The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-02-22


has made deep study OF hypnotlsm,
or mesmerism. He makes the broad
assertion that all persons susceptible
to hypnotic influence are not necessa-
rily weak or subject 10 hysteria, many
OF the patients upon whom he had oper-
ated with astonishing results being
strong and healthy In body and mind.
La rare cases the hypnotic patient is
not necessarily pu u 10 sleep. but passes
at once under the control OF the opera
tor, and is subject TO his will. This Is
the state, so called, OF charm or en-
chantment
In a recent paper read before the
medical board OF that city ne spoke
OF the appeasing OF hunger. OF the con-
veying OF distinct impressions TO differ
emit ears, and OF requiring the patient
10 perform certain acts at some future
time. He told OF one patient who car
ried three distinct suggestions which
were carried out within n half hour,
three hours and eighteen hours. The
doctor has n patient. "a woman. s feet
inches in height of light hair and
blue eyes, OF weak lungs. but with no
evidence OF hysteria, Upon her. as
sisted by DIR. II. Il. james. most pro-
longed series of experiments had been
performed OF which the most copious
notes were taken, and they would In
due time be collatel.
The lady. DIR. Funkhouser states. he
can put into the hypnotic state by look
ing intently from distance OF three or
four feet, by strol1ing her head or
pressing on her eyelids. She goes iuto
complete state OF annsthesla and Is
unmindful OF the sens ,tion OF needle
being stuck into her person. For IA
long time after passing from the leth-
nrgic TO the cataleptic state she WAS
unable TO talk until he informed her
that IL he rubbed the top OF her head
she would be able 10 talk. After this. v
said the doctor, IL would open her eyes
and she would talk. To this lady
can transmit the suggestion Of taste.
i can put n lump OF sugar in my mouth,
place my hand upon her head and she
will tell what | have. ! have tried
this experiment with salt celery,
apples and nuts. | put an English
walnut In my mouth. and she said IL
was pecan. Tho experiment was
successful on an average OF eight cases
out OF nine.
II attempted Bernheim's expert
ment OF having her look through "A
prism Mt n single orange. but f,iled.
She saw two. and said SO. / have
been reasonably successful In my Of
forts TO develop some OF the higher de-
grees OF somnambuism with her. 1
held watch TO her head. and she said
1t was twenty minutes 10 six. Ii was
nineteen minutes 10 the hour She
did not always succeed. but failed
twice In seven attempts gave her II
card and told her 1t was mirror. She
saw herself In IL and smiled. passed
behind hcr and she recognized me. IL
was probable that she would have sus-
pected me, so | had "a gentleman pass
within range OF the supposed mirror
and she accurately described him. |
held playing card behind her. She
said II was the six OF clubs. II was
the seven, but had my thumb over
one OF the spots. In like manner she
correctly named other cards. gave
her some playing cards. which l as
sured her were photographs OF herself.
myself, DIR. James and others known
designated, and she selected each one
without mistake as they were called
for. For instance. | showed her the
five OF hearts and said. That Is your
self When / asked for her picture
she ran over the cards until she came
10 the fivo OF hearts and threw IL out
Some days she would make mistakes.
/ have known her 10 fall In four out OF
ten such tests. and on another day
three out OF 1--WE.
THE sense OF smell can be controlled
by suggestion. Ihave made n number
OF my patients, ono OF them "A gentle
man OF sound body and superior mind,
believe that my finger was rose or
an onion, TO believe that water was
cloroform. Experiments on the sense
OF hearing are not so successful. A
person convinced that he Is alone In
a room sometimes shows a sense OF
hearing, or ut least OF vibration, when
the supposed absent one has made an
outcrv. As 10 the manner la which
the visual sense IL controlled by tho
hypnotic force. science Is as yet In
the dark. An interesting experiment
was when / put the patient under the
belief that tho master OF the house
would be absent for thirty-six hours.
and charged her with the care OF her
mistress In tho same way let some
suggestion OF robbers drop The next
night she dreamed OF thieves and
awoke In great fright. believing that
robbers were assaulting her undcfended
mistress.
The doctor stated that he had sue
cessfully repeated the Partisan expert
ment of putting postage stamp upon
the patient telling her that 10 was