The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1904-12-15

IY EBSTER defines hypno-
A/ tism as an artificial sleep or
Y somnambulism, involving
suspension of some powers,
and unusual activity of others. Prof.
E. W. Scripture in his textbook on
Thinking, Feeling and Doing, says:
"The methods of rapidly fatiguing
another have lately been brought
into notice by hypnotic exhibitions.
Preparatory to influencing person
by suggestion he is often reduced to a
half dazed condition by steadily gazing
ct q bright object, by repeated bright
flashes, by monotonous noises, by regu-
lar strokes of the hand, etc. This
process consists essentially of fatigue
of attention. 1t is generally called,
hypnotism. The name seems justi-
fed as the resulting condition resem-
bles the somnambulistic form of sleep
where the patient Is half awake. The
means employed are close copies of
well known methods of avoiding Sleep
lessness. Steadily gazing at the ceiling.
the hum of q dynamo on shipboard,
the roar of the falls, the grinding
of mill, the tick of watch under
a, pillow, and the stroking of an
invalid's brow-these have banished
many an hour of hopeless tossing"
Excessive cases of the effect of at
tention are seen in the men of one
interest and the men of one idea. We
have men who will listen to nothing
but discussions of Shakespeare, others
whose sole idea lies in pork. The ma
jority of US doubtless accept as true
the fact of the effect of strong mind
upon a weaker one, and concede that
the latter is generally easily Influenced
by the former. Tradition long ago
established the fact of the Survival of
the Fittest," meaning, doubtless thereby,
as it is generally accepted, the Survival
of the Strong, or in other words, that
the strong shall triumph over the weak,
physically as we'll as morally. Educa-
tion plays but small part in fitting
one to the task of exercising hypnotic
power.
The excessive cases f,the effect of
attention are seen in the men of one
idea, as stated by Prof. Scripture, are Of
ten seen in business and professional
life. If we were going to make an in
vestment in pork we would not ask the
advice of the Shakespearean scholar as
to the probable course of the market
and whether we should bull or bear.
Nor would we seek the opinion of the
pork authority on some question in
: volving Shakespeare, for instance as to
whether Shakespeare or Bacon was the
author of what purports to be Shakes
peare's plays and poems.
We have the days of specialization
= in the world of medicine, law, science,
and kindred acts, and it is but natural
for us when seeking advice on any
question to consult specialist in that
particular branch. The average man,
be he farmer orgrocer, almost invari-
ably when in need of legal or medical
advice goes to lawyer or doctor, and
the same is true of the lawyer and
doctor when conditions arise in their
own profession which place them en-
tirely out of their element-they seek
advice of some specialist in the re-
quired line. And it is true that in
receiving the advice sought both the
professional man as well as the lay
man are not only Influenced by the
suggestions of their adviser, but are
convinced by 1t and proceed accord
ingly.
To my mind there is a vest differ
ence between the "use of hypnotic
power" and the "men of one idea."
The latter require education, be it
Pork, Shakespeare, or Law; the former
does not-all he needs is to be a good
judge of human nature, even tempered,
cheerful and persistent. The average
hypnotist, that is the one who follows
it as profession, giving public ex-
hibitions of his powers, is, to borrow
a popular vulgarism, fake.
One instance which came under my
observation, clearly demonstrates this
A travelling hypnotist came to the
little city where was living and pro-
ceeded to exhibit. His main feature