The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-11
GIRL PUPILS HYPNOTTZED.
uNExPEcTED RESULTS OF MISS CALLS
EXPERIMENTS,

Tvo Students In her Glass at LaselI Sem.
mary III for Months After n Course in
"Nervs TrsIainE ''-Her Methods Elk
Misunderstanding Nervous Balance.
AupuRNpA1E, Mass. June 10-Two Lasell
Seminary girls have been reduced to serious
condition OF III health by reason Of curious
course OF study In that institution. 1t is called
nerye training by the seminary authorities,
but the doctors who for the past six months
have been calling upon all their medical re-
sources to save the lives OF the two young
ladies affected thereby. declare that 1t is hyp-
notism. Both girls we're completely hypnotized
and their nervous systems were almost shat
tered. They were forced to leave school last
December. and not until to-day were they able
to leave their beds.
The instructor In this branch OF study is Miss
Annie Call. She believes the system one OF
great advantage to her students. teaching
them to relax their nerves and to economic
nerve force. portion OF the instruction is to
have the student lie at full length and en-
deavor to allow her nervous system to relax.
This relaxation. which Is an essential point in
the instruction must be so perfect that whom
the instructor lifts an arm or a leg or finger
OF the pupil and let's 60 1t will fall as II life
less. II the instructor directs the student to
move the head or the eye or finger. the con-
trOlllnR nerves, anu tuose oulJ' uueb 10 uoou'
and entire relax alton must Immediately follow
the movement
A class of 100 young ladies undertook this
course last fall and suddenly the nervous sys-
tenn Of two Of Thorn collapsed. Their brains
were too susceptible. and both were completely
mesmerized. 1t was some time before their
condition was understood, and until the
proper counteractinR influences were brought
70 bear, there was no Improvement visible.
Much opposition to the course Of instruction
has developed since its effects were SO UNI
pleasantly shown in the case OF these two
The unique system Of instruction which re-
students Is diGnihed with conspicuous place
In the catalogue OF the seminary. 1t has never
been introduced elsewhere in this country In
an Institution Of learning, SO far as is known
here. This is what the catalogue says about 1t:
TRAINING
We have used systematic training in the of tho
and .le result. should bring Young womsn to better
Of school with strong nerves thoroughly controlled ao
tire year. but i has been recoEnized only as an
iieye there are good points in the instruction.
dnd CAN 1E be
over The pubIiciiy given he cases Of the TWO
young ladies': explaining the system of in
I work to obtain a perfectly quiet mind
and then to get that mind well centred or
focused BY its owner at pleasure and to secure
Q better direction Of the mental faculty. The
body may Just as successfully and consistent
~ operate In governing the use Of the mind.
We aim first to secure perfectly pas
sive body. and then to be able to use
arc to play the piano, sing or sustain part In
one act on the stage. In this way the body is
left moro perfect for natural expression in any
In pursuing the study the first thing we
aim to DO is to secure the power Of mind con
centrati lon pure and simple. and the second is
70 hs to act IL
OF breathing 10 tho student. who lies fiat upon
sicaiiy. The method Of Breathing is taken IN
exercises occur to obtain direction BY the
her muscles perfectly relax cd and free. Then
while one arm Is perfectly tense the other
thought OF the student This system OF sepa-
rating the muscles in action Is .practised for |
the various parts OF the body. and the pupil Is |
The spine is next taken. and motions are |
practised TO secure freedom In the great /
nervous centres Of that portion OF the |
hody To girls are made qs o to centre p
ute. and subsequently for a gradually incEeas-
ing length of time up to five minutes. They |
are taught not simply to memor1ze words 10 |
intend TO carry on this training in a thorough |
course Of five senses; although have not been
able to get to that this year"
Now in regard to the two unfortunate cases !
was entirely FRUSTRATED that one was at all al |
fected by the treatment. The other was a case |
of oxtreme nervous temperament, and took |
her out OF the, class at once upon perceiving |
10 execute, 40 gen that it seems unaccount-
able that they could have affected her."