s it. Judicious friends never
speak in a discouraging manner to the invalid. The success of mind
cure practitioners is based on this principle. They endeavor to
impress on the patient's mind the idea of perfect health, but they
know too little of the whole subject to know how to place the patient
in that passive and receptive condition in which the results are most
promptly and certainly produced.

Such methods are limited in their effect in proportion to human
impressibility and cannot possibly supersede all use of remedies which
reach thousands of cases in which mental operations would be entirely
futile. But the power of animal magnetism over all diseases and
infirmities of mind and body has been so often demonstrated that its
neglect is a deep disgrace to the medical colleges. A correspondent of
the _Daily Telegraph_ gives the following illustration of its power
over drunkenness:

"About eighteen months ago I was conversing with my friend B.,
who is an enthusiastic believer in mesmerism, and has repute as
an amateur practitioner. My contention was that his favorite
science (?) had contributed absolutely nothing to the world's
good to cause its recognition by either scientists or
philosophers. 'Can you give me,' said I, 'one instance in which
you have conferred an actual benefit by the practice of your
favorite art?' He related several, from which I selected the
following:--'There lives by my parsonage,' said my friend B., 'a
man who for many years, had been a confirmed drunkard.
Repeatedly were his wife and children forced to flee from him,
for when in his drunken frenzies, he attempted to murder them.
Again and again have I striven to induce him to flee from his
horrible vice, but my efforts were always futile. One day he
called to see me when he was suffering acutely from the effects
of drink. I resolved to place him under mesmeric influence. This
I did, and while subject to me made him promise not to touch
strong drink again, and if he attempted to break his pledge,
might the drink taste to him filthy as putrid soapsuds. I then
restored him to his normal state, and he left me. He kept his
unconsciously given promise. In the course of a couple of years
this man raised himself from a condition of poverty to the
comfortable position of a thriving market gardener. 'Not a
fortnight since,' resumed my friend, 'my neighbor