Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1915-12-31
A Scientific
Investigation
Of the Power of Mind
Over Matter.
By LADD LIVINGSTONE


The College of Physicians and Sur
geons Of Monteola was holding its
commencement. Miss Eloise Stanford,
a girl distinctly feminine, one whose
countenance indicated that she was
made to love and be loved, sat in the
audience. One Of the graduating class,
Henry Duckworth, read paper on
faith cures.
Miss Stanford from the moment
young Duckworth took the rostrum
was evidently attracted to him. Her
mother, who sat near her, noticed that
her daughter was looking at him COW
etously, and something indicating an
infatuation grew as the doctor proceed
ed. Then, when he had finished and
given way amid applause to the next
speaker, 1t seemed to the mother that
the light of the world had for Eloise
been extinguished.
From that day the girl was changed.
A singularly happy disposition seemed
TO have been clouded, IL not with mel
ancholy, at least with certain dream
mess. Then tinge of color that had
always been present in her fair skin
, began to fade.
Mrs. Stanford had her suspicious
that one of those quick heart surren-
ders which so often occur In very
young persons had taken place In her
daughter and the object Of her yearn-
ings was young DIR. Duckworth. The
mother suggested that the family ply
stefan be called in, but Eloise objected,
saying that there was nothing the
matter with her; she was only little
run down. She would take a tonic
that she had taken before and that
had built up her strength.
Eloise took the tonic, but no effect
was visible The girl continued to be
dreamy and to decline steadily. Final.
Iy, without consulting her, Mrs Stan.
ford sent for the family physician, DR..
Gilbraith, told him that her daughter
was ailing and asked him to see her.
The doctor was introduced to the pa.
tient, made the usual inquiries, felt
her pulse. took her temperature and lis.
tened to her heart beat. Then he made
his report to the mother that he could
discover no organic difficulty and
thought the girl was simply run down,
Since a tonic had not sufficed, he rec.
commended trip. Mrs Stanford was
confirmed by this report in her own
theory.
Its her heart, doctor" she said.
81 assure you, Mrs. Stanford, that l
examined her heart carefully. and its
action is perfect"
Mrs. Stanford then gave the doctor
an account Of her daughters having
listened to the thesis of young DR..
Duckworth, his evident effect upon her
and her own belief that Eloise had
fallen In love. DR.. Gilbraith listened
to the recital attentively, remarking
that the graduate was proving the
truth of his assertions of mind over
matter at the very moment he was
utterlng them When the conference
was finished DIR. Gilbraith took his de-
parture, having promised to think the
matter over.
In day or two the family physician
called again ut the Stanfords' and aft
er the usual pulse feeling and inquiries
said to the patient;
with my large practice | am I'M
able to give your case the attention 1t
requires. Your trouble is mental and
through the mind has affected the
body. l don't mean that your mind is
diseased nor that 1t is in an abnormal
condition. 1t is simply affected, as the
minds of young persons are liable to
be affected, by some especial-in your
case-hidden cause. A young man of
my acquaintance, recent graduate of
the college Of physicians and surgeons,
has taken up the study of the effect
Of mind over matter and purposes to
make 1t a speciality"
The doctor, whose intention was
partly to diagnose his patients NAL.
ady, called by his last sentence a faint
color to Eloise's cheek. The heart
theory was confirmed
II propose that you shall be placed
under observation, my friend DIR. Duck.
worth being the observer"
DIR. Gilbraith saw the faint color that
had come In Eloise's cheek deepen into
scarlet. He proceeded:
THE doctor will visit you occasional
ly, question you as to your symptoms,
give you such correctives as you may
need, but his principal aim will be to
discover this subtle something that is
affecting your brain and, through your