Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-27
Women s Clubs
<<TT\ HE first law of nature is obedi-
ence to the laws of God.


1T is a narrow law, but as
Lowell said of the narrownesS of the
Puritan, it is the narroWneSS of the
sword. Nay, l may be forgiven for
adding-the flaming sword of Gods an
gel who guarded Eden against law
breakers.
Let US take the warning in time.
Our minds are given US to think with;
the brain is but the organ of the mind
and not the mind itself.
THE gist of the whole matter is this
there are certain laws that have to
do with our minds and bodies. Some
we know and others we are trying to
find out If we keep the laws we shall
go free; if we break the laws, even
through ignorance, we must suffer. Do
not let us shun the wisdom that would
teach us these thingS-human law from
the scientific lawyer, medical law from
competent physicians"
Above is the gist and the closing of
an entertaining paper read before the
Friday Morning club by DR.. Thomas j.
Orbison of Los Angeles on the subject
of "Psychotherapy.'
= DR.. Orbison, an adherent of the old
school of medicine, a neurology special
ist and a member of the Philadelphia
Neurological society, placed his audi
ence somewhat in the attitude of a
class in clinic, dissected his subject,
made microscopical examination, and
enlivened his rather formidable sound
ing topic with anecdotes germane and
exceedingly interesting.
In opening DR.. Orbison said: ST wish
to lay before y-ou certain thoughts con-
corning this great wave of worldwide
unrest that is sweeping over us, and
which will intimately impinge upon the
mental, moral and physical life of each
one of us, and also to state the attitude
of the doctors of the old school toward
them, especially presenting the thought
of those who practice that branch of
the art and science of healing having
to do with nervous and mental dis
eases.
Many Of the questions of the day
concern the functions of the mind and
nervous system, and the whole world
is clamoring for answers and insists
upon them. 1t wants to know whether
or not any of the new movements is to
be the one to supply the hungry soul Of
it with food.
''The great cry of unrest is rising,
rising! The demand is made upon the
church, the cry penetrates the labora-
tory of science, it reaches into the Ii
brary of philosophy.
1.-THE answers have been generally
unsatisfactory, and as a result the sons
are leaving the faith of their fathers
and cutting adrift from the anchors to
the windward which their mothers
deed indispensable. This unrest and
dissatisfaction consumes the faith of
some, and Edmond Gosse, freethinker,
writes Father and Som as his apollo
gia. Among the sheet anchors that
some would cast off are the old school
of medicine and the old school Of Chris
tianity.'
Dividing his subject, "Psychothera-
~ lie
of good Scotch-Irish Presbyterian
sermon, namely, hypnotism, the EN-
manuel movement, Christian Science
and the regular physician in his rela-
ton to these, the speaker considered
each separately, and for its therapeutic
value in the hands of competent phy-i-
clans alone, leaving untouched the re-
ligious phase.
81 do not believe in short cuts to
health he said. "Those who Intention
ally seek them are moral towards.
1.-THE secret of lasting cure is to sub
stitute, hour by hour and day by day.
the normal thought, word and deed
That and that alone is the alpha and
omega of the scientific treatment Of the
diseases in which psycotherapy is ap-
plicable.
"For the next few months, or per-
haps years, our medical journals, the
be filed with such subjects as hypnot-
ism, the Emmanuel movement, etc.
Weigh well all evidence before you rem
der a verdict. Go slow rather than run
with a fad"
After quoting at length from repre-
sentative men of the conservative ele-
ment arong the neurologists and MAX
i. g plain that the attitude of physi-
clans is favorable and their position
that of helpfulness, DR.. Orbison empha-
sized their stand that diagnosis and
treatment of the sick ought to come
from the skilled physician and that the
application of methods of healing
should follow, not precede, an examina-
tion of the patient from the clinical
aspect.
Hypnotism, which must not be con-
founded with suggestion, is indicated,
he claimed, in few cases only, such as
the different forms of hysteria, but
while not needed often, is like a revol-
yer in TeXas-when we do need it it is
needed badly, as it is the only key
to the situation.
While admitting that as a physician
he was prejudiced against Christian
Science, DR.. Orbison refrained from
touching upon the element of religion
here, saying that it may be properly
classed under the head of psychothera-
py, and considered it solely as a cura-
tive agent in the hands of the medical
I'm all seriousness let me say said
he, "that 1 realize that Christian Sci
ence in its religious phase has come to
many a tired mind as panacea, and
for them it is a healing balm. Do not
mistake me or my motives. 1 am here
only to point out some of the dangers
of the system.
1--WE realize that the strength of all
religions is the absolute, concrete faith
they can impose. I wish to assert my
steadfast faith in religion and the CO.
operation of religion and medicine in
caring for the bodies and minds of the
sick, afflicted and suffering. The physi-
clan who has we'll grounded religious
belief with strong faith cannot help
asking for the truest wisdom to aid him
in his work, and looking to that source
of wisdom, one of whose attributes is
truth, and that mans patients cannot
fail to receive the full measure of bene-
fit from his ministrations."
Concerning DR.. Worcester and the
Emmanuel cure, it was admitted that
the leaders are doing much good, but
viewed from the professional standpoint
several dangers threaten, the most i'm
minent perhaps coming from the incur
ables, who with their pitiful optimism
will demand this new means of secur-
ing the impossible, and the hands of
the leaders of the movement being
forced, it will get away from them into
unwise hands. and like SNOWFALL roll
ing down hill will gather momentum,
sweeping all in it's path, leaving many
wrecks to mark the course before it
breaks.
"a clergyman is eminently fitted by