The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-01
WHAT HYPNOTISM Is.
The Cell That Closes in BY Seven Degrees Upon
Its Victim.

What most deeply interests the unin-
formed mind concerning hypno tism is the
exaggerated conditions which are reported.
propose to give my description, which will
unburden this so-called weird art OF many
misrepresentation. L must say, however,
that ii more than fulflls the claims Of its eX-
ponents in that it is a useful and extremely
powerful adjunct in minor surgical opera
tions, en- account of the ease with which
local or general aDeStheSia may be pro-
duced, not to mention its value as a sedative
and nerve recupeTatOr; also 1t Is lair to say
that mind-reading, done by hypnotic sub
JectS, Is sometimes almost lneXDllcable. 1t
is this last fact which keeps the old ''mag-
netism" alive. According 10 the best
authorities there are seven stages of
hyi nosis with well marked characteristics.
The first stage of hypnotis is the leger
sommeil, or light sleep of Dr.. Liebault. In
this stage the subject is in an ordinary doze
produced by a gentle. mOnotonous move
ment 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
popularity about this stage except that the
subject is more susceptible to sugges ton,
but the least noise or brusque movement
viii restore his equanimity the subject in
this condition has not lost con seiousRess.
DIR. Liebault rarely goes beyond this stage
In his pSychO-therapeutical practice.
The second stage. or Sommeil prOfond is
also named by DR. Liebault of Nancy, and
the special characteristics are that the sub
Ject is In deep sleep but retains conscious
ness of what is going on around him. He is
in state OF very much increased suscepti-
billty to suggestion-So much SO, in fact,
that II told he cannot open his eyes he can
not do so. Ills general condition is one of
natural sleep, except that in ordinary sleep
the patient hears nothing and a sound will
wake him, whereas in this sleep the patient
II spoken TO viii answer, 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 is snmnambulsm. This
stage 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 a
certain association OF ideas, in that the SOM
nambulist If set 10 washing his hands will
not continue the operation forever. but will,
after a reasonable time, ask for a towel.
THIS condition is lost in deeper stages. In
this condition there is skin-deep insensi-
hility TO pain, and the pupils of the eyes are
contracted; but the greatest popularity of
this stage lies in the hyperaSIhetic powers
induced in seme subjects. 1t is to this pc
culiarlty that we owe the wonders of mind
reading, as in this condition a good sub
ject's senses are so infinitely sharpened that
they can catch cew given by an operator
which would fail to reach the sharpest IN
hypnotIZed person IN the world.
The fourth stage is cataiepsy. This is
the first stage which is absolutely patholo-
gical, and is not. as in the former stages,
merely psychical effects. In this stage the
SUBJECTS muscles are all in flaccid or wax
like condition, and If the subjects limbs are
placed In any position, no matter how awk-
ward or uncomfortable it may be, he will re-
tain II while his breathing and pulse will re-
main more regular than any one in a normal
condition could possibly attempt to stimu-
late This has been proven by the sphymo-
graphic charts of Tamburne and Seppili.
In this stage the ocular and patellar reflex
is almost entirely deficient.
The fifth stage is lethargy. This is
stage which Is dangerous for any enc not
fully competent and with long experience to
NEEDLE with. on account of the acute tetanus
winch always accompanies 1t. The general
idea Is expressed by the German inyesti-
gators that these effects are produced by
suggestion and imitation. This is erron-
enouS, however, MS has been demons trated
by the clniqne OF Professor Charcot at La
are. first an entirely relaxed condition of
the muscles, so that if the subject is raised
up and let fall he will drop in a heap, aud
without the least ability to better his posi-
tion; secondly, there Is neuro-muScular
nypereXcltablhIy, which manifests itself
upon the least stimulation. For instance if
the masseter or muscle of the jaw is touched
1t VIII contract as from tetanic spasn.
The danger lies in the inability of these
tetanie contractions spr ending and involving
some vital organ, or even reaching the heart.
IL is beyond all power of man to simulate
these symptoms. Thirdly, association of
ideas is entirely absent, and the brain is
functually inactive.
The sixth stage, or complete contracture,
is never induced except for scientific in
veStlgatlof or for extreme surgical opera
lions. All the muscles except those con-
cerned in the circulation and respiration are
risidy contracted. All refieXes and mental
phenomena are absent, and long continu-
ance in this condition, sometimes called
quietly into
The seventh stage, or deatb.-ARrHUR
HowTON in n. Y. World.