Hypnotism and hynotic suggestion : a treatise on the uses and possibilities of hynotism, suggestion and allied phenomena / by twenty authors. Edited by E. Virgil Neal and Charles S. Clark.
- Neal, E. Virgil
- Date:
- [1900]
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Hypnotism and hynotic suggestion : a treatise on the uses and possibilities of hynotism, suggestion and allied phenomena / by twenty authors. Edited by E. Virgil Neal and Charles S. Clark. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.
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![quack has ever been by the display of novel and striking ma- chinery or ceremony, coupled with loud assurance of power, and numerous testimonials. Many persons are impressed by such methods, when they M'ill not admit it even to themselves, and while outwardly scoffing. The legitimate method of the true physician is to have the real power of knowledge and use it with- scientific accuracy. This is the slow and laborious way; but even the successful quack, who has left it, under the temptation for quicker returns, often wishes himself back in the legitimate track, knowing that his career will be short. The day of bluffing in medicine is fast approaching its end. The man of real ability and honesty will gain a reputation for these qualities sooner than he thinks, and this reputation, once established, will go far to- ward giving him the confidence of bis patients. If he will then display to them a kindly and sympathetic interest, the thing is done. Persona] appearance has something to do with success in this line; but much less than is generally supposed. Many insig- nificant looking men have succeeded remarkably well; but the\ have been men of unusual knowledge and force of character. The physician must listen with interesl t<> symptoms, and make careful examinations, to assure himself of the actual conditions, and, no less, 1 assure the patient that he has done so. Then, if he find only an imaginary disease, a simple .issurance to that effect will lie all that is necessary, provided he can make his patient believe it. Often he must admit a functional disturb- ance and proceed by the suggestion of medicine, and assurance of speedy cure, to make the sufferer believe; or, deeply rooted in his conviction, he will leave in disgust, and go to another physi- cian, and another, until he finds one who will agree with him and treat him as long as he will come ami pay. For example, I once had a lady come to me for treatment for uterine disease. She had been under treatment for ten years by a prominent gynae- cologist, and lie had died. She never expected to be well, but hoped I would be aide to keep her alive, and in some degree of comfort, as her former physician had done so long. I found her perfectly well in every way, except her imagina- tion. But. I could not tell her so, for she had unbounded faith in ^>cr former physician, and would not have believed anyone who](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21012271_0035.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
