New-York tribune., 1911-01-29

test: the person who is interrogated is put
at his case and made to feel that the pro
/ ceeding is perfectly natural. lie is told tC
reply as quickly as possible with a sins't
word TO each word which the physician
. suggests He is to speak the hrst Woro
/ that comes to him after hearing the WORD
/ spoken by the physician.
/ The words that are suggested are sim
/ pic. fundamental ones. which arc hkely t1
. have associations with strong emotional eN-
perience.-such words as house. water
/ pon.' gold lover Usually from co tc
100 are suggested. The answer IN eacr
case is noted, with the time which was
| taken in replying. Then We go over INC
list the second time, noting hJW well the
/ first answers were remembered Tbs, too
/ is important If the word comes from some
/ simple. unimportant association, such as
/ silver in reply to gold or pigs in an
/ swer 10 pen-this. OF course. by farmer
/ then a second suggestion Of the given word
is likely to bring the same train of thought
! and the same word in reply.
But when the words that awaken
memories of profound experiences are re-
peated, again the thrush cf words will
make the patient hesitate for the proper
one, and often a different word will be
given in reply.
"ro take a simple instance of the asso-
citation test. a patient listened to a long
list of words. To most Of them he re-
sponded readily. But these associations
took a longer time: 'Water?'-nve seconds
Deep 'Ship?'-ttree and half seconds
Sink Lake?'-four seconds-'Water
'Swim?'-four secords-Can swim Psy-
! chanalysis showed that the patient had
recently been depressed and had determined
to commit suicide by drowning. The word
association test has been used with great
success in the detection of crime. You can
see how a criminal would pause to select
an association word that would put the
inqu!rers on a wrong scent-and the very
pause would give them their clew
The technique of psychanalysls by free
association is also simple. The patient
lies quietly on sofa, in order T. be tran
gull and avoid distraction. The ply
sician sits at his head. ard may at times
place his hand upon the patrnts forehead.
a physical aid which often assists the pa
tient in concentrating his mind upon the
matter IN hand.
The matter in hand often is one of those
I
! gathered about a trauma, OF shock, and
which gives rise TO some abnormal condi-
tion. Both physician and Iatient bend all
their attention upon following up the
threads OF thought leading into the sub
| conscious that have been found
through the word association tests. through
dreams and other hints.
THE patient Is urged To talk freely and
frankly about his symptoms and their
origin The memory is found to be often
at fault. and he is urged 10 tell everything
! that comes into his mind whatever idea
or pictsre is called up by association, even
If painful and embarrassing. we may utter
some significant word. known 10 be a clew.
ana ask him what thought occurs TO him
In connection with the word and to trace
the process by which he came 20 think OF
II. Slowly bit by bit, lie f. led 10 piece
together the secret, forgotten trouble.
This very process usually cures the
patient. Fresh air and sunlight are good
! for the soul as well as for plants and
cellars. His disease. his awful fears. his
lapses Of memory with their blank terrors.
| his lapses from his own pei sonality. are
restored to his memory. They are no
longer things OF mystery. but part of his
past life. which, now that he knows about
| them. need not trouble him longer. II IA in
way the confessional OF science"
| Or. George b. Campbell. examiner for tte
state Commission In Lunacy, told of some