The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-06-02
WHAT DISTINGUISHED PHYSI.
CLANS THINK OF HYPNTTISY.

There is a great deal of presumptu-
Gus ignorance in this world. Take
hypnotism that is so roundly denounced
as in league with the devil and so on
ad infinitum. But men of science in
think that %hypnotism is a blessing to
hum-nity. In France for years dis
q, tinguished doctors have employed it to
alleviate suffering and to cure certain
diseases. We have within a few days
read with interest two reports by dis
tinguished medical men in New York
city. DR.. John Duncan Q~uackenbos,
A. M, M. D., is emeritus professor of
literature at Columbia university and
Bernard college. He is a specialist of
the highest standing in nervous dis
eases; an acknowledged authority on
! nervous diseases and it's treatment;
a philanthropist Of broadest gauge; a
hypotist of great power, and a man
whose private life and reputation are
above criticism. Such is the indorse-
ment of him by one of the greatest
newspapers in the greatest city of
America. We read an address by him
on "Hypnotism'' that was wise, calm,
instructive. He gave a explanation Of
his methods, and showed how he used
hypnotism as a reformatory measure
and what results he had attained. He de-
! clared that in proper hands" he be-
lieved ihypnotism lis the greatest of
moral agents, and that it is a danger
Gus rover in the hands Of the ignor-
amt and the vicious"
He finds it to posses marvellous cur
ative power. He gave several examples
from his note book. He had success
? fully treated 1, excessive cigarette
smoking, 2, hopeless dishonesty. 8,
kleptomania. A. dangerous decisions.
He cured a stammerer. He cured a
victim of the cigarette fiend, who
smoked thirty a day. He said that
addiction to drugs and s~timulants,
immoral impulses, habits of lying and
stealing, dangerous decisions and dom
inant ideas, melancholia, suicidal ma
MIA, and mOnomanias in general, cratic
and unmanageable dispositions are
durable by hypnotic suggestion" To-
| wards the close of his highly interest
ing and informing address he said:
Therefore, l contend that the whole
| spawn of charlatans, impOStOrs, Chris
| tian science and faith healers that in
fest II city should be deprived CT the
| right to juggle with human life, and
buried out of sight in the slime pits
| Of their own Ignorance, superstition
and pantheism.
New York society is under lasting
obligations to Colonel Murphy, presi-
! dent of our health department, for the
| fearless stand he has recently taken
/ against these Christian science healers."
Another interesting case is given in
the New York World. A New Jersey
physician made a young woman forget
a great and cruel wrong done her driv-
ing her into insanity and cured her
perfectly. The World publishes a long
account of it. 1t occurred at Paterson,
and the cure wrought is regarded as a
miracle of healing. DR.. John G. Nc
Coy, n of the foremost physicians and
we'll known in that city, was the ply
stefan who brought back to reason
the clouded mind of a young woman
believed to be hopelessly insane. The
case excites wide interest in medical
circles. The Wostd says of it:
1T comes with especial force at this
, particular time, when the health au-
! thorities of this city are striving to
drive out of business those human jack
ais who are enriching themselves at the
expense of a credulous public by SELL
/ ing fake cures based on incantations
and Observation-Disclosures science
mind cure, faith cure, call it what you
will.
The case is regarded by medical men
as one of the most remarkable appli-
cations of hypnotism ever made in this
country"
The manner of treatment is given.
The girl treated is of good family and
was a sad victim of misplaced conf
dence.' She wa sent at last to the
Peterson General hospital for treatment.
In four days she was cured of her very
serious trouble. The World states that
"the girl is now at home, and her fam
lily are delighted by the results accom-
plished. DR.. Mccoy will not talk of
the case himself, but other doctors are
not slow to sing his praises The name
of the patient is, Of course, kept secret"