As far as I understand the method of healing called Christian Science, and similar modes of treatment, which, as Sir J. Crichton Browne told us at Leeds, fall legitimately within the scope of medical inquiry, I believe that the cures they have effected in certain neuropathic conditions depend upon the same factors as we have been considering.

Auto-suggestion is a proved exciter of disease and ill-health, and it is easily conceivable that when directed into healthful instead of morbific channels, it may prove a valuable moral and curative agent.

It is certain that most of those who derive benefit from healthily directed self-consciousness are capable of doing themselves an infinity of harm by morbid introspection if left to themselves.

If a hypochondriacal or nervous invalid can by any means, its name matters not, be induced to look upon himself as healthy and strong, instead of as diseased and weak, a great point is gained, and as he has grown into the miserable creature he imagined himself to be, so it is possible that under different conditions of thought he may realize in his own person some of the perfection upon which he fixes his aspirations. But we must remember that reverie is apt to pass into brooding, and introspection into hysteria, unless very carefully watched. We know also that ecstatics of all times and creeds have succeeded in becoming careless and unconscious of bodily pain and discomfort, but that this deadening of sensation has not saved them from wasting with disease, and dying from exposure and neglect.

Practically, the contention of the Christian Scientist is that he can bring about spontaneously what the physician certainly succeeds in effecting by the aid of hypnotism - viz., the inhibition of some centres, and the dynamo-genesis of others. Thus, he will tell you that he can become unconscious of the pain of toothache by determinedly denying its existence and fixing his attention on other things.

He says ' mind is all,' and that the body takes its shape from it as the overcoat does from the body. A flippant American critic has observed, apropos of this simile, that a man cannot raise himself off the ground by pulling on his own boot-straps.

Christian Scientists ride their hobby literally to death, as recent coroners' inquests and trials for manslaughter show. The death of Harold Frederick, the novelist, whilst under the care of a lady practitioner, was followed by a coroner's inquest, and the healer was committed for trial on the charge of manslaughter. She was, however, acquitted, and the point seems conceded that a man or woman of sound mind is entitled to choose for himself or herself in the matter of medical attendance; and that a ' healer' acting in good faith is not likely to be con-victed.†

* Some mental healers profess to give absent treatment, claiming that distance is no impediment to successful thought action. I have been told of a lady travelling in Italy being suddenly attacked by facial neuralgia. She telegraphed to her healer in London to give her absent treatment, and soon she began to feel better, and ultimately got well. She triumphantly gave her own case as a proof of the truth of the system to her sceptical companion, and was much disconcerted when it turned out that the healer never received the telegram, as he had left town. The faith of the patient proved the curative force. I am sometimes asked to give 'absent treatment,' and last year a gentleman suffering from tabes dorsalis wrote to me from Colorado Springs, U.S.A., wanting me to treat him, asking my fee, and whether I guaranteed cure - Populus vult decipi

† There were two interesting trials of Christian Scientists in 1906, and some new points were raised. The first was tried by Mr. Justice Bigham, and was the case of a registered medical man - Dr. Adcock - who had given up practice and become a Christian Scientist. The patient, Major White, died of blood-poisoning, the result of neglected bedsores, and Dr. Adcock being in attendance, was charged with manslaughter. As a medical man he was bound to show professional knowledge and skill; but it was asserted that he attended the deceased, not as a medical man, but as a ' healer' and friend, and therefore escaped professional responsibility. The jury disagreed, and ultimately the prisoner was discharged.

The other case was that of Mr. Chisholm, tried by Mr. Justice Grantham. He was charged with manslaughter, in that he had refused to call in medical aid for his child, who had died of diphtheria

acquired among the upper classes. Some people like to be told that they are gods, and possess all potentiality within themselves. The movement is, according to theologians, creating and reviving all kinds of religious as well as medical heresies. It is therefore arousing much controversy and opposition among orthodox Churchmen.*

An interesting exposure of some of the most objectionable features of the movement is supplied by Miss Alice Fielding's book, entitled, ' Faith Healing and Christian Science,' London, 1899.

The following case, which has been recently reported to me, illustrates one of the dangers of Christian Science:

Captain B------, an officer living at Aldershot, went out cycling with a friend who was a firm believer and wanted to convert him. Captain B------, after a mile or two, complained of pain in the abdomen and wished to return, but his friend assured him that it was only ' mortal mind' and that he must deny the pain and it would disappear. So the ride continued, and at the end Captain B------was in a very prostrate and painful condition. A doctor was called in, who diagnosed peritonitis, and the patient had a severe illness.

Failure to understand the gravity of the pathological condition in this case nearly cost the patient his life; but according to Mrs. Eddy, the arch-priest of the cult, all diseases are the result of error of thought, and are to be treated on the same principle; medical diagnosis is but a pandering to error and ' mortal mind,' and therefore to be severely discouraged. There is a great deal of half-truth mixed up in the absurdities of this creed, and we all know that this mixture makes falsehood the more dangerous.