New-York tribune., 1890-08-31
THE DANGEh OF HYPNOTISM.
PRECAUTIONS THAI SHOULD BE TAKEN.
1T rs ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO HYPNoTIzE
PERSON WITHOUT HIS OR HER CON
SENT - RECENT KNOWLEDGE


PERSON WITHOUT HIS OR HER CON
SENT - RECENT KNOWLEDGE
on THE SUBJECT.
What is hypnotsml What can it do? Is it
dangerous9 How does it affect onei Have men OF
science recognized it a branch of human knowledge
Do physicians use 1t as an a'a III .lo
art OF heang' These and countless other
questions which are coh'iiuailS aSh1u .1 n.u'
cate the widespread curiosity concerning this mys-
terons force and show the popular desire to gain
moro information regarding IT, only recently has
hvpnotism been admitted 10 the rank OF recognized
sciences and, indeed it may be sald tha' us al
mission is not vet completed Learned men nave long
differed in their opinions OF the character ana ueS OF
hvpnotism: and that controversy is not yet settled
rhis r,ucb however is admitted: Hypnotism is
distinct science with limitations and characteristics
IL is used as therapeutic or heahnE ag nj ny pny-
siciaps of world wide prominence IL mas It's danefH
as It has it's advantages To this BODY OF knoweuRe
research and investigation are continually addn' ther
results until now the literature Of hypnot sm IS in
croas,nr in extent and authority. Chief among the
investigators pf hypnOtsm the French ply
siclans whose tive schools. that OF saperce, repre-
sented by Charcot and Nancy represented by Bern
helm and and Liebeault. embody distinct theories con
corning this science. Charcot and lis school hod IN
rief that hypnotsm only be induced in hjsterlcal
and ,roa,, minded pcr,ons; while the cxptrences and
nractce Of the Nancy school prove the contrary that
in fact il is difficult to induce the hypnotic cnGltlon
in weak hysterical subjects. so far the virtue oi
the controversy seems 10 rect the side OF Bcrnhem
and Lebeault.
In England the Society for Psychcal Research. the
leading body of its kind in the world, has maze "a
recaI sudv of the phenomena of ypnotism and THIS
interesting subject has not been neglected by meOerS
of the American society, prominent among whom are
rrofossor William James Of Harvard, Professor Lang
1ev NJ the Smithsonian Institute, and Richard llodg
SON. secretary Of the American society," "hoSe on''"'
are at No BoylsOn Place. boston Inc "'eS'
knowledge on hypnotism IS embodied IN circuia IT.
en,ly is uel witt tho sanct on OIL sppFovd MI uA
the auspices of the English society, Of which Professor
Horny sidcvick OF Cambridge University, is prcsi-
dent The circular was especially prepared by TWO
rn.mbnrs of thc society," DR.. A. I. Myers ana Franz
podmore who have devoted much time and thought 10
the study Of this question. herewith 'he ''I'u"
which is STYLED "IIypnotism its Conditions ana saie
guards" is printed in fnl:
So many Sensational and exaggerated reports OF th9
effects and the dangers OF hvpnotsn have recehuv ap
o tho puhlc press that brief and sober statement o'
what 60 far as our present knowledge cAeo1s hNpho
can actually effect perhaps be benehelaI. 1890,
II should be borne In mind Ia the nrst p".e "''
bvnnotc state is not ordinary sense OF the "oa
~,s :, hoe many a0ni.lcs with natural sleep ana ~
many NJ the discoiorts 0. illness may be made U edu ~
70 IL with great relief. Those who are st'on9 a"
arc hypnotized readily. cocteih pa''o"'' ~ ~
are weak in bad health -.
=, .,o nv, r,ace Fnpi.hmen would to be less
.rscent,be 70 the influence than the Inhabitants oil so'
Continental countries. Beiihelh l''"a'''' -.
