The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-07
INDIANAPOLIS GIRL At A
PARIS HYPNOTIC CLINIC
Florence Haywood Tells Of a Visit
to DR.. Berillon, a Nerve
Specialist.
SUGGESTION IN MEDICINE,
Hvpnotism a Science in France
Experience of Patients-The
Doctors Methods.
SUGGESTION IN MEDICINE
Special Correspondence of the Journal.

Special Correspondence Of the Journal.
PARIS. Jan. 2S.-Through the influence
of French acquaintances we twice visited
a hypnotic clinic of Doctor Berillon, one of
the greatest nerve specialists of Paris. The
word hypnotism. so banded about in Amer
lea that Ii has become almost a synonym
for charlatanism retains here in Paris the
respeetof scientists. There are regular con-
ferences held in the Institute Psycho-Phiso-
logque, where the most learned physicians
meet to compare experiences, whose presi-
dent is the head of the ward for idiotic
children az the Salpetriere, Frances great
hospital for nerve diseases. There elm
les conducted by specialists, at which young
doctors and nurses assist and there is the
Review of Hypnotism. which is more bulky
than our Science Monthly, and which is now
in its fifteenth year.
In our visit we were led through two
large rooms. well equipped for scientific in
vestigations, to a smaller room, dimly light
ed. The first sensation was one of revul-
sion almost fear such as is produced by
reading Rider Haggard's works. On
couches. in chairs. half reclining, half sit
ting, were more than dozen people asleep.
There was something in the pose of the
arms, the erectness Of the head that in the
eans I'm WENT Ana abo 6ne poy
whispering, now TO a white-haired woman
past fifty. now to young man well dressed.
she came from the working people. While
We sat there scarcely daring 10 breathe,
two others came in to be treated. One was
an elderly woman suffering from slight
paralysis She was seated in reclining
chair, and electric Jet emitting blush.
violet light was placed just above her be-
humDed snouioer. lHen nurse, young
woman OF strong physique and powerful
gray eyes, leaned over her, gently whisper
ing. In few moments the woman was
perfectly quiet, but the nurse said she was
With the other, young girl the doctors
had difficulty. She wished to be hypnotized
TO be cured of a nervous trouble, but un-
consciously resisted the influence. Several
means were tried, that of looking in the
eyes. of tipping the head slowly backward.
of placing a bright revolving cylinder be
fore her, but all were unsuccessful, She
was sent away and told to return the next
day. With new patients the attempts have
to be repeated often several times before
the subject responds TO the influence.
A CURIOUS CASE.
There was one exceedingly curious case.
woman who sewed in a large workshop
had great fear Of mad dogs. Perfectly
sane in other respects. she began by de-
grees to be afraid OF all dogs. fearing TO be
bitten. and at the time she entered DR.. Ber-
lions care her imagination had so far pos
that she might go mad and bite her COM
panions who sat sewing around her. OF
course. II is needless TO say that the woman
was weak-willed and exceedingly subject TO
suggestion.
During her first visit DIR. Berillon was
kept busy with private patients whom he
treats both by medicine and hypnotism.
We have been told that his results of sug
gestion have been perfect in the cases of
stammering, suffering. biting the nails.
kleptomania, and innumerable nervous dis
eases.
The day after Christmas the Office was
less crowded and DR.. Berillon gave
special exhibition of what can be done.
After lightly blowing on the eyes of the pa
tents and whispering, You are awake,
you will remember what have said TO
you. he sent away all but the woman who
has fear of hydrophObia.
Come" he said.
The nurse took her hand, and the woman
followed obediently out into room full Of
daylight. The nurse smiled. The woman
mechanically returned the smile, her eyes
expressionless. The doctor placed his hand
upon her head
What you need he said. lis will power.
You VIII think and act for yourself. You
will act slowly and calmly"
He then gave her physical suggestions,
so tnat ner heart would be regular her di-
gestive functions act properly. One treat
ment was especially curious; he took her
arm and moved it slowly back and forth
from her mouth, saying:
we'll"
lneh began the Clrect suggestion.
You must have pleasant thoughts" he
said lou are in a meadow gathering
flowers. Pick some and put them in your
apron
And as he stopped she did so, gathering in
the vacant air
See he added" this gentle. curly
haired little dog: pet him. All dogs love
YOU You Will be kind to dogs. You like
dogs. Dogs never hurt men. they are the
friends and companions of men,"
After she was led back and awakened II
ed m . a ran1 fxs Z hot -
what careless. smiling woman, talking nat
uraily 10 4 companion, could be the same
that We had seen with the vacant face
In fact. though we have all read of such
things in trustworthy scientific magazines
IL Is almost too much TO ask an American
10 believe any of IL until he sees for himself
The paroxysms TO which this woman is
subject are slowly becoming less. and there
is but little doubt that unless help had been
given her. she would have ended in the in
sane asylum.
Statistics show that while no impression
can be made upon 20 per cent of those
treated over 80 per cent. are cured and 9th
ers benefited.
DR.. Berillon, speaking about the weak
ness or the wOnlan's Will and her suscpn-
tibility 10 influence said:
Hypnotic suggestion does not harm peo-
pie or strong viii IL is as II | took your
arm. which might be a little weak mus
cularly. and helped you 10 exercise IL until
find a certain mental action difficult sug-
gestion simply exercises the function as
gymnastics do the body. until by yourself
you can do what perhaps before was nearly
impossible. FLORENCE HAYWOOD.