The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-11-17
Hypnotism and Drunkards.

The November number OF the Cbntempo-
yary Reoiew contains paper by DR.. CHARLES
LLOYD TUCREY on the applications Of hypno-
tism, In which he refers more especially to
Its use In tho treatment OF the victims Of
alcohol and opium. The article. therefore.
is of peculiar interest and ,pertinency at
this time when the KELLEY cure for drunk
enness is under discussion.
DR.. TucxEY accepts Prof. BERNHEM's
definition Of hypnottsm a. "the induction
of psychical condition In which the sub
iect's susceptibility to suGgestion and abil-
ity to act upon 1t are enormously in
creased" 1T matters not" he explains.
whether the degree OF influence produced
amounts to profound sleep with unoon-
sciousness, or to slight languor or drowsi-
ness, during which the use Of the senses or
intelligence Is entirely retained" SO long as
the suggeshbility OF the subject is In
creased. "Suggestion is the key to the
hypnotic problem" Sometimes o sugges-
ton will take possession OF the minds and
dominate the actions OF persons who are
barely hypnotizahle. while others will re-
ject 1t In the most profound hypnotic sleep.
Such susceptibility apart from hypnotism
Is frequently exhibited and generally &C.
knowledged. "The drunkard converted by
o COUGH or q Father MATHEW ia redeemed
through suggestion" says DR.. TucKEY.
" and through it the victim Of evil example
or evil solicitation falls to his ruin" Dis
ease. according to L1EBAuLT. implies an ex-
cess of nervous action In ono direction. and
it's deficiency in another. The function Of
hypnotism. % described by DR.. TUoKEY. Is
to restore the nervous equilibrium on which
depends the maintenance Of health. or. In
other words, to combat disease by utilizing
the patients own forces. Tho patient"
says Prof. BERNHEIN. "hypnotizes him
SELF" and 30 also no cures himself through
iopaes that are essentially his own. though
the direction Of them comes from without.
DR.. TUcKEY presents several instances Of
the application Of hypnotio suggestion for
the cure Of drunkenness. In one case gen
tleman who seemed to have lost all power
of self-control. 90 far as alcohol was con-
cerned. was restricted by him to the use OF
light wines and beer at his meals and Or
dered never to touch spirits, but to hold
them In adherence. Though no never
lost consciousness In the hypnotic state.
he has never exceeded the allowance
granted, and has had no relapse. A NOR
chant subject to the periodical mania for
alcoholic excess was treated by hypnotic
suggestion. though he retained full con-
seriousness. and he continued for seven
months without suffering from tho appetite.
Then. under peculiar circumstances. he took
to drinking again. but for one day only.
Then he was able to control himself of his
own accord. and since has had no re-
lapse. A manager OF an important
company, who had been dismissed
for drunkenness, was thrown into a
deep hypnotic sleep aud then told that alco-
hol was poison to him. and that In the fu-
ture the taste Of it would make him Violent
ly LII. When he awaked. small glass
OF beer brought on an attack OF nlness. and
he has had no relapse to drinking habits.
A short time ago he rejected with loathing
a glass Of whiskey offered him In sudden
illness. so strong is his acquired mental
distaste for alcohol and his physical reac-
tion against IT, In all these cases the treat
ment lasted from three weeks to q month
and somewhat more. the time usually spent
under tho treatment of KELLEY.
OF course, the KELLEY treatment does not
fulfil exactly the conditions Of hypnotism.
though the results are similar. The patients
who have submitted to 1t testify frequently
that they acquire an aversion for alcohol 80
strong that they cannot lift . glass OF
sHirits to their lips. 1t Is not merely that