The herald., 1897-03-31
LONG DISTANCE HYPNoT1sM
A French Scientist Put q Man to
Sleep Several Miles Away

Is there such thing as long distance
hypnotism? 35,
Prof M. e. Boirac the eminent French
scientist. of the Isycee Condorcet In Pa
ris. where have taken place SO many re-
cent remarkable demonstrations in hyp-
notism, has caused q sensation among
French savants by causing a person
several miles away 20 suddenly fall
asleep.
This extraordinary demonstration
that distance is not fatal bar to hyp-
motto control is regarded as important
because the subjects hypnotized uncon-
sciously and Is unaware that he or she
has been under the influence of anothRr
mind.
The professor was In his laboratory In
the QUARTER de rEurope, while the sub
ject, Gustav Pitou, an electrician. was at
work in Montmartre. Prof. Borac, in
the presence of several witnesses. lew
eled his hypnotic suggestion at the
young electrician. Pitou. In Pitou's
workshop were also four casual callers
upon business, who were really there to
observe the result OF Prof. Boirac's ex-
pertinent.
After an interesting chat on the latest
things in psychological and hypnotic
phenomena, one of the gentlemen pres
ont, looking at his watch, remarked:
Professor, II Is five minutes to g."
Three o'clock was the hour agreed upon
for the test. The professor took up a
position in the middle of the laboratory
and. folding his arms, appeared to fix
his mind intently upon some distant OBJ
ject. AT the end OF one minute he re-
laxed his arms his face frightened and
he seemed about to speak Then an ex-
preston of doubt and distrust spread
over his countenance. The stiffness was
profound as Boirac stood. immovable.
with knitted brow, his eyes fixed ON the
An, ,ftttr a. a han, ut ffS>
erd of exactly two minutes and nineteen
seconds. Boirac exclaimed. with relief
and triumph in his tone. He sleeps"
'.Well we shall see" o;ie of the viaiturs
could not refrain from remarking. But
am ALREADY satisfied" replied Prof.
Borac, equally we'll satisfied as II.
had ocular evidence that Gustav sue
cumbed to my suggestion at-what was
the time?
Two minutes 19% seconds past 81
said one of the witnesses, q bicycle rider,
who wore IA split second watch.
The professor at once sent messel-
ger fer two coupes, in which the hyp-
notist and his witnesses drove hurriediy
to Mcntniartre. AS tehy entered the
shop man at the door said quietly.
He sleeps" True enough, Pitou lay In
the middle of the floor fiat upon his
back. Under his head and neck coat
had been rolled up for pillow. The
professor bowed to the three gentlemen
who, with the fourth. the one who had
opened the door. constituted quartet
of witnesses who had seen the result
produced upon Pitou. One of these was
a skeptlc. member of the faculty of the
School OF Nancy.
Kneeling Prof. Boirac raised Gustavs
left arm. Released, it dropped upon the
floor with the dull. but not dead sound
noticeable in the cases of persons uncon-
scious as a result of organic heart affec-
tions. Prof. Boirac then lifted an eye
lid and passed his finger over the naked
eyebalL
The sseptic then proclaimed the gen.
uineness of the hypnotic sleep In which
young Pitou was resting. He described
what had happened as follows:
AT 2:45 we arrived at the workshop
of Mons Pitou and started to interview
him, the ostensible object of our visit be-
ing to inquire about the design, construc-
tion and cost Of an apparatus 10 prose-
I,cute experiments in Roentgen rays.
Mons Pitou entered upon the discussion
of the matter with no apparent thought
that we might have an Interior object
in our visit. AS the hour of drew near
the conversation tagged little through
our consciousness of having matter up
on our minds in which Mons. Pitou was
uncorsciously playing leading part.
still he manifested not the slightest sign
of suspicion.
Just after the stroke of his manner
became noticeabiy languid. and he
passed his hand across his forehead, as
.hough attempting TO brush away a
premonitory headache. AT S:02, as noted
by one of our number who was holding
his watch where he could see 1t. Pitou
wavered in his speech. then stopped in
the midst of sentence. and, with droop-
ing eyelids, a few seconds later gently
sank backward to the floor. We sprang
10 ease his fall. Before he reached the
floor his eyes were closed, and by his
volition they have not since opened"
Prof. Boirac recalled Pltou to con-
sciousness in the ordinary manner OF
hypnotists York journal.