Mackechnie. — A Mifsicrin/i.s Tlicra^iciiru- Agent. 127 



obedience to the coniinands oi- suggestions of the operator — 

 they are purely automatic. 



Accepting this explanation for what it is worth, we have 

 now to consider the operator's suggestions as operating as a 

 remedial agent. It is known to us all that there is inter- 

 action of mind and body, and that certain states of the mind 

 injuriously affect the body. Grief and fear act most foreibl\ , 

 and the effect of those passions can easily be traced in our 

 appeai'ance. In like manner the mind is affected by the un- 

 healthy state of some bodily organs, and those afflicted become 

 sad, depressed, or irritable, as the case may be. " If a morbid 

 direction of the imagination can cause disease, the reverse 

 may aid in curing it." Now, suggestions are said to be effectual 

 in diseases of slow development, such as affections of the brain, 

 of the nerves, of the digestive system, and especially in rJieuma- 

 tism, paralysis, or hysteria, but to have no effect in recon- 

 structing what disease has destroyed, or in staying the course 

 of acute maladies. Have the suggestions any therapeutic value 

 whatever ? I can only say cures by this means, though 

 singular, seem to be well authenticated, but no exact scientific 

 explanation of the phenomenon can be obtained. How oi' 

 why a patient is influenced to his cure is as yet a mystery. 



The researches into the nervous system of our bodies, 

 particularly the nerve-element which constitutes the brain, 

 presents to some minds the greatest of all possible attractions. 

 The chief aim of those who pursue them is to gain a more 

 intimate knowledge than we have at present of that wonderful 

 and complicated sti'ucture. The study engrosses their every 

 faculty. With all the ardour and sustained hope of those who 

 in former days sought to discover the philosopher's stone, they 

 strive to fathom not only the secrets of life, l)nt the nature of 

 life itself. They toil 



To win 

 Something to satisfy the thirst within — 

 To know something here ! 



For it is felt that within the unexplored regions of tliat complex 

 a,nd elaborate nerve-system the great mystery of the relations 

 between mind and matter — their constant and inexplicable 

 actings and reactings upon each other — lies hid. Nerve- 

 tissue, we know, increases in complexity in ascending to more 

 iind more highly-organized types of animal life, and we can 

 well conceive, if the volume and complexity were greatly 

 increased, our mind-perception would be increased also. But 

 it would not add to the general happiness. The nerve-sensi- 

 bilities of men of genius are frequently so acute as to render 

 themselves and those around them far from happy and 

 content. The life of Irving Bishop would seem to confirm 

 tliis. He was an irritable and unpleasant person to be with, 



