The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1893-06-17

Under this caption, the Baltimore
| Sun of Tuesday contained an interesting
account of two very successful illustra-
tions, by DR.. VIM Lee Howard before the
| Maryland Dental Association now in
session in that city as to the practicability
Dental surgery painless by means of
Hypnotism.
Two subjects were operated upon.
| One was young man Of DIR. Howard's
acquaintance and the other one of the
| members of the association whom DR..
Howard had never seen before. In the
| first case the patient was put to sleep
readily, and then gold pin was pushed
through the lobe of the ear and into his
arm without the slightest resistance on
the part OF the patient. The subject was
also made TO assume variety ofpositons
After the experiment he said that he
felt no pain and knew nothing of what
had been done.
The second subject was put to sleep
with little moro difficulty but after he
was asleep was thrown from the chair
without trying to save himself from
falling was compelled to open his mouth
and keep it open until told by DR.. How
ard to close it, and to do several other
things at the suggestion of the physician
all showing that his own will was wholly
in allegiance, and that he could not resist
that Of DR.. Howard. This subject also
declared at the close of the experiment
that he was not aware of what had
occurred. DR.. Towards method was to
seat the subject in chair aud then stand
over him looking down into his eyes.
The position of subject and operator
compelled the subject to raise his yes
as high as it was possible.
In his address DR.. Howard said There
is nothing mysterious, occult, or non
explainable in hypno5ism 1t is due to
natural causes not supernatural as many
unfortunately believe. Dr.. Hart, editor
of the Brstsh Medical Journal deserves
the thanks of the scientific world for
placing hypnotIsm in the list of plain.
able scientific facts. He does not dispute
the danger or power OF hypnotic
suggestions. Ga the contrary he empha-
sizes their wonderful power. He said
that the idea that there was any mag
netic fluid GENERALIZATION of sensation
or communication by contact was pure
nonsense, which it is. Suggestion only
is the key to the whole subject. There
is no transfereGce across apace except
by verbal or written suggestions:
prof. Horatio Wood in recent
publication says: Hypnotism is some
times of great value in the treatment of
hysterical symptoms. have seen rapid
cures by it of hysterical contractures
which had resisted all other treatment
DR.. Howard then quoted number of
cases on record IN which painful opera.
tions had been performed on hypnotized
persons they knowing nothing of what
lad been done.
Almost any one, he said could be
bypnotized. "All persons cannot bs
at all times but nearly every
body can be hypnotized at some time
The morning is the best time for the
operation but other times will do if the |
the patient is not fatigued. Intelligent
cooperation of the patient with tle
physician is necessary. Sex makes no
difference, but absolute confidence in
ones self is necessary for if the patient
detects any inde3ision or nervousness on
the part Of the operator the feeling |
quickly becomes contagious and will !
overcome any amount of trust in the |
general ability and integrity of the |
physician. Confidence in the treatment |
is also of great help to the physician, for |
many patients are influenced by their |
family physician, who III his busy daily |
life has not had the time to pursue a
practical course in psychology. Such |
skepticism is apt to prevent fair test |
of hypuotism. | do not wish to be put |
down as mere hypnotist any more than
you would wish to be known as a |
or an etherist for if hypno-
tism is honesty employed by competent |
operators it seems to be free from
mental and moral danger the
health, intelligence and higher qualities
of the subject not appearing to ssutfer
from it's application
| have been sufferer from catarrh
for years. Having tried number of