Miss H------, aged thirty-two, has been under my treatment on and off for several years, and after a long spell of literary work and late hours she consulted me in March. 1889, complaining of palpitation, frontal headache, loss of appetite, nausea, constipation, debility, swelled feet and legs, and especially of attacks of faintness coming on without apparent cause. She has mitral regurgitation consequent on rheumatic fever ten years ago, and her pulse was very weak and rapid (104). She was hypnotized and fell into profound somnambulism. Reduction in the rapidity of the heart's action with increase of force was suggested, and the pulse after a few minutes became reduced to 87, and of firmer character. Suggestions were made corresponding to all her symptoms, and she was allowed to rest for nearly an hour. On awaking she at once said she felt much better. The nausea which had troubled her incessantly for several months had disappeared, and she felt no discomfort from her heart. On going home she slept well that night, and the improvement was maintained the next day. The following day she came to me complaining of a fresh attack of palpitation, and she was again hypnotized, with the same result as before.

The operation was repeated three times, with an interval between each visit of three days, and she was then quite free from pain and discomfort. During the hypnotic treatment I purposely refrained from giving medicine, but afterwards I prescribed strophanthus for the swelling of the feet, which had not improved much under suggestion. This medicine almost completely removed that symptom in a couple of weeks. She had no more attacks of syncope after the first operation.