Throughout the novel when all else fails the doctors of the novel turn to pseudoscience. I believe the scene that best displays something “you cannot understand” is the scene when Lucy struggles for life. In this scene there is a moment where Dr. Seward notices that “whenever she got into that lethargic state, with the stertorous breathing, she put the flowers from her; but that when she waked she clutched them close” (Chp 12). Even in Lucy’s state of falling in and out of consciousness she finds comfort in the garlic necklace, that Dr. Van Helsing had tried to explain to Lucy’s mother was a part of her treatment. However, Dr. Van Helsing never truly explains scientifically how garlic will help Lucy, and it is interesting that no one else cares to ask him why he resorts to this form of medication once the blood transfusions no longer work. Even Dr. Seward doesn’t appear to care why Van Helsing is turning to this form of pseudoscience as a form of treatment. I believe that no one questions the treatments prescribed through pseudoscience because of the placebo effect it has on patients. Placebo’s may even be seen as the new version of pseudoscience in today’s world. Yet, going back to this moment in the novel once Lucy dies Dr. Seward says “Ah, well, poor girl, there is peace for her at last. It is the end!”; however, he cannot comprehend what Dr. Van Helsing means when he responds “Not so; alas! Not so. It is only the beginning!”. So of course, after hearing this, Dr. Seward puts his faith in pseudoscience, and most likely believes that response from Van Helsing may be due to the garlic treatment, because the truth behind Dr. Van Helsings treatments has yet to be revealed in this scene.
This video talks about the science behind the placebo effect as well as the correlation I’m trying to make with why people believe that pseudoscience/magic can heal people and work .