366 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



of the church, as an organized body, into new and untried and disputed 

 fields of activity. 



One thing should be clear at the outset, and it is emphatically set 

 forth in the introduction to Dr. Worcester's book. 



The church should not undertake this work without the cooperation 

 and assistance of the best possible medical advisers. It is a scientific 

 work, based on the knowledge derived from the study of medicine and 

 psychology, and its favorable results are not miracles, to be exploited 

 for the glory of religion. They can be obtained only in cases in 

 which no organic pathology is found to exist, in cases carefully selected, 

 after rigid and strictly scientific examinations. 



Eemember that the goal is reeducation into right habits of thinking 

 and living; and in this process of reeducation, judged by their results, 

 there is little to choose, between the efficiency of the agnostic Dubois 

 and the ecclesiastical Worcester. 



That this process of reeducation can not be accomplished by hypnotic 

 suggestion is the firm belief of the medical profession, especially the 

 neurologists. That a state of hypnotic susceptibility can be induced in 

 most people by a will that is stronger than their own is not doubted; 

 but that it is safe, or that its results justify its use as a therapeutic 

 measure, is stoutly denied. 



Hypnotism has been known since Braid in 1842, and every now and 

 then it rises up on a new wave of interest and popularity, often in a 

 new guise; but so far as its therapeutic value is concerned, we have as 

 yet derived from it no safe practical assistance. 



If not by hypnotism, then how shall we seek to accomplish this re- 

 education — shall it be by an appeal to reason, or to faith? Unless by 

 faith is meant religious faith, it has been and will always be done by 

 medical men, acting through both agencies; by strong men, confident 

 in their own powers, and able to impress others with the same confidence 

 and faith in the truth, sincerity and accuracy of their opinions. 



Examples of this use of psycho-therapeutics have been common 

 enough in the practise of every successful physician. That he has been 

 working at an increasing disadvantage is probably true; due partly to 

 the growth of specialism, and also to the complexity of modern life, 

 which, as has been already indicated, means the loss of that personal 

 relation and sympathy between patient and physician which used to 

 be common; but to an even greater extent is this disadvantage the 

 result of the extraordinary development of the more material and 

 scientific side of disease. 



For example, Dr. Cabot complains, and with too much reason, that 

 the psychological side of tuberculosis has been largely disregarded. 

 " We have tried to have our patients live almost by bread alone — actually 

 by milk and eggs alone, in some cases. 



