36 MENTAL THERAPEUTICS. 



there is no such thing as disease; that the latter only exists in the 

 mind, which is the only thing that is real. The proposition that our 

 bodies are composed of matter, but that matter has no existence, is, 

 on the face of it, too absurd to admit of argument. But the fact that 

 the believers in Christian Science are numbered by the hundreds of 

 thousands, and that the cures performed by them are of daily occur- 

 rence and often almost miraculous, makes it a phenomenon worthy of 

 sludy. Here, again, it may be readily understood, if the control of the 

 subconscious mind over the bodily functions and in turn its susceptibility 

 to strong suggestions, either from another mind or from the patient's 

 own conscious mind, is admitted. The very attitude of mind and the 

 oft-repeated statement of the unreality of matter, and the utter im- 

 possibility of disease, produce exactly the conditions necessary for the 

 influence of suggestion. A sort of self-hypnosis is produced with the 

 same effect frequently, as in hypnosis induced by the hypnotizer. The 

 truth underlying all these phenomena is of the highest importance to 

 the entire human family, and when once universally studied, under- 

 stood and practiced, will make the doctors' business a meager one. 



The Natural Mind. The very diligent study in the past few 

 years by our most able thinkers and experimenters, has proved beyond 

 reasonable doubt the intimate relation between the natural mind and 

 the functions of the body. 



We say the natural mind to distinguish between the inborn capacity 

 and the conscious mind which is made what it is by education and out- 

 side influences. The natural mind is the one that rises to action during 

 our most quiet moments, during delirium and during sleep. It is what 

 enables the sleep-walker to do things he could not do when awake. 



Science Christian or otherwise attempts to make it possible for 

 us to give ourselves up to the control of this natural or often called 

 " subjective " mind. Everyone who has had dealings with the insane 

 has noticed how, for instance, the dyspepsia from which they suffered 

 before they went " out of their mind," as we say, suddenly disappears. 

 The insane invalid will eat a hearty meal with impunity which would 

 have thrown him into convulsions had he eaten it before he " went 

 out of his mind." Why? Science says the natural mind now con- 

 trols the functions of the body and orders the stomach to regain its 

 tone through its power over the nervous system. Similarly with other 

 ailments which are due to a wrong adjustments of the various parts of 

 our delicate organism. 



The Electric Circle. Wonders can be accomplished if from 

 six to twelve people will sit in a circle holding one another's hands and 

 keeping perfectly still for from twenty to sixty minutes and all con- 

 stantly thinking about some one definite thing agreed upon before- 

 hand. If that definite thing is the recovery of one of the number 

 from a severe headache they will nearly always succeed. Always, in 

 fact, unless the headache is caused by a too full stomach which has 

 fermented or soured its contents and wants to throw it out. If it is 

 the recovery of a friend from fever it often has a truly marvelous ef 



