, but a number of Charcot's disciples have proved the
truth of what Dumas seemed to draw from his rich imagination.
Dr. Charcot, who is a cautious man, has publicly admitted
hypnotic suggestion. He thinks extraordinary curative effects,
so far as the consciousness of pain goes, are to be derived from
hypnotism, which is Mesmerism with a new Greek name. But he
always exhorts laics not to dabble in it, and medical men to
keep their hypnotic lore to themselves. This is charming after
the way in which the profession of which Charcot is really a
bright light treated Mesmerism. Mesmer was an empiric. But he
nevertheless got at the truth.

Homoeopathy was tabooed because it was not orthodox, by that
Sanhedrim known as the Faculty of Medicine. Animal magnetism was
long ignored on the ground that charlatans had taken it up and
that no doctor who had self-respect could follow them. Mesmerism
was treated with no less contempt until a new name was given it,
and Charcot declared that there was not only something but a
good deal in it deserving the attention of scientists.

Dr. Luys last Tuesday made a communication to the Academy of
Medicine on this subject which electrified the members present.
It was on the action, both at a distance and by direct contact,
of certain medicated or fermented substances on hypnotic
subjects. The latter were all women who could not possibly have
got their cue beforehand, and were being observed, while Dr.
Luys operated, by a jury of scientists above all suspicion of
having lent themselves to any trickery. Alcohol when put to the
nape in a tube no larger than a homoeopathist's vial and
hermetically sealed produced exactly the same effect as if
imbibed at a bar. Absinthe, haschish, opium, morphine, beer,
champagne, tea and coffee were in succession tried with their
characteristic effects. But "the cup which cheers but not
inebriates" was found too exciting for French neuropaths.
Valerian caused the deepest sadness. The thoughts of the patient
were centred in a grave. She was impelled irresistibly to stoop
down and scratch the ground, and thought herself in a cemetery
exhuming a deceased relative whom she loved. Under the illusion
she fancied herself picking up bones belonging to his skeleton,
which she handled with tender reverence, and when there was an