A. T. SCHOFIELD, M.D., OX SCIENCE AXD THE TXSEEX WORLD. 61 



such c■«^5es as those in which \Lr. Esdaile, a Calcutta surgeon, about 

 the time of the introduction of chloroform, removed limbs and 

 tumours hy the aid of hypnotism without pain, were accounted 

 for. 



As to the influence of faith over physical conditions he mentioned 

 the explanation Sir James Paget used to give of the cure of warts 

 by gipsy women. A girl who suffered it might be from warts on a 

 finger was told by the gipsy to tie a rag round it, and then to look 

 steadily at it every night at twelve o'clock, under the moon, if 

 possible, for a fortnight, when she would find it had disappeared. It 

 often did, }>ecause the constant direction to the part had so altered 

 the circulation of the blood or its condition that the nutrition of the 

 wart was changed and so a cure effectedL As to the case in which a 

 lady used gross language and expressed the most horrible thoughts, 

 was not this condition common enough in certain cases of temporary 

 insanity in women, and not unfrequently in those who had, as far as 

 was known, never heard anything of the kind ? He observed that 

 an exf>erience of his own showed him anyone might hear such 

 language. Two or three days previously on reaching the platform 

 of a tube station he saw one man in the garb of a gentleman 

 suddenly abuse another, seemingly a stranger, in the foulest terms, 

 to the disgust of a crowd of waiting passengers. 



It was thus easy to see that opportunities of the kind might 

 occur — and he l:»elieved that just in proportion to their rarity they 

 made an impression, which seemed soon perhaps to pass off, but 

 which was possibly for that reason more easily reproduced in 

 disease. 



He enquired whether automatic writing was similar to the old 

 plandtefi€\ and whether dual personality was reaUy not due to the 

 two sides of the brain not acting together. 



As to Mr. Stead's communications had they done any good to him 

 or anyone else ? 



Dr. SCHOFIELD was imderstood to reply in the negative. 



Colonel Hexdley, in a long career in the superstitious and 

 credulous East, had seen nothing of the kind. 250 years ago a 

 most painstaking observer, Bernier — physician to the Emperor 

 Aurangzeb — had come much to the same conclusions. He had con- 

 ducted enquii'ies in Kashmir, one of which was to the point. He. 

 went to Raramulah at the exit of the River Jhelum from the valley 



