The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-04-29
SCARED BY HYPNoTISM.
IT SET MISS ALExASDER 10 SLEEP
BUT HYsTEKICy FOLLOWED.
Her Sister Tainted Away from Sympathy.
and Although the Patients Asthma
was Improved Things Were Lively.

Everybody knows tndt reeu' P"s''
clans in Europe commonly use hypnonsm
in their practice. but the extent TO when
American physicians are employing 1t Is
not so much talked about. Here In New
York an experiment In hypnotism was
tried recently on one Of the daughters Oh
Otto Alexander. at 50 east One-Hundred-
and-eighth street. and Mr.. Alexander says
that there will be no continuance OF the
treatment. Mr. Alexander Is head
of the drug firm of Alexander & van
der Smissen. Third avenue and east Sew
enty-seventh street.
The physician who administered the
treatment was Dr. Hugo Doebinger. OF
l0,s Lexington avenue. IL Is only fair to
him to say at the start that the reason
assigned for the failure OF the expert
ment WAS the nervousness OF the subject,
not the method OF the Doctor. DIR. Loe-
binger is the family physician or the
Alexanders He is thirty-two years OH
and was educated in the University Oh
Berlin and in the Erlanger University
I'm Bavaria. He practised In both Beriih
and Bavaria
Mr. Alexander has four daughters, OF
whom the second. Frfeda, seventeen
wears old has asthma For Few days
Mr. Alexander had been suffering with
bronchitis and was unable 10 80 GOWN
to his business. Or. Loebinger was sum-
moned. The last three days Of last week
Frieda's asthma became very trouble
some so that she was kept awake at
night and was doubled up In her efrorts
10 breathe.
n
On Saturday evening when Dr. Loe-
binger called Mr.. Alexander asked him 10
do something 20 relieve Friedd. me
Doctor had never prescribed for the
girl before. but he was familiar WIN
her Gaze and was convinced that the
cause Of the trouble was nervousness
a diagnosis to which he still adheres. Ii
seemed ohm that II she should prove
20 be a good hypnotic subject 1t would
be an easy matter TO make her believe
herself cured by hypnotic suggestion, ana
that then she would be cured. He
preached the project to the girls father.
who is a man Of science himself, and VINO
approved it,
The trouble was that Mr.. Aiexanders
daughters are not men OF science, anu
they not only did not approve of hypno-
tism, but were very much frightened at
something which seemed TO them uncan-
ny and diabOlical. Or. Loebinger sue
ceeded I'm hypnouzng the patient all
right. but when she was restored 10
| consciousness she was nervous and hys-
tercal. Her sisters sympathized with
| her in her feelings 1t was thought best
| on Monday TO call in DR.. George w. ia
CODY, of COS Madison avenue as consult
| ing physician. Frieda has become so
| historical and so afraid of Dr. Loebing-
| nh CHI
into a fit Of hysteria bordering on cpl
lepsy. Her older sister. Gussie. seeing
| her state, became so much agitated to-
| ward night that she tainted entirely
| away Dr. JacOby advised quiet al 4 sus-
| gested that Or. Loebinger refrain from
visiting Frieda until her nervousness dis
appeared. DR.. Loebinger prescribed bro
mides which finally quieted the patient
| Yesterday she was reported 20 be mucf
| better. Gussie. the eldest daughter, aftei
sleeping a part Of the day, was appar
emily as well as ever in the evening.
Reports having got about in Harlem
that DR.. Loebinger had hypnotized boti
girls and thrown them into a trance IRON
| which IL was impossible for him TO a"ak
en- them, he consented last evening L
tell exactly what his treatment had been
In the first place, said he, Il an
|
IN hypnotism "A valuable remedial agenc.
when 1t is properly used. In Europe
have repeatedly assisted in employing II
and | have used IL here with benehcia
effects I'm some cases
About $3.50 +. NJ. Saturday l undertook
10 hypnotic the young lady. l did no
try at that time to do anything NOR
than put her to sleep, as she had beel
| unable 10 rest. Upon the results OF tina
first experiment depended whether
should undertake TO effect her recover
by suggestion. The hypnotic sleep Is no
the same as natural sleep. The breath
ing is softer and the limbs are more rig
id-almost cataleptic. The sense of feel
ing is very much dulled so that som
have even suggested hypnotism as
| substitute for anaesthetics. \ perso
aroused from hypnotic slumber often Re
mains in a hypi otto state. and when /
that condition Is susceptible 10 suSge;
tons from the cperatOr-wil drink wate
with every sign OF pleasure because IN
oDerator calls II champagne, VIII eat
niece OF a cigar with relish because IN
operator says IL is chocolate, and WI
dismiss all those ills OF the body owe
which the mind has power, because N
| onarator SAYS she has them no NOR
"The method OF inducing hypnotic stun
her t. 10 keep the eyes fixed upon son
ona ooint until they grow weary. l he
i'm nv watch before Miss Alexander, WI
l was in her bed, and asked her 10 TX NJ
ewes mon IL. She did so, but IL 10.
| some zine TO influence her, because %
s,9 NOT wish 10 be influenced. Sne 7
listed for about five minutes. lnen 81
Looked steadily at the watch as asn'
har N do and | noticed that as she ga
a,,an,,on 10 the watch. her asthma gre
Immediately better Iheh l saNe ny
use of my watch and locke" ns' 49, -
In the eyes, all the uhe s,ion'ns
forehead with my hand anu siau1~
bringing my eyes closer 10 neis' ~,
10 focus both her eyes on soihe pO'
! near 10 them, which Is al
} | hypnotizing any one. NAV
altogether II was h1teeh OF
. minutes from the time the -
= began to the time That she i'na"y g.,
asleep. Her father, mOther' anu
were I'm and out OF the room WINE
experiment was going on men ens :
2 lost consciousness | observed lha'
e ala not sleep with the same deep SUM
| | that generally accompanies hyphVuS,
o ~ arms we're relaxed more as IN ma
. r.,I sIeep. Her fingers twitched ana 'n'
4 ue,a some nervous movements Vi
| limbs. - ., this
: concluded it was best 10 a"aAel 49,,
: adopted the usual mode OF oioS'ne ~ ~
& | her. She was at once iess S,.ed :
. e,ousnoss hut appeared to be ddzed'
e seemed frightened ana puzzieu' 'no
s,i..i,od of strange sensations Ill y
at