Objectionable physical habits, such as nail-biting or lip-twitching, ordinarily call for strong suggestion. But in these cases, too, the hypnotist should keep in mind the possibility that the habit is merely a manifestation of nervousness and should not be treated apart from the underlying causes. If these be not removed, the habit, though apparently cured, is likely to come back before long, or to take an entirely different form. Hysterics, particularly, show this tendency to the return of symptoms of their disease. Whenever nervousness is not marked, however, one sitting or more, depending on the kind and gravity of the case, will often suffice to obliterate the fault completely. Unfortunately, in the absence of available precise techniques for every kind of trouble, the hypnotist is commonly forced to experiment and to devise his methods of treatment almost at a minute's notice. Naturally, these methods are not always as effective as they could be, had an extensive scientific experimentation preceded. Nevertheless, even at the present stage in the development of scientific hypnotism, certain general rules as well as certain specific methods can be laid down.
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