The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-07-09
SENcES AND HEALTH.
Effects of Impressions Upon Mind and
 Body.

From the Medical Brief.
 ''The method of treatm by which a patient is cured is generally the one to which he afterward pins his faith There fore, when cure is really made by sug- gestion and is credited 10 some other agency the faith arodsed is a false one Far different is it with a patient cured by directed suggestion He understands exactly why and how he has been cured. He learns to observe a number of na- lures important laws, the effect of the mind upon the body the control of his thoughts, etc. and it Is a rare thing to find an intelligent patient seeking re- lief second time for 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 unconsciously interfere with or assist bodily function: for instance, the sight of a horrible acci- dent or disgusting scene will frequently retard digestion, or nausea may result A disgusting sight or uninviting looking food may instantly remove a splendid appetite Pleasant scenes and bright faces, the sight of good food, etc, will remove unpleas- ant thoughts. make one feel happy and stimulate appetite and digestion The sight of delcacy causes the saliva to flow. Through the sense of hearing news may he received which may depress and produce shock. cause worry, grief. nervousness. etc. Any of these conditions will remove an appetite and retard digestion, or pro- duce vomiting. and sometimes diarrhea and polyuria. Good news, inspiring music. bright stories. cheerful voices, etc, will remove depression, assist digestion and create an appetite. Some odors call up un- pleasant memories, which produce depress Ing line of thought, while others again may be obnoxious enough to nauseate or remove an appetite. On the other hand the odors from some overs make us happy and a savory odor from kitchen will often stimulate an appetite habitually dull.
 These few illustrations demonstrate clearly that we continually receive many undesirable impressions, which. if re- tained in the active mind for a time are likely to interfere with the process of digestion. or, by destroying the appe- tite. interfere with the amount of food usually consumed. In either case the amount of nourshment would be dimin- ished. and unless the line of thought of an individual in such mental condition be changed he would likely become ner vous dyspeptic. Constipation would like ly follow, elimination would become im perfect. and later nervous prostration and insomnia inevitably result
 i'i. Cnoiiro oiiptit DdNlS, OI lnlcaQ0. in a valuable article read before the nsv- chic congress at the worlds fair. states that he believes nine-tenths of the ills to which the human race is heir are tba direct or indirect results of an outraged conscience.
 A knowledge of suggestion enables the physician to discern the influence a pa- tient's mind has upon his health and in every case to secure it's intelligent coop eration.
 To obtain the best results from thera- peutic suggestion thorough knowledge of anatomy. physiology. chemistry path ology and diagnosis Is necessary.
 The force which heals a man is within himself. and when understood may be controlled by himself; and just as the activity of the propelling force within a man who walks mile Is stimulated or depressed by the nature of the thoughts, so, also. will suggestion. when properiy directed, arouse the healing force within man. and on the nature of the suggestion gwen will depend the extent to which it is aroused Many patient has lived for days after the physician's allo. tin,e'' expired. sustained only by some stimula- ton of his vital force-for example m intense desire to see some loved one