The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1899-08-08
HYPN0TISM CURES CRIME
PROFESSOR eUAcKENeos's REMARK.
ABLE PLAN FOR REFORMING MEN

ESerted ON Cigarette smokers AN,
Drunkards-PossibiIit of HIS Plan
Professor John Duncan Quackenbo,
of Columbia L University, New Yorl
City, makes the following Statement
IN the Sun with regard TO his plan foi
reforming men by means of hynotism
Hypnosis, or hypnotic sleep, implie,
mind condition in which the menta
action and the will power Of sensi
tive subject are under the control OF
an operator who has induced the state
1t Is characterized by insensibility tc
eXtraneOus sounds or retinal images
and to ordinary impressions of sense
organs, but by quickened perception
of sensations pictured by the hypnotist
a hynotized person sees, hears,
tastes, smells and feels what the oper
ator says that he sees, hears. tastes,
smells and feels-aud nothing else.
For the time being his individuality is
surrendered to the person who has
hynotized him. As rule he gives
heed to the voice Of ~ other person,
and none but his hynotizer can awaken
him. Foolish attempts on the part OF
thoughtless or ignorant spectators 10
Interfere in the way of suggesting or
awakening from sleep have been fol-
lowed by distressing and even alarm.
ing symptoms.
Hypnosis is commonly induced by
concentrating the attention of the sub
Iect upon some bright object like the
nickel-plated point protector of n lead
pencil, II stud in the shirt bosom, or
the eyes of the operator. The writer
uses an old-fashioned gold pencil.
columnar in shape, with a large car
nelian capital; and this is held in such
position rs to cause the eyes of the
patient, who should always recline.
both to look upward and to converge.
The prolonged unusual exercise of the
eye muscles involved soon tires them
out, the lids begin to culver, and the
suggestion Is then quietly given that
refreshing sleep is about to ensue.
Usually from two to fifteen minutes
are occupied in bringing about hypno-
SIS; but there are refractory cases that
require from one to two hours of in
tense mental effort on the part of the
physician. In such instances the pro-
cedure described above may be profit
ably supplemented by light passes, or
by holding firmly the hand Of the
patient and concentrating the whole
force of ones will in an effort to over
come his automatic resistance to hypno-
tization.
The possibility of hypnotism de-
ponds on the existence Of n special
sympathy or rapport between the
hypnotist and the hypnotized subject
What proportion of human beings are
gifted with the power to establish this
essential rapport is not known. 1t is
the opinion of the writer that every
person of average intellectual capacity
can hypnotic somebody, and that the
great mass of human being are hypno.
tizable.
The phenomena of hypnotism are
scientifically explicable on the suppo-
sition OF a double self, or duplex per
sOnality, each self having Il distinct
state OF consciousness. One of these
states is called the primary conscious
ness, and for want of better deiini-
ton 1t may be explained as the self
luminoGsncss of the objective mind,
the inner light i'll which all mental
actions of the waking mind are made
visible TO that mind. The other called
the secondary consciousness. holds
these mental procedures of which we
know nothing-all automatic actions.
Each human being is thus an indi-
vidual with two distinct phases of ex-
istcnce. In hypnosis, the secondary
consciousness, called also the subiec-
tive mind aud tho subllmiual self, is
susceptible TO n kind Of impression by
suggestion, which is virtually the in
slnuation OF an impulse or belief into
the mind of the subject by repeated
gentle but emphatic declarations.
While the patient is in the hypnotic
con litiou, his subliminal self is in
control of his intellect, his emotions
and his will, and any suggestions
positively impressed upon it are full
filled Mt the time and after waking. 1t
IS not necessary to carry the patient
into the stage Of somnambulism,
whore the mind power is exalted aud
physical activity is increased, in order
TO secure the beneficial effect OF hyp-
nOtism. I'm the first stage OF deep
sleep the subliminal self uuhesitatinp-
~ accepts every emphatic statement Of
the hypnOtizer; aud even where hyp-
nosis Is not complete and q state Of
partial consciousness exists, sugges-
tions arc acluiesced in by the patient.
and the purpose I'M view is partially,
If not wholly, accomplished. no mat
ter how much the suggestions given
may clash with the dominant ideas or
everyday practices OF the patient I'm
this way are bauished from a sufferers
experience morbid mental states. de-
iusious, emotional weakness. hvsteri-
cal crises and insomnia Reputable
Physicians I'm this country, rs we'll as
abroad, are reporting cases by tho
thousand I'm which hypnotic treat
mcut has acted re- palliative or cure.
These cases include not only certain
nervous disorders, but also diseases
pa which pain is prominent symptom.
like sciaticu, md oven tuberculosis
and cancer The nervous symptoms
are brought uudcr the patients auto.
matte control the physical functions
OF digestion, absorption and rirrula
ton arc stimulated, tine appetite is
improved and sleep Is secured by the
establishment Of general functional
harmony.
Hypnotic treatment is frequently
reinforced 10y what is called auto-sug.
gsstion. Psychology has demonstrated
that the subjective mind of ,syen in
dividuGl is as amenable 20 suggestion
by his own objective mind ms bv the
gbfesff,-o mini 81 I'D. .l..r