News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1891-05-28
TERMS $I.5O.
How to MesmerIze.

An account was printed in this
paper a few days ago, says the In.
dianapolis News, of a mysterious let.
ter received by the police, in which
the writer, supposed to be a young
woman, told how she had been placed
under the control, through mesmer.
ism, as she believed, of a man whose
will she was powerless to resist. The
letter has caused a good deal of com
ment among those who are either
believers or disbelievers in the social
ed "hypnotism." One man, who
read it, told the News about his ex-
perience in mesmerism. He says he
paid professor a good price to
learn the art and he thus describes
the method of operating:
eff you want to mesmerize a per-
son, who has never been put into
that state, you must place him in an
easy posture and request him to be
calm and resigned. Take him by
both hands, or else by one hand and
place your other gently on his fore
head. But with whatever part of
his body you choose to come in con-
tact, be sure to always touch two
points answering to the positive and
negative forces. Having taken him
by both hands, fix your eyes upon
his, and if possible let him contented-
ly and steadily look you in the face.
Remain in this position until his eyes
close. Then place both your hands
on his head, gently pass them to his
shoulders, down the arms, and off at
the ends of his fingers Throw your
hands outward as you return them
to his head, and continue these pass
es until he can hear no voice but
yours. He is then entirely in the
mesmeric state. When q person in
this condition, whether put there by
yourself or some one else, you can
awake him by the upward passes,
or else do it by an impression as fol-
lows: Tell him | will count three,
and when | say "three" l will slap
my hands together, and you will
be wide awake, and in your perfect
senses. Are you ready? If he an
swers in the affirmative you will pro-
ceed to count one, two, three. The
word three should be spoken sud-
denly and in a very loud voice, and
at the same instant the palms of the
hands should be smitten together.
This will instantly awaken him.
Another way is this: Take the
individual by the hand in the same
manner as though you were going to
shake hands. Press your thumb on
the ulnar nerve, which spreads it's
branches to the ring and little finger,
an inch above the knuckle and in
range of the ring finger. Lay the ball
of the thumb fiat, so as to cover the
minute branches of this nerve of mo-
ton and sensation. When you first
take him by the hand request him to
place his eyes upon yours and keep
them fixed so that he may see every
motion of your mind expressed in
the countenance. Continue the press
ure for half minute or more. Then
request him to close his eyes, and
with your fingers gently brush down
ward over the eyelids, placing him in
any position you choose. and during
the whole process feel within yourself
a fixed determination to close them
SO far as to express that determina-
ton fully in your countenance and
manner. Then place your hand on
the top of his head and press your
thumb firmly on the organ of indi-
viduality, bearing partially down
ward, and with the other thumb still
pressing the ulnar nerve tell him
You cannot open your eyes Re
member that your manner, your
expression of countenance, your mo-
tions and your language must be all
of the positive character. If he sue
ceeds in opening his eyes try it
once or twice more, because Impress
ions, whether physical or mental,
continue to strengthen byrepetition.
In case, however, that you cannot
close his eyes, nor see any effect upon
them, you have now fairly tested
that his mind and body both stand
in a positive relation, as regards the
doctrine of impressions. Hyod sue
ceed in closing the subjects eyes
by the above you may then request
him to put his hands OH his head,
or in any other position. Tell him
he cannot stir. In case you succeed,
request him to be seated and tell him
You cannot cease walkingp And so
you continue to perform experiments
involving muscular motion paralysis
of any kind that may occur to
your mind until you can completely
control him in arresting all the vol
untary parts of his system"