The news boy., 1896-03-14
4 HYPNOTIC CRAZE

rarss Possession OF the City OF Hssietons
PA. and Threatens Serious Hesutts,ns ,si
eomnIferous Art Practiccd BY Many New
DiscipIes, some Of Whom Are Unsbie 30
C.is Th.,r subjects Back to Conscious
ness
HAzLEroN, Pa, March IA hyp-
motto craze has taken hold OF the
city and threatens to develop serious
consequences. 1t is already alarming
and has attracted the attention OF the
authorities. DIR. ]. w. Cole has felt
constrained to sound warning
through the newspapers, and Saturday
Prof. Bierly found it necessary to issue
an cdict making any attempt among
the pupils of the public schools TO
practice 1t sufficient cause for expui-
sion. The city authorities are consid'
ering it, and the mayor is inclined TO
issue proclamation making it punish
able by fine or imprisonment to ex-
periUent.
Prof. and Mrs. Sage three weeks ago
concluded n twoweeks' engagement in
the opera house here, giving lectures
on hypnotism and practical ilustra-
tions with local subjects. Crowded
houses greeted them each night dur
ing their stay and they took $1,000
away in profits. The impression
which they created remained. Men
and boys became students of hypno-
tism; and the feats that some of them
have since performed excel even the
professors. Among the most promi'
nent of the disciples is George Markle.
He was one of the frst to master the
study. He has exercised the power
in medical way only, and
some astonishing cures have
been made by him. One case
was that of Mrs. Reinhart, mother-in-
law of William Dershuck, an editor,
who was taken home from a hospital
pronounced incurable. She was suf-
fering from abdominal trouble, and,
being unable to retain anything she
Swallowed, was slowly starving to
death. Mr.. Markle, after placing her
under the hypnotic spell, administered
nourishment to her, and under the
treatment she has since been able to
take food. A patient at the State hos
pital, whose leg resisted all efforts OF
the doctors to bend, was moved with
out any apparent difficulty after get
ting the man under Markie's influence.
Many other experiments of like char
acter have been made by him, but un-
fortunately all who have studied it do
not confine their powers to acts OF
beneicence. In the parlors, store
rooms, schools and in the streets men
and boys find subjects susceptible to
the influence. 1t is not an uncommon
thing to see a dozen men and boys
moving half dazed along the streets,
searching for an imaginary article
said to be placed by the performer.
William German. pupil at tn e pub
lie school, created the widest alarm in
the schoolroom Saturday while per
forming with several pupils. One boy
was told that snake was in his shoe,
and started through the ro om yelling
at the top of his voice, creating panic
in the building.
Prof. Bierly was obliged to issue al
edict prohibiting the amusement. Ii
several instances the subjects have
suffered seriously from the effects
Margaret Dolan, Il waitress at a res
taurant. was thrown into stupor
and when the operator attempted t
arouse her he was unable to do sc
The several experts about the cit.
were called, but despite their effort
the woman could not be revived an
she was left to sleep it off.
Prof. Dutton, in the business col
lcge, in practicing on two pupils. wa
unable to revive them. and they re
maincd in that state for four hours
The entire city has gone daft, an
leading citizens are discussing means
to discourage the practice.