urself stressing this word with particular force, so strengthening in
our minds the very idea we are trying to dislodge.

We shall do best to copy as closely as we can Coue's own procedure.
The phrase he uses, "ca passe," makes no mention of the hurt; it is
extremely easy to say, and it produces an unbroken stream of sound,
like the whirr of a machine or the magnified buzz of an insect, which,
as it were, carries the mind off its feet. The phrase recommended by
Baudouin, "It is passing off," produces no such effect, and in fact
defies all our attempts to repeat it quickly. On the whole, the most
suitable English version seems to be "It's going." Only the word
"going" should be repeated, and the treatment should conclude with the
emphatic statement "gone!" The word "going," rapidly gabbled, gives
the impression of a mechanical drill, biting its way irresistibly into
some hard substance. We can think of it as drilling the desired
thought into the mind.

If you are suffering from any severe pain, such as toothache or
headache, sit down, close your eyes and assure yourself calmly that you
are going to get rid of it. Now gently stroke with your hand the
affected part and repeat at the same time as fast as you can, producing
a continuous stream of sound, the words: "It's going, going, going ...
gone!" Keep it up for about a minute, pausing only to take a deep
breath when necessary, and using the word "gone" only at the conclusion
of the whole proceeding. At the end of this time the pain will either
have entirely ceased or at least sensibly abated. In either case apply
the particular suggestions recommended in the previous chapter. If the
pain has ceased suggest that it will not return; if it has only
diminished suggest that it will shortly pass away altogether. Now
return to whatever employment you were engaged in when the pain began.
Let other interests occupy your attention. If in a reasonable space,
say half an hour, the pain still troubles you, isolate yourself again;
suggest once more that you are going to master it, and repeat the
procedure.

It is no exaggeration to say that by this process any pain can be
conquered. It may be, in extreme cases, that you will have to return
several times to the attack. This will generally occur when you have
been foolish enough to supply the pain with a cause--a decayed tooth, a
draught of cold air, etc.--and so justify it to your reason, and give
it, so to speak, an i