Wichita eagle., 1889-08-14
THE HYPNOTIC STATE.
SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION OF AN
IMPORTANT SUBJECT.

Simplicity Of the Operation-Ten Per Cent.
of the People Make Good suhjects-How
to Tell the Genuine from the Fraudu-
lent-Its Dangerous Aspect.
The state is induced by any sudden and un-
usual strain-staring at bright button held
close to the eyes, strongly rubbing the space
between the eyebrows, and so on: it all de-
ponds upon the susceptibility of the subject,
who can be trained to pass into the hypnotic
state by almost any manipulation After the
subject has been often hypnotized the expec-
tation Of the condition is sufficient to realize
it; mere command, or even the impression
that command has been given when really
nothing has been done, will at times be sufh-
Gent.
Anybody can hypnotic a good subject,
and the personality Of the operator is simply
effective In the first inductions of the state;
this means nothing more than that deter
mined, impressive manner, aided by power
full physique and prestige, is naturally more
apt to influence susceptible teInperaneut
than feeble, hesitating manner lacking such
evidences of viii power. A sudden stimulus,
sleeper The proportion of persons suscept-
IDLE to hypnotization is variousiy estimated
by different observers, and depends upon the
nationality, class, temperament, and so on,
of the individuals observed. 1t is probably q
fair statement that about 10 to 20 per cent.
make acceptable subjects.
POINTS OF SPECIAL INTEREST.
Referring for detailed description to the
more extended accounts, we notice. briefly
few points of special interest here: o. the
commences, e. the border land, and o. the
dangerous aspect Of this study. The first Is
easily disposed Of; the rigid extension of the
arm for nearly half an hour without any Of
the waverings accompanying such an at
tempt in a normal person, the assumption Of
roles and actions utterly impossible in the
normal state e. g., an fliterate factory girl
perfectly initiated an elaborate exercise
which Jenny Lind extemporized as test,
the quickening of the perceptive processes as
measured by the reaction time to sensory
stimuli and to mental associations, and a va
riety of similar tests place the genuineness Of
the phenomena beyond question, and every
new study strengthens the evidence thus ac-
cumulated
Under the second head we have to discuss
the connection between hypnotism and
thought tranSferrence, magnetism, clairvoy-
ance and so on. 1t is often stated that in the
deepest hypnotic states the subject becomes
clairvoyant, predicts future events, reads the
numbers on bank notes known only to the
holder and performs many similar and more
wonderful feats 1t Is safe to say that the
evidence for none of these miracles is salts
factory. In 1887 prize of 5000 francs was
offered to any one reading without the aid of
eyesight, and remained unredeemed, though
several applicants were successfully exposed;
the usual trick consisted in the power to see
a great deal through very small opening in
the skillfully Unanswered bandage.
1t is well known that the hypnotic state
favors just this kind of sensibility, and the
examples already ON record Of the exalted
sensibilities Of such subjects, especially when
combined with the exquisite shrewdness and
passionate love of deceit Of a hysterical tenn
permanent, make the attributing Of appar-
emily incredible occurrences to more remote
causes very questionable proceeding. The
most important source Of error in all such
experiments is the unconscious suggestion of
the expected result. The tone Of the question,
the look Of satisfaction when the desired re-
suit takes place the impressive silence at
critical moment, and host of less obvious
indications are all seized upon and shrewdly
interpreted Whether they fully explain all
that scientific observers have recorded may
be doubted but they show the necessity of
the most minute cautions, which in the alb
sence of such knowledge would be no less
than foolish
FOR SPECIALISTS ONLY.
Finally, it cannot be too strongly insisted
upon that the practical consideration by the
public of these topics has dangerous aspect.
Public exhibitions Of hypnotis:n have been
legally prohibited in several European coun-
tries; criminal complications In which the
subject pleaded hypnotic suggestion as de-
Tense for crime have been introduced, and
our courts must soon decide the question of
responsibility in such cases Hypnotism is
not a parlor amusement nor a toy for diet
tamil 1t belongs to specialists, and 1t Is they
alone who can conduct the experiments so as
to benefit mankind, and draw the conclusions
that validly follow from the observations.
The public is always over anxious for an inn
mediately practical result, and does not APP
preciate the moral value OF scientific reserve.
Because a refractory boy who while hyp-
Noticed was impressed with the necessity of
his reform really seemed to improve, 'hyp-
motto moraiization" is proposed as a patent
mode of education, in disregard of all the
dangers attending such practice, of the in
security Of our knowledge in the matter, and
of its analogy with such normal experience
as that of an impressive accident rearrang-
ing the moral disposition of . susceptible
youth Remember that this hasty practical
application Of newly discovered facts n is
often the mark Of charlatanry. 1t was Mes
mer who, on discovering animal magnet
ian," Immediately had it ready for sale, to
be applied for the cure of all diseases; it is
the phrenologist who, glinpzing the fact that
different areas Of the brain serve different
purposes, rushes 10 an open shop where, I'M
der the inspiration OF fee, cIanial bumps
can be converted into 'conbaaveness" and
"aruiabflity Joseph Jastrow IN Ha-pcr's
Magazine.
Hard to Beat
Those were pretty good fsh stories pub