The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-07-03

over heels, and yet savant and COM
moner both seem to look into it with
the same degree of interest, the pro-
fessional instinct ofthe first being coun-
terbalanced by the curiosity Of the 9TH
er. Experiments made by the most
famous French hypnotists show the
singular fact that in spite of the sup
posed inferority of woman to man in
point Of nervous and physical organl-
cation, it is third easier to place a
man under the influence of hypnotism
than it is to induce a woman to accept
hypnotic suggestion.
Perhaps the leading mind among the
French scientists who have devoted
their attention solely to hypnotism, is
DR.. Liebeault. He has paid particular
attention to the difference between the
sexes in the matter of acceptance Of
hypnotic suggestion. A series Of eX-
periments at Nancy, the doctors home,
extending through twelve months, firm
ly esta blished the truth of the asser-
ton made regarding the sexes. During
the time mentioned, DR.. Liebeault caus
ed, by hypnotic power, 6S3 persons to
sink into a deep sleep. It was shown
beyond question that the influence Of
the scientist upon the person in point
of sex was exactly in the proportion
stated.
PROBABLY LACKS STRENGTH.
Opinions differ widely as to the rea-
son for this. 1t is generally thought
however, that it is because the mind
Of woman lacks the strength Of that of
a man. It is often true that a person
Of exceedingly nervous temperament,
lacking in measure ability to concen-
trate thought, is a very poor subject
for the hypnotist. This Is shown by
the fact that it is rarely possible to
actually hypnotic person whose mind
is unbalanced. 1t is, as matter of
fact, almost impossible to place per-
son under hypnotic influence unless the
mind of the subject is passive and is
acquiescent to the wish of the hyp-
notist.
DR.. Liebeault is, as stated, the leader
Of the scientists who have made hyp-
notiSm the study of their lives. What
ever he says upon the subject may be
accepted as the latest and most forti-
fled opinion Of those whose views re-
garding hypnotism are worthy of con-
sideration. 1t is, therefore, no ordin-
airy statement which follows, just as it
came from the lips of the distinguished
savant and made as the result of a re-
quest to enlighten the American peo-
pie regarding the latest and most con-
vincing facts regarding hypnotism, the
majority of which will be found en-
t1rely new to the non-scientific reader:
1T may surprise you to know" said
DR.. Liebeault, that it is possible to
hypnotic e5 Per cent Of mankind. The
remaining per cent are impervious to
the direction Of the hypnotist, let him
be Of as strong mind as he may. All
these persons who are susceptible to
the influence of hypnotism are not af-
INV
means. The influence of the hypnotist
on women is very different than upon
the sterner sex. It is more difficult for
a woman to fix her attention upon a
given object than for a man to do So
Just why this is I cannot tell Of
course, we all have our theories. This
much we know, that woman does not
possess the power of concentration Civ
en- to man. That is my explanation.
You see, this is the case. Persons
who are easily distracted, who from
nature or training, have not the power
of fixing the attention or concentrat-
ing thought, and persons in agitation
those who are heavy and dull, idiots
whose brains lack the power of under
standing what is required of them
these are the least capable of hypno-
sis
MERELY MAKING SUGGESTIONS.
Lie CSillIdl luSd Ol lily D1lOllSIn is
simple enough. It is merely making a
suggestion to a certain person, instead
of that person making the suggestion
fer himself. The hypnotist must be
able to impress that suggestion on the
mind of the subject so thoroughly that
the result will be the same as if it came
from the individual himself. To do
this, the subject must first be placed
III the hypnotic state. When in this
state he is practically asleep.
The process of placing a subject in
the so-called hypnotic state is simple.
despite the great efforts which have
been made to cloak j.. about with
mysterious rites and incantations
When one wants to produce hypnosis in
its most ordinary form, he asks the
patient to fix his eyes upon the orbs of
the hypnotist's, that is, himself. This
is the first step towards concentration
The subject is desired in this wav tn
free himself from direct excitation. such
as light, sound and touch. In order ~
produce this, it is necessary for a per
son to possess the faculty of cones Mira
tlCn. In other words, it requires a
strong mind to gradually slacken men
tai activity. strange as that may seem
POWER OF THE WILL
"This state Of affairs being arrived