the complete neglect and indifference for the
possible memory image. This time the effect was still stronger. On
the third day he reported that he still saw the image but he no
longer minded it, as it was like a veil through which he looked at
real objects and that left him entirely indifferent. His mind was
hardly engaged with it any more. The real spell of the attention
was broken. On the basis of this situation, I took the last step
and suggested that the image of the woman would disappear
altogether and would not trouble him any more. In the next
twenty-four hours, it still returned two or three times, but
colorless and faint. The following day I was able to eliminate it
altogether. Even when the last trace of the inner struggle between
the memory and the perceived surroundings had disappeared, I went
on with two hypnotic sittings to give stability to the new
equilibrium, to insist that the image would not come back and to
settle completely that inner repose with which every fear of
possible disease evaporated. I feel sure that the cure would not
have been reached so quickly, possibly not at all, if the second
suggestion, the disappearance of the image, had been given at the
first step. The improvement was secured because the antagonistic
process itself was used for the suggestion. On the other hand,
there was no doubt that in this case the strong will of the patient
or suggestion in a normal state would not alone have been
sufficient. The hypnotic treatment was indicated by the symptoms
and justified by the results.

I may take another typical case in which also the obsession was brought
about by an idea without emotional value or at least by an idea which
had lost its emotional character; the idea came somewhat nearer to
hallucination, but had its chief elements on tactual ground where the
transition from image to hallucinatory perception is easier. I add this
case to demonstrate that hypnosis is not the only open way of treatment
in such cases and that the variations must always be adjusted to the
special conditions. The case gains importance by the fact that the
patient was himself a physician well trained in mental observation.

The patient is a highly educated physician of middle age. He
reports that he had been neurasthenic all his life with slight
ever-changing symptoms. He