From the completely different nature of the circumstances of the nerve-stricken soldier and civilian respectively it is clear that such total isolation can be considered necessary for soldiers only in very few cases, even though the modified forms of isolation, to which reference has been made, may be useful for most of such patients. The important point that emerges from this discussion is the necessity which is laid upon the physician of determining, in the case of each individual patient, whether isolation of any kind is desirable, what form it should take, and especially when it should be used, modified or discontinued. _Suggestion and Hypnosis._ We have already touched briefly on the need for sympathetic firmness and for inspiring the patient with confidence that he will recover. But such firmness can be useful only when it is supported by respect for and confidence in the physician. In most cases such respect can be gained only by acquiring a real insight into the patient’s condition and by treating him tactfully and reasonably. It is too often forgotten that the neurasthenic patient’s continual and intense criticism of himself makes him especially quick at intuitively becoming conscious of the physician’s failings. Under such circumstances, if the doctor does not secure the patient’s respect and convince him that he really understands his condition, the former’s firmness and confident assurances will avail him nothing: he has shown his hand; his failure will excite contempt; and the patient’s intractable, _enlightened_ stubbornness will be fatal to any further hope of influence on the part of that particular physician. Ever since mankind first sought help from his fellows for his afflictions of body or mind, confidence in the efficiency of the adviser’s ability has been an essential factor in leech-craft. To be able to convince a patient that he is going to recover and that medical advice will help towards that end is certainly not the least of the physician’s qualifications. But unless the assurances given him are based upon real insight and understanding, the process of securing the patient’s confidence is not very different from the charlatan’s blatant boasting. In other words, it is analogous to the confidence trick. The confidence which is inspired in the patient by his conviction of the physician’s real understanding of his condition is an altogether different matter. Such “suggestion” necessarily enters into all successful treatment and this applies in a very special manner to the cure of mental ailments.