Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-09-27

Recognizing the great amount Of popu-
lar interest which has been excited in this
city. during the past two or three weeks
by the alleged exhibitions of hypnotism ut
the opera houses, the Register few days
ego addressed a series Of questions bear
ing upon the subject to one of the most
prominent citizens of Wheeling-a physi-
clan Of extensive practice, whose name IS
well known in medical circles whose pa
pers upon professional topics have always
commanded wide attention. and who has
had. during more than a third OF CEN
! fury. exceptional facilities for study and
| observation upon professional and nom
professional matters alike. The following
reply was submitted for publication in the
Sunday Register:
Since the earth was peoped by the hui
man race there have existed decisions.
All nations at some period of their exist
ence. have been affected by glazing errors
and Inconsistencies which the advance Of
civilization has not completely destroyed.
In our own age. among enlightened COM
munities there silently flows an undercur-
rent of credit in the supernatural This
sentiment Is unconsciously encouraged
through the restless curiosity and longing
desire Of our natures 70 peer into that un-
known and undiscoverable realm which
skirts the boundary Of our rational hori-
ION. Hence when the pretender Of an oc-
cult science Is announced. tho public mind
is ready for the lesson, and the moro va
que and ill-defined the theory. the greater
the interest taken.
"That no benefit whatever has resulted
from all the false philosophy taught from
first to last. which has occupied the atten-
ton Of the people, is not disputed. and
can safely declare that not one item OF in
tciligence has been furnished. from au-
curry 10 hypnotism. and inclusive of botl.
which has proved of practical use or v'lu"
to Notwithstanding unitarian, nothing
scientific. nothing good. But when
glance Of the evils resulting therefrom are
considered we are appalled, at their maCni-
tudc and extent
During and subsequent to the Middle
Ages Rr. Sprcnger in his life Of Moh9m-
med computes the entire number Of per
sons burned as witches at 100000. An cX-
animation from history of this large csti-
mate made by DR. Sprenger has led 10 it's
Confederation. Nations were obliterat"l :
cities. towns and villages were destro'- :
Torture. murder and rapinc held hif - -
nlval. and not until the last sussJcct dad
been led to the stake did TIE c,rnage
cease
This holocaust was later transferred to
our own soil. and the Salem fanatcsm IS
not a boastful episode of our colonial his
tory This hasty resume leads rs TO the
consideration Of some Of our present delu-
sIons. which II not so directly dangerous
to human life. arc perniclous TO our well
being and morals and degrading TO our in
telligence and civilization.
THE imposition of Mesmer. Swiss ply
stefan. educated ut Vienna. was announc-
cd about the middle of the eighteenth CEN
turv. and since his death has presented it.
self under series Of illucid titles. Ac-
cording 10 the Mesmeric theory. the ncrv-
ous energy or influence Of the operator
overpowers that of the subject as n pow
orful magnet does "a weaker one. II will
be well n remember that no wish Of the
oporator was ever known 10 affect Thy sub
feet until Il was conveyed 10 him by voice
or other method Of suggestion and before
the subjects abstraction AMI Doe voluntari-
lvrIaces himself undcrthc viii and dire tin
Of the manipulation. this heins essential 90
tho success Of the experiment.
~ commission appointed hy tho King ~
France I'm 1-sT. ono 90 whom was our own
BENJAMIN Franklin. reported that the 81
focts actually produced were purely
through and by tho Imagination. Mosm'r
subsequently fell into disroputc and dici
IN ohscuritv.
OF have introduced this short history Of
Mesmorism FOR the purpose Of exhibiting
the close connection and relation thai
modern hypnotism has with %. They areas
Ike each other rs the Two Dromios. and
NAV not improperly be- described AS twin
absurdities.
"Thc recent alleged hypnotic exhibitions
had the opportunity 10 witness. but as no
Invitation was extended to examine the
subjects. I can only relate what occurred
rs n spectator. The subjects were volun-
teers and with the exception Of the exhi-
bitor's attaches. were young men and boys
from sixteen to twenty years Of age
Further. the subjects Of the first exhibitor
were the principals In the last exhibition.
The vigorous and robust volunteers We're
quietly discarded. leaving the more deli
cate for the purpose Of the manipulation.
The acumen OF the oprators for the selec-
ton Of ncurotic persons for performers IS
greatly intensified by mental training and
critical scrutiny and study OF the personel
NJ their subjects and the rapidity Of selec-
ton by them. which may appear to the au-
diencc n thing of chance or accident. Is n
matter Of vital Importance 10 the success
Of The experiment.
Tho performances We're almost identical
with the mesmoric shows Of forty years
since. and the oral suggestions addressed
in much the same way. No remarkable
feats were performed. and none which
were not readily accounted for in subjects
we'll disposed 70 play their parts. The feat
Of muscular rightly Of the body. the neck
and lower extremities. supported upon the
backs OF two chairs. excited some wonder
from the unnatural redundancy. This
posture can readily be taken by any ono
OF good muscular development The mus
cles of the back being large and strong and
adapted for carrying the weight OF the
body and burdens in the erect position. can.
FOR n time support the body In the prone
position described: further, under tho IN
fuence OF certain drugs. these muscles be-
come so rigid ne to defy relaxation.
THE fracture Of a large stone placed.
well cushioned. upon the chest Of one Of
the attaches. very muscular man. while
in the position Just described. was prom
inent feature of the last exhibitor. Tho
dimensions of the stone selected was about
1sx1s inches in superficial area. and about
seven or eight inches thick irregular and
rough IN its outline and comparatively
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