Mr. B------, aged twenty-nine, was sent to me in 1902.

He suffered severely from tic-douloureux of the right trigeminal nerve. The pain had been almost incessant for two years, and was getting worse. It was decided to try hypnotism as a last resource before having recourse to removal of the Gasserian ganglion. He was only slightly hypnotizable, but at once experienced the local warmth referred to as often taking the place of pain. He steadily improved, and was able to return to America cured in three weeks. I heard from him a year later, and the cure was maintained, but shortly after that the pain began to recur A medical friend who had not much experience hypnotized him and gave considerable relief for a time, but the pain eventually conquered the patient, and he had the Gasserian ganglion removed. Writing six months afterwards, he said, so far, the operation had been a complete success. One hopes it will continue so. The operation sometimes fails to give relief, as in a case Dr. Savill sent to me. The patient had had the Gasserian ganglion on the right side removed, but after a short period of relief the pain had attacked the other side. I only saw this patient once, and unfortunately failed to hypnotize him. One feels that hypnotism should be tried in such desperate cases before having recourse to a formidable operation.

In most cases of recent and simple neuralgia it is very successful.