The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-03-18
HYPNOTISM IN MEDICINE.
DIR. QUACKENBOs TELLS OF ITS
USES, BENEFITS AND DANGERS.

NunuOt DO "EohA"s
But Certain Ailments, Physical and Ner'
vous, May He Treated with success-E,tl
Uses Made of 1t by Quacks and Others.
Undoubtedly hypnotism is taking a definite
and important place In medical science. The
profession is recognizing more and more every
year the benehcent possibilities OF hypnotism.
and the Discrimination 10 acknowledge indebted
ness u hypnotic principles Is gradually becoming
less pronounced"
The speaker was DIR. John ID. Quackenbos.
formerly adjunct professor Of English literature In
Columbia University, and this statement was made
In res ponse TO a question from aSuN reporter as "
the extent Of the practice OF hypnotism In modern
medicine. During his proiessorship at Columbia
DR.. Quackenbos was a practising physician, and
since his recent resignation from the faculty he
he has devoted all his time 10 his practice and " the
study OF hypnotism Of which he has been an earnest
advocate as an aid " medical and surgical practice.
The study Of subliminal Consciousness evoked
from an individual personality by hypnotism
has received much attention from him and he was
prominently quoted In the newspapers last year
for his Assertions that many hypnotic subjects
recalled various and widely diverse selves when
under the influence. He has also declared that
he know OF u young woman who, when hypnotiDed.
has the power Of clairvoyance, and can describe
accurately scenes hundreds Of miles away 10 which
she is transported in spirit. This u~tterance reused
much criticism among medical men.
When psychology was a less advanced and
definite science he continued, land the theory d
a duplex personality was less commonly accepted.
reputable physicians had a feeling that hypnotism
savored Of charlatanism and was outside the
legitimate province Of medicine, Even to-day,
many physicians distrlst the psychological science
OF mental suggestion and refuse ~ accept its
theories and its results. but the progressive and
liberal element in tho profession IL deeply in.
terested in the experiments with hypnotls as a
healing agent, and many OF the most prominent
physicians in the world are making frequent
use OF mental suggestion in the treatment OF cases.
Some Of these doctors, yielding " a public preiu.
dice which is merely the result OF ignorance and
is rapidly lessening a. the principles Of psychology
become more widely known and understood,
refrain from admitting their Indebtedness To hyp-
notism and seem ashamed - be found making
use Of il, but others come out boldly announcing
their belief in the power and virtue Of the science.
Constant experiments are being made by
medical societies and by individuals, and the
results Of these experiments with the truths de-
ducible from them are absolutely prodigious.
Neurologists find auto and posthypnolc sug-
gestion particularly valuable In their special
province, and in all nerve diseases hypnotism
can 10 used with most beneficial results. but its
curative power isn't limited 10 neurasthenia.
Leaving the moral possibilities Of hypnousm out
Of the question and keeping strictly 10 thera-
peuucs, experiment has proved and medical jour
mails have admitted that the subliminal or auto
matte mind, which lies back Of the objective per-
sonality. can directly influence many of the vital
processes, the circulation. the digestive functions.
&c. That is, thu automatic mind can control
the outgo Of nervous force TO vital organs. In
addition 10 this, hypnotic suggestion can put
the mind into a cheerful optimistic attitude toward
the disease. The treatment is usually supple
mented with auto-suggeslon, which might he
called self hypnotism. An objective conscious
ness can suggest so forCibly 10 its own subjec-
tive consciousness that il, will itself be sv aged
in turn by tho subjective consciousness which
il hasimpressed. Does that sound formidable 1t
is in tellicible enoughif you once admit, the duplex
personality, and one must soon admit that, IL
be studies psychology. To use a commonplace
Illustration every merchant in the town is I'M
| Willingly ayailing himself OF the phenomena Of
uto-suggestion He puts in his windows q dis
play calculated to appeal 10 the senses. This
| display does appeal ~ the senses. 10 the objective
| consciousness, which Immediately goes 10 work
upon the subjective consciousness and impressed
II with the desiralility VI the arlic!e for which
probably the person has no real need or uSh. Then
comes the reflex Influence, and the automatic
OF subjective mind persuades the objective con.
sciuusurSs 10 buy. That's a very weak and w.
important illustration, but apply the principle
10 more serious things and you can see It's value,
Faith in a doctor ~ healer u any kind inspires
auto suggestion, and 50 Is an Important factor
in the recovery OF health. Christian science,
faith cure. magnetic healing and the rest Of the
healing cults are all based on this scientific pm
Cipl, II auto suggestion, and owe TO II all their
power. Auto suggestion | consider Tie greatest
! miracle Of the mind, and its possibilities iui good
are simply tremendous, It's Il pity that every one
du-sn A., Know it, value and cultivate H. The
state Just preceding sleep at might II the best
time for experiment Impress firmly upon your
subjective mind then that YOU Will wakcn without
headache and feeling cheerful, and the chances
are that you will do so. Repetition might after
might Of n certain resolve, conc ming moral
or mental OF physical condition will do wonders
toward bringing about the desired moral. mental
or physical result,
Nov. the physicians recognize TIE value Of
this auto suggestion, and employ the principle
within rational limits Auto and pDsthypnotic
suggestion ARE u''d by reputable Physicians
! rlNays With reference 70 what ~ practical and
puSslhle as well a, 10 wlet is desirable, and never
ir dcCelviug the patient and inspiring faith in
the impossible thr ugh persuasion II Tie uncun-
Sc!uus self that miracles are not ont Of date, That
is where the 1lcal profession differs from
| christian Sci, The basi, of I Tristan Science
is lie pnndpl o.. u suCrr,uon but the Christian
scientist has - ifuutery L. promise tie lmpos-
sibia Hs well q ne ppSlhle Ne CONSCIENTIOUS
physician pied the impossible 10 any patient
IN the hope Of Il. npurarIly eleyaung tie physical
ar mental condition II the patient With n view 10
uh,ruring the inevitable end To do 80 would
be immoral
How lar, then. can the conscientious physician
make use # hypr, Tie phenomena asked the
reporter
I know II no Authen ticated case where a So
! called luCurgble dIseNse- that is, organic disease
i~nvOlNlng auatDmlCHl dltetA uOn, dissolution Of us
sues, has been cured by mental suggestion. Such
cases have been reported 10y healers u one sort
ur another, hut I've nut found irrefu'nble prof
Of them II such Il case were cured, il wOuld he
a definite miracle aud setting aside Of natural
be cured by faith that is, by mental suggestion,
without any pretenCc of miracle. II is. | believe,
ard | think all reputable physicians Practising
| hypnOtism agree with lie, tic duty Of the sUE-
Tcstiuuist 10 represent to a sufferer from organic
disease, the benefits that may reasonably I've eX-
pect"d from the Application Of hypHu-sclenCe
Thcsc benefits one mlght class under three heads
i The control 81 nervous symptoms through
redistribution Of nerve energy.
- The establishment Of functional harmony
and inducing Of sleep
3 h" lutpnSluCatOn OF normal powers OF
endurance and resignation.
These things, the physician may promise,
but 30 miraculous cure, The respUn a bllty OF
accepting ~ declining treatment by suggestion
as thus explained must rest with the patient"
What about the possibilities of by pnOusm
in the treatment Of insanity, DR.. QuacLenbosr
We hardly like To- express conclusions on that
subject as Vet We are really only at the first Of
mental science. you know In cases OF neuras-
resulting from nerve disorder, mental suggestion
! Cnn Internationally HpTpmDliSh TamArkObla "a