ch trouble.

This young man came to me hoping that I would tell him that his trouble
was not severe and that he would outgrow it in a few years. I was able
to tell him that at the time his case was not an extremely bad one, but
I knew that instead of being outgrown it would become ingrown, and I so
told him.

But he decided to postpone action until some later date, feeling sure,
despite what I had told him, that he would outgrow his stammering.

Four and a half years later, he came back. This time he did not say
that his friends knew nothing of his trouble. He was in bad condition,
his "seldom stammering," as he had called it, was chronic now and the
painful expression on his face when he tried to talk was ample proof of
the condition in which he had allowed himself to get. His trouble had
passed into Genuine Stammering and was of a very severe nature. There
was no thought of postponement in his mind at this time and he placed
himself for treatment immediately. Eight weeks' time saw his work
completed, with excellent results. His fear was gone, his confidence
renewed and his health greatly improved, in addition to being able to
talk fluently.

Case No. 66.788--Here was the case of a man of 30, a preacher, who
found no difficulty in preaching to his congregation, from the pulpit,
but whose trouble immediately got the best of him the moment he went
down into the church and attempted to carry on a conversation
individually. This became so embarrassing to him that he finally gave
up the idea of passing through his congregation, but satisfied himself
with standing at the door and greeting them as they passed out. This,
too, he was later compelled to give up on account of his speech,
although during none of this time did he have the slightest trouble in
delivering his sermons.

His was a case of Genuine Stammering. The mental control when he was in
the pulpit was almost normal. Talking to individuals, this control was
quickly shattered. He placed himself for treatment after having secured
a brother-pastor to fill his place for two months. He was a good
student, obedient to instruction, concentrating on his work with a
creditable energy. As a result, in five weeks' time, he found himself
able to talk to anybody under any condition without the slightest
sticking or fear. He could talk over the telephone and was master of
himself under the cross-fire of conversation which in his previous
state had bothered him so seriously