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Mental Healing Source: The British Medical Journal, Vol. 1, No. 2581 (Jun. 18, 1910), pp. 1483-1497 Published by: BMJ Publishing Group Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25291061 . Accessed: 21/11/2013 22:15
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JUNE

18, 1910.];

MENTAL

HEALING.-

[kSS^SSSL
now will, incurable by is every there

I.483_
any therapeutic reason to hope,

MENTAL

HEALING.
to be fully written. can be given. as is convenient,

to-morrow. Diseases means at our disposal

were or mental influence t>y spiritual of the subject Here sketch only a brief The general "mental term, healing,"

R?aky volumes would he required if the history

of healing
in

be curable by medical art in the future. If such a disease were to be cured now by some force different from the
it is works not the theologians praeter

or in the beneficent causes influence which the disease, or in the knowledge force of a more influence, powerful -and skill of a human in the potency of or, again, healer, as to pro in such a way remedies administered physical an effect on the mind duce of the patient. The latent be it a person, agency, healing or what is only the motive not, -spring, these forces Of the nature into play. the

it may be included all methods of using the influence of -themihd on the body for the treatment of disease. Among these the operation of faith is the most conspicuous and (themost powerful. It may be faith in the supposed evil

resources which has at medicine command, to assume that the which agency necessary cure is Tbe most orthodox .supernatural. non sunt multiplicanda admit that miracula will necessitatem.

In the sense in which the word is used here miracles do not only happen, but they happen frequently, and in
almost testimony infinite is worth

are wrought ;
Christian the tombs

at Lourdes,

of variety anything,

circumstances. cures of a marvellous

If

human nature

St. Winefride's

Well
are they

and other
at the

-forces that produce the effect are in the patient himself

a shrine, power which and mode of a

sacred brings opera

which it a curative other faith, and makes begets agent, on the mental fear and joy, may processes, notably operate cure disease.. even ?hat eases ?body in a way pain, and may Of The power of sugges this we have experience. everyday a new discovery, is often of as if it were tion, which spoken

tion of these forces we at present know little or nothing. ?But inmental healing of all kinds the active agent is faith, ft is, in short; the patient's faith that makes him whole, when this desirable result is brought about. Although religion most commonly supplies the condition

same kind the in Borne. Cures of precisely Aesculapius are wrought and other forms of faith healing by mesmerism, in which the sacred is altogether Could element wanting. than the restoration there be a more "miracle" authentic a strong a professed and of Harriet atheist Martineau, woman to health minded of the most pronounced type,

healing

shrines of ancient Greece

Similar shrines. "miracles" as of Mussulman y&arabouts,

wrought were at

and in the temples of

by means
pelvic

of mesmerism,
? The

after

tumour

tumour,

it

is true,

long disablement
was

found

in her

by a

body after her death, but what of that ? It had ceased to simple process of bidding them get up and walk.
be for practical purposes bedridden many patients in such occurrences by of a

trouble her, and she may a "cure." Brodie cured nothing effect highest cure." more supernatural

There is
there the of

counted by the

on the its causation and effect nature, depends structure the human mind. The of. exeiting power or we whether 'belief in others, call it personal magnetism or is a gift which be beneficent may by any other name, It may to circumstances. relieve dangerous according or it may cause disease suffering, by mental contagion. in Of this there ar? numerous need ;we examples history the epidemics of dancing madness, ?anly mention flagellation, and of for a sinner It may to righteousness turn to their own undoing. It is the peoples tion that .who undertake many gives

is as old as humanity.

It is an innate quality in human

than

is in the effect which

was which eminence

arsenic has

once described as an illustration

on pemphigus?an
of surgeon "miracle the

A slight sketch of the attitude of man towards disease may help to a clearer understanding of the true significance
of forces since the expression which human as they have are at work to-day on the earth. race to crawl began the but the thing itself remains changes, been The same

and the like, and the children's crusades of the Middle Ages.

or mislead whole of sugges power the treatment of

through all the changing forms of belief.

Demonology The earliest conception

disease, whether they are within or without medicine; a power of healing or of mitigating
is not found in with the action water. ?do good others. Suggestion, of remedies ;most

the fold of pain which

to do a rest

and Dibbasb. seems of disease

to have

been

also, has much seen of us have

that evil spirits for the time being took possession of the . body. This general notion expressed itself in different
ways. own Where a special a disease demon was

less patient Soothed to sleep by a hypodermic "

It is suggestion for a time. Hence that makes the vaunted

new treatment every " " cures of cancer,

injection of

its manifestations belief

recorded

to stamp it with an individuality

was invoked as the

sufficiently

characteristic

in

of its
k survive

This
of

?led the wise to say old French physician vous de prendre ce rem?de H?tez qu'il pendant The He Miracle of Cube.

consumption, and so forth. It was the knowledge of the ?natural tendency to faith in the new and unknown that
a patient, gu?rit. to

lingered
history,

into
and,

times well
indeed,

within
of

explanation. it

the range to
no fewer there

traces

at
which

the

present
of was doubtless

day.
Small-pox,

The
and

Hindus
At tbe

built

temples
had day

the Goddess

the Romans

than three

shrines

dedicated
malaria.

to the Goddess
present

of Fever,

Mr. Matthew
do not happen."

Arnold said in his airy way that "Miracles

stole the phrase from Renan, but it

-one has not said it matters before. who little Besides, ?aid do happen, Miracles and doubt it, for it is not true. " ever less have of this since the brain foolish happened to wrestle with the problems ?compounded began clay, man" it will and death. Before be well of disease further, going so earnestly to follow the advice and by John Locke, given our terms." "define What is a miracle? The discussion

is difficult at this time of day to say anything

that some

is a church in Rome dedicated to Our Lady of Fever, which is a lineal descendant of these shrines. Another belief was that the demon of disease was introduced by
malevolent in different persons tribes of magic. by means or races such beliefs as one Again, that disease finds was

caused by the spirits of the dead, or the spirits of animals killed in hunting, invading the living. These theories from the much later must be carefully distinguished concept that disease is a punishment inflicted by an angry
Deity.

of

this question

altogether used here marvellous ?causes. Here -shallow

?firstsight cannot be accounted for by the agency of natural

we must nonsense anything be is more from the observation allowed often to talked remark about that much "violatiois man which he observes. often erred;

our province. The word miracle outside is sense in its etymological to denote something to common at and that opposed experience,

from the theological

point "of view

lies "

To that intruder. demoniac as his usurped make abode was starved, beaten, patient

This notion of the causation of disease led naturally to a system of treatment directed to the dislodgement of the
end every un pies sait smoked of. The to effort was made as possible. The with evil-smelling fumigation treat

substances,
savage

and drenched with

could think

every foul thing that the

of
were

the

laws of Nature,"
than

as
the

if

the

laws of Nature

formulates (But human

phenomena can err,

"laws" which and has

and it is conceivable that the law of gravitation itself may some day have to be amended, if not repealc d.
"'True

the

negation,

science," which today

as Charcot the morrow

limits of its new triumphs."

may therefore

said, may

a "is cause

What
cease

foe to systematic to melt away

in

appears
be a

to be

?miracle

to

miracle

ment is illustrated by the story in the Apocrypha in which Tobias is said to have freed his bride from a demon by taking the asfyes of the perfumes and putting the heart and the liver of the fish thereupon and making a smoke therewith, "tbe which smell when the evil spirit had smelled he fled into the utmost parts of Egypt." The beat ing out of evil spirits, in which some ing?nions persons detect the beginning of massage, was used in comparatively modern days m the exorcisms which were practised on the supposed victims of demoniacal possession. With what con severity these poor sufferers from hysteria and other ditions grouped by modern medicine under the head of

imagination

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I484
neuroses

MSffigSLJ_

MENTAL
in the be read by the curious may nuns of Lou dun in the reign of A relic of the same of concept

HEALING._[Jtoe

18, 1910.

the origin of disease is perhaps to be seen in the brutal treatment that used to be the lot of unhappy victims of mental disease till their chains were struck off by Esquirol,
and other cruel methods were of restraint finally of Tuke and In the by the efforts Oonolly. of making the body too, the system medication, abolished of matter an uncom

were treated, of the possessed records of France. the Sun-King

Asklepios did not, indeed, scrawl a hieroglyphic formula to be deciphered only by the initiated; he revealed in a.
dream the mode of treatment to be followed. The

of the afflicted he cured them believer, prayer indirectly, a prescription? them just like a human physician, by giving

fortable abode for the diabolical tenant persisted long after the belief on which it was founded had died out, and is tions prescribed by doctors in the Middle Ages might
to have been intended for the forcible eviction quite extinct at the present day. The horrible concoc

worn To sufferers of expectancy. illness pitch by come dreams animated would by hope easily. was as incubation. known This dream therapeusis in her work Incubation and Christian between healing

spent the night in the holy place amid mystical surround ings well calculated to screw the mind up to the highest
and Au

patients

excellent account of this is given by Miss Mary Hamilton

and the Cure in Pagan* of Disease con Churches.1 She the traces and incubation to the fact that

not

seem
of evil

Temples nexion

in the spirits. The faith of modern hospital patients efficacy of the physic given them is often in direct pro
portion to its nastiness. of men minds of years. for thousands a zolie hypoth?se, as the lisping be called hypothesis it supplied the a convenient

were

the deities in whose temples the rite was practised were heroes who had gone down into the earth; hence they
called Chthonian.

The demonological

theory of disease held sway over the

If it cannot exactly French philosopher

to become would
among healing,

endowed with

They

were

believed

in this way

the powers of the earth, chief

were which the The attribution the earth

called the existence of a Creator, at any rate like that pretty things. But if the simple pathology of primitive man causes
smile dies consequences the notion vigour till the on our we reflect lips when of that belief translated into was that disease caused by explanation of many

seem to have had its origin in the fact that from

spring herbs which cure disease*

and the gift of of dreams sending of healing to the eartb powers

the bosom of or cause death.

us amusement, on the appalling action. It was survived

The earliest literary mention of incubation is found in the Plutus of Aristophanes (b.c. 388). The following i?
as paraphrased " description All round," in says Carion sick of all manner of diseases. the a noise, keep a quiet for sleep. head, :? D. Rouse3 by Mr. W. H. " were the comedy, people In comes the verger, puts

demons that led to the belief in witchcraft,

in full seventeenth

which

again
and is

murder guilty many made visible called among

not by any means extinct in this century of light. The belief in witchcraft caused the persecution and judicial
countless human old women beings, chiefly of nothing worse or madness. than eccentricity In are neolithic skulls round there holes, evidently the life of the owner, for signs are of repair during the edges. about These show that the operation was surgeons by modern trephining practised by of

century,

out the lights, and bids us sleep ; and, quotha, if you hear caught a pot of pease which
and I had So we all composed ourselves* tongue. I could for my But not, eye sleep

decently

stood just behind

monstrous

the old
to?

gammer's

should crawl after it. Then I looked up, and what I see but the priest grabbing the cakes and figs from?
the sacred table. Then he made the round of all

craving

prehistoric
the

man.

There
as

is some difference
the purpose of

learned

to

of opinion
procedure.

the

We think we are right in saying that Sir Victor Horsley has expressed the opinion that it was done, as it often is at admits that it may object of providing
imprisoned demon Faith the present for the cure day, to regard inclined it as a form

also have been practised with the an outlet for the escape of the
caused convulsions. in Antiquity. Healing

of epilepsy. of religious

who Broca, rite or initiation,

is

afraid that he might

priest showed me

on the performance with much and up I got looked awe, ' the* bad You to fetch the man,1 bold, says pease. * * Afraid?' of the god?' weren't 'Yes, other, you afraid the way, you see.' Well, when gammer

the altars, to see if there was a biscuit or two left, and these he consecrated into a bag he had with him. i

get there first with his garlands ; the*

which

It is usually said that medicine in its origin was a form of priestcraft; in other words, that the first physicians were the first priests were physicians. In the medicine men of the savages the priestly and the medical characters are The theory that disease is caused by spirits mingled.
would priests. It is an equally plausible conjecture that

heard the noise I made, she got hold and tried to pull it away ;but I gave a hiss and bit her, as though I had been* one of those hooded snakes." Carion then goes on to tell how the god, accompanied by his daughters laso and
round went Panacea, a short passage omits

This would be more especially the case where it was held that the evil spirit had been driven into a man's body by magical spells. Obviously, the way to deal with such
a situation theory would like be to administer Here, a more

naturally

lead

to the

use

of

spiritual

means

of

cure.

