The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-04-23
now no MEsMERIZE.

An account was printed in tins paper
n few days ago, saws the Indianapolis
NelCS. of mysterious letter received by
the police, in which the writer, supposed
to be a young woman, told how she had
been placed under the control, through
mesme1sm, as she believed, of man
whose will she was powerless to resist.
The letter has caused a good deal of
comment among tl.1se who are either
believers or disbelievers in so-called
'hypnOtiSm." One man, who read IT.,
told the Neios about his experience in
mesmerism. He says that he paid q
professor" good price to learn the art
and he thus describes the method Of
operating:
IF you want to mesmeriZe person,
who has never been put into that State,
You must place him in an easy posture
and request him to be calm and csigned.
Take him by both hands, or else by one
hand and place your other gently on his
forehead. But with whatever part of
his body you choose to come in contact,
be sure to always touch two points an
swering to the positive and negative
forces. Having taken him by both
hands, fix your eyes upon his, and if
possible let him cOntentedly and steadily
look you in the face. Remain in this
position until his eyes close. Then place
both your hands on his head, gently pass
them to his shoulders, down the arms,
and off at the ends of his fingers. Throw
your hands outward as you return them
to his head, and continue these passes
until he can hear no voice but yours.
He is then entirely in the mesmeric
state. When person in this condition,
whether put there by yourself or some
one else, you can awake him by the up
ward passes, or else do it by an impress
sion as follows: Tell him Il will count
three, and when | say three" ! will
slap my hands together, and you will be
wide awake, and in your perfect senses.
Are you ready?' If he answers in the
affirmative you will proceed to count
one two, three The word three
should be spoken suddenly and in very
loud voice, and at the same instant the
palms of the hands should be smtten
together This will instantly awaken
him.
Another way is this: Take the indi-
vidual by the hand in the same manner
as though you were going to shake
hands. Press your thumb on the ulnar
nerve, which spreads its branches to the
ring and little finger, an inch above the
knucklc and in range of the ring finger.
Lay the ball of the thumb fiat, SO as to
COversthe minute branches of this nerve
of motion and sensation. When you first
take him by the hand request him to
place his eyes upon yours and keep them
| fixed so that he may see every motion of
| your mind expressed in the countenance.
Continue this pressure for half minute
or more. Then request him to close his
eyes, and with your fingers gently brush
downward over the eyelids, placing him
in any position you choose, and through
out the whole process feel within your
self fixed determination to close them
so far as to express that determination
| fully in your COuntcnance and manner
Then place your hand on the top of his
head and place your hand on the top of
his head and press your thumb firmly on
the organ of individuality, bearing par
tally downward, and with the other
thumb still pressing the ulnaT nerve tell
him You cannot open your eyes Re
member that your manner, your expires
sion of cOmtenancc, your motions and
your language must be all of the positive
character. If he succeeds in opening his
eyes try it once or twice more, because
impressions, whether physicol or mental,
continue to strengthen by repetition. In
case however, that you cannot close his
eyes, nor see any effect produced upon
them, you have now fairly tested that
his mind and body both stand in posi-
tive relation, as regards the doctrine OF
impressions. If you succeed in closing
the subjects eyes by the above you may
then request him to put his hands on his
head, or in any other position. Tell him
he cannot stir. In case you succeed, re
quest him to be seated and tell him, 'YOu
cannot cease walkingn And so you may
continue to perform experiments involv
ing muscular motion and paralysis OF
any kind that may occur to your mind
until you can completely control him in
aresting or moving all the voluntary
parts of his system"