LITERARY NOTICES. 



271 



namely : " That before endeavoring to explain 

 how phenomena exist it is necessary to de- 

 termine precisely what exists ; and that so 

 long as it is possible to find a rational ex- 

 planation of what unquestionably is, there is 

 no reason to suspect, and it is superstition to 

 assume, the operation of supernatural causes." 

 His course, therefore, is to ascertain the facts 

 and find a common-sense explanation for 

 them. In investigating phenomena, some of 

 which it is claimed are connected with re- 

 ligion and others with occult forces, it is 

 necessary to proceed without regard to the 

 question of religion. We look more closely 

 at the chapters on Faith-healing and Chris- 

 tian Science and the Mind Cure as re- 

 lating to the most vital subjects. In questions 

 of faith-healing allowances must be made for 

 the operation of natural causes, unobserved 

 or concealed, for the excited minds of wit- 

 nesses, and for other circumstances that 

 mask the real facts ; but, after all deduc- 

 tions have been made, the author believes 

 it must be admitted that "most extraor- 

 dinary recoveries have been produced, some 

 of them instantaneously, from diseases in 

 general considered incurable by ordinary 

 treatment, in others known to be curable in 

 the ordinary process of medicine and sur- 

 gery." The cases remaining to be accounted 

 for are those in which the effect is unques- 

 tionably produced by a natural mental cause, 

 and those in which the operation of occult 

 causes is claimed. In these cases, of both 

 classes, subjective mental states are impor- 

 tant factors. With or without belief they 

 can produce effects either of the nature of 

 disease or cure. Active incredulity is often 

 more favorable to sudden effects than mere 

 stupid, acquiescent credulity. Surprise at 

 seeing an unexpected effect may lead the 

 mind to succumb to the dominant idea. Con- 

 centrated attention, with faith, can produce 

 powerful effects ; may operate efficiently in 

 acute diseases, with instantaneous rapidity 

 upon nervous diseases, or upon any condition 

 capable of being modified by direct action 

 through the nervous or circulatory system. 

 Cures may be wrought in diseases of accu- 

 mulation with surprising rapidity where the 

 increased action of the various excretory 

 functions can eliminate morbid growth. Cer- 

 tain inflammatory conditions may suddenly 

 disappear under similar mental states, so as 



to admit of helpful exercise ; which exercise, 

 by its effect upon the circulation, and through 

 it upon the nutrition of diseased parts, may 

 produce a permanent cure. The mind cure, 

 apart from the absurdities associated with it, 

 and from its repudiation of medicine, has a 

 basis in the laws of Nature. The pretense of 

 mystery, however, is either honest ignorance 

 or consummate quackery. All the practi- 

 tioners are unable to dispense with surgery 

 where the case is at all complex and mechan- 

 ical adjustments are necessary, and they can 

 not restore a lost member; but in certain 

 displacements of internal organs the conse- 

 quence of nervous debility, which are some- 

 times aided by surgery, they sometimes suc- 

 ceed by developing latent energy through 

 mental stimulus. The claims of Christian 

 faith-healers to supernatural powers are dis- 

 credited by facts which are cited ; and faith 

 cure, technically so called, as now held by 

 many Protestants, is pronounced " a pitiable 

 superstition, dangerous in its final effect." 

 It is harmful because it tends to produce an 

 effeminate type of character which shrinks 

 from pain, and to concentrate attention upon 

 self and its sensations. It sets up false 

 grounds for determining whether a person is 

 or is not in favor with God ; it opens the 

 door to every superstition. Practically it 

 gives support to other delusions which claim 

 a supernatural element. It diminishes the 

 influence of Christianity by subjecting it to 

 a false and inconclusive test; diverts atten- 

 tion from the moral and spiritual transforma- 

 tion which Christianity professes to work; 

 destroys the ascendency of reason ; and irre- 

 sistibly tends, in some minds, to mental de- 

 rangement. "Little hope exists of freeing 

 those already entangled, but it is highly im- 

 portant to prevent others from falling into 

 so plausible and luxurious a snare, and to 

 show that Christianity is not to be held re- 

 sponsible for aberrations of the imagination, 

 which belong exclusively to no race, clime, 

 age, party, or creed." The relation of the 

 mind - cure movement to ordinary medical 

 practice, Dr. Buckley concludes, is im- 

 portant. " It emphasizes what the most 

 philosophical physicians of all schools have 

 always deemed of the first importance, 

 though many have neglected it. It teaches 

 that medicine is but occasionally necessary. 

 It hastens the time when patients of dis- 



