, etc., are +in charge of and controlled by the Subconscious Mind. Our food is +digested and transformed into the nourishing substances of the blood; +then carried through the arteries to all parts of the body, where it is +absorbed by the cells and used to replace the worn-out material, the +latter then being carried back through the veins to the lungs where the +waste matter is burned up, and the balance again sent on its journey +through the arteries re-charged with the life-giving oxygen. All of +these processes, and many others of almost equal importance, are out +of the field of the conscious or voluntary mind, and are governed by +the Subconscious Mind. As we shall see when we consider the Sympathetic +Nervous System, the greater part of the body is dominated by the +Subconscious Mind, and that the welfare of the major physical functions +depends entirely, or almost so, upon this great area or field of the +mind. + +The best authorities now generally agree that there is no part of +the body which may be considered as devoid of mind. The Subconscious +Mind is not confined to the brain, or even the greater plexuses of +the nervous system, but extends to all parts of the body, to every +nerve, muscle, and even to every cell and cell-group of the body. +The functions and processes of the body are no longer considered as +purely mechanical, or chemical, but are now seen to be the result of +mental action of some kind or degree. Therefore, in considering the +Subconscious Mind, one must not think of it as resident in the brain +alone, but rather as being _distributed over the entire physical +body_. There is mind in every cell, every organ, every muscle, every +nerve--in every part of the body. + +The importance of the above statements regarding the power and +importance of the Subconscious Mind may be realized when one remembers +the dictum of the New Psychology, to wit: _The Subconscious Mind is +amenable to Suggestion_. When it is realized that this great controller +of the physical organism is so constituted that it accepts as truth +the suggestions from the conscious mind of its owner, as well as +those emanating from the conscious minds of other people, it may be +understood why Faith, Belief, and Expectant Attention manifest such +marked effects upon the physical body and the general health, for +good or for evil, as indicated in the preceding chapters. All of the +many instances and examples recited in the preceding chapters may be +understood when it is realized that the Subconscious Mind, which is in +control of the physical functions and vital processes, will accept the +suggestions from the conscious mind of its owner, and also suggestions +from outside which the conscious mind of its owner allows to pass down +to it. If, as Henry Wood has said in the paragraph previously quoted, +it "acts automatically upon the physical organism," and "seems to be a +living, thinking personality, conducting affairs on its own account," +and at the same time, _accepts and 'takes on' suggested conditions_, +it may be readily understood how the wonderful and almost incredible +statements of the authorities mentioned in the preceding chapters have +had real and substantial basis in truth. + +This understanding of the part played by the Subjective Mind in +controlling and affecting physical conditions and activities, together +with its suggestible qualities and nature, gives us a key to the +whole question of the "Why?" of Mental Healing. Suggestion is the +connecting link between Mind and Body, and an understanding of its +laws and principles enables one to see the moving cause of the strange +phenomena of the Faith Cures, under whatever name they may pass, and +under whatever guise they may present themselves. "Suggestion" is the +explanation offered by the New Psychology for the almost miraculous +phenomena which other schools seek to explain upon some hypothesis +based either upon religious beliefs, or upon some metaphysical or +philosophical doctrine. The New Psychology holds that it is not +necessary to go outside of the realms of psychology and physiology in +studying Mental Healing or Psycho-Therapy; and that the theories of +the semi-religious and metaphysical cults are merely strange guises or +masks which serve to conceal the real operative principle of cure. + +The following quotation from Dr. Schofield will serve to call the +attention to the important part played by the Subconscious Mind in +the physical activities, a fact which is not generally recognized: +"It has often been a mystery how the body thrives so well with so +little oversight or care on the part of its owner. No machine could +be constructed, nor could any combination of solids or liquids in +organic compounds, regulate, control, counteract, help, hinder or +arrange for the continual succession of differing events, foods, +surroundings and conditions which are constantly affecting the body. +And yet, in the midst of this ever-changing and varying succession of +influences, the body holds on its course of growth, health, nutrition +and self-maintenance with the most marvelous constancy. We perceive, of +course, clearly, that the best of qualities--regulation, control, etc., +etc.--are all mental qualities, and at the same time we are equally +clear that by no self-examination can we say we consciously exercise +any of these mental powers over the organic processes of our bodies. +One would think, then, that the conclusion is sufficiently simple and +obvious--that they must be used unconsciously; in other words, it is, +and can be nothing else than _unconscious mental powers_ that control, +guide and govern the functions and organs of the body. + +"Our ordinary text-books on physiology give but little idea of what I +may call the intelligence that presides over the various systems of the +body, showing itself in the bones, as we have seen, in distributing +the available but insufficient amount of lime salts in disease; not +equally, but for the protection of the most vital parts, leaving +those of lesser value disproportionally deficient. In the muscular +system nearly all contractions are involuntary. Even in the voluntary +(so-called) muscles, the most we can do is to will results. We do +not will the contractions that carry out these results. Muscles, +striped and unstriped, are ceaselessly acting without the slightest +consciousness in maintaining the balance of the body, the expression +of the face, the general attributes corresponding to mental states, +the carrying on of digestion and other processes with a purposiveness, +and adaptation of means to new ends and new conditions, ceaselessly +arising, that are beyond all material mechanism. Consider, for +instance, the marvelous increase of smooth muscle in the uterus at +term, and also its no less marvelous subsequent involution; observe, +too, the compensating muscular increase of a damaged heart until the +balance is restored and the necessity for it ceases, as does growth at +a fixed period; consider in detail the repair of a broken bone. These +actions are not mere properties of matter; they demand, and are the +result of, a controlling mind. + +"The circulation does not go round as most text-books would lead us +to believe, as the result merely of the action of a system of elastic +tubes, connected with a self-acting force-pump. It is such views as +these that degrade physiology and obscure the marvels of the body. +The circulation never flows for two minutes in the same manner. In an +instant, miles of capillaries are closed or opened up, according to +the ever-varying body needs, of which, consciously, we are entirely +unaware. The blood supply of each organ is not mechanical, but is +carefully regulated from minute to minute in health, exactly according +to its needs and activities, and when this ever fails, we at once +recognize it as disease, and call it congestion and so forth. The +very heart-beat itself is never constant, but varies _pro rata_ with +the amount of exercise, activity of vital functions, of conditions +of temperature, etc., and even of emotions and other direct mental +feelings. The whole reproductive system is obviously under the sway and +guidance of more than blind material forces. In short, when thoroughly +analyzed, the action and regulation of no system of the body can be +satisfactorily explained, without postulating an unconscious mental +element, which _does_, if allowed, satisfactorily explain all the +phenomena." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE SYMPATHETIC SYSTEM + + +The average person has a general understanding of what is meant by +"the nervous system," but inquiry will show that by this term he +usually includes only that part of the nervous system which is known +as the "cerebro-spinal system," or the system of nerves consisting +of the brain and spinal cord, and the nerves extending therefrom +throughout the body, the offices of which are to control the voluntary +movements of the body. The average person is almost entirely ignorant +of the existence of the Great Sympathetic System which controls +the involuntary movements and processes, such as the processes and +functions of nutrition, secretion, reproduction, excretion, the +vaso-motor action, etc. In physiology, the term "sympathetic" is used +in the sense of: "Reciprocal action of the different parts of the body +on each other; an affection of one part of the body in consequence of +something taking place in another. Thus when there is a local injury, +the whole frame after a time suffers with it. A wound anywhere will +tend to create feverishness everywhere; derangement of the stomach +will tend to produce headache, liver complaint to produce pain in the +shoulder, etc." + +An old authority thus describes the Sympathetic Nerves: "A system of +nerves, running from the base of the skull to the coccyx, along both +sides of the body, and consisting of a series of ganglia along the +spinal column by the side of the vertebræ. With this trunk of the +sympathetic there are communicating branches which connect the ganglia, +or the intermediate cord, with all the spinal and several of the +cranial nerves proceeding to primary branches on the neighboring organs +or other ganglia, and finally numerous flexures of nerves running to +the viscera. Various fibers from the sympathetic communicate with +those of the cerebro-spinal system. The term 'sympathetic' has been +applied on the supposition that it is the agent in producing sympathy +between different parts of the body. It more certainly affects the +secretions." In the New Psychology the Sympathetic Nervous System is +recognized as that directly under the control of the Subconscious Mind. + +The Cerebro-Spinal Nervous System is concerned with the activities +arising from the conscious activities of the mind, including those +of the five senses. It controls the muscles by which we speak, walk, +move our limbs, and pursue the ordinary activities of outer life. But, +while these are very important to the individual, there is another +set of activities--inner activities--which are none the less important. +The Sympathetic System controls the involuntary muscles by means of +which the heart throbs, the arteries pulsate, the air is conveyed to +the lungs, the blood moves to and from the heart, the various glands +and tubes of the body operate, and the entire work of nutrition, +repair, and body-building is performed. While the Cerebro-Spinal +System, and the Conscious Mind are able to rest a considerable portion +of the twenty-four hours of the day, the Sympathetic System and the +Subconscious Mind must needs work every minute of the twenty-four +hours, without rest or vacation, during the life of their owner. + +Dr. E. H. Pratt, in his valuable "Series of Impersonations" published +in the medical magazines several years ago, and since reproduced in +book form, makes "The Sympathetic Man" speak as follows: "The entire +body can do nothing without me; and my occupation of supplying the +inspiration for our entire family is so constant and engaging that I +am compelled to attend strictly to business night and day from one +end of life to the other, and have no time whatever for observation, +education, or amusement outside of my daily tasks. As a rule, I perform +my work so noiselessly that the rest of the family are scarcely +conscious of my existence, for when I am well everything works all +right, each organ plays its part as usual, and the entire machinery +of life is operated noiselessly and without friction. When I am not +well, however, and am not quite equal to the demands made upon me, I +have two ways of making it known to the family. One is by appealing +to self-consciousness through the assistance of my cerebro-spinal +brother, with whom I am closely associated, thereby causing some +disturbance of sensation or locomotion (the most frequent disturbance +in this direction being the instituting of some form of pain); or I +sometimes take it into my head to say nothing to my cerebro-spinal +brother about my affairs, but simply shirk my duties, and my +inefficiency becomes manifest only when some one or all of the organs +suffer from some function poorly performed." + +The nerve-centres of the Cerebro-Spinal System are grouped closely +together, while those of the Sympathetic System are scattered about +the body, each organ having its appropriate centre or tiny-brain. The +heart, the liver, the kidneys, the spleen, the brain, the intestinal +tract, the bladder, the generative organs, have each its own particular +nerve-centre of the Sympathetic System--each its tiny-brain--each, +however, connected with all the others. And more than this--in addition +to the tiny-brains in each of the important vital organs, there are +found scattered through the trunk a number of _ganglia_, or knots of +gray nervous matter, arranged longitudinally in two lines extending +from just in front of the spinal column from the base of the skull to +the end of the spinal column, each vertebra having its appropriate +ganglia. In some cases several of these ganglia are grouped together, +the number ranging from two to three. Each ganglion is a distinct +centre giving off branches in four directions. + +There is also one place in which are grouped together several very +large ganglia, forming what is known as the Solar Plexus, or Abdominal +Brain, which is situated at the upper part of the abdomen, behind the +stomach and in front of the aorta and the pillars of the diaphragm, +and from which issue nerves extending in all directions. By some +authorities the Solar Plexus is regarded as the great centre of the +Sympathetic System, and the main seat of the Subconscious Mind. Dr. +Byron Robinson bestowed upon this centre the name "The Abdominal +Brain," saying of the use of the term: "I mean to convey the idea that +it is endowed with the high powers and phenomena of a great nervous +centre; that it can organize, multiply, and diminish forces." + +One of the most interesting and significant features of the ganglia is +that of their connection with the nerve centres of the Cerebro-Spinal +System, indicating the reciprocal action existing between the two +great nervous systems. From each one of the ganglia in the two great +lines forming the system, issues a tiny filament which connects with +the spinal cord; and at the same time it receives from the spinal +cord a tiny filament in return, thus establishing a double line of +communication. It is held by some authorities that one of these +filaments acts as a sending wire, and the other as a receiving wire +between the two systems. Be this as it may, the inter-communication +between the two systems is clearly indicated. + +It must be remembered that the involuntary muscles which move the +heart, as well as the tiny muscles which form the middle-coat of the +arteries and the veins, are controlled by the Sympathetic System, +and thus the important work of the circulation, which goes on day +and night, year in and year out, during life, is directly under the +charge of the Sympathetic System and the Subconscious Mind. Also, the +involuntary muscles which are concerned with the activities of the +liver, the kidneys and the spleen, are under the same direct control. + +Dr. E. H. Pratt, in the "Series of Impersonations" above referred to, +makes the "Subconscious Man" tell the following wonderful truth, which +we suggest each reader read carefully and fix in his mind: "My brother +the Sympathetic Man has told you that I am the animating spirit of his +construction; and as he is the great body builder, having furnished +the emotions under which our entire family has been put into form, you +can understand by what right I pose before you as the human form of +forms. All the rest of the family are because I am. Even my Conscious +brother, who claims superiority to his fellow-shapes because he bosses +them around a little and makes use of them, is a subject of my own +creation.... I am the life of the Sympathetic Man, whose existence as +a human shape has already sufficiently been well established, and as +there is no part of him which is not alive, the conclusion is very +evident that his shape and mine are identical. _There is no part of +the sympathetic system which is not animated by my own principle of +vitality._ Indeed, he is but a cup of life, though I can assure you +that his cup is full, and he would not be good for much if it was not. +So, if you are able to conceive the shape of the Sympathetic Man, you +can regard this form as identical with my own. This is really a very +modest claim on my part, and does not quite do justice to myself, for +in reality the Sympathetic Man does not contain all there is of me by +any means, for I am not only in him, but all around him, and he is not +by any means capable of containing my full self." + +When it is seen that the vital activities of the physical body are +ruled, governed and controlled by the Sympathetic System, animated by +the Subconscious Mind, and that the latter is amenable to Suggestion +from the Conscious Mind and from outside, we may begin to get a glimmer +of the great light which illuminates the principle of Mental Healing. +If the Subconscious Mind, _the builder_, is influenced by Suggestion +to neglect his work, or to build wrongly, it is likewise possible for +him to heed proper Suggestion and to repair his mistakes and to rebuild +properly. This principle being grasped, the rest will seem to be merely +an understanding of the best methods of reaching the Subconscious +Mind by Suggestion or Auto-Suggestion. We may now begin to understand +the truth of the old axiom: "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is +he"--physically. And as Thought is based largely upon Belief, can we not +see the dynamic force of Faith? Is there not a real psychological basis +for so-called "miracles?" Is not the wonder-working of the cults now +understandable? + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE CELL-MINDS + + +Modern science has demonstrated that the human body is composed of a +multitude of microscopic cells, that is, that the muscles, nerves, +tissues, blood, bones, hair and nails are made up of minute cells, and +groups of cells. Virchow says: "It is of the cells that the tissues +are built up and the nerves formed. There is no part of the human body +in which the cell is not seen. All these cells are neuclated--have in +them a central life-spot like the yolk of an egg. Each cell is born, +reproduces itself, dies and is absorbed. The maintenance of life and +health depends upon the constant regeneration of the cells. When man +can control the life and death of the cell he becomes the creator." +Medical science now practically asserts that disease of the body is +really disease of the cells of which the body is composed, and that all +healing of the body must consist of the healing of the cells--that is, +of restoring the cells to normal activity and functioning. + +The following quotation from Hudson, following Stephens, is +interesting: "An aggregation of cells became a confederation, with its +differentiation of cell functions and still further division of labor. +As a result of a long process of such differentiation, the organisms +of the larger animals and of man came to be composed, as we find +them, of thirty or more different species of cells. For example, we +have the muscle cells, whose vital energies are devoted to the office +of contraction, or vigorous shortening of length; connective-tissue +cells, whose office is mainly to produce and conserve a tough fibre +for binding together and covering in the organism; bone cells, whose +life work is to select and collocate salts of lime for the organic +framework, levers and joints; hair, nail, horn and feather cells, +which work in silicates for the protection, defense, and ornamentation +of the organism; gland cells, whose _motif_ in living has come to be +the abstraction from the blood of substances which are recombined +to produce juices needed to aid the various processes or steps of +digestion; blood cells, which have assumed the laborious function of +general carriers, scavengers, and repairers of the organism; eye, ear, +nasal and palate cells, which have become the special artificers of +complicated apparatus for transmitting light, sound, odors, and flavors +to the highly sentient brain cells; pulmonary cells, which elaborate +a tissue for the introduction of oxygen and the elimination of carbon +dioxide and other waste products; hepatic (liver) cells, which have, in +response to the needs of the organism, descended to the menial office +of living on the waste products and converting them into chemical +reagents to facilitate digestion--these and numerous other species of +cells; and lastly, most important and of greatest interest, brain and +nerve cells." + +The various cells of the body are constantly busy, each performing +its particular task, either singly or in connection with other cells +in the cell-group. Like a great arm, the cells are divided into +classes, some being engaged in the active daily work, while others are +held back on the reserve line. Some are engaged in building up the +tissues, muscles and bones, while others are busy manufacturing the +juices, secretions, fluids and chemical compounds required in the great +laboratory of the body. Some remain at their posts, stationary during +their entire life, while others remain stationary only until the call +comes for their services, while a third class are in constant motion +from place to place either following regular routes or else travelling +under a roving commission. Some of the moving cells act as carriers of +material--the hod-carriers of the body, while others move about doing +special repair work such as the healing of wounds, etc., while others +still are the scavengers and street cleaners of system, and others form +the cell army and cell police force. The body has been compared to a +vast communistic or socialistic colony, each member of which cheerfully +devotes his life-work, and often his life itself, to the common good. +The brain cells are of course the most highly organized, and the most +highly differentiated of the cells. The nerve cells constitute a living +telegraph system over which is carried the messages from the several +parts of the body, each cell being in close contact with its neighbor +on each side--the nerve cells practically clasp hands and form a living +chain of communication. + +The blood cells are important members of the cell-community, and are +exceedingly numerous, there being over 75,000,000,000 of the red-blood +cells alone. These red-blood cells move in the blood currents, +carrying through the arteries each its little load of oxygen which it +transports to the distant tissues that they may be invigorated and +vitalized anew; and, returning, carrying through the veins the debris +and waste products of the system to the great crematory of the lungs +where the waste is burnt and thrown off from the body. Like the ships +that sail the sea, each cell carries its outgoing cargo, and returns +with another one. Some of these cells perform the office of special +repairers, forcing their way through the walls of the blood-vessels and +penetrating the tissues in order to perform their special tasks. There +are several other kinds of cells in the blood besides the carriers +just mentioned. There are the wonderful soldier and police cells which +maintain order and fight battles when necessary. The police cells +are on the constant lookout for germs, bacteria and other microscopic +disturbers of the peace of the body. When these tiny policemen discover +vagrant germs, or criminal bacteria, they rush upon the intruder and +tying him up in a mesh, proceed to devour him. If the intruder be too +large or vigorous, a call for assistance is sent out, and the reserve +police rush to the assistance of their brothers and overpower the +disturber of the peace. Sometimes when the vagrants are too numerous, +the policemen throw them out from the body, by means of pimples, boils +and similar eruptions. In case of infectious diseases, an army corps +is ordered out in full strength and a royal fight is waged between the +invading army and the defenders of home and country. + +Some of the blood cells take a part in the process of extracting from +the food its nourishing particles, and then carrying the same through +the blood-channels to all parts of the body, where it is used to feed +and nourish