Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-25

him no pain, and he will not finch when
they are inserted. Quite readily the
subject be made to sign promissory notes,
deeds, checks, etc. After suggesting this,
one of these mail courses adds that the
crime thus induced could never be proven
If you commanded the subject before he did
1t that he would positively never have any
remembrance of the act" In one course
teaching hypnotic methods of disobeying
the laws to amateur practice of
medicine shows how cancer may be treated
by the newly made hypnotist rubbing his
fingers upon the sore, while concentrating
his mind upon its cure But the clair
voyant course is the most complicated.
The subject, under control. may be maze
to reveal the future of his own life; the
past and future of others.
The most baneful phase of this propa-
ganda is that there is a large element of
success in the teaching of mere methods OF
producing the hypnotic state. The writer
knows of a neurologist who has patronized
one of these mail courses simply to obtain
new methods which he uses with beneficial
result by emitting all of the dangerous ad-
vice intersprinkled. Many of the teachers
operat ting the mail courses are hypnotiStS
who can demonstrate their powers when
called upon to do so. Some of the most sue
cessful of these SVengalis turn out tactics
which, while pregnant with bad grammar,
are at the time full of ingenious
moduS operandi.
Tools of the Trade.
The amateur Svengali, having learned his
trade, Is flooded with advertisements of the
latest hypnotic paraphernalia. He finds in
the mail large sheet setting forth the
virtues of the hypnotic mirror" and there
are reproduced for his benefit photographs
illustrating the effects of this subtle en-
CINE. Groups of subjects in various stages
of slumber and catalepsy are SPRAYING
about table on which the mirror is whirl-
ing its light-reflecting wind mill fans. Then
there are hypnotic lamps" galore-lamps
which reflect light rays upon the eye IN
such manner as to produce strain and m
duce sleep. There are also hypnotic balls
-nickeled balls hung before the eyes by
sort of helmet At these the subjects stare,
crossing their eyes to do so. Fatigue re
suits and this leads to sleep. Another
Hypnotic BALI is filled with sand, stained
an indigo blue, the ball itself being glass,
and as it is revoved the sand rolls IN
cascade fashion, confusing the eye. Then
there Is also the hypnotic ring "a sort or
tnhe of nagnetized steel, long enough to
incase the greater part of the finger. There
is a gap in it, and over this fits an arma-
ture held fast by the magnet and complet-
ing the circuit about the finger. The
greater part of these tools are fashioned
after those used by scientific hypnologists
in the treatment of nervous diseases. Many
of them are bona fide-in fact none OF those
mentioned have not been seen by the writer
in the laboratories of conscientious men
who used hypnotism for legitimate pur-
poses.
Murder and Death Resulting.
But there are deeper dangers than the
mere giving to the ignorant layman powers
by which he can sew up his subjects Wrists
for the benefit of the morbidly curious
town hall audience or pierce his little Sis
ter's tongue with pins, or cause his neigh
Dor to deed his house away, or run can
Ger with his fingers and later transfer its
venom to the next subject treated for warts
or something else. For example, there was
the Anderson Mcdonald murder case in KAN
sas The man who actually committed the
murder was proved to be the tool of a
hypnotist The latter was hanged for the
crime and the former acquitted, but sent TO
an asylum. Since then hypnouc influence
as a defense in criminal trials has become
the fad Moreover, there are IN the med
ico-lega records well authenticated cases of
death by hypnotic suggestion applied by
unskiled laymen.
spreading the baneful effects of this fas-
cinating science-alas, too fascinating!-
conscientious savantS are as rapidly spread
ing its benefits and discovering more and
more of it's hidden curative powers. Hyp-
notism is of far greater benefit to some suf-
ferers than normal sleep. IL properly ad-
minstered, says Dr. Lieneaum s aoo ..;t re re
been admitted that there was no medicine
that equaled sleep. Therefore the doctor
who can place his patient at critical time
under the influence of hypnosis is really
giving him an opportunity to find in that
blessed oblivion the relief that can be
gained in no other manner except by the
use of anodynes"
How Applied for Reform.
The cure of pernicious habits, moral per-
version persistent ideas and unhappy emo
lions is where hypnotism is being now used
with seeming great success. Your CORE
spondent has lately discussed these phases
of it's application with three practicing neu
roIogists. One of these, who studied abroad
with Bernheim and Liebeault, explained the
moral force of hypnotic treatment in these
words, which were jotted down:
you appreciate that If you were to go
to sleep tonight and were to hear in your
dreams a voice giving you some advice 1t
would make deep impression upon you.
Now, suppose you were to dream that you
heard that same voice give that same adj
vice for thirty nights. Would you ever
forget the experience? No. 1t would be
indelibly impressed upon your mind. Hyp-
nosis is a state analogous to a dream. Let
a hypnotized person have given thought
suggested to him repeatedly, say thirty
times, and he will get the same indelible
impression.
This physician, with the full consent of
the patient and after an explanation as to
the use to which the reported account was
to be made, called in a subject who was
waiting in the anteroom for treatment. Hav
ing hypnolized the subject, and while keep
ing his thumb ON the latters forehead, the
physician addressed him in a gentle, COM
fGrtjuy voice.