Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1891-12-03

New YORK sun: The November
number Of the Contemporary Review
contains paper by DIR. Charles Lloyd
Tuckey on the applications OF hypno-
tism, in which he refers more especially
to It's use in the treatment OF the vic
Tins Of alcohol and opium. The article
therefore, is OF peculiar interest and
pertinency at this time when the
Keeley cure for drunkenness is under
/ discussion.
DR.. Tuckey accepts Professor Bern
helms definition Of hypnotism as "the
induction Of physical condition in
which the subjects susceptibility to
suggestion and ability 70 act upon It are
enormously increased ut matters
not" he explains, "whether the degree
/ OF influence produced amounts to pro-
found sleep with unconsciousness, or to
a slight languOr Of drowsiness, during
which the use OF the senses or intclli-
gence Is entirely retained. 30 long as
the 'suggestibility' OF the subject is in
creased" Suggestion is the key to
the hypr otic problem" Sometimes Il
suggestion will take possession OF the
minds and dominate the actions Of per-
sons who are barely hypnotizable. while
others will reject II in the most pro-
found hypnotic sleep.
! Such susceptibility apart from lvpuo-
tism is frequently exhibited ami .ener-
ally acknowledged. THE a.. nkard
tonverted by "A tough or 'ather
Mathew is redeemed through sIgges-
tion,n says DR.. Tuckey, "and through
| IL the victim OF evil example or evil
solicitation falls 10 his ruin" Disease.
according TO Licbault, implies an cN-
cess OF nervous action IN one direction.
and its deficiency in another. The
I function OF hypnotism, rs described by
DR.. Tuckey, is 10 restore the nervous
/ equilibrium on which depends the
maintenance OF health. or, in other
words, TO combat disease by utilizing
the patients own forces. The pa
/ tent says Professor Bernheim, "hyp-
notices himself and so so he cures
| himself through forces that are essen
I TALLY his own, though the direction of
them comes from without
DR.. Tuckey presents several iustan-
ces OF the application OF hypnotic sug-
ges;ion for the cure OF drunkenness In
one case a gentleman who seemed to
have lost all power Of self-control, 50 far
as alcohol was concerned was restricted
by him 10 the use OF light wines and
beer ~ his meals and ordered never To
touch spirits, but to hold them in alb
horrence. Though he never lost cod-
sciousncss In the hypuOtic STATE, he has
never exceeded the allowance granted
and has had no relapse. A merchant
subject to the periodical mania for ulcO.
holic excess was treated by hypnotic
suggestion, though he retained full
Consciousness, and he continued for
seven months without suffering from
the appetite. Then, under peculiar
circumstances, he took TO drinking
again, bat for one day only. Then he
was able 10 control himself Of his own
accord, and since has had 70 re-
lpsc. \ manager OF an important
company, who had been dismissed from
drunkenness, was thrown into "A deep
hypnotic sleep and then told that alco-
hol was poison TO him, and that in the
future the taste OF il would make him
violently i'll. When he awaked, a sinai
glass OF beer brought on an attack OF
illness. aud he has had no relapse to
drinking habits. 4 short time AGO he
rejected with lOathing glass OF whis-
ky offered him in sudden illness. so
strong is his acquired mental distaste fcr
alcohol and his physical reaction
against II. In all these cases the treat.
ment lasted from three weeks 20 a
month and somewhat more, the time
usually spent under the treatment Of
Keeley.
OF course, the Keeley treatment does
not fullll exactly the conditions Of hyp-
notism. though the results are similar
The patients who have submitted 10 II
testify frequently that they acquire an
aversion for alcohol so strong that they
cannot lift glass % spirits 20 their
lips. II Is not merely that they do not
want TO drink, but that they cannot
drink. They have undergone a moral
transformation which seems 10 he akin
10 the change effected by the sugges
tion OF the hypnotizer. This result
cannot be brought about by any mere
drug, physicians say, and reason and
experience are on their side. The bi.
chloride OF gold may serve a subsidiar,
purpose As a tonic, but the cure Is pcr.
haps really OF the nature OF a faith
cure.
IL is a very interesting field for inycs.
tigation and speculation.