the stationary cells there located. These cells manufacture +the chemical juices of the body, such as bile, gastric juice, +pancreatic juices, milk, etc., in short the entire physical process is +carried on by these indefatigable tiny cells. The body of each of us is +simply a great community of cells of various kinds. The cells are born +by the form of reproduction common to all cells, that of sub-division. +Each cell grows until a certain size is reached, when it assumes a +"dumb-bell" shape, with a tiny waist line, which waist is afterward +dissolved and the two cells move away from each other. In this way, +and this way alone, does the body grow, the material required for the +enlargement of the cell being supplied from the food and nourishment +partaken by the individual. Cells die after having performed their +life-work, and their corpses are carried through the veins by the +carrier cells, and cast into the crematory of the lungs where they are +consumed. + +The body is constantly undergoing a process of change and regeneration. +Old cells are being cast off every second, and new cells are taking +their places. Our muscles, tissues, hair, nails, nerves, brain +substance, and even our bones are constantly being made over and +rebuilt. Our bodies to-day do not contain a single particle of the +material which composed them a few years back. A few weeks suffices to +replace our entire skin, and a few months to replace other parts of +the body. If a sufficiently large microscope could be placed over our +bodies, we would see each part of it as active as a hive of bees, each +cell being in action and motion, and the entire domestic work of the +human hive being performed according to law and order. Verily, "we are +fearfully and wonderfully made." + +A number of the best authorities have used the illustration of the +process of the cells in healing an ordinary wound, in order to show the +activity and "mind" of the tiny cells. We have become so accustomed to +the natural healing of a wound, scratch or broken skin, that we have +grown to regard it as an almost mechanical process. But, science shows +us that there is manifested in the healing process a marvellous degree +of life and mind in the cells. Let us consider the process of healing +an ordinary wound, that we may see the cells at work. Let us imagine +that we are gazing at the wounded part through a marvellously strong +microscope which enables us to see every cell at work. If such a glass +were provided we should witness a scene similar to that now to be +described. + +In the first place, through our glass, we should see the gaping wound +enlarged to gigantic proportions. We should see the torn skin, tissues, +lymphatic and blood vessels, glands, muscles and nerves. We would see +the blood pouring forth washing away the dirt and foreign substances +that have entered the wound. We would then see the messages calling +for help flashing over the living telegraph wires of the nerves, each +nerve-cell rapidly passing the word to its neighbor until the great +sympathetic centres received the call and sounded the alarm and sent +out a "hurry up" call to the cells needed for the repair work. In the +meantime the cells of the blood, coming in contact with the outside +air have begun to coagulate into a sticky substance, which is the +beginning of the scab, the purpose being to close the wound and to +hold the severed parts together. The repair cells having now arrived +at the scene of the accident begin to mend the break. The tissue, +nerve, and muscle cells, on each side of the wound begin to multiply +rapidly, receiving their nourishment from the blood cells, and quickly +a cell bridge is built up until the two severed edges of the wound +are reunited. This bridging is no haphazard process, for the presence +of directing law and order is apparent. The newly-born cells of the +blood-vessels unite with their brothers on the other side, evenly and +in an orderly manner, new tubular channels being formed skillfully. The +cells of the connective tissues likewise grow toward each other, and +unite in the same orderly manner. The nerve-cells repair their broken +lines, just as do a gang of linemen repair the interrupted telegraph +system. The muscles are united in the same way. But mark you this, +there is no mistake in this connecting process--muscle does not connect +with nerve, nor blood-vessel with connective tissue. Finally, the inner +repairs and connections having been completed, the scab disappears and +the cells of the outer skin rebuild the outer covering, and the wound +is healed. This process may occupy a few hours, or many days, depending +upon the character of the wound, but the process is the same in all +cases. The surgeon merely disinfects and cleans the wound, and placing +the parts together allows the cells to perform their healing work, for +no other power can perform the task. The knitting together of a broken +bone proceeds along the same lines--the surgeon places the parts in +juxtaposition, binds the limb together to prevent slipping, and the +cells do the rest. + +When the body is well nourished, the general system well toned up, +and the mind cheerful and active, the repair work proceeds rapidly. +But when the physical system is run down, the body poorly nourished, +and the mind depressed and full of fear, the work is retarded and +interfered with. It is this healing power inherent in the cells that +physicians speak of as the _vis vita_ or _vis medicatrix naturae_, +or "the healing power of nature." Of it Dr. Patton says: "By the +term 'efforts of nature' we mean a certain curative or restorative +principle, or _vis vita_, implanted in every living or organized body, +constantly operative for its repair, preservation and health. This +instinctive endeavor to repair the human organism is signally shown in +the event of a severed or lost part, as a finger, for instance; for +nature unaided will repair and fashion a stump equal to one from the +hands of an eminent surgeon.... Nature, unaided, may be equally potent +in ordinary illness. Many individuals, even when severely ill, either +from motives of economy, prejudice, or skepticism, remain at rest in +bed, under favorable hygiene, regimen, etc., and speedily get well +without a physician or medicine." + +Dr. Schofield says: "The _vis medicatrix naturae_ is a very potent +factor in the amelioration of disease, if it only be allowed fair play. +An exercise of faith, as a rule, suspends the operation of adverse +influences, and appeals strongly through the consciousness, to the +inner and underlying faculty of vital force (_i. e._, unconscious +mind)." Dr. Bruce says: "We are compelled to acknowledge a power of +natural recovery inherent in the body--a similar statement has been +made by writers on the principle of medicine in all ages.... The +body does possess a means and mechanism for modifying or neutralizing +influences which it cannot directly overcome." Oliver Wendell Holmes +says: "Whatever other theories we hold we must recognize the '_vis +medicatrix naturae_' in some shape or other." Bruce says: "A natural +power of the prevention and repair of disorders and disease has as real +and as active an existence within us, as have the ordinary functions +of the organs themselves." Hippocrates said: "Nature is the physician +of diseases." And Ambrose Pare wrote on the walls of the great medical +school, the Ecole de Medicine of Paris, these words: "_Je le ponsez et +Dieu le guarit_," which translated is: "I dressed the wound, and God +healed it." + +It is of course true that the life and mind in the cells is derived +from the Subconscious Mind, in fact the cells themselves may be said +to _embody_ the Subconscious Mind, just as the cells of the brain +_embody_ the Conscious Mind. In every cell there is to be found +intelligence in a degree required for the successful performance of the +particular task of that cell. Hudson says: "All organic tissue is made +up of microscopic cells, each one of which _is a living, intelligent +entity_." And, again, "The subordinate intelligences are the cells of +which the whole body is composed, _each of which is an intelligent +entity, endowed with powers commensurate with its functions_." In +short, _the cells of the body are living organs for the expression and +manifestation of the Subconscious Mind_. There is not a single cell, +group, or part of the party which is devoid of mind. Mind is imminent +in the entire body, and in its every part, down to the smallest cell. + +The following quotation from Dr. Thomson J. Hudson's "Mental Medicine" +clearly expresses a truth conceded by modern science. Dr. Hudson says: + +"It follows _a priori_, that every cell in the body is endowed with +intelligence; and this is precisely what all biological science tells +us is true. Beginning with the lowest form of animal life, the humblest +cytode, every living cell is endowed with a wonderful intelligence. +There is, in fact, no line to be drawn between life and mind; that +is to say, every living organism is a mind organism, from the monera, +crawling upon the bed of the ocean, to the most highly differentiated +cell in the cerebral cortex of man. Volumes have been written to +demonstrate that 'psychological phenomena begin among the very lowest +class of beings; they are met with in every form of life, from the +simplest cellule to the most complicated organism. It is they that +are the essential phenomena of life, inherent in all protoplasm.' +(Binet.) It is, in fact, an axiom of science that the lowest +unicellular organism is endowed with the potentialities of manhood. +I have remarked that each living cell is endowed with a wonderful +intelligence. This is emphatically true, whether it is a unicellular +organism or a constituent element of a multicellular organism. Its +wonderful character consists not so much in the amount of intelligence +possessed by each individual cell, as it does in the quality of that +intelligence. That is to say, each cell is endowed with an instinctive, +or intuitive, knowledge of all that is essential to the preservation of +its own life, the conservation of its energies, and the perpetuation +of its species. In other words, it is endowed with an intuitive +knowledge of the laws of its own being, which knowledge is proportioned +to its stage of development and adapted to its environment." + +The cell has the intelligence sufficient to enable it to seek +nourishment, and to move from one place to another in search for +food or for other purposes. It holds to its food when secured, and +envelops it until it is absorbed and digested. It exercises the power +of choice, accepting and selecting one portion of food in preference +to another. It has the power of discriminating between nourishing food +and the reverse. The authorities show that it has a rudimentary memory, +and avoids the repetition of an unpleasant or painful experience, +and also returns to the locality in which it has previously secured +food. Biological experiments have shown that the cells are capable of +experiencing surprise, pleasure and fear, and that they experience +different degrees of feeling, and react accordingly in response to +stimuli. Verworn, a biologist, even goes so far as to assert that they +habitually adapt means to ends, near and remote. In his remarkable +work on cell-life, "The Psychic Life of Micro-organisms," Binet says: +"We shall not regard it as strange, perhaps, to find so complete a +psychology in the history of the lower organisms, when we call to +mind that, agreeably to the ideas of evolution now accepted, a higher +animal is nothing more than a colony of protozoans. Every one of the +cells composing such an animal has retained its primitive properties, +giving them a higher degree of perfection by division of labor and +by selection. The epithelial cells that secrete the nails and hair +are organisms perfected with reference to the secretion of protective +parts. Similarly, the cells of the brain are organisms that have been +perfected with reference to psychical attributes." + +Dr. Schofield says: "That life involves mind has, of course, like +all else, been vigorously disputed and equally vigorously affirmed. +'Life,' says Prof. Bascom, 'is not force; it is combining power. _It is +the product and presence of mind._' ... The extent to which the word +mind may be employed as the inherent cause of purposive movements in +organisms is a very difficult question to solve. There can be no doubt +that the actual agents in such movements are the natural forces, but +behind these the directing and starting power seems to be psychic.... +There being an indwelling power, not only for purposive action in each +cell, but for endless combinations of cell activities for common ends +not at all connected with the mere nutrition of the single cell, but +for the good of the completed organism." Dr. R. Dunn says: "From the +first movement when the primordial cell-germ of a human organism comes +into being, the entire individual is present, fitted for human destiny. +From the same moment, matter, life and mind are never for an instant +separated, their union constituting the essential work of our present +existence." Carpenter says: "The convertibility of physical forces and +correlation of these with the vital and the intricacy of that nexus +between mental and bodily activity which cannot be analyzed, all lead +upwards towards one and the same conclusion--_the source of all power is +mind_. And that physical conclusion is the apex of the pyramid which +has its foundation in the primitive instincts of humanity." + +Having seen the evidences of life and mind in the single cell, let us +now proceed to a consideration of the intelligence or mind inherent +and manifest in the groups of cells, large and small, including the +largest groups which compose the several organs of the body. This +line of investigation will lead us to a fuller understanding of the +influence of the mental states upon the health or disease of the organs +and parts. It will be seen that Mental Healing has a sound biological +as well as a psychological basis of truth, and that it is not necessary +to invade the fields of metaphysics or theology in order to find an +explanation of the effect of mind over body. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE MENTAL BASIS OF CURE + + +We have seen that in each cell in the human body is embodied a part of +the Subconscious Mind, sufficient in quantity and quality to enable the +cell to perform its particular work in the physical community of cells. +In the same manner each group of cells, large or small, is possessed of +the quantity and quality of mind adapted to the successful performance +of its particular function. And, rising in the scale, we find that +each of the physical organs is possessed of a "composite cell-soul" or +"organ-mind." As Hudson says: "Each organ of the body is composed of a +group of cells which are differentiated with special reference to the +functions to be performed by that organ. In other words, every function +of life is performed by groups of co-operative cells, so that the body +as a whole is simply a confederation of the various groups." + +For instance, as Haeckel says: "This 'tissue soul' is the higher +psychological function which gives physiological individuality to +the compound multicellular organism as a true 'cell commonwealth.' +It controls all the separate 'cell souls' of the social cells--the +mutually dependent 'citizens' which constitute the community.... The +human egg-cell, as soon as it is fertilized, multiplies by division and +forms a community, or colony of many social cells. These differentiate +themselves, and by their specialization, by various modifications of +these cells, the various tissues which compose the various organs are +developed. The developed many-celled organisms of man and of all higher +animals resemble, therefore, a social civil community, the numerous +single individuals of which are, indeed, developed in various ways, but +which were originally only simple cells of one common structure." + +Biology shows us that there are unquestionably methods of communication +between cell and cell, although it has not as yet been definitely +determined just how this communication is effected. In the +cell-communities of the micro-organisms there is undoubtedly present +the power to communicate on the part of the several cells composing +the community, and the pain or discomfort of one part is evidently +felt by the whole community. Just as an army, or a congregation, has +a mind common to the whole, in addition to the individual minds of +its units, so has every organ of the body an "organ mind" in addition +to the individual cell minds of its unit cells. The fact of the +existence of "group-mind," or "collective-mind" is recognized by the +best authorities in modern psychology, and the study of its principles +throws light on some hitherto perplexing phenomena. + +Prof. Le Bon, in his work "The Crowd," says of the "collective mind" of +men: "The sentiments and ideas of all the persons in the gathering take +one and the same direction, and their conscious personality vanishes. +A collective mind is formed, doubtless transitory, but presenting +very clearly marked characteristics. The gathering has become what, +in the absence of a better expression, I will call an organized +crowd, or, if the term be considered preferable, a psychological +crowd. _It forms a single being_, and is subjected to the law of the +mental unity of crowds.... The most striking peculiarity presented by +a psychological crowd is the following: Whoever be the individuals +that compose it, however like or unlike be their mode of life, their +occupation, their character, or their intelligence, the fact that they +have been transformed into a crowd puts them in possession of _a sort +of collective mind_, which makes them feel, think, and act in a manner +quite different from that in which each individual of them would feel, +think and act, were he in a state of isolation. There are certain +ideas and feelings which do not come into being, or do not transform +themselves into acts, except in the case of the individuals forming +a crowd.... In the collective mind the intellectual aptitudes of the +individuals, and in consequence their individuality, is weakened.... +The most careful observations seem to prove that an individual immerged +for some length of time in a crowd in action soon finds itself in a +special state, which most resembles the state of fascination in which +the hypnotized individual finds himself.... The conscious personality +has entirely vanished, will and discernment are lost. All feelings and +thoughts are bent in the direction determined by the hypnotizer.... An +individual in a crowd is a grain of sand amid other grains of sand, +which the wind stirs up at will." + +In short, psychology recognizes a _mental fusion_ between the +individual minds of units composing a community of cells, insects, +higher animals and even men. The "spirit of the hive" noted by +all students of bee-life, and the community spirit in an ant-hill +are instances serving to illustrate the general principle of "the +collective mind." As we have seen in the preceding chapter, the entire +human body is a vast community of cells, each unit in the community +having relations with every other unit, and all having sprung from +the same original egg-cell. This great community, or _nation_ of +cells is divided into many smaller communities, chief among which are +the principal organs of the body, as the stomach, the intestines, +the liver, the kidneys, the spleen, the heart, etc. And, following +the general rule, each of these organ-communities possesses its own +"collective mind," subordinate, of course, to the great community mind +known as the Subconscious Mind. Ordinarily these communities live in +peace and harmony, and in obedience to the national government. But +occasionally rebellions and revolutions are started, which cause much +inharmony, pain and disease. Sometimes these rebellions arise from +abuse of the particular organ by its owner, or from sympathy with +another abused organ, or from general abuse of the system. But, at +other times, there seems to be an active discontent springing up in an +organ, to the quelling of which the entire Subconscious Mind bends its +energy and forces. Very often these rebellions are started by adverse +auto-suggestions or fearthoughts emanating from the conscious mind +of the individual, which act according to the law of suggestion and +practically _hypnotize_ the mind of the organ in question. + +This idea of each organ having a mind of its own--being practically an +entity, in fact--may be somewhat startling to those who have never had +the matter presented to them, but the statement is backed up by the +best scientific authorities who, however, do not usually state it in +so plain terms, or popular form. It is likely that the science of the +future will make some great discoveries regarding this matter of the +"collective mind" of the organs, and that the schools of medicine will +adapt the new knowledge to the treatment of disease. In the meantime, +the practitioners of Mental Healing are availing themselves of this +principle, often without realizing the principle itself. + +The writer has been interested in this subject of the "organ mind" for +a number of years, and has conducted a number of experiments along this +line, the result being that he feels more firmly convinced each year of +the truth of the theory or idea. He has found that mental treatments +based on this theory have been very successful, much more so in fact +than those conducted in pursuance to other theories. It seems that +by applying the suggestive treatment direct to the affected organ a +quicker response is had. The writer is indebted to Dr. Paul Edwards, +a well known mental healer, who several years ago advanced the idea +that the mind or "intelligence" in the several organs differed greatly +in temperament and quality. He informed us that he had proven to his +own satisfaction that the heart is "_very_ intelligent," and quite +amenable to mild, gentle, coaxing suggestions, advice or orders; while, +on the other hand, the liver is a most mulish, stubborn, obstinate +organ-mind, which requires one to drive it in a sharp positive manner. +Investigation along these lines suggested by Dr. Edwards has convinced +the writer that the theory is warranted by the facts. Experiments have +shown that the heart organ-mind is gentle, mild, and easily influenced +by kindly suggestion, advice and requests, and that it needs but a word +directed to it to attract its attention. Likewise, the liver has been +found to be brutish, stubborn and obstinate, needing the most vigorous +suggestions--in short the liver-mind is a donkey and must be so treated. +The liver-mind is sluggish, torpid and sleepy, and needs much prodding +before it will "sit up and take notice." The stomach has been found +to be quite intelligent, especially when it has not been brutalized +by "stuffing." It will readily respond to suggestive treatment of all +kinds, it being noticed that it may be easily flattered or "jollied" +into good behavior, just as may certain children. The nervous system +has a mind of its own, and will accept suggestions, although it is +usually difficult to attract its attention, owing to its habit of +concentration upon its regular work. The bowel-mind will respond +to firm, kind treatment, as will also the uterus-mind and the mind +controlling the other organs peculiar to women. + +In another work, the writer has said regarding this form of treatment +of the organs through their organ-minds: "Remember, always, that you +are mind talking to mind, not to dead matter. There is mind in every +cell, nerve, organ and part of the body, and in the body as a whole, +and this mind will listen to your central mind and obey it, because +your central mind is positive to it--the organ is negative to _you_. +Carry this idea with you in giving these treatments, and endeavor +to visualize the mind in the organs, as clearly as may be, for by +so doing you get them in better _rapport_ with you, and can handle +them to better advantage. And always remember that the virtue lies +not in the mere sound of the words that happen to reach the organ or +cells--they do not understand words as words, but they do understand the +meaning behind the words. But without words it is very hard for you +to think, or clearly express the feeling--and so, by all means use the +words just as if the organ-mind understood the actual meaning thereof, +for by so doing you can drive in the meaning of the word--and induce the +mental state and conditions necessary to work the cure. + +Dr. S. F. Meacham, in a magazine article published several years ago, +said: "Let me once more call your attention to that one great principle +of disease and cure. It is the only medical creed I hold to-day and +will bear repeating, lest we neglect it. _Disease is a failure of the +cells to make good their waste, or to do their full duty._ This may +be an individual matter with the cell, or may result from imperfect +co-operation; there may be a mutiny in the co-operative commonwealth +constituting the body. Apart from all mutual help, or co-operation of +cells, each individual cell must either do its full duty, or suffer, +and perchance die, as the result. Remember that each individual cell +lives, and has an office that no other cell can fill to save it. If the +other cell does the work, it will live, but the failing cell will not +profit thereby. By co-operating they may lighten each other's labors, +but _no cell is or can be exempt from doing its part_. Any failure of +this kind is disease either local or general, according to the degree +and nature of the failure, or according to the importance of the +mutinous or weakened cell. A cure results when the cells again do their +work. Or, if a certain number die, a cure is established when other +cells learn to do that particular work, which is sometimes the case. A +remedy is any substance, or force, or procedure that will stimulate, +or help, or remove obstacles that prevent these cells from doing their +work. _Keep in mind, that the life process acting through or in the +cell does the work either aided, or alone._ The lesson then is that +all these methods do good, and that owing to the view point, mental +status, or expectancy of the individual, now one and now another method +will appeal to him and be accepted. No matter what we do, we aid, we +assist only--we do not cure.... _The process going on in each cell is an +intelligent one_, and all extrinsic methods are really but suggestions +offered to the cell, the real worker; and the fact is that any one of +these helps may be chosen, and all may be rejected...." + +"The repair of a cell is as equally as intellectual a process as any +other can be. If, for instance, blind force can repair one cell, it +can many; if it can build one, it can all, and mind and intellect are +then without causal efficacy, without spontaneity, and blind force, +fatality and purposeless action reign supreme.... According to this +theory the building and repairing of cells would not be intellectual, +as there would be no working plan or purpose. I am aware that a purely +extrinsic study of the cells and of the body will force this conclusion +upon any candid, unprejudiced mind; but _a study from the inside_ +is a different matter. A cell, looked at from without, moves only +when stimulated; but is this really true? The body is but a compound +of cells when viewed from the outside; then if one cell moves when +stimulated, why not twenty, a hundred, a thousand, a billion, the +entire body? But is it true of the body? You come to me and propose +some scheme, or act, which I carry out. Now is your proposition the +real cause of my act, or only a condition? Do I not choose, and either +do the thing or not, as determined from within? If this is true of +the body, why not of the cell? May not the stimulation we see be a +condition only, and the real cause of the act be within the cell +itself?... The cell is not a mere machine, _but a living entity_, doing +everything that the body does. It eats, drinks, moves, reproduces its +kind, selects its food, repairs its waste, etc. These are intellectual +processes, but may not be conscious.... + +"The cure consists in the repairing of the wasted tissue, and in the +cells restoring and repairing themselves into a definite pattern, +necessary to mutual work, so that the commonwealth may prosper. Air, +water, sunshine, food, etc., are necessary to the performance of +this work of repair. When these are furnished, even under the best +conditions possible, the cells must use them to build up the waste, +and this they do by their internal forces. But this process is what is +called repair on the one hand, and cure on the other. External means +may be essential, but that will not make them really curative.... It +is well, also, to keep in mind that external in the true sense of the +term as we are using it here. _Any force outside of the diseased cell +is an external force to that cell even if it be thought-force._ Disease +is always treated by external force, external as defined above, and +all disease is just as surely cured by internal force--viz.: _force +resident in the cell itself_. Here we all stand around the suffering +cell, one with drug-power in his hand, another with electricity, or +water, or heat, or directed attention--thought-force or more nourishment +which necessitates a better circulation to that area, or some other of +the thousand therapeutic measures, and we are close enough together +at last to see that we are simply using different stimuli to try to +aid the real worker within the cell to do his work by furnishing, not +only material that is necessary, but force as well, that out of the +abundance his work may be easy and rapid." + +The reader who will consider the numerous instances of cure by +Suggestion or Faith-Cure, as noted in the following chapters, will +be better able to understand the principle underlying these cures if +he will realize the fact brought out so forcibly by Dr. Meacham, as +above quoted. The attention of the patient being directed to the organ +affected, in connection with the stimulating and vitalizing effect +of Faith and Belief, starts into renewed activity the cell-mind of +the organ in question, and arouses its reparative and recuperative +energies. Each organ, and its component cells and cell-groups, is of +course under the control of the Subconscious Mind, and forms a part +of the material embodiment thereof. The Subconscious Mind, being +stimulated by the Suggestion and Faith, and having its Expectant +Attention aroused, concentrates its energies upon the reparative and +recuperative processes in the organ, and the work of cure proceeds. +The cure, in every case, is simply either repair work, or else the +restoration of normal functioning--in either case the cells themselves +doing the work. + +In the consideration of the reasons underlying the cure of disease +by Psycho-Therapeutics, we must first consider the question of +what disease really is. And in this phase of the consideration, it +will be well for us to first dispel the erroneous ideas concerning +disease which we have been entertaining. Perhaps the following +striking statement from Sidney Murphy, M. D., printed in the magazine +"Suggestion" several years ago, may help you to form a correct idea +of the nature of disease, or rather a correct idea of what disease +_is not_. Dr. Murphy says, in the said article, among other things: +"Prof. S. D. Gross, formerly of the New York University Medical School, +says: 'Of the essence of disease very little is known--indeed nothing +at all.' Nevertheless it is evident that medical men have an idea on +the subject. The theory generally held, I believe, is that disease +is destructive action; but just what this means, whether destructive +action on the part of vitality itself, or by something acting upon +the vitality, is not so clear; but we are enabled to gain some light +by reference to the expression used in medical books concerning it. +Thus we find that disease 'attacks us,' that it 'seats itself in an +organ,' that 'it works through us, runs its course,' etc. It is also +said to be 'very malignant,' or 'quite mild,' 'persistently resisting +all treatment,' or 'yielding readily' to it. In fact, it is considered +an entity, possessing character and disposition and general vital +qualities--a something which domiciles itself in the vital domain, +and exercises its forces to the destruction of the vital powers. It +is indeed spoken of as one would speak of a rat in his granary, or a +mouse in his cupboard, and efforts are made to dislodge it, or kill +it, as one would dislodge or kill any other living thing. This theory +of disease is beginning to be looked upon even by the medical world +as untenable. Living things are always possessed of organizations +having form or shape; and hence if disease were such, its form would +be discerned and described; a thing which never has been done. Disease +by our ancestors was considered a subtile and mysterious thing which +pounced down upon us, and runs its course without any reference to +causes; and language being formed to convey this idea, it has been +transmitted almost unchanged from generation to generation down to +the present time. And the medical profession of to-day is simply an +embodiment of that idea. It is probable that the term 'destructive +action' is generally held to mean destructive action on the part of the +vitality itself.... Life in organic form is developed according to law. +Slowly rising into power, organization at length reaches its zenith, +and then goes down the gentle declivity, until the soul steps off into +the great beyond, without pain or struggle, provided always that the +conditions of life are natural and therefore favorable; but if these +be unfavorable, unfavorable results must of course follow; vitality, +nevertheless, doing the best it can under the circumstances to +preserve the normal state of the body. Disease, we propose to show, is +not antagonistic to vital action, but the opposite, a remedial effort, +_or vital action on the defensive_. It is not a downward tendency, nor +the result of a downward tendency on the part of a living organism, +but is itself an upward or self-preservative tendency, the result of +disobedience to natural laws. _It is simply abnormal action, because of +abnormal conditions._" + +In considering the above revolutionary statement of Dr. Murphy, we +must remember that "vitality" or "vital force" is simply the action +of the Subconscious Mind operating through the sympathetic system, +the organ-minds, and the cell-minds. _All vital energy, at the last +is mental energy._ And, we must also remember that the "abnormal +conditions" which Dr. Murphy speaks of as being the cause of +"abnormal action" or disease, are not confined alone to physical or +material conditions, but also to abnormal mental conditions, such as +fear-thought, adverse suggestions, improper use of the imagination, +etc. As we have seen in the preceding chapters, the causes of disease +may be mental as well as material or physical. + +The Subconscious Mind in its vital activities is constantly at work +building up, repairing, growing, nourishing, supporting and regulating +the body, doing its best to throw off abnormal conditions, and seeking +to do the best it can when these conditions cannot be removed. With its +source pure and unpolluted the stream of vitality flows on unhindered, +but when the poison of fear-thought, adverse suggestion and false +belief is poured into the source or spring from which the stream rises, +it follows that the waters of life will no longer be pure and clear. +Let us notice the general direction of the vital activities of the +Subconscious Mind. + +In the first place we find that the vital activities are primarily +concerned with _self-preservation_, that is with the preservation of +the individual and the race. One has but to notice the ever-present +manifestation of the "race instinct" which draws the males and females +of the several species together, that they may mate and bring forth +the young needed to keep alive the species. The parental devotions, +with its many sacrifices of personal pleasure for the young, are +instances ever before us. And no less striking is the companion +activities which make for the preservation of the individual. The +instinctive tendency toward self-preservation is so strong that it +overpowers the reason in the majority of cases. Men may decry the +value of life, but let their life be threatened and the instinctive +protective feeling causes them to fight for life against all odds. +"All that a man hath will he give for his life." And this instinctive +activity is manifest not only in the individual as a whole, but in +every cell of his body. Every cell is striving hard for the welfare of +the community of which it forms a part. Even in disease it strives to +throw off the abnormal conditions which afflict the body, and failing +to do so it hobbles along doing the best it can under the circumstances. + +The tiny seed sprouting in the ground, and lifting weights a thousand +times that of itself, shows the self-preservative energies and +activities of the mind principle within it. The healing work of +the cells in the case of a wound, or of a broken bone, as described +elsewhere in this book, gives us another example. The healing efforts +of the organism striving to throw off the morbid substances within the +body, purging them away in a flux, or burning them up with a fever, +show the operations of the same principle. This, we have seen, is +called the _vis medicatrix naturae_, or "healing power of nature," +which operates in man as well as in the case of the lower animals--but +it is really but the operations of the great Subconscious Mind of the +individual. As Dr. Murphy, previously quoted, says: "Certainly all +experience declares and all physicians will admit that where vital +power is abundant in a man he will get well from almost any injuries +short of complete destruction of vital organs; but where vitality is +low, recovery is much more difficult, if not impossible, which can only +be explained on the principle that vitality always works upward toward +life and health to the extent of its ability under the circumstances, +because, if it worked downward, the less vitality, the more surely and +speedily would death result." + +Following the law of self-preservation, we find that of _accommodation_ +manifesting itself in the vital activities of the Subconscious Mind. +This principle or law works in the direction of _adjusting the organism +to conditions which it cannot remedy_. Thus a sapling bent out of +shape, will bend its branches upward until once more they will reach +toward the sky notwithstanding the deformed trunk. Seed sprouting from +a narrow crevice in a rock, and unable to split the rock, will assume a +deformed shape but will hold tenaciously to life, and will thrive under +these abnormal conditions. This principle of accommodation acts upon +the idea of "life at any price," and of "making the best of things." +Man and the lower animals accommodate themselves to their environment, +when they are unable to overcome the unsatisfactory conditions of the +latter. The study of anthropology, natural history, and botany will +convince anyone that the principle of accommodation is everywhere +present in connection with that of self-preservation. And the diseased +conditions, and abnormal functioning, which we find in cases of +chronic diseases is simply the principle of accommodation in the vital +activities of the Subconscious Mind, but which it is "trying to make +the best of it," and holding on to "life at any price." + +Dr. Murphy, previously quoted, says: "Disease, in its essential nature, +has a deeper significance than simply abnormal manifestations. It is +really a remedial effort, not necessarily successful, but an attempt +to change, or have changed existing conditions. And for this reason +any improper relation of the living organism to external agents +necessarily results in an injury to that organism, which by virtue of +its being self-preservative, immediately sets up defensive action, and +begins as soon as possible to repair the damages that have accrued. +This defensive or reparative action, of course, corresponds to the +conditions to be corrected, and hence is abnormal and diseased; and its +severity and persistence will depend upon the damages to be repaired, +and the intensity and persistence of the causes that produced it. +Serious injury present or impending will demand serious vital action; +desperate conditions, desperate action. But in all cases the action +is vital, an attempt at restoration, and the energy displayed will +exactly correspond to the interests involved and the vitality that is +available." + +From the above, and from what has been shown in previous chapters, +it will be seen that just as is health the result of the normal +functioning of the Subconscious Mind, so is disease the result of its +abnormal functioning. And it may also be seen that the true healing +power must come alone from and through the Subconscious Mind itself, +although the same may be aroused, awakened and directed by various +outside agencies. As Dr. Thomson J. Hudson says: "Granted that there +is an intelligence that controls the functions of the body in health, +it follows that it is the same power or energy that fails in case +of disease. Failing, it requires assistance; and that is what all +therapeutic agencies aim to accomplish. No intelligent physician of +any school claims to be able to do more than to 'assist nature' to +restore normal conditions of the body. That it is a mental energy +that thus requires assistance, no one denies; for science teaches +us that the whole body is made up of a confederation of intelligent +entities, each of which performs its functions with an intelligence +exactly adapted to the performance of its special duties as a member +of the confederacy. There is, indeed, no life without mind, from the +lowest unicellular organism up to man. _It is therefore a mental +energy that actuates every fiber of the body under all its conditions. +That there is a central intelligence that controls each of these mind +organisms, is self-evident...._ It is sufficient for us to know that +such an intelligence exists, and that, for the time being, it is the +controlling energy that normally regulates the action of the myriad +cells of which the body is composed. _It is, then, a mental organism +that all therapeutic agencies are designed to energize, when, for any +cause, it fails to perform its functions with reference to any part of +the physical structure._" + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE HISTORY OF PSYCHO-THERAPY + + +One of the most remarkable achievements of the New Psychology is that +of gathering up the scattered instances of the effect of the power of +the mind over the body, under the various masks and guises worn during +the ages, and uniting them in one broad and general synthesis in which +is to be seen the one fundamental principle of Mental Healing operating +under a thousand names, forms and theories, in every race, nation and +clime in all ages past and present. The New Psychology is the great +reconciler of the various theories, dogmas and speculations concerned +with the subject of the strange cures effected by the mind, as well as +with the equally strange adverse effect upon the physical organism of +negative thoughts. + +From the earliest days of history we find records of strange and +marvelous cures effected by non-material agents. In some cases the +effect is attributed to magical power, while in others, and the +majority of cases, the cure is attributed to some particular religious +belief, creed or ceremony. Not only in the folk-lore of the several +races, and in their general traditions, but also in the written and +graven record do we find traces of the universality of the principle of +mental therapeutics. + +H. Addington Bruce says: "Psychotherapy might well be cited in support +of the old adage that there is nothing new but what has been forgotten. +Traces of it are to be found almost as far back as authentic history +extends, and even allusion to methods which bear a strong resemblance +to those of modern times. The literature and monumental remains +of ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, Persia, India and China reveal a +widespread knowledge of hypnotism and its therapeutic value. There +is in the British Museum a bas-relief from Thebes which has been +interpreted as representing a physician hypnotizing a patient by +making 'passes' over him. According to the Ebers papyrus, the 'laying +on of hands' formed a prominent feature of Egyptian medical practice +as early as 1552 B. C., or nearly thirty-five hundred years ago; and +it is known that a similar mode of treatment was employed by priests +of Chaldea in ministering to the sick. So, also, the priests of the +famous Temples of Health are credited with having worked numerous +cures by the mere touch of the hands. In connection with these same +Temples of Health were sleeping chambers, repose in which was supposed +to be exceptionally beneficial. Asclepiades of Bithynia, who won +considerable fame at Rome as a physician, systematically made use of +the 'induced trance' in the treatment of certain diseases. Plautus, +Martial, and Seneca refer in their writings to some mysterious process +of manipulation which had the same effect--that is, of putting persons +into an artificial sleep. And Solon sang, apparently, of some form of +mesmeric cure: + + "'The smallest hurts sometimes increase and rage + More than all art of physic can assuage; + Sometimes the fury of the worst disease + The hand by gentle stroking, will appease.' + +"Many other instances might be mentioned testifying to the remarkable +extent to which psycho-therapy, in one form or another, was utilized +in the countries of the ancient world. This, of course, does not +necessarily imply that the ancients had any real understanding of the +psychological and physiological principles governing its operation. +On the contrary, there is every reason to believe that they used it +much as do too many of the mental healers of to-day--on the basis of +'faith cure' pure and simple, with no attempt at diagnosis, and in a +hit-or-miss fashion. It was not until the very end of the Middle Ages, +so far as history informs us, that anything even remotely resembling a +scientific inquiry into its nature and possibilities was undertaken, +and then only in a faint, vague, indefinite way, by men who were +metaphysicians and mystics rather than scientists. The first of these, +Petrys Pomponatius, a sixteenth-century philosopher, sought to prove +that disease was curable without drugs, by means of the 'magnetism' +existing in certain specially gifted individuals. 