The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-08-02
HYPNOTISM, WHAT IS 1T?

Another epidemic just now is hypno-
tism. EVERYWHERE we hear of expert
ments on hypnotic patients, and reports
on the subject 10y medical schools and
great professors.
The usual methods of exercising the
power of hypnotizBtion is by presenting
a bright substance to the eyes which APP
peals directly to the sensitiveness of the
optic nerve by firing it with dazzling
light. or by laying the fingers lightly
on the balls of the eyes and gently pres
sing the lobe of the ear. Some persons
are sent off into a state of hypnotism by
the regular striking of the notes of the
scale 1t is gratifying to note that the
patient to be treated must have special
receptivity and particular condition Of
his nervous system, otherwise there is no
knowing to what evil deeds. such as be-
coming principals in rObbeTles, murders
or aron. anyone might be influenced in a
period of Inconsistencies.
The proportion OF people who can be
hypnohzed varies according to sex and
age. OF thirty women between Is and
30. fourteen were subject to the hypnot-
izer'S power: while of sixty men between
| I and go, only eleven could be hypnot-
lied.
The most peculiar and the most dan
gerous feature of hypnotism, Is what has
been called suggestion" that is. expert
ments tend to show that hypnotizcd per-
sons can be made the unconscious and
involuntary agents of crime. TG cite a
couple of cases: On October II. 1884,
Prof. Bernhem suggested 10 patient
that he should present himself at DR..
LiebaultS house on October u, 1883.
and should there go through a COM
plicated series of acts. Nothing
more was said, but on the appointed day
the patient faithfully carried ont the pro-
gram, displaying a better memory than
Or. Bernhem himself. Again. two la
dies were made by Prof. Beaunis to steal
silver spoons and commit other acts.
from which they would have shrunk
with horror. Other patients have been
made to commit Imaginary murders,
both with poison and with knife, and
have exhibited all the emotions proper
II the occasion. An interesting point Is
that of resistance: there Is resistance to
immoral acts. the patient retains a sense
of right and wrong. bat the resistance
NAV be overcome. No case OF this kind
has vet come into the law courts, and
these are only grimes of the labora-
torv:" but it i obvious that door NAV
possibly be opened for the committal Of
crime with almost absolute IMMUNITY.
Such power is frightful to contemplate,
and there Is no wonder that In France
and Belgium steps are being taken to
prohibit the practice except among men,
bers of the medical profession. Not only
can hypnotized persons be made to COM
nit crime involuntarily, but they will,
after undergoing the process, remain
still susceptible to any suggestion good
or bad. and even have a tendency to be-
come self-hypnotized. In these states
the patient. when ont Of the hypnotized
state, remembers nothing that Il done in
that state. He has a double life. a
double consciousness, each independent:
of the other.
With these experiments. made care
fully By scientific men. how can We sheer
at the old tales Of magic and witchcraft
and possessions: The old sorcerers seem
to have had this power, andto have used
il terribly.