]60 A. T. SCHOFIELD, ESQ., M.D.^ ETC., ON 



Tnind — is a special factor for good or evil in every disease. 

 Every organ and function is represented there, and there 

 brought into vital unity. Prof. Laycock says, " The hemi- 

 spheres, as the organ of thought and mental action proper, are 

 in unity with all the processes of life whatever ; whether they 

 be termed vegetative or animal."* Indeed, the unity of the 

 body and to a great extent of the "ego" is formed in the 

 •cortex. All tissue nutrition is influenced from this great 

 centre, and most physiological acts can be arrested mentally 

 by its action. It controls unconsciously anabolic and katabolic 

 cell action; and there is no doubt that a sound, cheerful 

 mind, acting through it, is a great protector against disease of 

 all sorts, and if disease has a hold a cheerful mind can often 

 cure it. 



Mental therapeutics can be applied to the body in one of 

 three ways : — 



1. By the unconscions mind directly — in spiritual or physical 



influences and surroundings. 



2. By the unconscious mind acted on by the conscious indirectly 



— in rousing faith in persons, remedies or places, &c. 



3. By the unconscious mind acted on by tlie conscious by direct 



efort — in determination to get well, to shake off 

 illness, ignore pain, &c. 



With regard to the ailments for which mental therapeutics 

 is useful, it is a powerful means of cure in all organic and 

 inorganic diseases ; while in hysteria and allied neuroses it is 

 the only reliable means of permanent efficacy. 



Let us, then, first consider the influence of the mind in 

 ordinary diseases. 



Putting aside all those cases which get well without any 

 means (the cure of which we maintain is solely effected by 

 the action of our sub-conscious mind), we will give just one 

 or two special illustrations of this influence. 



At the siege of Breda, in 1625, the whole garrison was down 

 with scurvy ; the Prince of Orange smuggled into the town 

 three small phials of essence of camphor, and his physician 

 put three or four drops into a gallon of water, and the men 

 recovered and saved the town. 



As to this Ave may remark that it is a matter for curious 

 conjecture as to how far generally the cures we now attri- 



Mental Physiology, vol. ii, p. 144. 



