Did he possess a hitherto unexercised personal power, which put the key of this young girl's nervous system into his hands?
The remarkable tranquillizing effect of the contact of his hand with her forehead looked like an immediate physical action.
It might have been a mere coincidence, however.

He would not form an opinion until his next visit.
At that next visit it did seem as if some of Nurse Byloe's seventy devils had possession of the girl.

All the strange spasmodic movements, the chokings, the odd sounds, the wild talk, the laughing and crying, were in full blast.

All the remedies which had been ordered seemed to have been of no avail.

The Doctor could hardly refuse trying his quasi magnetic influence, and placed the tips of his fingers on her forehead.
The result was the same that had followed the similar proceeding the day before,--the storm was soon calmed, and after a little time she fell into a quiet sleep, as in the first instance.
Here was an awkward affair for the physician, to be sure! He held this power in his hands, which no remedy and no other person seemed to possess.