The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-10

or clock work. usually the latter &C
count of its simplicity and portability. a
compact box holds the machinery and
above this projects a revolving pivot. One
Of the most successful alouettes revolves
two horizontal panels of ebony in opposite
directions, one above the other, the COM
mon axis being through their centers. Each
panel is studded on both sides with a row
of circular mirrors. seven in number These
will maintain a velocity of one revolution
to the second for a period OF one hour.
This mechanical enchanter is placed upon
cozily reclining upon bed or couch. gazes
steadily at the fash Of the mirrored mosaic.
The mirrors appear as distinct balls of
white fire, alternately glowing and disap-
pearing They spread, then fall together,
then appear like one solitary globe, and
again scatter into seven separate luminous
balls, as if manipulated by the hand of
skillful juggler The subject becomes fas-
cinated, and while his concentration is fixed
the monotony and ocular fatigue have con-
jured up a series of yawns Finally
heaviness of respiration signals a deep
sleep. One alouette has been known 10
hypnotic an entire clinic of patients at
one and the same time while the hypnotist
was out of the room. This occurred in the
clinic of DR.. Berillon, the noted hypnologist
of Paris.
MAGNESIUM LIGHT Is HYPNOTIC.
There are alouettes with single mirrored
blades Some have revolving wings, mold
ed like the wings of birds. Some revolve
boxes and other forms coated with mirror
surface The base of one is modelled in
the form of a vase rather than of box,
and the pivot rotates a small lamp with
concave reflector. Like a miniature flash
beacon the light alternately appears and
disappears. This device boasts of an adj
vantage over others in that its luminosity
is self-cOntained and that it may be en-
ployed in darkness. A magnesium light is
preferred for use within the lamp; mag
nesium rays are supposed to have extraor-
binary hypnotic power.
The vibrating coronet" was another de-
vice exhibited to me. This, just invented
by DR.. Cattle, of Paris, consists of three
bands of metal encircling the head Branch
strips extend to the eyelids, and by the
force of a spring gently vibrate against
them. BY manipulation of adjustments it
may be regulated to fit any head and TO
vibrate the lids of any eyes. Here is
engine for ocular fatigue, indeed. No, It's
not a freak invention. 1t is successfully
employed in the clinic of Berillon.
Stimuli of hearing as we'll as of sight and
touch are successfully employed; taste and
smell have generally given negative
suits. The ticking of a watch has been
used. The sudden stroke of a gong hyp-
notices veteran subjects in the Hospital
Salpetriere, Paris.
The first hypnotizer was given by Provi-
dence to our arboreal ancestors, the apes.
This the bough, the ancestor of the
cradle. When. the wind blew there was
communicated to the muscular sense of
baby ape a monotony of feeling and to
the ocular muscles, the air pressing against
the eyeids communicated fatigue. Savage
man employed monotony of sounds, such
as the magic drum beat of the Lapp. the
Indians song to the infant and the invalid
The Hesychasts of Mount Athos remained
motionless for days with their gaze fixed
upon selected object. The Taskedrugites
hypnotzed themselves by concentrating
their eyes upon their fingers held to their
noses and thus stood motionless for a long
period. Twelve thousand repetitions of the
sacred word "om" hypnotized the Dandins
of India until they became cataleptic.
And word as to the future: The pessi-
mists of science tell us that man is, day
after day, straying wider from Nature
path and following the high road toward
complete artifciality; that he is forgetting
how to sleep. Will he. some day. be de-
pendent upon these hypnoptic dynamos for
his nightly repose? Will he have to take an
alouette to bed with him every night and
keep the wheels agrinding out his sleep
until some attendant turns off the switch
TO wake him up? VIII ii come to this?
JOHN ELFRETH WATKINS, jr.
Copyright, 1902.