There were to be seen countless phases of disease, affecting men and women of all ages and many children. His procedure was as follows: He placed the patients in turn in an easy reclining chair, with their backs to the light, questioned them closely as to their symptoms and sufferings, and then forthwith hypnotized them. His method was to make the subject stare at two of his fingers, which he placed a few inches from their eyes, and as soon as the eyes began to water and the pupils to dilate he suggested 'sleep ' in an emphatic manner, and then closed the eyelids, gently pressing the eyeballs. In nearly every case, sooner or later, the patients passed into sleep - of very varying degree, no doubt; but to all he suggested verbally that on awakening their symptoms would be improved; at the same time he rubbed strongly the seat of disease. In ten minutes or less he awakened them by fanning the face, and when they were aroused all stated that their symptoms were improved, and they went their way. returning in one or more days, as M. Lie-beault directed. I had the opportunity of interrogating these patients, and found that all had the same story to tell - namely, that after Dr. Liebeault's treatment - short or long, as he required - they were either cured or relieved.

Many of the cases were incurable, and relief only was possible; in others the cure was averred to be complete.

Evidently suggestion thus used was potent for therapeutics. Such was my experience of M. Liebeault's clinique at the Rue Bellevue. I am very glad I saw his practice, which I can never forget or fail to appreciate for its high value and deep interest. The only criticism I would venture to make is that he appeared to me to rely too completely on suggestion under hypnotic sleep in the treatment of disease, and but rarely sought any aid from our vast medical armamentarium. I shall not attempt to theorize or offer any explanation of his extraordinary results. I have long ago arrived at that period of mental development - for good or ill - at which I have ceased to attempt explanation. If a body falls to earth I call it, as I have been taught, gravitation. That word expresses a fact, but explains nothing. I know that quinine lowers temperature and cures some neuralgias, that aloes purges, and that opium checks the purging. Of the why and wherefore I know nothing. So I also must acknowledge the power of suggestion in hypnosis.

If I must theorize on this point I would do so by analogy. Quinine alters the circulation in the brain and nervous system, and thus, I presume, alters the condition of the brain, which is necessary for the sensation of pain. May it not be so of hypnosis? Obviously, this theory merely puts back the difficulty a stage. Explanation there is none, no more than of the countless processes of physical science which we see pass before us daily. It seems to me more profitable, with our present means of knowledge, to observe and treasure up facts, especially when they help us to cure or relieve disease.

Behind all physical phenomena is the Almighty Power that works and directs them, and teaches us - if we are wise - how little we know beyond mere ultimate facts and the generalization therefrom. I think it was the late Duke of Argyll who said : 'Nature, properly interrogated, tells us much of how, when, and where; but when asked why, she is silent.'

Now let me bring my reader to visit M. Bernheim at the Hopital Civil. He is one of the most trusted and prominent medical men in Nancy, and physician to the great hospital of that city. At first he was an absolute sceptic regarding hypnotism and suggestion, but was induced to try it after seeing the strange and unexpected cures worked by his friend Liebeault. After some ten thousand experiments he became a firm believer in it, especially in certain cases, and he uses it on a large scale. His practice differs from that of Liebeault in this: that he merely adds hypnotism and suggestion - the latter especially - as an adjunct to other therapeutic agencies.

Let us follow him during the visit to his huge wards, filled with every possible form of malady. He treats disease as we physicians all do. For pneumonia he prescribes quinine and poultices; for rheumatism, the salicylates; for phthisis, cod-liver oil and phosphates, and so on. But for many cases, if he thinks it desirable, he adds hypnotism and suggestion. To the sleepless pneumonic patient, to whom he dares not give opium, he administers hypnotism and suggestion of sleep. The patient generally responds and sleeps. The rheumatic patient finds relief of his pains, the phthisical of his cough, and other distressing symptoms.

In dealing with patients whose ailments are essentially neurotic he relies mainly on hypnotism. By it he rapidly cures their neuralgias, functional paralysis, hysterical crisis, writer's cramp, insomnia, etc.; lessens and postpones, and sometimes cures, epileptic convulsions and other analogous troubles. Of these effects I speak as an eye-witness.

With dipsomaniacs he suggests the horror of stimulants, and in a large proportion of cases when they awaken there remains a dislike of what previously had been their absorbing passion. My subsequent experience leads me to the opinion that when the patient is really anxious to be cured of dipsomania, and when the surroundings are good and helpful, hypnotism is most useful. My friend Dr. J. J. Murphy can bear me out as regards one striking cure under our care. In many other vicious habits, respecting which it is too common with physicians to overlook the physical element, like good results are obtainable. In certain mental failures remarkable cures are obtained. Some years ago I succeeded after three months' treatment in curing a bad case of kleptomania in a youth. Dr. Lloyd Tuckey gives a similar one at p. 328 of this work, and Dr. Berillon records another in the number of the Revue de l'Hypnotisme of December, 1906.