In this we may
that is ago universal, to a great another

cures

possibly discern
like.

the first dawn

again, cure in by one

potent

magic.

of the
or

who

inflated and just as the god came near, his with flatulence, a with to escape its gaseous contents intestine allowed a little, Panacea while laso blushed loud explosion. nose. The turned her however, aside, god, stopping as no he ia Carion heed, because, explains, paid the flavour of excrements. accustomed to Asklepios a slave the much examined with attention; patients a small a pestle, and box. This stone mortar, probably an ointment for He first contained remedies. prepared one caused of the patient's such the eyes; application

picture that we venture to replace it. Carion was afflicted

inspecting but here,

Mr. all the cases. a part it is so much

Rouse? of the*

accompanied

him

placed

ready

to his

hand

a.

spells, and amulets, the practice

still widely extent.

of which was not so long

shape

charms,

prevalent

Of faith-healing as practised in antiquity the best illus trations are to be found in the old Greek Temples of
The most famous of these

smarting that the man tried to run away, but the god said to him with a laugh, " Stay there with your ointment ;
thus you will not

Asklepios.

in the

shrines three its

was

that

valley of Epidauros, This

part of Greece, for many

situated
about till

south-eastern

in Argos
miles ineffectual

in the
from fires

the coast.
place this

paled in the beams of the rising sun of Christianity. first

temple was probably almost exclusively

of healing

temple enjoyed
centuries

the highest

repute as a At
a shrine

to which sufferers resorted in the hope that the God of Healing would take pity on them and rid them of their
disease. The ministers of the the priest shrine became were more

he had quickly unsealed the eyes of Plutus he had made the impostor Neoclides more blind than before.
It must be remembered of ancient Rabelais Greece, that Aristophanes in one and neither case was nor

a purple his head and face with Panacea covered veil; came? snakes then the god whistled and two enormous the veil, under from the and sanctuary sliding gently Plutus of the patient. the eyelids Soon licked arose, having; the god because while recovered his sight. Carion praises

assembly." god wiped

Going to the next bed where Plutus lay the the patient's eyes with a clean cloth while

go

and

perjure

yourself

before

the

their ministrations
character. Gradually

were mostly

of a distinctly
clinical

priests, and

and more

the? the

spiritual at any

merged
rate The

tained in the eyes of the faithful by the kind of pious fraud that seems to be an inevitable feature in the evolu tion of places of spiritual medication. Instead of the god exercising his power of healing directly, in answer to the

to a large extent, character original

in the physician,

and the temple itself was,

other must it be assumed that the ridicule of sacred things implied disbelief in religion. It is impossible to
conceive that the comedy could have been played at

transformed into a of the shrine was,

hospital. main however,

Athens had it been thought that it outraged public senti ment. The miracle plays of the Middle Ages and the*
holiness about who stories persons professed 1London. 1906. 2Greek Votive Offerings: An Essay in xheHistory of Greek Beligion? 1902. p. 201. v Cambridge, licentious

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JONS 18,
were

1910.J_MBNTAI.
accepted by the people as jokes. The

HEALING._ [?S?j^ should be in all well-regulated practice, the fee, which took the form of offerings of one kind or another to the the operation of the divine power. At night, when the patients were gathered together in the long ward of the with an injunction to go to sleep and hope for dreams in which the god should appear and tell them how they might find relief. Whether hypnotism played a part in
the ritual however, cures Abaton, priests recited prayers, and then put out the lights represented god, rites religious by and The his ministers. lustrations prepared performance the suppliant of for

in like manner

faith of men in those days was so deep that they could afford to joke about it. What Don Pedro says about
Benedick fear God; in Much howsoever, Ado about it seems

jests he will make"?might

have been said with truth of

in the days at Epidaurus, it is estimated

The Nothing?" in him by not

man some

doth large

and doubtless mediaeval of the Athenians man, of Aristophanes. was The most famous of Asklepios temple were but his and shrines numerous, very

of which the Lourdes country as under the special patronage healing, and an account of

?that even before the time of Alexander there were 186 of ?them ; later the number amounted to 320. The whole territory of Epidaurus was held sacred to Apollo, just as
is the centre of the Blessed it may serve is looked Virgin. upon The idea of

atmosphere of suggestibility. by the god.

is not speak

can of cure that nothing

only was

be

conjectured; left undone several counsel

it to

is clear, an create these given

Many

inscriptions recording
of was

have been and discovered, of dreams in which wholesome

-temple may be taken as the type of the Greek shrines of

to give an

In the case of the less imaginative patients

it

the others. The temple dates from the beginning of the -fourth century bc, but the cult of the god at Epidaurus is much older than that. The buildings comprised, in addition to the temple Abaton or hospital for the pilgrims who visited the shrine in search of health. The chief feature within the temple
was ?od .proper, a Tholos or sacred well of Asklepios, and an

that the of the mystic surround influence unlikely or other of opium, by the use helped drowsy ings was vivid of Th?ophile dreams. Readers syrups, causing how the Paradis Gautier's will remember Artificiels

effect of hachisch manifested

gold, by the famous sculptor Thrasymedes

was represented seated on a throne

a great

statue

of Asklepios,

fashioned

of with

of Paros.
a

ivory

and

The

?serpent rising up towards his left hand and a dog lying on his right. These animals had a prominent place in the symbolism of the cult. The serpent has been interpreted
as signifying the spirit of the earth from which comes the

golden

power of life; as for the dog, some explain mysterious his presence by the legend that the god was guarded in forsaken by his mother ?by that animal when others hold that he was Infancy, while regarded
?as sacred because he was

on a piano a chord of actual struck thus, impressions; was magnified choir into the music of a heavenly ; a ques the tion asked in an ordinary tone became by a bystander Men and voice of doom infinite space. echoing through an eager worn out by suffering and possessed women, by when faith in the healing of Asklepios, would, power a drug, no elaborate under the of such influence need see visions. mise-en-sc?ne to make them cures are The at Epidaurus attested by wrought on stone folk the sick where stelae inscriptions placed

itself by the intensification

by
nd

licking
a more yellow to

them.
sinister snake be extinct,

Antivivisectionists medicine.
peculiar was to regarded meaning in

supposed the the

to

cure

sores

might
special Epidaurian the

perhaps
association

of
large

the dog with

harmless
as

species
valley, incarnation

of
of

which
believed

has been seen within

the last century but is now

the god and kept in the precincts of the temple. These ?reptileswere held in the greatest veneration by devotees, who fed them with cakes. Both serpents and dogs seemed
to have been trained to lick sores. The Tholos was

the cures have these been discovered. Among inscriptions cases of paralysis. recorded to be expected, are, as was case of the of paralysis One is an example interesting on the A named lame man of the mind influence body. ran off was Nikanor wide awake ; a naughty sitting " boy " Nikanor with his crutch ; but," says the inscription, got of the the power cured." and so was him, up, pursued By ; barren passages god stones were got rid of by the natural came snakes anxious that for offspring, dreamed women, nant.

seeking for relief could read them and be impressed by the power of the god. It is evident that the priests of Over forty of Asklepios knew the power of suggestion.

and lay upon their bellies, and straightway

In one case the woman dreamed

became preg
the god lifted

that

in fact, where sufferers drank the pump-room, spring?the ?healing waters. on one or gallery a portico was side The ?oa?on open a was the roof of which towards the south, supported by or row It consisted of two chambers of columns. double for women?which Dr. other wards?one for men, the

circular temple appropriately adorned with paintings of Methe (drunkenness) and Eros (love), two chief sources of -the diseases which afflict mankind. Some believe that the Tholos was the building in which was situated the sacred

her dress and touched her belly; up "

"so,"

it is added,

a son to the recall Such dreams she bore Arybdas." on their way shrine of the to a French ladies who, story cure were met famous for the of barrenness, by someone Is grand

who

told them it was no use to go there for children, as

Caton
?estimates were a

in his book, The Temples and Bitual

might have sufficed for the

of Asklepios,

accommodation

of 180 pilgrims.

Besides

these wards or dormitories there

in four each number of apartments buildings, he conjectures to have into a quadrangle, which opening from where been hostels suffering comparatively patients was or convalescents found shelter. There ailments ?light are more a ruins of which the also theatre, impressive in Greece. The Greeks of any other than those evidently

est mort. les faisait chanoine qui a pioneer in abdominal seems also to have been Asklepios a woman of a tape of his relieving Thus we hear surgery. a woman worm who of his opening thought by laparotomy, and she was two dishfuls of worms, and removing pregnant In all for abdominal of his operating abscess. successfully cases was He extracted these the wound up. duly stitched In from from the face and arrows the lung. spear-heads is said cases and the one of cure of stone, the sufferer these in his hand. to have the offending carried away object

The cure of blindness is frequently recorded and the god did not disdain to make hair grow on bald heads. A
remarkable case is recorded of the cure of gout by a gocse

knew the hygienic

effect of amusement,

was resource made of that for the application therapeutic in which the patients The open porticos at Epidaurus. lay the also knew to show that be taken may they perhaps of open-air treatment. value

and full provision

which bit the foot of the patient when he was walking about the temple and made it bleed ;we do not know whether any symbolic significance is to be attached to this
goose.

strangely like the testimonials to the skill of quacks and the virtues of secret remedies which at the present day
our landscapes feature One him commend in news so large a place and occupy which of Asklepios in the character of the medical to the admiration pro

Many

of

the

cures,

it must

be

admitted,

re&d

deface papers. should

The

or Hierophant, chief The formance of the ritual. priest, a in some of was but not always, sometimes, physician; and medical the sacerdotal -the subordinate officials has were who M. also united. characters Cavvadia, an account at the side of the temple of excavations given of that the combination of Epidaurus, however, maintains,

temple had a large staff of priests

for the per

fession is his insistence on the payment of the proper fee. Like mortal doctors he had ungrateful patients, but he knew how to deal with them. Thus a man cured of blind
ness who would many clearly of seen. not the In

the function of the priest and the physicians belongs to a late period in the history of the temple. Up to the dawn of the
?Christian era the miracle of cure was, he says,

remained so till he had performed

While cures

pay,

was

smitten recorded

blind on the

the needful ceremony.

stelae of the are god

again

and

absurdly
can be

fabulous, of simple
character.

in many
others Mention

the working
the prescription is sometimes

of suggestion and
of made

at Epidaurus
In any case, faith healing.

and the other Asklepieia

the treatment An essential was part

wrought nature was, as of it

entirely by prayer.

consists
hygienic

remedies mostly

of a dietetic

of the largely of the ceremony

physicians

as officials of the temple, but this

is excep

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I486

m?E?j555m.]

MENTAL

HEALING._fJUNE

i8,

igio?

tional. > &(ill, as time went on, the theurgic element tended more and more to give place to natural methods

this time, when? about stances of a journey, which happened among was taken to a certain Marins temple of Aesculapius, for the in such cases, as was then usual of Etruria, the hills of Aesculapius* of cure. .The religion sickness. cure of some boyish in Rome in the Roman Empire. Healing had been naturalized Faith borrowed from Greece, though under the reached but had in the old republican under influence came the times; the ancient Romans Before the Romaa. of its popularity the height Antonines throughout of Greek thought they were, as described " by Sir Clifford instances in was an of That valetudinarians, many world. age Lectures : A people en AUbutt in his FitzPatrick crazes its various but below concerning of imaginary ones; ... a folk-medicine of their in a folklore and a few years after the* trenched and disease, health largely multiplied a great of the miseries a mob of pallid deities each, as i timo of which I am own, and worshipping by speaking belief because practicable, so also partly in medicine, rather than lay a valuable, elsewhere pestilence, personating the* be reached of tbe soul might through that all the maladies of the function chief and not only every creating system of the body. subtle gateways of labour For but each. of each mean to come had stage every stage for the Romans, bodily body, -S?ljts, salvation', a? there was its peculiar deity." Every part of the body, Salvator, The of the god of bodily health, religion sanity. of then a had chance becoming even navel him the called each and just absolutely, "harmless, limb, unnecessary they son of Apollo and philanthropic the one ; that mild Even the itch had a goddess has its divine warden." The ?surviving, religion other all -or absorbing, godhead. pagan diet or herb, peculiar to itself. Tbey had no doctors, but each bead of mineral the medical of the art, salutary apparatus a family was supposed to look after his wife, his children, of the bath, came to have a< and all the varieties or abstinence, more in medicine in illness. In this household his so deep was tbe feeling, and kind of sacramental character, slaves, health, or spiritual of a moral serious minds, profit in physical healing by charms figured largely. Thus when Cato's one had of it ; the body the obvious advantages or heal a dislocation bodily reduce failed to beyond panacea, cabbage, the a quiet but handmaid,of that.case, becoming*truly,,in a green each a fracture, in the middJe, broken reed was a vast of 'Aesculapius, The soul. or*'family" priesthood while limb in the contact with held certain of in possession precious injured to be part being believed college, of all the institutions dar dories, said the the patient catne nearest, secrets Daries, medical words, perhaps, following of the ; temples Christian to the priesthood the the of of till the reed united; pagan world, astataries, Dissunapiter, pieces thank the accumulated with instances in some the god, rich these were then made into a ligature and applied to the also of a tasteful devotion, being really of centuries offerings* limb. This cured the mischief, but every day for some in a full con for the sick, administered of hospital a kind incantation had the the patient to time after and sacred happiness,, the refined repeat of the religiousness, viction already quoted or the following: Huat, hanat huat ista | of a life spent in the relieving of pain. and knowledge of a really experimental Elements progressive haut damnaustra haut domiabo ; or Huat, sista, pista so bent enthusiasm, this devout amid doubtless. there were dunnaustra. ista sis tar sis ardannabon from a direct as health of gift on the reception faithfully The worship of Asklepios was introduced into Rome in God effect take to ; but for the most part his care was held off for purposes 293 Be, when made the qity was desolate of misuse a machinery by a terrible easily capable through above by all, inspired were to In sent this fraud. dreams, Through messengers religious pestilence. extremity as to tbe cause and cure of a? information himself, Epidaurus, who brought hack with them the healer in the Aesculapius based in a belief to the sufferer, to come was supposed malady The left the form of one of the sacred snake serpents. for those who watch do sometimes, that dreams on the truth on shore now called of in the Tiber the the conditions Island, hints ship and went concerning them give many carefully, or death' disease a monastery of San Bartolomeo. On it now stands at which Island latent weak the body?those points Aurelius into it. In the time of Marcus attached to which is the large hospital ot the Fate Bene easily break may most than ever a fashionable dreams had become more these medical Frat?lli, belonging ,to the brothers of St. John of God. " intellec a man of undoubted the Orator," Ari?teides, caprice. was A conjectural of the original restoration repro ;: temple to their interpretation six disclosures has devoted tual power, Medical in duced in an illustration the British how beneficently they Galen has recorded published the really scientific ? of life; in an article The vol. entitled turniog-points in his own case, at certain Journal, i, 1908, p.. 1486, had intervened of the wise emperor in them was one of tbe frailties Evolution and a belief of the Hospital." these dreams, living ministers of sake for the himself. seem won The Partly Roman does not to have any temple dwelling to one in his actual of the god, more likely to come same like but of records of the the fame that the patient a Epidaurus, thing it was almost necessity place than elsewhere, a temple as on of of those the stelae commemorated the within character precincts nights should sleep one or more observe time he must a later day, the centre of have been found. At to his service, during which consecrated Epidaurus the priests. in Asia Minor. rules prescribedby to Pergamos transferred Of the cult was certain as waff Lares the after saluting devoutly this purpose, For the treatment there we have detailed descriptions in the set forth one on a journey, Marins before starting customary cen Sacred in OraHons of Aristeides written the second lay to tbe famous temple which on his way summer morning It was his an illness from which his lasted of the Arnus. the valley recovery tury a.D. after the hills beyond among in all much a neurasthenic He was seventeen of the pleasure hitherto ; and he had adventure years. evidently greatest early, under Starting in spite of his feverishness. we as a product are apt to consider of our modern its details, with hi? type who drove the mules, of an old serving-man, ; the guidance civilization. on the for their refreshment wife, who took all that was needful was a of usual The treatment the the under character, genial being wav and for the offering at the shrine, they went, seen for the mixture of faith healing and medical treatment, in which now and then to pluck certain flowers heat, halting of a long through a and river considerable on these high places, day upwards, first time diet, bathing, played bleeding their below sank gradually cliffs and woods or sand, and made while mud He was also anointed with sunshine, part. a white steep along came as they passed The evening to take exercise in the open air by walking barefoot and path. and it was night tbe pines, among road with many windings shone out Nor was he omitted which ; Aristeides of the says riding. the drugging lights temple, when they reached enclosure, the numberless cannot remember medicines ordert d by the gates of the sacred before upon them, pausing in the air. to a singular purity alive became the god. But he attributed the greater part of his oure to while Marius audible, was the thing only about the place of water A rippling of the god. Faith and medi agency (the healing ' healing to one Greek speaking till two priestly figures, as they waited manner in a somewhat in the comical cine are mixed and clearfy into a large, white-walled them admitted ? another, a : his of from to he simple while passage Eulogy in which, Asklepios following partook lighted guest-chamber, to feet still seemed in the visitations supper, Marius the leadiDg part the wonderfal but wholesomely prepared plays Truly hills. the to among attained had one man drink pypsum, the height hem aoother -He.makes they of the god. pleasantly one thing only sense of all this was id cold water, spoiled by another has to strip and wasb The agreeable when lock, while the form of a> I myself heat. have been honoured ; for it was under old fear of serpents think he needed ?his you would last definite the and to Borne, come had in this way. He has stopped catarrh and cbilJs by river and sea that Aesculapius serpent had been,a he fell asleep before head cured with of .his weary ; when ; he has bathing prostration loDg walks thought Borae said as he was appear, that the god* might food for some time he has added purging I have been without dread either ; one of those or perhaps this hideous I have been unable I have been told to to do, under aspect, to breathe, times and when in the sacred plac?, snakes themselves, kept read and write.1 great sallow-hued as be had also heard was usual. a cry,, six or seven centuries and The cult of Asklepios he awoke?with lasted, feverish dreaming And after an hour's a the room bearing of the had entered of Epidaurus for cures that the reputation for someone it would seem, equalled approached of the youthful figure which or modern The footsteps of mediaeval shrines. Walter famous most light. afterwards, Ever real. certainly sat by his bedside were and Pater's picture of the methods of healiog pursued in the but of some unhoped-for in his mind arose when the thought , in of between at the transition sea, would a storm in period like blue sky Aesculapius Temples entire relief from distress, which, countenance and is worth. here. In of that gracious the memory quoting come back Christianity paganism air of pre ' the Epicurean of its gaze, had yet a certain he says : , Marins amid all the kindness first the for now so that he seemed over him, dominance his healthful almost That morbid have idealism/and It would religious of his spirit. master the found have to time were 3d by the circum ove of the country, both alike now sat beside hink develop of him who to be the servant sweet been 1 1 op. cit. ' Mary Hamilton, speaking.

