The Washington herald., 1908-03-19

New York, March lS.-Declaring that he
had given up the practice of medicine be-
cause the science was rapidly becoming
obsolete. that mental suggestion was the
most effective cure for bodily ailments,
and that but twelve drugs in the pharma-
copeia would even so much as aid cures,
DR.. Frederick Van Eeden. of Holland.
widely known as a sociolOgist, expounded
the virtues Of hypno-suggestion before a
large audience of men and women, at the
Hudson Theater to-day.
Or. Van Eeden pointed out the dangers
of the inexperienced experimenting with
hypnosis, roundly raped Christian Science
extremists as fanatics and declared that
he was convinced that an invisible fluid
passed from the fingers OF the hypnotist
into the brain OF the subject.
Gave Up Practicing Long Ago.
Il gave up the practice of medicine
years ago for the more effective treat
ment Of mental suggestion said the doc
tor. MANY doctors who are practicing
medicine to-day rely more on mental sug-
gestion than they do on drugs, but they
do not like TO admit il.
THAT words have marvellous effect
on the body is evident from the fact that
a former English sea captain had been
confined to his berth with gout for
weeks. One day a sudden alarm of fire
was given and the captain leaped from
his berth as though nothing allied him.
His gout was cured by single word.
Medicine had failed for weeks.
"A preacher was about TO deliver an
address in a city infested with cholera.
AS he got up in the morning he felt that
the disease had gripped him But he de-
termined to give the address at all haz-
ards.
He walked to the church mile away.
lighting with the desire to give up 20 the
malady, gave the speech, and sat down
a we'll man. This1s an example Of what
mind will do over maladies of the flesh.
Doctors Resort 70 MearaI Healing.
"when doctors OF medicine cannot dag
nose a case. or DO not know what TO do
for patient, they give him bread pills.
with careful instructions as to now many
10 take. Usually they tell him that they
have given him a very powerful drug
This is an admission that in extreme cases
even physicians advocate mental healing
"A famous London physician told me
that when he felt i'll he used to take two
rhubarb pills, and put them on the table
by his side when he went to bed He
said the effect was Just as good as though
he had taken them.
These are but examples Of what sug-
gestion will do for the body The ques-
ton is whether the cures are caused by
imagination, viii power. or emotion. I'M
agination seems the most probable
Cures Actually Produced.
The old barbaric methods of treating
ailments. such as kissing holy stones.
drinking water from certain streams, and
wearing amber beads around the neck
actually produced cures. Those who took
them had faith, and the suggestion of
disease was removed from their minds
as soon as they took the cures The real
disease could not last with the suggestion
Of health against f.
Il maintain that fluid passes from the
fingers of the hypnotic operator into the
brain Of the patient This IS against the
accepted theory of mental healing. but I
have found that when / use my fingers on
the heads Of my patients the effect is al
ways better than when 1 merely make a
suggestion.
Mothers and fathers can mold their
children 10 be good or bad by suggestion.
The childish mind is most open TO sug-
gestiOn. Parents endanger the health of
their little ones by constantly asking
them whether they feel sick, as the re-
iteration OF this question suggests illness
10 the children's minds which in time
actually causes a physical ailment.
Suggestion Makes People III.
1T is also almost criminal to say that
a person looks i'll in that persons hear
ing, as a suggestiR of sickness may
materialize into actual illness.
Il do not approve of fanaticism. A
faith healer who once came to Holland
did rushing business with a rubber
stamp. When people came to him he
charged them a dollar. and then stamped
on piece of paper You are cured.
That was all wrong.
L teach patients to be passive when
they come 70 me. My treatment does not
enfeeble the mind. 1 teach them to make
mental suggestions OF health TO them
selves. In this way do not open their
minds to suggestions of others