We say that one human mind can influence another and 402:21 in this way affect the body, but we rarely remember that we govern our own bodies. The error, mes- merism - or hypnotism, to use the recent term 402:24 - illustrates the fact just stated. The operator would make his subjects believe that they cannot act voluntarily and handle themselves as they should do. If they yield 402:27 to this influence, it is because their belief is not better instructed by spiritual understanding. Hence the proof that hypnotism is not scientific; Science cannot produce 402:30 both disorder and order. The involuntary pleasure or pain of the person under hypnotic control is proved to be a belief without a real cause. Wrong-doer should suffer 403:1 So the sick through their beliefs have induced their own diseased conditions. The great difference between vol- 403:3 untary and involuntary mesmerism is that vol- untary mesmerism is induced consciously and should and does cause the perpetrator to suffer, while self- 403:6 mesmerism is induced unconsciously and by his mistake a man is often instructed. In the first instance it is under- stood that the difficulty is a mental illusion, while in the 403:9 second it is believed that the misfortune is a material effect. The human mind is employed to remove the illusion in one case, but matter is appealed to in the other. In real- 403:12 ity, both have their origin in the human mind, and can be healed only by the divine Mind. Error's power imaginary You command the situation if you understand that 403:15 mortal existence is a state of self-deception and not the truth of being. Mortal mind is constantly producing on mortal body the results of false 403:18 opinions; and it will continue to do so, until mortal error is deprived of its imaginary powers by Truth, which sweeps away the gossamer web of mortal illusion. 403:21 The most Christian state is one of rectitude and spir- itual understanding, and this is best adapted for heal- ing the sick. Never conjure up some new discovery from 403:24 dark forebodings regarding disease and then acquaint your patient with it. Disease-production The mortal so-called mind produces all that is unlike 403:27 the immortal Mind. The human mind determines the nature of a case, and the practitioner improves or injures the case in proportion to the truth 403:30 or error which influences his conclusions. The mental conception and development of disease are not under- stood by the patient, but the physician should be familiar 404:1 with mental action and its effect in order to judge the case according to Christian Science.