Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1909-09-23
How Philadelphia Lawyer Recov-
cred From Asthma.
PHYSICIAN WRITES A REPORT

become known after the publication in
the Journal of Psychology of a report
presented by DR.. Charles d. Fox of
212G Pine street, Philadelphia.
The particular case with which DIR.
FoX's report dealt wGs that of law
yer, designated only as Mr.. n, who,
DR.. Fox said, had been cured Of asth-
ma by hypnotism, but DR. Fox admits
that the science of mental suggestion
is used frequently and effectively in
many cases that come to the nervous
department of the Hahnemann hospi-
tai, Philadelphia, with which he is con
nected.
ut should be understood" said DIR.
Fox, that hypnotism is used only in
selected cases where there appears to
be no pathological condition to account
for the illness and which therefore of
fer no opportunity for the employment
of ordinary methods of treatment. 1t
has proved especially valuable in treat
ing various forms of hysteria and neu-
rasthenia and In curbing and curing
alcoholism and morphinism.
Must Have Persons Consent.
Questioned as to the extent to which
hypnotic influence should dominate an
others will, DR.. Fox emphatically laid
down the proposition that 1t is impos-
sible to put q person in the hypnotic
state without that PERSONS consent.
In tNff Nn.l NID.A l.
plea that n crime had been committed
under hypnotic suggestion was absurd
unless the person hypnotized had de-
liberately submitted his will at the
outset to the control of another, but In
his account of his treatment of his pa
uent, "Mr. X" he gave remarkable
instances Of the extent to which sug-
gestionS made while the patient was
in a hypnotic state had been carried
out after the patient had returned to
his normal condition.
On one occasion 1t was suggested TO
y. while under the hypnotic influence
that exactly SO minutes later he
should look at his watch and write
down the time as if for reference
was made e, who at that time was in
a perfectly normal condition. yielding
to sudden and uncomfortable i'm.
pulse. took out his watch and recorded
the time. The difference of three min
utes, DR. Fox thought, might have
been due TO n difference in the time of
the different watches. On another oc-
casion ", having been told while in
the hypnotic state that he would be
alone in the room, absolutely failed TO
recognize the presence Of another ply
sician, DR.. Kulp, though Dr. Kulp,
after y. had been restored to his nor
NAL condition. spoke to him repeatedly
and even took him by the hand.
Ill Through Auto Suggestion.
Mr. Y, the lawyer, is described as
thirty eight years old. For several
years he had suffered from asthma,
and since 1906 the coughing attacks
which usually came on at night, were
succeeded by a condition like that of
somnambulism. The patient, while ap-
parently rational and in full posses
sion of his senses and, for instance, as
play an excellent game Of chess. be
came unusually loquacious. discussing
his private affairs most freely, but
after an interval In which he regained
his normal balance he remembered
nothing of what he had said or done.
DR.. Fox became convinced that the
coughing attacks and the somnambu-
llstic periods that followed them We're
due to auto suggestion superinduced by
the fumes Of asthma powders which.
it was learned. the patient frequently
had inhaled until he fell asleep.
"The experience Of falling asleep
having occurred many times" says DR..
Fox in his report, "a psychic short cut
became established, and the more high
ly elaborated auto hypnotic or somnam-
bulistic condition began to appear fol
lowing n severe cough. even without
the asthma powder having been used
The consequence was the result of as
soclation of ideas. The beneficial re
suits of suggestion during the hyp-
motto state became apparent imme-
diately following his first treatment
On his second visit the patient said he
had slept deeply three nights out of
five without having been awakened by
an attack of asthma. While under
hypnosis the second time the sugges-
ton was made that paroXysms of
coughing and somnambulistic attacks
would never occur again.
"Since Mr.. y. came under my care"
the report goes on, "he has been hyn-
Noticed only eight times At present
he sleeps well without being awakened
by asthmatic attacks. and instead of
Saving paroxysms of coughing when
he arises in the morning only n few
coughs occur In fact, he now has no
paroSysms whatever. and since the !
first treatment he has not had a single !
one of any Of his various somnambu.
listlc attacks"
The Monkey Versus the Rose.
Alfred Frampton. +. r. l. B. A., q
well known Londoner, has written an |
open letter, in which he says:
1.-THE time has arrived when the |
royal botanic gardens and geological |
gardens should be amalgamated.
1.-THE geological gardens should be |
increased in area to receive the botan- |
ic gardens. 1t would be great public |
benefit to have the gardens Of the |
flora and fauna side by side.
l. -, tNr ,NN NNr-r