Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-06-06
WHAT IS Man /?
The World of Matter Becomes Insig.
niticaut When Compared With
The World Of Mind.
Scientific Investigation of the Hyp-
motto State.


ing the space between the eyebrows, and
so on; it all depends upon she suscepti-
bility 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 expectation of
the condition is sufficient to realize it;
a mere command, or the impression that
a command has been given (When really
nothing has deem done) will at times be
sufficient. Any body can hypnotic a
good subject, and the personality of the
operation is simply effective IN the first
indications of the state; this means moth
ing more thar that determined, i'm
pressive manner, aided by a powerful
physique and prestige, Ia naturally more
apt to Influence a susceptible tenn permanent
than feeble, hesitating manner lacking
such evidences of will power. sudden
stimulus, such as blow or a shout, re-
awakens the sleeper. The proportion of
persons susceptible to hypnotization is
very varIously estimated by different OBJ
servers, and depends upon the nationality,
class, temperament, and SO on, of the in
dividuals observed. 1t is probsbly fair
statement that about ten to twenty per
cent. make acceptable subjects.
To what extent such susceptibility is
evidence of nervous impairment is a
question upon which all writers are not
agreed; bat it is generally admit ed that
the prevalence of a neurotic tenn permanent
amongst hypnotic subjects is far greater
than amongst the population at large,
that this trait is most marked amongst
the most susceptible and interesting"
subj ects, end that the most delicate phe-
nomena are usually presented by hysteri-
cal patients. It is thus affiliated with the
milder but common and Ito the physi-
cian) tantalizing forms of nervous dis
ease, shading by imperceptible degrees
to normal health.
As to the nature of the state, we have
little sure knowledge. Some speak CT it
as an attention cramp;" some describe
it as an inhibition of the higher psychic
brain-centres, a shutting of all that most
delicately constituted portion of the
brain associated with voluntary control.
In daily life we attend TO only small
fraction of the thoughts that find mo-
mentary resting-place N our minds; TO
think nationally we constantly and sys-
temRtically exclude (inhibit) host of
suggestions from the chamber CT CON
seriousness, allowing an audience only to
such as are germane to the end In view.
In dreaming we dismiss the guard from
the door, and the most extravaganza CON
glomeration of fanciful notions throngs
into the chamber. In hypnotism there
is a spring on the door which the opera
tor pushes open, letting in one suggestion
at time, to which the subject must give
audience, with his attention, usually di-
vided amongst crowd of suitors, in
tensely concentrated upon single claim
ant. The subject becomes an autOmaton
played upon by the irresistible sugges-
tions of the operator.
The further consideration of hypno,
tism would bring us at once TO what is
now the crucial point at issue between
the two Schools" of hypnotism, known
as the school of Paris, of whion DR.. Char
cot is the acknowledged head, and the
school of Nancy, presided over by DR..
Bernheim. The latter regards the in
fnitely variable and protean phenomena
that hypnotized patients exhibit as one
and all due to the effects of sUgge stion,
conscious or unconscious. With them
the state is psyohical in character. The
former distinguishes three stages of hyp-
notism, the passage from one of which
to the other is by physical means-olos-
ing or opening the eyes, pressure at
points. Of these three stages the catal-
optic is distinguished by an unnatural
immobility, enabling the subject to as
sumo and retain the most trying bodily
positions; the lethargio, by an especial
excitability of nerve and muscle; and the
somnambulic, which is most akin TO the
general state discussed by the "sugges-
tionists," by the automatic character of
the SUBJECTS mental operations. This is
psycholog ically the most interesting
phase, and it is here that all the delicate
forms of suggestion have freest play;
here that marked sensibility to one kind
of stimulus is effected which in turn gives
rise to tales of elaiyvoyance; it is this
state that presents the striking adoption
of foreign personalities, and makes the
travelling mesmerists' show SO popularity
attractive.
Referring for detailed description of
these interesting conditions to the more
extended accounts, il remains to notice
briefly few points of special interest
here:D the genuineness, (2) the border
land, and (3) 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 attempt
in a normal person, the assumption of
roles and actions utterly impossible in
the normal state (e. g., an illiterate fac
tory girl perfectly initiated an elaborate
exercise which Jenny Lind extemporized
as a test), the quickening of the perceps-
i've processes as measured by the reac-
tion-time to sensory stimuli and to men
tai associations, and variety of similar
tests place the genuineness of the phenom-
ens beyond question, and every new
study strengthens the evidence thus &C
cumulated.
Under the second head we have to dis
cuss the connection between hypnotism
and thought transfereuce, magnet ism,
clairvoyanoe 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 per
forms many similar and more wonderful
feats. 1t is safe to say that the evidence
for none of these miracles is satisfactory.
In 1887 prize of 5000 francs was offered
to any one reading without the aid OF
eyesight, and remained unredeemed
though several applicants were success fully
exposed; the usual trick consisted in the
power to see great deal through very
small opening in the skilfully msneuv
cred bapdage. 1t is we'll known that the
hypnotic state favors just this kind OF
sensibiiity, 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 hysteri
cal temperament, make the attributing OF
apparently incredible occurrences &c
more remote oauses very questionable