'When those who are +endowed with this faculty,' he affirmed, 'operate by employing the +force of the imagination and the will, this force affects their blood +and their spirits, which produce the intended effects by means of an +evaporation thrown outwards.' Following Pomponatius, John Baptist von +Helmont, to whom medical science owes a great deal, also proclaimed +the curative virtue of magnetism, which he described as an invisible +fluid called forth and directed by the influence of the human will. +Other writers, notably Sir Kenelm Digby, laid stress on the power +of the imagination as an agent in the cause as well as the cure of +disease, compiling in a curious little treatise published in 1658, as +interesting a collection of illustrative cases as is contained in the +literature of modern psycho-therapy." + +In the Middle Ages, we read that there were many instances of +miraculous cures effected at the various shrines of the saints, and in +the churches in which were exhibited the bones and other relics of the +holy people of church history. As Dr. George R. Patton says: "A word +scrawled upon parchment, for instance, would cure fevers; an hexameter +from the Iliad of Homer cured gout, while rheumatism succumbed to a +verse from Lamentations. These could be multiplied, and undoubtedly all +were equally potent of cure in like manner.... At one time holy wells +were to be found in almost every parish of Ireland, to which wearisome +journeys were made for the miraculous powers of cure. It was the custom +of the cured to hang upon the bushes contiguous to the springs small +fragments of their clothing, or a cane, or a crutch as a memento of +cure, so that from afar the springs could be easily located by the many +colored fragments of clothing, rags, canes and crutches swayed upon the +branches by the wind. Inasmuch as the bushes for many rods around were +thus adorned, the cures must have been far from few." + +In the Middle Ages it was the custom of persons afflicted with scrofula +and kindred disorders to come before the king upon certain days to +receive the "Royal Touch," or laying-on-of-hands which was held to be +an infallible specific for the disease. The custom was instituted by +Edward the Confessor, and continued until the accession to power of the +house of Brunswick. It is a matter of history that many persons were +cured by the touch of the king's hands. Wiseman, a celebrated surgeon +and physician of old London testifies as follows: "I myself have been +an eye-witness of many thousands of cures performed by his majesty's +touch alone, without any assistance of medicine or surgery, and those, +many of them, such as had tired out the endeavors of able surgeons +before they came hither.... I must needs profess that what I write +will little more than show the weakness of our ability when compared +with his majesty's, who cureth more in one year than all the surgeons +of London have done in an age." The virtue of the "King's Touch" was +finally brought in doubt by the wonderful successes of a man by the +name of Valentine Greatrakes, who in the Seventeenth Century began +"laying on hands" and made even more wonderful cures than those of the +king. So marked was his success that the government had difficulty +in suppressing the growing conviction among the common people that +Greatrakes must be of royal blood, and the rightful heir to the throne, +because of the great healing virtues of his hands, which, they argued, +could be possessed only by those having royal blood in their veins. +The Chirurgical Society of London investigated Greatrakes' cures, +and rendered an opinion that he healed by virtue of "some mysterious +sanative contagion in his body." + +But perhaps the most notable figure in the European history of Mental +Healing was Franz Anton Mesmer, a native of Switzerland, who was born +in 1734, and who later in the century created the greatest excitement +in several European countries by his strange theories and miraculous +claims. Frank Podmore in a recent work says of Mesmer: "He had no +pretensions to be a thinker; he stole his philosophy ready-made from a +few belated alchemists; and his entire system of healing was based on +a delusion. His extraordinary success was due to the lucky accident of +the times. Mesmer's first claim to our remembrance lies in this--that +he wrested the privilege of healing from the churches and gave it to +mankind as a universal possession." + +Mesmer held that there was in Nature a universal magnetic force which +had a powerful therapeutic effect when properly applied. He cured many +people by touching them with an iron rod, through which he claimed the +universal magnetism flowed from his body to that of the patient. He +called this magnetic fluid "animal magnetism." Later on he devised his +celebrated "magnetic tub" or _baquet_, by means of which he was able to +treat his patients _en masse_. Podmore gives the following interesting +account of scenes surrounding his treatments: + +"The baquet was a large oaken tub, four or five feet in diameter and +a foot or more in depth, closed by a wooden cover. Inside the tub +were placed bottles full of water disposed in rows radiating from the +center, the necks in some of the rows pointing towards the center, in +others away from it. All these bottles had been previously 'magnetized' +by Mesmer. Sometimes there were several rows of bottles, one above the +other; the machine was then said to be at high pressure. The bottles +rested on layers of powdered glass and iron filings. The tub itself +was filled with water. The whole machine, it will be seen, was a kind +of travesty of the galvanic cell. To carry out the resemblance, the +cover of the tub was pierced with holes, through which passed slender +iron rods of varying lengths, which were jointed and movable, so that +they could be readily applied to any part of the patient's body. Round +this battery the patients were seated in a circle, each with his iron +rod. Further, a cord, attached at one end to the tub, was passed round +the body of each of the sitters, so as to bind them all into a chain. +Outside the first a second circle would frequently be formed, who would +connect themselves together by holding hands. Mesmer, in a lilac robe, +and his assistant operators--vigorous and handsome young men selected +for the purpose--walked about the room, pointing their fingers or an +iron rod held in their hands at the diseased parts." + +Mesmer made many wonderful cures, and attracted wide attention. In +1781 the king of France offered him a pension of thirty thousand +livres if he would make public his secret. The offer was refused, but +he gave private instruction and opened a school. He had many pupils +and followers, prominent among whom was the Marquis de Puysegur, who +made discoveries resulting in the identification of Mesmerism with +the "trance condition" now commonly associated with the term, whereas +originally Mesmerism included simply the healing process. Mesmer's +methods continued popular for many years after his death, until Braid's +work resulted in the founding of the modern school of Hypnotism, and +Mesmerism died out. + +The Abbe Faria, about 1815, after investigating Mesmerism and +attracting much attention, discarded the "fluidic" theory of Mesmer, +and held, instead, that in order to induce the mesmeric state and +to produce the phenomena thereof, it was necessary merely to create +a mental state of "expectant attention" on the part of the patient. +The cause of the state and the phenomena, he held, was not in the +operator but in the mind of the patient--purely subjective, in fact. +Alexander Bertrand, a Frenchman, published a work about this time, +holding theories similar to those of Faria. In 1841 James Braid, an +English physician, becoming interested in Mesmerism, discovered that +the mesmeric state might be artificially induced by staring at bright +objects until the eyes became fatigued, etc., and, later, that any +method whereby concentration and "expectant attention" might be induced +would produce the phenomenon. He duplicated all the feats of the +mesmerists, including the healing of diseases. He called his new system +"Hypnotism" to distinguish it from Mesmerism, and under its new name it +gained favor among the medical fraternity. Moreover, in connection with +his predecessors, Faria and Bertrand, he laid the basis for the modern +theories of Suggestive Therapeutics. + +Shortly after Braid's death, in 1860, Dr. A. A. Liebault, a French +physician, established his since famous School of Nancy, in which +during the after years the later wonderful discoveries in Suggestive +Therapeutics were made. He used the methods of hypnotism, but +Suggestion was ever the operative principle recognized and applied. +Liebault said: "It is all a matter of Suggestion. My patients are +_suggested_ to sleep, and their ills are _suggested_ out of them. +It is very simple, once you understand the laws of Suggestion." Dr. +Charcot, in his celebrated clinic in the Salpetriere, in Paris, did +great work along the same general lines, although proceeding under +somewhat different theories. Following the example of these and other +eminent authorities, the medical fraternity has gradually adopted many +of the ideas of Suggestive Therapeutics, and to-day many of the best +medical schools throughout this country and Europe give instruction in +this branch of healing. Many books have been written on the subject by +eminent medical authorities, and the indications are that during the +present century Suggestive Therapeutics, in its various forms, will +come even more prominently into popular favor, and that it will be +developed far beyond its present limits. Experimental work along these +lines is now being conducted in many psychological laboratories in our +great universities. + +At the same time, as we shall now see, Mental Healing has been +attracting much attention along other lines, outside of the medical +profession, and often allied with religious and metaphysical movements. +To understand the subject, we must study it in all of its phases. + +In the early part of the nineteenth century Elijah Perkins, an ignorant +blacksmith living in Connecticut conceived a queer idea of curing +disease by means of a peculiar pair of tongs manufactured by himself, +one prong being of brass and the other of steel. These tongs were +called "tractors," and were applied to the body of the patient in +the region affected by disease, the body being stroked in a downward +direction for a period of about ten minutes. The tractors were used +to treat all manner of complaints, ailments and diseases, internal +and external, with a wonderful degree of success. Almost miraculous +cures of all manner of complaints were reported, and people flocked +to Perkins from far and near in order to receive the benefit of his +wonderful treatments. + +Soon this system of healing came to be called "Perkinsism," as a +tribute to the inventor. The popularity of the system spread rapidly +in the United States, particularly in New England, every city and +many towns patronizing Perkins' practitioners and healers. From this +country the craze spread to Great Britain, and even to the Continent. +Centers of treatment, and even hospitals, were established by the +"Perkinsites," and the fame of the tractors increased daily in ever +widening circles. In Europe alone it is reported that over 1,500,000 +cures were performed, and the medical fraternity were at their wit's +ends to explain the phenomenon. Finally, Dr. Haygarth, of London, +conceived the idea that the real virtue of the cures was vested in +the minds, belief and imagination of the patients rather than in +the tractors, and that the cures were the result of the induced +mental states of the patients instead of by the metallic qualities +of the apparatus. He determined to investigate the matter under this +hypothesis, and accordingly constructed a pair of tractors of wood, +painted to resemble the genuine ones. The following account by Bostock +describes the result: "He accordingly formed pieces of wood into the +shape of tractors and with much assumed pomp and ceremony applied them +to a number of sick persons who had been previously prepared to expect +something extraordinary. The effects were found to be astonishing. +Obstinate pains in the limbs were suddenly cured; joints that had +long been immovable were restored to motion, and, in short, except +the renewal of lost parts or the change in mechanical structure, +nothing seemed beyond their power to accomplish." The exposure of +this experiment, and the general acceptance of the explanation of the +phenomena, caused "Perkinsism" to die out rapidly, and at the present +time it is heard of only in connection with the history of medicine and +in the pages of works devoted to the subject of the effect of the mind +over the body. + +The success of "Perkinsism" is but a typical instance which is +duplicated every twenty years or so by the rapid rise, spread and +then rapid decline of some new "craze" in healing, all of which, when +investigated are seen to be but new examples of the power of the +mental states of faith and imagination upon the physical organism. The +well-known "blue glass" craze of about thirty-five years ago gives +us another interesting example. General Pleasanton, a well-known and +prominent citizen of Philadelphia, announced his discovery that the +rays of the sun passing through the medium of blue glass possessed a +wonderful therapeutic value. The idea fired the public imagination +at once, and the General's book met with a large sale. Everyone, +seemingly, began to experiment with the blue glass rays. Windows +were fitted with blue glass panes, and the patients sat so that the +sun's rays might fall upon them after passing through the blue panes. +Wonderful cures were reported from all directions, the results of +"Perkinsism" being duplicated in almost every detail. Even cripples +reported cures, and many chronic and "incurable" cases were healed +almost instantaneously. Bedridden people threw aside their blankets +and walked again, after a brief treatment. The interest developed into +a veritable "craze," and the glass factories were operated overtime +in order to meet the overwhelming demand for blue glass, the price of +which rapidly advanced to fifty cents and even a dollar for a small +pane, because of the scarcity. It was freely predicted that the days of +physicians were over, and that the blue glass was the long-sought-for +panacea for all human ills. Suddenly, however, and from no apparent +cause, the interest in the matter dropped, and now all that is left of +the blue glass craze is the occasional sight of an old blue pane in +some window, the owner of which evidently felt disinclined to pay the +price of replacing it with a clear pane. Only a few days ago, in an +old-fashioned quarter of a large city, the writer saw several panes of +the old blue glass in the frame of the window of an old house which had +seen better days but which was now used as a cheap tenement house. + +The history of medicine is filled with records of similar "crazes" +following the announcement of some new method of "cure." The striking +peculiarity of these cures is that they all occur during the height of +the excitement and notoriety of the early days of the announcement, +while _they decline in proportion to the decline in public faith and +interest_, the explanation being that in every instance the cure is +effected by the action of the mental states of expectancy, faith, and +the imagination of the patient, irrespective of any virtue in the +method or system itself. In short, _all these cures belong to the +category of faith-cures_--they are merely duplicates of the world-old +cures resulting from faith in sacred relics, shrines, bones of holy +people, sacred places, etc., of which nearly every religion has given +us many examples. The history of medicine gives us many instances of +the efficacy of the therapeutic power of Faith. + +Sir Humphrey Davy relates a case in which a man seriously ill +manifested immediate improvement after the placing of a clinical +thermometer in his mouth, he supposing that it was some new and +powerful healing instrument. The grotesque remedies of the ancient +physicians, and the _bizarre_ decoctions of the quacks of the present, +all work cures. The "bread-pills" and other placebos of the "regulars" +have cured many a case when other remedies have failed. + +It is related that several hundred years ago, a young English +law-student while on a lark with several of his boon companions found +themselves in a rural inn, without money with which to pay their +reckoning. Finally, after much thought, the young man called the +inn-keeper and told him that he, the student, was a great physician, +and that he would prepare for him a magic amulet which would cure all +diseases, in return for the receipted account of himself and friends. +The landlord gladly consented, and the young man wrote some gibberish +on a bit of parchment, which together with sundry articles of rubbish +he inserted in a silk cover. With a wise and dignified air he then +departed. Many years rolled by, and the young man rose to the position +of a High Justice of the realm. One day before him was brought a woman +accused of magic and witchcraft. The evidence showed that she had +cured many people by applying to their bodies a little magic amulet, +which the church authorities considered to be the work of the devil. +The woman, on the stand, admitted the use of the amulet and the many +cures resulting therefrom, but defended herself by saying that the +instrument of cure had been given to her father, now deceased, many +years ago, by a great physician who had stopped at her father's inn. +She held that the cures were genuine medical cures resulting from +the medicinal virtues of the amulet, and not the result of magic or +witchcraft. The Justice asked to be handed the wonderful amulet. +Ripping it open with his pen-knife, he found enclosed the identical +scrawl inserted by himself many years before. He announced the +circumstances from the bench, and discharged the woman--but the healing +virtues of the amulet had disappeared, never to return. The cures were +the result of the faith and imagination of the patients. + +The modern instances of the several great "Divine Healers," such as +John Alexander Dowie of Chicago, and Francis Schlatter of Denver, +give us additional evidence of the efficacy of Faith as a therapeutic +agent. John Alexander Dowie, a Scotch preacher, came to America some +twenty years ago, and instituted a new religion in which healing was +an important feature. He claimed that all disease was the result of +the devil, and that belief in God and the prayers of Dowie and his +assistants would work the cure of the devil's evil operations. Great +numbers flocked to Dowie's standard, and thousands of wonderful cures +were reported. His "Tabernacle" was filled with testimonials and +trophies from cured people. Back of Dowie's pulpit were displayed many +crutches, plaster-casts, braces, and other spoils wrested from the +devil by Dowie and his aids. His experience meetings were thronged +with persons willing and anxious to testify that whereas they had been +afflicted they were now whole again. Dowie succeeded in building up a +great following all over the world, and had he not overreached himself +and allowed his colossal vanity to overshadow his original ideas, the +probability is that he would have founded a church which would have +endured for centuries. As it is, he was discredited and disowned by his +followers, and his church is now but little more than a memory. + +Francis Schlatter, the German shoemaker of Denver, with his Divine +Healing, was a well known figure in the west several years ago. He was +undoubtedly a half-insane fanatic, believing himself inspired by God to +heal the nations. Persons flocked to him from afar, and he is reported +to have healed thousands, many of whom were suffering from serious +ailments. He afterward disappeared, and is believed to have died in +the desert of the far west. Students of Mental Suggestion and Psychic +Therapeutics find in the instances of Dowie and Schlatter merely the +same underlying principle of Mental Healing resulting from faith, which +is operative in all of the other cases mentioned. The theology, creed, +theories of methods have but little to do with the cures, so long as +the proper degree of faith is induced in the mind of the patient. Faith +in _anything_ will work cures, providing it is sufficiently intense and +active. + +Another branch of Mental Healing is seen in the modern schools of the +"New Thought," "Mental Science," "Christian Science," and the "Emmanuel +Movement." The authorities generally agree upon tracing the rise of +these several schools to the general interest in the subject manifested +in the United States and Great Britain about the middle of the last +century. Some of the authorities believe that this general interest was +induced largely by the teachings of Charles Poyen, a Frenchman who came +from France to New England about 1835, bringing with him the French +teachings and theories regarding mesmerism and the phenomena allied +thereto. Poyen's teachings attracted marked interest and attention, and +he soon had a host of followers, students and imitators. Teachers of +the "new science" sprang up on all sides. Many theories were evolved +and actively supported by the adherents of the several prominent +teachers. The rise of interest in phrenology and the dawning interest +in spiritualism aided the spread of the new teachings regarding +mesmerism, clairvoyance, psychic healing, etc., and the pages of many +magazines and books published about that time show that a public taste +had been created for the strange and mysterious. + +Dr. J. S. Grimes, a physician interested in phrenology, taught that +the phenomena were due to the action of a strange atmospheric force +which he called "etherium." Rev. J. Bovee Dods evolved a theory based +upon the supposed existence of an electrical principle, and called his +system "Electro-Biology," by means of which he attracted to himself +a large following. Dods wrote several large books on the subject, +and traveled on lecture tours in this country and Great Britain, +arousing great enthusiasm and making many cures. Rev. Leroy Sunderland +expounded the doctrine of "patheism," in which he combined a strange +mixture of mysticism and what has since been called "suggestion," to +which he afterward added the current teachings of spiritualism after +his conversion to that philosophy. It would seem that credit should +be given Sunderland for his early announcement of the principle of +suggestion, for he said: "When a relation is once established between +an operator and his patient, corresponding changes may be induced in +the nervous system of the latter by mere volition, and _by suggestions +addressed to either of the external senses_." The decade, 1840-1850 +witnessed a remarkable interest in psychic phenomena of all kinds, and +during that time there was undoubtedly laid the foundations upon which +the later structures have since been erected. Any one reading the short +stories of Poe, and other writers of that period, may readily see the +state of public interest in these subjects at that time. + +The authorities generally agree that in Phineas Parkhurst Quimby we +have the direct connecting link between the period just mentioned and +the present. Quimby played quite an important role in the evolution +of the modern conceptions of mental healing, or psycho-therapy as it +is now called. He was a poor clockmaker, of quite limited means, of +good character and a strong personality. His education is said to +have been limited, but he made up for his lack in this respect by +his naturally keen and inquiring mind. In 1838 one of the teachers +of mesmerism visited his home in Belfast, Maine, and Quimby attended +the seance. He became intensely interested in what he saw, and in the +theories propounded, and began to experiment on the people in his town, +the result being that he soon acquired a reputation as a powerful +mesmerist and a good healer. He followed along the general lines of the +"Electro-Biology" theory for a time, and then evolved theories of his +own. He cured himself and many others by manual treatment, and was soon +kept quite busy in his healing work. + +Quimby, thinking deeply regarding the cures he was making, soon came +to the conclusion that while his _cures_ were genuine, his _theories_ +were wrong. He gradually evolved the idea that diseases are caused +by erroneous thinking, and that his cures resulted from changing +these wrong mental states for those based upon true conceptions. He +held that all that is required to effect a cure is to bring about "a +change of thought." Following upon this new conception, he ceased +mesmerizing his patients, and began to treat them by simply sitting +by the side of the afflicted person, picturing him as well and whole, +and impressing upon the patient's mind that he is well and whole, _in +Truth_. From this fundamental idea he gradually evolved a philosophy +which has strongly influenced that of later schools. Quimby talked much +regarding his great "discovery," as he called it, and built great hopes +upon establishing "the science of health and happiness." He began to +speak of the "Truth" in his "science," which he held to be identical +with that taught by Christ, and by means of which Jesus performed his +miraculous cures. Before he had firmly established his "science," +however, he died, leaving his work to be carried on by others, notably +by Dr. Warren F. Evans, and Julius A. Dresser, to whom should be +given the credit for launching what is now known as "the New Thought +Movement." + +Mrs. Mary Baker G. Eddy, who afterward established "Christian Science" +was one of Quimby's patients and students, and Dresser and others have +positively stated and claimed that from him she received her ideas of +the philosophy which she afterward developed into the great "Christian +Science" movement. Mrs. Eddy, and her adherents, as positively deny to +Quimby any credit for having inspired Mrs. Eddy's work. We merely state +the opposing sides of the controversy here, taking no sides in the +matter, the discussion not concerning us in the present consideration. + +The success of Evans and Dresser, and of Mrs. Eddy, in their respective +schools and organizations, have caused many other teachers to come to +the front, until at the present time there are many schools, cults +and organizations basing their cures upon the broad principles of +Mental Healing. Mrs. Eddy, and her followers, deny having anything in +common with the other schools, however, holding that the latter are +concerned with "mortal mind" while "Christian Science" alone is based +upon Divine Mind, or Truth. In spite of the conflicting claims and +theories, the fact remains that thousands of persons have been healed +of various diseases by the various schools, cults, and teachings. To +the authorities who stand outside of and apart from these opposing +organizations, it seems that all the cures are based upon the same +general principle, _i. e._, that of the influence of mental states +over physical conditions, and that religious theories or metaphysical +philosophies have nothing whatever to do with the production of the +cures, except in the direction of giving a strong suggestion to those +accepting them. The fact that _all_ the schools make cures, in about +the same proportion, and of the same general classes of complaints, +would seem to show that the theories and dogmas have nothing to do +with the process of cure--and that the healing is done _in spite of the +theories_, rather than because of them. + +The much advertised "Emmanuel Movement" now so popular in the orthodox +churches throughout the country, is recognized by all the authorities +as being nothing more than suggestion applied in connection with the +religious and theological principles of the churches in question, +and, in truth, as applying methods more in favor by the old school of +mesmerists than by the later "New Thought" practitioners, or by the +"Christian Science" healers. From this movement, however, there will +probably evolve a more scientific system, manifesting none of the +crudities which so disfigure its present stage, at least in the hands +of some of its practitioners. + +In the following chapter we may see that the same element of Faith, +Belief and Expectancy is manifested in all the various forms of Mental +Healing, by whatever name, or under whatever theory, the method is +applied. In short, that the cures are purely _psychological_, rather +than metaphysical or religious, in their nature. