Trans. N. V. Ac. Sn. (jf) /an. 22, 



a personal, private, authoritative message, which he is accustomed to 

 have immediately obeyed. Posszint quia posse vidcfitnr. Hardly 

 anything is more contagious than confidence. Nothing is more master- 

 ful in power. 



DISCUSSION. 



Dr. W. C. Jarvis presented a patient from whose nasal fossa he 

 had cut diseased turbinated tissue, while made to sleep by Prof. 

 Thwing. There was in the second operation no wincing and nO' 

 memory of pain. Respiration through the right nostril had thus 

 been resumed after a year's closure. Another patient, so terrified 

 on a previous occasion as to require three attendants to hold her, 

 was enabled by the trance treatment to submit to the nmioval of 

 a tumor behind the palate, near the base of the brain, remaining, 

 in a state of complete insensibility during the operation. He re- 

 marked upon the benefit of the possession of an influence so potent 

 in preventing pain, especially in nervous cases, which are peculiarly 

 susceptible to pain. 



The Chairman remarked that these phenomena were not new 

 but had been repeated for ages. Twenty-five years ago, when he 

 was a medical student in Paris, he had seen Dr. Malgaigne, the dis- 

 tinguished surgeon, utilize this power in surgery. It could, not al- 

 ways be depended upon, as a considerable number, perhaps the 

 majority of cases would resist the influence, and with them the 

 power is useless. There was no propriety or poUcy in denouncmg 

 it as a humbug, though unnecessary to clothe it with any wonder 

 or mystery. It was a beneficial, wholesome influence, worthy all 

 the attention being paid to it. It had been taken out of the hands 

 of charlatanism and was now being properly studied and util- 

 ized. 



A paper was then read by Dr. John S. Newberry, illustrated 

 by a collection of plants and by lantern views, entitled : 



notes on the botany, geology and resources of southern 

 texas and chihuahua. 



(Published beyond, under report of meeting of Feb. 12). 



