The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-03-15
tice of hypnotic suggestion, or the thec'

tice of hypnotic suggestion, or the ther-
apeutic value of hypnosis
''2. Experimental psychology.
"3. Telepathy.
II Clairvoyance.
%. Facts within the domain of psy-
chical research.
THE section is interested in all which
pertains to the wide domain of psy-
chology; in the rapidly growing faclll-
ties which the colleges and universities
are offering to students in experimental
work, as well as in that vast region OF
psychological phenomena which. with
its perplexing and increasing compllca-
tons, demands the strictest and most
scientific investigation.
1T is intended to embrace special
study in the departments of animal
magnetism, telepathy and clairvoyance,
and also of the so-called apparitions and
other claims of respectable modern
spiritualism.
1T is proposed to conduct these in
quiries and Investigations with candor
and fairness, upon strictly scientific
lines, and to reach, so far as possible, a
valuable and enlightening collection of
facts incident to these phenomena,
from which important deductions may
be made
The position of the Medico-Legal So
ciety as to this subject was taken in
January, 1891, upon the report of its
Standing Committee on Hypnotism,
from which l submit the following alb
stracts:-
Hypnosis, or artificial trance sleep,
is a subjective phenomenon.
Hypnosis is recognized in three
stages-lethargy, somnambulism and
catalepsy.
''Hypnotism has been serviceable in
medical and surgical practice, both as
a therapeutic agent and in some cases
as an efficient and safe anaesthetic.
THE illusory impression created by
hypnosis may be made to terminate
and tyrannize the subsequent actions of
the subject
And among the legal questions raised
by this report were:-Is hypnosis a JUS
tifiable inquisitorial agent? Do we
need reconstruction of the laws of
evidence in view of the perversion.
visual or otherwise created by the
trance? Is any revision of the Penal
Code desirable in view of these facts?"
The most pertinent, and. indeed, i'm
portant question which is now upper
most in the judicial and legal mind, as
well as among laymen, is. What is the
true relation of hypnotism to crime?
This is a question that we cannot ig-
more. 1t must be met We cannot
pass it by on the other side. Like
Banquo's ghost it will not down.
The trial and conviction of Czinski in
Munich. in December. 1894, only two
years ago, was the first judicial decis-
ion and conviction Of a man for a
crime based on the recognition of the
actually of the hypnotic trance. The
Bompard case, in Paris, did not estab-
fish that judicially. The case of Mac
Donald in Kansas, did not turn at all
on hypnotism, as the public press has
sometimes asserted.
We may all have our individual opin-
ions as to the responsibility of the
hypnotized, but as so few of US have
given especial study to the practical
side Of hypnotism, the opinions of those
who have given these subjects especial
study will be more valuable to us all
than our own conclusions not based
With this in view, lately addressed
the following questions
/. If the subject is unconscious and
even unwilling, has the hypnotizer such
power and domination over the hypno-
tized as could control action to the
| extent Of the commission of a crime?
:. Is it certain or possible to remove
by hypnotic suggestion from the mind
of the subject all the memory or oc-
| currences which happen in the hyp-
motto state?
3. Would it be possible for a hypno-
| tizer to so control a hypnotized subject
| as to. for example, make him % sign
a will in the presence of third persons.
declare it to be his will, and to re-
| quest them to sign as attesting wit
| nesses, and he afterward wholly uncon-
| scious of the occurrence; CD or a note
Of hand or a check?
Professor G. Stanley Hall replied
| Il would say that my own experience
| with hypnotism, which was quite ex-
! tended While | was at the Johns Hop
| kins, leaves no shadow of doubt that a
hypnotic subject can be made an un-
conscious and innocent agent of crime
Signing away of money has been done
| in France and rapes have been com.
mitted. The Penal Code has been mod
| lied in important respects to meet such
| cases. All memory is sometimes re-
| moved from the subject mind, but not
| always"
| Professor J. Mark Baldwin of Prince
ton University, one of the editors OF
| the Psychological Review" says. in
response to the questions; To the first
| flrst question, Yes, | think so; the par.
ticular crime depending upon the men.
| tai and moral habits of the subject
each subjects suggestibility for crime
seems to have its limits, at which he
resists and refuses the suggestion"
! To the second question he replies: .
Not generally, although the subiee-
| may hesitate and make an apparenr
effort to resist, and then finally follow
| out the suggestion
To the third question he replies:
EFFECTS ON THE SUBJECT.
Yes, indeed, such forgetfulness. afte
the subject returns to his normal state
| is the regular phenomenon. not re
quirng any special suggestion" III,
adds, The word certain in the cues
ton is slightly ambiguous"
| To the fourth question, as to both il:
iirst and second subdivisions, he re
plies:
| Yes, to each"
George Frederick Laidlaw, NJ. D.
| New York, replied:
Il. Crime can be committed by tn,
| hypnotizer, the subject being the un
conscious and innocent agent and in
strument.
=. The operator usually can contro