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J?NE

i8,

iflio.]

MENTAL

HEALING.

[k?5??SXal

1487

a lesson from what was He caught then said, still somewhat a lesson in the skilled cultivation of life, of ?beyond his years, to be the aim of the of seemed which opportunity, experience, sum of them, through recommendations. The young priest's as might of argument, intervals various forgotten really have in a dream, was the precept, times many repeated ?happened a varied under of of the diligent aspects, promotion slightly as in the eye would of the eye, inasmuch lie for him capacity the determining influence of life; he was of the number of in the words those who, of a poet Who came be long after, must " of the made love visible The discourse by perfect beauty." was conceived from the point of view of a theory Marins ? found in PJato's which men's ^afterwards Phaedrus, supposes spirits manner to certain after the of influences, .diffused, ?susceptible or persons rstreams or currents, by fair things visibly present or children's faces?into the air around aren fields, for instance, in the case of some peculier like potent tfeem, acting, natures, seer as and to material. the themselves essences, conforming some cunning This in itself so with physical necessity. theory, in a range of methodical determined ?fantastic, had however ' and here there from their altogether quaintsuggestions, minuteness. And throughout, circumstantial the possibility of " as of a new city coming rsome vision, down like a bride out of a vision still it might seem, a long way off, heaven," indeed, one day to the eyes thus trained, was but to be granted perhaps as the motive this of direction. laboriously practical presented "If thou wouldst have all about thee like the colours of some so the discourse fresh ?picture in a clear recommenced light," a in "be after in love, pause, notions, temperate thy religious in wine, in all things, and of a peaceful heart with thy fellows." To keep the eye clear by a sort of exquisite personal alacrity even to his dwelling-place <atod cleanliness, ; to dis extending ever more and more form and criminate select fastidiously, in things from what was less select; colour to meditate much on objects, on beautiful more visible con objects, especially, in the of youth?on children at play nected with the period in on the trees on the young morning, early spring, animals, ever by him of young men and amusements fashions ; to keep a graceful if it Were but a singla choice or sea animal flower, of the whole of shell, as a token and representative kingdom su oh things;, to avoid jealously, in his way the world, through to should circumstance and, any everythingrepugnant sight; converse in the range of such objects, to tempt him to a general from that circumstance at any cost of place, ?disentangle himself or were in Such brief outline the duties <money, opportunity. the rights in this new formula of life. demanded, recognized, And it was delivered with conviction ; as if the speaker verily /saw into the recesses of the mental and physical of the being his own expression of perfect had in l?st?ner,~iwhile temperance of purity, element merely power?the negative at^a .fascinating mere from taint or flaw, in exercise as a positive freedom tjie influence.'* when Marins read the Charmides? Long afterwards, of Plato, into which he seems ex ?that other dialogue1 to have the old of Greek very genius pressed temperance?the image of came back vividly this speaker before to take the chief him, ?part in the conversation. It was as a'weighty sanction of such in almost temperance, visible itself with symbolism (an outward imagery identifying unseen that the memory of that night's double moralities), of the great the dream sallow snake and the experience, utterance of the young priest, returned to always him, and the made him therein involved contrast revolt with unfaltering from the bare thought instinct in sleep, or diet, or of an excess -even in matters of taste, still more from any excess of a coarser ?nd. he awoke again, still in the exceeding When freshness he had and now in fall sunlight, felt on his arrival, it was as if his had really departed with sickness the terror of the night ; a con fusion had passed from the brain, a painful dryness from his hands. was a to be alive and as there he and in bathed ; Simply delight the fresh water set ready for his use, the air of the room about him seemed like pure gold, the very shadows rich with colour. : at length, by one of the white-robed he Summoned, brethren, went out to walk in the temple garden. on either At a distance, out to him the Houses ?side, his guide pointed of Birth and Death, erected for the reception of women about to become respectively mothers and of persons about to die ; neither of those incidents as was allowed to the actual of denle, ?being thought, precincts His visitor the shrine. of the previous he saw nowhere night Bat among the official ministers of the place there was ?gain. as of great saw whom Marins -one, already marked celebrity, in later days -often at Rome, now the physician about Galen, 30 years old. He was the hood partly over drawn standing, his as Marias the holy and his face, beside well, guide it. approached This famous well or conduit, cause of the temple and primary its surrounding was supplied institutions, by the water of a spring out of the of the shrine. foundations iflowing directly rocky From the rim of its basin rose a circle of trim columns to sup a of singular and full of itself port lightness grace, cupola .reflected light from the rippling surface, through which might toe traced the wavy figure-work of the marble lining below as stream the of water rushed in. Legend told of a visit of to this earlier and than his first .Aesculapius happier place, to Rome around the cupola recorded it ; an -coming inscription " in letters of gold. come unto this place the son of God Being loved it exceedingly" Dei maxime amavit filius :?Hueprofectus Ihunc locum;?-and human it was then that that most intimately of the gods had the well, all with its salutary given men itself when received into the mouth, The element prop?rties. in conwquenoe of its entire from adhering freedom organic

more like a draught of wonderfully air matter,'was pure than water; and after was told many mys tasting, Marins terious one circumstances and anothtr of the it, by concerning : he who drank well often thereof might think he bystanders had tasted of the Homeric his desire to lotus, so great became on remain that spot ; carried to other places, it was always almost of conservative its fine ; nay ! indefinitely qualities a few drops amend of it would other water ; and it flowed not only with a volume so but with unvarying abundance, that the well full to the brim, stood always oddly rhythmical whatever answer from be drawn to quantity might it, seeming with of service like a true to human strange needs, alacrity and pupil creature of the philanthropic the god. Certainly around little find crowd seemed to in refreshment singular on The it. whole influenced gazing appeared sensibly place and healthful the amiable of the thing. All the objects spirit by of the country were there at their freshest. In the great park like enclosure for the maintenance of the sacred animals offered were the and trees allowed to grow with grass convalescent, by a kind of graceful all was wonderfully wildness; otherwise, And nice. seemed in that freshness to have moral something as if it acted upon the body and the merely its influence, bodily of and the to the powers ; through intelligence apprehension, saw no more end of his visit Marins serpents. A lad was just then drawing water for ritual uses, and Marins as he returned him more followed from the well, and more of all he saw on his way through impressed by the religiousness a long cloister or corridor, the walls hidden under wellnigh votive favours from the son of Apollo, inscriptions recording a distant in and with of incense the air, explained fragrance an open doorway when he turned aside through into the temple as the refined itself. His heart bounded and dainty magnifi cence of the place came upon him in the flood of suddenly, with the ceremonial here and early sunshine, burning lights a and withal of sacred there, order, a sur singular expression cleanliness and Certain prising priests, men whose simplicity. countenances bore a deep impression each of cultivated mind, were gliding with his little group of assistants, to round silently their salutation the the closed to perform morning god, raising in the air, as thumb and finger of the right hand with a kiss came on their and went sacred business, their bearing they frankincense and lustral water. Around at such a the walls, as a level that the worshippers in the read, book, might story ran of the god and his sons, the brotherhood of the Asclepiadae, a series of imageries, in low relief, their delicate light and shade being heightened of here and Fullest there with gold. as if in this place the chisel of inspired and sacred expression, indeed dealt not with marble the artist had the very but with breath of feeling and thought, was the scene in which the earliest were of the sons of Aesculapius into transformed generation now abide for to too dreams; "grown healing longer glorious among men, by the aid of their sire they put away their mortal and came into another indeed into bodies, yet not country, nor into the Islands of the Blest. But Elysium being made the like to the immortal to about gods, through pass they began thus far from their first form that they appear world, changed have seen them in many persons young, as many eternally places ?ministers and heralds of their to and fro over father, passing like gliding the earth, stars. Which the most indeed, is, thing " them ! in this scene, as through wonderful And concerning all its crowded out the series, with noted on Marins personages, the same peculiar almost the carved faces of unction, union was of hilarity, with a certain and which reserve, self-possession in the living ministrants around him. conspicuous ex voto, In the central or pedestal, space, upon a pillar hung, of the the richest with stood personal ornaments, image surrounded choice himself, Aesculapius by flowering plants. It presented the type, still with of the of the something severity earlier art of Greece about it, not of an aged and crafty phy a but of earnest and of sician, carrying youth, strong aspect, an ampulla or bottle in one hand, and in the other a traveller's one a pilgrim and his among staff, pilgrim worshippers; of the ministers One to Marius this pilgrim explained guise. source chief had been of the master's of healing knowledge of the remedies observation resorted to by animals labouring under disease or pain?what leaf or berry the lizard or dormouse fellow for long years ; to which purpose lay upon its wounded he had led the life of a wanderer, in wild The boy took places. as the last comer, a little way behind of his place the group in front of the image. with who stood There, worshippers of his two hands raised and open before face, the palms uplifted it at the has recorded him, and taught by the priest (Aristeides to the Inspired Dreams: end of his Asclepiadae), " the O ye children ! who in time past have stilled of Apollo waves of sorrow for many up a lamp of safety lighting people, in before travel by sea and those who be your land, pleased, in glory with ye be equal condescension, your great though be and your lot in immortal elder brethren the Dioscuri, youth as theirs, in sleep and vision to accept which this prayer, ye to your have inspired. Order it a right, I pray you, according me to men. sickness Preserve from ; and loving-kindness it endue my body with of health as may suffice such a measure I may of the for the obeying that pass my days spirit, unhindered and in quietness." the shrine of his visit Marius entered On the last morning had been who the priest again, and just before his departure a his director his lifting during stay at the place, special one which the back of the formed of cunningly-contrived panel, he saw was like the What carved seats, bade him look through. vision of some unsuspected of a new world, by the opening in a familiar window He looked out upon a long dwelling place?

