There is one contra-indication greater than all the rest. It applies more to the physician than to the patient, more to the masses than to any single individual. It is not confined to hypnotism alone; it has blocked the wheels of human progress through the ages which have gone. It is undue enthusiasm. It is the danger that certain individuals will become so enamored with its charms, that other equally valuable means of cure will be ignored. Mental therapeutics has come to stay. It is yet in its infancy and will grow, but, if it were possible to kill it, it would be strangled by the fanaticism and prejudice of its devotees. The whole field is fascinating and alluring. It promises so much that it is in danger of being misused by the ignorant to such an extent that great harm may result. This is true, not only of mental therapeutics and hypnotism, but of every other blessing we possess. Hypnotism has nothing to fear from the senseless scepticism and contempt of those who have no knowledge of the subject.

Dr. Ewald of Berlin states that hypnotism should not be classified with the practice of medicine, that it should not be so dignified. His reason was that every shepherd boy, every peasant, could hypnotize, and Dr. Moll answers that every shepherd hoy, every peasant, can give a hypodermic injection, can compound medicines and apply bandages, but they cannot do so intelligently.

So, while hypnotism can be used in a greater or less degree by every one, it can only be used intelligently by those who understand, not only hypnotism itself, but disease as well. The argument is made that hypnotism is palliative in many cases, and not curative. This, alas! is equally true of a large number of the methods used in the practice of medicine. It can, like everything else in the world, be abused. It has also a very broad field of usefulness. Personally, as I said before, I believe some forms of hypnotic suggestion, perhaps even hypnosis itself, to be injurious in that class of insane patients known as paranoiacs. I can also conceive that an attempt to hypnotize a patient suffering with a surgical shock, might further add to the already dangerous exhaustion. Persons suffering with disease of the aortic valves of the heart should be hypnotized with the greatest possible care, especially when the compensation is not well established, yet it can be applied safely in these cases.

It is argued that the patient may learn from the physician to hypnotize and apply it igno-rantly to others. Drugs are learned of in the same way, and are too frequently administered to the patient by his friends. I know no more contra-indieations for the use of hypnotism than for any other remedial agency. Every argument that is used against hypnotism may be used against any other method now in vogue of treating disease.

Again, I must plead earnestly for a more careful study of each individual patient. The physician, if possible, should feel as the patient feels; should not only place himself in imagination in the position of the patient, but should share as far as possible with, and realize every condition of, the patient's consciousness. How often this is ignored does not need to be stated. Could we understand and measure accurately all of these feelings, desires and emotions of our patients, much needless suffering would be assuaged. Possibly many broken hearts healed, and certainly many wrecked lives restored to usefulness.

Dr. Moll, after stating that headache, watering of the eyes, depression, etc., may follow improper use of hypnotism, tersely remarks that many of those who object to hypnotism on account of these trifling ailments occurring after it, do not refrain from hypnotizing. He cites the following list of names: Gilles de la Tourette, Ewald, Mendel, Rieger and Bin-swanger.

Dr. Moll gives the following list of rules for the relief of the nervous symptoms following the use of hypnotism. 1. To avoid as far as possible all suggest ions which tend to unduly excite the mind. 2. To avoid continuous stimulation of the senses as much as possible. 3. To carefully do away with suggestion before awakening the subject. The proper method' will not cause nervousness.