The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-05
ALI ABOUT IIYpN0TIsM.
A POWER WHOSE MANIFESTATIONS
4 ARE ALMOST INCREDIBLE.

of ta'"
The term hypnotism is nearly synony-
nous with mesmerism. animal magnet
ism. braidism and syggignoscism. Hyp-
uotism is believed 10 have been practiced
Nv rclieionists many centuries ago, but
little. however. is known Of its history
orevious to the time OF Mcsmer (l77e)
Since then bypnotism has been much
studied by many eminent men in the
nrofessions Of medicine. science, religion
and the arts. There came a time when
the interest in it tagged very greatly;
but few years ago a revival took place
=, France, and since then b has been
.<c<fa.ly recognized as q t<sapeutic
agent and employed by many physicians
ali over the world. One Of the earliest
uses Of hypnotism was to produce a state
Of insehsibility. so that surgical opera
tons could be performed without pain.
But it has been applied for MANY other
purposes. and some men, very skillful in
its application, use it in the treatment OF
n long list Of diseases both acute and
chronic. Nervous affections sometimes
Weld very readily to its influence.
HOW PRODUCED.
To produce hypnotism. operators have
methods which vary somewhat in detail.
but the principle is the same. Most all
Use passes, although some depend almost
entirely, il not entirely, upon the fixa-
ton Of gaze. For reasons which will
appcar anon. none of the methods en-
ployed to produce the hypnotic state will
h. described in this communication. As
10 the force generated or liberated in
hvpnotism. no one pretends 10 know;
hut many believe it to be electric. or
perhaps magnetic. According TO one
observer, the description the subjects
give Of their sensations is that they first
feel their fingers Jingle and their hands
end feet get cold; then they become
sleepy; and when told that they cannot
open their eyes, they say they hear and
know all. but cannot open them; then
comes deep sleep, unless it is desired to
extract tooth or do some other such
work when the subject is not entirely
unconscious. Then they know and do
a. hidden. but suffer no pain. They say
u the skin is cut ii feels as il something
were being gently drawn over 1t, and
lhey feel the forceps applied to the tooth,
but that pulling the tooth feels like pull
i,ug a peg out Of hole.
Is 10 the value Of hypnotism as a
,em. hal agent, there is necessarily much
,l;fFere, &c Of opinion. Some physicians
consider SIS range a very limited one,
Willie others think it applicable to a long
liz, 80 adectio US. The majority Of those
who ought 70 know best appear to agree
FIAT il will undoubtedly prove Of very
great service in properly selected cases
In medical practice. AS for its use IN
surgical operations, as substitute ior
GAS ether or chlOrOfOrm, IL can never
.displace them 10 more than very slight
extent. except, perhaps, 1t be with chill
dren. Very many who are about 70 nave
an operation performed must necessarily
be- so nervous that hypnotism VIII DE
quite out of the question.
And there will doubtless always exist
r,ersoifs who will he insensible to the
efforts Of operators Some subjects are
easy to hypnotic. while with others 1t is
tho reverse: 10 which 81 these classes a
person belongs cannot be known until
an effort 10 put him into the hypnotic
state is made. And In the susceptible
cases not infrequcntly several seances
are necessary before the power OF the
operator is sufficiently felt.
One very important point that the
STUDY Of hypnotism has brought out and
smnbqsized. saws an observer. IS the po-
tencv o. suggestion. Doubtless most OF
the Slight aches and pains that the gen
oral practiboner is called upon to treat
ore nartly imaginary. and all that Is
necessary for cure Is a certain amount
Of faith on the part Of the patient, be-
gotten by jud CO, 80 suggestion 10y the
medical man. tAv at sight this seems
~ be a sort Of chicanerY, bat it is impos-
sibIe to deny its efficacy, aud 1t IL much
.,fer for the doctor 30 acknowledge, 10
himself at least, that II Is not ms simple
remedy which has wrought the cure,
but his suggestion 70 The patient one
need. no better example OF the power OF
suggestion than the many cures brought
about bv the faith cure. In TINS case
religious fanaticism is called upon 10
produce an effect upon the mind OF the
credulous patient, and il the malady Is
an imaginary one tho relief Is inStanta-
ueCus.
We now come to the reason why none
Of Che methods employed 10 produce
hvpuqtism have been herein described.
II il an cgent which only should be used
bv reputable physicians, for, like others
which they employ. it will do much harm
II iniudiciously applied. Were the meth
DDS known. there would naturally he q
tendency ON the part of some To try 1t as
a means OF amusement, while. without
doubt. there are not few who wOuid
use il for no good purpose. That hyPno-
II. y, may be rightly applied and without
IT,. il must be exclusively confined TO
,Lys;ciau, who alone are capable Of dis
cetweeD ihcse suoJec's upon
which it is like TO do good and thoss
likely to be injured 10y 1t. IL Is a wen
known fact that person. VINO are oi,en
hypno,izel finally become 81 susceP'iDie
that the act is accomplished N''h Tue
greatest ease. And in not a few W
stances Of subjects SO treated for long
time, it requires scarcely more than
single glance for the operator 20 throw
them into a hypnotic sleep.
50 it will be seen that hypnotlsm might
srove menace 10 society unless steps
were taken to guard against 1t. The first
precaution to suggest itself is the prohibi-
ton Of all public exhibitions Of hypno-
tism or mesmerism. This remarkable
power should, II possible. be limited 10y
law 20 the treatment OF disease. Ana
the operator should DO permitted to IN
auence his subject only rs health may
be improved. Boston Herald.
tostiy cups
What delicious water! It's the sweet
est water ever tasted. declare. shall
come up here for drink every day dur