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1438

uSSSSSS^l_MENTAL

HEALING._

[June

8, 1910.

of singularly drawn cheerful valley aspect, hidden, by the from all points of observa conformation of the locality, peculiar a In but meadow this. at the foot of the steep olive tion green the novices were clad rooks below, their exercise. The taking sides of the vale alike in full sunlight, and its lay softly-sloping distant opening was dosed by a beautifully-formed mountain, the last wreaths of morning from which mist were rising under It might have seemed the very presentment the heat. of a land its hollows brimful of a shadow of blue flowers of hope, ; and lo ! in a long dark line, were on the one level space of the horizon, : a and was dome was or and that towers it? asked Pisa, Rome, the utmost, in his excitement. Harius, ready to believe as he understood in retrospect, All this served, afterwards at and to purify a certain vein of character once to strengthen in the ideal, pre-existent him. a of Developing there, religious associated for the future with the exquisite of beauty, splendour as it dawned the temple of Aesculapius, upon him on that morn his first of that ideal in connexion with visit?Undeveloped ing and bodily a vivid sense of the value of mental And this sanity. even for the aesthetic of the beauty, sense, of mere recognition now bodily health, operated aoquired, as an afterwards influence morally counter salutary, the less de acting or hazard sirable of ous tendencies of some phases through thought, to he was which pass. Christianity the Ancient Gods. and

i and St. Benedict appeared to him in a dream, and with a cut into the bladder? surgeon's knife (ferro medicinali) placed
wound. apparently^

it in the King's
In several

by

the

suprapubic of the

route?extracted cures recorded

the at Epidaurus

hand, and forthwith

stone?

healed

the
it is?

mentioned that the stone, spearhead, or other body removed was found in the patient's hand when he awoke. Henry told the story to Benedict VIII, who thereupon crowned him? The himself a somewhat different Emperor. Pope gives version in a letter, in which he says that Henry had been? troubled with doubts whether St. Benedict was actually "Not buried at Monte Oassino. being fully asleep from? pain by which he was grievously afflicted, nor yet fully. awake, the most Blessed Father Benedict appeared to him, and asked where his pain was. When he had fully explained it, the most blessed Benedict said,( I know thou? hast hitherto doubted whether I rest here, but this shall be a Bign to thee? that my body and that of my sister (St. Scholastica> are in this place. t h o u> When arisest this day thou shalt pass three large stone?
in egestione urinae tuae, and

thenceforth shalt from? be free the morning told monarch the story to the*
brethren, showed pain.* In the

The last refuge

was of paganism of in the shrines

healing.
gods were

The old
gradu

supplanted ally by Christian

saints.

the three stone* of which he had

got rid."1

were replaced by
where churches, wor was Christ

Temples

This shows the* in the legend

making. story Even

shipped as the Healer, who did His beneficent work through the of His agency saints. Districts had their special patrons, and their shrines vied with in each other
Incu popularity. bation continued,

in this form the*

has a coun

though terpart, in a less edifying

form, on the

stelae
daurus, a man

at
where who

Epi
it

is recorded

that
had

and can be traced throughout

Europe, Minor, Asia and

Egypt. method
bation much

of

The inou

in the stone bladder dreamed that he was lying with a boy. He passed the stone and went his way holding it in hifik
hand.

remained same the

The genera) character of the

diseases cured at

as in the pagan the Christian? The Emperor operated on by St. Benedict. Henry The is the shrines temples. A Sculpture at Bamberg Die Karikature und Satire (about 1510). From Eugen Hollander's same as that patient had first in der Medizin, 1905. Stuttgart, to go through a given in the pagan coarse of vigils, prayer, and fasting. are as meagre aa those This preliminary the of records. The accounts " testimonies " of Christian Science and other modern spiritual purification was gone through at the tomb or before the image of a saint. In this way the patient was methods of spiritual healing, but the prominence of suitable brought to a state of mind and body most lameness, blindness, and paralysis is striking. A special for the operation of hypnotism was and self - suggestion. of Christian feature and the cure of lunacy churches The patient was sometimes cured in a vision; either nervous forms of other various which diseases, among an operation was performed by the saint, or the disease are conspicuous. epilepsy was cured by the laying on of a healing hand. In The casting out of devils was a common subject with? cases other the saint appeared in a dream and gave direc painters employed to decorate churches under the patronage for a cure, prescribing a certain tions course of treatment. of special saints; how some of the greatest Italian closely cure was Sometimes as at artists followed nature in this matter is well explained by wrought instantaneously, Dr. Paul Riches in his copiously illustrated work, L'Art et Lourdes, by the mere presence of the patient in the holy leu m?decine. The demoniacs lived in the abdrehest where place. There is a striking parallel to the surgical cures attributed to Asklepios in the case of the German Emperor the rite of exorcism was performed on them every day? Sufferers from various diseases also took up their abode in Henry II, of whom it is told that in 1041, being in sore a church, it might be formonths or even years. Such a. suffering from stone in the bladder which the doctors could not relieve, he betook himself to the famous 1 B. T. Medical Times. the Earliest Withington. History from London. MDOOCIV. monastery of Monte Cassino. There he prayed fervently

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June

i8,

I?IO.J

MENTAL of the
and

HEALING. 17th, 1899.

bronze

liSS??SS,? The donaria consisted for the most

in marble or representations

I489 part of
cotta

system of resident patients implies the maintenance a large establishment. Hospices and baths adjoining
churches are frequently mentioned in the narratives,

statuettes

or terra-

great crowds came to invoke the saints, filling the hospices and sacred buildings? The healing saints were mostly general practitioners;
but -and

St. Roch

many skin,

were

of the parts of the body which had been the seat pf disease. They were thrown into the water of the sacred spring, or hung about the walls of the temple or round the statue of the god. When they had accumulated to an
inconvenient

for plague, St. Baynald

St. Dodon for rheumatism,

specialists,

as

St.

Lazarus and so

for forth.

for diseases of the eye

The

leprosy,

wells
from

or buried in the ground, from which

time to time recovered. great. They Terra-cotta are mostly

extent,

they

were

put

away

in small

caves

or are

they are now

images of very rude

photograph (which we owe to the kindness of Dr. George kernet) reproduced below gives some other names ; the list Sometimes the attribu might be extended indefinitely. tion had its origin, as in the case of St. Lazarus, in the fact that the saint had suffered from the disease which he cured ; sometimes, as in St. Roch, from his that|of alive shown particular zeal in tending fiaving while
sufferers, part often from some accidental circumstance in a

naturally
represented

the most
is very

numerous ; and the variety of objects

workmanship, but many of them are interesting as showing the notions of the anatomy of the human form which were
current and old Romans. the Etruscans terra The among were in various cotta figures red colours, painted generally are uncommon and blue. donaria Marble ; bronze figures are fairly numerous?

resemblance
affected.

between

his name

and the disease

or the

Another

form of the ex-voto was

a tablet of wood or

Miracles were regarded as a the Almighty possessed by the ?egional jealousies naturally led An attempt to authenticate

test of the influence with saints, and national and to the growth of legends. miracles has for some

on which were terra-cotta miraculous representing paintings cures. Such at the present be seen tablets may day in churches in Italy, countries and other Southern ; and Spain, are often the altars covered with donaria in wax and silver.

Rouse

in his work

on Greek Votive Offerings1 classifies

"5TM AM CRT 6t. Mamerfc cures The Six Healing op Notre Saints Dame du Haut (C?tes du Nord). ; St. Houarniauce, abdominal St. Livertin, headache who is holding a wolf on leash, cures ailments; cures madness; the bite of mad dogs; ht. Lubin comforts all who are afflicted. St. Hubert, in the act of canonization, where fear; St. Meen

?centuries

been

made

?the advocatus didboU plays the part of the historical -critic. Notwithstanding this the Roman Breviary, though partly expurgated by Leo XIII, still contains a number of stories which are stones of stumbling to the faithful. Some saints are credited with miracles performed in infancy which irresistibly recall the statement referred to by Yorick that the great Lipsius composed a work the he was born. "They should have wiped it up," day said My Uncle Toby, " and said no more about it.1'
Votive Offerings.

the offerings in the Greek temples which commemorate a deliverance from sickness under the following heads: (1) The Image of the Deliverer; (2) the Image of the Person delivered; (3)Representative of the Act or Process; cures He says that the Epidaurian (4) Miscellaneous. would have been rejected by Plato or Sophocles as by any educated man of to-day ; such as these and most of the richer citizens went to the doctors. But the ordinary Greek was simple and tried the faith cure, which was at
in accordance and more tradition. with cheaper officials "we he set aside the who "If," temple says, of the dedi would most naturally BUpport the establishment, names which lack the demotic cators' ; adjective imply may or humble not citizens of that they were tradesmen, foreigners, Or the temple might be the last resort of those who Athens. could get no relief from the physicians," Incubation ancient Greece may in Modern be got from Greece. once

In the old shrines of healing, as in the new, the votive ?offering plays a prominent part. The walls of the Greek Uegs, necks, breasts? and other parts of the body which had been healed. These were made of precious metal or
as such baser material votive "These offerings, vprobably of more the grateful doubtless, patients resembled A afford. could the donaria Asklepieia were adorned with representations of arms,

A good idea of the rites practised

in the Asklepieia

of

observances

of a kindred

found in the old Roman temples of Aesculapius,

artistio workmanship.

but were
of

collection

t?aese donaria was described by Dr. Louis Sambon in the British Medical Journal of July 20th and 27th, 1895, and some specimens were reproduced in the Journal of June

in some of the character which are still to be witnessed more remote islands of the Greek archipelago. Miss Jane
in Greek who is a recognized archaeo Harrison, authority 1Greek Votive Offerings. in the History An Essay of Greek Religion. 1902. Cambridge.

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H9?

' ii' ' | ? 'm ii m "

i . '. p. i i.h

mS?ES5*J
function fairly in the

MENTAL
of island' of the

HEALING.

fJ?NB

iS, igio.

at a religious present logy, was as be taken which Tenos, may

rites of healing at Epidaurus and the other shrines of Asklepios, though shorn of the beauty of art and the
pomp of^the full

representative

a weird are of them, many present spectacle: They or most of them exceedingly lame, not a few blind paralytic, accommo are very The houses full, and sleeping dirty. a night is nowhere to he had. of it, make dation Many

continue to do so far into the night.

of a richly feast, and

endowed pilgrims

shrine. It is, she been have arriving

says, all

the day,

eve and

The whole

place is

and the caf?s do a roaring trade.

streets, and whole night is one

Dancing
long unrest.

begins in the
Meanwhile for the secured

the Church plays

afternoon, reception

its part.

Service has been held in the

In the?? wells are found in Scotland. Many children's * in former times many there were Scottish Highlands One of the springs famous for their healing properties. most noted of these places was Saint Fergan's Well,, in near Kirkmichael, of Knockfergan, in the Hill Even in the middle of the the Banff shire Highlands. eighteenth century this well was the resort of pilgrims* in search of health. Like all the other springs in . took, it had a guardian spirit which the Highlands, to custom, the strange form of a fly. According all who drank the water of this well were expected be to leave an offering to the spirit, which might in the form of money, pins, or bits of cloth. The author Mountains ; of the of a book entitled, Lectures on the High
lands of and

places in these, and amidst the lurid flame of quickly-pre pared fires, the night is passed in cooking food and attending
to the wants and cries of the children. Bound the sacred

and vast colonnades been have prepared The more have of patients. fortunate

published
these

in London
ex-votos.2

.Highlanders

as

in 1860, remembers having seen some

According to Miss Mary Hamilton,?'

TJiey

Were

and

as

They

Are,

well the crowd is thickest.

The ceremony begins with

the hanging of rags on a tree or bush as a token of a disease left behind, or a sign of the suppliant's desire
for a Minor oneself Speyside

which its way the of priests, threads among procession or whose is to be touched worshippers, object actually or sacred over by the bearer of the Eikon, walked image. of cures Next lists accomplished printed during morning

the belief

is a widespread cure, at the present day.

that an evil
inanimate numerous cure

in Greece and in Asia custom of the custom The ia origin the agency of a rag.. a Over of

thing

can be transferred from

to

the night are published

itself may be seen

by the priests.
of votive

In the church
in the form

numbers

springs. " " at St. Mary's Orton was chappel wall century ago the renowned the wells for the

an had

object by miraculous

on in testimony the disease, there of cures wrought placed is exact, former for vast Here* too, the parallel suppliants. of such of gold, of them made numbers exvotos, many excavated from the ruins of the Asklepieia. have been church The at Tenos is comparatively recent, having

of limbs or other parts of the body, which were the seat of

offerings,

the eyes and joints. drink the waters

too, votive 11 mutches," suffering

Two miles

of whooping-cough also

and

diseases

further down
the who resort were of

the river
children* to* little

were at Alt-Hash from whooping-cough, offerings or caps,

in the month
of pins, were left

been erected in 1821 at the outbreak of the War of Inde

pendence. To-day shrines of healing, it is the most and may perhaps famous of be regarded the Greek as having

inherited the virtues of the temple of Apollo at Delos, which is in its near neighbourhood. Miss Mary Hamilton1 gives accounts of similar pilgrimages which she has had the opportunity of seeing inmany parts of the islands and
mainland of Greece. Healing Wells.

Here itmay not be out of place to say something about the wells which are a feature in all shrines of healing, The belief in the relation of wells ancient and modern. with the healing of disease is a very old one. The Pool of Bethesda may perhaps be referred to in connexion with In the old temples bathing was prescribed not this belief. only for purification before the influence of the god was
invoked, but as a means there of treatment.

* We have the testimony of the late Sir Arthur Mitchell to the fact that the adoration of wells continues in Scotland largely at the present day. It may, he says, be encountered in all parts of Scotland from John o' Gr?ats to the Mull of Gallo way. The well on Innis Maree, which the in 1656, is? Dingwall Presbytery condemned at a meeting still an object of adoration. When Sir Arthur Mitchell? visited it, some fifteen years before the date of his book,, he found numerous offerings fastened to the tree which stands beside it. The bush above Craeguck Well, in the had not ceased to be worshipped.
used crowds whereas formerly and the pilgrimage first of May are comparatively the visitors days in earnest. are generally parish there, of Aboch, and he saw was with covered at least a dozen wells rags when in Scotland he was which,

even and coins, rags, as tokens of gratitude.

of May.

