Psycho-Electro Treatments of Dr. Haxsaw-1906-Present.

The good doctor clicked the heels to his leather boots across the wooden floor of his office. Taking a seat within a high backed leather chair before his office desk he began once again at the typewriter. Making impression, with TEXT, he wrote down the notes necessary. It was for implementation of diagnosis of this new approach to the treatment in the field of psychology. Not being a high muck nor a prude, he was nor stiff necked enough to shun religion. Neither would he toss aside faith healers who came to town. Some came to town, in horse drawn wagons. Quite a crowd they did draw! Haxsaw grumbled as he pecked at the keys.

Faith healers passed around a basket. They were making money. Why couldn't he?

After sipping from a frothing cup of coffee he began his dissertation. Perchance, in future generation, this same approach could be implemented. Then again, perhaps not....? Haxsaw was then, leaning forward, pecking at the old keys.
After trying various physical measures, I
found that static electricity was best suited
for the purpose in view, and it has been my
practice for some time to make use of combined
'psycho-electrical treatment' in which the
physical effect of static electricity has been
made to support the psychical effects of suggestion,
with the very greatest satisfaction
both to myself and to my patients.
In seeking to elaborate a practical method
one's efforts are limited.

Haxsaw was sure the paper was being fed into the roller. The ink ribbon was rotating with each click and clack of the keys. Occasionally he paused to sip again. It was Colombian Coffee, highly sought and quite expensive. "One would consider rail line delivery making goods cheaper, eh?" he said, cockily. Ah, good and services, supply and demand. Should it only set on somebody' dock, unwanted prices would plummet. Such was not the case...

In using electricity for this purpose it has
not been my desire to induce a deep hypnotic
state, because, in common with many other
psychotherapists, I found, soon after commencing
psycho-therapeutic methods, that
suggestion does not need the induction of such
a state for its successful issue.
The combined psycho-electrical method,
which I have found so useful, is carried out
in the following manner. The patient is
seated on a comfortable reclining chair,
on an insulated platform,
connected with a static electrical machine.
The platform I use is one specially constructed
for the purpose, as the ordinary platform and
chair supplied with a static apparatus are
useless for the purpose in view. He is then
requested
:
1. To assume a position of relaxation and
comfort.
2. To close the eyes.
3. To breathe evenly, and a little more
deeply than usual.
4. To refrain from making any unnecessary
movements throughout the treatment.
The electricity is generated in the usual
way, and, as a general rule, the apparatus
is so arranged as to give a mild "head-breeze."

My Influence Machine is the Wimshurst Model. It sets on a desk, on its own. I will have a subject set behind the machine, aforementioned. There is an insulating padding beneath that desk as well as the chair for my subject/patient.
By turning the handle to the rotating disk this builds up enough power to surge a spark. The spark emits from the high backed chair the subject rests back, within. After, begin session. I have the electric rods at left and right of the high back chair. Purifying my patients is of necessity! I finished my coffee and continued transcribing what would prove be a vital need for mental health care abnormalities.

