Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-06-04

AN INTERESTING SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATION
OF SOME OF THEM.

AN INTERESTING SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATION
OF SOME OF THEM.
lTrom the Nation.l
Prof. Heidenhain has been doing Some
remarkable things at Breslau Germany
in the way of hypnotism. This scientist
had been invited 10y the City Fathers to
repeat and explain in rational way the
marvellous results which Herr Hansen,
the Danish "magnetizer," had been pro-
ducing in series of public exhibitions.
Many well known citizens had been hyp-
Noticed by the Dane, the modus operan
iii being for each one to look fxedly at
bright glass button held by himself about
eight inches from and above his eyes.
The subject hypnotized became insensi-
BILE to pins thrust into his hands, imita-
ted sounds and motions made before him,
and performed many strange and absurd
antics. On awakening he was uncon-
scious. as well as incredulous, of what he
had done. Prof Heidenhain declared
his ability to repeat all of Hausen's per-
formances, and his doings have created
sensation among the Germans. The hyp-
motto state could he brought on by slight,
constant, and uniform, or repeated lrrl-
tation affecting the eye, ear, or skin,
'passes" with the hand-the warmth of
whic! is often effective at a distance
tuning-fork, watch, OF distinct fixa-
ton point, with thoughts occupied only
by the object felt, seen, or heard.
In one case, each of five Polish soldiers
was told to hold loud-ticking watch to
his ear and listen iDtently In five min
utes two of them had fallen into pro-
found cataleptic sleep, and become insen-
sible to PAIN. On awakening, they de-
clared that they had not been asleep. 4
constant touch on the back Of the neck
made some subjects perfect initiative
machines, reproducing exactly every
word, look and motion Of the person on
whom the attention was fixed. As soon
as the finger was taken from the neck the
repetition stopped instantly. But stranger
still, Prof Heidenhain and his colleagues
succeeded with some subjects in hypno-
tizing one-half of the brain and body,
while the other half remained normal
One side of the face would smile, while
the other side remained unchanged in
cataleptic state. Ono arm and leg could
he moved at viii, but not the others. One
eye would see distinctly, and the other
impcrfectly or not at ali.
lOl Ntit
made only with men, and he succeeded
with abuut ona subject in twelve. The
first time was found to be the mos; diff
cult 10 hypnotic subject. After the
first time some grew more sensitive to the
influence, while others finally lost the
power Of being affected. Some acquired
the faculty Of hypnotizing themselves.
Prof Heidcnhain maintains that the pro-
I 10
the subject The Professors brother WAS
hypnotized on an average two or three
times n day for two months, aud claims
to be mono the worse for it.
4 BRAVE BABY.-A woman who lives In
Ashville, Ala. writes to the Hgis, OF
that place, Of the miraculous rescue of
her little three year-old boy from drown
ing. The child fell down well, the
depth of which was thirty feet. The
mother saw him go down. She
''On reaching the well ! was just III
time to see him rise to the top Of the
water. I was alone, save three other
little children whom | sent for help. |
had. amid all the anguish Of my soul,
presence of mind enough to let the buck
ct down and tell him to take hold Of it,
which he did. After some minutes he
let loose from weakness, sank again, ex-
cept his little head. / lowered the buck
ct lower, telling him to take hold of the
rope He ran his hand through n ring
tied on for the purpose of sinking the
bucket and caught the pail, and there he
held on for one and a half hours, begging
Inc all the time in his baby talk to come
down and help him out. / would say
Hold on. Bobbie' L will, he would re-
ply. At length lady came TO my assist
anee, and we took rope and made {
moose on the end of 1T, and letting II
down, told him what to do. He put his
foot through the moose and drew 1t VI
around his knee. [ asked him If h'
could hold on. He said he could hold oI
to the bucket 'Daw me out He hold
ing the bucket, the rope around his leg,
telling him not to let 60, We drew him ~
until could reach his little, shiverine
hands. Thus / saved my little boy from
drowning, Safe 10 my breast ! clasped
his little, shivering body, and praiso'
God for his mcrcios.