The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-01-31
HYPNOTISAI.
"A Study in the Mysterious and
Bewildering Art.
An Interesting Description OF tho Coll
That Closes In by Seven Degrees on
Its victlm-IIow NIind-Rcadlng
Is Accomplished.

.AOih iSi AhA'u CouCcrIllIiS nypnOC1Sm IS
the exaggerated conditions which arc
reported propose to give my dcscrip-
ton, writes Arthur Iowton in New
York World, which will unburtlcn this
so-callcd weird art of many misreprc-
scntations. must say, however, that
1t moro than fulfills the claims OF It's
opponents in thnt it is n useful and ex-
tremcly powerful adjunct in minor
surgical operations, on account of tho
ease with which local or general
encsthcsia may be produced, not to
mention its value rs scdative and
nerve recuperator; also it Is fair to say
that mind-reading done by hypnotic
subjects Is sometimes almost mex
plicablc. 1t is this last fact which
keeps the old magnetism" alive. Ac-
cording to the best authorities there are
seven stages Of hypnotis with well
marked characteristics.
Tho first stage of hypnotis Is the lcger
sommcil, or light sleep of DR.. Liebault.
In this stage the subject is In an or
binary 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 suggcs-
ton, but the least noise or bursoue
movement will restore his cquani1nity;
tho subject In this condition has not lost
consciousness
Tho second stage or sommcil profond,
Is also named by DR.. Licbault, of Nan
Cyl and the special characteristics arc
that the subject is in deep sleep, but
retains consciousness of what is goinp
on around him. He is in n state of very
much increased susceptibility to suggcs-
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 a
sound will awake him, whereas in this
sleep the patient if spoken to will an
swcr, md even loud noises will not
startle him. This stage is induced by
continuation of tho method given for
the first stage.
The third stage, of somnambulisrl
Is the first in which the subject com
plctcly loses control of his actions.
In this condition he hears and sees
no one except tho operator, unless
he is placed in harmony with him.
There is also in this condition certain
association of ideas, in that the SOM
nambulist il set to washing his hands
will not continue the operation forever,
but will, after n reasonable time, ask
for towel This condition Is lost In
deeper stages. In this condition there
is slSin-decp inscnsibility to pain, and
the pupils OF the eyes arc contracted;
but the greatest popularity of this stage
lies In the hypcrcsthetic powers in
duccd in some subjects. 1t is to this
peculiarly that we owe the wonders of
mind reading, as in this condition a
good subjects senses are so infinitely
sharpcncd that they can catch a clew
given by an operator which would fail
TO reach the sharpcst unhypnotized per
son in the world.
The fourth stage is catalcpsy. This
Is the first stage which is absolutely
pathological, and is not, rs in the form
er stages. merely psychical effects. In
this stage the subjects muscles nre
all in flaccid or waX-lillc 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 moro
regular than any one in normal con-
dition could possibly attempt to simu-
late. This has been proven by the
sphymographic charts of Tamburine
and Scppili. In this stage the ocular
and patellar reflex is almost entirely
deficient.
The fifth stage is lcthargy. This is a
stage which is dangerous for any one
not fully competent and with long OK
pcricncc to NEEDLE with, on account of
the acute tctanus which always accom-
panies it. The general idea is expressed
by the German investigators that these
effects arc produced by suggestion and
imitation. This is erroneous, however.
as has been demonstrated by the
clinique of Prof. Charcot la Salt
petricre, 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 a
heap, and without the least ability to
better his position. Secondly, there is
neuro-muscular hyperexcitability
winch Ai"iiiAeoCS ilScli upon inc least
stimulation. For instance, if the mas
setter or muscle Of the jaw is touched it
will contract us from tetanic spasm.
The danger lies in the liability of
these tctantic contractions spreading
and involving some vital organ, OF even
reaching the heart. 1t is beyond ell
power of man to simulate these symp-
toms. Thirdly, association of ideas is
entirely absent, and the brain is func-
tionally inactive.
The sixth stage, or complete contrac-
tl1rn Il nnver ind1icod oxnor+ e.. .sIsx.