At these weite,

brought

on the to go to these wells nowa as a frolic, ended those who few and go

He goes on to say that,

In

1872 among

the ruins of the so-called

were discovered the remains

baths
of

of
a

Heliogabalus

small sacred edifice of the fifth century generally believed to have been the churoh of Saint Cesario in Palatio. From this building a steep staircase leads directly down to a well whose construction is said to belong to the republican
era.*Tt

with certain healing qualities and played its part in certain rites and ceremonies practised in the Middle Ages. Similar
instances of such wells in Christian

is supposed

that

the water

of this well

was

credited

The site of a famous temple of Aesculapius^ on wanting. the island of the Tiber, is now occupied by the church of
San Bartolomeo. Under the altar of this

churches,

are

not

about the ninth century on the ruins ancient well, which was undoubtedly, rites of incubation. Grateful patients into these wells. Justinian built, out
remained over

of the Well"

of the temple, is an connected with ihe used to throw coins of the stone which " from St. Sophia, the church of ' St. Mary This well, at Balukli, near Constantinople.

church,1

built

was discovered at the time of Leo the Great, already cures effected celebrated for the miraculous by" its waters. are in be Even found to Crete, Cyprus, springs to-day holy in Greece and many and throughout other places Europe.

Wells were
the

in

especially credited with

of children. Mr.

therapeutic virtues
C. Hope, in his

diseases

B.

Legendary
,wells; subject

Lore

of Old England,

enumerates

139 such

which appeared in the Journal of January 11th, 1908. Some thirty wells in Cornwall are said by Mr. and Mrs. In some Quiller Couch to be curative of sick children.
foreign diseased countries, children as are in often and Servia, Slavonia, Syria, for treatment. taken ; to wells 1Op. ci,

Dan McKenzie and Dr. in a paper published

the whole has discussed an abstract of in Folk-Lore,

That to attain. they desire They have ai serious object, which little of some poor to health the restoration is usually object the cure of sick bairn." child?some Indeed, "back-gane Anxious of these wells. of many virtue is a special children to some well of fame, and early in make mothers long journeys in its invalid little the bathe of the 1st of the morning May of the into them by the hands then drop an offering waters, a coin?and attach a. a pebble, but sometimes child?usually bit of the child!s dress to a bush or tree growing by the side of have Softer? bashes see to such fastened w? The the well. rags Parir children. of young been torn from the dresses manifestly tells , of a bib or little pma(ore ,the sad story of a sorrowing thai? heart makes the and a suffering grieve mother child, and had been to one of these wells than a visit better nothing One the suffering. and remove the sorrow to relieve found in a spirit of faith and feature of the visits paid to these wells are is sure to that I of like those as visits be, speak ' earnestness, It is well or less secret. enough understood they are kept more is not a Christian one, and that the engaging business that'the is There be easy to justify. it would > in it is not a thing which as an empty, been not that it has a consciousness gone about ', an acknow it involved has that but ceremony,: meaningless human' affairs, of a supernatural power controlling ledgement rites and offerings?a power different and influenced by-certain ? Hence it Christians. is acknowledged that which by from to to oonfess in getting that there is a difficulty people happens still in getting a greater and of-course difficulty these visits, and beliefs them to speak freely and frankly about the feelings that led to them. saints of Christian have the names of these wells Some in which there was knew a case to them, but I never attached were wells of these to the saint. Many any prayer or appeal of the country. the Christianizing before of adoration objects of over as levers them The taking by early missionaries, in trying to be doing wisely themselves believed regeneration, Their them. to to the respect paid to give a new direction and been complete to have does not seem however, success, lasting. 2British November 13th, 1909, p. 1421. Medical Journal, 8Op. cit. 4The Vzitand 80 :Wha': is Civilization? Edinburgh. the Trjseni

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JUNE i8,

19*0.]

MENTAL

HEAUNG.

[mSSSSSSL*

*49I

Speaking of other superstitious practices still common in Scotland and unquestionably of pagan origin, Mitchell to suppose that the says it would be a great mistake persons who practise these rites with just belief in their ignorant, and a still greater efficacy are the grossly " On , to suppose that they are the irreligious, mistake
the

too, observing, and tolerably well-educated people?people, who necessarily participate in all the advantages of the
advanced civilization of their

contrary,

they

are

often

church-attending,

sacrament

3 rickets, 2 wasting, 1 convulsions. Other wells were? credited with the quality of bringing milk to the breasts of young mothers ;others, again, of making delivery easy. The offerings brought by pilgrims consisted in eggs, cheese, and some small money. It was believed that only the poor could pick up these offerings ;a well-to-do person who stole* them got at the same time the disease of which the pilgrim had been cured.
Lourdes.

Of healing wells St. Winefrid? at . the Holywell,

curativo virtues

inWales

the most

country."

celebrated

is that of

Lourdes may modern healing

be looked upon as the type of the shrine, as Eoidaurus has been taken as that of the
ancient world.

of which
:proclaimed

were
some

At the present time it is the

most age It famous in existence. is a curious

years ago by that prophet of

the marvellous, Mr.W.T. Stead.

place of pilgrim fact that shrines of healing have their periods of splendour; they suffer eclipse
from time

In France the cult of the well dates back to a time before the conquest of Gaul by the Romans. The district of
Morvan mir a c u

ticularly rich in
1 ous

is par

springs, and it is only within

recent

. time to as newer of devo places come tion into and fashion, sooner or later almost in they: ' ff<?*\ J .. I ?mimmmmiu-mmm \?'!!! Lourdes :The ?. ?a Groito. antiquity, and it happens now. : ' '"ll1""1"11 .MIIIT '"'VnLLir-rl^1:fiT 7"111-'"."

that
ber of

the num
sufferers

years,

to resorting them has begun to diminish. Most of these wells are under the protection of a saint, bnt the belief in their It is, curative virtues is much older than Christianity. indeed, one of the primitive forms of naturalism which It existed in India, Egypt, preceded philosophic religions.
Persia, Asia, whence

Gaul, and Britain, before or with Druidism. In Gaul the their chief healing priests of Belen practised medicine, agent being the worship of water, trees and stones. After the conquest of Gaul by the Romans, the latter, ' pursuing their usual policy, adopted the native gods. After the Romans the Christian bishops had to fight the popular superstition. Notwithstand ing the fulmina tions of councils 567; (Tours, Nantes, 658 ;be sides two ordin
ances of Charle

it passed

to Germany,

Scandinavia,

became known, La Salette, which is among the mountains in the Department of Is?re, not far from Grenoble, was in great repute, though it never reached the height of popu larity enjoyed by Lourdes, the rising glory of which threw it into the shade. It has now fallen on evil days? thongh it is not altogether deserted of visitors. Lourdes lies in a beautiful valley on both sides of the Gave in the south-west of the department of the Hautes? Pyrenees, at the mouth of the gorge which, as it divides, leads to the thermal springs of Cante rats, Saint Sauveurr
and There , Bareges. are two*

This hap over and pened m over again A few years before "Lourdes?

vion.

evitably fall into* decay and obli

distinct towns? the old, or "grey

the and town," or "white new, On the town."

right
the steep

bank
river on rock

of
a

magne, 789 and Christi 794), anity could do than transform, without being able to destroy, the cult of wells. A saint was given to each of them, the old idol being
broken, or per nothing more

stands, as if in watch over the the* old town,

citadel? ancient on of Lourdes, have which succes floated ners

sively

the ban It ha?

of Romans, and Saracens, time and attacked

BBmbSIB?fflHBJ?fflBHMJWfiBttiilM Lourdes :The Basilica

iiiiBBiil?iiillllMHHU?M and Hosary Church.

***' '^w.T-*-'^-:r''(

English.
r- IP been. again

haps made to serve as the saint, and placed in the chapel built in the neighbourhood of the well. Thus at Certenue Our Lady replaced the White Lady, who was formerly the of the wells in the department of Saone-et-Loire, studyfound that has among 76 springs 30 cured fevers, 14 every kind of disease, 13 affections of visions, 4 barrenness in
women, 5 tutelary deity of the well. M. Lex, who has made a special

Middle Ages, fight during

west teries, is the shops

by great feudal in the lords and was the scene of many a bloody Further to the the wars of religion.
made town, up rosaries, medals, of churches, and other monas objects

white where

3 glands in the neck, 1 cancer, 3 diseases of the skin, 1 caries of the bones, 3 pains in the stomach, 1 indiges tion; 1 catarrh, 1 goitre, 2 all the diseases of children,

pains,

2 headaches,

1 neuralgia,

of piety are sold, and of hotels and lodging-houses* for pilgrims. The story of Lourdes has been told so often that it need only be recalled that it owes its daughter of a miller of Lourdes, who in 1858 is said, to have seen eighteen times an apparition of the Blessed The apparition said Virgin in the grotto of Massabieille,
origin to an ignorant youngjgirl, Bernadette Soubirous,,

wounds,

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1492
to her, a after " I am

m^?jSSSaJ

MENTAL

HEALING.
have

[June

i8,

xoio.
religious in shot, of gates

the Immaculate These facts, Conception." were declared ecclesiastical long inquiry, by to be authentic and miraculous, a feast and authority a special with office was for the anniversary authorized of

other the processions and that recognized and especially of prayers the vast mass functions, like the words, catapults against Huysmans's

heaven

the first

apparition

has and now in increased, pilgrims every gradually year, the month of August, the Great takes Pilgrimage place a special and requires of trains. service Churches have are and the grotto covered with up and their walls sprung ex votos. A statue in white marble of Lyons, by Fabisch, on the spot where stands seen. the first vision was To the

(February 11th).

The

number

of

by the pilgrims, must

stir the coldest

and most

tioned : the plunging of the sufferer in the sacred spring, and the benediction of the sick with the Blessed Sacrament
displayed those who is world at Lourdes.

fervour. to emotional languid we are concerned Here with of the sick. two parts Only

the effects of all this on the ritual of cure need be men

left of the grotto is the miraculous

litres

85

keep up the supply. It " is situated in a building where there is this inscription : Allez boire ? la fontaine et vous y laver. F?vrier 1858." A part of the water, which com?s
out of several

a minute. of water It was unknown and some engineering skill has been apparition,

spring which discharges

before needed the to

great that often

such

on a monstrance. can get near

The the and taps,

this

is not possible.

is also drunk water by is so but the crowding

Nowhere
disease ulcers,

in the

an The

amount rotting

ecclesiastical The whole

supplies the piscinae where patients bathe in the hope of a cure. The Bishop of Tarbes at present is the chief
authority. country about a living These Lourdes is rich in shrines. by nine de H?as, Dame

pipes,

is for the

use

of the

pilgrims.

The

rest

formities of all kinds gathered together, make up a hideous spectacle of misery that can never be forgotten ; and the stench of the discharges is enough to upset the stomachs
of more the doctors sweetly and than nurses at most Lourdes hardened enables to the the smell volunteer of

of variety limbs, gnawing

seen as and de

diseased humanity.

But the charity that nowhere flowers sinking under

attendants

J. K. Huysmans,
Lourdes says dead satellites, at Saint-Savin, Dame de

in Les foules

de Lourdes

(Paris, 1905),

Notre Dame de Piet?t at Barbazan, Notre Dame de Piet?t

Notre Dame

is like or dying.

star surrounded are Notre Dame de Poueylah?n, Notre Notre

de Bourisp, Notre Dame de Nest?s, Notre Dame de M?doux,

Notre

All these shrines are very old. The of several of these is similar to that at Notre Dame de M?doux the Blessed a young shepherdess named Liloye
B?tharram was discovered by some

B?tharram,

and

Dame

de Garaison.

legend of the origin of Lourdes. Thus, Virgin appeared to ; Notre Dame de

shepherds who

an who burden. their gives self-imposed Huysmans, " " cures des Constatations where account of the Bureau care are verified, was struck to the taken exclude all by and Dr. Cox, who have false miracles. Both Dr. Boissarie of miracles, be called the clinic of what are, he may charge on their fraud and self-deception, and says, against guard and all all cases set aside of hysteria, epilepsy, rigorously causes. due The forms to neurotic of disease obviously

to go through their work without

reality of the result is tested and precautions

its permanence by examining the

taken to
year

ascertain

found a luminous statue of Our Lady in a bush ; the shrine fell into decay, and was restored by Louis XIII. On the eve of the Assumption, 1622, the spring, which had run But now the dry years before, began to flow again. There is an ancient church at B?tharram, destroyed in the wars of religion and rebuilt at the beginning of the
patroness of the well has left it and gone on to Lourdes.

young

" " cures of the list of The official cures." record wrought at Lourdes in Dr. Boissarie's is contained book, Les grandes de Lourdes.1 work ten years is now The old, gu?risons about to appear. We but a new edition is, we understand,

after year when the opportunity is afforded till it is judged it on the that a sufficient time has elapsed to enter "

patients

may
it the is

of the book what Carlyle said of the Koran, that say "
crude, incondite," but it is of

gives

the official medical

des

evidence.
was

From it we learn that

established about 1884.

special

value,

as

it

Bureau

Constatations

seventeenth A calvary on the hill above stands century. the caves The are of B?tharram the chapel. among of France, wonders of Europe. The history and, indeed, of Notre Dame an exact de Garaison is almost anticipa

Before that time the cures were described by the clergy, who consulted the doctors of the patients, drew up the
notes and observation. make his two medical scene. The reproduced an At doctor at the end the certificates each earlier patient period and this was, the cure, verify of eaoh to used in fact,

tion of that of Lourdes ; it was, in fact, the Lourdes o? the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Of Bernadette it

nificant person, but sweet in temper and lovable. She was totally without education, and at the time of the first vision had never, it is said, heard of the Immaculate
Conception. From childhood she was the victim of severe

a simple she was soul, very only be said that stupid, and of very She is constitution. very pious, unhealthy as an who described knew those her by altogether insig need

came on the and Balencie, Drs. Dozous men, on examination a sceptic, was but former a book some years He wrote the supernatural. recognized " : J'ai cru, parce he prefixed the motto que ago, to which a Catholic, one was but did not The other j'ai vu."

the best way

of spreading the fame of Lourdes.

