The San Francisco call., 1897-03-16
Many Physicians Convinced oil
It's Great Superiority to
AnestheticS.
SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS RE-
MOVE DOUBT.
Melancho,ia, Hysteria and Other
Nervous Diseases Vanish Under
Its Subtle Charm.

The fact that delicate surgical opera
tion had been successfully performed
few days ago upon Mrs. A. Il. Clothler
under hypnotic influence has caused con-
sid dera bic comment among the physicians
and surgeons in this City. it is hoped by
the ma jority of them that hypnotism as
means OF producing inSensibility to pain
will be thoroughly investigated and prove
itself TO be the means by which both cap
ital and lesser surgical operations may be
safely and successfully and yet absolutely
painlessly performed.
The lady who was recently operated
upon under this influence has shown no
signs of pain or collapse, nor does she
have the slightest remem mbrance Of even
the minor details connected with the per
formance of the operation. which so fre-
quently happens where chloroform or
other anesthetics have been used.
The most peculiar phase of ALL" said
DR.. Clark last evening, 'is the fact that
the pos.-hypnotic suggestions SO thor
oGghly control the patient so far as pain
following any operation is concerned.
Where pauenl has undergone an opera
tion and is told that he or she will feel
absolutely free from pain, nausea or ex-
haustion at the time of awaking or re-
covering there is never, or at least, hardly
ever any complaint made"
"Of course" he continued, "the con-
dition of the patent depends largely upon
the suggestions impressed upon the mind
Just prior to the time they are permitted
10 awake. If it Is suggested to patients
that they are being chloroformed before op-
erating and this impression is not with
drawn from their mind nausea anu weak
ny fOll
1t would had chloroform been admin
istered.
-"Hypnotism, or as it was formerly
called mesmerism, is brought about
mainly by the subject himself, but there
must be absolute confidence placed in the
operator. Any person. whether strong
minded or otherwise, can easily resist
hypnotic influence.
THE prevalent idea regarding hypno-
tism is that it is merely a weaker mind
suit ected to the force or magnetism of q
stronger one, or again that one person
perabundsntly charged with magnetism
may control another less fortunate, but
this is mistake brought about through
ignorance of the subject. Again the idea
has been advanced that subject once
hypnotiZed becomes more ana more easily
affected by the operator in proportion 10
the mum ber of times he may have been
subjected to the treatment, but this is also
equally ridiculous. Any one can resist
the force at any place or at any time, no
matter what may be the condition OF
their minds.
That hypnotism will gradually i'm
press itself into public favor as a painless
aid 10 surgical operations there is no
doubt in my mind. Ii is often necessary
TO prepare patient for a day or two, or
even week, but the delay is counter
balanced by the fact that after prerara-
tion and operation there is no danger of
heart failure, collapse nor any Of the
many symptoms so common after the ad-
minislrauon OF our modern anesthetics."
Il am thoroughly convinced" said DR..
Van Meter, that hvpnotism Is our great
est aid 10 PAINLESS operations. II is also a
remarkable factor in relieving and curing
nervous troubles such as hysteria, stam-
mering and melancholia. Hypnotism will
in time supplant all anesthelics in minor
surgical operations, and many times in
those most difficult.
Mrs. Clothier, upon whom | operated,
presented peculiar phase TO its infiu-
ence. Although insensibie 10 pain while
under the spell sae asked permission TO
wake up, saying, LIT me wake up; l
have forgotten something" and after Ia k
ing drink OF water she was soon again
insensible to everything, with the excep-
tion of the presence of the hypnotist.
Both mentalltie were working-her real
ization of both her condition and the lack
OF power or desire to overcome it. An
operator 10 successfully hvpnotize n pa
tient must feel absolutely certain of being
q bic to accomplish what he has started 10
do-tbat is, gain the perfect confidence of
t. subject-or all his efforts will be in
vain. One who can gain perfect trust
from another thereby removes the self
control OF the patient, and his gi eatest
trouble is passed ever.
"HypDoiism has often relieved and
sometimes greatly benefited acute cases of
paralysis and its uses as an aid to surgery
and medical treatment will gradually vet
surely take preference over all anes-
thetics.'
1.-THE skeptcism of the large majority of
people" said DR.. w. A. Harvey. will tend
to retard The general uses 10 which hypno-
tism may be success ully put, but its
superiority to chloroform, cocaine or gas
will eventually work lis way into public
favor as a cure for nervous diseases and an
aid to surgery. After it becomes i'm pressed
upon the public that there is ab O.
lutely no pain felt while under its influ-
ence, the number of operations performed
without anesthetics will greatly increase
Another great advantage is that the
patients can be hypnotiZed IN a room free
from the sight of the dreaded operating
chair and surgical instruments and then
be induced TO prepare himself for the or
deal, insensible TO the surroundings, thus
rem rvinU shper NJ Dnavnid hia