The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-09-07

new YoRE. Sapt, 6,-The afternoon
session Of the Msdieo.LeGal congress
was opened with the reading Of paper
by Clark Bell on "Hypnotlsm in the
Courts Of Law" Mr.. Bell sent a letter
to several prominent physicians, asking;
"CRn crime bo committed by the hYp.
no.iIer, the subject being the uncon.
s,!oas and innocent agent and lnstru'
meat? II the subject is unconscious
and even unwilling. has the hypnotizor
.uch power and domination over the
hypnotizad As coull control action to
the extent OF the commission OF q
ctima2 Is it possible to remove, BY
hypnotic auggcstion, from the mind OF
the subject al! memory OF acts or occur.
rsuces which happen in the hypnotic
sta;s? Would 1t be possible Tor a hyp.
no,izor to so control hypnotiSed sub
iecV, a, to, for example, make him sign
a will In the presence ola third person,
declare it 10 bo his will AMI TeQnet,
them 10 sign as Attesting witnesses aud
he be afterwards wholly unconscious OF
the occurrence? Or a note OF hand, or
check"
Replies in the affirmative WorO re-
celysd from several eminent professors,
while others, cORcsding that persons in
q hypuOtic state arc constantly amena.
BILE to control by suggestion, deniod
that hypnotlsm has any place in crlmt'
nal independents, as q defense for
crime.
Mr.. Bell pointed ou. that it appeared
the majority OF medical men IN this
country did not recognize hypnotic
trance as au existing fact. The lawyers
aud Judges wera OH the same ground as
the doctors. In tho countries OF Europe,
tue contrary was the fact and men OF
the hiGhe,t character aud professional
aItaInRents devoted their best efforts
orts study aud eIucidatlon. As 1t was
with the professional men, so was II
with the people.
Prof.. CarI Sex,us, Of Chicago. wrote
to say that natural criminal could be
made to do criminal acts under hyp.
motto influence, but not person OF real
moral worth.
Dr.. William Lee Howard, OF Balti.
more, said that hvpnotism was
reality. lie gave several instances OF
hYpnotizei persona in Baltimore, in.
cluaiag his own servant, whom hO sent
to neiyhboring physician, DR.. Britton,
to steal everything Iha doctor mad. lls
restored the fellow while he had tho
articles still in his possession. The doc.
tor confessed it Affected tho mans brain
somewhat, but he always took care. ex.
Cept on this occasion, to get tho subject
back into good mental state before no
completely restored him. The doctor
also hypnOtiEed bank cashier and
made him steal $4,000. lie performed
an operation Ia the Johns Hopkins uRi.
yerSity with the patient under hypnotic
influence. HypnotiSm was invaluable
as a corrector OF morals.
Dr. Grover, Of MnIsacnuIetIs, :old Of
a yonng lady in Boston. who had a
tendency to tuberculosis, being cured
Dy hypnotic influence.
Thrt lowing resolution was adopted
on q motion OF Clark Bell:
"E,s9lred, That in tho opinion Of this
Moiico.I.eGgl congress not only should
the subject Of medical jlri,prudenco
DO recognized in the various institutions
Of learning, but In medical aud law
schools OF this country; that such
schools should include it in their
s'udies, and that examinations on this
sGDjeC. be mAdc necessary for gradua.
ton In either medicine OF law"
On motion OF r. S. Ransom, the fol.
lowing was passed:
"Eeoi,,d, That It is tho duty and
would add to the interest and bonodt OF
tho legal and medical profession oil
every national and state medical socie.
~, and sVory national and state bar as
sociauon in tho United States and Brit
i'h province should appoint StandinU
committoe upon medical iurispru-
dencs."
Tho session then adjo urned, and tho
congress ended with a reception and
banquet tonight.