Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-02
SENSES AND HEALTH
EFFECTS OF IMPRESSIONS UPON
MIND AND BODY.
From the Medical Brief.


THE method OF treatment by which a
patient is cured is generally the TO
which he arterward pins his faith. There
fore. when a cure is really made by sug-
gestion and is credited to some other
agency the faith aroused Is a false ono.
Far different is 1t with patient cured by
directed suggestion He understands ex-
acty why and how he has been cured. He
learns TO observe a number OF natures i'm
portant laws, the effect OF the mind upon
the body, the control of his thoughts, &c.
and 1t is a rare thing TO find an intelligent
patient seeking relief a second time for a
trouble Of which he has once been cured
by suggestion"
As stated before. we receive all impress
sions or suggestions through the senses
and these impressions may unconscousy
interfere with or assist bodily functions;
Tor instance. the sight of horrible acct
dent or a disgusting scene will frequently
retard digestion. or nausea may result.
A disgusting sight or uninviting looking food
may Instantly remove a splendid appetite
Pieasant scenes and bright faces. the sight
OF good food. &c. VIII remove unpleasant
thoughts make one feel happy and stImu-
late appetite and digestion The sight of a
deiicacy causes the saliva to flow Through
the sense OF hearing news may he received
winch may depress and produce, shock
cause worry, grief, nervousness sc Any
OF THESE conditions will remove an arpetite
and retard digestion. or produce vomiting.
ana sometimes diarrhea and poIyuria
Soou news inspiring music, bright stories
cheerfui voices, &c, will remove denres-
SION assist digestion and create an appe-
lite. some odors call up unpleasant memo
RES, winch produce depressing Iinea az
thought, while others again NAV he ohp,x
ious enough to nauseate or remove an an
petite. On the other hand the odors from
o oS,ie mowers make us happy. and a savory
ouo1 from Kitchen will often stimulate an
appetite habtualy dull.
Undesirable Impressions
These few illustrations demonstrate c,sar
~ mat we continually receive MANY un1.-
sirable impressions, which ~ ret,ina, a.,
'he active mind for time. are likely To in
terfere with the process of digestion or b.,
destroying the appetite. interfere with the
amount of food usually consumed In other
case the amount OF nosrishment would he
diminished. and unless the line of Thought
OF an individual In such "A mental condition
De changed he would likely become n nor
vous dyspeptic. Consultation would likaIy
1oiiow' elimination would become imperfect.
ana later nervous prostration and insomnia
inevitably result
Dr. Charles Gilbert Davis of Chicago In a
valuable article read before the psychic CON
gress at the worlds fair states that he be-
HeVes nine-tenths or the ills to which the
human race Is heir are the direct or Indi-
rect results OF an outraged conscience
A knowledge of suggestion enables the
physician to discern the influence "A patients
mind has upon his health. and In every case
to secure its intelligent cooperation
10 OBTAIN the best results from therapeu-
tic suggestion a thorough knowledge of
anatomy physiology, chemistry, pathology
and diagnosis is necessary
Inc force which heals man is within
himself, and when understood may be con-
trolled by himself; and just as the activity
or the propellng force within "A man who
walks a mile is stimulated or depressed by
the nature of his thoughts. So also, will
suggestion. when properly directed, arouse
the healing force within man. and on the
nature or the suggestion given will depend
the extent to which 1t is aroused Many a
patient has lived for days after the ''physi-
clans allotted time" expired. sustained only
by some stimulation of his vital force-for
example. an intense desire to see some loved
one Fastening to bid farewell 1t is often
this remnant of vital force which, when in
diligently directed by suggestion. suffices to
arouse into activity some organ which for a
long time has been hopelessy dormant, but
which. when aroused. enables the patients
internal organism once more to resume it's
normal action and draw him back from the
very jaws of death.
Some Conclusions.
Some of the conclusions which may be
drawn from the facts mentioned in the
above articles are:
That the vital force which heals a pa
tent is within the patient himself.
That the vital force is generated within
the patient himself by the digestion and
assimilation of food.
That the amount of vital force generated
depends on the quality and quantity of food
introduced into the stomach.
That anything which will interfere with
the necessary supply of properly selected
food or the digestion and initiation of
food after 1t has been received by the
stomach, will interfere with the generation
OF the vital healing power.
That the digestion may be retarded or
completely stopped by certain mental states.
That the food supply should be regulated
by a correct knowledge of the requirements
of the body.
That knowledge is stored, In the mind and
that mind is created and Influenced entirely
by suggestion.
That the creation, expenditure and control
of vital healing force are directly or ind-
rectly dependent upon suggestion.
That If one would inteligently direct this
healing force he must have a thorough
knowledge of the effects of suggestion. He
must understand the simple means for as
certaining the individuality and suggest-
bility of his patient, so that he may deter
mine in advance the mental and physical
effect any given suggestion is likely TO
produce.