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tual disease. Many of the symptoms occurring in chronic ill health relate 
to disturbances in mental functioning, and hence must be given consid- 
erable attention. 
If a physician desires to study normal individuals, that is, those who 
are neither sick nor diseased, he must go after his material. And here 
I might say that some, knowing my profession, have accused me of “talk- 
ing shop.” It is of course only those in search of a physician’s services 
who come to him—and this paper may therefore be regarded as that of 
au seeker after knowledge, that is, a plea for more data from these in 
health. I hope that when it appears in the published proceedings some 
at least will take sufficient interest in the matter to give me their experi- 
ences and observations. 
In regard to what I say here, it should be understood that this is 
simply a short abstract of a longer abstract. If I were to bring together 
all my data, and especially my case reports, they would make a large 
volume. 
CLASSIFICATION OF Dara. For the purpose of classification as well as 
for convenience of study, I have divided my notes under several general 
subheads, as follows: 
1. Simple observations on thought or mental stimulation before my 
days of medical schooling. such as any one not paying special attention 
to the subject might make. 
2. Barly days of medical practice. These notes are also rather simple, 
for it should be understosd that in times past a medical student’s atten- 
tion was not called to the subject of mental influences. 
3. Notes gathered while working among the insane. 
4. Travel notes while in Eurcpe, among them many relating to the 
environment of noted men and women, particularly of writers. 
5. Notes, covering the last ten years, based on a systematic study 
of people in ill health, as distinguished from those afflicted with well- 
defined diseases. The bulk of my notes relate to this class of individuals. 
6. Notes obtained from individuals who may be regarded as healthy, 
that is, not complaining of symptoms of ill health. 
7. References to the literature, a comparatively small amount of 
data, chiefly incidental references found in biographies. This phase of the 
subject has becn neglected, as it requires access to extensive libraries. 