Then

She herself thought it best to interfere for her protection. disliked the notoriety of which she was the object? aad of her own will took shelter in the convent where she died. One feature of Lourdes which cannot fail to make a dis
agreeable is Zola, on visitors impression the and unabashed open more sympathetic commercialism than of the

of Flaubert's heroine Tin coeur seems to There simple. to doubt Dr. Balencie's be no solid reason statement that, as the incessant of visitors crowd who went to see her a strain on her which to bear, he she was unable imposed

asthma, and in 1879 she died of tuberculosis of the bones in a convent as infirmar?an. at Nevers, she worked where The life? a life of suffering story of her humble and resignation?is in Les told by J. B. Estrade apparitions de Lourdes (Tours, 1899). We need not go into the bitter controversies which have raged round this poor girl who might have been the

in an believe in the apparitions, which he described He after official report to the prefect as hallucinations.
saw reason of cure

wards

publication
certificates

of Boissarie's
at Lourdes,

to change

his mind,

and

at

the

time

of

book

(1900) he had

signed

The clinic was founded by Dr. de Saint-Maclou, of Louvain. He directed tibe clinic from 1884 to 1891.
During in the

being sometimes 30 to 35. In 1892 there was a sudden rise from 40 doctors to 130, from 50 reports to 100. In 1897 there were 220 doctors and more than 230 reports. This does not indade many who visited Lourdes incognito. of the 230 reports represent The only two-thirds coses seen by Boissarie. The total number would be about 300. At first the clinic worked only during the great April 12th till October 15th, six hours a day, and there is
often a large mixed at audience. least of the pilgrimages?two months. Now it works During six months, from pil the national

seven these office annually

years was

drawn of reports the average up of doctors 50, the number present

place.
And the

The
sale to the

pilgrim

is exploited

sums of religious vast of objects brings A particularly town. of money revolting example is a shop in a conspicuous this the name situation bearing name of Bernadette's in a like manner brother. Her is used uses may of her family. To such base the seer by others

in every possible way,

grimage Boissarie
Only names, inquiries.

sixty
Some

to eighty

doctors

sometimes

follow

the

of heavenly

visions come ! It would

to describe the province of Lourdes. Huysmans to condemn from them

be going outside our

admitted
place

the highest pitch in believers.

is admirably

that what we may call the management

fitted to arouse

and religious institutions churches find words cannot strong enough an artistic of view, but he point religious excitement

of the
to

at is done work preliminary are taken, and and certificates come As the doctors is noted. patient or province is no town there France, or three there. Two representatives are brought That would each year. to thirty thousand, bearing twenty-five

says all) bring

their own doctors with

larger

pilgrimages

(Dr.

them.

Lourdes; addresses, of the the condition of from every part not sent that has certificates thousand in ten years make of twelve the names

Even

unbelievers

like Zola

1Edition dans le texte et de 24 gravures illustr? de 140 similigravures Ancienne Maison Charles Douniol. hors texte sur papier couch?. Paris : de Rue P. T?qui, Libraire-Editeur, Tournon, 29. 1900. 29,

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JUNB 18,

iQio.]_MENTAL All countries in the

HEALING._\h^?j5!5ux

H93

to fifteen thousand different doctors.

and America, send pilgrims to world, including England As regards the attitude of the doctors, Lourdes. there are some who are convinced, some who wish to examine without some who will not listen to anything, others who prejudice, are the irreconcilables, says Dr. Boissarie, Among annoyed. are it is rare to find names known to science well ; they

which are the mere despair of medical art. But even if we admit that cures have been wrought that cannot be explained in the light of present knowledge, they are very few in number, and the evidence is doubtful. " The secret of good statistics ?f "miracles lies, as in
less tion such tion late occult provinces of cases. These as is dependent "miracle." R. J. of

mostly
fessors

doctors who have drifted

and others listen and

into politics.
During

The pro
five

observe.

the

or

tional disorder, or, if there be organic mischief,

on nervous A disturbance.

the healing art, in the right should be instances of purely "

selec func

it should be "
Neurosis the the

six years preceding the date of his book there were 30 pro fessors of faculties, 15 in medical schools, 15 physicians to 20 members the Paris hospitals, of the Academy of Medicine, 20 doctors of the university of London, 15 pro
fessors senators hasty " in a certain and number faculties, foreign and deputies. there was Then Zola, who put into the form observations of a novel. Naturally " of his he

may

indeed in general
for Dr.

terms be laid down as the indica

Roman who Catholic physician, was of President

explains everything, but he has to admit certain facts which in the present state of knowledge can only be regarded as riddles. The special point about the Lourdes
miracles

racter.
?in one

critically

when sifted case

they happen?which is not often?is with, in another outside

when the evidence is their instantaneous cha without, scarring?facts

The sudden healing of a face destroyed by lupus

is

vouched for by Boissarie

patients, it is not, intervention. been cured perhaps,

and by Huysmans,

who

saw the
But

he saw there into two categories.2 In one of were and in them neurotic, symptoms purely he said, the rule. The other consisted of was, recovery in whom examination the per detected "persons easily of organic sistence but whose condition disease, general was In the former of the group most improved." greatly cases were of hysterical latter ; in the examples paralysis cases of osteo-arthritis circumstance predominated?a which the

Section at the Annual Meeting of the Psychological British Medical Association held at Dublin in 1887, in 1894, classified the who paid a visit to Lourdes
cases these

Gasquet,

which

Dr.

Gasquet
the

says

is

" not

without
the

interest
disease."

of the leg, at Oostacker, the Belgian Lourdes,

be placed in another category. a considerable distance apart. being the evidence altogether convincing. Here

altogether ordinary experience. a result of supernatural therefore, necessarily case The of Peter de Budder, said to have of a compound fracture of both bones suddenly The we wound not

in 1875, may,
do find

is

said to have been open eight years, the ends of the bones The sudden cure of phthisis
may be at fault,

is not so difficult a riddle.

the cure may not be so

The

sudden as it appears to be.

diagnosis

and

bone may diseased to the patient to be instantane appear in reality the process has taken place gradually ous, when a scab. A case of this kind under Zola, puzzled evidently who of the cure, and therefore, could not the reality deny

The healing

of sinuses due to

left it unexplained.

It must be remembered

that most

of

though the discovery of what has happened comes only when the bandages fall off in the sacred spring. Of the
cure again is a number of cancer there of examples comes in the question of diagnosis. The source of fallacy. ; but surgeon here of

cases are are poor and whose ; patients reported dirty are not often and it is conceivable that bandages changed, the cure may be wrought the slow forces of Nature, by the

a serious

largest experience will be the readiest to admit that this is

cases of most the effects interesting illustrating which mental shock may have on the body will be found in Hack Tuke's Illustrations of the Influence and Disease of the Mind upon the Body i/n Health these 1872). The analogy which (London: Churchill,
in which there is no suggestion of thaumaturgie cases, to the miracles at shrines and influence, present wrought one can is so striking that avoid the con temples, hardly

were he saw at Lourdes in one way or evidently, on the due to the of the mind influence another, body." as all medical can This is influence, testify, " practitioners " as striking as those of working miracles in the capable A powerful or records of any shrine. mental emotion cure cases will of functional shock often paralysis, hys are the terical similar and which contracture, conditions, mere of medicine. Gout has been despair literally and strong out of a man, emotion has restored frightened the that had been still for years. sound of a voice We seen a woman have who had ourselves voiceless long been cured of her the mere of the introduction aphonia by and the told by Herodotus mirror; laryngoscopic story son who of the King's "burst the bonds of his voice" saw when he his father about to be slain before A his credible. is number eyes large entirely which

This is just what might Of course, be expected. persons afflicted with other infirmities go to Lourdes. Dr. Gasquet admits that the great majority of the cures "

considering

neurotic

affinities

of

of cures.1 There proportion " " cures to which particular

It is significant that the largest number of ex votos are crutches ; it may safely be conjectured that the crutches represent the bulk of the cures. At all healing shrines cases of lameness and " paralysis " yield by far the largest
are two features of the Lourdes be drawn? should attention

clusion
of where

that the mechanism

as in the other. is

is the same in the one class

in the miraculous there is no cures more it

cases

But

is the patient's
nerve

faith that makes him whole

power deficient

; and in cases

there is no medical treatment as in the later days of the old temples of Asklepios, and there is no secrecy. Publicity
is courted. There is often, no doubt,

oftener

still mistake.

successes. It may be added that the miracles of Lourdes are not de fide, and many good Catholics keep an open mind on the subject.
Not shrine all are the "cures" are Others instantaneous. are healed not at In some,

as far as can be shrine in perfect seem, judged, and to be as ready to acknowledge as failures

But those who have charge of the

faith, good to proclaim

exaggeration,

and

potent agent. The physician has called this powerful aid in cases of what Sir John Russell auxiliary to his " it was likely to be useful. Charoot sent many patients to It is only fair to Dr. Gasquet to quote the Lourdes. in which, the local disease remaining general state greatly improved :
following passage, which expresses his view as to the cases Reynolds called paralysis from idea," and others where

unaffected,

the

especially in cases of bone disease, repeated visits but it may be a considerable

required.

to the

Lourdes,

are many There In the whole enormous amount relapses. of diseased who seek from their deliverance persons are at Lourdes for a time, but eased of many sufferings cures definitive is small. the proportion The total number

time after the pilgrimage.

has

been estimated
a

at 7,000, but, according

ecclesiastic who

to Padre
the

Gemelli,

miracles not long ago with the medical professors of this should be reduced by one-half. If we Pavia, accept this figure as representing anything like the result
of forty-five unfavourably Of course, 1At Banf, the smaller coraro"5ed of years with it may a steep in the Rocky Mountains, sulphur wells is, or was, railed crutches. it compares of miracle working, very of any modern the statistics hospital. are cured be said that at Lourdes cases path leading to one of in by a fence entirely

medically-trained

discussed

is nothing remarkable about To and that say there them, of suggestion instances carried out on a large they are simply " is to the do scale, retort, then, you not Why, provoke merely treat your own patients with ?" be clear It must equal success to the most observer that the conditions of sugges superficial tion ?if is?at differ there Lourdes very considerably suggestion in the clinics of Nancy or Paris. from those which prevail There is no evidence of hypnotic manifestations the among and the number neuroses of cures of the various pilgrims; are in no direct times ratio at different to the amount of there being often none during the great excitement, religious and processions. Whatever there may pilgrimages suggestion come be must from within, differ notably so, must and, even common use of "autosuggestion"?to from the more kinds the barbarous coined word which has been for the purpose. can no on be certain there of cure Thus, anticipation for all are aware the part of the patients, that recovery a is the exception, the rule. not It is matter of every at Lourdes arrive that many who with the day experience that they will be healed belief most confident derive no benefit 2Dr. Gasquet's account of what he saw at Lourdes may be found in his volume entitled Studies Contributed to the Dublin Beview (London, 1904).

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there are sufficient instances?Dr. records Boissarie there, while a very striking one?where cured who had no hope persons were me The truth appears to to be that suggestion is whatever. in the cure of disease in proportion, not to its directness potent a part of the normal and imperiousness, but to its forming The life of. the individual. former kind of suggestion is mental like a foreign body, which may the living tissues to yield compel must be due to to its impact, but cannot restore which health, reaction of the organism. the same the physiological For cure I believe that is less frequent reason, by suggestion and the of Charit? the the among puppets Salp?tri?re the patients treated the than among process by simpler and that at Nancy, it is most real and employed complete when the the moral influence of by ordinary wrought The wonders last means will worked by this physician. vate licarent be never bu?i have fully known, sacro," quia they more them than those produced about elements of permanence I no not, however, formal suggestion. hypnotic by myself I believe account of the matter. think this is the whole that the supernatural, not only at Lourdes, in with contact but call for the help of their Creator, every place where men may or auto effects than ordinary greater produce much suggestion can accomplish. Such effects would be produced suggestion on no of mind the influence the the and through body ; argu ment could be based on individual each of which cases, might if the be paralleled instances natural. But among admittedly be borne in mind, of patients Lourdes it environment visiting kind will that the and of very improbably degree appear so many there should produce and complete suggestion existing even of purely nervous ailments. Nor will cures, permanent seem will be who to theists, this prepared antecedently unlikely has a superhuman to change and to admit that prayer efficacy renew nature of man. who the moral and spiritual Those it unreasonable to believe think that grant so much will hardly into the body, which overflow such an action may sometimes so know to be with the mind. connected intimately they

as accept Tertullian's credible, except by such paradox, Credo of courting instead the li^ht ; and, quia impossible as other methods We to love the darkness. do, it seems over over have asked and for facts would that again a none convince but trained are mind, forthcoming.

ailments by thinking of their health is also true. But none the less, its pretensions go far behind anything that is

Christian Science may, indeed, be described as faith with the least possible amount of works and the largest possible
number facts of words. which form Here all the are fair evidence specimens vouchsafed of

healing efficacy; they are taken from the Christian Science Sentinel of May 28th, 1910, p. 777 :
A short time ago I was taken sick with fever. My mother asked for Christian for me, and I was almost Science treatment I have been cured. Science and Health, with instantly reading and have been benefited in by Mrs. Eddy, Key to the Scriptures, ever am in health business and I for since. very grateful comes. Christian to and whence all thankful Science, God, good Fred. Tex. Werth, Dallas, Some time ago I was attacked stomach and bowel trouble. by was A Christian and my ailment Science called, practitioner soon left and I was again able to resume my duties. I am very thankful for the good done me and others, and praise G?d for to us through Mrs. Eddy. speaking Tillie Tex. Werth, Dallas,

the kind to us, of

of its

There

is nothing

new
of he

in Christian

Science
Mark

except the
spoke been time has since

colossal impudence in ignorance when

its pretensions. said :

Twain which race

.It should be added that it is stated by various writers that, even when Lourdes fails to cure the ailing body, it comforts the soul. This is not a small thing.
Christian Science.

