Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-03-11
A Town RYPNOTITEO.
The SVengali- TriIby Craze Strikes
HaZlGtOl.
Even School Children Try Their
Powers on Companions-Talk OF
Legal Measures to Put Stop 10
the PASSES" - Several Alleged
Cures by Hypnotic Treatment.

us d6SGS OONCA GU
Cures by Hypnotic Treatment.
Hazelton. March 1O.-The Svengah-
Trilby craze has struck this city like
an epidemic, and about every other per-
son imagines he or she is endowed with
hypnotic powers. There is serious talk
of a city ordinance to prohibit the IN
discriminate practice of the hypnotic
art; physicians are protesting in com
munications to the local newspapers
because Of the dangerous nature OF this
communal hysteria, and in the pubic
schools the children have been forbid
den to make the passes at one an
other.
DR.. William McCoOmbs, President OF
the Board OF Health, was met. This
thing should be stopped said he. My
little boy came home from school TO-
day and said that ne had been hypno-
tized three times. His mother wrote
note to his teacher about the matter.
Nv boy tells us that when any OF MS
schOolmates come late in the morning
they tell the teacher that they were
hypnOtized on the way and couldn |
help themselves. This craze is amaz-
ing. isn't it? Several physicians with
whom have talked argue with me that
the practice should be discouraged IN
every possible way. The hypnouc
state may result in serious conse-
Quences to health, and there is danger
of accident while in helpless and ire
sponsible condition"
The average HaZelton hypnotist looks
at the process as the simplest thing
in the world. He goes at 1t like this:
Look me straight in the eye, now
straight in the eye. Straighten your
arm out Strokes subjects arm swift
ly and with tremendous concentration
of mental energy, marked by clenched
teeth and staring eyes. Now you can
bend your arm. You can't bend II.
Spoken with terrific energy0
The eyes of the subject assume an
distracted stare. the lips are parted
and the face is expressionless. He takes
no heed of his surroundings. He tries
to bend his arm, but is unable. He is
now fit for having sport with. He
tears off his coat when told that his
pockets are on fire, fights furiously with
a broomstick. etc All this is done in
HazeltOn about five score times a day.
All other forms Of amusement have
been abandoned. If a company OF
young people gather in the evening an
20 &c a
The Hazelton young men say that the
MistletOe is a back number with hyp-
nOtism as their ally Chaperones are
greatly worried and exercise unprece-
denied vigilance and youngwomen hur-
~ fearfully hOmeward at twilight.
Principal Bierly. of the high school,
has issued an order foTbidding his pu-
pills to even play at hypnotiZing on
one another and intends to see that
the rule is strictly enforced He is con-
siderably concerned over the hypnotic
cOntagiOn, which seems still TO be
spreading. A boy in school No. 3 hyp
Noticed another last Wednesday and
was unable TO restore him. The subject
became so weakened from the strain
that he fell over in the street and had
to be carried home.
On the other hand, it has been claim
ed that some remarkable cures have re-
suited from the hypnotic craze. The
most interesting case is that Of Mrs
Susan Cooper, of No. 242 East Broad
street OF course, the use Of hypnotism
as a therapeutic agent is we'll establish
ed, and the work OF CharcOt, Benheim,
Luis and others is widely known. Mrs.
Cooper. who is a charming woman of
middle age, and who belongs to one of
the most prominent families of the city,
has been for many years tortured with
rheumatism. Her hands and arms
have been so severely attacked that
she could not use them. About two
weeks ago George B. Markle, who has
been for several years deeply interested
in hypnOtism, catching new enthusiasm
from the popular infatuation, began to
treat Mrs. Cooper hypnotically for
rheumatism. Within two weeks she re-
gained the use of her hands. so that
she could knit and write. and is able
to raise her arm above her head.
Mrs. Cooper held out her hand smiling
~: 1T has been years since l could
shake hands like that. and there is my
knitting beside me. am getting on
quite rapidly"
DO you credit your improvement en-
tirely to the hypnotic treatment of Mr..
Markle?" asked the visitor.
Yes. have been taking no medicine
and l have been in the same condition
for a long time. Mr. Markle put me
in the hypnotic trance for a few sec
Onds only at a time, and then gave me
suggestions that l would be able to
raise my arms and move my fingers
when l awoke | simply found that
could, and the inflammation has almost
entirely disappeared"
HaZelton could furnish the star char
acters for at least 100 travelling "Tril-
by companies. The rest of the State
of Pennsylvania may be compelled to
quarantine against the epidemic Of hyp-
nOtism.