The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-04-14

eft, It is by no means a panacea, how
ever, and the physicians who have made
contend that IL is Some time ago young
woman came here from the west 10 be
treated for St Nitus dance, and some OF
the specialists in nervous disorders tried
nypnotism upon her, but without the
slightest success.
A curious instance Of the extent to which
this wonderful agency can be carried
Is in the case Of a man % years old who
could neither read nor write, and had no
desire 10 learn. He was under treatment
ana MS physician had hypnOtized him on a
number OF occasions. once when the pa
uent was in the hypnotic state the doctor
suggested 70 him that he should set about
learning to read. assuring him that he
would ind 81 quite easy. When in his
natural state the man had no recollection
OF this suggestion, but on his recovery he
Immediately set 10 work to learn readins,
ana at last accounts was making extra
ordinary progress
one error Of common belief in the mat
Ter or hypnOtism is that only persons OF
inferior viii power or character are amen
able 10 hypnosis. This, the physicians say,
Is not true. a man may be of powerful
intellect, sturdy VIII, and fOrceful char
acter, and yet be a fine subject for the
hypnottst. Another man. weak, shallow,
irresolute of character and Of feeble Will,
hypnotic sleep.
one Of the mysteries OF this yet mys-
ferrous agency is the way in which It
works. What il is in a person that makes
him good or poor subject for hypnO-
tism no man knows. 1t is by no means a
new science. Forty years ago when il
was known as animal magnetism. DR..
Esdale OF India did wonders with il,
particularly in surgical cases, where by
its use, he put the patients into a con-
lition OF andestheSla. clique OF mcdi-
cal men made bitter attacks upon IL
at that time, and when anaesthetics
Were discovered the editor OF the Lancet
made great rejoicing, because he as
sumed they would supplant animal mag
netisn. Ihey dld, and II IS only lately
that hypnotism has returned 10 it's place
IN medical science among physicians of
the neutrality-suspicious. nations. Many doc
tors believe that in time hypnotism will
be recognized as "a special and sepa-
rate branch Of medicine and that il will
De made q special study in the medical
schools. IL Is constantly growing In use
in this country, and although II has many
enemies in the old school, IL is gaining
converts every day. Dr. II. Osgood Mason
is one who believes in it's future.
Many people have wrong ideas about
hypuosism'' he said recently I'm discuss
ing the subject. "rhey look upon it with
a sor1 of superstitious awe, and believe
that there is something wrong and de-
grading about II. The travelling mesmer-
lists who so about the country giving
exhibitions are parity responsible for this
belief. such a book as 'Trilbv' for in
stance-although the hypnotism part of
the plot Is theoretically possible and is
finely carried out-tends to show only one
side OF hypnotlsm, the dark, uncanny
side. The fact is hypnotism is a great
power for good, and is almost always
used for good. OF course IL may be
wrongfully used. Ether. opium, alcohol
great blessings when rightly used, may
in ignorant and criminal hands do great
harm. So may hypnotism. Doubtless
there should he laws to reach wrong-do-
ing IN the use OF this agent, just as in
others. As people become acquainted
with the subject, and they win become so
in time, they viii learn that hypnotism
Is powerful agent in nature for benign
purposes, and that, rightly used. there is
nothing supernatural or in any way I'M
natural or wicked about it, Its use
should however be confined TO those
trained to know its powers and capabil-
tiles, and no one should under any cir
cumstances submit TO hypnotism without
fun knowledge not only of the skill, but
of the purity of purpose and character
OF the person making use of this agency"