Varia

My dear Dr, White:

I, too, have been quite besieged by inquiries concerning the so-called “New Nancy School,” since the publication of Baudouin's book and since it became known that I had visited M. Coué.

Now in so far as the book aims to give an account of what this very genial and honest old Frenchman is trying to do as a healer, since he is not a physician, the book is thoroughly mischevious, since it exaggerates to the point of distortion what is actually being done by Coué. After discussing the book with Coué, I am convinced, and so does he appear to be, that Baudouin's main objective must have been the exploitation of an opportunity to write a book and Coué rather laughs at the strained and fantastic formulations with the incessant reiterations, “the New Nancy School,” that the book reflects.

Personally, I could not get myself to feel that there is anything that is particularly new in Coué's procedure outside of the deliberate attempt which he makes to put over to his patients either by means of direct lecturing or through hypnoidal suggestions the various notions concerning the power of mind over matter, the marvels of autosuggestion, et cetera.

I was, on the other hand, thoroughly carried away by the man back of the procedure, whose honesty, lack of affectation and keen insight into human nature are quite sufficient to account for his success. He is actually doing a tremendous lot of good to countless numbers of neurotic, intimidated individuals who get from him a decided boost to their morale. Of course the majority of his patients, at any rate the more intelligent ones, come to him filled with a thorough disgust for the current practices of some of the respectable physicians, having been diagnosed to the very limit of ultra-scientific procedure and finding themselves after it was all over just about where they started. They are thus quite naturally in a very receptive mood for this new wonder-working approach to their difficulties which Coué succeeds in convin