Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-23
sANDOw HYPNCTIzED.
The Strong Man Made as Weak a. n
Child.

Sandow, who is thought to have more
strength than any man living, was made
absolutely helpless yesterday In New York,
according to special to the Phila delphia
Press, by a slender young man who weighs
l1o pounds. He was hypnoiized, and SO
successfully that he not only obeyed Every
command of the physician while he was in
the hypnotic sleep. but also carried out in
functions after he had come out OF the
sleep.
II was a private seance and Il took place
IN Sandows rooms before several of the
FACULTY and a number Of Students of the
College of Physicians and Surgeons about
twenty-five in ALI.
The hypnotizer was Dr. c. H. Mersereau,
VINO graduated at the College of Physicians
ana Surgeons in the class OF 'S3. Snndow
came into the room and threw himself upon
a couch. One of the gas Jets was lighted
and Sandow was told to TX his eyes upon IT.
Inc physician sat on the couch, facing
Sandow. He did not make a single pass
with his hands or any movement at all.
Keep your eyes on the light" he said.
and think only of going to sleep SAM
COW obeyed, and the doctor went on to talk
about hypnotism for a minute or two.
Then he turned to his subject. Draw
deep breaths; deep breaths," he said.
THAT'S 1t, deep breaths. Your eyelids are
sleep. Don't resist me. Breathe deepers
so. Now-yOu-are-asleep."
IL was true, although it did not seem pos
sible, the subject was in the third degree or
cataleptic state, which was shown by the
fact that the limbs would remain in any
position in which they were placed. As the
man sank deeper into the sleep he was told
to wave his hands about, making them
move faster or slower at the Will of his
master.
stop" came the command, and the arms
came 10 tense position with jerk.
Your arms and legs are paralyzed," he
said. You cannot move them, try" He
did try, but they were rigid. Half a dozen
men gathered about and tried to raise the
arms and legs. They lifted Sandow. but
could not bend the limbs. Just as soon as
he was told that his limbs were all right
! the muscles relaxed.
Your legs are weak. they will not sup
port you The words were scarcely out
of DR.. Mersereau's mouth before Sandow
fell TO the floor with a crash. His legs
simply doubled up under him. He WAS told
to get up. and he made attempt after at
tempt. but the legs which can bear pianos
and horses refused TO support the weight OF
his own body. When he was told that his
legs were all right Sandow arose and walk
ed back 10 the sofa, where he was told to
lie down again.
Then came the final test.
Sandow," said Dr. Mersereau, you are
going to come out Of your sleep soon. and
when YOU REGAIN consciousness YOU will feel
bright and cheerful and not bit tired.
Now, L want You to count up to six. When
you reach six You Will sit up and open your
eyes. You VIII be wide awake. Then you
will go on counting up to ten. After a lit
tie pause you will go to the mantel, where
l have placed a photograph against a jug.
You will pick up this photograph and say:
This is a pretty picture. Jones makes
pretty pictures
Now count"
Sandow began to count slowly. When he
reached six he sat up. Then he continued
to count When he reached ten he arose,
went to the photo, picked il up and ex-
amined IL carefully and repeated the words
as he had been directed.
DR.. Mersereau afte-ward said: My pur-
pose in hypnotizng Sandow was TO demon
strate the falsity of the belief that only
weai<-nerved. weak-brained. hysterical per-
sons are subject TO the influence 1 believe
that nearly all persons are subject to the in
| fiuence."