The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-07-21
MARVELS OF HYPN0TISM.
HOW TO GUARD AGAINST ITS
ORIGINAL USE.

The Imagination works miracles
Ravond the Power of Physicians
and Dr1gs-Vnlainous Plots Which
Might be Carried Out by the IN
scrunulous Use of the Strange
Power-Falsehood Easily Made to
Annear Truth in the Minds Of De-
Iudeo sublects-The Danger to So
ciety and the Available Safeguards
From the Neio York Sum-
Some of the phenomena of hy2notism
,.ora described in the Sun the other Sun
dav lint the marvels of the subject were by
no means exhausted. There remain grave
nroblems brought to light by recent lnVestl-
cation which threaten in the near future TO
6amand careful consideration from social
and legal point of view. 1t should be said
again that the best knowledge of the subject
is bv no means confined to the French
savants, whose experiments the past lew
wears have aroused so much interest and
astonishment In Europe and this country
New York and other American neurologlsts,
including the foremost men In the medical
profession, while they have not publicly
proclaimed their discoveries, have covered
all the ground traversed by Charcot, Bern
helm. and the other French Investigators.
Their conclusions, while agreeing more
closely with those of Bernheim than with
those of any other European inquirer, are
by no means identical with his. They are
allie to produce practically the same effects
by mems of hypnotic suggestions as ne
does, but these results are reached In much
smaller proportion of cases, the inference
TOD hot maj M
are much less susceptible to hypnotic In
fiuences than Europeans.
A full exposure Of the known marvels OF
hypnotism would be dangerous knowledge
to spread before the general public but for
one fact, namely: No one can be hypnotized
against his will But for this an unscrupu-
lous use of the mysterious power would
speedily undermine all the safeguards OF
society. This rule has few exceptions in
its first application, but it loses its force
after repeated experiments with the same
individual. A person who volunta lily
submits to hypnotization few or many
times loses the power to resist the influence.
There is, therefore, abundant reason for
condemnjng ignorant and indiscriminate
experimenting with the peculiar power
about which so little is really known. Its
use should be confined strictly to the hands
of competent physicians, and by them it
agent, and used only in the presence of
third persons.
Take, for instance, a startling demonstra-
ton of the very real danger which the
criminal use of the new agent involves.
The writer submitted this suggestions case
to two or three specialists as a possible
crime which might be committed by
hypnotic agency, and they affirmed unheSi-
tatingly that it was not only possible but
perfectly easy of execution. A fiendish
husband plots the murder of his wife. He
finds that she is easily hypnotiZed. Making
careful arrangements, he procures poison,
and " hen the circumstances are favorable g
throws his victim into hypnotic trance. He
directs her to write at his dictatiou a rather
ambiguous note, which, when found, will
be accepted as indicating her intention to
take her life. She obeys without hesitation.
lie places deadly draught before her, and
tells her it is a delicious wine. He COM
mandS her to drink it after two hours have
passed. Then he leaves her, still In trance,
and goes among his friends, establishing a
perfect alib. The poor woman drinks the
poison and dies. 1t is plain case of sui
eide. There will not even be an investiga-
ton beyond the simple surface facts.
Every step in this despicable imaginary
plot has been gone over again and again by
French and American physicians in their
hypnotic experiments. The only difference
have been that they have given their sub
Jects salt, making them believe it was
sugar. Is more forcible warning necessary
TO show the danger to society which must
be guarded against as the phenomena of
hypnotiSm become generally known Those
who know most about the subject are
unanimous in saying that the law should
forbid, under severe penalties. any use or
attempted use of the strange influence,
Perhaps no more, thrilling exhibition of
the power of hypnotism was ever seen in
New York than took place several years ago
before an audience of physicians under the
direction of the late Dr. Beard, whose in
yestlgatlons considerably ante dated those
OF the French specialists. DIR. Beard sug-
gested to young man in trance that a
man whom he pointed out had slandered
his (the suhject's) mother and that he de-
served to be killed. The doctor handed the
subject aToll of paper, which he said was a
dagger, and told him to kill the man. The
face Of the subject took on an expression of
rage impossible to assume, so real was it.
he set about stealthily to obey the sugges-
tlon; he walked furtively around two sides
OF the stage until he was in the renr
of his victim. Then, creeping softly
up the last few steps on his hands
ana knees the avenger suddenly fell upon
the man In fury and, as he supposed.
STABBED h1m three or four times in the
Dack. HIS face meantime was a picture of
blackest fury and revenge, the emotions
ueplcted being so real that everybody who
watched him knew there was no counter-
leitlng. His revenge complete. as he sup
posed the murderer became a prey to the
natural feelings of reaction, to fear of detec-
tion, and SO on. 1t was suggested to him
CuaC Ghe police were in pursuit of him. In
eIanIly ne started away as fast as he could
run. he bounded down the steps. rushed
through the hall, and out of doors. The
eAperlinenters became alarmed, and one of
thelh started in pursuit The fyinp man
ran at tremendous pace, and though the
pursuer was an athlete he did not Succeed
~ oVertaking the fugitive for four or Ave
DUCKS. linen he was caught and calmed
Dy means OF suggestion and led bach To
But the after effects of hynoptic sneres-
sioh are the most wonderful of ali Rern-
SILL nVn'n, III MS recent book, describes many
sGliAlhg examples, and New York nhvs-
remarkable. @'Aon' quAOe as
During the artificial sleep said 70 a.
afraotio al m, my service, who had a cardiac
b ook I'll; CPon waking you will take the
b boJA which Is lying on the table near your
Ueu, open it at page Sc, and You will And
' ,aIv Por TRAIT there, very well executed
syvtan.H eh ne woke saw him take the book
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