The San Francisco call., 1905-06-11

HERE have appeared in the news
papers from time to time ac-
counts of various crimes, includ-
ing suicide, robbery and even
\ murder, purported to have beer
! committed under the mysterious COM
pelling force of hypnotism.
!. Perhaps the most recent OF these stor-
les is that which recounted the suicide
/ in this city of Mrs. Minnie Denver, who
! according to the account, attributed
! her death to the impelling power which
| was exercised over her by a man whose
hypnotic glance followed her across the
continent and from whose influence she
could not escape.
Such, in substance. is the tenor of the
various stories referred to, and with
the exception of cases like that of Mrs.
Denver, who was suffering from delu-
sional insanity. the claim of hypnotic
influence is really used as cloak under
which the criminal hopes to hide and
so escape the penalty of his crimes
However, it is these statements writ
ten by those who have no scientific
knowledge of the limitations or powers
Of hypnotism that injure and create a
fear in the popular mind of one of the,
or / might say, the most powerful ad-
junct to the pharmacopeia known in
the world to-day.
Although the practice of healing dis
ease through hypnotism is not new by
any means, perhaps at no time in the
history of this science has 1t been more
investigated or made use of as a
therapeutic agent by reputable medical
men than in the present day. But al
though used to a large extent by ply
sicians to-day, it is still regarded by
people generally as some supernatural
agency, the nature of which is little
known and operates in some mysteri-
Gus way to gain a permanent hold or
control of the unfortunate subject and
SO rob him of his free will.
Nothing could be more erroneous
than this belief. and it is to dispel this
idea if possible and place in it's right
full position the subject of hypno-ther-
apeutics that this article is written.
First, the word "hypnotism," which
conjures divers frightful conditions in
the lay mind, has been made
generic term TO embrace all kinds of
psychic phenomena, when really it is
a simple word derived from the Greek
meaning sleep.
In fact the only difference to be de-
tected between the natural sleep in
duIged in every night by all people
and hypnosis is that the latter is an
induced sleep in which the other self
or subjective mind of the sleeper is
en- rapport with the mind Of the oper-
ator, and in the natural sleep this
subjective is en- rapport with himself
his physical conditions and mental at
titudes playing the major part. therein.
That this is the correct view of the
subject may be judged by the fact
that in the majority Of cases it is a
comparatively easy matter for skill
full operator to treat the patient in
his normal sleep, gently passing him
along into the suggestible state with
out his awaking.
That this term "hypnotism" is mis-
nomer is conceded by the majority OF
students, implying as 1t does sleep"
when sleep many times is not neces-
sary for the successful treatment of
the patient. or cannot be induced, and
yet the patient is In a quiet, receptive
cOnQltlOn OF mlnu WHICH Is quite as
satisfactory to effect the relief desired
as sleep. and is called, for want OF a
better term, the suggestible state
The idea that this condition can be
induced, however, contrary to the will
and desire of the individual seems to
be prevalent in thefpopular mind and
that while in this state the unfortu-
nate victim may be forced to commit