The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-06-24
uNcANNY, lF NOT DANGEROUS
Some Of the Odd Experiments Made BY .
Professor Of Hypnotism.

DR.. Feldman, the famous hypn0tlSr, Is
above medium height and of muscular
build, although not what would be called
tall or stout man. He wears a
| Napoleonio beard and mustacle, and
| they and his hair are as nearly black rs
| capillary filaments ever grow. His
| quick. nervous movements extend even
| to the ewes. which never rest long on any
one object Eyeglasses give him a pro-
fessional air, but he lacks the repose
which is usually the acquired or natural
| bearing Of physician.
Invited to the house of Russian lady
of considerable literary distinction, by
! special request. he arranged to have
| professional subject present on whom he
could make experiments The method
adopted by the hypnotist for obtaining
| the presence of this individual was first
to possess him with the idea that he was
| going to Russia and then to order him to
present himself at the house of the lady
and give her note asking her if she
could give him some letters of recon-
mendatiOn TO persons in that country.
| This plan was carried out literally by the
subject. and when he had walked into
| the drawing room and asked the ques-
tons he sat in a most strained attitude,
with fixed eyes and ClinChed hands.
| Only rather vigorous tapping on the
forehead administered by Dr. Feldman
brought the subject back to Il natural at
titude. He then blinked his eyes and
rubbed his face as if he had been asleep.
The lady of the house then asked him
if it was he who desired some letters Of
introduction TO families in Russia He
replied that he had no intention of leav-
ing the country, and lie had therefore no
need of letters The hypnotst then eX-
planned that the subject had forgotten all
about the request NE had made when he
entered The subject, although n strong
looking fellow of "a or thereabout. was
pronounced Ia bc most sensitive to the
hypnotic influence Of DR.. Feldman. and
this was proved by his being put into a
complete state of satalepsy aftcr few
passes over the ewes and forehead having
been made. Catalepsy WAS the disease
fer which the man had been under treat
upnt Any one "ita q tendency 90 such
disease is most easily worked upon.
When the hypnotizer had madeanum-
ber of passes, he then drew his finger
down over the nose'os the subject and
outward. and instantly the man arose and
moved in the direction Of the finger until
it was pointed at an object and then
this object was gdzed at Just as intently.
The man was then told that mosquitoes
were biting him. and he Immediately be-
gan TO slap his face. first on one cheek
and then on the other. and then on his
hand. malSing sure that he had the Little
insect each time by carefully drawing ~
his fingers and pinching them together
with an expression Of countenancc which
indicated the sublime satisfaction he had
in putting an end TO their lives. His
thought was then made to change, aud
he was informed that he was rooster.
Immediately he began to make a cluck-
ing noise, perhaps more like a hen than
a rooster. and soon he took to growing i'll
a manner that was irresistibly funny.
He was given the half Of a lemon and
told that it was a sweet apple He took
huge bite from il and smackcd his lips
as If he thoroughly enjoyed it. In the
twinkling of an eye his expression
changed when DR.. Feldman applied a
magnet to his forehead, and it became
one Of intense disgust, the real taste Of
the lemon having come back to him.
The same test was made with quinine
Being told that il vas sugar. he thought
it was delicious ana asked for more. but
when he was told that it was nasty he
vi"cl it from his mouth as If 10 WAS
most distasteful. Alcohol was poured on
his head and he assumed the appearance
of an intoxicated man. He wa, made 80
hold himself quite rigid in a recumbem
position between two chairs, only Ing
head and his feet being supported.
There was a small audience Of physi-
clans. who regarded the exhibition from
a scientific point of view, and to them 1t
was both interesting and instructive. To
the ordinary observer. however, such a
subservience of the will of one person 10
that of another, although powerful and
remarkable. is both painful and fright
full. The sea.lce was perfectly success
full. but left the impression OF something
so uncanny that nature reyoltS against It,
By frequent experiments 1t may some
time he reduced to useful science. bnt
IL present it may hardly be- considered
other than dangerous. New York Press.