The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1896-01-24

, .,sts very often give exhibitions ot
lheir power, and make the subject 10
the person who is hypnotized is called
40 all sorts OF things, such as to he.
ileve that he is dog, or cat or horse
and run around barking. scratcb;nns
or galloping on his hands and knees
just as the animal which he is supposed
10 represent would do. These are only
q rev OF the tricks with which bvnno.
lists attempt to amuse an audience
They very seldom try, however, to mes
merlze an animal. This is not at all
difncult. Anybody with little prac-
lice can do it, although very few per
sons know that it can be done at all.
Of course, If you put bird to sleep
you cannot make it believe it is some.
other animal, but that is only becausea
Dlrd cannot understand what is ex.
pected of it. An animal can. however.
be, trained while it is in the hypnotic
state, and some persons think it is
easier than when the animal is awake.
1t used to be thought that mesmerism
was the effect of one mind over another.
That is, a person with a strong will
could hypnotic anybody with weaker
Will. This is not correct. The will has
nothing to do with it. The process is
mechanical. An animal is
much more easily hypnotized than q
man or woman, and any boy or girl can
nesmerize a dog or bird, or any other
pet. A certain amount of practice is
necessary, however, before a dog or
'ther subject can be made to do much
While sleeping.
Some scientists claim that the ami
1als most easily hypnotized are those
I the lowest order of intellect. A cat,
or instance, is more easily hypnotized
han dog. But monkey (Which is of
reater intelligence than a duck) is
ypnotized in about half the time it
lkes with that animal. For practice
hypnotizing animals bird is the
ost convenient subject. The kind
axes very little difference pigeon,
we. canary or sparrow all answering
ually as well. Hold the bird secure
but gently in the hand, back down.
ard. Look straight into its eyes. The
tie creature will at first struggle to
cape, but after q minute or two it be-
ines quiet. On first attempts it may
difficult to fix the birds gaze, but the
'cination of the human eye will make
elf felt in the end, and the tiny sub
t will not try to take its eyes of the
pnotizer.
When 1t has reached this stage, begin
y slowly to loosen the grasp. AS
pressure grows lighter, the bird
hes more under the influence OF the
rm exerted by the firm gaze. The
ting OF it's heart, which can easily
felt in the fingers, becomes more
i'd, the legs contract slightly, anu
lids draw over the edges OF the
]. There must be almost no pres
) of the hand now. or the bird Will
sleep deeply. Yet the grasp must
be loosened entirely, or the BODY
roll in the palm of the hand, anu
bird awake, In q few minutes.
stimes two, sometimes five or tens
eyelids will have entirely closed
hold the bird carefully for two OF
, minutes. By the end of this time
II be sleeping.
may now be handled freely pu'
". Held by the foot, head down
it's body is entirely limp. ike
just shot, The neck stretches Dc
the shoulders, the head swings
: and the feathers droop. Inc
may be tossed about withoutawaA
, long as It il not dropped or nun
Y way.-Walter Larrabee, In NJ -
der.