The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-14
THEY USE HYPNOTISM
NEW YORK DOCTORS EMPLOY THE
POWER WITH GOOD RESULTS.
DIR. Mason's Account OF n radical Cpre
of Dipsomania by Hypnotic sus-
gestions-A Surgical Case.
New York sun

termined opposition of many medical
men, the science of hypnotsm has been
gradually winning its way to a place
in medical practice. AS yet it is prae-
ticed with great caution by those who
believe in its efficacy in certain cases
because of the feeling against 1t. feel
ing engendered by its long association
with quacks. charlatans and travelling
mesmerists, who have turned it to inn
proper If not absolutely harmful usage
to make money. But to-day it is recog-
nized by physicians of the highest rank
as factor in the cure of many ailments
and in the alienation and even annihi-
lation of suffering in both the medical
and surgical branches OF healing
In this country the study of hypnotism
has not been carried so far as in France,
where there are several institutions de-
voted entirely to the study of the SUBJ
ject. 1t is not recognized as special
branch of study by any of the medical
colleges of this country, and its Iegiti-
mate practice is mostly confined to
physicians whose high standing war
rants their employment of an agency
which, if made use of by a less ex-
perienced man, might bring him under
suspicion. Such physicians Of this city
as DR.. Graeme NJ. Hammond, DIR.
George F. Shrady. DR.. Nj. A. Starr and
DIR. r. Osgood Mason have made use
of hypnotism in many cases with re-
markable success. DIR. Mason, who has
made a special study of the subject and
has written upon it, rs strong believer
in the efficacy of this agency in many
cases where other means have failed.
One of the most interesting cases OF
cure is his rescue of young man frons
the alcoholic habit. The young map~
who for convenience may be called y,
was of good family, well-to-do, about
twenty-five years old and of strong viz
tality and personality. His manner OF
life, while not absolutely vicious, had
been loose, and he had contracted the
drinking habit to such an extent that
when he attempted to throw IL off he
found himself incapable of so doing.
Every attempt had been made to cure
him in vain The medical history is
thus set down by DIR. Mason
by constant drinking X had so UNI
dermined his health that he had violent
attacks of vomiting blood, which in sev-
eral instances proved all but fatal. One
evening when he had been drinking he
came into my office. not intoxicated,
but much exhausted. / told him to lilo
down on the lounge. suggesting that
he might get little sleep. UP to that
time / had never mentioneds hypnotism
to him, but as he lay down i began
making passes along his face and chest
understanding what / was attempting,
and presently seemed to be falling
asleep. In ten minutes he was fast
asleep. 1 raised his hand. 1T remained
where / placed 1t. Evidently he was in
the hypnotic sleep Here was a young
man fast going to ruin. who desired to-
be free from his wretched condition,
but had not the strength to free him.
self. Why should / not help him by
suggestion? / considered myself Justi-
fed in trying. / spoke to him in an
ordinary tone:
THE SUGGESTION.
Now, you see what a wretched con-
dition you are in and what unhappiness
you have brought upon yourself and
your family by your unfortunate habits.
You wish to be cured. You shall be
cured. When you awake you will no
longer have any desire for alcoholic
drink in any form. You will dislike 1T
and shun it in every form as your
enemy. Even the smell of it will be
disagreeable to you and will make you
sick
Il repeated the suggestion and then
awoke him. He awoke cheerful and re-
freshed, and without any knowledge
that anything had been said to him
during his sleep. Three months later l
had a letter from him saying shat he
was in excellent health and had not
drank a drop of any intoxicating liquor
since the evening he was in my office.
year later he came into my Office
looking hale and hearty. / asked him
what he did after leaving my office
that evening. He replied that he went
home and took nap; that about IL
o'clock he awoke. and. as usual thing
ing that he would go and have a drink,
went to the saloon where he was ac-
customed to drink. On entering he
thought it smelt very queer and dis
agreeable; in fact, it made him sick
He went out without taking drink,
went home and went to bed, and had
not taken any liquor from that time TO
the present The suggestion made to
him while he was in the hypnotic state
of which he retained no recollection,
still controlled his actions, and seemed
to have eradicated his dpsomania.'
Another interesting case of this kind,
perhaps even more successful IN snow
ing the extent to which hyDuotism may
be carried, occurred in the experience
of DIR. George f. Shrady. The case was
a surgical one. There was some injury
to the hip and deep incision was To
be made. DR.. Shrady decided to try
hypnotisn instead of anaesthetics. the
patient having prejudice against them-
Accordingly, having placed the patient,
a middle-aged man. upon the operating
table, he said to him:
Now you must lie there for time
until your nerves are calm. We are not
much as you can while / preparing
and lie perfectly still. That's right.
Just so. When we are ready we will
let you know"
While talking thus, and so concen-
trating the attention of the patient, DIR.
Shrady made a deep incision in the
thigh without the knowledge OF the
man, and, talking to him all the time.
kept him in a condition of hypnotism or
semi -hypnotism which deprived him OF
sensation, although he was perfectly
conscious. and once asked:
when are you going to begin, Doc
tor?'
Pretty soon, pretty soon. replied the
operator. Just keep perfectly quiet
there"
AT length when the surgeon was +
busying himself with some bandages/
the patient half turned and said:
f why, you've been doing something to
my leg. Why didn't you tell me?"
BY that time the operation was prac-
tically concluded, and the subject had
suffered not the slightest pain. This
patient was however, an unusually easy
subject. In other surgical cases the
patient has known what was being
done, but has felt no pain. Some per-
sons are easy to influence in this way;
others are difficult Some seem In