The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-05-04
DANGERS oe HYpRuTisM.
Drawbacks Are Always Associated With
New Ideas.


New Ideas.
There is an account in last weeks Lancet
(of April - ola meeting Of medical men NJ
Leeds, 10 witness Dr. Milne Bramwelfs
feats in producing by mere exercise Of
will. the same effects which the inhalation
OF chl0rOl0rm or either produces IN the way
Of eXtnguishing all the pain o! a severe
operation. These facts may he regarded by
a great many readers as holding out nothing
but new benefits 90 the world. 10 rs, now
ever they present prospect for me World
much more alarming than agreeable. Inc
complete iu-ensbility 10 pain which Dr.
Milne Bramwcll produced az The house OF
Messrs. Carter brothers * Turner, dental
surgeons. Of Park Square, Leeds, i, indeed.
no brand-ncw phenomenon.
A case Of the same kind is quoted in Dr.
Carpenters Mental Physiology, IN which
complete relief from severe pain was given
by Mr. Braid. one -four first eXperimentcrs
i'm what is NOW led hypnotism. and we
believe that Mr.. Braid was able 10 remove
re seeere-t pain almost as completely as
d. Milne lBramwell appears to have core,
, the satisfaction Of more than sixty dent
d Is or general practitioners who witnessed
IFS operations Gf mere exercise OF VIII can
be- properly described by such word as
.0perati0us'). and their success. The pine
nomcnou r.. rs we have said. not new; but
10 Is new 10 have it popularized before an
audience nj once 30 considerable and SO
competent to judge and r. and that the
various Gentlemen present ut such meet
ing cordially agreed in the final statement
of one of the scientific witnesses present.
that 1.-The time has now come when we shall
have 10 recognize hypnotism as a necessary
part OF our study
WHAT IT MEANS.
For consider for q moment what this
hypn0ti-m means. n means that certain
pers0us.-wc earnestly ylpe that they are
few of whom Dr. Milne jramwel is re-
markahle example. obtain the power 50 TO
control Tie whole organism Of their patients
that they can make them perpoctly insensi-
bic 10 excessively painful surgical opera
tions 90 will. and may even so influence
the whole sensitive system Of their patients
mat the latter will believe water 10 be 0or
instancc) bad beer, or, 80 far rs we can
judge. would equally believe the most
rightiul pOi-0ns 90 he mere water. and will.
in fact. act implicitly ON the suggestions
made 10 them by the lypnoiist.
rOWKR Long RECOGNIZED.
The power Of these hypnotisi, has long
been recognized in France. and VI. Charcot.
the eminent hypnotist, has, we believe. de-
clarcd ihlt tine use Of hypnOtisIn, except by
physicians using il for the purpose Of heal
ing. should be- punishable under The criml-
nal law. That is all very well 10 talk OF,
but how are you to legislate eliectuaNY
against the Use of moral influence
over the nerves. 10y people who are
not physicians: The mere considera-
lion of the problem how to draft
such legislation is enough 10 demonstrate
it, virtual imp0,-ibillty. DR.. Bramwcll. for
instance is stated 10 nave sent the follow
ing letter 10 one OF hi patients. Go 10
sleep by order Of Or. Bramwell. and obey
Mr.. farmers commands Mr. Turnef was
one Of the firm Of dental surgeons at whose
mousse the Leeds meeting was held. and the
patient had no sooner road the note than
snc at once obcycd the order. and the sleep
twas 80 profound that at the end Of lengthy
operation. i'm which sixteen stumps were re-
moved. she awobe smiling. aud insisted that
she had felt no pain, and what was remark
able. that there was no pain in her mouth
SOME SUGGESTIONS
Now. suppose that the same power over
This W0man's organization had been Obt 1Iu-
ed hy some iayman with no medical knowl-
edge and il is obtained. rememhor by
moral and nor by medical means.-and
THAT The order had been given her not 20 feel
the salutarl pain Of some obstruction in the
passages oi the body, uhd'F l'e innocent
impression i~upl.9e) th'l liieIei! 10 IeheN'
puh chlld he lIobucl we "i ITO lo'7lDie his
ch.er.i- o. conceivable for moment that any
modrlni..gi. laii'to could be- n"rsuadcd.hr-t,
that this exercise of viii for The mere par
pose of giving relief was dangerous and
mi-cbi. you- act that ought 90 be punished;
Ir. next. that it mi-ht really have the effect
attributed i0 %. a"d yet Dee thr ndireci cause
of the patient death by removing the most
serious dJnsel-7'2nAl winch nature hOisi';
lci % Is hard io suppose ihai "a slfl VINO
cIn have -i> .eeG stumps e&,ra,ied rom
N' nn' -,rd"'..j c,,na,i,' i'm
' I"n' ''ulN " 'it ~ H.! ~, H.
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luence 600 previous So '''''' u -
what con"ei'ablec'ldcnce Of the mhrderous
intention and ehcci OF his result 81 hypno-
tiSm could ever neonidined. We 40 not sup
pose chat arsenic or prussic acid would cease
% h. deadly becau,, tDe patient Atd taken
.hem ueer the impression that they were
some delightful or healing drug: and yet in
cannot be doubted that 10 the evidence which
convinced more than sixty trained witness