The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-05

Eminent Authorities who Pronounce II
Entirely safe.

To THE EDITOR or The Sun Sir: In a
letter TO the editor OF THE Sun recently pub
lished under the heading Dangers OF Hyp-
notism" | find the following unguarded and
uncorroborated statement;
From careful scientific Investigations Il has been
demonstrated not only that hypnotism produces
insanity and ply steal death. but that It interrupts
the development of the individual soul and entails
evils compared with which ordinary. drunkenness Is
a positive blessing.
or what nature are these careful scientific
Investigations" where conducted and by
whom reported? Do they contain such names
~ weight in the world Of science as Cha root.
Voisin. Liebeault. Bernhcim, Mol and Held
enhain. Bjornstrom and Wetterstrand. 0coro-
wicz. Tuckey and Bramwell. Paodmore. Cur
ney or Myers? These are men qualified TO
pronounce upon the matter under discussion.
and ! take IL that their pronouncements as
recorded in their published works do not
investigators 70 whom reference has thus
been made. The ethics OF hypnotism IL n
yexed question. but at least it must be set
tled by persons whom wide experience and
experiment have qualified to take part In the
debate. DIR. Quackenbos reports an e%xtraor-
binary percentage Of cases OF alcoholism per-
manently cured by hypnotic suggestion. DIR.
X. OsRoOd Mason comes TO simila rly optimis-
tic conclusions In regard TO Its use:
There Is a great deal of literature relating to the
practical use Of hypnotism In many languages
English. French. German. Swedish. Italian and
Russian and by men of well known Intelligence,
judgme nt and integrity. There are published pro
ceedings OF societies. there have been International
con vcntions for the discussion OF hypnotism, and
yet In all this literature and discussion there Ia no
report of injuries, either To the mind or the brain
cells . nor any hint that such results arc
likely 20 70 How the use OF hypnotism properly an
piled. on the contrary many excellent cases are q ted
where insanity has been cured. where the dun mind
has been made acute and bright. where neurasthenia
and melancholia have been changed 20 health and
happiness, and where evil habits and criminal
tendencies have been removed.
And elsewhere, In rebuttal Of charges sim
liar TO those contained in the letter above
referred to. DR., Mason adds:
These statements are simply expressions of
deeply biased opinions by persons Of very limited
acquaintance with either the literature or practical
uses OF hypnotism. and I do not hesitate 10 say
that eVery'person qualified by extensive ex rience
In the use OF ny pnotism. and only such are qualified
TO testify, would pronounce each and every one
Of these statements unqualhedly false and abso-
lutely Ridiculous " The hypnotic sleep when
properly procured and for a proper purpose Is
by all who have had large experience IN Its use or
observation Of It's effects pronounced physically and
mentally h%ealthful' and BY suggestion It's value II
vastly augmented.
In view Of 40 strongly expressed opinion
from one whose experience has qualified him
TO speak. does 10 not hehoove all of US whose
acquaintance with the subject Is hea Tsay TO
suspend Judgment, lest by yielding to preju-
dice we discredit a last resort Of the wretched
victim Of evil habit and prevent him from
fleeing into what may be a veritable City Of
Refuge and Regeneration2 CBURCHMAN.
E~NGLEwoop, N. D., July3