The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-02
STUDY OF HYPNOTISM.
wHATPRoGRESS 1T HAS MADE WITH
IN A VERY FEW YEARS.
No Longer a Magnetic Fluid, but Sub
lection of Will-Experiment at the
Johns Hopkins University-Subject
of Legislation in France.

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and periodicals which is more eagerly
looked for and dcvoured by its students
here than that which treats of the science
of hypnotism. This strange phenomenon,
which is in reality the scientific study of
mesmerism, is by no means a discovery OF
the present day, for the East lndiay is one
OF its chief opponents in his worship OF n
supreme being, predoninating over all the
minor incidents Of his religious beliefs
But the study OF hypnotism and its chron.
iced results, which are beneficial to man
kind, are Of the present generation, mas
much as within the last decade all that is
known concerning it by PSYCHOLOGISTS and
men of scientific research has been writ
ten for the benefit Of him who cares
to read. The study of this strange
trance, produced us il is by animal and
mental magnetism, was begun by Prof
llCndcnhcim, Of Germany, IN 1879, and
since that time has occupied the minds OF
many of the worlds most brilliant and
practical Psychologists. When this great
German professor discovered himself to bc
hypnotizcr he began his studies and ex-
perlments, sparing no labor or expense 90
accomplish an end which he believed to
be for the benefit OF mankind. Down the
lines OF the empire armies he would walk
day after day, testing his powers upon the
gallant men before him, exerting his inllu-
ence upon some, and seeing with despair
its failure upon others His Young brother,
too, he made the subject OF his powers,
and upon him achieved that, perhaps,
which led 90 the study Of the science OF
hypnotism in the great schools of France
and Germany, where today some OF the
most difficult surgical operations are per
formed successfully after the patient has
been hypnotized.
In France especially has this Science
OF mesmersm' been made study by
medical men. Some think IL is a fluid
which is inspired from the hands and
fingers, while others have contcnded that
Il is tonic cramp of the attention. BY
following these two beliefs, and attempting
TO achieve good results by them, many
brilliant minds have been wrecked. The
present system accented by all is that
the physical and mental iaculticsarc weak,
and can be wrought, simply 10y the
Imagination, into doing anything the
nervous system is capable Of undergoing.
Nowhere In America has the study been
so thoroughly and scientifically conducted
as right here in Baltimore at the John
Hopkins university, under the super
vision Of Prof. G.. Stanley Hall, who,
with his students aid, has accomplished all
the great achievements Of Frederick Anton
Mcsmcr. the promoter of animal mag
netism and Germany's great physician OF
the eighteenth century.
Prof Hall was called upon by n SUI
dag HcraN reporter yesterday, and asked
for some Information upon the scientific
study Of hypnOtism.
"Iou may know" said Prof. Hall, "that
the true study Of hypnotism was begun by
Iendenheim in 1870. In n year or two
thereafter IL spread 10 France, and in 1852
Charcot, the leading Psychologist Of Sal
pertierc college, Paris, published an i'm.
porlant paper ON the subject. Since then
Il has been largely studied in many Of the
medical Institutes OF the republic, and
hypnoiism is now used rs an ancsthctic
when an operation, such ~ amputating an
arm or leg, Is necessary"
"What is the mode Of treatment
"Wcll," was the answer, there arr
many ways 10y which q person may bc
hypnotizcd; but the simplest way II this
Take your subjcct-any one You choose
and tell him 20 gaze at an obicct-his
finger, for instance making him hold u In
front OF his eyes about foot away. Then
tell him, after he has looked at Il for a
time, that you want him TO 10 10 sleep,
supplemcnting your request by telling him
YOU think II will do him good. Your
subject closes his eyes. Watch him closely,
and be sure, II you notice the lids Opcrhng,
10 say: Now open your eyes.
Repeat this several times, and
finally the man will fall into n
sleep. Press the eyes slightly in the
corners near the nose, and You will have
your subject, or rather his eyes, undercon-
troll. Then, II you wish TO get the muscles
also under control, hold the subjects
hands, and when YOU accomplish this you
reach your most difficult pari-that is. 10
govern the mental faculties. Talk TO him,
tell him hll sorts Of things, and gradually
he will become ~ thoroughly victim 60
the strange phenomenon that u ispossiblc,
/ II he be millionaire, 10 make him sign
over 10 you his entire fortune. When you
wake him from his sleep he will know
nothing whatever Of his actions during the
time he was In this strange state.
- remarkable experiment which has
been accomplished upon men while hyp.
notified II that Of raising blister on their
arms simply by placing handkerchief
upon the flesh and telling the subject that
il i a mustard plaster"
"Who make the hest subjccts7'
"Womcn arr more susceptible than men,
rather because they are more passive, but
rs rule good drcamers make the best
| subjects
"ln France various legal frauds have
been committed upon persons while thoy
have been In a hypnotic condition, and
such cases are now frequent In the French
court of wills Outrageous assaults have
been committed upon women after they
have been bypnotized, who, upon their
recovery, knew nothing whatever Of Their
experience. The French law, while Il ex'
cuscs acts Of violence or other incunions
upon the law Of the hypnoiizcd, Il deal,
severely In such cages with the hypno
tier"
"Prof. Leibauld, Of Nancy, France, ha,
treated G,OOO patients within the last few
years, and large majority Of them,
through the agency Of hypnotism, hay,
been materially benefited. llypnotism u
In reality the scientific beginning Of .
great clearing away Of an old swamp IN
which the weeds Of superstition have deep
Is imbeddcd themselves. One Of the mos
interesting controversies over this wonder
fol animal magnetism ia al present IL
Spain between the Royalist and Radica
papers. II appears that the robust Queen
Isabella, who IL somewhat celebrated FOL
her ccocntriciiies a. well as her ayoidupois
/ Al