New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-15
NEW PUBLICATIONS
HYrNoTIc SUGGESTION.


.oruTfos pU PRoBLEsiE DE LA sUGGEsIIoN
HYpNoTIouE Par Amsdee 81. simonin' rams
Dcnu.
Tn. uroblem Of hypnotic suggestion continues to
H discussed eagerly, and more porhsps In France
shsn IA any other country. Tho subject has ntnero
eeen, % far ~ actual experiment Is eonoerneo' 10
the hands Of psychologists whose nater'aiSn eAeuu
sny solution based upon uuo SCIENCE OK Po'0n"0s
acton Charcot Richet aad their sehooi h1'o ~
shs vcry outset rendered impraoticabie any put ma
sezaaIistc Interpretations of the Phenomena ana Ihey
md fbeir follcwsrs continue 10 nounaef hoPeioe9'
Aa.xinr themselves with words, and trying 10 naAo
~ .uraar nat discussing spirit In terms OF mater
s,tsrg tho nature Of the forces cohcerieo ~
sirnonhn stands for the Opposite VIEW lie lDSis's
Cat psychology Is tho science OF that wh,en Is ho'
matter: of that which cannot b Sauged py phSsF
s,osssl standards; and he holds that hypnoasm is
/. rsveso,sr.eaI and not a physiological question.
ON ons Point however, most Of the French men OF
.rssnos sre becoming agreed: on he Importance.
asy Of some action by the State for the Inhibition
~ ALI experiments in hypnotic suggestion save undef
sicsi control and even then they hold that criminal
susesssons should be forbidden. Quite department.
of nsersiure dealing with tho legal and medicoiesai
ASPECTS Of hypnotic suggestion has arisen during the
nah four or five years. and jursts well as men Of
ssssnoe have examined the subject fany and seriously
She fart that criminal suggestions may De made 10
aypnotic subjects, and tat they will intalby carry
fhese suggestions into eject is new established Doyonn
iauesttou and In fact, some startling crimes have
already been traced TO this source. The question
Of Legislative action is therefore in some sense
srscte one though whether the evil is serious enough
40 demand q special remedy, and whether the Nmedy
prcposed 70 likely TO prove enlcscious, Is still undo
texmtnsd. II. smonin announces the discovery OF
solution for tbs main problem. but he certainly
ems not impaired this discovery TO the public In the
volurns before u.s. which is rather preliminary essay
shsn sn exploitation He is certainly nearer nsh' IN
h,s methods Of investigation than are his opponents
mt bs does not appear to nave mastered the difficulties
sf the subject
As regards the proposed statutory provisions, We can
mt behsys that they meet the contingencies hyp-
uottsm is 40 influence which may bc, and IN fact' -
and always has been exercised by human beings upon
Fer human beings not only whAe tho subjects are in
N. Abnormal condition but when their state is normal
Rpeeiai weakness of mind body facilitates us eHet
ciss no doubt but II docs not always require sucn an
xentt$ous AIDS and much Of the most Important sus'
ssstaou IN made without them. The truth is tha'
zpodern usteriasc science has found bers something
vAsch was never lost Criminal suggestion Is as OLD
es human nature and what s called hypnoasm IS not
moro p,cderi. when tho law can be made % controi
mar ,uands cau prevent strong wills from dominating
v.eek ones can eounte~set the power OF evil example
On. rsvsrssn thas unknown but potent force which for
,vxasof a better name VIC oan personal msgnetsm'-
xSer, ten may Be hope Of reaching the end ar
~tpesa nj by French and German iurtsts and men OF
seancs Al the present time. Many however viii
Shank TIA, before attempting thus to put the restraints
cf ms law upon this mysterious, subtle and volatile
korce t would DO advisable to push the researches OF
sxycbology-or II Il be insisted upon, of physiological
psyohcsogy-a good deal further. For It would DO
satisfactory 10 know exacny what 1t is that is to be
uussied by the law, before the operation is perormSa'