The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1891-02-26
HYPNoTfsM.
"A Study in the Mysterious and
Bewildering Art.
An Interesting Description OF tho Cell
That Closes In by Seven Degrees on
Its victim--IIow Mind-Reading
Is Accomplished.

r IS accompanied.
What most deeply interests the unin-
formed mind concerning hypnotism is
the exaggerated conditions which are
reported. propose to give my descrip-
tion, writes Arthur Howton in New
York World, which will unburden this
so-called weird art of many misrepre-
sentations must say, however, that
it more than fulflls the claims of its
exponents in that 1t is a useful and ex-
tremely powerful adjunct in minor
surgical operations, on account of the
ease with which local or general
anesthesia may be produced, not to
mention its value as sedative and
nerve recuperator; also it is fair to say
that mipd-reading done by hypnotic
subjects is sometimes almost mex
plicable. It is this last fact which
keeps the old magnetism" alive. Ac-
cording to the best authorities there are
seven stages of hypnotis with wen
marked characteristics.
The first stage of fAypnotis is the leger
sommeil, or light sleep of DIR. Liebault.
In this stage the subject is in an or
dinary doze, produced by gentle,
monotonous movement of the hands in
the form of passes, fixing the patients
eyes steadily upon some bright small
object, thus producing slight cerebral
exhaustion. There is no special peculi-
arity about this stage except that the
subject is more susceptible to sugges-
ton, but the least noise or bursque
movement will restore his equanimity;
ho c,,h9ao4 ~ Sc I, 4 1oe%
consciousness.
The second stage or sommeil profond,
is also named by DR.. Liebault, Of Nam
cy, and the special characteristics are
that tho subject is in deep sleep, but
retains Consciousness of what is going
on around him. He is in state of very
much increased susceptibility to sugges-
tion-so much so, in fact, that If told
that he can not open his eyes he can
not do SO. His general condition is one
OF natural sleep except that in ordinary
sleep the patient hears nothing, and
sound will awake him, whereas in this
sleep the patient if spoken to will an
swer, and even loud noises will not
startle him. This stage is induced by
continuation Of the method given for
the first stage.
The third stage, of somnambulism
is the first in which the subject COM
pletely loses control of his actions.
In this condition he hears and sees
no one except the operator, unless
he is placed in harmony with him.
There is also in this condition certain
association of ideas, in that the SOM
nambulist if set to washing his hands
will not continue the operation forever,
but will, after reasonable time, ask
for towel. This condition is lost in
deeper stages. In this condition there
is skin-deep insensibility to pain, and
the pupils of the eyes are contracted;
but the greatest popularity of this stage
lies In the hyperesthetic powers In
duced In some subjects. 1t is to this
peculiarity that we owe the wonders Of
mind reading, as in this condition
good subjects senses are SO infinitely
sharpened that they can catch clew
given by an operator which would fail
to reach the sharpest unhypnotized per-
son in the world.
The fourth stage is catalepsy. This
is the first stage which is absolutely
pathological, and is not, as in the form
er stages, merely psychical effects. In
this stage the subjects muscles are
all in flaccid or wax-Iike condition,
and If the subjects limbs are
placed in position, no matter how
awkward or uncomfortable it may
be, he will retain it, while his
breathing and pulse will remain more
regular than any one in q normal con-
dition could possibly attempt to simu-
late. This has been proven by the
sphymographic charts Of Temburine
and SeppM. In this stage the ocular
and patellar reflex is almost entirely
deficient.
The fifth stage is lethargy. This is
not fully competent and with long ex-
perience to meddle with, on account Of
the acute tetanus which always accom-
panies it. The general idea is expressed
by the German investigators that these
effects are produced by suggestion and
imitation. This Is erroneous, however,
as has been demonstrated by the
clinique of Prof. Charcot q La Salt
petriere, Paris. The special symptoms
are first, an entirely relaxed condition
Of the muscles, SO that If the subject is
raised up and let fall he will drop in q
heap, and without the least ability to
better his position. Secondly, there is
q neuro-muscular hyperexcitability
which manifests itself upon the least
stimulation. For instance, If the mas
setter or muscle of the jaw is touched 1t
will contract as from a tetanic spasm.
The danger lies in the liability Of
these tetantic contractions spreading
and involving some vital organ, or even
reaching the heart. It is beyond all
power Of man to simulate these symp-
toms. Thirdly, association of ideas Is
entirely absent, and the brain Is funo-
Honally inactive.
The sixth stage, or complete contrao-
ture, Is never induced except for sciep-
tito investigation or for extreme surgt
cal operations. All the muscles except
those concerned in the circulation and
respiration ere rigidly contracted All