Primitive Psycho-Therapy and Quackery

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

23293

Title

Primitive Psycho-Therapy and Quackery

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Robert Means Lawrence explores the historical roots of psycho-therapy, arguing that primitive healing methods, charms, and quackery relied on the power of suggestion and imagination. This 1910 text reveals how mental influence, rather than material remedies, drove cures in ancient and medieval medicine, from amulets to the royal touch.

Summary up to 500 words

In "Primitive Psycho-Therapy and Quackery," Robert Means Lawrence explores the historical evolution of medical practice, arguing that the efficacy of ancient remedies often stemmed not from material properties but from the power of suggestion and the imagination. Lawrence traces this concept from ancient Egypt and Assyria, where demons were banished through incantations, to medieval Europe, where runic inscriptions and Christian charms served similar prophylactic purposes. He posits that the therapeutic virtues of amulets, talismans, and relics are derived entirely from the faith of the user, exerting an influence upon the imaginative faculties of the individual. The text details the history of metallo-therapy, noting that metallic tractors were as effective as wooden ones due to the placebo effect, a fact confirmed by Dr. John Haygarth. Lawrence profiles notable figures such as Nostradamus, William Lilly, and Johann Joseph Gassner, illustrating how their successes were frequently attributed to supernatural powers or astrological insight rather than clinical skill. He also discusses the "royal touch" for scrofula and the healing influence of music, framing these as early forms of psychotherapy. Throughout the work, Lawrence emphasizes that the "ruling force" in healing has always been the imagination, whether wielded by a priest, a quack, or a patient. The book serves as a historical bridge between superstition and modern psychology, demonstrating that the success of primitive therapeutic methods and charlatanry is to be attributed to mental influence. By revealing the method of operation as "suggestion," Lawrence shows how the mind commands the body, effectively bridging the gap between ancient animism and modern mental healing.

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Categories

• Psychology
• History
• Science