The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-13
MARVELS or HYPNOTBM
How to Guard Against The Criminal Use Of the
Potent and Mysterious Influence.
INNOCENT CRIMINALS; TRUTHFUL LIARS.
Tho Imagination Works Miracles Beyond the
Power Of Physicians or Drugs.

Out by tho INSCRIPTIONS Use OF the
Strange POwer-FaIsehood Easily Made
| to Appear Truth In tho Minds OF Delnded
| SuhIeots-The Danger to Society aud the
| Available SnTeguards-The Value OF
HypnotIsm rs Curative Agent Little
Understood Yet-The Secret of Faith
Cure. Mind Cure. and Other Cures by
SuEsestion-Should tho Law Restrict
the Use OF the Peculiar AEencJI
| Some OF the phonomena OF hypnotism were
described in The Sun tho other Sunday, but
the maryels OF the subject were by no means
exhausted. There remain grave problems
brought to light by recent Investigation which
threaten in the near future to demand careful
consideration from social and legal point of
view. 1t should DO said again that the best
knowledge OF tho subject is by no means con-
fined to the French savants. whose expert
ments the past few years have aroused
SO much interest and establishment in
Europe and this country. Now York and
other American neurologists. including
the foremost mon in tho medical rro-
iession, while they have MT publicly
proclaimed their discoveries, have covered
all the ground traversed by Charcot, Bornheim,
and the other French Investigators. Their con-
illusions, while agreeing moro closely with
those of Rernhem than with those OF any
other European inquirer, are by no means
identical with his. They are able to produce
practically the same effects by means of hyp-
motto suggestions as he docs. but these re-
suits are reached in amuch smaller proportion
OF cases, the inference being rs has been
stated that Americans are much less suscepti-
Bile TO hypnotic influences than Europeans.
A iul exposure OF the known marvels OF
~
to spread before the general public but for one
fact, namely: No ono can be hypnotized
against his will. But for this an INSCRIPTIONS
use of the mysterious power would speedily
undermine oil the safeguards OF society. This
rule has few exceptions in Its first application.
but it loses it's force after repeated expert
ments with tho same individual. person
who voluntarily submits to hypnotization q
few or many times loses the power to resist
the influence. There Is, therefore. abundant
reason for condemning ignorant and indis-
criminate experimenting with the peculiar
power about which so little is really known
Its use should DO confined strictly TO the hands
ofcompetent physicians and by them 1t should
be resorted to only as remedial agent, and
used only In the presence OF third persons.
Take, Tor instance q startling demonstration
OF the very real danger which the criminal use
OF the new agent involves. The writer gu b.
specialists as u possible crime which might he
committed BY hypnotic agency. and they
affirmed unhestatinGly that it was not on y
possible but perfectly easy OF execution: A
llendish husband plots the murder OF his wife.
lie finds that she is easily hypnoti2ed. Max
ing careful arrangements. he procures poison.
and when tho circumstances are favorable he
throws his victim into hypnotic trance. He
directs her to write at his dicta,ion q
rather ambiguous note. which, when found,
will be accepted as indicatinG her intontion to
take her HE. She obcys without hesitation.
He places . deadly drauGht before her and
tells her 1t is q delicious wine. he commands
her 10 drink 1t after two hours have passed.
among his friends establishing \ perfect
abb The poor woman drinks the p22ison and
dies. 1t is n plain case OF suicide. There Will
not even be an Investigation beyond the simple
surface facts:
has been gone oyer again and aga n by French
and American physicians in their hypUotic eX-
In,erimSnts. The only Difference has been that
warning necessary to show the danger to
society which must be guarded against as tho
phenomena Of hvpnOtism become generally
known: Those who know most ABOUT tho
sub ect are unanimous In saying that tho law
should forbid, under sevore5t penalties any
use or attempted use OF the strange influence.
Perhaps no more thrilling exhibition OF the
power OF hypnOtlsm WAS ever seen in Now York
than took place several years ago before an
audience OF physicians under the direction Of
tho lato Dr. Beard whose investigations con-
sderably ante dated those Of the French sps-
cHists. DR., Beard suggested toa young man
in u trance that man whom he pointed out
had +landered his the SUBJECTS mother and
that no deserved to be killed. The doctor
handed the subject roll Of paper; which he
man. The face OF the subject took on an OK
preston OF rage impossible 10 assume so reH
was ii. He set about ,stealthiIy to obey the
rear Of his victim. Then creeping softly
and Knees tho ayonGer suddenly fell upon tie
man in Jury and as, he supposed stabbed him
threo or four times In the hnck. His face mean
time was a picture OF, bIaeEest fury and re,
venge the emotions depicted being 70 real
that everybody VINO watched him knew there
a he supposed the murderer became prey to
the natural feelings OF reaction. to fear of
detection, and so on. 1t was suggested TO him
that the police were in pursuit of him, In
stautly no started away as last as he could run.
IIo bounded down the steps; rushed through
became alarmed and ono of Thorn started in
pursuit. The lying man ran nj tremendous
did not succeed in oyertaknG the fugitive for
four or Ave blocks Then he was caught and
Gained by means OF a suggestion and led back
Buf the aftor-eflocts of hypnotic suggestion
are the most wonderful OF all Berniteim. in
his recent book, describes many striking eX-
amples. and New iork physicians arc able to
give Illustrations quito Ms rcmarkab!c,
During the artificial sleep ! said TO pa
tlcnt IN my service who had u cardiac aGec-
tion. upnn waking you will TAX" tho book
which is lying on tho table near our bed omen
there, very wei executed
when he woke ! saw him take the book.
what nre YOU looking tor asked.
"A story BEGAN; think !eit OIL at page
Arc you looking for some particular thing
on this pageT
- No. only a continuation OF tho story
:" lie looked for tho pDge. and when he found
il seemed aEtonishpd Nhy, what il that
IL Is a portrait lie looked at il tor several
moments. and only then recognized bimsell.
'lti5lY He did not know when lie was look
ing for the page that he would ma his IOr-
trait, AMI h. d id not recognize the portrait as
his own Immediately.
" The hallurinution thus provoked may be as
vivid ~ reality. Tho patient cannot rid him
foll OF 1t even though he may know That 1t is
an hAlluciuation. This may be- ob-crved In
experimenting on very intelligent peOi 10. ]
recently hypnOtiIed Il reinarkAb intelligent
young girl. with n positive mind, who WAS not
In tho Least Eighty and whose good faith | can
guarantee ! made her see an imag nary rose
When sho wakrd W. She saw 1t touched IL,
aud sme IT,. She described 1t 10 me Then,
knowing lhat might have giv"n II suggestion,
she asked me IL the rosn was feul orlmaginnTY.
II II perfectly impossible for me 10 tell tie
difference size said told her TINT II was
Imaginary. she wa CONVINCED O' lllis and in
spite Of II was certain that by II, effort oil the
will could she make 1t disappear
go still see it, she said and touch II as
distinctly as II II We're real, aud II yon should
mt "a IN rose n itg Dlupa q bV II. slOulu