Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1889-05-30
HYPNOTIZED.
QUEER ANTICS OF A "sUBJECT'
IN A MEDICAL SCHOOL.
He FORCES Check, Commits MURDER,
Takes Ride on Chair-Imitating
1ngerso1l and Talmage.

won't hurt me-" said tall servous-
looking man in medical school III This
city q few days ago. He was what is
known to medical men MS ''hypnotic
subject" and DIR. Graeme Hammond,
son OF the famous specialist in nervous
diseases, was about to hypnoptize him
for the instruction of a class of sixty
mem
"Why do you ask HE not to hurt you?"
Dr. Hammond asked, .reassuringly;
"What are you afraid Off"
because l was hypnotized before,
said the subject, as he wiped his fore
head and rubbed his clammy hands
! together, ''ana while | was in that state
they pricked me With pins to illustrate
my insensibility to feeling When
came to myself 1 was sore all over. Now
mind don't want you to hur6 me"
Don't be afraid. Just stand here
and I'll be ready for you in q moment "
DR.. Hammond then sutnmed up the
definition of hypnotism as follows
"Hypnotism is the entire engrossHent
OF the mind with whatever may be fol
the time the object of it's attention. 1T
is the passive receptivity of the mind,
the will of the patient being i'll abey-
anee. All his mental operations are at
such time directed altogether by what
ever suggestions ths operator may
choose to impress on his consciousness.
The subject listened attentfyeIy to
these remarks, shifting from one foot 70
| the other, and at intervals wiping his
brow. Evidently he dreaded the ordeal
and was summoning his courage to meet
| 1t. The lecturers voice CEASE Il, and for
a moment there was silence in the
room as he fixed his eyes imperatively
on the subject. Very slowly the man
lifted his eyes to the lecturers face and
the students leaned eagerly forward.
"Look at this. What is it9" asked
DR.. Hammond, taking up snuff-box.
"a snuff box"
care You sure ?" asked DIR. Ham
mond; looking deeply into his eyes and
passing his fingers slowly over his eye
lids. The subject looked ct the box
and at him with an irresolute, changing
expression. ''You don't know, see, J"
said DIR. Hammond, touching him on
the shoulder. At the touch the man be-
came transformed He looked confident
and peaceful.
He is now under my control. 1 can
do what l please with him. said DIR.
Hammond to the class. GIN his pres
ent state | could use this man as an in
strument IN committing crime, and
after had withdrawn my influence and
given him back his will he would re-
member absolN NJ. nothing about it.
the subject.
Eyes, I feel tired" and he moved
towards chair.
"But you can't sit down. say you
can't"
els that 50! I'd like to know how you
are going to stop me-"
By this time his hand was on the
back of the chair. He made an effort to
seat himself, then struggled frantically
and at length stood up perfectly rigid.
"Why don't you sit down 2"
81 can't" he answered, helplessly.
Neither could he raise his arm or
lower it when the operator stated that it
was impossible. A silver dollar was
flung upon the floor and he made sud
den lunge for it. "You can't get that,
said DR.. Hammond; "It's thousand
miles away"
"That's so," said the subject sadly;
"lt looks as if it we're close by, but it's
a thousand miles away"
When student sent it spinning
across the floor again, he only looked
longingly at it, without making any at
tempt to pick it up.
''Why don't you go and take ride
this beautiful afternoon 2" asked DR..
Hammond:
IT have no horse; I'm too poor to buy
one"
ono horsea Why, are you blind2
What's that beside you?' he asked
pointing to chair. "Don'tyou see the
horse! Jump on his back and go for
canter."
A smile broke over the subjects face
and he threw back his head.
"All right. Whoa there Steady
now" he cried, getting astride the
chair and rocking to and fro. "Now we
are off. Get up! Faster faster p
"But, my friend, you had better be
careful; that's balky horse. Look out
BY lingo, he will surely throw you"
During these shouts the subject became
very excited, and stood over the chair MS
if rising in his stirrups. At the words,
HE will surely throw you," he flung
his hands upward and rolled off the
chair to the ground.
you're terribly hurt" said the ply
stefan, bending over him. 'You must
feel very sore. I know you do. How's
your head2"
Broken" answered the subject,
much to the amusement Of the students,
and for few moments he lay perfectly
still, with closed eyes. After an imagin-
airy bathing and bandaging he was told
he felt better. He fully agreed with
that opinion and struggled to his feet.
"Why, you're all right again, " said
Dr. Hammond. you're looking as
fresh as June rose.'
Never felt better in my life, /" replied
the subject.
"But have terrible piece of news
for You. Come over near me. No one
must hear it. "
"What is ita" whispered the sub
iect.
''You see that man leaning against
the wall near the door2 Look at him
we'll. He is the murderer of your
father
eyes, yon are right. Oh, I'll settle
him. Kissed the subject, as he stealth
lily fastened his distended eyes on the
MAN ,,o;n fn1 <>,,t u. H..