ABSTRACT

Suggestion—and axe speaking of suggestion without hypnotism—may act in two ways. It may expend itself upon the mind of the patient alone. Thus, it may affect the emotions and the general mental state of the patient; or it may affect one or more of the special functions of the nervous system. Direct suggestion, as can readily be understood, is most valuable in hysteria, less valuable in neurasthenia, and least valuable in hypochondria. In hysteria both direct and indirect suggestion should be employed. Its detailed application depends upon numerous factors, such as the sex, the age, the education, the emotional and mental peculiarities of the patient, and his social state. One application of suggestion it is necessary to mention, especially, because of its importance. There is a group of cases in which the influence of suggestion is marked, provided the patient can at the same time be kept actively employed or mentally diverted.