Mr. A------, an American lawyer aged forty-five, consulted me in 1904. He had been ill for three years, and attributed his illness to overwork and worry. He had undergone a good deal of treatment of various kinds, and spent his time seeking health and going from one physician to another. He had the usual neurasthenic symptoms, especially constipation, insomnia, dull occipital headache, 'muzziness' in the head, with loss of power of concentration, defective memory, and mental depression, with distrust of himself and suspicion of other people. The heart shared in the general weakness, and there was breathlessness on exertion, but there was no organic disease discoverable. He readily agreed to try hypnotic treatment, and fortunately at once proved a good subject, falling into the third, or cataleptic stage of Bernheim. He reacted to the suggestion of warmth when the hand was placed over the epigastrium, and an abundant secretion of saliva followed friction of the parotid glands and suggested increased secretion. He was allowed to rest for an hour lying down in a darkened room, and when aroused he expressed himself as feeling warm all over, and generally braced up mentally and physically. He heard and remembered my suggestions, and they acted well.

They were directed towards relief of the symptoms, and more especially to the effect that he should sleep well at night, and have a natural action of the bowels in the morning. He reported himself the next morning as better in everyway and full of hope. The treatment was repeated daily for a week, and then twice a week for three weeks, with the result that he then declared himself as quite well, and anxious to return home, resume his work, and relieve his partner, who had been doing it all for nearly three years. He carried out his plans, and I hear from him occasionally to the effect that he is well, and hopes to continue so with reasonable care. *

* General Practitioner, December, 1906, † Ibid., January, 1911.