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +FAITH CURES + + +Following the scientific study of the phenomena of cures of physical +illness by means of the power of mental states, and the recognition of +the fact that there is a common principle operative under the various +guises and forms, there sprang into scientific usage the term "Faith +Cures" which was used to designate all instances and forms of cures +coming under the general classification of mental healing. Prof. +Goddard defines the term as follows: "A term applied to the practice +of curing disease by an appeal to the hope, belief, or expectation of +the patient, and without the use of drugs or other material means. +Formerly it was confined to methods requiring the exercise of religious +faith, such as the 'prayer cure' and 'divine healing,' but has now come +to be used in the broader sense, and includes the cures of 'Mental +Science,' and hypnotism; also a large part of the cures effected by +patent medicines and nostrums, as well as many folk-practices and home +remedies. By some it is used to include also Christian Science, but the +believers in the latter regard it as entirely distinct." + +The term "Suggestion," used in the same sense as "Faith Cure" in +relation to the healing of disease, has also come into popular usage, +but inasmuch as Suggestion has a much larger meaning outside of its +therapeutic phases, it may be said the best authorities to-day use the +term "Faith Cure" as representing simply one phase of Suggestion. + +Prof. Goddard, in his article on "Faith Cure," in the _New +International Encyclopaedia_ (Dodd, Mead & Co., New York), says: +"Besides these recognized forms (divine healing, mental science, etc.), +faith cure is an important element in cures wrought by patent medicines +and nostrums, home remedies and folk practices. The advertisement, +testimonial of friend, or family tradition arouses the faith of the +sick man, and he comes to believe that he needs only to follow +directions to be fully cured. The actual value of faith cure as a +therapeutic method has been the subject of much discussion. It can +no longer be denied that it has value. From divine healing to patent +medicine and Father Kneipp's water cure, all cure disease. Each appeals +to a particular type of mind, but _the results are practically the +same in all--same diseases cured, same successes, same failures_. Many +faith-curists claim that all diseases in all persons can be cured by +their method; others hold that the principle is of limited application. +Of them all, the hypnotists are the only ones who do not make sweeping +claims." + +After stating "the tendency to exaggeration and the infrequency of +impartial judgment" in connection with many instances of claimed cures, +the above mentioned authority proceeds as follows: "The actual cures, +however, are sufficiently numerous and sufficiently striking to need +an explanation. These different forms agree in only one point--viz., +_the mental state of the patient is one of hope and expectation_. Can +states of mind cause or cure disease? Some familiar occurrences seem +to justify an affirmative answer. It is well known that certain glands +and secretions are markedly affected by emotions. Fright causes the +saliva to cease to flow and the perspiration to start. Sorrow causes +the lachrymal glands to secrete tears. Happiness favors digestion, +unhappiness retards it. Mosso has demonstrated that the bladder is +especially sensitive to emotional states. In general, the pleasant +emotions produce an opposite physical effect from the unpleasant ones. +There are many glands within the body whose action under emotion +we cannot observe; but we may reasonably assume that they also are +affected by emotional states. Hence, if unpleasant emotions so act upon +the glands as to derange the system and cause disease, the pleasant +emotions may reasonably be assumed to tend to restore the normal +functions. The various forms of faith cure tend strongly to put the +patient in a happy frame of mind--a condition favorable to health. +However, there are all degrees of faith and wide differences in the way +the system responds to the emotional state. One person is slightly +affected by a strong emotion; another is strongly affected by a weak +emotion. Hence, there must always be a wide difference in the results +of faith-cure methods. The diseases most amenable to faith cure are +nervous--including many not recognized as nervous, but having a neural +condition as their basis--and functional derangements. Organic diseases +are not usually cured, though the symptoms are frequently ameliorated. +Chronic diseases due to neuro-muscular habit often yield to hypnotic +treatment." + +Prof. R. P. Halleck says: "Were it not for this power of the +imagination, the majority of quack nostrums would disappear. In most +cases bread pills, properly labeled, with positive assurances of +certain cures accompanying them, would answer the purpose far better +than these nostrums, or even much better than a great deal of the +medicine administered by regular physicians. Warts have been charmed +away by medicines which could have had only a mental effect. Dr. Tuke +gives many cases of patients cured of rheumatism by rubbing them with +a certain substance declared to possess magic power. The material in +some cases was metal; in others wood; in still others, wax. He also +recites the case of a very intelligent officer who had vainly taken +powerful remedies to cure cramp in the stomach. Then 'he was told +that on the next attack he would be put under a medicine which was +generally believed to be most effective, but which was rarely used.' +When the cramps came on again, 'a powder containing four grains of +ground biscuit was administered every seven minutes, while the greatest +anxiety was expressed (within the hearing of the party) lest too much +be given. Half-drachm doses of bismuth had never procured the same +relief in less than three hours. For four successive times did the same +kind of attack recur, and four times was it met by the same remedy, and +with like success.' A house surgeon in a French hospital experimented +with one hundred patients, giving them sugared water. Then, with +a great show of fear, he pretended that he had made a mistake and +given them an emetic instead of the proper medicine. Dr. Tuke says: +'The result may easily be anticipated by those who can estimate the +influence of the imagination. No fewer than eighty--four-fifths--were +unmistakably sick.' + +"We have a well authenticated case of a butcher, who, while trying to +hang up a heavy piece of meat, slipped and was himself caught by the +arm upon the hook. When he was taken to a surgeon, the butcher said he +was suffering so much that he could not endure the removal of his coat; +the sleeve must be cut off. When this was done, it was found that the +hook had passed through his clothing close to the skin, but had not +even scratched it. A man sentenced to be bled to death was blindfolded. +A harmless incision was then made in his arm and tepid water fixed so +as to run down it and drop with considerable noise into a basin. The +attendants frequently commented on the flow of blood and the weakening +pulse. The criminal's false idea of what was taking place was as +powerful in its effects as the reality, and he soon died.... There is +perhaps not a person living who would not at times be benefited by a +bread pill, administered by some one in whom great confidence was +reposed." + +The same authority also says: "It has been known for a long time +that if the attention is directed toward any bodily organ, abnormal +sensations may be caused in it, and disease may be developed. The +renowned Dr. John Hunter said: 'I am confident that I can fix my +attention to any part, until I have a sensation in that part.'" Dr. +Tuke says that these "are words which ought to be inscribed in letters +of gold over the entrance of a hospital for the Cure of Disease by +Psychopathy." Hunter's confident assertion is the more interesting +because, drawn from his own experience, it shows that the principle +is not confined in its operation to the susceptible and nervous, but +operates even on men of the highest mental endowment. We have examples +from the literature of the seventeenth century, showing how the +expectation of a complaint will produce it. In 1607 an ignorant English +physician told a clergyman's wife that she had sciatica, although +there was, in reality, nothing the matter with her sciatic nerve. Her +attention was thereby directed to it and a severe attack of sciatica +was the result. When a person inexperienced in medicine reads carefully +the symptoms of some disease, he is apt to begin an attentive search +for those symptoms and to end by fancying he has them. Seasick persons +have been relieved of their nausea by being made to bail a leaking +boat from the fear that it would sink. All their attention was thereby +diverted from themselves. Many can recall how children, and grown +persons, too, have forgotten all about their alleged intense thirst, +as soon as their attention was diverted. Some persons, after eating +something which they fancy is a trifle indigestible, center their +attention upon the stomach, expecting symptoms of indigestion, and are +often not disappointed. A man who had good reason to fear hydrophobia, +determined that he would not have it. The pain in the bitten arm became +intense, and he saw that he must have something to divert his attention +from the wound and his danger. He therefore went hunting, but found no +game. To make amends, he summoned a more inflexible will and exerted +at every step 'a strong mental effort against the disease.' He kept on +hunting until he felt better, and he mastered himself so perfectly that +he probably thereby warded off an attack of hydrophobia. Accordingly +as we center our attention upon one thing or another, we largely +determine our mental happiness and hence our bodily health. One person, +in walking through a noble forest, may search only for spiders, and +venomous creatures, while another confines his attention to the singing +birds in the branches above. One reason why travel is such a cure for +diseases of body and mind is because so many new things thereby come +in to claim the attention and divert it from its former objects. The +following expression from Dr. Tuke should be remembered: '_Thought +strongly directed to any part tends to increase its vascularity, and +consequently its sensibility_.'" + +Dr. C. F. Winbigler says: "The practitioner secures the same effects +from a placebo or powdered pop-corn as from some drugs by using +suggestion with the former. Every successful physician has used this +method at one time or another, and sometimes when he was utterly +puzzled as to what he should prescribe, he thus secured a marvellous +result, and a cure of the patient was effected.... Every believer +in Psycho-therapeutics knows that there is a psychical as well as a +physical effect from the use of drugs. The psychical value is based +on the expectation of their special action, and that which is in the +physician's mind may be subtly and powerfully carried over into the +patient's mind. The physician's personality, attitude and interest in +the patient accomplishes vastly more than the drugs he prescribes or +administers. If he is cheerful and hopeful, he gives potency to their +action; if he is gloomy, pessimistic and hopeless, he nullifies their +effects. The cure of the patient is effected through the subconscious +mind, and the attitude and bearings of the physician, attendants, the +surroundings and the medicines employed, become powerful suggestions." + +Prof. Elmer Gates says: "The system makes an effort to eliminate +the metabolic products of tissue-waste, and it is therefore not +surprising that during acute grief tears are copiously excreted; that +during sudden fear the bowels and the kidneys are caused to act, that +during prolonged fear, the body is covered with a cold perspiration; +and, that during anger, the mouth tastes bitter, due largely to the +increased elimination of sulpho-cyanates. The perspiration during fear +is chemically different, and even smells different from that which +exudes during a happy mood.... Now if it can be shown in many ways +that the elimination of waste products is retarded by sad and painful +emotions; nay, worse than that, these depressing emotions directly +augment the amount of these poisons. Conversely, the pleasurable and +happy emotions, during the time they are active, inhibit the poisonous +effects of the depressing moods, and cause the bodily cells to create +and store up vital energy and nutritive tissue products." + +In an issue of "_The American Practitioner and News_," is reported a +discussion before the Lexington (Ky.) Medical and Surgical Society, in +which a member, Dr. Guest, related the following experience: "I have +a brother-in-law who suffers every summer with hay-fever. He has a +relative who believes in Christian Science. She told him that she felt +positive that she could direct him to a woman, a Christian Scientist, +who would cure him. He at first objected, because he hated to go to a +woman physician. He arranged, however, to communicate with her daily by +letter. When his hay-fever broke out he suffered with it all that day +and night, and the next morning wrote her a note telling her to put him +on treatment immediately. When he returned that night he was improved +and slept better. He wrote a second note the next morning and was much +encouraged. The third day he repeated his letter writing and stated +that the symptoms had almost ceased. And he was guying me about being +cured by Christian Science when regular physicians could do nothing for +him. The night of the third day, when he came home to supper, he found +a note from the Christian Scientist, stating that _she has been in the +country and would put him under treatment the next day_. Realizing +that all his treatment had been only in his imagination, the symptoms +reappeared with the same intensity as before." + +Dr. A. J. Parks of New York, says: "The absolute and complete control +that the sympathetic nervous system exercises over the physical +organization is so perfectly clear and well-known to every observer +that the recital of the phenomena in the vast and countless series +of manifestations is unnecessary. We are all aware of the fact that +digestion is promptly arrested upon the receipt of bad news. The +appetite at once disappears. It ceases, and the whole system feels the +effect of the depressing impulse--the mental and spiritual wave which +lowers the vital thermometer. Fear not only suspends the digestive +function but arrests the formation of the secretions upon which +digestion depends. A sudden fright frequently paralyzes the heart +beyond recovery, whereas a pleasant and pleasing message soothes and +gently excites the whole granular system, increases the secretions, +aids digestion and sends a thrill of joy to the sensorium, which +diffuses the glad tidings to every nerve fibril in the complex +organization." + +Dr. T. A. Borton, in an address before the Indiana State Medical +Society, said: "The subject which I desire to present to you to-day +has to do with the influence of the mind over the functions of the +body. Its silent, unobserved force results in producing pathological +conditions, and those, by reflex action, excite morbid sensibilities +of the mind and thus derange the nerve centres, resulting in a +changed condition or over-excitability of the nerve energies, which +becomes a secondary diseased condition in the form of different types +of neurasthenia. I have been interested in this subject for many +years, and in my practice have had extended opportunities for making +observations as to the potency of the mental and suggestive pathology +bearing on this subject. I would especially refer to the healing of the +body through these mental forces, changing healthy, normal conditions +into unhealthy or diseased conditions and _vice versa_. These changes +are not miraculous, but proceed from natural causes in the operation +of the mind, as a therapeutic agency, operating through the functions +of the body, sometimes as a tonic or stimulant, warding off diseases +under the most exposed conditions, defending and holding the system in +a state of health, while those void of these mental assurances become +victims to the ravages of disease through contagion or infection. This +protective mental force of the mind has been demonstrated many times in +hospitals and other places where contagious diseases were prevailing. +The mental force possesses a protective power when rightly exercised +beyond what is usually conceded, not only in the way of defense; but +also in correcting disease when in existence. I believe these to be +much greater than has been generally admitted or understood.... We all +know how difficult it is to get good results from medication in which +our patients have no confidence, and it is an established fact that +we get better results from drugs which are given with the patient's +knowledge of their intended effect. _I have often produced desired +results from means entirely inert, stating the desired and expected +effect of its administration. I have frequently quieted the severest +pain by injecting pure water into the arm of the patient._" + +Dr. G. R. Patton, in an address before the Wabasha County (Minn.) +Medical Society, said: "As Bacon said, 'Faith, confidence, belief +and hope are the working forces that make the cure--that work the +miracle.' The mind as a dynamic force exerted over the functions of +the body has been, doubtless, operatively manifest from the cradle of +our existence. By the phrase, 'the mind as a dynamic force,' I refer +to the various forms of suggestion as well as to various affective +faculties of the mind, or those states caused by the sympathetic +action of the brain, such as faith, confidence, belief, imagination, +emotions, hope and the like. Any or all of them may become active over +the bodily functions.... As instance of the mental impression acting +upon observable functions revealed through the capillary circulation +as revealed to the sight, I will mention blushing or pallor of the +face, depending upon the theme presented to the thought; the mouth +watering on the sight or thought of tempting food; the flow of tears +from words or thoughts that excite grief; nausea or vomiting from +a sickening spectacle; sexual excitement from obscene thought or +lascivious sights. Instances might be multiplied. And is it not a fair +inference, indeed, that through the vasomoter nerves, the internal +viscera may be subject to like effects through mental impressions, and +that thus acute as well as chronic congestive ailments thereof may be +favorably influenced or even cured thereby?... It is my conviction that +recognition of the power and usefulness of mental dynamics, including +all forms of suggestion over physiological and pathological processes +in combating diseases, is unquestionably the most impressive advance in +modern medicine. Mental influence alone may diminish or increase the +activities of the physiological processes to the extent of removing the +pathological effects of disease.... A celebrated medical teacher, after +an exhaustive dissertation over a case was leaving the bedside without +prescribing any treatment when the house physician asked what should be +given the patient. 'Oh,' said the professor, 'a hopeful prognosis and +anything else you please.' To this he added, 'the doleful doctor will +be a failure, while the hopeful one will prove a winner from start to +finish.' It is reasonably assured that ultimately the physician will +become not so much the man behind the pill as the judicious advisor, +the wise counsellor, gently leading the sick 'into green pastures, +beside still waters,' through paths that lead onward to recovery, +assisting nature at times, if needs be, with a big bread pill." + +Dr. Herbert A. Parkyn, the well-known authority on suggestive +therapeutics, says: "Certain results will follow certain thoughts, +and in every instance that it is possible to get the patient to think +the thoughts we desire, we secure the results we desire. It is the +work of the suggestionist to place these thoughts in the mind of the +patient so that he is bound to think them, and this can be done to some +degree, if not perfectly, in every case. It is well to have faith, but +faith is not absolutely necessary at the outset. It is time enough for +the patient to have faith in the treatment when he can perceive the +benefit he is receiving. Understanding the mental and physical changes +which follow a certain thought, the suggestionist is able to bring +about those mental or physical changes, by using direct suggestion in +such a way that his patient is bound to think the thoughts which will +produce the results. A man may not have faith in the statement that +the thought of lemon juice will stimulate the flow of saliva, but if +he will imagine for a moment that he is squeezing the juice of a lemon +into his mouth the saliva will immediately flow more freely than usual, +regardless of his faith. Similarly, many, if not all of the organs +of the body, can be affected by impulses following certain lines of +thought, and these impulses will follow the thought and stimulate the +organs regardless of faith. It is simply necessary to get a patient to +think the proper thoughts, and it is in the thought directing that the +work of the suggestionist lies." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE POWER OF THE IMAGINATION + + +Dr. F. W. Southworth says: "Fear is itself a contagious disease and is +sometimes reflected from one mind to another with great rapidity. It +passes from one to another, from the healthy to the ill, from doctor or +nurse to patient, from mother to child, and so on. The greatest fears +we can usually get away from, but it is the little fears and anxieties, +constant apprehension, fears of imagined evils of all sorts which +prey upon our vitality and lessen our powers, thus rendering us more +susceptible to disease. To avert disease, then, we must eradicate fear; +but how shall we accomplish it? Through wise education--educating the +people to a higher standard of living; by teaching a sounder hygiene; +a wiser philosophy and a more cheerful theology. By erasing a thousand +errors and superstitions from fearful minds and pointing them to the +light, beauty and loveliness of the truth. This mental and moral +sanitation is still ahead of us, but it is more valuable and desirable +than all quarantines, inventions, experiments, and microscopical +researches after physical or material causes." + +Sir George Paget, M. D., says: "In many cases I have seen reasons for +believing that cancer has had its origin in prolonged anxiety." Dr. +Murchison says: "I have been surprised to find how often patients with +primary cancer of the liver have traced the cause of this illness to +protracted grief and anxiety. These cases have been far too numerous to +be accounted for as merely coincidents." Sir B. W. Richardson, M. D., +says: "Eruptions of the skin frequently follow excessive mental strain. +In all these, as well as in cancer, epilepsy and mania, the cause is +frequently partly or wholly mental. It is remarkable how little the +question of the origin of physical disease from mental influences +has been studied." Prof. Elmer Gates says: "My experiments show that +irascible, malevolent and depressing emotions generate in the system +injurious compounds, some of which are extremely poisonous. Also that +agreeable, happy emotions generate chemical compounds of nutritious +value which stimulate the cells to manufacture energy." + +Dr. Patton, in the address before the Wabasha County Medical Society, +above mentioned, gives the following interesting case of the effect +of faith and expectant attention, or Suggestion: He said: "While +surgeon of a Cincinnati hospital one of the messenger boys was often +disobedient of orders. The sister superior once asked me how to +punish him. I suggested putting him to bed and making him sick with +medicine. My advice was acted upon with alacrity. A tea-spoonful of +_colored water_ was given him every fifteen minutes. With assumed +gravity, I ordered the nurse, in the boy's presence, to keep giving the +medicine until he became sick and vomited. Within an hour he vomited +profusely.... A funny incident illustrative of the faith and confidence +sometimes reposed in the medical man and his power in curing disease, +happened in my first year of practice. An Irish laborer, much given to +profanity, came to my office, with a cold on his chest. I prescribed +a soothing mixture and a liniment of camphor, ammonia and soap. A few +days later, meeting him on the street, I asked him if the medicine +had cured him all right. He replied with enthusiasm, 'Oh! yes, yes, +it acted most beautifully and cured me pretty d---- d quick, but it was +awful hot stuff, for it burned in my throat like hell-fire itself.' I +knew at once, but did not tell him, that he had been swallowing the +liniment of camphor, hartshorn and soap, and rubbing the cough mixture +on the outside. His faith was even stronger than the liniment, and +cured him in spite of the blunder. + +"Perhaps the most wonderful confirmation came under my observation +while wintering in San Antonio, Texas, in 1880. Some nostrum fakirs +with a retinue of fourteen musicians and comedians came to this city +in an immense chariot, drawn by eight gaily caparisoned horses. Every +evening they came upon the military plaza to sell their panacea. I +went over one evening out of curiosity, being attracted by the songs +and music. The head fakir was shouting to an immense crowd about +the virtues of his specific. He claimed that