were constant headache, sudden falls, and complete absence of
sensation in her left hand, which greatly interfered with her work.
Some of the questions were inconvenient--until, in answer to one
regarding her father, she gave a cry that "Poor father died last
year," and broke into an agony of weeping. In a moment the doctor took
up an anthropometric instrument from the table, and made a movement as
though to touch her presumably insensible hand.

"Ah, you'll hurt me!" she said. Presently, while her attention was
attracted in another direction, he touched the hand with the
instrument, when she drew it back with a yell of pain, showing that
the belief that her hand was insensible was entirely due to hysteria.
He analysed her case just as he had done the first, and declared that
by a certain method of treatment, too technical to be here explained,
a complete cure could be effected.

Another case of hysteria followed, and then a terrible exhibition of a
wild-haired woman suffering from what the lecturer described as a
"crise des nerfs," which caused her at will to execute all manner of
horrible contortions as though she were possessed. She threw herself
on the floor on her back, with her body arched so that it rested only
on her head and heels, while she delivered kicks at those in front of
her, not with her toes, but with her heels. Meanwhile her face was so
congested as to appear almost black.

The audience were, I think, relieved when the poor unfortunate woman,
calmed by Deboutin's method of suggestion, was led quietly away, and
her place taken by a slim, red-haired girl of more refined appearance
than the others, but with a strange stony stare as though unconscious
of her surroundings. She was accompanied by a short, wizened-faced old
lady, her grandmother.

At this juncture the chairman rose and said:

"This case is of great interest, inasmuch as it is a discovery made by
my respected colleague, whom we all know by repute, Sir Bernard
Eyton."

The mention of my chief's name was startling. I had no idea he had
taken any interest in the French methods. Indeed, he had always
declared to me that Charcot and his followers were a set of
charlatans.

"We have the pleasure of welcoming Sir Bernard here this evening,"
continued the chairman; "and I shall ask him to kindly explain the
case."

With apparent reluctance the well-known physician rose, after being
cordially welcomed to the platform by the French savant,