Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-12
An EXPERIMENT IN HYpNorIsx.
How Boy Was Treated while Under the
Predecessor Innuenc>.

How . Boy Was Treated while Under the
Professor's Influence.
Prom the New York Recorder.
Are you perfectly willing TO let me try an
experiment upon your
You won't hurt me, professor, viii you?"
certainly not my boy. 1 promise YOU. but
your consent must be voluntary
wen, have no objection, then" and the
boy, quite well known TO many present. at the
professors request rose from his place i'm the
audience, went forward and ascended the Mat
FORM Many persons were looking on, for the
occasion was private trial Of the hypnotic
powers OF a wandering professor"
A committee Of four, elected from their mum,
Der to see that no mischief was done and 70 be
convinced as far possible Of the fairness ana
genuineness OF the proposed experiments sat
upon the stage. Their faces were earnest. and
thoy watched with careful scrutiny every
movement OF the man and boy. Intense ex-
pectation held the little assembiaze hushed as
the professor made few passes over the lads
mead and face, and IL became quickly apparent
that he had completely lost his own volition.
Laughter reigned for a time, sse the boy did
many iudicrous things at the ffofessors bid
ding-such things as are less wonderful in the
present day. having grown more common
through frequent repetition and only regarded
as passing and amusing source OF wonder
meni. Having now tested his subject thor
oughiy and being satisfied with the strength of
his influence the professor announced 10 his
startled audience that he would force all the
blood IN the right side OF the boys body to how
into the left side, after which he would prove
that this INDUSTRIOUS boast was an accomplished
fact. The lad was ordered to lie down, which
he did unhesitatingly.
Following a scarcely perceptible movement
or pass from the professor magical hand,
distinct line soon appeared which seemed 10
cut the head, face and neck Of the unconscious
boy into two distinct halves. The left side be-
came suffused with color glowing, healthy
red-while the right side had all the appear
ance OF dead flesh and was most suggestively
ana unpleasantly like that OF q corpse. A
chilly horror crept over everybody at this sur
prising exhibition Of hypnotic skill, while an
unavoidable fear that something dreadful
might happen found vent in many exclama-
tons from the excited lookers-on.
The professor said calmly and with q reas-
surlng smile: There IL no danger, and please
to observe his easy and regular breathing,
which Is the surest proof. Have patience
moment and / will complete the experiment by
proving to you that there is no blood in his
right side ~
Then calling for q needle and white thread
he placed com between the boys teeth, the
better to hold his mouth open. With unfal:er-
Ing touch he pressed the sharp needle COM
pletely through the cheek from the inside and
drew 1t through with the thread following half
way Holding an end Of the thread in each
hand he drew 1t back and forth several times
through the check, inviting attention 90 the
fact that the thread was not stained by blood.
Truly 1t was perfectly white and clean, as all
could testify after personal and strict examine
ton. The needle and thread were also drawn
through the fieshy part of the Doys hand with
out dIscoloring the thread or being followed by
any drops OF blood.
The professor had kept his word. albeit his
audience were not ready TO swear that they had
not been made the victims OF an optical illu-
sion. With another pass" or two the line
down the boys face began to disappear. The
obedient blood was visibly ebbing back, back
into the right side, giving at once perfectly
natural tone and restoring q normal color.
With another pass the boy moved restlessly
and finally sat up, opened his eyes and looked
about him with a sleepy smile. The audience
gathered about him breathlessly, the lad re-
garding with wonder their curious and ques-
tioning gaze.
docs your cheek hurt?" said one.
mo, but it tinglss."
"And how is your hand?''
why" rubbing it, lit is asleepr He then
stood up and walked about seemingly uncon-
scious that anything unusual had occurred,
and looked at the professor with an air Of ex-
pectancy. He had realized nothing, not even
any lapse Of time, and fancied himself the
victim Of joke. when the professor said
kindly: That will do, my lad
why, don't you want me-won't do?" he
said, and his naive question provoked burst
OF laughter which he could not understand,
but which embraced forgiveness for the pro-
fessors daring and successful experiment and
restored to good humor and confidence once
who had witnessed il. The lad was happy,
too, for did not every one present give him a
pleasant smile and show q most unwonted in
terest in his well-being?