Alice N------, clerk, aged twenty-five, came under treatment in March, 1889. She had had much writing to do, and for three years had felt symptoms of loss of power in the right hand and want of control over the pen. She had been treated at a general hospital by galvanism for three months without benefit, and had become so much worse that she had been obliged to leave the desk and engage in other occupations. She was also unable to use the needle for any length of time on account of cramp supervening. After writing two or three lines, she experienced crampy pains in the thumb and forefinger and in the flexor muscles of the forearm. After a few lines, spasmodic jerking of the thumb was observed, and this increased - together with the pains - to such an extent that in less than a minute the patient declared her inability to hold the pen any longer. There was marked tenderness and soreness on pressure over the median and musculo-spiral nerves. She was hypnotized, and fell into the third stage. In that condition the muscles were rubbed, the joints exercised, and suggestions of improvement made.

After a few minutes' rest the patient was directed to again write, and she found the fatigue and cramp had disappeared and did not return until she had written half a page. She came regularly for treatment three times a week for two months, and at the end of that time was able to return to her original post quite cured.

* Two years afterwards (July, 1891) this patient again came under treatment for influenza. He had continued perfectly well, and able to work ever since the treatment. He made an unusually rapid recovery from the influenza under ordinary treatment aided by hypnotism.

She was a good example of the second or cataleptic stage (Liebeault), which she never passed beyond. She lay apparently fast asleep, was unable to open the eyes, and retained the arm rigid in any position I placed it. But she remained vividly conscious, and was able to repeat the conversation going on around her, and would laugh, protest, and struggle when told she was unable to move the arm. This is one of many cases of occupation neuroses which I have treated by suggestion. One case was not susceptible to hypnotism, but all the others improved rapidly, and were cured. I should certainly always combine it in these cases with local massage, though I believe at Nancy they use no treatment but verbal suggestion.