The Scientist Christian has taken idle in every member of the lying began.3

a force human

We have shown that it was not left to Mrs. Eddy to discover this force, and that so far from lying idle, it has
been active

The newer forms of spiritual healing have been so fully discussed in the Journal during the past year or two that little need be said of them here. They present at least
one note of sectarianism, Science seems in to that

for thousands of years. In one thing Christian Science has or system that we know of it has succeeded in exploiting human imbecility and turning airy nothing into solid cash?
The Emmanuel Movement. probably a unique record of achievement : Beyond any sect

in temples

and

churches,

at

shrines

and

tombs,

with

the fervour characteristic

of the theological temper.

present one fundamental

they

hate

each

other

Christian

point of difference from till other forms of spiritual the cures said to be This is, that whereas healing.
wrought the direct and at Lourdes of Christ, action claim, as far other shrines exercised at understand are the attributed intercession the teaching? to of

Quite recently the Anglican Church has awakened to the need of not leaving the healing of the sick by spiritual
means centary to its rivals. faith healer, Valentine an account Greatrakes, of whom was

His

Virgin Mother

or His
as we

saints, Mrs. Eddy

and her

Journal of April 17th, 1909 (p. 963), said that God had made choice of him to work wonders, for the following reasons :
cannot this Age of Atheism, who is to convince The first yet and diseases believe to be God, when to Jesus they see pains and evil spirits ; as I have vanish, good cause flye his Power I have met and other Distempers to believe the Falling-sickness to abate the pride of to be. Next, God may, sometimes withal of the Manifesto that make Miracles the Papists the undeniable use of a Protestant to do such truth of their Church make in the face of the sun, which to do strange they pretend things in cells. some same seems reason to have of the The inspired

a seventeenth in the given

which is not only obscure in itself, but often inconsistent? to cure disease by the same power of healing that was In the sacred book of the sect we read : given to Christ.
the sick, practised Our Master healed Christian and healing, of its divine Principle to His the generalities students ; taught no for His He rule of left definite but demonstrating Principle be This remained to and disease. discovered healing preventing A pure in affection Christian Science. form takes through reveals its Principle and demon but Science alone goodness, its rules.1 strates

disciples

She tells us that "when God called her to proclaim His Gospel to this age, there came also the charge to " plant
and water discovery" widespread His she calls What vineyard." was made in 1866, and since then in America in this and country. her sacred it has become It does not

modern systems of faith healing. The Emmanuel Movement took its name
in Boston, church Massachusetts, from The movement dates 1905, where when it Dr.

from

the

Pratt, of the Massachusetts if

the Rev. Elwood Worcester, ment of poor consumptives Church.4 promoters The that

commend

itself to the Latin mind, which

Its methods logical. some representatives to add

not lucid discussed

and by

and results of the most they say.

is nothing

a scheme D.D., in the tenements this has

General Hospital,

originated. H. Joseph

laid before

are fully advanced

the class method which was first employed

success of the Church

for the treat of Boston by

at Emmanuel

medical
we have

thought in the present issue of the Journal,

nothing to what To any

and
one

who wishes to see the whole case against Christian Science put most clearly and convincingly from the medical point
recommend Mr. Stephen book Paget's cordially well "docu ft is attractively written, subject.2 and informed with the true scientific mented," spirit. more one We Christian need about say thing only is a repulsive to speak which, Science, subject, plainly, no other as it shows in a way inasmuch form of spiritual of view, on the we

discharge to the sick, and that the physician and the clergyman can work together to the benefit of the com
munity. Before logists active a similar work. therefore entered upon They neuro some of the leading so they consulted doing and of their approval in America, assured and were Had the medical profession, they co-operation.

convinced enterprise an important mission

its to

state, withheld

their

assistance,

they would

not have

healihg
human all sorts

does

mind of

can

the depths
sink

of degradation
the weight Christian,

to which

the

under

of

That it cures cases of the kind that have been healed at medan?from time immemorial, it would be idle to deny. That it brightens the lives of some persons who have ho aim in life and have nothing to do but evoke pains and
*Science al%,d Health. By Mary Baker G. Eddy. 2 The Faith and Works Science. of Christian 1909. The book is now in a second edition Boston. 1908. P. 41. Macm lian and Co. shrines?pagan, Buddhist, Moham

superstition.

further.5 proceeded of this kind ideas is that all work One of our fundamental and to this idea we have strict medical should be under control, that in part the been and are consistently recognize loyal. We 3 Christian Science. London and New York, 1907, p. 86. 4The Christian as a Healing and Rower. A Defense Religion of the Emmanuel Movement. By El wood Worcester, D.D., Exposition Church, Boston. Ph.D., and Samuel McComb, M.A., D.D., Emmanuel London and Leipsic. 1910. (P. 14.) 6Religion and Medicine. The Moral Control of Nervous Disorders. D.D. D.D., Ph.D., Samuel McComb, M.A.Oxon,, By Elwood Worcester, and Isador H. Coriat, M.D. With Church, Boston, Glasg., Emmanuel of a preface by Somerset E. Pennefather, Vicar M.A., D.D., Kensington :Eegan Paul/Trench, of St. Paul's, and Prebendary tendon Trubner, 1908. and Co., Limited.

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JUNEI8

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M95

reason has been askantly by eyed why moral therapeutios men medical has too often has been because the therapeutist some refused the guidance of science, and has taken up with in defiance of the obvious facts supero atura) ism type of crude no subject around which There has of experience. is, perhaps, so much and pseudo fanaticism, humbug, gathered quackery, us in all our is constantly This warning before metaphysics. endeavours. in their The meaning aim of their wotk, and say they as a Healing The recent Christian Power, work, Religion " the into effective the physician, is to bring co-operation and the trained social trained psychologically clergyman, in the alleviation of worker and arrest disorders of certain as are now generally the nervous which regarded system or more or or defect some weakness of character involving that less complete there mental dissociation." affirm They is no attempt in their movement of to unify the functions man. is to the priest and What the medical they claim a new have form of specialization, into existence brought the employment and experience for a of special knowledge nervous task. victims of If, they sufferers, special say, the and the alcohol other sorrowful, drugs, unhappy, would-be of melancholy other children and felt suicides, that to them, meant there would be no nothing religion for work attach like theirs. great importance place They to prayer, in convincing but they also believe the reason of arose him the sufferer, in showing how the trouble and how it may in arousing be removed, within him fresh in soothing and his mind of interest, calming by infusion to a more in leading and faith, him moral hope satisfactory

of the Journal. It may not be ont of place, however, to give here a summing up of the general conclusions of the committee of the Union which we find in a recently pub It is lished account of its work entitled Pyschis Healing.
follows: is of belief the proposition that religious with (1) Starting that the it is obvions and important definite value, therapeutic can only accrue from of sickness in the alleviation best results of the two pro of the representatives collaboration the close We and of that that of the Church medicine. (2) fessions, of the seen this collaboration that to make have, therefore, as use Ho that as far it is necessary possible society greatest should of the minister and the both doctor religion of the laws to avail themselves and able be acquainted with modern to us'by revealed (3) investigation. psychological be to be what might that at first appear difficulties Certain but must be lost must not termed of, sight philosophical in view, as they are valuable aids to the con be rather kept It is not and effect. of cause of relationships sideration here to refer to all of these philosophical difficulties, necessary bat one that will occur to all of us is the danger, when religion to be are closely for the latter and medicine approximated, like the did not The doctors swallowed up by the former. as of the Church, the handmaid medicine describing bishops can completely to be expected that the Church but it is hardly of medicine. to the herself practice subjugate The Society of Emmanuel. as

The Society of Emmanael must not be confused either with the Emmanuel Movement or the Church and Medical It was founded in 1905, and dispenses with medi Union.
cine. Its president is Mr. James Moore are : that its objects for January, 1908, it is stated Healer, Church left to His the Divine 1. To develop by the gifts the gift of healing by prayer and laying on of Master, especially for these Divine the object of using gifts, not only hands, with of drawing the souls of of the body, but as a means the healing to God. men nearer for a hostel, this purpose 2. To farther especially by opening the reach of ordinary a class who are beyond poor gentlefolks, be diagnosed cases may their qualified by duly help, where a band of healers may and use and where medical men, develop the work. their gifts to further of evil, the powers 3 To form a strong wall of defence against of the and by common united intercession, reception by mutual in on month. the Second the Sunday Holy Communion all of the Incarnation, the central doctrine 4. To safeguard of our Lord, the divinity should acknowledge regular members for be freely used should thz operations of the society although all in need of them.

or intellectual outlook.

They add :

Talbot Square, Hyde

Park, W.

In its official organ, The

Hickson,

of

22,

In a word, we believe and subconscious are that conscious both essential to the integrity of tbe personal life. Great as is the power of the subconscious, are the still, we believe, greater one of the prin of reason, and will. powers emotion, Hence, nervous we are for the of which maladies cipal, remedies is psychic, and religious re-education. Just as moral, speaking an athlete can train particular of muscles to do his groups so we can exercise of thoughts uDtil groups bidding, particular the mind, and this domination leads of necessity they dominate to the elimination of thoughts of other groups which we regard as undesirable. In neurasthenia, hypochondria, hysteria, and other morbid and abnormal psychasthenia, conditions, both are conscious and subconscious and the method involved, which affects in mind would both elements to be the appear most and practically rational effective. the most It is stated and McComb that several by Drs. Worcester some thousand been with treated have of persons degree success at Emmanuel in other and Church churches. this several million small in group Beyond persons America and in other countries have learnt of their work what about has been written it, and they say, by reading some church, sometimes appear greater habits may the of ihese too have received which benefits, in the form of health and improved form in the of sometimes improved An institution in which life." spiritual

In the report of the society for the year ending June 30'uh, 1909, it is stated that a hospice had been opened on the reception of in-patients. On May 26th of that year it was " dedicated and Bet apart for the glory of God and for
the service of our the outskirts of Regent's Park, near Gloucester Gate, for

" If we may believe the letters which constantly pour into

strength, and a new

Bight Rev. Bishop Mylne. We quote the following passage

acting

brothers

and

sisters"

by

the

the sick may be treated and students

be called been recently

instructed in what

direction of Bishop Nichols of California, supported several of the leading physicians of that city.
The Church and Medical Union.

the methods of the Emmanuel has Church, in San Francisco, under founded the general

by

The Church and Medical Union was established recently with the object of promoting the co-operation of the Church and the medical profession in the healing of the
.sick. The

poses to carry on its work are embodied in the following paragraphs in the Lambeth Report of 1908 :
The still fulfils in Christian Committee believes that Christ it more to give His abun experience life, and to give power aad* that His realizes the faith which Presence is dantly; a heightened of spirit, of mating which capable vitality , strengthifcfl of the body. the health The Com and sustains are in one aspect a mittee and disease ptiitves that sickness the Divine of not *the harmony MeAcJt'l? purpose, only of moral at least caused by, want analogous tb, but sometimes this and that restoration with the Divine Will of ; harmony .harmony inmind it the restoration and will often brings with of the harmony of the body. The Committee is the handmaid science that medical believes of God and His Church, as the be fully recognized and should means the care and God for ordinary appointed by Almighty of the human believes The Committee that healing body. come in the region of medicine to man discoveries and surgery Him the Divine Word. and tbe Life, is the Light Who through Medical

principles

on which

the

union

bases

and

pur

: from the report for in-patients are eight beds in the hospice ; and, with There the summer of a few weeks recess, the exception during they without Our been have exception in-patients fully occupied. in the about letters their most written have stay grateful God to Almighty and we are thankful beyond measure hospice, in as tell has us, that He for the help them, given they be too strongly It cannot emphasized body, soul, and spirit. for private as its chapel with such ours, that a home its band of and devotional intercessions, meetings, prayer, of the administration the for of the visits clergy helpers, in for work and healing, may, Sacraments preparation spiritual atmo foster to the full an ideal spiritual under God's blessing, that all our members We hope Gift. for the Healing sphere in some this work. We active to take forward come will part that has been to be able to report that all the healing are glad members certified has been done in the hospice by qualified Dr. dulyJames Rowse Dr. and Moornead of the medical profession. owe s> them each week. We the in-patients examined have and for devoted their of debt ungrudging gratitude hearty this part of our work. with in connexion services The

added to the report :

following

remarks

by

Dr.

James

Moorhead

are

An article by the Honorary Secretary of the Church and

Union, Mr. Geoffrey Bbodes, appears in this issue

work the of Mr. Hickson's during I have had some experience confidence that he has been past two years, and 1 can say with and and help?physical comfort much of bringing the means that he I testify with several sufferers. pleasure spiritual?to both cases of or in organic has been successful curing alleviating one I know I shall cite a few cases. disease. and functional treatment for four months medical was under who patient if any benefit, much was called in) without (a consultant I six visits. after Hickson was cured and who by Mr. was an internal case where know another growth diagnosed two years, to be malignant) was believed nearly (and which a London one two eminent specialist, surgeons, ago by under Mr. Hickson's the growth and disappeared gradually I know and strong. is now well and the patient treatment,

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1496

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was discharged of a third case?one of locomotor ataxy?which as incurable, in one of two hospitals from after a residence seven in months and the other of two and a half years, nearly a and which, under Mr. Hickson's has treatment, undergone I saw this patient in March, remarkable 1908, improvement. after his discharge from the National and he directly Hospital, was then in a most and helpless condition. deplorable (Imay carried I saw him remark that he was from the hospital.) in his condition was most and the ohange again yesterday, His was health one general improved; gratifying. greatly as he sat in his ohair think would there was the nothing with him ; he was able to walk pretty matter with comfortably even a little without the aid of a stick, and could walk it, and I left he walked when two flights down of stairs to see me off. or He told me that with two or three rests he could walk a mile arm and a stick. more with the aid of his wife's or another I was Since the Hospice from one cause opened, was only able to see a few of the cases that came under treat saw in some but case I took place, ment, improvement every was marked. and in some the improvement At present there are some very cases under and in one treatment, interesting case of nine years' duration, and which for six years was under a very gratifying the care of an eminent surgeon, improvement has been noticed. We make no comment on these statements now, as a

in with them confidence. succeeds inspiring generally and he feels a curious he applies his hand When sensation, same Children time at the the patient feels something. as pins and needles. One of the the sensation described

cases mentioned
who operated,

by Lord Sandwich was

been kindly operated placed on for

that of his own

tumour of the of case the at

butler, who

had has

spinal cord at the National

Hospital.
the

Sir Victor Horsley,

notes

our disposal. The following is the record of the operation, which was performed on November 16th, 1907 :
6 in. long was made Patient side, an incision lying on right and The muscles downwards. the occiput from just below were and retracted. much without divided fasciae bleeding and laminae of was from the spines The periosteum stripped and fifth and cervical vertebrae. fourth the third, second, were and with bone forceps removed laminae and The spines at the level of the saw. The theca appeared distended, chiefly at this normal Colour third cervical vertebra. ; no pulsation and below. level a roots The of cut. The theca was incised by longitudinal the third, fourth, and fifth pairs of cervical spinal nerves were an The over cord. seen to be flattened and stretched enlarged was at the region chiefly on the left side, where, enlargement a small tumour two cysts with of the postero-lateral tracts, seen on the surface. The cysts were mass them were between a with removed and the tumour mass incised spoon. sharp was sewn up. The wound closed not theca was The by one was fat The sutures. of par perithecal interrupted layer was markedly of There small amount abundant. ticularly well. The patient stood the operation haemorrhage.

