The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1892-11-11
A RYPNOTIST AT WORK.
HOW HE INDUCES A soMNAMnU.
LIsTIo CONDITION IN SUBJECTS.

u
larger number, says Carl Sixtus in
the Chicago Inter Ocean, use
zinc button with a copper wire
through the centre, which 1 request the
individual to hold in his closed right
hand, resting the hand Oh tho right knee.
In the left hand, which he holds open, I
place a small crystal, set in horn, that is
polished 10 shining black, the left arm
and hand resting partly on the chest.
The subject is requested to gaze contin.
ually intently on the crystal prism and
not undertake any motions whatever,
keeping the same position in which
place him, and to fix his whole attention
on sleep. After lapse OF seven or eight
minutes commence to make my passes
over the subject; at the end of two or
shree manipulations l command him to
close his eyes; I perform one or two
passes more, from the head downward to
the knee, place my left hand on his fore.
head, then press certain place with my
thumb, at the same time pressing with
my right hand the subjects right thumb.
Another and very effective method,
one often employ when L attempt to
hypnotize one person single, is to let the
subject gaze 6xedly at a lighted candle
Tor about three minutes, held at such a
height that it requires the utmost effort
on the part of the subject to look at it.
The subject must not wink the eyelids
any more than is absolutely necessary,
and must draw the breath deeply and in
measured time. The subject is told be.
fore commencing to hold the mouth open
about one inch; tongue must be held
curved, with the tip resting parallel with
the lower teeth. At the end of about
three minutes the hypnotist lifts his left
head, and, with his fingers spread apart,
he now performs two or three passes
downwarl along the spinal nerves, afteL
which the subject is commanded to close
the eyes. The hypnotist now performs
ono or two more manipulations until tho
sleep is complete.
My third method is the fascinating
method, which consists principally in
making the subject press his hands
strongly on mine. Suddenly push him
backward aud quickly glance into his
eyes. Surprised, he Tecoils, aud im;ne.
diately the impression of his eyes indi.
Gates to me his degree of susceptibility.
The subject understands by the stern
ness of the hypnotizer's eyes on his that
his eyes must remain attached to the
oper,tor's and follow them everywhere.
He thinks himself drawn towards him;
itisa psychically suggestive fascination
and in no way physical.
There is also the Donate method. The
subjects are asked to kueel before the
operator and to look steadily into his
eyes. Standing before them the opera.
tor places his hand on their forehead aud
inclines their heads slightly backwards.
AS soon as they try to straighten them
he directs at their pupils an imperative
glance which, il they are susceptible to
his influence, hypontizes them.
II sensitive persons are experimental
with they can also be brought into the
hypnotic state by haying them occupy q
and keeping the right hand closed
tightly around his left wrist. Then per-
form manipulations from the head down
wards to the feet, for about ten to fif-
teen minutes.
These are the visible agencies by
which the hypnotist produces hypnotism
and may look very easy, but often it is
very difficult to produce hypnosis if the
conditions are unfavorable.
1t follows, as a matter of course, that
the one who wishes to be hypnotized
must give himself up completely to the
hypnotist, and consequently follow the
operators instructions and not endeavor
to work against sleep when it commences
to make its appearance.
Everybody cannot be ahypnotist. To
be one requiras a sound and strong con.
stitution, a determined will and large
practice to learn to concentrate it.
There are, of course, a number of
people who possess considerable power
in that line if they had it developed
nronerlv: many would only waste their
timo by devo.iug themselves exciuslveIy
to hypnotism, because il they do not
possess special ability in that direction it
will not avail them anything. A person
cannot make an excellent musician,
singer or author by development; he
must necessarily have some talent.
During hypotizing it is necessity to
have perfect silence in the room where
the seance is held, the temperature must
be moderate aud normal, and under nc
circumstance should there be any draft
or tobacco odor.
The first degree of hypnotism is som.
nolence, recognizable by feeling OF
numbness in the body, and light,
stupefying symptoms in the head.
The second degree is light sleep.
Persons in this state of hypnose still hear
everything that is said in their presence
and have not altogether lost the sense of
feeling.
The third degree is deep sleep. The
subject on being awakened remembers
what has been suggested to and per.
forme,l by HIM during the sleep. The
fourth degree is very deep sleep. The
subjects own individuality is completely
isolated. lie is only en- rapport with the
bypnotist. The fifth degree is catalepsy
in this state the hyrnotist produces cat
a!cpsy in one certain muscle, or Ger.
tain part Of the body where
the hypnotist desires catalepsy or
'aneness to be produced. The