The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-11-28
REGARDING hYPNorlsM.
Soi"ntists Everywhere Arc Beginning TO
Study It's Phenomena,

~N's0ttNS INV tIoHbs
soi"ntists Everywhere Arc Beginning TO
Study It's Phouomena.
Mesmerism alias hypnotism. tho latest
scientific sensation of the hour, was O
Few years since denounced by tho scien-
title world in unmeasured terms. No ex.
pressions of scornful contempt were
strong enough to characterize those
fearless torch-bearers of advanced
thought, who, after patiently. earnestly
and exhaustively investigating the al
legged powers of Mesmer, proved beyond
the possibility of doubt the genuine
ness OF tho mesmeric or hypnotic iLfiu-
ence.
Ihey were charlatans, impostors Or
mentally unsound in the eyes, not only
OF the medical profession, but tho scien-
tlnc world, with some few nota 10 OK
ceptions The moro charitably disposed
among tho great conservative societies
OF scientific thinkers were content to re-
gard those who beloved in such "ab-
surdities" as mermorism as .unduly
crodulous;" liable to be "duped;" and,
therefore, not safe" OF Critical invest
igators."
Camille Flammarion, tho illustrious
french astronomer, in his recent re-
markaolo novel "Uranie," tells us that
hfteen years ago no communicated to
several physicians tho magnetic phenom-
ona observed by himself in tho course
Oh many experiments. Ono and all de-
nled most positively and absolutely the
possibility of tho facts related, but on
meeting one of those same physicians at
tho Institute in Paris recently, he
called his attention to his denial of the
phenomena. "0hn' replied the physi-
can, not without shrewdncss. then it
was magnetism, now it is hypnotism,
and 1T is we who study it; that is very
different thing" The astronomer wise
~ adds by way of imprcssing the moral:
Let us deny nothing positively; let us
study; let us examine; the explanation
will come lator''
a true scientist will take cognizauce
OF the smallest fact, and though the
lght that floats before may appear
mere wlll-o'-thn-wisp. he will follow it
until hs demonstrates by careful, i'm:
partial, and exhaustive investigation
whether 1T rests on tho bedrock OF
truth or not, remembering that tho
preludiccs of hoary thought and carly
training may blind him to sensible ap-
probation of tho true significance of tho
problem that confronts him. 1t is not
more than five years since paper road
on "lIypnotism" in the medical society
Of leading American city was excluded
from tho report of the society's NEE ting,
on the ground that the subject was un-
scientific and absurd.
Less than year ago tolcpathy was as
49,
as mesmerism was attor tho celebrated
Balley commission pronounced it a
fraud" Yet to-day telepathy, or
thought transformer, is as we'll estab-
lished scientific fact as hypnotism.
From present indications we arc on
tering new fold OF scientific discovery,
or TO be more explicit, tho great body of
scientific thinkers are expressing a will
lngncss to recognize phonomona other
than material, and to treat with q
measure of respect tho views and dis
coverics made by tho patient hcralds of
psychic truths which have long been tab
booed as little worthy the attention of
tho matcrialistic scientific investipator
whose eyes have been accustomed TO
rest on tho Garth. it's rocks, plants and
animals, as tho myths of bygone DAYS.
Tho age OF electrical invention has been
SO marvellous that men havo ceased to
wonder at tho inventive ingenuity Of
man. Tho ago of physiological dis
covery upon which we are now entering,
IL III DC unrestricted and receive tho
careful and unbiased attention of our
pest brains, will, We believe, unfold n
world OF truth, eclipsing in its startling
character as well as in its great utility
the greatest discoveries since tho man
child science was born, truths which
will give to life deeper significance, a
richer meaning, q nobler impulse, a
grander ideal -Arena