Human Physiology. 381 



natural healer becomes a physician, his presence alone, without 

 atom or drop of medicine, brings comfort, hope, faith, and the 

 moral conditions of cure and the most powerful stimulants of 

 vital action. Men of strong vitality impart life. When such 

 men have great power of will, joined to a sympathetic nature 

 and a desire to do good, they can work seeming miracles of 

 healing. The power of what is called mesmerism, or animal 

 magnetism, in the cure of disease has been demonstrated in 

 multitudes of cases in private, and in the London Mesmeric 

 Infirmary, founded by the late Dr Elliotson, under the presi- 

 dency of Archbishop Whateley and the late Earl of Dunraven. 



When such powers are known to exist, and are exercised, 

 consciously or unconsciously, by a great number of persons, 

 how can we know in any case how much is due to a medicine 

 or mode of treatment, and how much to the moral or magnetic 

 force that accompanies it ? Is it not probable that the success 

 of physicians depends far more upon this natural power, or gift. 

 of healing, than upon the medical theories they have adopted, 

 the systems they pursue, or the remedies they administer? It 

 will be found that popular and successful physicians of every 

 school have been strong, sympathetic men, able to help and 

 heal ; men fitted to inspire faith in themselves and their treat- 

 ment ; for exactly the same measures and medicines fail in the 

 hands of men with no true vacation for healing and unendowed 

 with such gifts. 



As women are more intuitive than men, quite as sympathetic, 

 and, in many cases, quite as magnetic to use a convenient 

 word, which expresses at least an analogy it follows that 

 women have the right to be physicians; especially if either 

 women or men desire their ministrations. In primitive societies 

 the mother is the physician as well as the nurse of her family; 

 and women who could add the skill acquired by experience to 

 the gifts of healing were for ages the only physicians. 



A wise physician will not be the slave of any system or 



