The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-11-30
ALL ABOUT HYPNOTIsM.
What tho Treatment Is. and How
It Is Worked
How Professional Operators Hypnotixe
Pationts-A State of Inscnsibiiity Pro-
duccd by tho Power of One Mind
Over Another.

How Professional Operators Hypnotixe
Pationts-A State of Inscnsibility Pro-
duccd by tho Power of One Mind
Over Another.
Tho term hypnotism is nearly synono-
nous with mesmerism, animal magnet
ism, braidism and syggignoscism.
| Iypnotism is believed to have been
practiccd by religionists many centuries
ago; but little, however, Is known Of
Its history previous to tho time of Mes
ncr UT7S). Since then hypnotism has
been much studied by many eminent
men in the professions of medicine,
science, religion and the arts. There
came time when the interest in 1t
tagged very greatly; but few years
ago, says tho Boston Herald, n revival
took place in France and since then it
has been generally recognized as a
therapeutic agent and employed by
many physicians all over the world.
To produce hypnotism, operators have
methods which vary somewhat in detail,
but the principle is the same. Most all
use passes, although some depend al
most entirely, if not entirely, upon the
fixation of gaze. For reasons which will
appear anon, none of the methods en-
ployed to produce the hypnotic state
will be described in this communica-
ton. AS to the force generated or lib
cratod in hypnotism, no one prctcnds to
know; but many believe it to be elec-
trio, or perhaps magnetic. According
to one observer, tho description the
subjects give of their sensations is that
that they first foel their fingers tingle
and their hands and feet get cold; then
they become sleepy, and when told that
they can not open their eyes they say
they hear and know all, but can not
open them; then comes sleep, unless 1t
is desired to extract tooth or do some
such work when tho subject is not en-
tirely unconscious. Then they know
and do as biddon, but suffer no pain.
They say if the skin is cut it feels as il
something was being gently drawn over
it, and they feel the forccps applied to
tho tooth, but that pulling the tooth
feels like pulling peg out OF holc.
AS to tho value of hypnotism as a
remedial agent, there is necessarily
much difference of opinion. Some ply
sicians consider its range very limited
one, while others think it applicable to
u long list of affections. The majority
of those who ought to know best appear
to agree that it will undoubtedly prove
of very great service in properly selected
cases in medical practice. AS for its use
in surgical operations, as substitute for
gas, ether or chloroform, it can never
displacc them to more than very slight
extent, except, perhaps, it be with chill
drcn. Very many who are about to have
an operation performed must necessarily
bo SO nervous that hypnotism will be
quito out of the question.
And there will doub tlcss always exist
persons who will be inscnsible to the eff
forts of operators. Some subjects are
easy to hypnotizc, while with others it
is the reverse; to which of these classes
q person belongs can not bo known until
an effort TO put him into the hypnotic
state is made. And in the susceptible
cases not infrequently several seances
are necessary before tho power of the
operator is sufficiently felt.
Ono very important point that the
study of hypnotism has brought out and
emphasized, says an observer, is the
potency of suggestion. Doubtless mostof
the slight achcsand pains that the general
practitioner is called upon to treat are
partly imaginary, and that all is neces-
sary for cure is certain amount OF
faith on the part of tho patient. bcgotten
by judicious suggestion by the medical
man. At first sight this seems to be
sort of chicancry, but it is impossible to
deny it's efficacy, and it Is much safer for
tho doctor to acknowledge, to himself at
least, that it is not his simple remedy
which has wrought tho cure, but his sug-
gestion to tho patient
We now como TO the reason why none
OF tho methods employed to produce
hypnotism have been herein described.
1t is an agent which only should be used
by reputable physicians, for, like others
which they employ, it will do much
harm If injudiciously applied. Were
the methods known there would nat
urally be tendency on the part of some
to try it as means of amusement,
while, without doubt, there are not
few who would use il for no good pur-
pose. That hypnotism may be rightly
applied and without injury, it must be
exclusively confined to physicians, who
alone arc capable of distinguishing be-
tween those. subjects upon whom it is
likely to do good and those likely to
be injured by it. 1t is a well-known fact
that persons who are often hypnotized
finally become so susceptible that the
net is accomplished with the greatest
ease. And in not few instances OF
subjects so treated for long time it re-
quires scarcely more than single glance
for tho operator to throw them into o
hypnotic sleep.
So it will be seen that hypnotism
might prove menace to society unless
steps were taken To guard against it.
The first precaution to suggest itself is
the prohibition of all public exhibitions
of hypnotism or mcsmerism. This re-
marl,able power should, if possible, be
limited by law to the treatment of dis
case. And tho operator should be per-
mitted to influence his subject only as
health may be improved.
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A surprl'ed Dook-Buyer.
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