The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-06-19
pANaERS on HYPNorIsM.
Serious ObJcctions to Its Use to Curb tn
Liquor Habit.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuH-Sir' 4 friend
in Chicago sends me a clipping from a ncys.
paper containing a despatch from this citv
to the effect that DR.. Louis Klopsch. A phil.
a%nthroplst and supporter OF the Bowery Mis-.
sion. had Employed DR.. O.. A. Gayer to test
his hypnotic powers in reclaiming men whose
appetites for liquors have outGrown their
power Of self-control. / am requested by mi.
friend to point out the dangers and %crueltips
OF hypnotic practice"
/ assume that both OF the gentlemen men
toned. the employer and the employee, are
good men, that they are actuated by high
motives; but they are dealing with a deadly
power, one which Is contrary TO the c%onstruc.
tive laws OF nature and which sooner or
later must command lie legislative and judicial
consideration From careful scientific inves.
LEGATIONS It has been demonstrated not
only that hypnotism produces insanity and
physical death. but that 1t interrupts the
development OF the individual soul and entails
evils compared with which ordinary drunken.
ness Ia q positive blessing II is not to be
questioned that hypnotism. practised in a
spirit OF philanthropy. does produce TEN.
porary results which seem in a measure TO
Justify its use, but II these apparent results
are watched in their unfolding II will be-
found hat there has been no actual cure. that
the results are merely the effect OF q brain
paralysis and the substitution Of the will or
the operator for the mind Of the victim, for
such he really is. Obviously there can be no
| responsible personal development where the
mine Of the person hypnotized is prevented
from performing its normal functions, while
the brain Is merely the vehicle Of the opera.
/, tor 8 will, and where the mind ceases to act
it not only does not grow but 1t has started
on a state Of retrogression, for nature does
not stand still. and when the hypnotic poten-
TALLY is Withdraw or wears out the victim
There Is a single consideration which should
pc per rsSsi' f rom submitting himself to hypnotic y n%Sio
control. 1t lie the universal recognition that
With each ShS sa6m nHsI 1.-THE, the ytciEe 'S Sess : degree
less and less able to resist the .Afuence, and
II this is true he Is simply throwing. down the
p rriers which nature has erected to protect
and exposing himself TO the control of tue
vicious as well as those who are ~actuated
by good motives. for it must be remembered
that the hyppQtic POI er is not in the exclusive
Indeed, no high minded person, knowing
have been demonstrated 10 an extent which
it would not be profitable to state in a brief
aHS i6oI tni mbo OF , rs MAKING sHng use ol
are, recklessly experimenting. in the name Of
philanthropy; ought e pause in their Effort
intrude upon the sacred rights Of individual
responsible life. for the AXE OF mere temporary
and seeming benefits.
Knowing what ! know of the deadly effects
OF hypnotism. reaching as IL does the soul
life Of the vlctira as well as Of the operator.
/ would far rather q friend OF mine should
know the depths OF drunkenness and OF mere
physical debauchery than that he should
troll OF any individual. however pure in hear
the particular, operator might be-, for the
actual spiritual death. We, possess brain.
to make responsible use OF them in working
out our problems. and we have no right N
being. Our duty 10 our own manhood de
mands that we should be intelligently on
guard In the citadel OF our own being al all
abnormal conditions and which progressively
. weakens the victims control. over his own
| OF all laws OF nature. for Il IL retrogressive
IL IL death In the fullest meaning of that
word. BENJAMIN 5. DEAN.
NEW YORK, June IS.