The Opelousas courier., 1889-05-04
A QUEER SPECTACLE.
Hypnotic Wonders Performed in London
by q Belgian Scientist.

Hypnotic Wonders Performed in London
by a Belgian Scientist.
Prot. Milo de Meyer. a B1Sgian, re-
Gently gave a private seance OF hypnot-
ism at St. James Hall. His method
varied at different stages; but at first,
when he was trying his men, he made
the subjects lean forward to him at an
angle of forty-ive degrees; he held
their hands by the wrist and asked
them to look steadily in his face, think
ing of nothing; then, with d sudden
jerk. his eyes seemed to dilate and he
stared into their eyes with all the in
tensity of which he was capable, the
eyes of subject and operator being
within a few inches of each other.
The effect soon showed itself
in an unconquerable desire. on
the patients part, to peer closely and
still more closely into his eyes. Sub
%sequently he showed that grasping the
hand was not necessary. Placing his
hand between the shoulders Of the
subject the same effect was produced
being first manifested, said one mes
merized individual, by q burning sem
| sation. Later, when he desired a SUBJ
ject to work upon, he would fix his
eyes upon his as he sat at the seat,
and the man would gaze like a fasci-
| mated bird, remain undecided for a
time, then bound across the stage to
him. Close proximity was unneces-
sary after the first time. Half a
dozen men were sent among the
audience, and in various parts OF
the room sent to sleep by a magnetic
glance, Tn spite OF the <ynost energetic
efforts to keep them aweske, The SUBJ
ject's eyes seemed in each cas- to di-
late as they met those of the professor.
On recovery the person operated on
would gaze about with the b~ewildered
air of one who wakens from a deep
sleep, and we fancy from the gestures
some of them made that they recov-
cred with severe headaches. AH arm
stiffened by the mesmerist was insen-
sible to pain, as we proved by prick
ing the fingers with the point of a knife
or a pin. On awakening all memory
of the experiences seemed to vanish
as in a dream.
A number of the sights wes2 exceed
ingly unpleasant to look at. For in
stance, half a dozen men were sue
cessively sent among the audiefce with
their mouths distended to the farthe&
possible limit, and as the trance always
causes a vacancy of expression, each
face was d~isagreeably suggestive OF
that of an idiot with a distorted jaw.
The best part of the entertainment
was undoubtedly the series of Jableaux
wants produced by suggestion and
otherwise. For instance, n man got
q magnetic toothache, which made him
writhe and hold h. jaw; while another
was transformed into a dentist to pull
the tooth out. A very singular picture
was made by giving one the appear
ance of death, while several of his COM
panions were inspired with horror,
pity. a desire to pray, or whatever the
professor wished. Whenever they
struck a good attitude he fixed them in
it as though they had been frozen to
the spot-one might have taken them
for the wax figures in Nine. Tussaud's.
| That their sorrow was real was proved
by the tears they dropped. though it
passed into oblivion when he pulled
in their faces and awoke them.
A dramatic scene was produced
by making a man think he was
rowing a boat, then that he had
been upset and was struggling in the
water; q companion, who saw him
drowning. flung of his coat swan out
to the rescue. looking most doleful
when he thought his friend was daad,
but Frightening up as he recovered.
But the most striking picture of all,
and one that is likely to aftract great
attention just now, was tdat in which
a subject was prompted in a trance to
commit a shocking murder. At the
exact time which had been stated he
arose and crept stealthily to his faith.
er,s bedside and stabbed him twice.
Later on he was narrowed by remorse.
London Globe.
a Eronnh eavaut has ~raeanEly AM