The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-08-10
HYPNOTISM.
The Scientific Sensation of the Hour That
Is Reing Discussed.


Is Being Discussed.
Mesmerism, alias hypnotism, the latest sci
entifc sensation of the hour, was few
years since denounced by the scientific
world in unmeasured terms. No express
sions of scornful contempt were strong
enough, writes B. 0. Fowler to the Arena
for August, to characterize those fearless
torch bearers of advanced thought, who
after patiently, earnestly and exhaustively
investigating the alleged powers Of Mesmer,
proved beyond the possibility of doubt
the genuineness of the mesme ric or byp-
motto influence.
They were charlatans, impostors, or men,
tally uns0und in the eyes, not only of the
medical profession, but the scientific world,
with some few notable exceptions. The
more charitably disposed among the great
conservative societies of scientific thinkers
were content to regard those who believed
in such ''absurdlties" as mesmerism as
"unduly credulous," liable to be 'duped,"
and, therefore, not safe" or critical in
vestigators.
Camille FlammariOn, the iilustrious
French astronomer, in his recent remark
able Uranie, tells us that fifteen years
ago he communicated to several physicians
the magnetic phenomena observed by him
self in the course of many experiments.
One and all denied most positively and alb
solutely the possibility OF the facts related.
but on meeting one of these same physi-
clans at the institute in Paris, recently, he
called his attention to his denial of the phe-
nomena. oh replied the physician, not
without shrewdness, ''then it was mag
netism, now it is hypnotism and it is we
who study it-that is very different
thing" The astronomer wisely adds by
way of impressing the moral: Let US
deny nothing positively: Get us study: let
us examine; the explanation will come
later"
A true scientist will take cognizanee eff
the smallest fact, and though the light that
floats before may appear mere will-o-the-
wisp, he will follow it until he demon
strates by careful, impartial and exhaustive
investigation whether it rests on the bed
rock of truth or not, remembering that the
prejudices OF hoary thought and early
training may blind him to sensible appre-
citation of the true significance of the
problem that confTonts him. 1t is not more
than five years since paper read on
hypnOIism in the medical society of lead
ing American city was excluded from the
report of the socety's meeting, on the
ground that the subject was unscientific and
absurd.
Less than decade 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 well established scientific fact as
bypnotism.
From present indications we are entering
new field of scientific discovery, or. to be
more explicit, the great body Of scientific
thinkers are expressing a willingness to
recognize phenomena other than material,
and to treat with a measure Of respect
the views and discoveries made by
the patient heralds Of psychic truths
which have long been tabooed as being little
worthy the attention of the materialisic
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 inven-
ton has been so marvellous that men have
ceased to wonder at the inventive ingenuity
of man. The age of physiological discovery
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, eclips-
ing in its startling character as well as in
its great utility the greatest discoveries
since the man-child science was born;
truths which will give to life deeper sig
nificance, a richer meaning, nobler i'm
pulse, grander ideal.