The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-08
,as dominated by tho idea sought to be i'm

was dominated by tho idea sought TO be inn
pressed on II. a.,
All these phenomena can be reproduced
without renewed seances, for after the VIII OF
the subject has become enslaved, on meeting
with him or her, even after an absence OF sew
eral DAYS. found no difficulty in controlling
the willpower of the patient.
HYPNoTIsM IN NERVOUS DISEASES.
HypnOtsm as II is now called, Is, as yet
but an art, but when its general principles
and leading truths are collected then, az q
science. there Is but little doubt that II VIII
successfully grapple with disease, especially
those of nervous type. IL has been aptly
said. that the study Of physiology, physical
and mental. is li,tle more than n study Of the
nerves because they are intimately connected
with the physical and mental health. In
cases of prolonged disease as long as the ner-
y0us system j. not completely broken down,
there NAV be hope Of recovery" Now II we
can bv the aid Of this science or art, remove
the impression Of pain from the mind or BRAIN
Of the patient, and consequently from his
body. we relieve the nervous system IRON a
heavy strain Of suffering, and give nature a
breathing spell, in which TO recuperate her
exhausted energies If we can also impress
the mind Of the patient with the idea that he
will recover. we inspire him with hope, and
give the resistant wlll-pOwer room 10 act, and
make il more potent 10 battle with the disease.
II may be that some Of the remarkable faith
cures owe their efficiency 10 this art and that
the old time practice of healing by the laying
on of hands may be indebted to this same
power
AN EVIL SIDE.
But there is an evil as well az a good side to
this subject. In designing hands II may be
productive Of great harm. for there IL but lit
lie doubt that highly susceptible person. es-
pecially one imbucd with criminal prOcllyities,
may. under the influence Of a strong will-pow-
cr DE induced 10 commit crimes contrary 10
his own vOlition. and which be would have
rcvotcd from in a normal condition OF mind.
II has been lately stated that crimes have
been committed in France which have been
traced to the mal-use OF this power: and one IS
cited in which a young man wrecked the hap
pincss of q family by causing an otherwise
pure woman 10 betray her husbands honor
while under this influence Another case rs
also quoted: that of an assassin. who infu-
cnccd Young girl 10 become his accOmpice
in a murder: she, after ITS commission, sleep
ing peacefully for two nights with the corpse
Of the murdered man in a trunk by her side,
in apparent ignorance Of her completely IN the
crime So well satisfied ~ the French Gov
eminent of the danger that may accrue from
its abuse, that II IS SAID that the Minister Of
War has forbidden its practice 10y the army
surgeons. ANY one may be hypnOtized some
much more easily than others. 10 IS SAID that
nervous, hvsterical persons are more prone
10 this "iufuencen than others but this. !
think. IS doubtful. for some ofthe best subjects
/ have experimental with were healthy. able
bodied negroes who scarcely knew what ner-
vOusness was though the former class are
perhaps more easily controlled, yet at the same
time more dangerous 10 experiment with, and
therefore great caution should be used III their
treatment.
STRONG vs. WAX Wills.
II is the general impression that the stronger
will-power can more easily dominate the
weaker one. and this IS no doubt correct, but
] am led to believe by my experience. that
even the stronger will can become the vassal
Of the inferior one, if in the first place 1t
willingly Yields itself 10 its influence. The
whole elst Of the subject seems TO be that the
patient will must, at first, be IN consonance
with the will of the operator, but after re-
peated and continued seances he Will md
himself unable o. strive against the will Of the
latter and will become subject 10 his every
within and caprice. The professors Of this art
say tnev have an infallible test to protect
themselves from deception on thepart OF the
subject as follows. If the subject Is hynotized.
on raising the eyelid the eyeball viii roll mp
towards the eyebrow concealing itself from
view. while if deception is being. pracuced, 1t
will remain in II natural position, visible TO
the sight of the experlmenter
1t is curious how history Is always repeat
Ing Itself IN small way. 4 Slloit lIhe ago.
in one Of the journals Of the day, noticed
an interview Of one Of its reporters with a
professor of this art, which in al of its details
was almost precisely similar with one had
held forty years ago with one Of the same
genus. The phraseology used, the modus
operandi. etc. were identical, proving that
tie mysteries Of the craft had been hand
ed down intact, so to speak, from father to
son.
In conclusion, I would urge upon all the
wisdom OF the old maxim, Never play with
edned toOls.n Il. :. ALLEN.