peevish and odd from the mere fact of having no one to love
me, I would not have answered for the consequences at all."

"I had to laugh," added Ellen, "at the marvellous cure effected by the
electrical machine. It reminded me of a well-attested anecdote I have
read of the beneficial effects wrought by a thermometer, through the
medium of the imagination. The physician intended to try whether the
galvanic battery could not be usefully employed in a case of paralysis,
but before commencing operations, he applied a small thermometer to the
tongue of the patient. Upon removing it, he was told by the latter that
it gave him very curious feelings, and that he thought himself a little
better. Seeing the mistake he had made, the doctor resolved not to
undeceive him, but to persevere in the application of the thermometer.
He did so, and the man was soon a complete cure."

"I have heard of instances of sudden joy or fright restoring the vital
energies to poor bed-ridden mortals," said Cornelia, "but to be cured by
a thermometer is too comical!"

"It was that powerful principle, faith," answered Mrs. Wyndham. "I
remember very well the time when certain metallic tractors were all the
fashion, to draw away pain from the parts affected, by magnetic
influence. Well-authenticated cures were wrought; but at last a
physician applied a test, which proved the beneficial results to be
entirely the work of the imagination. He had wooden tractors made,
painted so as to resemble the metal ones, and they exerted equal powers.
When this fact was published, of course the cures ceased, and metallic
tractors became things that were."

"Another fact is told to show how the imagination can kill or cure,"
said Mr. Wyndham. "A criminal was condemned to death for some atrocious
deed, and it was resolved to try an experiment upon him, as he would
have to die at any rate. He was informed that he would be bled to death;
and when the appointed time had arrived, his eyes were effectually
bandaged, his arm bared, and the surgeon pretended to cut the artery.
Luke-warm water was poured, in a steady current, upon his arm, and
trickled down into a basin below: and the physician held his hand,
feeling the pulse. The wretched criminal became paler and paler, his
pulse beat more faintly, and at last he died, a victim to his own
imagination."

"Poor creature!" added Mary. "And I have repeatedly heard of cases,
uncle, in which persons fancied themselves about t