The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-12-24
HYPNOTIC HEALING.
"sLEEr ROOM A NEW YORK
HOSPITAL.
within Its Walls Patients Pass Into
Peaceful SIumbers
Awaken Euiiy Restored
To Health.
THE strangest room that any
institution for the care of the

|
authorities have officially named it the
: "Slecp Room.
1t is here that the much-scofled.at
Hypnotic power proves to DO blessing
20 the afflicted. Pain is bnnishod aud
pleasure takes its place. The most
distressing operation becomes TO the
sufferer matter of congrntulation.
Tho doctors say that people. rs
rulc, have n very erroneous idea OF
bypnotism and its effects. Asa matter
of TACT, byprotism is like all other
powerful influences, capable of being
diverted into g.. 'nnols of evil, as well
rs those OF good. Hypnotic suggestion,
when brought nbout by tho proper
person, is never iriurious III its effects
because great care Is taken III selecting
II subject, 10 ascertain il he or she Is
, OF such temperament as would suffer
from hypnotic influence. If 1t is
learned that nature hns 50 constructed
tho patient that evil might follow
hypnotic suggestion sJme other
method is tried.
Dr. William Z. Willin, man OF
J. much learning and exceedingly well
n,vcrscd Ia modern thought MS it relates
70 medical tcioncc, has made special
leritpdy OF the sleep Room and its cil'cc.e,
uersyh his regular attendance ut the
, n. tai has given him ample oppor-
nv 10 investigate. The facts that
70 stated IN this article 30 far ns
regards tho technical details OF the
treatment ure related 10y Dr. Wil,,in.
They are strange, indeed. illustrating
~ they do Mhnt was long considered
the laucliul theory that the influence
OF mind over matter, and mind over
mind, could be brought 10 the aid Of
the disciples OF Galcn.
There is nothing in the first glance
at the Sleep Room which indicates
that anything o. an unusual nature
happens there. It's very plainly iur.
d nishcd, being practically bare Of
everything but benches along the wall.
. II few comfortable chairs aud several
o screens. \ distinct method lies in
~ this plainness, for exceeding care Is
p taken that there shall be nothing IA
I the room to distract the patient at
/ tentiou in the least from the person
I from whom the hypnotic suggestion
comes. IL Is well known essential OF
successful hypnotism TO concentrate
, the patients attention This is the
central idea OF the entire arrangement
= OF the room. just how tho patient is
treated, Just how hypnotism is re.
gardcd by the medical profession, is
explained in DR.. wilkins own story.
al may say" said DR.. Wilkin, "that
' my experience IN treating certain
| limo nf ttgTNgag hpa h.tt, ttf,h ilat h.
prejudice first felt in employing this
: method, n prejudice quite prevalent
{ among the profession of this country,
has been entirely removed, and | fully
believe in the benefits TO bo derived
I by hypnotic suggestion properly en-.
: ployed. Hypnotsm has great value
III treating certain diseases, though
ITS place in therape utic5 is peculiar.
My feeling is that It's value is more
striking in its effects than wide in ap.
plicability.
"rhc method ] employ for inducing
the hypnotic sleep is the one in most
general use, auI Is commonly referred
10 as 'Bernhcim's method; ; it is very
simple. In the first place 1t i, so ar
, ranged, rs far rs possible, that every
n condition will favor the development
4 of the thought We wish should domi.
nate the patient, namely, that lie
a, should go to sleep. 10 this end, then,
must he considered the mental state
of the patient, the attitude of the oper-
. ator, and the environment. Ii is my
y opinion that revolving disks, or any
methods of seeming mystery employed
:, for the purpose of inducing the hyp-
= motto sleep, are an imposition ON the
patient. | prefer To influence him by
/ appealing only to his confidence and
i Intelligence.
d at Is explained then to the patient
q that, for the proper treatment 0f his
+ disease. he is to bo hypnoti2ed; that
the treatment, it is believed, will be
Q eGcclual In its results, and that GER
G tainly there i+- nothing unpleasant IN
4 the employment of it. His nervous
ii ness and any scruplcs or fears are over
Il come hy reasonable explanation OF
: our object and method, or by any
@ means suitable 20 individual cnsee. We
II aim to secure his entire confidence and
f to place him al ease.
Il "rho attitude of the operator only
"a need be quiet, confident AMI firm. Any
IS nervousness or agitation or uncertainty
i on his part is communicated immedi-
f ately to the subject. There should be
s no noise IN the room, ard II rs proba'
II bly, moro favorable to have the room
!. somewhat darkeucd Then the patient
"a is placed in chair sufficiently easy to
- produce no physical constraint; his
:, head rests against the back OF the chair
I or against the wall, he Is directed to
= fix MS eyes upon some object which is
y y held up before his face, or upon any
y object in the room, and so, having the
u y patient in u mental and physical con
ditiun favorable to the hypnotic state,
l. he is told quietly, repeatedly and