Morning journal and courier., 1892-03-10
HYPNOSIS.

Professor Ladd Discourses on the l Legal and Medical Aspects of Hyp- l not1sm-The Future Treatment of l Functional Neurosis.
 Yesterday afternoon Professor Ladd de- nvered the next to the last lecture of his course on Hypnosis. The special topic considered was the Legal and Medical Aspects" of this most interesting subject.
 He spoke in brief as follows: Before beginning wish to make aquotation from Dr. Mahl of Berlin, one of the most cele- brated physicians in the world. He said: "I maintain that physician can only do good and can only attain his ends when he is a psychologist. For centuries and among various peoples the healing art has been connected with the mind. In ancient times the laying on of hands and the priest craft are examples; in modern times the faith cure and Christian science. The danger and lack of success is also connected with the same principle.
 Suppose you have visitor afflicted with the palsy. If the person wishes to appear part and the palsy will be suspended. Psychologists teach that the mind and ! will have more to do than chemicals them ! selves. Another application of this prin- ! ciple we are familiar with. It takes 8 pretty tough sort of Q person to bear be- l ing told how i'll he looks, etc. His mind ! is affected. Even organic changes can be facilitated and produced by the influence of the mind. The hypnotic influence can be used to break up functional disorder. l The mind has a wonderful, controlling | inqr cuaruho1v Mobl says, the physician should know these l phenomena. Many persons do not like to admit this belief in the action of the mind.
 There are other things which denote the same principle. Dr. Leopold of Nancy says that beings who can hardly go from bed to sofa can receive callers all day with out the least inconvenience. This does not prove that the person should not be in bed but proves the influence of the mind. Dr. Leopold has treated over 1000 of these l wide experience and an authority in this matter. A famous doctor in Berlin has devoted all his time to treating in this l way.
 The question then arises, What diseases can be treated in this way? Those with l which the greatest success is attained are functional neurosis. We find cases ol
 headache, insomnia, neuralgia, rheums,
 tism, disorder of the vision among the dis.
 eases of this kind. One writer has cured
 forty cases in this way. Out of 210 cases
 only twenty-five failed to be cured by hyp
 nosis. In twenty-five years it will be as
 common for practitioners to recommend
 hypnotic treatment as it is now to recon
 mend massage.
 There is more doubt about organic dis
 eases. Even maniacs have been managed
 by the hypnotizer, though with difficulty
 It is used in surgery to produce aneesthesis
 should have to develop hypnosis.
 There are authentic cases, also, where
 the effect of the most virulent poison
 have been overcome by hypnosis.
 It is probable that snake-charmers b,
 confidence have often escaped the effect l of poison in this way. Lombroso say
 that it is known that the insane, who shov
 no great influence to drugs, are favorabl, affected by the hypnotic treatment.
 We now will turn to the legal aspects o
 hypnosis. The question arises, Ought the
 practitioner to be responsible for thu
 health of the person hypnotized! If tn } person has given his consent it is legal
 whether or not the law regulates the prac tice.
 Can hypnotism be used in detectin
 crime? This is 0 case for lawyers to de eide, but many celebrated instances are re lated. The psyche physical principle i that no hypnosis can be produced excep when the mind of the person is willing. There is also danger that false memor may be manufactured. In courts of jus ] tice it should not be allowed. For there
 a vast difference between Parisian crime and the school of Nancy.
 In seances young women have been mad . to stab their friends with paper knives. I is probable that persons become subju gated to hypnosis so that crimes may b committed on and through them. Ther l are actual cases of assault upon subject of hypnosis which the subject does not re member. Belgium has forbidden hypnt
 tized persons to be exhibited, and thi
 country should have similar law.
 seems in general that legislation is slow this regard.