The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-10-03
REGARDING HYPNo1lsM.
Scientists Everywhere Are beginning 90
Study Its PhenOmena.

REGARDING HYPNOTiSM.
Scientists Everywhere Are beginning 90
Study It's Phenomena.
Mesmerism alias hypnotism, the latest
scientific sensation of the hour, was q
few years since denounced by the scien-
tliic world in unmeasured terms. No ex-
pressions Of scornful contempt were
strong enough to characterize those
fearless torch-bearers of advanced
thought, who, after patiently. earnestly
and exclusively investigating the al
legged powers of Mesmer. proved beyond
the possibility of doubt the genuine
ness OF tho mesmeric or hypnotic influ-
ence.
They were charlatans, impostors or
mentally unsound in the eyes, not only
OF the medical profession, but the scien-
tifc world, with some few nota le ex-
ceptions. The more charitably disposed
among the great conservative societies
OF scientific thinkers were content to re-
gard those who believed in such lab
surdities' as mermerism as "unduly
credulous;" liable to be 'duped;" and,
therefore, not "safe' or Critical invest
igators."
Camille Flammarion, the illustrious
French astronomer, in his recent re-
markable novel "Uranie," tells US that
fifteen years ago he communicated to
several physicians the magnetic phenom-
ena observed by himself in the course
of many experiments. One and all de-
MED most positively and absolutely the
possibility of the facts related, but on
meeting one OF these same physicians at
the Institute in Paris recently, he
called his attention to his denial of the
phenomena. "Oh!" replied the physi-
clan, not without shrewdness, "then it
was magnetism, now it is hypnotism,
and it is we who study it; that is very
different thing" The astronomer wise
ly adds by way Of impressing the moral:
''Let us deny nothing positively; let us
study; let us examine; the explanation
will come later"
A true scientist will take cognizance
Of the smallest fact, and though the
light that floats before may appear a
mere will-o'-the-wisp he will follow it
until he demonstrates by careful, i'm
partial, and exhaustive investigation
whether it rests on the bedrock OF
truth or not remembering that the
prejudices of hoary thought and early
training may blind him to sensible ap,
probation of the true significance of the
problem that confronts him. 1t is not
more than five years since paper read
on "Hypnotism" in the medical society
of leading American city was excluded
from the report OF the society meeting,
on the ground that the subject was I'M
scientific and absurd.
Less than year ago telepathy was as
much an outcast in the scientific world
as mesmerism was after the celebrated
Bailey commission pronounced it
fraud" Yet to-day telepathy, or
thought transference, is as we'll estab-
lished scientific fact as hypnotism.
From present indications we are en-
tering a new field of scientific discovery,
or to be more explicit, the great body of
scientific thinkers are expressing will
ingness to recognize phenomena other
than material, and to treat with
measure of respect the views and dis
coveries made by the patient heralds of
psychic truths which have long been tab
booed as little worthy the attention of
the materialistic scientific Investigator,
whose eyes have been accustomed to
rest on the earth, its rocks, plants and
animals, as the myths of bygone days.
The age of electrical invention has been
so marvellous thae men have ceased to
wonder at the inventive ingenuity OF
man. The age of physiological dis
covery upon which we are now entering,
if it be unrestricted and receive the
careful and unbiased attention of our
best brains, will we believe. unfold a
world of truth, eclipsing in its startling
character as we'll as in its great utility
the greatest discoveries since the man
child science was born, truths which
will give to life deeper significance, a
richer meaning, nobler impulse, a
grander ideal Arena.