The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-12-18

"AhaSiss, 0ass"tfts" SuTe.
From time to time accounts have been
published Of how the stigmata or nail marks
OF the Saviour upon the cross have appeared
upon the bodies Of various persons mostly
young girls Of nervous temperament
There is no reason to doubt these stories.
They are too well authenticated The marks
have been regarded as manifestations of a
miracle.
But recently scientific men have taken I'D
the matter, as they ought to have done long
ago. They have tried to see what they could
make Of it, Some French physicians Of the
highest standing and learning have been ex-
perimenting with nervous patients
Their method was TO mesmerize the patient.
then tell him that such and such things were
true, which In point Of fact were not true.
But the mesmerized patient believed the
statement, and in every case the result he
expected followed. In several instances
blisters were produced upon the subjects
body, by simply binding piece of paper up
on the spot The mesmerized subject was told
a blister had been applied, and the effect
came to time m due course. In one instance
several attendant physicians each placed q
gummed postage stamp upon a womans
shoulders in such place that they could not
she had been blistered. Then she was shut in
a room especially prepared for her, and every
precaution was taken so that there could be
neither mistake nor deception. In the morn
ing the skeptical ones among the doctors
could hardly believe their own eyes when
they found under each postage stamp a well
defined blister Photographs of the woman's
shoulders Just as they were, were taken. A
xVaa raIlaI and l.
oath to the statement of the above facts and
signed his name. Then the photographs
with the statement, were sealed up and for
warded to the Society Of Biology.
The same physicians were able, time and
again, to produce the stigmata or sacred nail
marks upon the bodies of sensitive patients
by first bringing them under mesmeric cor,
troll and then telling them such marks would
appear. At their command, blood actually
flowed from the spots, attended with great
pain to the patient These facts are as well
attested rs the Others mentioned
The facts afford dim hints toward the re-
vealing OF the widest mysteries What win
not the imagination dot Does 1t not, indeed,
actually createf
In case Of the supposed miraculous stig.
niata. the imagination of nervous and do soui
ubjccts has been wrought up till tie marks
we're actually produced upon their flesh .h-
experiments of the French physicians prove
beyond q doubt
Now we may apply these facts to the solu-
don OF what has seemed to be another nv
cry. That is the so-called faith or mind
sure. Whatever maine believers choose To
apply to these cures whether faith OF mind,
hey are the same In essence. They are
Effected by working powerfully upon the
ack persons imagination SO far from being
hunbug, they are are scientific actually,
10th OF them II learned physicians would
AXE them up and make use Of them, and
thus lift them out Of the realm OF quackery,
hey would be In better business than In
pooh-poohing at them The capabilities Of
Inc imagination, even Of ordinary slow-going
sane people, are little understood II that
faculty, both in doctor and patient can be
wrought upon intensely enough, the course
If the nervous currents can actually be
,hangcd and started Off anew, and a cure
sffected
This Is the explanation of much socalled
healing.