The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-16
PROVED 1T A HOAX.
New York Scientists Explode the
Late CharcOts Theory.
From the Pittsburg Dispatch.

From the Pittsburg Dispatch.
New York-The BlackwelPs Island
Hospital for Incurables has a strangely
distinguished inmate. Jules Depont, the
pet hypnotic subject Of Prof. Charcot, the
late world-famed French scientist and
foremost champion of hypnotisfn, is dying
at the model institution of abandoned
earthly hope. The hero of so many Of
Charcots wonderful exhibitions is breath
ing his last in princely fashion, with in
terested scientific and medical men swarm
ing about him. Like Autocrat Holmes
wonderful "one-horse shay" his mechan.
ism exhibits marked signs of general de-
cay, and it is expected he will "go 20
pieces all at once and nothing first" some
time in the future.
Depont came to this country shortly
after the death of Charcot with the hope
OF finding a new and perhaps even more
prosperous field for his particular adapta-
bility to hypnotic influence. He expected
to be employed by the different American
medical scientists in their experiments be-
fore students, for which ne had become
famous in Paris, and to obtain more gem
erous compensation in the new world. But
exclusive application for his rare value
as a subject for scientific study.
On leaving the pier Depont was direct
ed to the office of Prof. William Tilllne-
hast Bull, No. IS West Thirty-hfth street.
where he was well received by the famous
Americas surgeon, of whom he had hear,I
much II. Paris.
Prof. Bull realized the unusual opportu-
nifty the wiry little Frenchman afforded
Tor practical investigation of the won
ders OF Charcots science. He had never
been able TO use hypnotism in the operat-
ing room, and had determined 1t a hoax
so far as 1t claimed application to medi-
cine and surgery is concerned. But Char
COTS impressive demonstrations often con-
FUSED him, and when approached nv the
subject he had seen the eminent French
man stick needles and knives into without
mourning pain, at his world-renowned
clinics in Paris, Prof Bull could not re-
stst the opportunity Of testing the sub
jects mettle. He soon had a number Of
his colleagues interested with him in main
tanned Depont for their exclusive eyDeri
mental observations, with the determine
tion or settling, once for all whether
hypnotism is worthy the surgeons consid.
Grafton.
Accordingly, Depont was placed in q
Erelch boarding house at No 219 south
Fifth avenue under the assumed name of
Armand Coos. An agreement was T,aSa
between the interested associated snacioI
lists allowing him a regular weelilv 81
lowance of $50, and 5000 life insurance
to be paid to his family in Paris ar a.
time of his death, which he reaIizaJ NJ
close at hand. The agreement thorouebI,J
satisfied Depont and he prepared biT9s ,lty
Tor the battle ground of a new hypnotic
campaign. i-'0'i0
Dupont served the purpose adncirab1,,
before he became a total wreck and baSS
to be placed in the incura HE hoenitoi
on Blackwell's Island. The tests WeTa
maze at a private hospital-presunoab I1,
Prof. BulFS, on East Thirtv-foi1rtb s+raatt
AS SUBJECT for hypnotic demonstra+fon
ne was found to be an easy mark as a. ~,
specialists mad expected from his actions
HfoI. Bull discovered that while he bad
Valnly attempted hypnotizing on sona
numerous patients, who REQUIRED sureinsI
treatment and were at the same time sS1 tSI
LeIlls from heart or lung troubles which
MADE II very dangerous to use ether ba
could put Depont in a perfectly sense1ess
sleep and wake him at will HE -
leagues tried the experiment with tba
same result. 'ii tiie
Depont was subjected to what r,o,,,,
Ordinarily be considered inhuman usag o
AFTER the preliminary test of prickiner BIZ
SKIN with needles, finding his BODY sense
less to seemingly painful treatment in tbo
manner or Charcot, the specialists ia bhad
knives into the most sensitive narts of
Depont form and stuck their fingers int
ms eyes without observing the slightest
existence OF the sense of Sensation
After making several of these s,,rrri.
ing experiments. the specialists in consul
tatton arrived at the Conclusion no. ~
pont had the ability himself Reine %
verely cross-questioned. he ackrowle5lesd
1t, and astonished the specialists nv f1,r
ther informing them that he was con
scious OF every move they made WHEN
under the influence. though the conscions-
ness was painless. To convince them os
the truth OF his assertion he described
thelr, movements most accurately
This remarkable testimony on 5,haroot,s
experiments, coming from such a reliab,e
source was sufficiently convincing to IN
A american specialists. They unanimousIv
voted the agency known as hypnosism ut
terly impractical for medical aDpIioatfor