The object in view is three-fold
:
Firstly, to obtain a state of mental rest and
relaxation, and, considering how excitable
and inclined to muscular contractions, restless
movements, and anxious thought most
neurasthenic patients are, it is not difficult to
realize how absolute relaxation of the limbs,
complete rest of the body, and alleviation
of the mental unrest alone bring great relief.
Secondly, to bring about a state of increased
suggestibility for the purpose of therapeutic
suggestion.
And thirdly, to produce the physical and
tonic effects of the electricity.
Considering these points in further detail,
it is well known that it is not easy to get
excitable, nervous people to relax themselves
thoroughly under ordinary circumstances.
They find it difficult to concentrate their
attention on the object to be secured, and to
refrain from talking needlessly, and from
moving restlessly one part of the body, whilst
trying to relax another. But with the eyes
closed, and in a comfortable chair, we know
that they can get more relaxed than otherwise,
whilst it is my experience that when
under the influence of static electricity, given
according to my method, the most restless
patients become tranquilized to a degree that
is difficult to obtain by suggestion alone.
They find that they are able to relax their
muscles and to rest more quietly than under
ordinary circumstances.
Then, with regard to the mental state
obtained, this, whilst not being a hypnotic
state in the usual acceptance of that term, is
certainly a " rest-state " of markedly increased
suggestibility. It is a mental state which
very often corresponds to the ''hypnotic
state " described by Boris Sidis.* Doubtless
with susceptible persons it would not be
difficult to induce a true hypnotic state by
this psycho-electrical method, and, indeed,
this is a point of particular advantage on
occasion, always provided that the patient's
attention is fixed on some particular idea.
Now, afterwards, usage of this is for relieving
said patient of various maladies.
A patient comes complaining of general
lassitude and depression, with perhaps dyspepsia
and sense of having lost his grip on
life. I ask him to sit quietly in a comfortable
chair or to recline on a couch. I say
to him,
'' Close your eyes.''
" Be restful in mind and body, and I will
do what I can to help you."
Then I place one or both hands on his
head, and maintain that position for some
five or ten minutes. Under favorable circumstances
the invalid goes away feeling
brighter, stronger, and with renewed self-confidence.
Sometimes local pain may be
relieved similarly, contact being made over
the painful area.
Whilst laying your hands on the patient's
head, or over the site of bodily discomfort, or
whilst making passes, impress on him such
verbal suggestions as may be considered
advisable. Thus, supposing the invalid is
suffering from neurasthenic symptoms, including
troublesome palpitation, place one or
both hands over the precordium and say
emphatically,
" Your fears as to impending physical
disaster are groundless,"
"You will have increasing tranquility of
mind, and greater comfort in body,"
and so forth.
To exemplify the more direct use of verbal
suggestion, let us take for example someone
who fears that he is suffering from an organic
disease. As before, the patient is asked to
take a restful attitude of mind and body,
and now the full use of suggestion by word
of mouth is made use of. Then say to him
earnestly
"You are physically sound in every
respect."
*Your heart, lungs, nervous tissues, and
all organs of your body are in a normal
state of health."
"You will realize now the soundness of
your system."
''You will forget all past anxieties."
"You will realize your actual physical
fitness."
''You will think of health, realize health,
and you will live health."
''You are well. Be well, and remain well."
Such suggestions, repeated in an earnest,
somewhat monotonous manner, with intervals,
for the space of five or ten minutes, will effect
wonders in the right sort of case; the appeal
being made not to the reason, but to
sub-conscious or sub-attentive mental field,
which, according to the suggestibility of the
patient at any particular sitting, accepts the
suggestions and stores them up.
Note,—So far I have endeavored to
illustrate the use of psycho-therapeutic
methods of the simplest possible form. Next
I will give a broad indication of the procedures
to be adopted when one wishes to
increase definitely the suggestibility of the
patient by inducing a mental state which
is other than that of the normal waking
state.

As the dear, dear Dr. Haxsaw walked across the floor, checking a gold wind-up watch within his front breast pocket a single bullet pierced him. Hearing the shattering of glass a secretary came rushing in. Screaming over what she walked in upon the floor she sobbed pathetically. Later, after the remains were pronounced deceased; therefore signalling the departure of the dear, dear Dr. Haxsaw a Secretary Lenore, upright yet weary, quite red eyed from this turn of events was keeping of house. Getting all in order she was certain, so certain the good doctor's last mailings were to be sent out. "That chair!" He had her seated there prior, yes? She found herself drawn. Crossing a leg as she reclined the pressure plate beneath the chair caused the handle to turn one more time. A sudden yet low Voltage spark surged across her temples. Feeling her back arch, her senses somehow, somewhere, washed away, washed so clean, she then spoke.
"I hear and I obey. Yesssss!"
THE END