The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1890-02-15
SCIENCE OF HYPNoTlsM.

Great Blessings to Humanity.
The importance which hypnotism may
assume from social and legal point Of
view was recently exemplified by an
experiment performed by an English
clergyman and described in London
medical journal. 1t seems that con-
frmed inebriate was thrown by the
ordinary simple methods in trance,
and while in the hypnotic state he was
informed that any indulgence in alco-
holic beverages would be Immediately
followed by vomiting. So irresistible
was the effect of the suggestion, that
after emergence from the trance the
patient suffered violent attack of nau-
sea whenever he attempted to drink any
kind OF liquor. The result was that he
became total abstainer.
This is, so far as we know, the first
case in which the hygienic and ethical
significance OF the phenomena of hypnot-
ism observed at the Paris hospital of
the Salpetriere has been demonstrated.
In the course of the investigations that
have for some years been prosecuted at
that institution, it has been shown that
persons possessing an unusually nervous
organization can easily be hypnotized,
and that suggestion or an order i'm.
pressed upon them while in this con.
dition will be subsequently carried out,
although they will be entirely ignorant
that such an order has been given. A
A wooden dagger, for example, was
placed In the hand Of a hypnotized young
woman and she was directed to steal
behind one of the persons present and
drive the dagger into his heart. Upon
awaking from the trance she obeyed the
injunction in every particular, and there |
was no doubt in the minds of the observ-
ers that, had the weapon been steel, the |
blow would have been mortal. Inferno
gated respecting the motive of her con.
ouct she averred that she had acted un.
der An uncomfortable impulse, for which
she could not account. Many other ex-
periments of like decisive character
were made at the hospital in question;
some Of which are recorded in a work
lately published in the international
Scientific Series.
From, such facts, the inference was
obvious that the power of producing nv
9onottc phenomena might, in the hands
y unscrupulous operators, be fraught
WITH grave danger to the community.
The whole science of medico-lepal
jurisprudence might have to be re-
constructed, should 1t become necessary ,
n many cases to shift the responsibility .
or crime from the hypnotized agent to ,
ne autecedent suggester of the deed. ;
: would also seem to follow that the |
experimenting OF hypnotic trance, like !
ne administration Of poisons, should be I
arefnlly regulated by law. Such reQu- q
aaon has already been earnestly de-
handed by students of the subject. Il I
emained, however, for the English /
lergyman to prove that the power of
FOLDING the impulses and conduct OF Z
ypnotized persons might, in the
ands OF pure-minded and upright -
len, be made . blessing instead of q q
ane to society. What seems 10 be the 4
rcsistlble force OF suggestion under y
ypnotic conditions, might be system Il
'icaiiv applied to the work Of moral a
generation. II the virtue of sobrietv h
N be, as we have seen, implanted II
confirmed inebriate. it should n
the same means be possible to instiI "
her virtues Tue will of the hypnot- Il
90 patient, once subjugated, could be Il
listed on the side of honesty, purity Ct
"a truth-telling. 1t might be made . I'll
rpetual incentive to well-directed | III
Dor and an honorable life. "a
The medical journd to which we have hs
ferred. In COmmen tine IN tho ,r<hor<s | n,