Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-08
FANCIED ILLS.
The Imagination Used to Cure Often
times with Great Success.

The Imagination Used to Cure OFTEN.
times with Great Success.
From the Cincinnati Commercial Tribune.
Bread pills have ever been regarded as
potent factors in the practice Of medicine,
but 1t remained for the modern school of
physicians to discover the true value of
psychic influence in the treatment of men,
tai and bodily disorders.
Under this heading the methods most
often used are hypnotism, suggestion and
deception, which, taken collectively, are
dignified by the name of suggestive thera-
peutics Almost every day some remark
able cure Is recorded in the Cincinnati hos
pitfalls through these agencies. Their infiu-
ences are especially felt in cases where the
nervous system is involved, such neuras-
thenia hysteria, hypocondria, insomnia
and melancholia.
There is at the City Hospital at the pres
ent time a olng woman who has not slept
in weeks without first receiving a hypo-
dermic injection of pure water. She be-
lieves she is getting quarter grain OF
morphia with each injection, and, there
is no way of her learning Of the deception,
the treatment works like charm.
Another case at the institution is that of
an elderly man suffering from imaginary
paralysis, who could not be benefited by
the use of drugs or the electric current BY
prearranged plan he was Informed by a
person supposed to be uninterested in his
case that magnetism, not electricity, was
what he needed, and since then he has
shown marked improvement under the con-
slant application of a wooden magnet,
painted to resemble the genuine article.
Still another case Is that of q woman
who cannot speak a word unless she is in q
STOPPING posture. For months her voice
was lost to her altogether, but one day
while bending over careSsIng cat her
voice returned, and since then she can only
talk when her body is bent to right angle.
All efforts to relieve her were of little avail
until day her attending physician in
formed her that she could not be cured I'M
til she had undergone long course of
treatment, but ventured the information
that she could be relieved for the period of
one week by the application of raw
electricity to her throat, taken from the
cty's current. The electricity was applied
and the WomanS voice returned, but when
the week expired her voice was lost to her
again. Again the electric current was APP
piled, and again she spoke, only to lose her
voice when the week was up.
Another case if that of young woman
of more than ordinary intelligence who
through constant associations with dis
ease, has suffered almost every ailment
to which human flesh is heir, including
appendicitis, paralysis, intermittent fever
heart failure, increased respiration and
broken limbs. She also believes it an i'm
possibility for her to remain in bed all
night without falling out during her sleep,
and for awhile she rolled upon the floor
with such marked regularity that it was
found necessary to tie her in bed.
Now and then case presents anus
ing phase. One woman, possessed of the
idea that her heart was growing to her
SIDE refused to improve under the treat
ment accorded her, and the doctors, know
ing her condition was due to hysteria
planned 10 get rid of her. Medicine was
prescribed made up of the most nauseating
drugs, and the patient was ordered to take
doses hourly. After the first days treat
ment the woman said she was well enough
to go home, and the doctors congratulated
themselves that the expelIing decoction had
proved so successful. To their surprise
when the woman left the hospital she
asked that a bottle of the medicine be
given her. as it had furnished her more
relief than anything she had taken