The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-01-13
WHAT Is HYPNoTIsM9
an Attempt of Robert Hardin, Jr., tc
Define This Mysterious Force.
From the ST. Louis Globe Democrat


Define This Mysterious Force.
From the ST. Louis Globe Democrat.
Hypuotism consists of two things: First,
the induction of psychical condition, in
which the subjects mind is made almost a
blank and is completely under the operators
will; and, second, the suggestions which the
subject receives. These suggestions may
be communicated TO the subject in different
ways, the best of which are by speech,
as they are more concise and quickly rem
dered than suggestions made by motions
and other methods.
The subjects susceptibility TO suggestion
while in the hypnotic state is enormously
increased, and his ability to act upon those
suggestions ia controlled entirely by the
operator.
1t is q common but erroneous idea that
there are seven degrees" or stages Of
hypnotism, supposed to range from a mild,
peaceful slumber to q state where the sub
ject is completely insonsibie. Cbarcot, the
eminent French theorist and sxperimenter,
claims that there are as many as nine dis
tiuct degrees, but il this is true, / have been
unable to distinguish the difference between
them. During the past week my subject
was a young lady, is years old. aud fairly
intelligent; In three days subjected her to
the process Of hypnosis seven different
tlkhcby huA tAc AlOsA JoFeluA 6ADoIl-
msnts, in conjunction with DIR. Charles
Morell. we found the fret degree Of hypnot-
ism consisted simply OF . mild slumber to-
gether with the loss OF sight. The loss of
the sense of taste soon folio wed. and quickly
after that the sense of smell departed; then
the sense Of touch, and last Of all the sense
| of hearing -.
| to Binet aud Fera, is that of oatalcpsy, In
which the subject becomes perfectly rigid,
| and remains In that position for any length
| of time. have found that the subject has
| tendency to assume the condition of cata-
| lepsy, aud that it can be induced between
any Of the stages before mentioned, /. 9. ,
that the subject becomes, according to my
will, lethargfc or rigid between the loss Of
any Of the two senses.
i have stated that the optic nerve 10 the
first TO lose Its power under hypnosis. but q
curious effect was noticeable bsfore the
subject lost all control Of sight. While the
eyes were still half open q bright red hand
kerchief was held before them In the line Of
vision, and at q distance OF about fourteen
inches. When asked its color the subject
pronounced it blue, the contrasting color Of
red. Again, q blue 'kerohisf was declared
to be orange and yellow one blue, and so
on, each color being called by its compile
mentary color. During this trial ID was
thought that perhaps the subject was color
blind, but this was found to be incorrect
as the subject defined all OF the colors ac-
curately while Ia full possession Of the
senses.
As the eye became devoid of the power Of
sight 20-candle power incandescent cleo
trio lamp, with reflector, was set before tie
subject at distance OF ten inches. This
bright light failed to contract or expand
the pupils in the slightest degree.
After this / commanded the subject to
become rigid, when this state was imme-
diately effected. After releasing her from
this stage she resumed the first degree.
This was proven by a bottle of the strong
est ammonia held directly to the nostrils
and the subject commanded to inhale IL.
This test failed, but candle and potato
were consumed without reluctance, illus
trating that the sense OF taste followed tho
loss of sight,
The third degree was then introduced.
The ammonia was again introduced, while
it was suggestive that the perfume" was
exquisite. As the subject inhaled the fumes
OF the ammonia smile OF pleasure played
about her lips, the mere suggestion of per-
fume producing the result as before stated
After few more passes the girl lost the
sense Of touch and several needles were ins
serted in the cheek and through the Ilp.
The doctor also extracted q decayed tooth,
and the tests were over. released the sub
ject from her insensible state, apparently
none the worse for the severe tests. shall
conduct from time to time experiments
upon each degree Of insensibility, treating
each separately and exhaustively