166 A. T. SCHOFIELD, ESQ., M.D., ETC., ON 



often iu the end aggravates tlie condition wliich it is meant 

 to relieve ; for suggestions are thoroughly effectual without 

 it, if you have confidence and have gained the respect and 

 trust of your patient. 



The cure of warts by faith is well known, and in 

 spite of the imposture that has lately been exposed at 

 Lourdes, there is great difficulty in believing that the cures 

 effected there and elsewhere are limited to what we call 

 functional diseases. It is perhaps the connection of mental 

 therapeutics directly with faith healing, hypnotism. &g. ; 

 and indirectly with certain liquid electricities, billionth 

 dilutions, and quack remedies of all sorts, that has so 

 far deterred the profession from examining very closely its 

 wonderful poAvers. 



This disgust is natural if we consider, for instance, one or 

 two sentences from a recent work on mind healing : — 



" If the ilisease is consumption, begin your ar<jument by taking up 

 the leading point; showing that it is not inherited; and that in- 

 tlamniation, tubercles, hemorrhage are but thoughts, beliefs, 

 and mental images before mortal minds, not the immortal mind." 



And again: — 



" Ossification, or any abnormal condition of the bones, is the action of 



the mind as directly as insanity. Bones have no more substance 



than thoughts ; irhat loe call matter was primitively error in 



solution." 



Small wonder, in the face of such remarkable statements, 



if one is tempted to turn away from the whole subject of 



ipental therapeutics. 



The relations of the mind consciously or unconsciously 

 with the body are, however, far too interesting, and the 

 issues of such study in its application to disease far too 

 important to be neglected on account of any misuse of these 

 powers by quacks and others. The subject is ripe for further 

 investigation, which can be carried on quite apart from 

 hypnotism, mesmerism, and kindred methods ; and we have 

 little doubt that, on the one hand, ere long the vast range of 

 mental action in connection with the body Avill be recognized 

 and scientifically classified; while, on the other, mental thera- 

 peutics will be rescued from the cold neglect Avith which it 

 has so long been treated by the profession, and take its 

 j)roper and important place m clinical teaching and in our 

 medical works, from both of Avhich it is, as yet, conspicuously 

 absent. ]\Iy few words may at any rate serve to call 

 some attention to these important subjects. 



