The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-08
HYPNOTISM AS 1T Is.
DISCUSSION OF AZ OLD But VERY IN
TEREsTING SUBJECT.

anu hfuitlnt-itlNtoIN htDtaliup Abtis
Danger of Edged Tools.
This old Harlequin is, now. in the last de
cade Of the nineteenth century. masquerad-
ing under n new name. but in the same old
dress The word Harlequin, as applied here
10 this so-called scenery, is used adUscdly,
for until lately its orratic professors have de
voted themselves 10 amusing their audiences
by the clownish and ridiculous antics Of their
subjects In the first half of this century
this science. or, rather art-for II seems TO de-
pend more on practice than on abstract OF
speculative principles practlccd under
the name Of Electro-Boogy. and also under
the title of MISUNDERSTANDING The latter
term | think, is a msnOmcr. * the SOUL In
NV opinion plays but "a subordinate, II
any, part in this art Eectro-Bology
Is the name most applicable 10 and
expressive Of its distinctive features
for the expression biology (the science Of life)
was used by Treyiranus, of Bremen, IN place
OF physiology, and one Of its signlhcatlons X
the science OF the mind, of It's various phe-
nOmeDa, affections and powers. Now It Is the
mind which Is subseryient TO the wish Of the
experimcnter responding % his viii ike the
key Of the typewriter 10 the finger Of the opc-
rator. The word hypnOtsm, derived from
hypnotic. which signifies tending % produce
sleep. "a sOporltic' Is evidently nl~apphed
as ~ none of the experiments which have
witnessed or conducted was there any mes
meric sleep but the patient would sing, talk
run or fight and perform the most lively gym
nastics IN apparently q normal condition, at
the wish Of the eXperimenteT The only all
normal appearance was the complete allegiance
Of the viii and the total sublugation of the
mind 10 any impression the eXperimenter
washed 70 produce.
HYPNoTIsM N SURGERY.
In its earlier stages the scientists were dis
posed 10 regard II with suspicion, decming its
professors oharlatans put lately they have
looked upon II with less Jealous eye. and
some seem disposed 10 think 1t may be an
agent 10 be used advantageously in the heal
ing art. In connection with this phase Of the
subject, il may be well 20 state that there have
been lately published accounts OF painful sur
gical operations having been performed IN
England with complete success and freedom
from pain by its aid. ii is true that material
anaesthetics have also conduced 20 these re-
suits, but in the former the patient Is free
from the reacuonary effects which 50 often
follow the use Of the latter.
UNDER THE INFLUENCE.
More than forty years age became dab
bier IN its mysteries, having taken lessons
from q DR.. Williams, one Of the Wandering
Wl.les' Of this art. lie was a regular gTadu-
ute Of q medical school in Ohio, and informed
me that he often was indebted 10 its assist
ance ID the practice of his profession, especi-
ally ID nervous diseases, where he found II of
great benefit ia allvlng pain. thereby allow
ing the patient time to rally from the pros
tration superinduced by It's attacks In my
experiments in this direction ] have met with
great success, one OF which was SO marked
in It's good results that l feel disposed %
relate IL There was IN my family "a colOred
nurse who was suffering with an intOleTable
gfrnfVu Cd fNo feet which had
fined her 70 bed, unable 10 walk, for
the space Of six weeks. During tins time
she was under the treatment of "a physician
who was unable to alleviate the intense pain,
ar restore her powers of locomotlOn. In tins
emergency was requested 10y member OF
the family TO try my prentice hand, which |
did with immediate success. Placing her. as
II is called. under the influence. ~ ] impressed
her with the idea that she was not suffering
any pain. 10y gently strokng the parts affected,
and assuring her that the itching was the
creature of her Imagination. On one occasion
i caused her 10 rise from her he'd. dress her
self land descend and ascend two flights of
stars with great ease to herself. and TO the
great amaZement of the spectators one of
whom said she believed the devil was al the
bottom Of it: seeming 10 forget that if
II was 80 he had greatly changed his
vocation. After while the impression
would become weakened. and the pain
would return. but the duration Of the ce,sa-
ton of pain would always increase with the
number of experiments, until. as l firmly be-
heye, they We're with perhaps the aid of the
medicine. instrumental in pcrfectng her COM
plete recovery THIS patient was most suS-
Ceptiblc TO any impression l wished TO lndent
on her mind, and after repeated experiments
She became the mere creature Of my Will.
Emotions of love. jealousy, rage hate fear,
etc could all be produced at my mere VOlitlon.
and have reason 10 believe that ! could have
caused her 10 commit almost any crime al my
instgation. ] once left her standing with her
hand, glued % table, unable 90 move
until she was ready 10 drop with fatigue, and
till those who We're present Il being absent.
alarmed al her condition, tOrcibly removed
her from the position, she resisting with all
her ability. Ia all my experience with her
She rs readily responded 10 my will as the
strings of the harp % the touch OF the skilled
musician.
DIFFERENT METHODS.
Tho methods used by the professors Of this
science in the practice of their art 10 place
the patient under the influence, We're varied
and dlssimlar. ycj tended 10 produce the
same result. One, If lrecollect rightly, used
O small disk of copper, enclosing a smaller
one of zinc, which he placed in the palm Of
the subject. lnstructng him 10 concentrate
his gaze upon 10 and fix his thoughts intently
on IT, This being done, the patient was
thrown into the hypnotic state IN q shorter
or longer time. according to his susceptibility
or his ability 20 obey the instructions. lie
then became as wax in the mouldcrs' hands,
plant 20 every wish Of the operator.
Another professor of this mysterious art told
the subject 10 press the thumb firmly
on the pulse and SIT quietly with his mind
concentrated on this action, and IN a short
time a similar result would be produced. The
rr.. 90 H.. .f..,.