The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-15
MARVBLN Oh RYPNOTISM
The Sick Healed, the Strong Made Weak,
The Innocent ImDGLGd TO Crime,
ALL BY THE POWER OF SUGGESTION.
A Remarkable Agency Dangerously
Easy to Employ.

ems Less than EuropeAns-Commands
Given Duripgi the Hypnotic Trance EH-
eeuted After tho Awakening-New York
Phyaloiana with Patients who Would
De Crime at Their Bidding-Tho Fossil
biIity OF Grimes Against Women with
out Their knowledge or Consent-Re-
strictive Legislation Suggested-There
In Said to bo Even Such Thing ns
Spontaneous Hypnotism-Nay It Ac-
count for Some Strange DisnppeArauces'
For several months the public has been re-
ceivinR occasional extracts from the str INCEST
chapter on medical science ever written. in
which are being recorded the results OF recent
Investigations OF the phenomena Of hypnotism.
Most Of the creduity testing incidents which
have appeared in secular print have come
from European. especially French. hospitals
and consultation rooms. While the stories
have had fascinating interest, an incredulous
public on this side Of the water has no doubt
credited to them very small germ Of truth
and very large proportion OF romance.
But the most eminent members OF the medi-
cal profession in this country have been inves-
ttgAting. too and they give results and con-
illusions as marvellous as any, which have
come from the French experimentalists
Separated from the domain of charlatana.
mesmerists. and so-caed spirtualsts. the
phenomena OF hypnotism present under scien-
tifc scrutiny the most puzzling marves with
which the mental and physical constitution of
man challenges modern Investigation. Some
OF the foremost specialists who are studying
the subject admit that they have been forced
to reject the fundamental doctrine that man ia
always a free agent. and to acknowledge the
existence Of q social danger. which. until re-
Gently. was not suspected by scientific men.
Tho matter assumed a decidedly startling
aspect when II is said that OF half a dozen emf
nent specialists in New York OF whom inqui-
Ties have been made during the past few days.
i've readily stated that among their patients
were persons perfectly sane and sound who
would at their command commit any crime in
the calendar, from murder down. More alarm
ing still was the assurance Of each Of the ply
sjcians that these same persons would as
readily obey anybody's command. and that
they would be absolutely irresponsible for acts
thus committed.
The existence OF the phenomena OF hypnot-
ism is now universally admitted by the menu
bers Of the medical profession. but by nearly
all OF them they are ascribed to the powers Of
suggestion and not to any occult or spiritual
tBtio influence. Contrary to the popular idea.
the power to exert hypnotic influence. SO say
the specialists. Is not rare, but is almost uni
Versal. while great susceptibility to that In
Auonco exists fortunately In comparatively few
persons. In other words. a person whom one
man can hypnotic almost anybody can in
duence In the same way. Conservative Ameri-
can experts. leaders In the neurological branch
OF the medical profession. say that majority
OF people are more or less susceptible to hyp-
motto influence. while every subject becomes
more powerIOss In the hands OF the operator
With each experiment.
But all the investigations by foreign and
American physicians and other scientific men
has failed to throw any light thus far upon the
real mystery OF the phenomena. The work OF
the past few years has accomplished this I'm
portant result; 1t has placed the subject before
scientific men In the light Of a great problem
which Is worthy OF most profound study, and
which promises perhaps threatens is a better
word. to assume a vast importance to society.
This recognition Is sure TO bring greater knowl-
edge. and that speedily. for the best minds of
the scientific world are graphing with the, sub
ject and wonderful results may confidently be
expected. 1t is no doubt true that the Iersstent
by, eminent French phy7cians has com
PEELED this almost nnTilIippG ref9GniIti0,n n
equally true that investigation and expert
ment covering practically all the ground gone
over by the French professors were made in
this city eight or ten years ago by an en-
thusiastic group OF SPECIALISTS. OF WHICH the
late Or. Beard. one Of the most brilliant
the leader But rr. Eeard's wonderful OK
periments were almost ignored by his medical
sGser Ia9 81 Ts U WheS e s Uf
long been scornfully neglected..
u; Bernneim, professor in the faculty OF
medlcne at Nancy, whose recent work on
hYpnotlSm is accepted as tho best authority on
re subject, quotes many of tn. medical yls,
Itors 10 his clinic HS SAVING In elect: How
have We been ahlu to let a truth SO easy OF
dem9nstration mass u, bYfor, centuries with
0 o. dsSGiyeiGs Il ~ pr chri?tian f. hGrtSr
"fiypnotism is 10 longer one Of tho curlosi:
unquostionabls value which lies at the hands
ofeyery medical practitioner who is willing to
tSse the tr3Hgls 70 IN pure into Its nature and
y Most New loik !iPvcstisators agree with DR..
hypnotisn. the lest means of producing the
hypnotic state and the partial .explanation
which ne makes Of the nature Of the pheH9m
do not agree, many Of hem. with his opinions
regarding the proportion OF good hypnotic
point OF the harmessne-s OF hypnotic expert
ments, In fact American investigators OF
bold opinions upon some OF the features Of the
PhenomeHa which differ quite widely one
That the subject is one Of vital public con-
Germ Ia admitted by az, and. moreover, 20 inn
portant Is It, especially IN lis relation 10 crime,
urged the necessity o. the Immediate passage
OF a law making it a fe onS for any one not a
regular physician 10 make use OF hypnotsm,
Austria has already done this France is about
to do 30. and other European countries have
the matter under consideration; incidents and
actual dangers in the New York experience OF
medical men are cited In proof OF the necessity
for legislative interference
METHOD OF HYPEOTIZISG.
Few psople have correct ideas Of what hyp-
nntism really is, or OF how i may he produced.
New " rk physicians use Bernhelm's method
exclusively There is no maGneliztng OF the
patient. no eXertng OF any mysterious force or
will power, no making of mysterious passes.
nothing whatever but an attempt FIRST to gain
the full confidence OF the subject and then to
induce him TO dc. certain things solely by the
power Of suggestion. DR.. Bernhem thus de-
soribes his method
II begin by saving to the patient that be.
lievo benefit is TO he derived from The use Of
suggestive therapeutics that II is possible to
cure or to relieve h m by nypnutism that there
y nothing either hurtful or strange about II;
that II 10 an ordinary sleep or torpOr which can
be Induced In every one. and that this quiet,
beneficial condition restores the equilibrium
Of the nervous system, DC II necessary |
hypnotic one, or two subjects in his presence.
In order TO show him that there is nothing
painful In this condition, and that 1t is not ac-
eompanted with any unusual sensation. When
have thus baniShpd tIOm his mind the dau of