Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1893-07-12
nll'HtTlSM.

! Wnlcn was READ DetOre the Boston
Scientific Society by Prof. Thomas
Fillebrown. 1t is undoubtedly the best
presentation Of this important subject
! which has yet been given.
The phenomena of hypnoiism are by
| 10 means Of recent discovery; on the
! contrary, records of the existence OF
this condition are to be found among
the very earliest OF our writings. They
have been given different names at
various times-sorcery, wltchcrsft,
trance, fascination, somnambulism- and,
since the better establishment OF some
of the controlling principles, mesmer-
ism, braidism, hypnotism, and electric
biology, the present scientific designa-
ton being suggestive therapeutics.
As early as the year 1900, magnetic
snres were mentioned In the publica
hons Of the times, and IN 1916 Father
Kirshner wrote q dissertation on 'Cata-
lspsy in Animals. Mesmer, who gained
his first knowledge of the phenomena
from Kirshner, and whose name sill
attaches to the science, lived near the
close OF the last century, and during
his residence In Paris he investigated
and experimental to a very large ex-
tent. His hypothesis assumed the ac-
tual transfer of some subtle fluid from
one person TO another, which he
termed "animal magnetism"
| The experiments OF Mesmer, who
came to Paris in IT'S, were most start
ling, and 1t is recorded that not less
than eight thousand persons were su D.
ected to his magnetic fluid" during q
single year. So remarkable were his
manifestations that they attracted the
attention of the medical fraternity,
and, not being approved by them.
Mesmer was forced to retire from Paris
and return to his home in Prussia.
Although the truth OF his teachings
was afterwards acknowledged publicly,
and honors were conferred upon him,
ne could not be induced to return to
Paris.
From 1880 till 1911, mesmerism was
practised only by charlatans and to
such an extent that, In Prussia, law
was passed, combining the exercise of the
power to medical mn In 1887, it was
practised in London, and before 1910
raI leG rsed in several hundred cases
n the hospitals in Indis to produce
.nsensibility to pain during surgical
operations. In 1841. DIR. James Braid
Determined that thore was no magnet
ism, but simply a condition of the sub
iect, and it is he who suggested for it
the name "hypnotis r."
| In 1860, Liebsnlt discovered the eff
feet OF audible suggestion upon persons
in this condition, and his researches
have shown this to be the keynote to
the actions Of the hypnotic subjects.
Through his Investigations and patient
collection Of facts, a stimulus hns been
given to research of this kind, and suf-
hcient facts have been assembled to
permit of their discussion in scien
titio way. Others have not cen slow
tn follow this leader. In 1881, Dumnnt
and Be nheim attended the clinics Of
Liebault, and since that time these
men have been ardent workers In this
field. Bernheim has pvt into perms
nsnt form his own additions to this
science IN his published book, "Sug-
gestive Therapeutics"
| Charcot, another French investi-
gator. has held An opinion that the
hypnotic condition is one of nervous
disease, but the evidence adduced by
DR.. Bernheim in proof of Its being
= natural condition has forced Charcot
to recede gradually from his former
assert ve position. These researches
have been carried on in Europe for
ifteen or twenty years, while in this
country they date back only about
Eve years, and for this reason We are
to- day still dependent upon European
Investigators and institutions for our
most important facts.
II pnotism presents several different
aspects: first, the collection and claSsi-
ication of facts into q science; thsu
come the hypothesis, resultant from a
consideration of these facts; third, the
medical value of this condition should
he discussed; and last, tho legal apect.
The collection of faots has proceeded
sufficiently far to allow of their discgs-
sion in . logical way, and from this
sev,r raj hypotheses have sprung. That
of Charcot has been already noted, a:
we'll as that of audible suggestion
This, perhaps, needs little eIplana
tion.
! In the hypnotic condition the sense!
are sharpened. The hearing is ren
| dered abno mally acute, and for mary o
the usual phenomena this affords suf
ficient explanation. A suggestion
which under normal conditions coulC
not possibly reach the subject is readi
" understood, AMI his actions follow
the suggestion.
The legal aspect Of hypnotism, tn,
establishment OF the responsibility 70
crime committed under suggestion o.
of evidence given while in this condi
tiou, has not yet been determined
This will probably be properly fXeC
when the courts shall have had NOR,
experience with it.
As to the phenomena of hypnotisn
they are many and curious. Within
these must lie placed clairvoyauce, 70
there can be no doubt of the existenc,
of this faculty or condition. Among
. professional mediums, there is lackinS
a disl sition to submit to scientific
conditions The societies Tor psychica
research have, however, found in Mrs
, Piper 3 subject who is willing to sub
nit to any conditions. She posses G
/ peculiar power, the nature of which
ste does not understand but is anxiou
to learn about, and she has ALREADY
gwen about one hundred fift1
'seances' before scientific bodies il
Europe AMI this country. 1t has beel
established, among other things, tina
she has, In her frances. a knowledge o
, facts rot previously known to her. bu
these, except in very rare instances
are known to some persons near q
hand.
A possible cause for some of tn
phenomena " nypnotism is thus sug
ge.ted: The mind, through sight snt
the other senses, Is all Che time takin,
impressions Tie different object
which we pass ia walk along tn
street are undoubtedly caught by tn,
eye, but the memory brings back t,
us only those few to which attention
was especially called. But if some
thing should render our mental per
ception much more acute than 1t i
normally, then these other impression
might be brought forward, and in thi
; condition We would remember thing
, which had passed before the eye bu
| which hnu bean tnn slinhtlr natad &