The record-union., 1894-12-13
ROYAL BAKING POWDER.
DOCTORS AS HYPNoTISTS.
One lest That Came Very Near Prov
ing Fatal.


One lest That Came Very Near Prov
ing Fatal.
Some of the best known physicians and
surgeons OF New York are hypnotists
without knowing it, and use their hyp-
motto powers in their daily practice. The
advanced members Of the profession have
long since recognized hypnotism as an
aid in therapeutics, but have hestated TO
proclaim the fact, owing to the popular
confusion OF hypnotism with the mes
meric' performances of charlatans and
showmen
A talented young physician bearing an
historic name returned from France
year ago, after an arduous investigation
OF the subject OF hypnotism in the hOspit-
ais OF Paris, and the celebra ed school at
Nancy, with theory as to the cure of
chronic epilepsy, which he has put into
experimental practice.
BeIleVlng that the regular recurrence OF
the TITS at a certain hour daily was mainly
an erect OF the Imagination or mental
dread which predisposed to the affiiction,
ne experimental on a half-doZen patients,
who tor years had suffered daily paroX-
ysm at about the same hour. His theory
Is that II the patient can be sunk into
hypnotic sium ber before the usual hour
OF the visitation and continued in it for an
nour or two past the time, and that if this
be persisted i'll for a long period, gradu-
ally the forces OF nature will become ac-
customed to the omission of the disorder
and cure will be effected.
Inc experiment is now in it's sixth
month, but nothing has been proved as
yet. The six patients daily visit the op-
Grating room OF the physician, and reclin-
ing In easy chairs readily pass into the
hypnotlc state, and slumber peacefully
! until awakened by the enthusiastic inves-
| tlgator. In that condition the paroxysm
| Is possible. A great deal of secresy is
thrown around the experiments, as the
| physician fears the ridicule that may fol-
| low failure. He proposes to give his
| theory a full and thorough test before
giving to the world the results of his in
NeSugatlon. AT the end OF three months
the hypnotic sleeps were discontinued,
| but the patients relapsed, and the fits re-
CURED in from two to five days. But
| result, meager and unsatisfactory as it
| Is, only confirms the physician in his
| theory.
An eminent specialist in throat dis
eases, coming into contact with many
patients afflicted with heart troubles
Whlch preclude the use Of anesth etics, has
written to leading medical journal of
MS success IN performing delicate and
most painful operations upon patients
while in hypnotic sleep, the power TO
| produce which he accidentally discovered
| himself to be possessed OF.
Medical students are going into the sub
Ject OF hypnotism with great enthusiasm,
| especially those who have been abroad
and III attendance upon the famous
| schools OF Berlin and Paris. \ story is
going the rounds of the dilemma in
| which coterie Of embryo DOCTORS who
are periecting their studies at Bellevue,
were recently placed.
! They had secured the services of an un-
| usually impressonable subject-a young
man who yielded to the hypnotic sug-
gestlon under very slight provocation.
| lhe young enthusiasts were delighted
| with the results OF their experiments.
| The subject when under the influence
| would do many remarkable things. A
! mum Der OF their friends were invited to
an exhibition held in the rooms of one of
the number on West Ninety seventh
street. The subject, a light-haired, white
eyed, somewhat hysterical individual,
was introduced. a few "passes' from
the most advanced OF the students and
the subject entered trance or cataleptic
state. In this condition he was iusensible
| to pain, and his limbs remained in anv
position IN which they were placed.
When the exhibition was concluded the
amateur professor of hypnotism snapped
his fingers, withdrew his attention and
| made the customary motion to awake
| But the patient would not awaken. Loud
noises were made and cold water
was dashed into the sleeper's face, but he
| gave no sign OF the shock. The visitors
were dismissed and the young doctors
set themselves to the task of awakening
their sleeper, fearful that their perform
ance was really in the nature of a
wake"
A cold plunge bath, an electric battery
and a pistol discharged near the sleeper's $
ear were successively tried. AT noon
next day the subject still remained in his
| trance. In alarm the physician who is
| anndnptinD the aVnaFipnant with nj
| leptics was sent for. lie looked grave
! and said there was but one chance in
which to save the sleeper. II he could be
placed still deeper into the hypnotic state
he might be awakened by the same
power.
Accordingly the doctor approached the
couch. gently rubbed the subjects fore
| head, concentrating the influence upon
him. n perceptible increase in the depth
! OF the breathing was noticed. The physi-
clan continued his labors for five minutes.
then suddenly sprang up, snapped his
! fingers and said in an ordinary tone ::
wake up"
Quietly the subject opened his eyes and
! looked around. He was the only calm
/ person III the room. His long sleep of
| eighteen hours and the rather rough ex-
| perience he had undergone were a blank
| 10 him.
| The young doctors hereafter will be less
| bold in pursuing their experiments to the
| point OF practical demonstration except
in the presence of an eXpert.-New York
! World.