“Ahem! Well, yes, perhaps it has. The great trouble is, when a person is given a glimmering of a great truth he immediately jumps at conclusions and carries the idea beyond the bounds of common sense. I am Rosicrucian enough to believe that nature has given an antidote to every ill human flesh is heir to, and that every leaf and flower that grows has its beneficent uses if we were wise enough to understand them. I don’t deny that the mind has much to do with the condition of the body, but I believe even mind influence has its limitations. Of course, nervous and hysterical people are most susceptible to it, and oftentimes diseases exist only in the mind.” “What do you think of hypnotism as a factor in healing, Doctor?” “Well, the French have been experimenting somewhat with that. It is even a more dangerous agent to use than electricity. Hypnotism may be dangerous even if self-imposed. For one thing, I believe it is enervating to the will, and a person controlled by the will of another may be evilly influenced. Again, what is insanity but the loss of control of the will over the subjective mind. Each time a person yields himself to the control of another or suffers himself to be put in the condition called trance, is he not approaching the borderland of insanity?” “I suppose, generally speaking, a sound nervous organization is not susceptible to hypnotic influence.” “Not as susceptible as the more frail, disturbed ones.” “But, Doctor, it is a great thing to control delirium and render a subject insensible to pain, even during a surgical operation.” “Yes, if it can be done. I am told that it has been done, and may serve with a certain class of subjects; but it will not reset a broken arm nor remove a cancer. I have not much use for it.” “Beware, Doctor, we have not learned all its possibilities yet. By the way, that Major Walden and his wife are a fine couple.” “Yes; did you ever hear that they had been twice married?” “Twice married? No; how was that?” “Why, it seems that a rascally spirit-medium separated them ten or fifteen years ago, and the Major married again. Fortunately, or unfortunately as the case may be, number two was smashed up in a railway wreck and the story turned out in the orthodox fashion. She herself used to be a clairvoyant or something of the kind.” “What, not that pretty woman he has with him now?” “The same. I heard her myself once, out in Denver.” “Ugh! That is incredible. She is the last one I should think of connecting with the idea of spirit-mediumship. She looks as innocent as an angel.”