Subcommittee of the Medico Political Committee of the British Medical Association has carefully investigated some of the cases treated in the Hospice of the Society of in the Journal already mentioned (May 22nd, 1909). It was cited by Bishop Mylne in a paper which appeared in "
The as a case quoted of March, Healer in the 1908, latest book on cancer which is in the hands up-to-date men of the most scientific of to-day." efforts Repeated Emmanuel, We may, and its however, be presented report will be allowed to refer again in due course. to a case

The patient improved somewhat for a time, but left the hospital on January 18th, 1908. He returned toHinching
brooke scarcely After treatment he could walk able of great pain. and complaining to walk and the pain ceased Sandwich by Lord across stable the support, yard without

to obtain the reference

in tracing succeeded the case, and of got an account from Mr. Butlin, never who had it. It was published case of growth on one of the vocal cords which was diagnosed

from Bishop Mylne

failed, but we
it a

though with
became man has

difficulty.

His

condition got worse,

and he
The a girl

completely died. since

paralysed Another

neck. the below was case that of

to be malignant,
epithelium

but turned out after removal to consist of

arranged in layers. It was, in fact, a

horny

kind of leucoplakia. A thesis on the subject of such of Paris by growths was presented to the University
in 1908.*

with congenital syphilis threatened with blindness and generally in so bad a condition that Lord Sandwich said one was tempted to think it was better she should die.
Under driven his the treatment, poison

?aston Poyet was therefore

details
disease

of which we are also indebted

absolutely

The bishop's incorrect.

sensational In another

account case, for

Our representative

gathered that he did not claim to have

out of her system. A third case was

however,

she

got

very

much

better.

ment in his condition, he died within Mr. Butlin first saw him.
An Earl a of Sandwich, Independent Spiritual

was a cancer of the not really larynx. Though the prospect of cure by operation seemed inoperable, hope less. was The patient under Mr. Hickson for some time, but although to be some there seemed temporary improve

to Mr. Butlin,

the

that of a man with disease of the kidney and heart ; he was very ill and confined to bed. One night his wife that he felt as if he could get up and go to work. He could not, however, leave his bed. Lord Sandwich, in reply
to a question, the disease thought he was dying, and in the morning the man said

a year of the time

Healer. been had aboye mentioned the privilege as

On February 26th, 1909, in response to a letter from the

whose name had

attending of of an
views frankness, Sandwich, and

a meeting
of experiences

of
the of was visiting

the
Journal a

Society

of Emmanuel, As
all

representative

interview
the who

with

his

lordship.
man of special governor

giving with

the

ment had taken place in the condition whom he had attended. He was unwell ordered by his doctor not to continue
ment, and had

our representative said Sandwich in which pain

inquiry about the man

the said he did not suppose was in any way. influenced received lately had that there and had ceased,

treated at the National

part organic In reply to

of an

Hospital
improve

a letter in which Lord instances been several extraordinary

of sufferers himself and this treat

doing so died.

interested

motives,
interview is a

and who

suspicion

spoke

perfect

and the Boyal Free Hospitals, said he was on the best of terms with the doctors. He wished it to be clearly under stood that he did not profess to heal disease ; in his own
words, he never "cures"

Lord interest. St. George's of

lately.
ing

Most
mortal

of the patients he had attended were suffer

diseases and had since

generally

abstained

from

from

these was the butler, but Lord Sandwich

he paralysed being totally was certain He perfectly

states that from

of walking. " spiritual

Among

hands same poses

gathered that what he treats is pain and the general is to lay his Kis method feeling of "seediness."
on the painful

anything.

Our

healing
should

"

the power recovered that the so-called we understand

had brought about most marvellous

that, although

results.
that

It
in

representative

be added

Lord

hand, he will
time. that In the

take

one hand
on his prays

place.

Sometimes,

with prays, same and time,

the

other

of the patient

at

the

never tells them to do so. He says that he had no idea of possessing this power until he met Mr. Hickson, as to
whose work he was curious. Mr. Hickson told Lord

laying patient

hand he at the

he sup but he

for the manner he is not in any way ments, responsible If there are here presented. is any inaccuracy, which they we be glad to afford him an opportunity of course, shall, misrepresentation. any unintentional correcting The In Archdeacon conclusion, we of London may be on Spiritual allowed Healing. to quote

Sandwich has no objection

to the publication of his state

of

the

Sandwich as soon as he saw him that he could do just what he himself did, and after that Lord Sandwich treated a number of cases. It should be said that he is
not a member of gathered of the representative Society that the of

people
lower

connected
station

with

him

in some way,
is to say,

patients

Emmanuel. were servants

Our

but

mainly

in a
and

life?that

tenants of his own. He freely admitted that this might possibly have had something to do with his success. He has had a large experience in dealing with suffering people,
poor and people, 1 Leucoplasie outcasts laryng?e. or of one kind Paris Octave Doin. another, 1908. and

following abstract of the charge of the Archdeacon on April 27th of London at his annual visitation the courtesy of and 28th. We have to acknowledge in supplying the abstract of his Archdeacon Sinclair " charge. He took as his subject the History of Faith of first the the Committee of cited He Report Healing." Bishops appointed to consider the question of Ministries of of the Sick, Faith Healing, and the Unction Healing, " Christian Science " by the Lambeth Conference of 1908. They had laid stress on the attendance of the clergy on for death-beds; divine power in the sick, not merely the body as well as the spirit the object j all sickness; the of teaching of Redemption ; the partial neglect

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JUNE5 4.

1910.]_HEALTH

VALUES._

[?SSSf?Su*

*497

duty of reliance on faith and prayer ; the indisputable results of the revival of trust in " spiritual agency; the "
aberrations of Christian Science ; the

HEALTH
GEOFFREY

testing by scientific experts of all evidence of spiritual healing ; the duty of consecrating personal gifts to God ; thankfulness for the triumphs of medical and surgical skill ; improvements recommended in Pastoral Visitation, the addition of of collects more especially hopeful recovery; the permission that such prayers should be the difference accompanied by the Laying-on of Hands;
between

necessity

of

the

VALUES! BY
RHODES,

HONORARY SECRETARY OP THE CHURCH AND MEDICAL UNION. Professor two lectures once Sidgwick out of a course excused of three himself for to a definition,

devoting and in

for guidance on the whole subject ; the impossibility of " giving official recognition at present to Gifts of Healing ";
caution to those who believe themselves to have such

Psychic

Forces

and

Spiritual

; the

need

of prayer

the present instance I find myself in a very similar position. My friend, Sir Clifford Allbutt, in his System of Medicine, says health is an ideal conception, with which
assertion I am

philosopher, and priest have an ideal before them when

discuss health. not however, they Unfortunately, are two of these ideals and the same, therein lies main of coming to any general conclusions difficulty with the connexion known phenomenon variously or faith healing. mental, spiritual, any the in as

in complete

agreement,

for

layman,

doctor,

as the obscurity attraction of the into a sacramental

gifts, especially as to the need of medical study and the avoidance of Occultism and Spiritualism. With regarid to the practice of anointing with oil, the Bishops pointed out
to the ; the practice primitive gradual as an encouragement to faith practice re for death ; and preparation though

fusing to prohibit it, declared that at present it could not be authorized by the Church, but that the bishop of each
diocese should be consulted. The Archdeacon went on

distinct

One does not by any means get over the difficulty by talking of spiritual health and physical health as two*
states of

cannot be divided

at the To continuance of these large. gifts was Irenaeus, given by Justin Martyr, Origen, and To the practice of Ambrose, Chrysostom, Augustine. a view sick with oil with the to recovery testi anointing was in Tertullian, found the Jerome, mony Serapion, the Testamentum Constitutions, Apostolical Domini, St. Martin of Tours, and the others. From great

Church evidence

to show how large a part the healing of the sick occupied in the ministry of Christ and His Apostles, and of the

It comes, then, to a question of finding some definition of health that shall satisfy all ideals of life.
The of mind

can in a physical result breakdown in the system toxic substance may

in this way.

being.

The

realms

of

consciousness

as just as surely cause mental collapse.

sense of wrong-doing

run the risk of tumbling when we

over matter is the error

great

pitfall

into which

we

all,

to

certain physical

extent? excel

consider the influence to explain what

thought extreme

lence first.
mean. We can control

Perhaps I may be allowed

no sooner, the body for than instance, we rush

of placing

mass
to

of works
present

the

of healing
time, Mr.

in the Middle
who

on the including
Prince Pastor

a list of forty-five, subject, had selected in recent times George Fox, John Wesley,
Father and Matthew, Father Dorothea John of Tr?del, Cronstadt.

Dearmer,

had

Ages

?Town
written

realize that off into the

of imagining that, if we only knew how, the mind could be so directed as to obliterate all physical abnor
malities of the

Hohenlohe, Blumhardt,

be
my

body. I

Whether

such here

scientifically
argument.

possible
am

or not
merely of

is quite
of

process interested

might

foreign
the material. presume believe,

to
in

Hutton, the late editor of the Spectator, took a favourable view of these agencies. In England until the end of the by the king
certain reign of Queen cases. Anne was retained the custom of

the ethical

point,
servant

for scrofula,

with

The borne in healing was part by faith in the British Medical Journal. From fully recognized were the Journal accounts of three remarkable quoted faith healers ? Valentine the Deacon de Greatrakes, and Johann Gassner. cures The Paris, effected Joseph

indisputable

results

touching

We may not all go to the extreme of trying to cure tooth

ache attack by

spiritual

the

namely,
instead good but

the danger
the master

of making

the
to a

in

riek of our moving

consciously?if temptation. that by we

so being our person,

in this direction?it

no ache would that is certainly, there

may

be all un

ing the highest

Morally

in us for the good of the lowest. We know

our character we can rise superior to

do not guard specially it can never be a question

the against of develop

at
In

Lourdes

might
times

be reckoned
American

modern

an not

at about 5 per cent.

movement for faith

healing
Boston, from

had

which had the authorities

begun

in

an

episcopal

church

in

received on nervous

moters had finally decided that nothing should be attempted without the sanction of a responsible physician.
In this

much encouragement diseases ; its pro

mere material conditions, but we cannot expect to still be counted sane if we pretend that we have completely A man may learn to be happy in changed the material.
sordid

cultivating

become rich in a philosophic

surroundings.

He

may

consider

himself

to have

sense, but woe

betide him

if

of the medical

Glasgow Royal Infirmary, had practised healing by mental suggestion as far back as 1871 and 1889. In London an association had been formed in 1908, called the Church and Medical Union for the promotion of the recognition
power skill. of faith in sickness was There also the

country,

Dr.

Alexander

Robertson,

Physician

of

a man he starts 1 In the same way, who cashing cheques loses a limb may lead a more useful life and be a more citizen the accident valuable after than he was before it?

but that will not restore the missing

conducted by Mr. James Hickson, with a view to the employment of spiritual forces in healing. Articles were
quoted from the British Medical Journal which

in co-operation with of Emmanuel, Society

On the other hand, there would gone. appear irrevocably to be within each of us a source of psychic of which energy we a reserve know little at That such very present. really fund exists is proved in many when as, for instance, ways, a some woman feeble task for her performs naturally

leg or arm.

It is

ported

the cautious

views

and pointing out the lessons to be drawn from the past history of faith healing. The Archdeacon referred to a remarkable discussion at the Harveian Society at a meeting held
last and autumn, nervous when diseases

acknowledging

the wonderful

of the Bishops
power of mind

at Lambeth,
over matter,

sup

child that entails a herculean effort on the part of mind or body or it may be both. I think it is a mistake to talk of
this as

the two practices?that of priestcraft and that of surgery divided, probably because it is found that an Sinclair to be that there were no limits to the powers ?become aptitude for metaphysical speculation and for practical of faith and prayer; that many persons, like wise occur does not usually in the same person. medicine This a had of parents, gift personal impressiveness ; that the as well of labours has as its advan division its drawbacks subconscious self was a fact in psychology; that the tages. It tends in its first inception towards superstition clergy might do more in their visitations of the sick by on the one hand and butchery on the other. Witness encouragements to faith; that the laying-on of hands and in sorcery and the burning and bleed the anointing with oil might be tangible helps to faith ; the belief ing,1 not only of, the Middle Ages, but of a hundred and that religion and medical science should always left all but that behind, years back 1 We have co-operate, while the ultimate responsibility must lie with the accredited physician. 1 Bleeding was of course, based on the patbology of the time.
strongly maintained. The upshot seemed to Archdeacon

final

responsibility

of the experienced

the powers was fully

of suggestion acknowledged,

in mental while the

practitioner

was

law, to-morrow. The of sickness of alleviation of the influence by means as old as the medical over mind is a practice art mind are it is with itself. But certain that we modern aspects all primitive concerned. and specially Among peoples religion are very medicine As civilization allied? advances, closely

is often found to be the ordinary working

being

miraculous,

for what

is the miracle

of

of a scientific

to-day

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