Omaha daily bee., 1898-10-09
HYPNOTIsM BY DOCTORS.
Discussion by Reputable English
PhNsicinns of Their Experienccs.

Discussion by Reputable English
Physicians of Their Experiences.
Should hypontism be used by doctors in
their ordinary practice? That question has
Just been seriously discussed by the British
Medical association at it's annual congress,
reports the London Chronicle Without
bringing any new discoveries to light the
discussion shows that English medical men
do not cling to the old prejudices against
the therapeutic varue of hypnotism. Some
are anxiousy seeking to fathom the fasci-
| mating mysteries connected with hypnotism,
and to test its practical value by actual ex-
pertinent. All the theories Of the Nancy
school, or the miraculous cures at the Sal
petriere, are not now accepted, but we have
doctors who hypnotic their patients in
stead of drugging them. The discussion
was raised on a 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 depres-
sion were got rid of, suicidal tendencies re-
moved, anaemia cured, and troubles arising
chiefly from mental characteristics were
treated successfully. 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
son but she steadily grew worse. She was
wheeled about in bath chair. a 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 wilf not lack pa
tients. He has studied the subject carefully,
while practicing it, and confirms the belief,
now generally accepted that the subject
under hypnotism does not lose all sense of
personal identity, or all power Of indepen-
dent action. In every case DR.. Bramwell's
patients were, Of course, willing subjects.
He found that subject on his suggestion
would not steal a watch because she knew
it was wrong, but she would put lump of
sugar in a friends cup If told it were arse
mic. The explanation she gave for this dis
tinction, when in hypnosis, was more subtle
than one would expect ~ would not" she
said. take watch even IL l knew the
suggestion was made as an experiment be-
cause this would be pretending to commit
a crime. l would, however, put a piece Of
sugar into a friends cup If I were sure it
were sugar, even though someone said 1t
was arsenic; because then / should not be
the one who was pretending to commit
crime"
1t was objected by critics that this was
not fair test OF whether person under
hypnotic influence would commit crime. In
the first place, person without latent Grim
inal instincts would not commit a crime as
SUCH but would do so II made to believe
that it was an innocent act. Such persons
would sign document, for instance, or COM
NIT an assault IL told to defend themselves.
The subject cannot be deprived Of all voli-
tion and become a mere automaton, but DR..
Bramwell gave a wonderful instance of dual
mental activity on the part of a subject
who wrote automatically the result of a
problem suggested to him in hypnosis, while
at the same time he concentrated his atten
ton on reading aloud from book he had
not read before DR.. Bramwell, who said
he "hypnotized" the majority Of his patients
in his rounds, usually leaving them quietly
asleep, also taught them to hypnotize them
selves, and considered that the whole system
was devoid of danger or unpleasant symp-
toms. We are not surprised that other med
ical men do not accept this theory. There
is the danger of creating a morbid craving
for hypnosis, and the danger Of one individ-
ual becoming to large extent the passive
agent OF another.
DR.. Benedikt, professor of neurology at the
University of Vienna, who has had thirty |
years experience in hypnotism considers |
that it "may become dangerous to the |
nerves, to the intellect, to the strength Of
will and the character OF patients" The !
opinion of the majority OF medical men at
the congress was that hypnotism was dan
gerous tool for the general practitioner to
use. No one now denies that good results |,
follow the adoption of hypnotism, particu-