and .ho Dutch observers place the proportion o' hp"o
.,e porsons as high as 20 50 per cent mcIuuiS ~
- a.. some eases where the effects are trhiag bu'
h esnI,s Of English experiments would thus Tar ihaa
a considerably smaller poportion' =. 49,
Thirdly IL is toierably cer;ain whatever NAV "
ase with orientas-that a healthy Enrshman or Hh's"
The first
his or her full knowledge ana cohse"'' - ,,o .,h
s,,osoc this consent have been given ana the suo
ject 10 have proved susceptible 10 inc ih"ueh'' a.,
inc nhvyical phenomena. some OF them ac'''ut " ~
of the individual nav he observed lie vi"
fan into q condition somewhat resembling "' u ~ ~
NJ natural sleep though he NAV answer oNes'o"S
and some Of his senses NAV be specially h'u+
- go. re,nain perfectlv limp and moonless 'ehar2N
| ~ th,v NAV be moulded into sny position e' INV
Measure Of the operator (cntaleIsy) anu may WV" w
| n.rfeetly rigid This rigidty msy be mahIl'he1 NV"
ioaear than in natural state and Without 'pe
,,emor which would naturally occur after ie" h""'
I, h. vcre not hypnotized. Lastly the patent may o'
oas in.en,itve IN the whole body. or in any part ~
20 touch (anaesthesis) or pain (analsesis even "''
| losing consciousness
rhe.e muscular and nervous phenomena may not occur
I'm tbeir full development during the initial stages Vi ny
1T, or IN IT, lighter forms. But the almost mNSH-
ble Characteristic Of the hypnotic state is the
>, tho subject 10 suggestions from without It j. ''N
n.r.c,crsc which gives the chief value 70 hyph"t'h
| a. a
-, o,,cers real or imaginary. In THIS stavr ihnS'""'
OF the senses memory or the VIII nay DE- n"Io,'s
urou the patient; sleep may br lhuu''"' anu I""'
! nervous disabilities Of various Kinds may De
n -. ,nouence thus cxerted by the operator may BE-
da IN extend be, ond the actual period o the hJphouo
sleep Pain and physical discomfort may pc gov iu "
Tor considerable period the heathinl activity =" 'n'
,odnv functions nay be assisted. and injurious nan
| ' - a. drunkennoss and morphnism, may
| 49, or.c,ualy broken OF. The striking re9iia'
| ,r Instance obtained by Dr. BIdp"eh' o'
q, ,oducinp TEMPORARY intentility U uoin tan ac-
~ -, ,sbcb was recently printed in The Tiibunc' ana
49, ,he Ray Arthur Tooth IN the treatment o' hebieN'
| W - Va ont examples Of what be enectd in these
| directions.
:, & pnortant 70 remember that hypnotic suggestion Is
s,mnv an exaggerated example oil what "he' p"'e " w
o,oal state and produce oh' fesu'' ''"''"i !" M
~, ,a,, ner.ons indeed presumably Of an abnoi'Ha Wp'
:" a., a., ON onparenty waking state 0Dciatcs WIN
ono facility and sef-susReston - p' no means iu'e
! - ~ ..,oiDd.cnre' and 'fli:h'healing NAV Wop'
,I h.. attributed these causes I'nt irpoI@ oi tu
| 80 unl,s- atteetd by eNpcfiehoeu "''ui'"' '''
| ust q, course be received with reserve
| M, o.o,v of what taken place IN the hyphot''
int rarely PERSISTS in:o the waking lie anu ui' ona'
| actsristic offers occasion iof "'' "'',s IS .. ,
,r Undertaking the subject can be Induced 70 prom
""aU - h,o,ic state he will faithfully perform aitci
o d ,.iu believe that In 30 doing he is artin@ aS
| ,e ,geot But the liability OF the norman anu "''
.,.,caa subject 10 Influenced bv hufHeSuon nus p
- .x.0reratd. The operator VIII R'htraHf I.'u.i'
nu," - ,c,sistence 10 overcome even those habits
Itch ,be subject wishes TO be overcome IueaS ' a' III
., beneficial nature will no doubt De readily re-
"'o hu, the moral sentiments. and even III MANY mnoi
s the fear Of rdicule. will often operate 20 ahO
| or ignon!nious sug:tstohh'
| -, 10, heen said it Will be seen that. though th'
,aI%e vIl. Of hvpnotsm have been much eNaFs'
r,,e are serious dangers 10 be guarded a2a'hS' ~
,rnocd hy no means subject to be PLAYED with .. .
+ It is possible for an Ill d'po'ea p''O" - '"e
| =, ,h. uhyslcaI heipIcs-ucss OF Tie eubJfri' "i
'"'NHo " ",c ,nuueuce which may De used 10 the slb
op'S' ',sort,cc But dangers OF this Kind nerd on!
re Indicated to be avoided 1t should De "aug 2 'u,
mat no person should submit hmsoh 70 h'o,, s,
', noic,, accompanied by friend. IL is eI'a' "a' I"
| "''' ~, -, Liu.elf IN the power Of another al Al
ne can fuzzy trust in the Others dsei'',o" IA
,n.cr,,ty Nor should any one suffer himself % Dc "'
no,,led except for therapeutic or s0entn'
,s ,,,o ca .es Of persons VINO through '"'F 'o''S
| ''' '' '"D ,.o,, haye become unduly susctptbI" u
NJ Soht desirable to take special precautions IA 81,
| - ,b hY,,rotllaton by doctor or otheI f'spoh'lpi