Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1890-11-07
REGARDING HYpNoTIsM.
Scientists Everywhere Are Beginning "a
Study Its Phenomena.

obuuy lts fnenOmeuhs
Mesmerism alias hypnotism, the latest
scientific sensation of the hour, was q
few years since denounced by the scien-
tific 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 exhaustively investigating the al.
legged powers of Mesmer, proved beyond
the possibility of doubt the genuine
ness of the mesmeric or hypnotic inhu.
ence.
They were charlatans, impostors or
mentally unsound in the eyes, not only
of the medical profession, but the scien.
tific world, with some few notable ex-
ceptions The more charitably disposed
among the great conservative societies
of scientific thinkers were content to re.
gard those who believed in such sab
ssurdities" as mermerism as ''unduly
credulous;" liable TO be "duped;" and,
therefore, not ssafe" or Critical invest.
igators."
Camille Flammarion, the illustrious
French astronomer, in his recent -
markable novel "Uranie," tells us
fifteen years ago he communicate
several physicians the magnetic phe
ena observed by himself in the CO
Of many experiments. One and A.
MED most positively and absolutel,
possibility of the facts related, b.
meeting one of these same physical
the Institute in Paris recently,
called his attention to his denial o,
phenomena. "Ohw replied the p
clan, not without shrewdness, "th
was magnetism, now it is hypno
and it Is we who study it; that is a
different thing" The astronomer
ly adds by way of impressing the n
LET us deny nothing positively;
study; let us examine; the explain
will come later"
A true scientist will take cogni
of the smallest fact, and thougl
light that floats before may apr
mere will-o'-the-wisp he will foil
until he demonstrates by careful
partial, and exhaustive investil
whether it rests on the bed-ro
truth or not, remembering tina
prejudices of hoary thought and
training may blind him to sensit
! probation Of the true significance
problem that confronts him. 1t
more than five years since paper
on "Hypnotism" in the medical
of leading American city was exc
from the report Of the society'sme
on the ground that the subject W
scientific and absurd.
Less than year ago telepathyy
much an outcast in the scientific
as mesmerism was after the celebrated
Bailey commission pronounced it a
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 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 a
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 o.
the materialistic scientific investigator
whose eyes have been accustomed tx
rest on the earth, its rocks, plants ant
animals, as the myths of bygone days
The age of electrical invention has beer
so marvellous that men have ceased t,
wonder at the inventive ingenuity o
man. The age of physiological dis
covery upon which we are now entering
if it be unrestricted and receive tn,
careful and unbiased attention of ou
best brains, will, we believe. unfold
world of truth, eclipsing in its startling
character as we'll as in its great utilit,
the greatest discoveries since the man
child science was born, truths which
will give to life deeper significance,
richer meaning, nobler impulse,
grander ideal. Arena.