The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-24
HYPNOTIC FAkIRS.
Subjects Exhibited on the Stage Are
Usually Frauds.

Buffalo Express.
Il will tell you all know about fraudu-
spends much of his time investigating
fads,. land / can promise 10 astonish
I'm the first place." he said. there is
never a truth but someone treads on IL,
and the fact that there is fraud proves
tnat the genuine exists. Fraudulent hypno-
tism is seen more in England and Americas
than in any other parts OF the world. The
fact that France and Belgium have passed
laws prohibiting its practice. except under
medical safeguards, prevents fraud in
those countries. but America is a free land:
man is free TO rob everyone he can. IL
ne keeps within the letter of the law.
How is fraudulent hypnotism managed?'
Just any stage business is. The pro-
fessional subject has his line OF business
the same as contortionist or song and
dance man. When printed bills announce
a hypnotic performance, the subjects apply
for work at the stage dc of the theater,
and are engaged in the ordinary way by
the hypnotizer or his assistant Taking into
consideration the work they have TO do.
their hsv is not PARTICULARLY he
able to swallow such delcacies as soapsuds,
castor oil, cayenne pepper, coal oil and
ammonia AS for their pay" continued the
Old gentleman. lit varies according to their
ability. In England the average salary Is
about $50 a week, while in New York
good cateptic fakirs can make So to $50
a week If man is extraordinarily clever
and can stand redhot cigars pressed against
his cheeks and remain perfectly quiet
mand So a week. There are lots OF men
who do this in New York You can
see them at nearly every hypnotic perform
ance that Is given, and as for men who
can stand having their noses sewed up ana
their ears sewed to their cheeks, they are
as common as water
.sIt must be a dangerous calling then?'
at is. Nine subjects out OF every ten
eventually find their way to an insane asy-
lum. How they stand the frightful pain at
tached to some of the tests do not know.
but they do. and many of the experts make
engagements TO travel with fraudulent hyp-
notists and suffer these tortures nightly"
Once the speaker asked one of these SUBJ
jects IL he took any anesthetic before going
on the stage. The subject said he took
nothing. He simply strung his nerves to a
tension fixed his eyes into kind of CLASSY
stare, and. as he described II. 'let her CO."
This man" said the old gentleman. was
as board. In London saw him stretched
out. with his neck and feet resting on the
backs of two chairs; forming sort of living
passes over him, and announced that any
one who wished to stand on his subject
about $50 pounds. mounted the stage and
sat on the unfortunate fellow for over four
minutes. He did not move a muscle. though
the rim OF the chair back was forced fully
This fellow performed this feat nightly
for a week. He then was sent to the hos
pital."
The old gentleman said he afterward
learned that the man got e tabout 800 a
week III Is noticeaDle TACT that women
rarely appear as hypnotic subjects in the
various exhibitions held. and IL by chance
| one OF the fair sex is prevailed upon TO
make her debut as a hypnotic fakir she Is
| never tested in painful manner. The rea-
| son is clear. Women could not stand II
| without wincing. All women ever do Is to
| eat raw potatoes blacken their faces
| with SCOT when told to wash themselves"
| These cataleptjc fakirs are almost greater
| curiosities than the real hypnotic subjects.
The opinions of several prominent doctors
| who were asked how the men stood such
pain were rather unsatisfactory. One said
/ that they must benumb themselves with
drugs, while another said that there are
some persons who can stand almost any,
thing This opinion confirmed by an up
| town dentist, who said there were men
| seemingly without nerves.
I'm no business is this better exemplifiea
| than in ours" he said Some persons can
| have tooth out without murmur while
| to others the operation is perfect torture
| 1t must be a matter or nervous construc-
ton"