New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-08
HYPNOTISM AS A REMEDY.
,-NFoUNDED PREJUDfCES OF THE PUBLIC
AGAINST ITS USE.
PHYSICIAN WHO THINKS 1T A HARMLESS
AGENT-wHAr IT CAN DO AND WHAT

,sth 10 speak on the subject He did not relish
ns,ne considered worker OF miracles" he said.
ard was well aware that In the present attitude
a, the public toward hypnotism. a physician who
svowed the use OF IL In his practice laid himself
open TO the charge OF necromancy. quackery. or
o,her derogatory assumption.
81 recognize the benefits to be derived from its
use in certain cases. however" he asserted. "and
intend to avail myself OF 1t whenever those dis
orders fail 10 yield 10 so-called legitimate treat
ment
"Don't you think hypnotsm a dangerous power in
the hands OF ar INSCRIPTIONS person." he was
asked
LIMITS OF THE POWER OF SUGGESTION
NO; because l know that an individual cannot
be made 10 do. when in the hypnotic state, any
act which he would not do when in a normal condi-
ton. For instance. II YOU constitutionally
and cOnscientiously aversc to stealing | could not
cause you 10 commit theft matter how much
influence had over you. A man could not be
made 10 Kill another by hypnotic influence. unless
that man at heart a murderer when in his
natural state. The argument that hypnotsm is
dangerous is frequently advanced: the theory that
IT work good, instead OF harm. but little dwelt
upon. Its possibilities for good have not begun 10
be developed or recognized.
What is called hypnotism is largely due to the
initiative faculty inherent In every body There is
nothing weird or supernatural about It: nothing
that cannot be accounted for and explained on
purely scientific basis" The doctor uttered the
last words somewhat impatiently and leaned back
in his chair though to say. "All opinions TO the
contrary Notwithstanding"
The same indefinable influence that makes
man yawn in a streetcar merely because he sees
the man opposite TO him yawn is intensified in
which We notice this attitude Of mind In
theatre for example a man will find himself mn
pauding joke or situation not because he himself
Kin, sppaud We are all uneonscopsrP
Of | an N rxie
with stranger and he sits bot upright on the edge
OF his chair, do likewise. whereas. If he receives
his attitude l instinctively assume like posi-
do YOU think hypnotism likely to become an i'm
portant factor n physicians practice
ITS IMPORTANCE IN PRACTICE
Il regard 1t Of nesmable value in the treat
ment Of nervous diseases particularly when COM
bined with Turkish baths. massage and other
remedial agents. think that 1t will not be long
before psychology reveals TO much tina, is now
doubtful and obscure"
Can you tell as soon as YOU see a patient
whether that patient is subject for hypnotic in
fuence?"
Not always. Sometimes | can agnose the case
at once: This morning was called to a woman
neTTass in her face pain id so nat her
She had an ugly swelling on her neck. independent
You are suffering intense pain now?' l asked
her. as soon understood the. sy mptoms
Dreadful pain. she answered. with effort
and her appearance certainly indicated IT. drew
Il give YOU just five minutes to get rid Of that
pain. told her. speaking in determined man
neT. You see where the hand Of this watch /:
your pain viii have left You. Nv '''''' ''''''
she looked at me doubtfuiy; The minute hand
pu; her hand to her face patted i curiousiy. and
admitted IN a surprised way that the pain was al
tain cases because neuralgia f a disorder Of the
nerves But can't dispose OF the swelling under
regular course Of medical treatment
WHEN HYPNOTIsM is POwERLEss.
"A man called here last night and begged mo 70
treat his wife who was suffering with a
She had undergone two operations. neither OF
which was successful; and a last resort. hearing
he said. that possessed some wonderful means Of
mind cure. or something. he had come TO me
dear fell5% sad thS as,h n9 eaTe as 0r
man Cancer " ve.y different order OF disease
from hysteria or any disorder OF ne nervous sys-
case and comnon-scnsc ought 70 tell you that
nothing can be done aside from that lie went OF
"fwo days ago" the doctor went on. "another
consulted me about hs wife and 70 that man man
Win n former swtor ana on the eve OF marriage
he weddlng The bfdcsfo6m failed TO appear. and
his disaffection was, naturally, a source Of mucn
fme passed al' On and she marrled'married happily
sim The old tro. Ole weighed on her mind ana ana
Sa5 known and loved this aness sutton i all
came back to her. ara shc N1s punged ih To- d
ration Of mind. / tod tAis man that whether or
not could help his wife wodld dersnd upon hes
simply condition resulting from sassefs'iCnj
W. ste result IS successful OF unsuccessful ac-
cOrding 10 the initiative faculty. OF lne IT,
Nov In This cS Sasf ai'eT ' sa Impress upon
mind that she never knew o man VINO INV whom
So thought so much Of never meant to marry hsr;
that that sTt of the q 9orSdt " When You NEE;
this man in future shall tel hcr ueat MN ne Ss
;yesily was never anything more to YOU. Inc rest
was only a fancy on your part ., tho bvnnot,c
,as hen rnf attitude toward this individual VIII
b. be- ac s ,s TO oeTycy Confident
stsnces tod me that I can cure her melancholy
MORBID IDEAS VANISHED.
"A-o,,er instance which have already success
I'm, ,reafed was In the case OF a man VINO thoush
entirely sound In mind. had morpu uesre ~ W.
himself on account Of certain occurrences :" "''
case the wife appealed 20 me IN Denan VI ~ 49,,
b,,A Afor eight years OF married me- sne 'V on
, Hu iII yss born TO them. event which the
father had anticipated with he greatest , 1Gy dlsa
M. nac,'i,., clrcumstancsr The mother was s,-
ting on the edge OF the bed nuIs,ns, T., hls seep
wben Tho midland and father suif"d IN nv .,,o,na
And epng h,s arm out res,less.y lie wa u s'rv n
man nh heavy hand hit ne paD' ~ erecis Of the
blow The en- fathsr f"t that could never o NE
himself The incident preysa on ,roible and sei-re.
proa6 iv means Of suicide. lie loNed nv
hot caring 10 leave her lonely @ y,,ins nm end
10 himself 49,, q bvnno.ic condi-
Il caused the man 10 pass mo ny H. enid had
ton Tbsn / suggested 10 hin that nis h had ~
died nom scar ct fever and that we a Nv words
the ca use OF It's death Was 81 normal CON
dtion he remembered only that ne hsd "p regard To-
but was relieved OF all rnorba I those brought
into immediate contact Win him VIII VIII S cause his
thoughts a. revert 10 their old channel A hvnnotic
@ 20 40 You use to produce the hypno"o
condition IN your patients
METHODS OF HYPNOTZAIloN'
There arc various ways. both H'ec, a..a,aa oh.
Psychological Looking hxedy al " IL. 20 the
ipo,,noa ' ."a, n.ns in snake charming. some
thing that relates to the optic nerve. Iha' ,S
termed the Braid system. One may ny ~ on The