MESMERISM. 355 MESOPHYTE. phenomena. In ]ifiaons who are favorably dis- posed for passing into the hypnotic state, the condition is easily induced hy weak, long-eon- tinni'd. and uniform stimulation of the nerves either of sight, of touch, or of hearing. This state is, on the contrary, almost alwaj-s easily capalile of being terminated by some strong or suddenly varying stimulation of the same nerves. The scientific study of the phenomena presented hy hypnotized persons is of great interest and inilHirtance; but it is very doubtful indeed if the systematic induction of such a slate can ever be used as a legitimate or potent means for curing disease, or even for the alleviation of certain distressing symptoms. The investigations that have been made of recent years are far from being decisive in favor of the method as a remedial agent, especially when taken in conjunc- tion with the actual harm which may result from its induction in some nervous and impressionable persons. Xow and then a minor operation may be done luider the influence of hypnotism, or by its aid a fi.ed idea may be removed and a delu- sion dispelled. Under ordinary circumstanee.s, however, the number of those susceptible to its influence is so small that its general use is im- possible. In hysteria, as elsewhere, it is most decidedly a two-edged weapon, and the patient may emerge from hypnosis instituted for a minor difliculty and go into severe hysterical convul- sions. One delusion may be removed, but another and a more serious one may be implanted in its stead. For obvious rea.sons, women .should never be hypnotized without reliable witnesses, and the public use of hypnotism can only appeal to the morbid. Hypnotism tends to destroy self-reli- ance and to make patients imaginative, w'eak- niinded, and neurasthenic. Suggestion (q.v. ) is a mighty aid to the physician, and without produc- ing hypnosis, positive and intelligent assertion can accomplish all that is likely to be done by hyp- notism short of the somnambulistic stage. A fair realization of the part suggestion plays in therapeutics is one of the recent achievements of the most progressive medical minds. See Hyp.voTi.sM ; Spiritualism ; Somnambulism ; Suggestion. MESNE (men) LORD. In English law, a landlord who is himself tenant to some superior lord. The lord of a manor containing freehold lands which are held of him in fee, and who in his turn holds his lands of the Crown, answers that description at the jiresent time; the supi^rior lord, in this case the King, being the lord para- mount. See Fee ; FEn)ALiSM ; Tenure. MESNE PROCESS. All writs, process, or orders made or issued in an action between its commencement by original writ. sumnKms, or other primary jiroeess and the final process by which the judgment of the court is enforced. This term is not employed under modern practice acts, as such process is now included in that covered by the term interlocutory orders. See the articles Execution; .Judgment; Summons; Writ. MESNE PROFITS. The reasonable value of the use and iK-cujiation of real projierty dur- ing the period in which a trespasser remains in possession, and which may be recovered by the true owner when he is restored to possession. The mesne profits are estimated by taking the fair and reasonable net rental value of the prem- ises between the original entry by the trespasser and the restoration of the owner in possession, and deducting tlicrefrom all reasonable and nec- essary expenses for repairs and imi)roements in- curred by the trespasser, and the amount of any taxes or assessments jjaid by him. See Damages; Ejectment. MES'OHIP'PUS (Xeo-Lat., from Gk. /if oof, mcsos, middle -p i'ir?ros, hippos, horse). A name sometimes applied to one of the fossil horses of Jliocene age. See Horse, Fossil. MES'OLITE (from Gk. /liao^, viesos, middle -|- >,/flof, lithos, stone). A hydrated sodium- calcium-aluminura silicate that is intermediate in composition between natrolite and scoleeite, and erj'stallizes in the monoclinic and triclinic sj-stems. It occurs crystallized, in fibrous masses, and sometimes massive,, with a vitreous lustre, and in color is white or of light shades of gray or yellow. Mesolite is found in amygdaloid and other volcanic rocks, especially in Iceland, Scot- land, in Pennsylvania and Colorado in the United States, and in Xova Scotia. MESOLONGHI, mes'o-lon'ge. A town of Greece. See Missolongiii. MESONERO Y ROMANOS, mrrs6n,-i'r6 e ru-mil'nos, Ramon de ( 180.3-82) . A Spanish essay- ist, born at Madrid. He entered first upon a mer- cantile career, and while thus engaged he collect- ed the material for his Manual de Madrid. As a journalist he collaborated cm the Cartas Espa- fiolas, and in 183() he estal)lished the Hemanario Pintorcsco Espaitol, which he continued to direct until 1842. The best of his essays are to be found in the volumes entitled Esccnas matri- ienses and Memorias de itn se1ent6n. Those con- tained in the former collection give faithful pic- tures of older iladrid, and therefore have a de- cided antiquarian value; those included in the Memorias present much matter that is now very useful to an understanding of the political, social, and literarv aspects of the time. Consult the edition of his "o&rns (Madrid, 1881). MES'ONYX (Neo-Lat.. from Gk. /x^o-os, mcsos, middle 4- 6vv^. oniix. nail). A fossil creodont mammal found in the fresh-water Eocene for- mations of Wyoming and Xcw jMexico. A com- plete skeleton has been mounted in the museum of Princeton University. It .shows the animal to have had a large head, with strong jaws and stout teeth which were able to crush bones. The body is more bulky in front and smaller and weaker behind, with a remarkably long and pow- erful tail. It resembled in some superficial re- spects the modern Tasmanian wolf. MESOPH'ILOUS PLANT (from Gk. fximc, mesos, middle + ipi?.o(, philos, dear, from (piXclv, philein, to love). An objectionable term for plants which grow in intermediate conditions, jlesophytic is preferable. See JIesopiivte. MES'OPHYLL (from Gk. fiianc, mcsos. mid- dle + (pi'/./.oi; phijlhm. leaf). The tissue of the foliage leaf which is bounded by the two epider- mal layers and which the vein* traverse. The mesophyll cells for the most part contain chloro- phyll (the green pigment), and are the nutritive cells of the leaf. See Leaf. MES'OPHYTE (from Gk. /ifffof, mesos, mid- dle -4- (pvTbv, pit uton, growth, plant) . A name given to plants which grow naturally in conditions of
