Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1916-05-18
DOCTORS DECEIVE
TO CHEER A|L|NG
MEDICAL MEN RECOGNIZE IMPCR-
TANcE OF KEEPING PATIENTS
OPTIMISTIC
Psychology and Christian Science Re.
ceive Recognition

An elderly woman was I'll with
pneumonia, under the care of her
niece, graduate nurse. The progress
of the disease was fairly moderate, as
such cases go, until the end of the
first week. Then one night about IL
o'clock the nurse hastily summoned
all the members of the family and sent
for the doctor.
On arriving at the house the doctor
found everyone in tears. The nurse
met him outside of the sick room with
The information that she feared 1t was
all over. On feeling the patients
pulse the doctor realized that she was
extremely weak. But he Was young,
optimistic and aggressive. 1t annoy
ed him to have the family crowdins
round, crying and muttering half whls'
pered prayers.
He turned to the nurse ard issued
some orders. She'll come around all
right" he declared Get busy now.
"Oh, doctor, she's dying now," the
nurse insisted. "She knew it herself
she asked for the family so she
could Dld them Soou Dy
You hurry up and get tnat hypo-
dermic ready" ordered the doctor.
Having routed the nurse, he next
turned his attention to the family.
"Now, dear people you must all Leave
the room at once. When the time
comes will call you back, hut for The
present we need all the air and room
there is here"
He shooed them out of the room,
remarking once or twice in very firm
tones: Certainly not! She'll come
around in a little while, promise YOU"
! All this time the patient lay uncon-
scious. But one may be unconscious
and still capable of receivins certain
impressions-nCc impulses
ns DIR. Grille has termed them. That II.
although the consciousness Is III absy-
I ance, certain of the brain centers are
| still awake and active and these CEN
ters can still "feer impulses from the
outside .world, particularly fear I'M
pulses And, whether Intentionally or
| not, the doctor was minsterng TO
ese subconscious or vital brain CEN
tclS. He was endeavorinS to change
the environment from that of despair
TO that of hopefulness and assurance.
/ AS a matter of fact the patient re-
covered and is alive today. She never
knew how near death the fears of her
family lad brought her, nor how BRAY =
" the doctor lied in order to supply
an autidote 10 the evil effects OF those
fears. OF course, this is only an acci-
dent possibly coincidence, but, new
erthelcss the doctor in Inc case firmly
believes that psychology, mental ther'
apeutics, practical Christian Science,
whatever name YOU please TO give the
treatment, was the STRAW that saved
her, and his opinion is by no means
based on one or two such incidents.
If group of individuals were, TO
consDire together in the effort to des-
troy a certain person they might find
an effective means in psychology. All
that would be necessary is that each
of them at every opportunity should
inquire solicitously and anxiousiN
about the victims health, remarking
upon his pale color, the strange look
in his eyes, or any other unpleasant
feature they might agree upon. For a
tire he could perhaps stand this form
of assault, but sooner or later just az
certainly as mind controls matter, he
, would succumb TO the depressing In