St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-04-05
FROGS UNDER HYPNOTIC SPELL

lated her experience in hypnotizing
frogs. According to this lady, frogs,
which have lived in an aquarium
through the winter, and have become
very much emaciated by spring, as
result of long fasting, are particu-
larly well adapted for experiments OF
| this kind. It appears it is only neces-
sary then to turn them on their
backs to have them at once fall into
the hypnotic state and shortly into the
cataleptic, in which condition the
sense organs suspend operation, that
of feeling, including sensibility to
pain, becoming dulled, while the pu-
pills of the eyes contract, the action
of the heart slackens and the respira-
tory movements become barely per-
ceptible, this state lasting for half
hour or longer.
Other experiments referred to by,
Miss Stefanowski showed that when
they were deprived of water-that is,
kept in a comparatively dry place,
they were also susceptible to hypnotic
influences, and that frogs freshly re-
ceived in the spring had the same
tendency, but were more resistant,
though gradually losing this quality
with the prolongation of fasting. She
also found that from this profound
hypnotic condition they could be re-
vived Immediately with the vapor of
ether, chloroform or alcohol, and that
the sudden or progressive elevation
of temperature interrupted the hyp-
motto state, while on the contrary the
lowering of the temperature seemed
favorable to it.
In commenting on Miss Stefanow-
skis address, Prof. N. Vaschidi re-
marks, referring to the accompanying
illustrations, that in looking at them,
it is impossible to resist comparing
their positions with those taken by
hysterical persons when in the hyp-
motto state and noticing their similar
ity. He then goes on to give some ex-
periments of his own in hypnotizing
frogs, in which he repeated those of
Miss Stefanowski, obtaining substan-
TALLY the same results, but in addition
lie tried what he could do with we'll
fed frogs, in perfect condition, by SIM
ply fixing their gaze with his own.
This was somewhat difficult to accom-
plish, but by holding them in his hand
on their backs he succeeded in a num-
Der of instances in putting them to
sleep, and though his success was I'M
even, he expresses himself as being
satisfied that they can be hypnotized
by the eye as effectually as human be-
ings He next experimental with
frogs in their natural condition by
placing them in a basin or bowl of
water on table where he could fix
himself in an easy position. He de-
scribes these attempts as very ardu-
Gus, and states that he had to gaze a
them for long time, but that event.
ually he succeeded, as was abundantly
shown by the attitude of attention
and ecstacy assumed by the frogs, to-
gether with the fact that there was no
reaction when they were touched with
q feather or red-hot wire. From this
condition, however, though profound,
he says, they revived very quickly and
frequently with a jump. We have
here, he remarks in conclusion, con-
dition which makes us wonder at the
nature of this mysterious force that
proceeds from the windows of our psy-
cho-organic life, affecting in truly
anaesthetic manner both men and ami
mails.