THE POWER OF EXORCISM

New Zealand Tablet, 4 November 1909, Page 1732

THE POWER OF EXORCISM

If a Catholic physiciaii, no maiter how eminent, Ye*6 to advocate the treatment of certain forms of insanity, by exorcism, we venture to say that he would be ridiculed by not a few Catholics themselves.- However, this is being done by Dr. C. Williams, formerly physician to the Psychic Hospital and Dispensary, Liverpool president 6f"the Cardiff Psychological Society (1890), editor of a well-known medical journal, and author of several books on insanity, etc. In an essay originally written with a view, to * its being read as a paper before the Royal Society of Medicine, London, he says : ' I deliberately make the suggestion that in suitable cases — that is, in those occasional cases which appear to be those of "possession" — the medical* attendant .should, even at the risk of being thought eccentric or a " crank," boldly advocate a resort- to exorcism.' The treatment of some other forms of insanity 'by religious methods is also recommended. 'Such methods, by those understanding them, ' declares Dr. Williams, ' have been found most valuable, many remarkable recoveries having taken place.' A celebrated English mental specialist is quoted as saying recently on this subject : 'As one,, whose whole career has been concerned with the sufferings of the mind, I would state that of all the hygienic measures to counteract disturbed sleep, depression of spirits, arid all the miserable sequels of a disturbed mind, I would undoubtedly give the first place to the simple 'habit of prayer.' Here surely is food for thought. Those who hold that certain unusual forms of madness and epilepsy are in reality demoniacal possession, will probably be strengthened in their opinion by this declaration of so distinguished a scientist as Sir Risdon .Bennet, M.D,,' LL.D., F.R.S., exPresident of the Royal College of Physicians, London : ' There is not a little in the manifestation of many cases of lunacy that may well give rise to the question whether Satanic agency has not some part therein.'