Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-04
WHAT is HYPNCTISM:
An Attempt OF Robert Hardin, DR., to Define
This Mysterious Force.

This Mysterious Force.
Fr ON the st. Louis Globe Democrat
Hypnotism consists of two things: First, the
induction of psychical condition. in which
the subjects mind is made almost Hank and
is completely under the operators will, and,
second the suggestions which the subject re-
ceives. These suggestions may be COMMUNE
Gated to the subject in different ways. the best
of which are by speech. as they are more con-
else and quickly rendered than suggestions
made by motions and other methods.
The subjects susceptibility to suggestion
while in the hypnotic state is enormously in
creased, and his ability to act upon those sug-
gestions is controlled entirely by the operator.
1t is a common but erroneous idea that there
are seven degrees or stages of hypnotism,
supposed to range from a mild. peaceful sium-
Der TO state where the subject is completely
insensible. Charcot. the eminent French
theorist ard experimenter, claims that there
are as many rs nine distinct degrees, but If this
is true | have been unable to distinguish the
difference between them. During the past
week my subject was young lady eighteen
years old and fairly intelligent. In three DAYS
/ subjected her to the process of by pnosis seven
different times and from the most careful ex-
perlments. in conjunction with DR.. Chas. More!l
wefound the first degree of hypnotism consisted
simply Of q mild slumber, together with the loss
OF sight. The loss of the sense of taste soon fol-
lowed. and quickly after that the sense of smell
departed; then the sense of touch and last of
all the sense of hearing.
The third stage OF hvpnotism. according to
Binet and Fera, is that OF catalepsy, in which
the subject becomes perfectly rigid and re-
mains in that condition for any length of time
| have found that the subject has tendency
to assume the condition of catalepsy and that
ii car be induced between any Of the stages
lief hot he. o,,Ls I.
comes, according to my will, lothargic or rigid
between the loss Of any OF the two senses
have stated that the optic nerve is the first
to lose its power under hypnosis, but curious
effect was noticeable before the subject lost
all control of sight. While the ewes were still
half open bright red handkerchief was held
before them in the line of vision, and Mt dis
lance of about fourteen inches. When asked
its color the subject pronounced it blue, the
contrasting color OF red Again blue 'ker-
chief was declared to be orange and q yellow
one blue, and SO on, each color being called by
its complimentary color. During this trial it
was thought that perhaps the subject was color
blind, but this WAS found to be incorrect as
the subject defined all the colors accurately
while IN full possession of the senses.
As the eye became devoid Of the power of
sight twenty candle power incandescent cleo
trio lamp, with reflector. was set before the
subject at a distance of ten inches. This bright
llght failed to contract or expand the pupils in
the slightest degree.
After this | commanded the subject to be-
como rigid, when this state was Immediately
effected. After releasing her from this stage
she resumed the first degree. This was proven
by bottle OF the strongest ammonia held di-
rectly to the nostrils and the subject COM
manded to inhale it. This test failed. but a
candle and potato were consumed without re-
iuetance, illustrating that the sense of taste
followed the loss Of sight
the third degree. was then induced The am
monia was again introduced, while it was sug-
gested that the perfume" was exquisite. As
the subject inhaled the fumes Of the ammonia
emile OF pleasure played about her lips, the
mere suggestion OF perfume producing the re-
suit as before stated
After few more passes the girl lost the sense
OF touch and several needles were inserted in
the cheek and through the lip. The doctor also
extracted decayed tooth, and the tests were
over. released the subject from her insensi-
Bile state, apparently none the worse for the
severe tests. l shall conduct from time to time
experimentsAp each degree OF insensibility.
treating each separately aud exhaustively.