The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-29
HYPNoTIsM IN A HOSPITAL.
To Be Employed in the Place of
Anaesthetfcs.

| NEW YORK. April 8.-Bushwick Hos
pital is to be the scene of an interesting
| experiment in surgery. The hospital
staff has decided to use hypnotism in
| stead of ether in cases where hypnotic in
| fiuence can be employed in place Of
anaesthetics. In accordance with the de-
eision. Charles II. Thurling. the young
th:s:pnotist and magnetic healer. has been
engaged to give his services to the hos
pital whenever called upon.
Dr. Frank Clarke and Dr. John J..
DeOling, of the Bushwick surgical staff,
| have been impressed by the ability shown
by Mr.. ThurIing and believed that his
| gifts could be employed to advantage in
the HOSPITAL. In France it has been a
common practice in the best hospitals to
use hypnotism instead of ether. Leading
New York physicians have repeatedly
declared that America is behind the
times in not taking proper advantage of
hypnotism in surgical cases.
Mr. ThurIing will have a fair trial at
the hospital, and If he succeeds. the use
of hypnotism Will undoubtedly become
general in hospitals in this city. for the
surgical stats of all institutions are
awaiting the result of the experiments
at the Bushwick Hospital.
Mr. Thurling was twenty three years
old last November, and is tall. wiry.
muscular, and full of energy. His black
eyes are large and piercing, and give an
Impression of reserve strength. He SAID
yesterday:
4 wish people would not speak of my
hypnotic power 1t isn't a power. It's
simply influence. l cannot hypnOtize
person against his will. Contrary to popu-
lar belief. it is the strong and not the
weak m~rtalities that are subject to
hypnotisul One cannot hypnotiZe the
weak-ninded. The whole thing is simply
mental suggestion. The subject must be
absolutely passive and in sympathy with
the hypnotist. 1t is true that have been
engaged to treat cases at the Bushwick
Hospital 1 anticipate full success with
patients there, for l have met with graft
flying success in the cases L have treated
privately.
Il remedied a womans eyesight recent
Iy | am meeting with much success in
curing a-young man of stammering- In
curing rheumatism, govt, toothache, neu-
ralgia, etc, l am very successful. For
these surgical cases in which 1 shall use
my gift it is not necessary that l shall
be present while the operations are per-
formed. l can put the subject under
hypnotic influence hours before the oper-
alton. if necessary.
THE fear that persons under the in
fiueuce of hypnotiSm will commit murder
or other crimes is unfounded. l have tried
repeatedly to get subjects to stab me
when they are under my hypnotic in
iiuence but they invariably drop the
knife and awake from the trance"
Mr. Thurling was born in Herkimer
Street, Brooklyn. He attended Public
School No. 45 on Lafayette Avenue, near
Classon. and was graduated from the
Brooklyn High School. Then he attended
the New York Institute of Science, from
which he graduated in January. 1880 1t
was through DR.. X La Mott Sage, of this
city that Mr.. ThurIing's interest in hyp-
rOtism was aroused
Mr.. Thurling's great-grandfather, Capt.
Michael DoGgherty. carried to England
the declaration of war of this country
against Great Britain in 1872 During the
Spanish var Mr.. ThurIIng was first ser
seaTt Vi Company Z, 201st Regiment