it contained thirteen +ingredients, gathered at a great expense from all quarters of the +globe, and would cure all the ills that flesh was heir to. Cures +were warranted in every case, or the money refunded on the following +evening. After this harangue, he said that the medicine was for sale at +$1 per bottle, until 300 bottles had been sold, as it was an invariable +rule to sell only that number on any one evening. Immediately a +frenzied mob rushed pell-mell to the end of the chariot, each one +holding aloft a silver dollar. He had previously announced that no +change would be made, and that every one to get the medicine should +have a dollar ready in his hand. In half an hour 300 bottles had been +sold, the empty trunk closed with a bang, and the statement made that +no more could be had until the following evening, although there was +yet a great multitude clamoring for more. Curiosity again led me to the +plaza the next evening, and I went early. The initial performance was a +free tooth-pulling, to last thirty minutes. He said he was the kingpin +of the tooth-pullers, and I believe he was. The rapidity of his work +was a marvel. He snatched from various jaws about 250 teeth, including +the good ones, within the limit, throwing them from his forceps right +and left among his audience. Those operated upon were wrought to such +a frenzy of excitement and wonder that each one, without an exception, +declared that no pain whatever had been experienced. A call was then +made for the 300 who had bought medicine on the previous evening to +mount the chariot and tell what the medicine had done for them. + +"From every quarter men and women, both white and colored, pressed +forward to give their experience. Their stories were grotesque and +curious enough, but no matter what their ailments, cures had resulted +in every case. At the end of half an hour, while the experience meeting +was at its acme, the fakir abruptly closed it, saying, in a regretful +voice, that the rest would have to wait until the next evening to tell +of their cures, as he now wanted those to come forward who had not +been cured by the medicine bought on the previous evening. He stood in +silence with folded arms for three minutes. No one having come forward, +the voice of this arrant charlatan rang out in stentorian tones, 'All, +_all_ have been cured! We have cured _everyone_!' Then another 300 +bottles were sold in a jiffy, I myself being one of the fortunate +purchasers. The chief of this outfit stopped in the hotel where I was. +After dinner the next day, I made his acquaintance in the smoking room, +saying I was a doctor, too; that I had attended two of his soirees, +bought his medicine and was greatly interested in it. I surprised him +by the statement that his medicine was made by M. & Co., wholesale +druggists of Cincinnati, and that it was fluid extract of podophyllin. +He stared for some moments, but made no reply. I continued, 'I know +M.'s fluid extract, as his process of its manufacture is peculiar, and +differs from other manufacturers in this, that he exhausts the root +by percolation with alcohol, ether and glycerine, giving the product +a sweetish taste and a slight ethereal odor.' The man asked if I was +also a chemist. I replied, 'Yes, I once lectured in a medical college +in Cincinnati on drugs and their uses, and I can readily tell fluid +extracts by their taste, odor and physical characteristics.' + +"After some hesitation, he said, 'Yes, this is M.'s podophyllin _and +nothing else_.' I inquired if he attributed all his success to the +medicine. He answered, 'No, for once in Missouri the mandrake ran out +before a new lot arrived. We found something like it in a drug store of +the town, and the people got well just the same. _If the people believe +you can cure them, and have faith in your medicine, they get well +anyway, or they think they do, which is the same thing._' The fakirs +remained one week, sold 2,100 bottles, and presumably cured 2,100 +people, as no one came forward to reclaim his dollar for the medicine, +which was contained in a two-drachm vial of 120 drops. A dose was one +drop after each meal in one spoonful of water. + +"When I was in California recently a friend mentioned that an +intelligent relative of his was being treated by a celebrated Chinese +doctor. The relative claimed that Chinese physicians were better than +our own; that they had devoted 5,000 years to medicine and had thus +become so learned and skillful that they could tell all diseases +without asking a single question, simply by feeling the pulse. Out of +curiosity I visited this physician, ostensibly as a patient. Without +so declaring myself, he knew intuitively that I came to consult him. +Without asking any questions he placed his finger upon my right wrist, +communed with himself for a few moments, and then gravely informed +me that I had _thirty-seven diseases_; some in the blood, some in +the brain, some in the kidneys, some in the liver, and many others +in the heart and lungs. He said it would take _sixteen different +herbs_ to cure me. He volunteered the statement that he could detect +6,000 diseases by the pulse alone, and that he used 400 herbs in the +treatment of the various diseases. Upon his request, I examined his +portfolio containing 350 testimonials of marvellous cures, wrought +upon American residents of California during his seventeen years' +practice on the coast. Many of them were from parties of intelligence +and eminence, and were so extraordinary that nothing short of their +being attested by numerous witnesses of unimpeachable veracity, could +satisfy one of their truth. Now, permit me to say that I have no pulse +in the right wrist, the pulse being congenitally absent; but through it +he made the pretense of locating so many diseases. This doubtless is +the form and character of medical practice in China among the native +Chinamen, and probably has been for many centuries among a population +of 400,000,000. Is not the logic from the above facts irresistible, +that in China the native physician cannot tell one disease from +another, and that all his work is simply nonsense and guess work? +There can be no escape from this conclusion--it follows as lucidly as a +demonstrated problem in Euclid--_that_ any benefit that may ever accrue +from their treatment is wholly due to the dynamic force of the brain +upon the functions of the body." + +The following, from a Philadelphia journal, gives a striking +illustration of the fact that the imagination is a _real_ factor +in many cases of physical ailment: "The fact that the throes of +the imagination under great nervous excitement often produce a +corresponding physical frenzy was illustrated recently in the case of +a man who had gone to sleep with his artificial teeth in his mouth. +Waking suddenly with a choking sensation, he found his teeth had +disappeared. He looked in the glass of water where they were usually +deposited, did not see them and realized they must be far down his +throat. Choking and struggling, he hammered on the door of a friend +sleeping in the house, who, seeing his critical condition, vainly +tried to draw the teeth out of the sufferer's throat. He could feel +the teeth, but had not the strength to extract them. He ran for a +blacksmith who lived a few doors away, but the blacksmith's hand was +too big to put into the man's mouth. A doctor had been sent for, but he +was so long in coming that the victim of the accident seemed likely to +die of suffocation before the physician arrived. A little girl of ten +years was brought under the impression that her small hand might reach +the obstacle and withdraw it, but she got frightened and began to cry. +The sufferer became black in the face, his throat swelled out, and his +friends expected every moment to be his last, when finally the doctor +arrived. He heard the history of the case, saw that the teeth were not +in the man's jaws nor in their nightly receptacle, felt the throat +and cast his eyes seriously upon the floor. _There, on the floor, +he saw the whole set of teeth._ He adjusted them to the jaws of the +patient, told him to breathe freely, and every symptom of suffocation +disappeared." + +The following from an Eastern journal illustrates another phase of +the subject: "Saltpetriere, the hospital for nervous diseases, made +famous by the investigations of Dr. Charcot, has an interesting case +of religious mania. The patient, who is a woman of about forty years +of age, entertains the belief that she is crucified, and this delusion +has caused a contraction of the muscles of the feet of such a nature +that she can walk only on tip-toe. The patient, moreover, is subject +occasionally to the still more extraordinary manifestation--that of +'stigmata.' Instances of 'stigmata' are tolerably frequent in the +'Lives of the Saints' of alleged supernatural marks on the body +in imitation of the wounds of Christ. These 'stigmata' have been +observed beyond all question on the woman at the Saltpetriere. Their +appearance on the body coincides with the return of the most solemn +religious anniversaries. These 'stigmata' are so visible that it has +been possible to photograph them. The doctors of the Saltpetriere in +order to assure themselves that these manifestations were not the +result of trickery, contrived a sort of shade having a glass front and +metal sides, and capable of being hermetically attached to the body by +means of India rubber fixings. These shades were placed in position +a considerable time before the dates at which the stigmata are wont +to appear. When they were affixed there were no marks whatever on the +patient's body, but at the expected period the 'stigmata' were visible +as usual through the glass." + +In a Southern journal there is reported an interesting case, in which +a New Orleans physician tells the following story: "A nervous man +recently called on me and asked, 'In what part of the abdomen are the +premonitory pains of appendicitis felt?' On the _left_ side, exactly +here,' I replied, indicating a spot a little above the point of the +hip-bone. He went out, and next afternoon I was summoned in hot haste +to the St. Charles hotel. I found the planter writhing on his bed, +his forehead beaded with sweat, and his whole appearance indicating +intense suffering. 'I have an attack of appendicitis,' he groaned, 'and +I'm a dead man! I'll never survive an operation!' 'Where do you feel +the pain?' I asked. 'Oh, right here,' he replied, putting his finger +on the spot I had located at the office. 'I feel as if somebody had a +knife in me turning it around.' 'Well, then, it isn't appendicitis, +at any rate,' I said cheerfully, 'because _it is the wrong side_.' +'The wrong side!' he exclaimed, glaring at me indignantly. 'Why, you +told me yourself it was on the _left_ side!' 'Then I must have been +abstracted,' I replied calmly; 'I should have said the _right_ side.' +I prescribed something that wouldn't hurt him, and learned afterward +that he ate his dinner in the dining-room the same evening. Oh! yes; he +was no doubt in real pain when I called, _but you can make your finger +ache merely by concentrating your attention on it for a few moments_." + +Frank F. Moore, in "A Journalist's Note Book" tells the following +amusing and significant story of the influence of imagination upon +health. "A young civil servant in India, feeling fagged from the +excessive heat and from long hours of work consulted the best doctor +within reach. The doctor looked him over, sounded his heart and lungs, +and then said gravely: 'I will write you tomorrow.' The next day +the young man received a letter telling him that his left lung was +gone and his heart seriously affected, and advising him to lose no +time in adjusting his business affairs. 'Of course, you may live for +weeks,' the latter said, 'but you had best not leave important matters +undecided.' Naturally the young official was dismayed by so dark a +prognosis--nothing less than a death warrant. Within twenty-four hours +he was having difficulty with his respiration, and was seized with an +acute pain in the region of the heart. He took to his bed with the +feeling that he should never rise from it. During the night he became +so much worse that his servant sent for the doctor. 'What on earth +have you been doing to yourself?' demanded the doctor. 'There were no +indications of this sort when I saw you yesterday?' 'It is my heart, +I suppose,' weakly answered the patient. 'Your heart!' repeated the +doctor. 'Your heart was all right yesterday.' 'My lungs, then.' 'What +is the matter with you, man? You don't seem to have been drinking?' +'Your letter,' gasped the patient. 'You said I had only a few weeks to +live.' 'Are you crazy?' said the doctor. 'I wrote you to take a few +weeks vacation in the hills, and you would be all right.' For reply +the patient drew the letter from under the bedclothes and gave it to +the doctor. 'Heavens!' cried that gentleman as he glanced at it. 'This +was meant for another man! My assistant has mixed up the letters.' The +young man at once sat up in bed and made a rapid recovery. And what of +the patient for whom the direful prognosis was intended? Delighted with +the report that a sojourn in the hills would set him right, he started +at once, and five years later was alive and in fair health." + +The following is clipped from a medical journal: "Some physician makes +use of this suggestive phrase--'the dynamic power of an idea,' and, as +an illustration of what is meant by this expression, the following +incident is related. Not long ago a man in taking medicine was suddenly +possessed by the notion that he had by mistake taken arsenic. His +wife insisted to the contrary, but he proceeded to manifest all the +peculiar symptoms of arsenical poisoning, and finally died. So certain +was his wife that he had not taken arsenic that an autopsy was held, +when not an atom of the poison could be found. Of what did this man +die? Arsenic? No, of the dynamic power of an idea or arsenic. Happily +for humanity this dynamic power of ideas works constructively no less +certainly than it does destructively, and an idea of health fixed in +the consciousness and persistently adhered to would tend to bring the +best results. Over a hundred years ago, old John Hunter said, '_As the +state of mind is capable of producing disease, another state of it may +effect a cure_.'" + +Dr. William C. Prime relates the following case in his book "Among +the Northern Hills." "The judge was summoned in a hurry to see an old +lady who had managed her farm for forty years since her husband's +death. She had two sons, and a stepson, John, who was not an admirable +person. After a long drive on a stormy night the judge found the old +lady apparently just alive, and was told by the doctor in attendance to +hurry, as his patient was very weak. The judge brought paper and ink +with him. He found a stand and a candle, placed them at the head of the +bed, and after saying a few words to the woman, told her he was ready +to prepare the will if she would go on and tell him what she wanted +him to do. He wrote the introductory phrase rapidly, and leaning over +toward her said, 'Now, go on, Mrs. Norton.' + +"Her voice was quite faint, and she seemed to speak with an effort. +She said: 'First of all, I want to give the farm to my sons, Harry and +James. Just put that down.' 'But,' said the judge, 'you can't do that, +Mrs. Norton. The farm isn't yours to give away.' 'The farm isn't mine?' +she said in a voice decidedly stronger than before. 'No, the farm isn't +yours. You have only a life interest in it.' 'This farm that I've run +for goin' on forty-three year next spring isn't mine to do with what I +please with it? Why not, Judge I'd like to know what you mean!' 'Why, +Mr. Norton, your husband, gave you a life estate in all his property, +and on your death the farm goes to his son, John, and _your_ children +get the village houses. I have explained that to you very often +before.' 'And when I die, John Norton is to have this house and farm +whether I will or not?' 'Just so. It will be his.' '_Then I ain't goin' +to die!_' said the old woman, in a clear and decidedly ringing and +healthy voice. And so saying, she threw her feet over the front of the +bed, sat up, gathered a blanket and coverlet about her, straightened +her gaunt form, walked across the room and sat down in a great chair +before the fire. + +"The doctor and the judge went home. That was fifteen years ago. _The +old lady is alive to-day._ And she accomplished her intent, She beat +John after all. He died four years ago." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +BELIEF AND SUGGESTION + + +The writer has been informed by a prominent physician of Chicago, that +for many years he has been in the habit of administering hypodermic +injections of distilled water, accompanying the same by the statement +that he is injecting morphine. He states that in every case, he +has succeeded in inducing a quiet, peaceful sleep, and a cessation +of pain after the injection, which can be attributed only to the +_belief_ of the patient. The same physician also relates the case of +a woman who believed that she had taken strychnine by mistake. When +the doctor was called he found the woman manifesting every symptom of +strychnine poisoning, even down to the most minute details, and he +is of the opinion that death would have ensued in a short time had +he not proceeded to administer the regular antidotes and restorative +treatment. After the woman was brought out of the condition, it was +discovered that the supposed strychnine was nothing but a harmless +powder. In relating the case, the physician always adds that the woman +had witnessed the death struggles of a dog which had been poisoned by +strychnine several months previous, which might have had some effect in +enabling her to unconsciously counterfeit the symptoms. + +Dr. Max Eastman, in a recent magazine article says: "The mission +of this paper is to offer guidance in a matter about which a great +quantity of the general public is very much at sea. In this question +of 'mind over matter,' the reformers have done their work. They have +stirred things up. They have bestowed upon the world about a hundred +and fifty little religions and a confused idea that there must be some +truth in the matter somewhere. The ignorant have done their work. They +have persecuted the believers, jeered at them, or damned them with +a vacuous smile. The world will never lack ballast. It is only the +scientists that have failed of their duty. They have stalked through a +routine of elevated lectures, written a few incomprehensible books, +and kept the science of psychology, so far as the hungry world goes, +sealed up in their own proud bosoms. In all this uproar of faith-cures, +and miracles, and shouting prophets, we have heard few illuminating +words from the universities. The consequence is that we are without a +helm, and the reform blows now one way and now another.... + +"The law of suggestion, which is one of the great discoveries of modern +science, was first formulated by Dr. Liebault at Paris, in a book +published in 1866. Since his day the number of physicians who practice +'suggestive therapeutics' has steadily increased, until to-day no +thorough clinical hospital is without a professional suggestionist. The +practice _does not involve any metaphysical theories_, the passage of +any hidden force from one brain to another, any 'planes of existence,' +or any religious upset, or any poetic physiology, or the swallowing of +any occult doctrines whatever. It is one of the simplest and coolest of +scientific theories. It is a question of the relation between the brain +and the bodily organs. It seems never to have been clearly stated that +healing disease by suggestion depends not in the least degree upon +any theory of the relation of mind and matter.... The attempt to fix +an idea in the mind without reason is suggestion. It is accomplished +usually in medical practice by asking the patient to lie down and relax +his body and his mind and then vigorously stating to him the desired +idea. It may be accomplished in a number of ways. The patient may be +told that the operator is a wizard and is about to transfer an idea +from his own mind to that of the patient. If the patient believes him +he will very likely accept the idea. It may be accomplished by gestures +or incantations which the patient regards with superstitious awe, +provided it is explained beforehand what these gestures are meant to +produce. It may be accomplished by telling the patient he has no body, +and sitting with him for awhile in spiritual silence, _provided he +knows what to expect_. + +"All these methods, _if one believes in them_, are good, and they prove +by their success the law of suggestion. But the method that is based +on a sure truth is the method of the scientist. He reasons with his +patient, he stirs in him what moral or religious enthusiasm he can, +and to these means he adds tactfully the subtle suggestive powers of +his own presence and eloquence. This force, together with the power +which is revealed in a man of correcting his own mental habits, is +the greatest practical discovery of modern psychology.... Suggestive +therapeutics is the use of suggestion to fix in the mind ideas of +healthy mental habits.... + +"Our question is: can the physical conditions of the brain affect the +physical condition of the stomach? We know that the brain-building +condition which accompanies the idea of raising our hand can affect +the condition of the muscles of our arm--and we call that a voluntary +function. Now the question is whether the brain condition which +accompanies the idea of enlivening our stomach can have an effect upon +that involuntary function. Experiments with suggestion have proved that +in some cases it can, if it continues long enough. Persons of a very +suggestible nature, can, for instance, by concentrating their mind +upon a certain part of the body, increase the flow of blood to that +part, although the regulation of blood flow is supposed to be entirely +involuntary. The action of the heart, also the movements of the +digestive organs particularly, and of the organs of elimination, are +almost directly affected in suggestible persons by that change in their +brains which accompanies certain ideas.... Science has established +then, that suggestion can effect to some extent, the so-called +involuntary functions of the body; but the extent or limitation of +these effects is by no means determined. It could not be determined +scientifically without years of diligent experiment and tabulation. +Any dogmatic statement upon one side or the other of that question, is +therefore premature and against the spirit of science." + +Dr. Leith, in his Edinburgh lectures in 1896, said: "I am inclined +to doubt whether the benefits of Nauheim (a treatment for the heart) +is not after all to be explained largely, if not entirely, by the +influence of the mental factor." Tuke says that: "John Hunter says he +was subject to spasm of his 'vital parts' when anxious about an event; +as, for instance, whether his bees would swarm or not, whether the +large cat he was anxious to kill would get away before he could get the +gun. After death it was found that he had some heart disease.... Lord +Eglinton told John Hunter how, when two soldiers were condemned to be +shot, it was arranged the one who threw the number with the dice should +be reprieved; the one who proved successful generally fainted, while +the one to be shot remained calm." Dr. Schofield says: "During the rush +of Consumptives to Berlin for inoculation by Dr. Koch's tuberculin, +a special set of symptoms were observed to follow the injection and +were taken as being diagnostic of the existence of tuberculosis; among +others, a rise of temperature after so many hours. These phenomena were +eagerly looked for by the patients, and occurred accurately in several +who were injected with pure water. The formation of blisters full of +serum from the application of plain stamp and other paper to various +parts of the bodies of patients in the hypnotic state, is well attested +and undoubtedly true." + +Dr. Krafft-Ebing has produced a rise from 37 degrees centigrade to 38.5 +degrees centigrade in patients by fixing their minds by suggestion. +In the same way Binet lowered the temperature 10 degrees centigrade. +The latter authority says: "How can it be, when one merely says to +the patient: 'Your hand will become cold,' and the vaso-motor system +answers by constricting the artery? _C'est ce que depasse notre +imagination._" Schofield commenting on the above, says: "Indeed there +is no way of accounting for such a phenomena but by freely admitting +the presence of unconscious psychic forces in the body, capable of so +influencing the structures of the body as to produce physical changes." +Tuke says: "A lady saw a child in immediate danger of having its ankle +crushed by an iron gate. She was greatly agitated, but could not +move, owing to intense pain coming on in her corresponding ankle. She +walked home with difficulty, took off her stocking and found a circle +around the ankle of a light red color, with a large red spot on the +outer side. By the morning her whole foot was inflamed, and she had to +remain in bed for some days. A young woman witnessing the lancing of an +abscess in the axilla immediately felt pain in that