Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1895-03-09

ANIMAL INTERPOLATION.
Puttins o Bird Under Hypnotic


For practice in animal hypnotiza.
tion bird is by long odds the most
convenient subject. The kind mat.
ters little, pigeon, dove, canary or
sparrow all answering equally well.
Hold the bird by the legs In the left
hand and grasp the bill between the
right thumb and first finger. Turn
the head over so that. but for the
crown OF the skull. the bill would
touch about the middle OF the back.
Draw the head, still in this inverted
position, to one side and tuck 1t un.
der wing. This Is the method
ptncticed by so called conjurors in
ordinary stage performances The
bird in this position Is unable to
move and will therefore lie quietly in
the palm Of the magician's hand.
The head soon slides from under
the wing, however, and the bird
comes to lie again, none the worse
for its experience. This perform
nnce Is simply trick to which the
word hypnotism has been applied
for business purposes. Not the
slightest mesmeric phenomenon Is
connected with it In any way. To prop.
erly hypnotic bird hold it securely
but gently in the hand, back down.
ward. Gaze calmly and fxedly into
its eyes. The little creature will at
arst struggle 70 cs"cpe, bit a!ter9
,iiiac.: OF :.vo 1t becomes quiet. On
first attempts some difficulty may be
experienced in fixing tho birds
gnze, but TIE Irresistible fnscinatlon
OF the human eye Is bound to make
itself felt In the end, aud the tiny
subjects eyes no longer wander.
This accomplished, begin very
slowly to loosen the grasp. As tho
pressure grows lighter the bird
comes moro under the influence OF
the charm eyerted by the firm gao
OF the operator The pulsations OF
its body, now readily distinguishable
in the fingers, become more rapid. the
legs contract slightly and the film
like lids draw oSer the edges OF the
eyes. The pressure OF tho grasp
must Mt this stnge DO practically
nothing or shere Is little chance Of
obtaining hypnotization. Yet II is
not desirable to loosen tho grasp en-.
tirely, or the sensation OF rolling as
the body Is pretty sure to do In the
palm Of the hand, might fully
awaken the half dormant faculties
OF the tiny organism. In the course
Of few minutes-two, five, or even
ten-tho eyelids will have entirely
closed. Still hold the bird carefully
for two or three minutes, by the end
Of which time 1t Is fair to presume
that hypnotization Is complete.
| In this state the bird may be
handled freely with gentleness. Held
by u foot, head downward, its body
is entirely limp and flexible like q
bird just shot. The neck IL extended
beyond the shoulders, the head
swings freely, and the feathers droor
from their smooth outline. The bird
may be tossed around without feaI
Of awaking, 30 long as no direct pain
Ia inflicted. Later, after frequent
hypnotization, slight pain will b.
borne. apparently unnoticed. Any
sudden shock will. however. awaken
It. This Is the method used most
frequently In restoring q bird K
consciousness, although 1t has oil
ways seemed a particularly cruel one
Aroused thus, bird exhibits tn,
greatest terror. The heart palpitatior
increases materially, nervous tremor
spread through the body AMI plant
i've cries OF fright are uttered
This hysteria, for such 1t appears :,
be, lasts frequently upward OF ar
hour, and for two or even three day
afterward the bird scarcely touches
Its food.
| 4 bird subjected constantly to THU
treatment scarcely lives over three
or four months, although the yiolenc
Of these attacks decreases with thel
repetition. 1t Is fur more humane 4
allow the bird 70 sleep of the effect
OF hypnotization than to attemp
arousing it by tho brutal method o
shock Put the little creature II
Its cage with bit OF cotton to lie Of
and In an hour or two 1t will be q
gay and lively as you please, seem
ingly better instead OF worse for 1t
| alaoN