The Portland daily press., 1896-08-29
HYPNOSIS MACHINE.
Devices to Produce the Mesmeric
State Mechanically.
WHIRLING MIRRORS AND CRY
stalls ARE USED.
Influence of Certain Chemicals Upon Sensi
tive Subjects-Uses of the Power Which
Would Be Very Marvellous

tive SWEEPSTAKES of the Power Which
Would Be Very Marvellous.
Even hypnosis may now be produced by
machinery. We are approaching day
when the direct influence of Svengalies will
not be necessary to throw Trilbies into sub
5ective states, when hypnotists will exert
their powers through machinery set to oper-
ate at given times, the presence of the in
struments being unknown to the subjects
The mechanical mesmerizer will then find
an essential place in the burglars tool kit.
and we will have to look under our beds to
see if such traps have been set by our enc
mics. The mechanical hypnotizer as now
made, however, is strictly a scientific in
strument. The governments bureau of edu-
cation recently purchased a collection of
such apparatus, which aIe new in this
country. They will be used by a specialist
for studying the values of hypnotic sugges-
ton IN the education of the abnormal
classes. Experiments will be made deter
mining their effect upon the sensibilities,
emotions, breathing, circulation and tenn
perature of the body.
AN ELABORATE APPARATUS.
The most elaborate form of hypnotizer is a
small box, containing clock work surmount-
ed by two he izontal oblong fans, one over
the other, revolving rapidly in opposite di
rectlons. The fans are studded on each side
with row of circular mirrors about the
size of nickel pieces. The rapid rotation
produces an odd flashing effect which great
ly fatigues the eyelid muscles of the be-
holder. This machine is found to be very
effective when used upon sensitives
who can be thrown into a hypnotic sleep
by concentration or sight stimulus.
A simpler form of mechanical hypnotizer
is a belt of broad tape to be placed upon the
forehead and over the temples, being tied
at the back of the head. From metallic
plate in front protrudes wire, extending
upward in an S-lil1e curve and holding
bright ball of nickel, about the size of a
marble, at the end. When this is placed
upon the subject the wire is bent until the
ball reaches point above the eye, where
it may be seen by the wearer only by in
tensely straining the eyelids. The same
effect, as produced by the former machine
is accomplished by this simpler apparatus.
These instruments have been invented to
serve in substitution for. the. gestures, known
as passes, commonly made by hypnotists.
The scientific hypnotist smakes movements
before and above the eyes of his subject to
concentrate his attention and to fatigue the
eyelid muscles both by causing the eyes to
follow the movements and by tanning air
against them. Fatigue of the muscles of the
eyelids is found to be one of the direct
causes of sleep. Persons in no mental need
of sleep may '1read themselves sleepy sun-
der too bright or too dim light. A Sc
we're breeze against the eyends will cause
the same effect.
MAGNETIC INFLUENCES.
Another form of hypnotizer, in this collec-
ton, is large horseshoe magnet with an at
tached immature. 1t is given to sensitive
who is told to continuously separate and
fit together the two parts. A similar mag
netic hypnotizer is steel ring to fit ssthe in
dex finger. The ring is of magnetized steel
and is borken at one place, the space being
filed by a small steel armature. These two
contrivances are used principally for humor-
ing the more unsophisticatedsand superstiti-
GUS sensitives who foster the belief thathyp
notism is supernatural. The magnet in
most cases suggests mystery to the ignorant
and SenSitiveS Of that class are readily eX-
cited by it. The ring device, also called a
hypnoscope, is used by some hypnotists for
determining sensitives. Hypnotfzable per-
sons are alleged to experience certain ting
lings in the skin and twitchings of the mus
cles while wearing it. A more complicated
instrument in this collection, which may
be used as a hypnoscope, is a bulb-shaped
rod, resembling an electrode, which NAV
be made to create pressure against the palm
of the hand by a sprig inside. When the
pressure is applied the subject is asked if he
feels an electric shock. If he so confesses
he is rated as a hypnotic sensitive. Some
times the whole frame will tremble as re-
suit of this imaginary electrical fluid.
CRYSTAL VISIONS.
Equally interesting devices of related
class, now growing, in vogue.among certain
experimental hypnotists, are for application
to sensitives for the purpose of causing hal
fluctuations known as crystal visions. One
instrument of this class is ball of crystal
mounted upon handle. Mirrors and other
polished or transparent surfaces are employed
for the same effect The crystal or reflect
ing medium by producing partly obscured
or scattered reflections to the sensitive
minds eye aid the subject in perceiving I'M
natural mental embodiments of various OBJ
jects. Many abnormal persons, habitually
haunted by phantasms, for which visions
they develop appetites, so to speak, employ
these crystals and redectors for throwing
themselves into states during which they
may experience what is alleged to be the
actual or imagined ''sixth sense" or ''sec-
ond sight" Crystal gazing has lately be-
come SO popular that many phsychic expert
mentalists IN Europe are inviting tests with
the paraphernalia thus employed, and agents
were some time since engaged by theSociety
for Psychicai Research to furnish balls for
the purpose. Prof. VIM. Romaine Newbold
OF the University of Pennsylvania recently
made an extensive investigation of crystal
VISION and found that twenty-five subjects
QUIZ OF elghty-six could perceive illusions by
gazing into mirrors, surfaces of water and
objects OF glass varying in form. Phantasms
appeared to the sensitives usually within
five minutes, being preceded directly by
cloudiness, hazes of color or Examinations
before the eyes. The phantasms varied from
dim outlines to brilliant colored pictures.
Like dreams some of these forms were BASED
upon recent experiences of the subjects.
while others were purely fantastic.