region, followed +by inflammation. Dr. Marmise of Bordeaux tells us of a lady's maid, +who when the surgeon put his lancet into her mistress's arm to bleed +her, felt the prick in her own arm, and shortly after there appeared a +bruise at the spot." + +It is related that St. Francis d'Assisi dwelt so long in concentrated +meditation upon the thought and picture of the Crucifixion that +he suffered intense pain in his hands and feet, at the points +corresponding to the place of the nails in the hands and feet of +Christ, which was afterward followed by marked inflammation at those +points, terminating in actual ulceration. The phenomena of the +_stigmata_ in the cases of religious enthusiasts and fanatics has +been mentioned elsewhere in this book. Prof. Barrett says of the +phenomenon: "It is not so well known, but it is nevertheless the +fact, that utterly startling physiological changes can be produced +in a hypnotized subject merely by conscious or unconscious mental +suggestion. Thus a red scar or a painful burn, or even a figure of a +definite shape, such as a cross or an initial, can be caused to appear +on the body of the entranced subject solely through suggesting the +idea. By creating some local disturbance of the blood-vessel in the +skin, the unconscious self has done what would be impossible for the +conscious to perform. And so in the well-attested cases of _stigmata_, +where a close resemblance to the wounds of the body of the crucified +Saviour appears on the body of the ecstatic. This is a case of +unconscious self-suggestion, arising from the intent and adoring gaze +of the ecstatic upon the bleeding figure on the crucifix." + +Dr. Schofield says: "The breath is altered by the emotions. The short +quiet breath of joy contrasts with the long sigh of relief after +breathless suspense. Joy gives eupnoea or easy breathing, grief or +rather fear tends to dyspnoea or difficult breathing. Sobbing goes with +grief, laughter with joy, and one often merges into the other. Yawning +is produced by pure idea or by seeing it, as well as by fatigue. Dr. +Morton Prince says a lady he knew always had violent catarrh in the +nose (hay fever) if a rose was in the room. He gave her an _artificial_ +one and the usual symptoms followed. How many cases of hay-fever have +a somewhat similar origin in the unconscious mind?... The hair may +be turned grey and white by emotion in a few hours or sooner. With +regard to the stomach and digestion, apart from actual disease, we +may notice one or two instances of unconscious mind action. A man who +was very sea-sick lost a valuable set of artificial teeth overboard, +and was instantly cured. If the thoughts are strongly directed to the +intestinal canal, as by bread-pills, it will produce strong peristaltic +action. Vomiting occurs from mental causes, apart from organic brain +disease. Bad news will produce nausea; emotion also, or seeing +another person vomit, or certain smells or ideas, or thoughts about a +sea-voyage, etc., or the thought that an emetic has been taken.... The +thought of an acid fruit will fill the mouth with water. A successful +way of stopping discordant street music is to suck a lemon within a +full view of a German band. Fear will so dry the throat that dry rice +cannot be swallowed. This is a test in India for the detection of a +murderer. The suspected man is brought forward and given a handful of +dry rice to swallow. If he can do this he is innocent; if he cannot he +is guilty, fear having dried up his mouth.... A young lady who could +not be cured of vomiting was engaged to be married. On being told that +the wedding day must be postponed till cured, the vomiting ceased.... A +mother nursing her child always found the milk secreted when she heard +the child crying for any length of time. Fear stops the secretion of +milk, and worry will entirely change its character, so as to become +absolutely injurious to the child." + +Maudsley says: "Perhaps we do not as physicians consider sufficiently +the influence of mental states in the production of disease, their +importance as symptoms; or realize all the advantages which we take +of them in our efforts to cure disease. Quackery seems to have got +hold of a truth which legitimate medicine fails to appreciate or use +adequately." Dr. Buckley says: "A doctor was called to see a lady +with severe rheumatism, and tried to extemporize a vapor bath in bed, +with an old tin pipe and a tea-kettle; and only succeeded in scalding +the patient with the boiling water proceeding from the overful kettle +through the pipe. The patient screamed: 'Doctor, you have scalded +me,' and leaped out of bed. But the rheumatism was cured, and did not +return." Tuke relates an amusing instance of the effect of suggestion +and faith upon warts. He had been considering the subject of the +various "pow-wows" or "wart-cures" of the old women, and determined to +try some experiments in order to see whether these cures were not due +simply to mental influences and expectant attention. On an official +tour he visited an asylum, where he was regarded as a great personage +by reason of his office. He noticed that several of the inmates were +afflicted with warts, and muttering a few words over the excresences, +he told the owners that by such and such a day the warts would have +completely disappeared. He forgot the circumstances, owing to the +press of his official duties, and was agreeably surprised when, on his +next round of visits, he was told that his patients had been cured +at the time he had predicted. Nearly everyone has had some personal +acquaintance with some of these "pow-wow" wart cures, in one form or +another. Tying a knot in a piece of cord, then rubbing the wart with +it, and burying the string, has cured thousands of cases of warts--the +suggestion being the real cause behind the mask. + +Ferassi cured fifty cases of ague by a charm, which consisted merely of +a piece of paper with the word "Febrifuge" written on it. The patient +was directed to clip off one letter of the word each day until cured. +Some patients recovered as soon as the first "F" was clipped from the +paper. The writer hereof knows personally of a number of people having +been cured of fever and ague by means of a written "charm" which an old +man in Philadelphia sold them at a dollar a copy. The old man informed +him that he, "and his father before him" had cured thousands of people +in this way, making a comfortable living from the practice. Dr. Gerbe, +of Paris, cured 401 out of 629 cases of toothache by masked suggestion +administered in the form of causing the patients to crush a small +insect between their fingers, after having strongly impressed upon them +the fact that this was an infallible cure. + +Dr. Schofield reports the following interesting cases of cures by +auto-suggestion and faith: "A surgeon took into a hospital ward some +time ago, a little boy who had kept his bed for five years, having hurt +his spine in a fall. He had been all the time totally paralyzed in the +legs, and could not feel when they were touched or pinched; nor could +he move them in the least degree. After careful examination, the doctor +explained minutely to the boy the awful nature of the electric battery, +and told him to prepare for its application the next day. At the same +time he showed him a sixpence, and sympathizing with his state, told +him that the sixpence should be his if, notwithstanding, he should have +improved enough the next day to walk leaning on and pushing a chair, +which would also save the need of the battery. In two weeks the boy was +running races in the park, and his cure was reported in the '_Lancet_.' +... A young lady who had taken ether three and a half years before, on +the inhaler being held three inches away from the face, and retaining a +faint odor of ether, went right off, and becoming unconscious without +any ether being used or the inhaler touching her face. A woman was +brought on a couch into a London hospital by two ladies, who said she +had been suffering from incurable paralysis of the spine for two years, +and having exhausted all their means in nursing her, they now sought to +get her admitted, pending her removal to a home for incurables. In two +hours I had cured her by agencies which owed all their virtue to their +influence on the mind, and I walked with the woman half a mile up and +down the waiting-room, and she then returned home in an omnibus, being +completely cured. An amusing case is that of a paralyzed girl, who on +learning that she had secured the affections of the curate, who used +to visit her, got out of bed and walked--cured; and soon afterwards +made an excellent pastor's wife. A remarkable instance of this sort of +cure is that of a child afflicted with paralysis, who was brought up +from the country to Paris to the Hotel Dieu. The child, who had heard +a great deal of the wonderful metropolis, its magnificent hospitals, +its omnipotent doctors, and their wonderful cures, was awe-struck, and +so vividly impressed with the idea that such surroundings must have a +curative influence, that the day after her arrival she sat up in bed +much better. The good doctor just passed around, but had not time to +treat her till the third day; by which time when he came round she was +out of bed, walking about the room, quite restored by the glimpses she +had got of his majestic presence." + +Having now shown by numerous disinterested authorities, the majority +of whom belong to the medical profession, that the mental states of +belief, faith and expectancy, and their negative aspects of fear, +apprehension, and false-belief, may, and do, influence physical +conditions, functioning and activities, irrespective of the particular +theory, creed, or explanation accepted by the patient himself, or +herself, we see the necessity of seeking for the common principle of +cure manifesting in the various forms of phenomena. And before this +common principle may be grasped, we must needs acquaint ourselves with +the physical organism involved in the process of cure. Accordingly +the several succeeding chapters will be devoted to that phase of the +general subject. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +PSYCHO-THERAPEUTIC METHODS + + +The reader will have seen from the preceding chapters that we have +proceeded upon the theory that Suggestion is the universal operative +principle manifesting in all forms of mental healing, under whatever +guise the latter may be presented and by whatever method it may be +applied. But it must be remembered that by "Suggestion" we do not mean +the theories of any particular group of psycho-therapists, but rather +the broad general principle indicated by that term which operates in +the direction of influencing the Subconscious Mind and its activities. +Let us consider the principle of Suggestion that we may understand what +it is, and what it is not. + +The term "Suggestion" has as its root the Latin word _suggero_, which +is translated as follows: _sug_ (or _sub_), "under;" and _gero_, "to +carry;" that is, "to carry or place under." In its general usage it +signifies "The introduction indirectly into the mind or thoughts; or +that which is so introduced." Ordinarily a "suggestion" is an idea +indirectly insinuated into the mind, and generally without the process +of argument or reasoning. In the New Psychology, the term "suggestion" +is used in the sense of an idea which is "carried under" the objective +or conscious mind, and introduced to the subjective or Subconscious +Mind. In Suggestive Therapeutics, a "suggestion" is an idea introduced +into that part of the Subconscious Mind which governs and controls the +physical functions and activities, and which is embodied in the cells +and cell-groups of the body as we have stated in the preceding chapters. + +By many mental healers the term "Suggestion" is applied only to the +particular method of applying Suggestion employed by physicians +and others who practice under the general theories of Suggestive +Therapeutics, and the first mentioned class deny that they use +Suggestion because, as they say, they do not use the methods of the +practitioners of Suggestive Therapeutics, and make their cures by +"metaphysical" or "spiritual" means, or according to some creed or +metaphysical theory which, accepted, works the cure. We think that +the unprejudiced reader who has followed us this far will have seen +that these metaphysical theories, creeds, and special dogmas are +simply the outward mask of Suggestion. These healers simply supply a +form of Suggestion which is acceptable to the patient because of his +temperament, training, etc., and the healing process operates along the +lines of the "faith cure." + +The fact that healers of entirely opposite theories and doctrines +manage to make cures in about the same proportion and in about the same +time, would seem to prove that the theories or dogmas have but little +to do with the real work of healing. Whatever form of Suggestion is +most acceptable to the patient, will best perform the healing work +in that particular case. This will also serve to explain why some +patients failing to obtain relief from one school of mental healing +often are cured by healers of another school, and _vice versa_. Some +need Suggestion couched in the mystical terms of some of the cults; +others need it garbed in religious drapings, while others prefer some +vague metaphysical theory which seems to explain the phenomena. Others +still are repelled by any of the above forms, but respond readily to +the Suggestion of a physician administering "straight" suggestive +treatment, without any religious, metaphysical, or mystical disguise. +In all of these cases the real healing work is done by the Subconscious +Mind of the patient himself, the various forms of Suggestion serving +merely to awaken and rouse into activity the latent forces of nature. + +We invite your consideration of the following forms of "treatment" for +various disorders, as given by some of the "Divine Scientists" and +other metaphysical and semi-religious organizations and cults. As you +read them, try to discover the Suggestive germ so nicely surrounded +by the sugar-coating--the Suggestive pill so cleverly concealed by the +"metaphysical" raisin. + +From a journal published in Chicago several years ago, called +"Universal Truth," the following "treatments" were clipped: + +A correspondent who asked for a "treatment" adapted to the cure of +_nervousness_, is instructed to use the following formula, which must +be "repeated over and over": + +"_I am warmed and fed and clothed and healed by Divine Love._" + +Another correspondent is given the following formula for the cure of +sore feet, the affirmation to be made frequently: + +"_I so thoroughly understand the divine working of the Truth, and I so +thoroughly realize the presence of the Father in me and about me that I +am now conscious that omnipotent Love rules in every atom of my being, +soul and body. My feet can never be weary nor sore. God created my feet +perfect. I walk the pathway of life in perfect ease and comfort. All +the obstacles in my path have vanished, and my feet are bathed in a +sea of pure love. Through a knowledge and realization of the presence +of Omnipotence, I praise and thank God for the perfect spirit of peace +that now dwells within me._" + +The following additional "treatment" is suggested to this sufferer from +_sore feet_: + +"_Mentally place yourself in an attitude to realize the power of the +words you utter, for the fullness of peace and harmony in your feet +comes with realization. The more frequently this spiritual medicine is +used, the sooner comes manifestation of perfect health._" + +The same journal contained the following item: + +"The following invigorating affirmations are used at the Exodus Club, +Chicago, Sunday mornings, the congregation repeating them after the +leader: _'With reverent recognition of my birthright, I claim my +sonship with the Almighty. I am free from disease and disorder. I am in +harmony with my source. The Infinite Health is made manifest in me. The +Infinite Substance is my constant supply. The Infinite Life fills and +strengthens me. The Infinite Intelligence illumines and directs me. The +Infinite Love surrounds and protects me. The Infinite Power upholds and +supports me. I am out of bondage. I have the freedom of the sons of +God. With all that is in me I rejoice and give thanks. God and man are +the all in all, now and forever more._'" + +The same journal recommends the following affirmations for general +health treatment: + +"Monday--_Perfect health is my external birthright_. + +"Tuesday--_I have health of intellect, therefore I have wise judgment +and clear understanding_. + +"Wednesday--_I am morally healthful, therefore in all my dealings I love +to realize that I am quickened by the spirit of integrity_. + +"Thursday--_Healthfulness of soul gives me a pure heart and +righteousness of motive in everything I do_. + +"Friday--_Meditation upon the health of my real being outpictures in +physical health and strength, in even temper, joyous spirits and in +kind words_. + +"Saturday--_My health is inexhaustible, because I keep my eye steadily +fixed upon its eternal Principle, and my mouth filled with words of its +Omnipotence_. + +"Sunday--_The Father and I are one; one in purpose, alike in Substance, +and one in manifestation_." + +In the same journal a correspondent gives the following treatment for +_rupture_: + +"_You were conceived in Divine Love. You are the expression of that +pure, perfect Love. Divine Love is a binding, cementing power. It is +the power that holds all atoms in their places. Every atom of your body +is drawn and held together in its place by this power. If any of them +get separated as by rupture or any other appearance, they may be drawn +together and cemented by the omnipotent power of Love; but the word +must be spoken. Therefore use the following: 'The omnipotent spirit +of Love in me heals this rupture and gives me peace.' Then, mentally +realize the truth of your words, for the Spirit alone can heal._" + +The following treatment for _appendicitis_ is given in the same journal: + +"_The false theories of physicians and surgeons, and the general +impressions regarding that error named Appendicitis are powerless to +produce or perpetuate such manifestation. The great law of harmony +reigns and only waits the universal acknowledgment of its supremacy to +obliterate all such falsity, thereby obliterating the manifestation. We +claim, therefore, freedom from such error for every soul. We make this +claim in the name of Jesus Christ._" + +From the same source is taken this treatment for _periodical nausea in +a child_: + +"_Dear child, every organ of your body is designed to represent the +ideal and perfect organ in your real spiritual being; and every +function of your body must respond to the word of truth which is now +sent forth to establish harmony in your consciousness. The infinite +Love that is omnipresent and all-powerful permeates and penetrates +every organ and function of your body, and corrects every tendency to +discord or disease. By that infinite Love you are now made free. You +are fearless and free. You are joyous and free. You are free from the +fear of others. You manifest health, strength and peace. Harmony reigns +in mind and body. The word of truth has made you free._" + +Also the following treatment for _constipation_: + +"_I do realize that the power of divine Love so permeates every atom of +my being that my bowels move freely and without effort. This inflowing +of divine Love removes all obstructions and I am healed. I realize joy +and eternal life so fully that the spirit of Peace is ever present with +me. I acknowledge the fullness of joy, peace and power, and have come +into a realization of my oneness with infinite Spirit; therefore I rest +in thee, O my father._" + +Another journal of "Divine Science" gave the following "Health Thought" +to be held during the month: + +"_All the natural channels of my body are open and free. The substance +of my body is good._" + +Also the following treatment for _general health_: + +"_What is true of God is true of man. God is the One All, and is always +in a state of wholeness. I, the man of God, am always whole, like unto +the One All. No false belief environs or limits me. No shadow darkens +my mental vision. My body is a heavenly body, and my eyes do behold the +glory of God in all visible things. I am well, and provided for, thank +God, and nothing can make me think otherwise._" + +While to the orthodox practitioner of medicine the above affirmation +and "treatments" may seem to be nothing but a ridiculous conglomeration +of mystical, religious and metaphysical terms, without sequence, +logical relation, or common-sense, _it is true that statements and +treatments similar to the above have successfully healed many cases of +physical ailments_. There are thousands of people who will testify that +they were healed in a similar manner, and the majority of them believed +that there was some particular and peculiar virtue in the formula used, +or in the theories and beliefs upon which the formula was based. But +the unprejudiced student of Suggestion will readily see that the real +healing force was with the mind and being of the patients themselves, +and that the _faith, belief and expectant attention_ was aroused by the +formula and the theories. The principle is that of all Faith Cures--the +principle of Suggestion. + +Other schools of metaphysical or religious healers treat the patient +by impressing upon his mind the fact that God being perfect, good +and loving could not be guilty of creating evil, pain or disease, +and that such things are non-existent in the "Divine Mind," and are +merely illusion, errors, or false claims of the "mortal mind," or +"carnal mind" of the patient; therefore, if the patient will deny their +reality, and will admit as existent only such things as are held in +the Divine Mind, _i. e._, the _good_ things, then the evil things, +being merely illusions and untruths, must of necessity fade away and +disappear and perfect health will result. Others treat their patients +by impressing upon their minds the idea that sickness and disease is +either the world or "the devil," or of the "principle of evil," the +latter being described as "the negation of truth," and similar terms; +and that therefore fixing the mind and faith upon the "principle of +Good," or God, must result in driving away the evil conditions. +Others hold that disembodied spirits are aiding in the cure. There are +thousands of variations rung on the chimes of metaphysical or religious +suggestions in the cults. _And they all make some cures_, remember--_in +spite of their theories_ rather than because of them. + +The Mental Scientists come nearest to the ideas of the New Psychology, +when they teach that "As a man thinketh, so is he," and that the +mind of man creates physical conditions, good and evil, and that the +constant holding of the ideal of perfect health and the assertion +thereof, will restore normal healthy conditions to the person suffering +from physical ailments. Mental Science is very near to being "straight +suggestion" so far as the actual method of treatment is concerned, +although it resembles some of the other cults when it begins to +speculate or dogmatize regarding the nature of the universe, etc. + +Differing from these metaphysical, mystical, or religious schools of +healing in theory, although employing the same principle, we find the +school of Suggestive Therapeutics, proper, favored by many of the +regular physicians and by a number of other healers who base their +treatment upon the idea of "straight suggestion" coupled with hygienic +truth and rational physiological facts. Perhaps a better idea of the +theories and ideas of this school may be obtained by referring to the +actual treatments given by some of their leading practitioners. + +Herbert A. Parkyn, M. D., an eminent practitioner of Suggestive +Therapeutics, gives the following instruction to his pupils: "Students +often ask for information as to what they should say to a patient when +thorough relaxation is realized. As no two cases are exactly alike, it +follows that the suggestions given must necessarily fit the case, and +be given with a view to bring about the mental and physical condition +desired. For instance, in treating a patient who is afflicted with +insomnia, suggestions of sleep should be persistently given; and in +cases of malnutrition suggestions of hunger should be made to stimulate +the appetite for food. The operator should bear in mind that _the +reiteration of the suggestion that will change the condition existing, +to that desired, is always the right one_, and his own intelligence +will be the best guarantee as to what the suggestion should be.... +Always arouse the expectant attention of a patient.... So logical a +line of argument can be made that each patient will have a reason for +expecting certain conditions to be brought about. _With the patient's +attention on the desired results, they generally come to pass._ It is +better not to give negative suggestions, such as, 'You will not, or +cannot do this, that or the other thing,' etc. Pointing out what is not +desirable does not suffice. In place of such suggestions, tell what you +really wish your patients to do. For example, if a man should mount his +bicycle incorrectly, he