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IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCE 
(5) An epitome of Miss M.’s analysis of tlie conditions under which 
the disease manifests itself is as follows : 
“I do not remember when I first noticed the marks on my skin but I 
believe that the condition is not of recent origin. These marks were first 
noticed on my forearm and above my elbow (cause tight sleeve) I cannot 
analyze my mental attitude on first observing the results but I supposed 
it was a common result of pressure. The welts show elsewhere on the 
body and the condition is general. The marks remain distinctly visible 
about half an hour. While I am nervous occasionally after a tiresome 
week or some special excitement. I do not know of any nervous disorder 
which might be regarded as conditions. I am carrying seventeen hours 
and all my time outside of school is full — Student Volunteer, Camp Fire, 
Choral Union, etc., etc, — I have no special worries. This matter (the 
welts) does not impress me as significant. I consider it no more extra- 
ordinary than the common cases of flushing or reddening of skin in other 
young people. ” 
(6) As already implied, the findings in Miss M.’s case will be of 
chief interest (1) to the observer of psychological conditions, because 
of the unusual and abnormal type of reaction which points to a deeper 
nervous disorder; and, (2) to the physician who sees in the foregoing 
details the typical neurosis with its accompanying functional disturb- 
ance. The conditions of nervous instability which the psychologist de- 
tects in the regular laboratory exercises are serious enough to justify 
referring the student to a physician. He may recommend that the stu- 
dent’s life of mental discipline and outside duties be given up temporar- 
ily for a mode of life designed to correct the conditions. The psycholo- 
gist is bound, to take this broader view of one of the chance by-products 
of his laboratory practice. We may even question the importance of the 
experimental means used in this case to produce the peculiar phenomena 
but if the phenomena point to deeper causes than the instruments used 
in stimulating touch spots, and these deeper causes mean much to the 
individual’s welfare, then the psychologist’s purpose has been accom- 
plished. Whether the actual pressure was essential (as it appeared in 
all of our tests:) or the fact, that any experimenter was doing something, 
was sufficient to focus the attention of the neurotic subject, are secondary 
in importance to the fact that the graphism confirmed the suspicion of 
nervous disorder. As noted above the writer worked on the theory that 
any stimulus sufficiently suggestive would produce the same results as 
actual pressure. It seems probable that the touch stimulus is the mode 
by which Miss M.’s attention can best be focussed, but that there is no 
