The reader will find that I often turn to Social Psychology. This is requisite. As I carry on my work on nervous ills I become more and more convinced that a knowledge of Social Psychology is essential to a clear comprehension of nervous ills. The number of cases given in the volume will, I am sure, be of great help to the reader. For the concrete cases, carefully studied by me, bring out distinctly the mechanism, the factors, and the main principles of nervous ills. I address this volume to the reader who wishes to learn the truth, not to those who are in search for ever new amusements, or for the “best seller” of the year. I hope that this work will prove of value to the thoughtful physician and of interest to the cultured layman. I further hope that my reader will not be offended by my statements about superstitions. _I address myself to the liberal-minded reader who does not care to follow the herd._ BORIS SIDIS Maplewood Farms, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTION 7 CHAPTER I SELF-PRESERVATION AND FEAR 19 II STAGES OF FEAR 27 III THE PRIMACY OF FEAR 32 IV FEAR AND SUPERSTITION 38 V THE POWER OF FEAR 45 VI FEAR AND DISEASE 56 VII FORMS OF NEUROSIS 61 VIII FEAR AND THE HYPNOIDAL STATE 66 IX HEALTH AND MORBIDITY 73 X THE SUBCONSCIOUS 77 XI THE CONDITIONS AND LAWS OF SUGGESTION 81 XII IS THE SUBCONSCIOUS A PERSONALITY? 86 XIII THE CHARACTER OF THE HYPNOIDAL STATE 91 XIV HYPNOIDAL PSYCHOTHERAPY 101 XV EGOTISM AND FEAR 115 XVI NEUROTIC PARASITISM 131 XVII FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES 137 XVIII ILLUSTRATIONS, NEUROTIC HISTORIES 149 XIX HYPNOIDAL TREATMENT 164 XX FEAR CONFESSIONS 183 XXI TRANCE APPARITIONS 211 XXII RECURRENT FEAR STATES--PSYCHOLEPSY 216 XXIII APHONIA, STAMMERING, AND CATALEPSY 234 XXIV SUGGESTED HALLUCINATIONS 250 XXV TRANCE SERVILITY 258 XXVI THE HYPNOIDAL STATE AND SUPERSTITIONS 264 XXVII NEUROSIS AND HEREDITY 271 XXVIII NEUROSIS AND EUGENICS 276