The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1909-11-15

this can be done to some degree, if
not perfectly, in every case.
1T is well to have faith. but faith
is not absolutely necessary at the
outset II is time enough for the pa.
tlent to have faith in the treatment
when he can perceive the benefit
he is receiving Understanding the
physical and mental changes which
follow certain thought, the sugges.
Zionist is able to bring about those
mental or physical changes by using
direct suggestion In such way that
his patient is bound to think the
thoughts which will produce the re.
suits.
a man may not hvae faith in the
statement that the thought Of lemon
juice will stimulate the flow of
saliva, but if he will imagine for
moment that he is squeezing the
juice OF lemon into his mouth the
saliva will Immediately flow more
freely than usual, regardless of his
faith. Similarly, many. If not all
of the organs of the body, can be
affected by impulses following Ger.
tain lines Il thought. and these i'm.
pulses will follow the thought and
stimulate the organs regardless OF
faith. 1t IS simply necessary to get
"a patient to think the proper
thoughts. and il is i'm the thought
directing that the work OF the sug.
gestionist lies"
Physicians Waking Up.
The above statements were no.
made by laymcu or by casual obscry.
crs. but by regular practicing phys.
icians. and were addressed to their
brother physicians. The medical pro.
tossious Is beginning TO understand
the marvellous force in the power of
suggestion and I'm The mental attitude
of the patient and advanced physi.
clans and nurses give just as much
attention 10 the mental side of the
patient and his surroundings as they
d. TO the medical treatment: but II is
very unfortunate. however that the
average physician. as well as the
average person. does not begin 20
realize how extensively suggestion
is used, either for good or bad re-
suits. in the sick room. Many an in
valid has been given a mental urge
towards recovery and many one
has been given the urge in the op.
posite direction by suggestions ig.
norantly presented by friends, rcla.
tives or attendants.
Many physicians ana nurses. even
though they understand the general
principles Of suggestion fail to re-
alize the potent force of countless
suggestions given the patient either
by words or manner. and as for the
ordinary visitors to the sick room
well, they usually aud thoughtlossly
pour suggestions into the impress
sionablc mind of the invalid. general
" with the most disastrous results
since the patient can be and. is
affected by The suggestions of those
around him, it is of the highest i'm.
portance that those suggestions be
made along the right lines. and spe.
cIal care should be observed in
avoiding suggestions that are harmful
in any manner.
Psychologists are well aware NJ
the fact that the erfeebled phvsica,
condition of the patient tends to in.
duce a representative mental condi.
'ion in which all suggestions have
an exaggerated effect The average
patient is extremely sensitive to inn.
pressions, and often a passing ex.
preston on the face of the physician.
nurse, relative or friend will be no.
uced Immediately and interpreted in
an exaggerated form and If those
'NPI'SSIohS should not happen to be
favorable the patient will receive a
decided setback. Sick people notice
Httl" changes Of expression and man.
ner that would pass unnoticed by a
Wen person. They eagerly watch for
these signs, and seldom fail 10 attach
Importance to them.
IhlS being the case, the utmost
care should be exercised in convey.
lns wholesome impressions in the
sick room; but what do we find? In.
stead of this watchful and intelligent
care, We find in too many cases the
most utter carelessnoss and lack of
Intelligence. Visitors aud friends will
sit by the bedside of the patient
informing him how bad he looks, how
IH.H