New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-12
HYpNoT1sM FOR DISEASE.
an ILLUSTRATION OF ITS USE AT THE
ACADEMY OF MEDICINE.
80 EFFICACY IN CURING AN AFFECTION OF TIE
rvrs-a DISCUSSION OF THE MORPHINE
HABIT AND ITS TREATMENT


ryrs-A DISCUSSION OF THE MORPHINE
HABIT AND ITS TREATMENT
.,,. woman vaa before the physicians at the
ACADEMY OF Medicine last nght looking niue IKE
.o.nt patent. Yet she has been the victim o.
nhvsical difficulty that for long time oan'eo neu
ii ski, and which at last was cured by that h'tie
understood force hypnotism. Dr. Arthur Booth
chairman of the Section or Neurology explained the
case briefly for the benefit OF HIS medical brethren
withholding the patients name. The case was one
If rnydriass morbid dilation OF the puph-ih this
Instance OF the right eye. Dr. Booth declared that
80 had effected cure by resort to hypnotic treat
rs,t He said that after the first seance the Ola
,io, was diminished one-hah, and that at the end
40 seven seances the entire difficulty had been re-
moved little later the same trouble appeared In
the left eve and succumbed TO similar treatment
what he wished do TO give to those about
him demonstration of the method of procedure,
md for that purpose he had asked Mrs - 10 be
,-sssnt She had kindly consented Seated about
-are q dozen men OF science. all prominent in the
medical world
After the patient had seated herself In an arm
chair DIT Booth. standing beside her and fixing his
Gaze upon her face, raised small object In his
hand upon which she asked TO fix her eyes She
obeyed Then as he gradually advanced the object
toward her face. her gaze narrowing all the time 10
meet the reduced focus. he passed his left hand
gently over her forehead. then the right and
then over the left eye talking very quietly and con-
edently the while Now, YOU want to 20 10 sleep"
he said your eyes getting heavy. You can
hardly hold the eyeds open. Go to sleep. You will
he better the eyes viii rest. So there" Not more
than thirty seconds had elapsed when the womans
.vsl,ds were closed. the head inclined gently, and a
deep restful signing breath passed the parted lips
The physicians were almost breathless before this
instance Of the power OF the hypnotic operator.
DR.. Booth announced that the subject was in the
first stages Of the hypnotic sleep and was open to
suggestions Passing to her side he raised her
right arm. saying: You cannot put it down. 1t IS
rigid rigid" Al the same time he tested it gently.
Then speaking 10 Dr. Nammack he asked that ne
Try 10 restore the arm its reclining position on
the arm Of the chair Or. Nammack is not weak
physical specimen yet all he could do 10 bend
The arm down. As as it was released IT sprang
back. upright and rigid as before. Still using
calm even tone OF voice Dr. Booth touched the hand
gently and said: Down now. II il dead dead.
The hand and fell limp. Then with few
passes the patient reused. The entire episode
did occupy more than two minutes
After the patient had gone away the physicians
talked Of the mysteries OF hypnotic suggestion and
control Inc cas- rs one lNV!Nlhs thr
nerve. which responded readily 10 hypnousm FOL
other presented BY DR. Ferris Dr. j. Il. Mat,ison, Of
Brooklyn. expert on morphinism and the use OF
narcotics res9 paper fnn ,s1 aI 9e VIII ne
cases % sisters addicted 10 the excessive use
OF morphine ana descended from NcNEOtit an
Try In one a cure was effected. while in the other
every remedial effort with failure.
Or. MattisOn urged strongly upon the attention OF
his professional hearers extreme caution IN al cases
where mOrphia seems to be called for and said; IN
narcotic cases the doctor In especial sense i
his brothers. keeper He asserted that 10 per cent
Of the he has treat are those OF physicians
who for one cause or another. have taken 10 the
use OF the drug. He cited one case that OF ply
scian from a Western State. who was sent TO him
for treatment. This patient had been taking hity-
four and fraction grains Of morphia sub-cuta-
neously every day. drank from one TO two pintS OF
rum used quantity OF cocaine and added 10 all OF
this a measure OF nicotine poison from excessive
smoking But the habits succumbed TO trea tment.
and Dr. Madison now hears that the patient Is doing
well at his home
The paper was freely discussed. and Or. Nammack
remarked that in prescriptions containing mar
coic he had accustomed himself 10 writing or the
bottom mo renewal" lie had heard that there
was a law concerning the giving out OF prescrip-
tions OF this character containing more than one
eighth Of a grain TO the ounce II there was such
A law ne believed II 10 be habitually dsregarded
by some druggists. DR. Ferris tersely remarked that
ne would Ike this law, 10 shake II in
the faces % a couple OF druggists whom he had
before his minds eye at the moment