The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-07-05
HYPNOTISM.
Some Curious and Interesting Expert
ments-Views of Scientists.


From the Nelc York san.
Several Of the magazines for this month
have articles on hypnotism. That in the
FortnightIy ReUiei0 is by DIR. J Luys, MEM
Der of the Academy of Medicine and Ply
stefan TO the Charlie Hospital. Two En-
glish physicians. DIR. Milne Bramwell and
DR.. Best, discuss the subject in the Nsio
Reriet0. The position which these writers
take. which is indeed the view eff the medi-
cal profession, is that hypnotism is as far
removed from what has been known as
mesmerism or magnetism as chemistry is
from alchemy or as astronomy is from
astrology. The medical profession now ac-
cept it as a eenuine science, supported by
psychology and ply siology- There are,
however, among them wide differences as
to the propriety of making use of it in gem
eral practice, it being feared that hypnot-
lied subjects might be made by evil-dis-
posed persons to commit serious oHenseS
against society.
Although hypnotism is admitted to be a
science, there are differences among its most
eminent professors as to its nature. There
are in particular two schools. One school
claims that hypnotism eau only be developed
IN persons suffering from hysteria. This is
the view of Charcot and his disciples of La
Salpetrlere. The other school, which is that
Of Nancy, claims that healthy persons are
subject to hypotism. Charcot teaches that
hypnotism is physical, the Nancy experts
that it is mental. 1t is produced in different
ways by the two schools. Charcot
hypnotizes his patients by causing them to
look steadily at an object placed short dis
by the Nancy professors, on the other hand,
is suggestion. They ask the patient to con-
centrate his mind on the idea of sleep, and
the result is that he goes to sleep. They
consider, furthermore, that suggestion is
necessary to hypnotism, and attribute the
success Of Charcot in bringing about this
condition to some kind Of unconscious sug-
gestion.
There is a regular sequence of three
stages in hypnOtism. These are somnam-
bulism, catalepsy and leuhargy. The patient
first experiences a slight slumber; the
outside world becomes misty, and, as he
progresses, passes into somnambulism. In
this state he preserves his faculties of speech
and hearing In the cataleptic state, to
which he next arrives, these faculties are
overcome and he retains only the power of
sight. He then passes into the state of
lethargy, in which he loses all his powers
including that of sight and becomes dull
aud inert mass. In awakening he must
ICbLdCO LID blCpS buiOuku buboo 5bukeS,
recovering one by one the faculties he has
lost. In the cataleptic state the power of
sight is wonderfully stimulated. Some
well-nigh Incredible statements are made
on this subject-for instance, that the
patient will recognize colors through a
board a fifth of an inch thick, blue having
the effect of making him sorrowful, and
yellow making him happy. In catalepsy
the body of the patient Is not susceptible to
pain; pin may be thrust into him and he
will not feel it. 1t is this anasthetic
property of hypnotism which is relied
upon as one of its chief practicable advan-
tages.
Some amusing and some wonderful stories
are told by the doctors. Drs. Bramwell and
Best describe the behavior of one patient
When told that he was cat he dropped on
all fours, mewing plaintively. "At last, "
says the doctor, "a mouse hole was discov-
cred, which he watched patiently for full
quarter of an hour. The perfect cat-like
attitude and the expression of vigilant
watchfulness were irresistibly comic. The
operator then called 'Puss, puss, when our
cat ran to him, attempted to jump on to his
knee, and finally lay down at his feet, show
ing evident signs of pleasure when
stroked." This patient was also
made by suggestion $50 it is claimed) to
bleed at the nose and at a given place on
the arm. One case Is mentioned which
seems indeed scarcely credible. 1t is that
OF an individual suffering from insomnia,
who, when hypnotized, was told to sleep
from z in the evening to in the morning,
which he accordingly did. He was also told
such is the story that there would be,
fifteen minutes after awakening, the letter
V traced in blood on his arm, and the V
accordingly appeared. In view of the sur
prising character of these stories, it is salts
factory to be told that every precaution is
taken against fraud.
There are differences of opinion among
the experts as to the proportion of persons
who can be bypnotized. 1t seems to be adj
mitted that persons who work with their
hands are more liable to hypnotization than
those whose pursuits are intellectual Drs.
Bramwell and Best express the opinion that
most persons are liable in some degree. Dr.
Luys found that about half his patien Is
were liable, but that women were more sus-
ceptible than men.
Upon the practical question whether the
newly discovered power is to be used in
medicine there has been much discussion of
late in the journals of the profession. On
the one hand, it is said that by the use of it
the physician may gain a clear idea of his
patient; it is kind of moral vivisection
the virtues, vices and passions of the patient
of use in the treatment of nervous and
mental diseases. 1t has also an anasthetic
value. These considerations favor its use
in general practice. On the other hand, the
new agency has great dangers. 1t is feared
that the patient who has been many times
hypnotiZed will become a sort of will-less
automaton. 1t is known, also, that
hypnotized persons may be excited to crime.
The advocates of hypnotism think that
provision can be made against these dan
gers. DR.. Luys suggests that great care
should be taken that the hvpnorized patient
should be fully awake before he is permit
ted to go abroad. The main reliance
ance of the hypnotism against the danger
of the patient being influenced by evil-dis-
posed persons is TO fix in his mind while in
the hypnotized state the idea that he shall
not permit himself to be hypnotized by any
one but the operator. Upon the general
question of the admission Of this wonderful
agency into practice it is safe to say that a
physician who really thinks he can benefit his
patient by the use of hypnotism will be
sure to have recourse to it, and that science
will be on its guard against the abuses
which may be made of its discoveries