386 HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY 



Mental States. At the present time much is said of 

 the importance of mental states for the maintenance 

 of health and for its restoration when it has been lost. 

 Do we deny the force of this claim when we take a 

 mechanistic position? We deny certain sweeping as- 

 sertions but we continue to assent to a moderate applica- 

 tion of the teaching. There is a clear correlation between 

 mental serenity and the harmony of physiologic activities. 

 There is room for argument as to which is primary and 

 which secondary in a given case. Most men take it for 

 granted that the mind reflects the condition of the 

 body, and the body the mental content. It is prudent to 

 avoid the metaphysical discussion and lay stress only 

 upon the parallel between the two. 



If we can lead a man who is obviously ill and depressed 

 into a confident and benevolent frame of mind it is likely 

 enough that many of his symptoms may be relieved. 

 The turning point may be passed and his recovery 

 go forward from that hour. Since this practical possi- 

 bility exists it is not important to decide whether the 

 mental state is causative or whether it is symptomatic. 

 It is held by some to occasion the desired adjustment of 

 the nervous system and by others merely to attend it. 

 Whichever it is it gives us something to work for in con- 

 tending against illness in ourselves or others. It need 

 not lessen our respect for material measures of treatment. 



A word should be said here about the various schools of 

 therapeutics which exist side by side and seem to minister 

 with such success to human infirmity. It may be 

 affirmed that each system succeeds, so far as it is found 

 to do so, by reason of the merit that is in it. This is 

 equally true whether the practice is mental, mechanical, 

 or pharmacological. Each is wrong in denying virtue 

 to its competitors. The regular practitioner stands 

 superior to all who have allied themselves to peculiar 

 and exclusive systems, recognizing well the elements of 

 good in each though regretting the bigotry which their 

 exponents display. He is constantly blamed for with- 



