Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-12-07
THE HYPNOTIC EXPERIMENT OF
DIR. REEVES.


from the pen of Charlotte KosaIys Jones. d
Young American woman vino has spent much
time abroad. where she mas developed very dee
cidel taste ami skill 10 literary composition.
Miss Jones home is iu HorueilsviIe. n. T..
and she Is known o. a circle OF Braulebor0
friends through her towuswomau. Mrs. Mary G.
Acker as well as through MIR. and Mrs J.. u
Pratt. with whom she mas enjoyed relations of
intimate friendship IN London and Paris. Dur
ING the present year a little volume containing
five Of Miss Jones's stories mas been printed 300
London THE hypnotic experiment by DR.
Reeves" giving the book its title The uous
was noticed ana warmly praised 1v the critic at
the Boston Herald
DR.. Edward Reeves. the celebrated rheu-
matism specialist. Is not a fayorte with
the members of his profession. His meth
DDS OF treatment being unknown. coupled
with his refusal as yet TO dlvulge them.
have given his enemies and rivals a chance
to accuse him of CharlatauIsm: but to the
great rheumatic public he has become
demi-C0d: and as long as our changeabla
climate continues 10 nurture this disease
his idiosynCrasies will oe overlooked by the
multitudes whom he relieves.
In his genial moods. the doctor tells
many curious anecdotes. and now some of
his daring experiment, were made under
rather romantic circumstances. one of
the straugest of them can best bee told Iu
his own language
''Some time ago, had. among my patients.
a Young man who interested me from the
first. He came to my private hospital Tor
treatment of a severe form O1 rheumatism
of the heart: he WAS attended by young
er brother. whose devotion struck me as
remarkable. until became better acQuaiu'-
ed with the invalid. and discovered how
worthy he was of 10 all He seldom spoke
OF himself. except his one great desire 10
Get rid of the subtle disease that overShad-
owed his life. and he seemed anxious to
aid me in every way with the treatment
Evidently wealthy, gifted, and Just about
eight-and-twenty it seemed almost Impos-
sible TO believe his bright young lie was
constantly threatened 10y the convulsive at
tacks which had become more and more
frequent.
unlike most OF my patients aft. cited
by the same trouble he did not respond to
the usual remedies: and / realized that If
his lie were saved at all II must be by EN-
plOying heroic measures. However. sure
that the disease was lesseuIn- its hold iu
general. and only needed driving away
from vital point, awaited developments.
Late one evening. as l was seated In
my study. puzzlIng my brain with some
questions OF hypnotic influence over pa
tienls at critical moments. my night bell
rang. / went to the door myself. and
found there the nurse of my young friend.
who told me my presence was desired ar
once, as the most alarming symptoms had
reappesTed. Stepping back for my hat.
my ewes tel. upon the book of 'EXper.-
ments in hypnOIism, which an old PROBES
sOr IN Paris had sent me. rem mberInu my
absorbing interest In Cnarcot's speciality
and a certain power had developed Ill the
Latin quarter This power ! had used %
tranqu.Hze nervous patients or 10 play
practical Jokes on my friends. after the
manner OF most young medical student,
who discover they have any skill in thi,
direction. An idea occurred 10 me-Why
not inoculate my patient with the power
tul amount OF virus required to drive the
disease finally from the dangerous region
of the heart, while he is in a hypnotic con.
ditiou2
In an instant after, al. the periis OF th,
situation presented themselves: DO rene
dies act if the patient is under this inhu
ence' VIII the final result be the desire,
one? Providing the pain be temporarily
stilled, would it reoccur after the hypnotic
influence had been removed?
These and other doubts SO disturbed
me. that on my way TO the hospital / de
Iermlned TO avoid taking any such meas
ures. unless l found the patient actually
dying.
AS / entered, was met by the brother
He seemed plunged in despair.
" He is going fast doctor he said
Can you DO nothing
"WItnout a word / stepped TO the bed
side. ! found my wors, fears realized. A
a glance / saw he would not survive til,
night unless the frghrful spasms tina
were fast sapplng his strength were al
rested.
AS l took his hand and felt his pulse
he looked up past me at his brother. an.
gasped The one word Annie
"'WhOm does he want2' l asked.
His nancee doctor. My brother wa,
TO have been married in a month but wheI
he knew that he was threatened with
probably fatal disease, he begged me Z,
help him quite secretly TO try this las
chance Tor recovery: and so. although h,
is within a mile of his own house and tha
OF his intended wife, no one but mysel
and his faithful servant are aware of it.
To all our friends we are hundreds O.
miles away, looking after business inter
esls. And now il has grown worse an,
worse, until he is dying, absolutely within
reach OF Annie, 10 whom he is madly de
voted
win you be calm, and help me t,
make one last great trial?' l asked
Great heavens What can ! do2 hi
replied
Take my carriage il is at the door
tell the coachman 10 drive his fastest L,
Annie's house. Bring her back with you
and, above all, explain 10 her the situation
so that / can count on perfect calmness.'
without a word he was gone, and as
heard the wheels leaving the door, / turned
back 10 collect my thoughts Tor a mOmen
before returning TO the sick-rOOm. / hal
10 count Oh al least halt-an-hour's delay
and meanwhile 10 quiet this horrible pail
and wall Tor Annie 10 help me.
"Once back in my patient presence,
took mis- hand, looked hXedly al him unit
his eyes caught mine. Then l said, 'YoI
must sleep now; Annie is coming, and yOI
must be strong 10 see her.