The times., 1898-10-09
THE SLOW DOCTORS.
They Have Just Recognized the
Value of Hypnotism.
From the London Times.)

Vroin the London limes.J
Should hypnotism be used by doctors in
their ordinary practice? The question has
just been seriously discussed by the Brit
lsh Medical Association at its annual con-
gress. Without bringing any new discov-
cries to light, the discussion shows that
English medical men do not cling to the
old prejudices against the therapeutic
value of hypnotism. Some are. anxiously
seeking to fathom the fascinating mys-
teries connected with hypnotism, and TO
test its practical value by actual expert
ment All the theories of the Nancy
school, or the miraculous cures at the
Salpetriere, are not now accepted. but we
have doctors who hypnotic their patients
instead of drugging them. The discussion
was raised on paper by DR.. Milne Bram-
well, in which he gave the result of his
experiences with his patients. He has
many instances of cures. Insomnia and
depression were got rid of, suicidal ten
denotes removed anaemia cured. and
troubles arising chiefly from mental char
acteriStics We're treated successfully. A
lady patient who suffered from neuralgia
of the leg to such an extent that every
one gave up her case, was made whole
and strong.
Drugs, massage, electricity, baths at
Droitwich, at Bath. were tried in success
sion, but she steadily grew worse. She
was wheeled about in bath chair,
helpless invalid, became emaciated, and
had lost all interest in life" She was
hypnotized, completely recovered in two
days and learned TO cycle" If this can
be done by hypnotism, DR. Bramwell will
not lack patients, He has studied the
subject carefully, while practicing IL, and
confirms the belief now generally ac-
cepted, that the subject under hypnotism
does not lose all sense of personal iden-
tity, or all power of independent action
In every case DR. BramwelPs patients
were, of course, willing subjects. He
found that a subjeet On his suggestion
would not steal a Yhtch because she
knew II was wrong tbtis she would put
lump of sugar In a friends cup II told 1t
were arsenic. The exptanation she gave
for this distinction, when in hypnosis,
was more subtle than one would expect
II would not" she said take watch,
even if l knew the suggestion was made
as an experiment, becaase this would be
pretending 10 commit a crime. l would,
however, put piecei of sugar into
friends cup If ! were sure IL were sugar,
even though some one said II was ar
senic; because then i should not be the
one who was pretending to commit
crime"
II was objected by critics that this was
not a fair test of whether person under
hypnotic influence5would commit crime
In the first place, person without lat
ent criminal instincts would not commit
a crime as such, but would do so II made
to believe that il was an innocent act
Such persons would sign a document, for
instance or commit an, assault, If told to
defend themselves The subject cannot be
deprived OF all volition and become
mere automaton, but DR.. Bramwell gave
a wonderful instance of dual mental ac-
tivity on the part of a subject who wrote
automatically the result of problem
suggested to him in hypnosis, while at
the same time he concentrated his at
tention on reading aloud from book he
had not read before. DIR. Bramweli, who
said he 'hypnotiZed" the majority of his
patients In his rounds, usually leaving
them quietly asleep, also taught them to
hypnotize themselves. and considered
that the whole system was devoid of dan
ger or unpleasant symptoms We are not
surprised that other medical men do not
accept this theory. There is the hyp-
nosis. and the danger of one individual
becoming TO q large extent, the passive
agent of another.
DR. Benedict, professor of neurology at
the University of Vienna, who has had
thirty years experience in hypnotism,
considers that it may become danger
Gus to the nerves, to the intellect to the
strength of WILL and the character of pa
tients." The opinion of the majority of
medical men at the congress was that
hypnotism was a dangerous tool Tor the
general practitioner to use. No one now
denies that good results follow the adop-
tion of hypnotism, particularly in the
case of mental diseases, or any trouble
arising from depression and insomnia,
but IL cannot be used indiscriminately
with advantage. When the doctors them
selves do not yet understand all the phe-
nomena of hypnotism, it is too soon to
talk of it's general application.