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only of historical interest.) If Mendel had studied the question of suggestion
in connection with suspension, there would have been no epidemic of suspension-treatment
in Berlin. I may remark, by the way, that as far as my experience goes yohimbin,
which was so warmly recommended by Mendel in the treatment of impotence, has
no other importance than that derived from the suggestion that accompanies its
exhibition. At least, among all the cases that I have treated with yohimbin
I have been unable to find
TILE MEDICAL ASPECTS OF HYPNOSIS. 345
a single one in which the effect produced could be traced to the somatic influence
of the drug with any degree of probability. Other opponents of hypnotism, too,
who have recommended chemical remedies, have made very similar mistakes because
they were unable to form an adequate estimate of the action of suggestion.
We shall, under certain circumstances, be able to avoid falling into any grave
error as to new remedies and their action, provided we recognize the significance
of suggestion. How comes it that so many remedies are not only widely advertised
but even enthusiastically recommended by some doctors, remedies that so soon
prove to be lifeless? How many remedies have been proclaimed hypnotics, how
many appetisers, only to be forgotten immediately? And on what does their transient
success depend? On suggestion alone, often enough. When a doctor is convinced
of the narcotic action of a certain drug, that conviction is readily transmitted
to the patient who is under his suggestive influence, and there is therefore
no cause for surprise when the remedy does produce sleep. That is why Rosenbach
has given a proper way of testing new hypnotics. It is impossible to determine
the value of a hypnotic remedy scientifically, when the patient knows he is
taking such a remedy. Hypnotism has distinctly proved that. And it is just the
same with a number of other remedies, such as purgatives, astringents, anodynes,
etc., etc. All these substances can only be tested as to their true somatic
action when every form of suggestive action is scrupulously excluded, and the
first requisite in this respect is that the patient should know nothing about
the expected effect. The significance of electro-therapeutics has frequently
been discussed from this point of view. Mobius has traced many electro-therapeutic
effects to suggestion, and, in an exhaustive work on the question, I have expressed
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