The San Francisco call., 1896-03-20

to take toward the treatment by hypnot-
ism one can we'll understand if one only
remembered that for the successful prac-
tice of hypnotism much time and patience
is necessary.
THAT hypnotism had undoubted value
in the treatment of certain diseases is at
tested by the fact that the greatest physl-
clans in Europe have taken up the sub
ject. In Berlin DR.. Moll is the most
successful in the use of it in the treatment
of disease. Charcot of Paris, when living,
was cne of the greatest physicians for the
treatment of nervous diseases-ln fact, one
of the greatest of modern times-and he
used this mysterious power in remarka-
bly, successful manner. And Wetterstrand
of Stockholm also resorted to it largely.
at is true that hypnotism can do harm.
But so can medicine, for that matter. 1t
will depend upon how hypnotism is re-
sorted to in determining upon its efficacy.
So far as the use OF it is concerned in actual
practice, it is we'll l-esta bliShed fact that it
has cured functional diseases which have
resisted all other methods of treatment.
''In medicine it is a recognized rule
among physicians to select any method OF
treatment which is capable of doing good.
In other words the end justifies the means.
The treatment of alcoholism by hypnotism
brought about excellent results. Heavy
drinkers are benefited for time, and even
sometimes permanently cured. The reac-
ton of morphine tends to hypnotism has
as yet not been thoroughly investigated,
but the results thus far achieved are not,
it is true, very encouraging. The observa-
tions of Wetterstrand show that in epilepsy
many good results can be obtained, and in
surgery it is very frequently employed in
lieu of an anesthetic
"In this City at the present time the
dentists seem to make more use of it than
do the physicians. They hypnotic their
patients, of course, with the knowledge
and consent of the latter and then extract
their teeth. And those who have been
thus treated suffer no pain. Hyprotism
is employed even in cases of constipation,
and it seems in some cases to be produc-
tive of excellent results. Many cases of
nervous prostration have also been cured
by its application, and even moral deprav-
ity has been treated with its use with bene-
ficial results. 1t is also etficacious in in
somnia, hysteria and sciatica.
"Among the cases treated by Professor
Bernheim is one of writer's cramp. The
case is as follows: III. c., aged Al an ac-
countant, consulted Professor Bernheim
on the 18th of November, 1885. He was
healthy and surong and in no wise nervous,
but hysterical. Three years before he be-
gan to feel symptoms of his trouble. After
writing few lines all his fingers became
contracted and he had to desist for a time.
At first he was able to write again after a
short rest, bnt gradually the cramp became
worse and he was unable to sign his name.
BY means of various devices he contrived
to go on little longer, but at the time he
consulted DR.. Bernheim he had been COM
PEELED for three months to write with his
left hand.
"He was hypnotized and at once fell
into a deep sleep. Professor Bernheim
suggested the disappearance of the cramp.
On awakening he was able TO write two
and half lines without feeling the return
of the cramp. The next day he wrote
eight lines and on November 81 the patient
was able to write a business letter, and
only mplained of feeling a heaviness in
the wrist and a tendency to close the fin
gers. On November "a the improvement
was still maintained. In the month of
December a relapse took place and the
patient again became unable to write more
than a few lines. He left off the treat
ment until January 30, when he again
consulted Professor Bernheim. Improve
ment now rapidly set in and progressed,
until March he finally discontinued the
treatment, being perfectly cured. He is
again back in his Office and writes all day
long without fatigue or cramp.
Il have been interested III the subject of
hypnotism for long time, and during my
recent trip abroad L investigated it as
practiced by. such eminent men as Moll of
Berlin, Lieubault of Nancy and Wetter-
strand of Stockholm. | was much i'm
pressed by the brilliantsresults achieved
In this department OF medicine, and am
sure that there are number of physicians
in this City who practice hypnotism just
the same as do-not as a special method
of treatment to the exclusion of all other
methods, but as an incidental. factor for
the treatment of special diseases.
'It would be ridiculous to assume that
hypnotism is of advantage for all diseases.
On the contrary, its use is limited to GER
tain forms of nervous affections which are
unattended by any organic changes"