Evening journal., 1889-07-06
THE HYPNOTIC STATE.
SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION OF AN
IMPORTANT SUBJECT.

simplicity Of the Operation--Ten Per Cent
OF the People Make Good subiects-How
TO Toll the Genuine from the Fraudu
lent--Irs Dangerous Aspect.
The state is induced by any sudden and un-
usual sirain-staring at bright button held
close to the eyes, strongly rubbing the space
between the eyebrows, and so on; It all de-
pends 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 rhe condition is sufficient to realize
il; a mere command, or even the impression
that command has been given twhen really
nothing has been done) will at times be sufii
cieut.
Anybody can hypnotize 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
ful physique and prestige, is naturally more
apt to influence a susceptible temperament
than feeble, hesitating manner lacking such
evidences OF will power A sudden stimulus,
such as blow or a shout, reawakens the
sleeper. The proportion Of persons suscept
ible to hypnotzation is variously estimated
| by different observers, and depends upon the
nationality, class temperament, and so on,
Of the individuals observed, 1t Is probably
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
| a few points Of special interest here: u) the
genuineness, I2 the border land, and c0 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 te. g., an illiterate factory girl
perfectly initiated an elaborate exercise
which Jenny Lind extemporized as a test,
the quckening Of the perceptive processes as
measured by the reaction time to sensory
| stimuli and to mental associations, and q va
riety of similar tests place the genuineness of
/ the phenomena beyond question, and every
i new study Strengthens the evidence thus ao-
| crmulated-
| Under the second head we have to discuss
| the connection between hypnOtism and
| thought transferrence, magnetism, clairvoy.
ance and 30 on. 1t is often stated that In the
| deepest hypnotic states the subject becomes
| clairvoyaht, predicts future events, reads the
| numbers on bank notes known only to the
| holder, and performs many similar and more
| wonderful feats It is safe to say that the
evidence for none Of these miracles is salts
factory. In 1887 prize OF 5000 francs was
offered 10 any one reading without the aid OF
eyesight, and remained unredeemed, though
several applicants were successfully exposed;
the usual trick consisted in the power 10 see
L Asa1f var in
the slIillfully maneuvered bandage.
II is well known that the hypnotic state
favors Just this kind Of sensibiity, 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 hysterical tenn
permanent, make the attTibuting of appar-
emily incredible occurrences 10 more remote
causes a 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 q
critical moment, and a host Of less obvious
indications are ell seized upon and shrewdly
interpreted. Whether they fully explain all
that scientific observers have recorded may
be doubted, bat they show the necessity oi
the most minute cautions, which In the nb-
sence of such knowledge would be no less
than foolish.
FOR SPECIALISTS ONLY.
| Finally, 1t cannot be too strongly insisted
upon that the practical consideration by the
public Of these topics has a dangerous aspect
Public exhibitions Of hypnotism have been
legally prohibited in several European coun-
tries; criminal complications In which the
| s.,4s,.-k rIaa1aI hx-nuofir e,sOoncfian aa "a do
Tense for crime have been introduced, and
our courts must soon decide tho question OF
responsibility in such cases Hypnotism is
not a psrlor amusement nor toy for diet
tani It belongs 20 specialists, and it is they
alone who can conduct the experiments 80 al
to benefit mankind, and draw the conclusions
, that validity follow from the observations
The public is always over anxious for an i'm
mediately practical result, and does not ap
preciate the moral value of scientific reserve
Because a refractory boy who while hyp
Noticed was impressed with the necessity O.
his reform really seemed TO improve, "hyp
motto moralizationn is proposed as a paten
mode Of education, in disregard of all tn
= dangers attending such a practice, of the in
security Of our knowledge IN the matter, anI
. OF It's analogy with such normal experience
! as that Of an impressive accident rearrang
j ing the moral disposition OF suscepubi
Q youth. Remember that this hasty practica
. application Of newly discovered facts % |
a often the mark Of charlatanry. It was Mea
} mer who, on discovering 'aninal magnet
Z ism,n Immediately had il ready for sale, 4
o DO applied for the cure Of all diseases it
+ the phrenologist who, glimpsing the fact tina
4 different areas of the brain serve diHeren
, purposes, r,Eshes to an open shop where, un
. der the inspiration OF fee, cranial bump
[ can be converted into ''combativenessH an
''nlniability. Joseph Jastrow in Harper
Q Magazine.