the fluidic theory, especially in the absence of any means of disproving it, or of any more rational substitute. In the first place it was formulated long before the potency of mental action upon the bodily functions was more than faintly recognized. Secondly, the phenomena attending personal contact with the patient seemed to present some analogies to those of magnetic attraction and repulsion. Thirdly, those who opposed the magnetic theory offered no valid reason for so doing beyond the a priori assertion that it was "contrary to the nature of things," a very dangerous weapon, by the way, for a logician to handle in the absence of proof that he is thoroughly acquainted with "the nature of things." Fourthly, when, at length, a substitute was offered in the newly discovered law of suggestion, it was found not to possess the essentials of a valid working hypothesis for mesmerism, for that it did not account for all the facts. They had, therefore, a logical right to reject it, provisionally at least, whatever may be said of their own logical attitude in seeking to account for the unknown by referring it to something still more unknown. Be that as it may, they have the right to demand a substitute for their own theory which will at least render the latter unnecessary. It is my purpose in the ensuing chapters to offer such a substitute. Not, I hasten to say, one that will eliminate suggestion as a factor in any method of mental healing, for that is obviously impossible if suggestion is a universal law of mental medicine, but one that will reveal a form of suggestion, hitherto unrecognized, that is more direct and potent in its effects than any other form known to science. CHAPTER VII THOUGHT-TRANSFERENCE BY ANTS AND BEES BY MEANS OF PHYSICAL CONTACT The Psycho-Histological Theory of Mental Therapeutics. — Communication of Mental Impulses by Means of Physical Contact an Elementary Fact of Psychology. — The Vital Units of Pluricellular Organisms habitually communicate by this Means. — Unicellular Organisms, grouped together in Colonies, communicate in the same Way. - Communication between Ants by Contact of Antennæ.— Hypothetical "Langage Antennal" of Huber.- Antennal Communication among Bees. Inadequacy of Tactile-Signal Hypothesis. Thought-Transference the Obvious Explanation. B RIEFLY stated, my theory is that the effects ascribed to mesmeric methods, or, generically speaking, to the laying on of hands, are due to therapeutic impulses conveyed directly from the mind of the operator to the diseased cells in the patient, the connection being established by bringing into physical contact the peripheral nerve terminals of the two personalities. At first glance this may be, to many, a startling proposition; but it is a question of fact, to be settled by evidence, and not a matter of philosophical speculation. Fortunately, the evidence required in this case is very simple and easy to find, but two questions of fact being involved. The first is whether it is possible for one person to communicate intelligence, sensation, or therapeutic impulses to another by means of thought-transference, rapport being established by physical contact. The second is whether the requisite mechanism exists to enable therapeutic impulses, thus conveyed, to reach the diseased cells wherever they may be located. In regard to the first question, I have already shown that the ability of sentient creatures to communicate intelligence, sensations, or mental impulses by means of physical contact is one of the most elementary facts of psychology. I have shown that physical contact of cell with cell by means of protoplasmic threads or filaments is the one prepotent cause, or condition precedent to the manifestation of life and intelligence in all pluricellular organisms; that in the absence of these filamentary connections man would be nothing more than a congeries of cell tribes, a huge amoeboid mass, sentient, but not intelligent,—an aggregation, but not a confederation, of intelligent entities; and that mental unconsciousness as well as physical insensibility is the sure result of withdrawing these filamentary lines of communication between the cells. This, of course, does not prove that one person can thus affect the cells of another by means of personal contact, but it is here mentioned (1) because the power to heal disease by physical contact must necessarily include the power to reach and control the diseased cells wherever they may be located; and (2) because the effectiveness of the mechanism employed, whether it be actuated from within or from without, is due wholly to the fact that the sentient beings which compose it possess the power to communicate intelli gence, sensations, or impulses to each other by means of physical contact. Besides, this is one of the steps necessary to prove my assertion that the ability of sentient creatures to communicate intelligence to each other by means of physical contact is one of the most elementary facts in psychology. In further proof of this I again refer to Binet's "The Psychic Life of Micro-organisms." In speaking of the fact that unicellular organisms are often found grouped into colonies, each temporarily acting as a unit, our author says: "In the genus Volvox colonies are found of which the structure is very complicated. Such are the great green balls formed by the aggregation of diminutive organisms, which form the surface of the sphere, and are joined together by their envelopes; they have each two flagella, which pass through the enclosing membrane and swing unimpeded on the outside; the envelopes, each tightly holding the other, form hexagonal figures exactly like the cells of a honeycomb. Each volvox is at liberty within its own envelope; but it projects protoplasmic extensions which pass through its cuticle and place it in communication with its neighbor. It is probable that these protoplasmic filaments act like so many telegraphic threads to establish a network of communication among all the individuals of the same colony; it is necessary, in fact, that these diminutive organisms be in communication with each other in order that their flagella may move in unison and that the entire colony may act as a unit and in obedience to a single impulse." (The italics are mine.) The conclusion at which M. Binet arrives is that the ability of micro-organisms to communicate intelligence to each other by means of physical contact is conclusive evidence "that their movements are regulated by the action of a diffused nervous system present in the protoplasm." This is a very just conclusion; for if it were not true, the axiom of evolutionary science, that "the potentialities of manhood reside in the lowest unicellular organism," would be but an empty phrase, devoid of any biological significance. In other words, there must be diffused nervous system in the protoplasm of every unicellular organism from which to develop a structural nervous organism in the metazoan. Reversing the order of statement of propositions, the foregoing is the equivalent of saying, a priori, that, "given a nervous organism, diffused or structural, in any sentient creature, it follows that, other conditions being favorable, it can communicate intelligence to its fellows by means of physical contact. If, now, this proposition is sustained by a posteriori proofs, we may safely bank upon it as a fact in nature which demonstrates our thesis. Thus far, then, I have shown that the vital units of pluricellular organisms habitually communicate with each other, and that unicellular organisms, when grouped together in colonies, communicate with each other in the same way. It remains to show that some pluricellular organisms can and do hold intelligent communion with each other under identical conditions, namely, physical contact. To this end we will begin by obeying the scriptural injunction: "Go to the ant, consider her ways, and be wise." In doing so I shall avail myself largely of Romanes' so-called "complete résumé of all the |