The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-10-18

We are all familiar with the facul-
ties and qualities of the mind. only
by their manifestations. and we
know that they are linked closely
and wholly with the nervous system,
and that is all we do know. So with
hypnotism. What it is must yet be
determined.
| VARIOUS THEORIES.
There are three main theories adj
vanced concerning the nature of the
hypuotic state. They are:
Animal Magnetism.
2-Neurosis.
3-SuggestiOn.
The believers in the Animal Mag
netism theory hold that there is an
eminatiOn directly from the operator
to the subject, which will, when TO-
cused on the subject, transform him
him into mere autOmatOn, and sub
jects him TO the will of the operator.
They also recognize suggestion, but
do not believe it to be the chief fac
tor, considering it only an aid in ac-
complishing the desired result.
The theory OF NeurOsis is, that the
state of hypnosis is certain patho-
logical condition into which some in
diyiduals are easily placed. by any
thing which appeals strongly TO the
emotions.
The meaning of Neur, sis is SimpI
1t is any affection OF the nervous cen
tres, occurring without any material
agent producing il. Any abnormal
nantes TIA ton of the nervous system
of whose cause we know practically
. nothing. is termed Il neurOSiS. Any
habit or vice or trick j. a neurOsis.
The third theory, that of sugges
ton, is rather vague and cOmpli-
Gated one, la short it il, that sug-
gestiOn is an operation producing a
given effect on subject by acting on
his intellect or his reason. Still it is
conceded that the subject must be in
. trance-like state, before sugges-
ton will have any effect upon him.
., Here in short you have an outline
of the various theories advanced.
That they are all correct is impOs-
sible; likewise it is improbable that
they should be all false. My own
idea is rat her towards the neurOtic
theory There is no distinction be
tween hypnOtism, hysteria and the
allied neurOsis. | think that the
genuine hysterical state is closely
r analogous TO. if not identical with,
, a condition of hypnosis. Wherein if
{ any do they differ? In nothing eX-
cept that one is condition. the other
, method; one is inherent, the other
induced; one is natural, the other is
: artificial.
IT'S DANGERS.
r The history and phenomena of hyp.
D.. notism has always, in the minds OF
the people, verged upon the marvel
7 lous. 1t has excited the admiration,
: curiosity and awe of the learned and
: OF the fool It is something I'M
: known, uncanny and seems to verge
: upon the black art. That criminal
e use has been made Of it we all know.
On several occasions the subject has
e appeared before Il jury in murder
q trials. chiefly as defense. That a
e person may commit crime through
hypnotic influence is a fact; proof OF
this we have in abundance. That
E the crime can be performed and the
" subject have no knowledge OF il, Is
; also true. Now how shall it be prov
o en- that the crime was committed
' while under this Influence? To prove
:. that the accused's statement is true
, he must show himself an excellent
subject and that he is susceptible in a
liSo W bJ phoIlS II
r, he proves susceptible, his statement
may be considered as true; ii he prove
y not a good subject his statement is
! false, for an individual cannot be
E hypnotized unless he be a subject an
= liable to hypnosis. Yet the fact
must not be overlooked that sub
ject may prove good one in the
t hands of one operator, while in the
= hands of another he will prove use,
, less.
+ To a deeply hypnotized subject,
any degree of violence may be at
s tempted and performed, and the sub
. iect, when restored to the normal,
!, will have no knowledge of the deed
or who perpetrated the same. Is it
possible to hypnotize a subject at a
, distance and thus gain control of his
. actions? TO this question l give a
most emphatic yes. The subject
> must be, however, an exceptionally
!, good one. and completely under the
> operators power. There must be,
I however, a certain time set;-when
l this distance hypnOtiZation is to
take place. Suppose this to be the
case, what hidden and terrible
I power lays in the hands of an I'M
. scrupulOus operator.
ITS USES MEDICALLY CONSIDERED.
: That hypnotism has been in use as
: remedial agent, is well shown
in such cases as the Shrine OF ST.
Anne in Canada; the grottO OF
Louedors in France, touching the
{ holy coat which is exhibited at Trier
e and the healing powers of the pool OF
r SiIvam mentioned in the bible. That
: wonderful results were obtained at
: these places we cannot question, and
e these cures can only be explained
/ through hypnotism. To go a step
further, l believe, that so-called mir
acles, those of the present day as well
: as those of past ages, be they OF
Z whatever nature or kind, were main
| ly produced through this mysterious
5 power.
3 All the old biblical characters were
excellent operators, from the Snake
: in the Garden of Eden, to the time
when st. Paul stood on Mars Hill