would profit nothing if we should merely tell +him that the way he mounted was not the proper one. How much easier +it would be for all concerned if the proper manner of mounting should +be shown at once. Just so it is with therapeutic suggestions, _keep +suggesting the conditions of mind or body you wish to bring about_." + +The following treatment given as an example by F. W. Southworth, M. D., +in his little book on "True Metaphysical Science, and its Practical +Application through the Law of Suggestion," furnishes an excellent +illustration of the form of suggestive treatment favored by this +particular school. The patient is addressed as follows: + +"As thoughts are not only things, but forces and act upon our mental +and physical life for good or ill, we must be careful to always keep +ourselves in that condition of thought which builds up and strengthens, +to constantly think thoughts of _health_, of _happiness_, of _good_, +to be _cheerful_, hopeful, confident and fearless. (Repeat five or +six times.) In order to sustain this condition of positive thinking +it requires the development of the will power. The will is the motive +power and the controlling force in all aspects of our life, but we +develop it especially for the concentration and control of thought. +This is the higher self--the infinite will. Exercise it with vigor and +earnest persistency, and learn to _rely_ upon it. Assert its power as +you assert the power of the muscles in exercise and it will manifest +itself and the thought will be positive, the secretions of the body +will be normal, and the circulation of the blood in the head will be +kept at that proper equilibrium which insures the constant nutrition of +the cells of the brain and their constant vigor and strength of control +of all the organs and tissues of the body, and this vast and intricate +machinery of the body will work harmoniously for the production of +nutrition through elaboration of the food elements. + +"As our body is constantly changing and wasting, we must rebuild and +restore it constantly, and we do so from the air we breathe, the water +we drink, and the food we eat. The most important of these is the air +you breathe, as it is not only a food in itself to the tissues, but +it vitalizes the food you eat and the water you drink. Give it that +quality of your thought and breathe it as you have been directed at +least six times per day for a period of from five to ten minutes each +time. Recognize it as both a food and an eliminator of poisons, as it +is, and breathe, breathe, breathe, by Nature's method, and the lungs +will distribute the oxygen to the blood, and the blood being the common +carrier of the body will take it to all parts of the body and on its +return will gather up all the waste and poisonous matters and will +bring them to the lungs, where, meeting the fresh oxygen, they will be +burned up and exhaled as carbonic acid gas, leaving the body pure and +clean. + +"The water you drink, in the proportion of three and one-half pints +each day, is necessary in all adult bodies to insure perfect secretion +and excretion. As the result of this required liquid being provided +in normal quantity, the secreting glands will manufacture the proper +amount of juices needed in digestion, absorption and assimilation of +your food, and the excreting glands, those which bring about excretion +or the removal of waste matters from the body--the liver giving you the +bile, which produces a daily movement of the bowels--the kidneys and +bladder removing the chemical deposits which come about through the +processes of digestion, and the skin excreting a large amount of waste +matter from its twelve square feet of surface, which you remove with a +towel each morning after moistening it with cold water. By following +these laws of Nature you will have a good appetite and digestion, a +daily movement of the bowels, refreshing sleep, and, as your nutrition +is restored from day to day, a feeling of satisfaction and happiness +will be the result. Be earnest and persistent and do everything +cheerfully, with a firm determination of doing your part to restore +nutrition. + +"When you breathe, give it the quality of your thought; it is for the +purpose of getting food, life; feeding from the air and eliminating +poisons from your body. (Repeat five and six times.) When you sip the +water, think each time that it is to produce perfect secretion and +excretion--to give you a good appetite, digestion, refreshing sleep and +a free movement of the bowels each morning. (Repeat five or six times.) +Each day look forward to the morrow for progress and advancement. Think +health--talk it and nothing else. Do not talk with anyone about disease +or allow any person to talk to you on such subjects. _Be cheerful_, +_hopeful_, _confident_ and fearless always, and you will be happy and +healthy. Eat, drink, breathe and be merry." + +It will be noticed that in the above described treatment, the +suggestions are made along physiological and hygienic lines. That +is, the suggestions indicate the physiological processes which are +performed normally in the healthy person, the idea being to set up an +ideal pattern for the Subconscious Mind to follow. In all scientific +suggestive treatment the idea is always to paint a mental picture +of the _desired conditions_ rather than to dwell upon the existing +undesirable conditions. The _ideal_ is always held up to view, and the +patient's mind is led to _realize_ the ideal--to make the ideal real--to +manifest the thought in action--to materialize the mental picture. + +The general principles of Suggestive Therapeutics may be applied +effectively by means of Auto-Suggestion. In fact, the "affirmations," +"statements" and "assertions" used by many of the New Thought schools +are but forms of Auto-Suggestion. There is no essential difference +between the Suggestion given by others, and the Auto-Suggestion given +by one's self to one's self. The healing power is in the mind of the +patient, and whether it is called forth by his own Auto-Suggestion +or the Suggestion of a healer matters not. The Auto-Suggestion is +merely a case of self-healing by Suggestion, and is administered upon +the principle of "every man his own suggestionist"--"sez I to meself, +sez I." Auto-Suggestions are usually given to one's self in the form +of "affirmations," as, "I am improving; my stomach is doing its work +well, digesting what is given it, and the nourishment is assimilated, +etc." In other works by the writer hereof, the method of addressing +one's self as one would another is recommended as particularly +efficacious. That is to say, instead of saying, "_I_ am, etc.," in +Auto-Suggestion, it is better to address one's self in the second +person, as "_John Smith_ (naming yourself), _you_ are, etc." In short, +the Auto-Suggestion seems to have additional force imparted to it by +being directed as if it were being given to another person. + +The following thought of Dr. Schofield is worthy of careful +consideration in connection with the methods of applying Suggestion. +He says, referring to the treatment of hysterical disorders and +ailments: "We must, however, remember one great point with regard to +suggestion--that it is like nitrogen. Nitrogen is the essential element +in all animal life; it forms four-fifths of the air we breathe, and +yet, curious to say, we have no power to use it in a pure state. We +can only take it unconsciously, when combined with other substances +in the form of proteid food. It is the same with suggestions. Not one +hysterical sufferer in a hundred can receive and profit by them in a +raw state--that is, consciously; they must generally be presented, as +we have said, indirectly to the subconscious mind by the treatment +and environment of the patient. An electric shock often cures slight +hysterical diseases instantaneously, acting, as it often does, on the +unconscious mind through the conscious. No doubt it would be easier if +we could say to these sufferers, 'The disease is caused by suggestions +from ideal centers, and to cure it, all you have to do is to believe +you are well.' Still, it would be as impossible for us to take our +nitrogen pure from the air, the mind cannot as a rule be thus acted +on directly when the brain is unhealthy. Suggestion must be wrapped +in objective treatment, directed ostensibly and vigorously to the +simulated disease." + +Not only is the above true regarding the treatment of hysterical +disorders, but to _all_ disorders as well. The methods which will bring +about the best results must be carefully modeled upon the patient's +particular temperament, education, prejudices for and against, and +general belief. The skilled suggestionist adapts his treatment and +methods to each individual case coming to him for treatment. Whatever +method will best arouse the patient's belief, faith and expectant +attention is the best method for administering the suggestions. The +successful suggestionist must be "all things to all men," never, +however, losing sight of the fundamental principle of Suggestion--the +arousing of faith, belief, and expectant attention. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE REACTION OF THE PHYSICAL + + +As we have stated in our Foreword, there is a constant action and +reaction between the Mental States and the Physical Conditions. In this +book, from the nature of our subject, we have started with the phase +of the Mental State and worked from that point to the consideration of +the Physical Condition. In the same way, many physiologists start from +the phase of the Physical Condition, and work up to the Mental State. +But, starting from either phase, the candid investigator must admit +that there is an endless chain of action and reaction between Mind and +Body--between Body and Mind. + +This action and reaction works along the lines of building-up as +well as tearing-down. For instance, if a person's Mental States are +positive, optimistic, cheerful and uplifting, the body will respond and +the Physical Conditions will improve. The Physical Conditions, thus +improving, will react upon the Mental States giving them a clearness +and strength greater than previously manifested. The improved Mental +State again acts upon the Physical Conditions, improving the latter +still further. And so on, an endless chain of cause and effect, each +effect becoming a cause for a subsequent effect, and each cause arising +from a preceding effect. Likewise, a depressed, harmful Mental State +will act upon the Physical Conditions, which in turn will react upon +the Mental States, and so on, in an endless chain of destructive +cause and effect. It is a striking illustration of the old Biblical +statement: "To him who hath shall be given; to him who hath not shall +be taken away even that which he hath." In improving either the Mental +State or the Physical Condition, one gives an uplift to the whole +process of action and reaction; while, whatever adversely affects +either Mental State or Physical Condition, starts into operation a +depressing and destructive process of action and reaction. The ideal +to be aimed at is, of course, "A healthy Mind in a healthy Body"--and +the two are so closely related that what affects one, favorably or +unfavorably, is sure to react upon the other. + +Just as the influence of the Mental States over the Physical Conditions +has been shown to operate by means of the Sympathetic Nervous System +(controlled of course by the Subconscious Mind), so the influence +of Physical Conditions over Mental States may be explained in +physiological terms. In order to understand the reaction of the Body +upon the Mind, we have but to recall the fact that the Subconscious +Mind is the builder and preserver of the very brain-cells which are +used by the Conscious Mind in manifesting thought. And also, that the +entire Nervous System, both Cerebro-Spinal as well as Sympathetic, is +really under the control of the Subconscious Mind so far as growth +and nourishment is concerned. The very brain and nerve-centers in and +through which is manifested thought, feeling, emotion, and will, are +nourished by the Sympathetic System, and are hurt by anything affecting +the latter. The Sympathetic System joins all parts of the organism +so closely together that trouble in one part is reflected in other +parts. Just as depressing thoughts will cause the organs to function +improperly, so will the improper functioning of an organ tend to +produce depressing thoughts. + +Herbert A. Parkyn, M. D., well states the action and reaction of Mind +and Body, as follows: "A tree is much like a human being. Give it +plenty of fresh air, water and a rich soil, and it will flourish. In +the same degree in which it is deprived of these does it wilt, and _the +first part of the tree to wilt when the nutrition becomes imperfect +is the top_. This is owing to the force of gravity; the blood of the +tree, the sap, having to overcome this force of nature when nourishing +the highest leaves. The blood of man is also affected by this same +force, and the moment a man's circulation begins to run down, owing to +stinted nutrition, we find that the first symptoms of trouble appear +in the head.... The brain failing to receive its accustomed amount of +blood, such troubles as impaired memory, inability to concentrate the +attention, sleeplessness, nervousness, irritableness, the blues and +slight headaches develop; and the impulses sent all over the body +becoming feebler, the various organs do not perform their functions +as satisfactorily as usual. The impulses to the stomach and bowels +becoming weaker and weaker, dyspepsia, or constipation, or both, soon +follow. As soon as these, the main organs of nutrition, are out of +order, nutrition fails rapidly and more 'head symptoms' develop. Every +impulse of the muscular system leaves the brain, and the strength +of these impulses depends upon the nutrition to the brain centers +controlling the various groups. As the nutrition to these centers +declines, the whole muscular system, including the muscles of the +bowels, becomes weaker and the patient complains that he exhausts +easily. The impulses for elimination becoming weaker, waste products +remain in the circulation, and any of the evils, which naturally follow +this state of affairs, such as rheumatism, sick-headache, biliousness, +etc., are likely to develop. The centers of the special senses feeling +the lessening of the vital fluid, such troubles as impaired vision, +impaired hearing, loss of appetite (sense of taste) and inability to +detect odors quickly soon follow. The sense of touch becomes more +acute, and it is for this reason that one in poor health becomes +hypersensitive. Lowered circulation in the mucous membrane of the +throat and nose is often the cause of nasal catarrh appearing on the +scene as an early symptom." + +It will thus be seen that the Physical Conditions, perhaps originally +caused by depressing Mental States, have brought about a state +of affairs in which the brain is imperfectly nourished and which +consequently cannot think properly. The liver being out of order, the +spirits are depressed; the brain being imperfectly nourished, the +attention and will are weakened, and the patient finds it hard to use +his mind to influence his bodily conditions. The bowels not moving +properly, the waste-products poison the circulation, and the brain is +unable to think clearly. In fact, the whole physical system is often so +disturbed that a condition known as "nervous prostration" sets in, in +which it is practically impossible for the patient to hold the Mental +States which will improve the Physical Conditions. In these cases +outside help is generally necessary, unless in cases where a sudden +shock, or an urgent necessity arouses the latent mental forces of the +individual, and he asserts the power that is in him, and begins to +reverse the chain of cause and effect and to start on the upward climb. + +The following additional quotation from Dr. Parkyn, gives us a vivid +insight into the effect upon the Mental States of abnormal Physical +Conditions: Dr. Parkyn says: "No organ of the body can perform +its functions properly when the amount of blood supplied to it is +insufficient, and we find, when the blood supply to the brain is not +up to the normal standard, that brain functions are interfered with +to a degree corresponding to the reduction in the circulation. Since +the amount of blood normally supplied to the brain is lessened in +nervous prostration, we find that the memory fails and the ability +to concentrate the attention disappears. The reasoning power becomes +weakened and the steadiest mind commences to vacillate. Fears and +hallucinations of every description may fill the mind of a patient +at this stage, and every impression he receives is likely to be +greatly distorted or misconstrued. Melancholia with a constant fear of +impending danger is often present. In fact, the brain seems to lose +even the power to control its functions, and the mind becomes active +day and night.... The reduction of the nutrition to the brain lessens +the activity of all the cerebral centers also, and digestion becomes +markedly impaired, thereby weakening the organ itself upon which the +supply of vital force depends." + +The physiologist is able to furnish a great variety of illustrations +of the effect of Physical Conditions over Mental States. He shows +that many cases of mental trouble are due to eye-strain, and other +muscular disturbances, and that serious mental complaints sometimes +arise by reason of physical lesions. The very terms used to designate +certain abnormal mental states show the relation, as for instance, +_melancholia_ which is derived from the Greek words meaning "black +bile"; and _hysteria_, which is derived from the Greek word meaning +"the womb; or uterus." Every one knows the Mental States produced by +a sluggish liver, or by dyspepsia, or from constipation. We all know +the difference between our mental capacity for thinking when we are +tired, as contrasted with that accompanying the refreshed physical +condition. No man, whatever his philosophy, can truthfully claim to be +able to maintain a placid, even disposition, and a perfectly controlled +temper, when he is suffering from a boil on the back of his neck. And, +all know that after indulging in the midnight "Welsh rarebit," one is +apt to dream of his grandmother's ghost, or see dream elephants with +wings. All know the delirium produced by overindulgence in liquor, and +the hallucinations that accompany fever. The effect of drugs, tobacco, +and alcohol upon the Mental States are well known. "Philip drunk" is +a very different mentality from "Philip sober." The Mental States +accompanying particular diseases are well known to physicians. One +disease predisposes the sufferer to gloominess, while another will +induce a state of feverish hilarity. Some leading authorities now hold +that many cases of insanity are really due to abnormal conditions of +the blood, rather than to any diseased condition of the brain. + +One of the most marked instances of the action and reaction of Mental +States and Physical Conditions is met with in the activities of +the sexual organism. Psychologists very properly hold that sexual +excesses and abnormalities are largely due to improper thinking, that +is, by allowing the attention and interest to dwell too strongly and +continuously upon subjects connected with the activities of that part +of the physical system. Mental treatment along the lines of Suggestive +Therapeutics has resulted in curing many persons of troubles of this +sort. But, note the correlated fact--excess and abnormalities of the +kind mentioned, almost invariably react upon the mentality of the +person indulging in them, and softening of the brain, paralysis, or +imbecility have often arisen directly from these physical abuses. It +will be seen that any sane treatment of these troubles must take into +consideration both Body and Mind. In the same way it is a fact that +just as certain Mental States, notably those of fear, worry, grief, +jealousy, etc., will injuriously affect the organs of digestion and +assimilation, so will imperfect functioning of these organs tend to +produce depressing mental states similar to those just mentioned. Many +instances of the strange correspondences are met with in the study of +physiological-psychology, or psychological-physiology. + +In order to more fully appreciate the relation between the Body and the +Mind, let us read the following lines from Prof. Halleck: "Marvelous +as are the mind's achievements, we must note that it is as completely +dependent upon the nervous system as is a plant upon sun, rain and +air. Suppose a child of intelligent parents were ushered into the +world without a nerve leading from his otherwise perfect brain to any +portion of his body, with no optic nerve to transmit the glorious +sensations from the eye, no auditory nerve to conduct the vibrations of +the mother's voice, no tactile nerves to convey the touch of a hand, +no olfactory nerve to rouse the brain with the delicate aroma from +the orchards and the wild flowers in spring, no gustatory, thermal or +muscular nerves. Could such a child live, as the years rolled on, the +books of Shakespeare and of Milton would be opened in vain before the +child's eyes. The wisest men might talk to him with utmost eloquence, +all to no purpose. Nature could not whisper one of her inspiring truths +into his deaf ear, could not light up that dark mind with a picture +of the rainbow or of a human face. No matter how perfect might be the +child's brain and his inherited capacity for mental activities, his +faculties would remain for this life shrouded in Egyptian darkness. +Perception could give memory nothing to retain, and thought could not +weave her matchless fabrics without materials." + +The very feelings or emotions themselves are so closely related +to the accompanying physical expressions, that it is difficult to +distinguish between cause and effect, or indeed to state positively +which really is the cause of the other. Prof. William James, in some +of his works, strongly indicates this close relation, as for instance +when he says: "The feeling, in the coarser emotions, result from the +bodily expression.... My theory is that the bodily changes follow +directly the perception of the exciting fact, and that our feeling +of the same changes as they occur _is_ the emotion.... Particular +perceptions certainly do produce widespread bodily effects by a +sort of immediate physical influence, antecedent to the arousal of +an emotion or emotional idea.... Every one of the bodily changes, +whatsoever it may be, is _felt_, acutely or obscurely, the moment it +occurs.... If we fancy some strong emotion, and then try to abstract +from our consciousness of it all the feelings of its bodily symptoms, +we have nothing left behind.... A disembodied human emotion is a sheer +nonentity. I do not say that it is a contradiction in the nature +of things, or that pure spirits are necessarily condemned to cold +intellectual lives; but I say that for _us_ emotion disassociated from +all bodily feelings is inconceivable. The more closely I scrutinize my +states, the more persuaded I become that whatever 'coarse' affections +and passions I have are in very truth constituted by, and made up of, +those bodily changes which we ordinarily call their expression or +consequence.... But our emotions must always be _inwardly_ what they +are, whatever may be the physiological ground of their apparition. +If they are deep, pure, worthy, spiritual facts on any conceivable +theory of their physiological source, they remain no less deep, more +spiritual, and worthy of regard on this present sensational theory." + +A deeper consideration of the relation between Mind and Body would +necessitate our invading the field of metaphysical speculation, which +we have expressed our intention to avoid doing. Enough for the purposes +of our present consideration is: _the recognition that each individual +is possessed of a mind and a material body; that these two phases or +aspects of himself are closely related by an infinite variety of ties +and filaments; that these two phases of his being act and react upon +each other constantly and continuously; that in all considerations of +the question of either mental or physical well-being, or both, that +both of these phases of being must be considered; that any system of +therapeutics which ignores either of these phases, is necessarily +"one-sided" and incomplete; and that, while, for convenience and +clearness of specialized thinking, we may consider the Mind and the +Body as separate and independent of each other, yet, we must, in the +end, recognize their interdependence, mutual relation, action and +reaction._ + +Thus, the New Psychology recognizes the importance of the Body, while +the New Physiology recognizes the importance of the Mind. And, in the +end, we feel that both physiology and psychology must be recognized as +being but two different phases of one great science--the Science of Life. + + + + + * * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's note: + +There are two occurrences of an unmatched double quotation mark. It was +unclear where the missing opening or closing quotation mark belonged, +and no attempt was made to insert one. + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44029 *** |