The times., 1901-04-01
HYPNoTIsM BY TELEPHONE.
A Remarkable Experiment Reported
From Houston. Texas.

HOUSTON, Tex. March 31.-Hypnotism
by long-distance telephone has been sue
cessfuIly tried between this place and
Beaumont, distance OF eighty-hve miles.
Prof. Lawrence II. Kenner made the ex
pertinent, and the two subjects. immedi
ately he spoke to them over the phone.
dropped into an absolute condition OF
syncope The tests are vouched for by
reputable physicians and citizens.
Prof. Kenner has contended that he was
able To hypnotic subject at distance.
Notwithstanding the fact that his voice.
which is supposed TO control the action
OF the subject. would sound different
over the telephone Prof Kenner was to
have been summoned as a witness in the
Patrick Rice trial in New York City TO
demonstrate that by hypnotic suggestion
he could force the signature of a person
to any instrument. The confession OF
Valet Jones obviated the necessity of his
presence.
Prof. Kenner left Houston on the ! a
n. train for Beaumont. accompanied by
two reputable citizens. who were 10 see
that he did not communicate with the
subjects. During the day the telephone
company placed two Instruments in
room al the fremont Hotel. and at so
D. m. six OF the most prominent physi-
clans and twenty spectators assembled
TO witness the test.
Shortly before o'clock several citizens
talked with friends in Beaumont and at
5:7 o'clock Prof. Kenner called up and
asked that the subjects be sent into the
room.
Walker and Gobel, the two subjects,
put the phone to their ears. They lis
tened attentively for a moment, and with
in three minutes fell over insensible. They
were placed on cots and the physicians
made an examination of their conditions.
The pulses as taken by Drs. Ehrenwerth
and Boyd were as follows:
At 6:ds o'clock GobeIs pulse was Id,
Walkers I30 At SOS O'Clock Gobel's show
Ell l56 and Walkers $ no BY clock Co
beTs pulse was 81 and Walkers ST.
The men were apparently enjoying
calm sleep. The physicians used every
possible means TO restore the men to
consciousness. They Were stood on their
head cold water dashed upon them.
spirits of ammonia held under their nos
trils, and a hatpin was stuck through the
lip of Walker, but without effect.
The Southern Pacific Railroad officials
To aid the experiment stopped their ex-
press train ut Beaumont, and at $50
o'clock Prof. kenner started back 70
Houston He reached there at S:+5 o'clock
ana went to the room where his subjects
Are you satisfed?'' he asked of the
physicians.
When assured that they regarded his
experiment as a complete success he
snapped his fingers and said: Come.
boys. wake up.
With a start both subjects opened their
eyes and gaZed at the crowd surrounding
them They said they felt no i'll effects
from their unnatural sleep.
one of the peculiar features of the eX-
u,srfment was that when DR.. Boyd stuck
the hat pin through the subjects lip
while he was under hypnotic influence no
blood came from the wound, nor was
there any sign of where the pin had en-
tered the flesh.
Prof Kenner has given many exhibi-
tiOns here, and his standing is VOuched
for by the leading citizens of the place.
DIR. Ehreuwerth. who made an uusuc-
ceSsful effort TO arouse the subjects while
they were in "A hypnotic trance during
the experiment. said: Il took particular
note of the fact that the pupils In the
eyes of both subjects We're abnormally
dilated, and, further. that no matter
which position the head was placed IN
the ball of the eye remained in exactly
the same position. moving neither 10 the
right of the eve nor to the left. The whole
body felt clammy. In fact, much like
that of corpse Immediately after death
must confess that I was tribe skep
tical regarding Prof kenners ability 10
hvprotiZr over the telephone but | am
willing 10 admit now. after seeing with
my own eyes. that l am thoroughly con-
WINGED of kenucrs unusual power. An
other thing which ! noticed was that the
hatpin stuck through the lip of Walker
left no mark whatever and not drop OF
blood issued when the pin was Withdrawn.
The phenomenon 1 cannot account for.
Taking Prof. kenners experiment all in
all / consider it most remarkable ac-
complishment.
The other physicians who were present
-Drs Boyd Beatty Archer. Hodges
Smith and Larendon-are among the best
known professional men of Houston
They admit the success Of the tests.
Prof Kenner had not seen the subjects
upon whom he experimental for more
than thirty-siX hours previous TO the test
and they had been at their places OF
business-at worl-for more than ten
hours before being hypnotized.