Medicine: Nose-Tickler

A fanfare of pressagentry saluted the sailing of a Dr. Paul Gillet of Paris* for Manhattan last week. Dr. Gillet is a nose-tickler, one who claims to cure all manner of ailments by touching a nasal nerve with a stylet and simultaneously gazing steadily into the patient’s eyes.

Though it admitted a modicum of sense in nasal tickling, U. S. medicine at once uttered a warning. Irritation of the sympathetic system gives some relief in certain nervous disorders. Scientifically it is about on a par with the late Emile Coue’s “Every day in every way I’m getting better.” Dr. Gillet’s master is Dr. Fernando Asuero, Spaniard who has been touring Europe and Latin America with the nose-tickling stunt.

* Neither Tout Paris, city directory, nor Minerva, international directory of learned men, mentions him.