The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-05-01
ARTIFICIAL SPONTANEOUSLY.

ARTIFICIAL SOMNAMBULISM.
How 1t May BE Induced, and Its wonder
t ful Results. ftss 44T
Mr.. Richard A. Proctor contributes
to the March Belgrauia an article in
which he shows how somnambulism
may be artifcially induced, and what
wonderful things a person may be made
TO do while in that state. 1t is but lit
tie more than quarter OF century ago
that q couple of itinerant Americans,
styling themselves Professors of
Electro Biology" startled London by
boldly asserting their power '' to subju-
gate the most determined will, paralyze
the strongest muscles, pervert the evi-
dence of the senses, destroy the memory
of even the most familiar things or of |
the most recent occurrences, induce
obedience TO any command, or make the |
Individual believe himself transformed
into any one else.'' The secret of this /
wondrous influence was known only
to themselves. As part of the
aaodaas 0perandi, the subject was
required to gaze steadily ut a
small disk of zinc and copper held
in his hand, SO as to concentrate the 4
electromagnetic action Whatever |
may have been thought of the preten-
sions of these men, their performances |
were certainly remarkable, and were |
witnessed by large and amazed audi |
ences. In 1851, DR.. Braid, Scotch
surgeon, who had been making investi-
cations somewhat akin to these matters,
set to work to solve the mystery, and he |
soon proved that the phenomena were
not due to any special qualities possess
ed by the disk of zinc and copper, but
simply to the fixed look of the subject
| and the entire abstraction of his atten-
tion. Carrying his investigation still
further, he found that, by modifying
the method of fixing the attention, far
more perfect control might be obtained
| over the subject, and that q condition
of somnambulism might be artificially
induced. This state of artificial SOM
nambulism was called by him hypno-
tism. 1t is produced by the subject
keeping fixed gaze for several minutes
consecutiyely on q bright object placed
somewhat above and in front of the
eyes, at so short a distance that the con-
yergence OF their axes. upon it is accom-
panied with sense of effort amounting
to pain. "ia "s'-
In hypnotism, as in ordinary somnana-
bulism, the subject appears to be in a
profound sleep. On awakening he has
no remembrance of any thing that has
4 occurred in the hypnotic condition, al
} though when he goes again into this
state the train of thought of the previ-
} GUS one may be taken up and continued
uninterruptedly. The hypnotized per-
son becomes subject in an extraordinary
degree to the influence of external sug-
/, gestion, directing the current OF his
thought and his action. He acquires
the power of incredible concentration.
: ssThe whole man appears to be given to
J each perception. His passions may
9 be aroused and his emotions controlled
t by words or through his muscular sense.
His mind may be acted upon through
9 impressions communicat ed from the
body, and he may thus be made to act
in accordance with the attitude or pos
e ture in which he is placed. s.Double
: his fist," says DR.. Garth Wilkinson,
q s'and pull up his arm, if you dare, fol
you will have the strength of your ribs
: rudely tested. Put him on his knee.
e and clasp his hands; and the saints anc
v devotees of the artists will pale before
y the trueness of his devout actings." DIR
r Carpenter mentions a case of which HI
was witness. The arm of the som
nambulist being brought into the posi-
r. ton of striking a blow, the ideas Of fight
ing was at once aroused and put intt
), immediate execution. The blow chanc
le ed to fall upon a second somn 1mbullst
Ie who was quick to defend himself agains
- the unexpected and unprovoked attack
g The two began to belabor each othe
8, with such energy that it was only witt
y the greatest difficulty that they wer
h separated. They continued to ute
s. furious denunciations against one an
v other until, by a little discreet manipu
N lation of their muscles, they were calm
l. ed and put in good humor.
g. By assuring the somnambulist tina
7, he can easily do what he is called upo
q to try, his will can be SO concentrates
4 that he will perform feats OF strengt
n and skill that are entirely beyond hi
s. natural powers. In this way an extra
re ordinary degree of power can be throw
into any set of muscles. DIR. Carpente
saw DR.. Braid experiment on q ma
a. who, in his ordinary condition, was 8
IT. weak physically that he would not vel
OF ture to lift 20 pounds. Being somnan
We bulized, and assured that quarter OF
a. Observation-Disclosures as light as feathe
Mt he took it up with his little finger ar
1t, swung it around his head with the grea
Mt est ease. On another occasion, he lftt
so pounds with one finger. Subs
quently he declared that he was unah
ID to lift handkerchief from the tabl
rt, after having been assured that he cou
I'd, not possibly move it. One Of the me
he remarkable cases of this kind is th
art given by DIR. Carpenter, on the autho
18th ty of trustworthy witnesses. A facto
ain girl, without musical cultivation, a