The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1908-03-27
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WHENCE THE PREJUDIcE1

WHENCE THE PREJUDIcE1
Prejudice, q child of ignorance, IL
ever the opponent of progress. Many
will see and yet deny the evidence OF
facts, because they are saturated with
the belief of the infallibility Of their
own Judgment. They close their eyes
Systematically to truths which do not
adapt themselves to their precon-
ceived ideas.
One thing, probably. more than any
other which has led to unfavorable
opinions" of "hypnotism," has been the
demonstrations as given by stage hyp-
notists. The placing of subject for
. number Of hours asleep In a public
window, strikes the masses as some.
thing marvellous and thereby creates
fear and wonderment. One serious OBJ
lection TO all performances of this
character is that wrong Impressions
and false ideas are engendered there
by.
But let us reason together. Should
we prescribe thing we know to be
efilcacious because the abuse of it is
injurious? Again let us reason to-
gether. Is hypnotism put to pervert-
ed use more frequently than other
sciences in which the artful take I'M
fair advantage of their too credulous
victims:
Hypnotism should be part Of every
medical students training, and not
left to the ignorant quack and char
latan. There is nothing to be feared
in the thing itself, but 1t is in the
insufficient technical knowledge o. the
operator that the danger lies.
Then again there is much preju-
dice in consequence Of the genera!
opinion that prevails; viz, that only
the weak, sickly, nervous, hysterical
persons can be hypnotized. This en-
eirely wrong supposition is based eth
er upon imperfect observation, or
upon narrow field Of experimental
tion
Erroneous Impressions.
1t is an error to suppose that one
under hypnotic control will the more
readily yield to either criminal or
immoral suggestion. Just the reverse
is true. 1t is impossible for an opera
tor to impress suggestion SO strong
ly upon subject as to cause him to
perform an act in violation of the set
tied principles OF his life. The more
repulsive suggestion is to the hyp-
notice the stronger his resistance
If itx, 81
keeps his dignity intact, and one Of
real kindness of nature shows no
trace OF harsh feeling. truly tenn.
perate man, when under hypnotic
control, cannot be made to simulate
On yield to drunkenness; nor can a
truly modest person be induced to do
that which, in waking hours, would
SAVIOR of immodesty.
A virtuous woman, is, indeed, in less
danger of assault while in the hyp-
motto state than she is in her normal
condition; for the simple reason that
hypnotic subjects are always endowed
with a physical strength far superior
to that possessed in the normal condi-
ton. Besides. the moral tone of the
hypnotic subject while in that condi-
ton Is always elevated.
AS the subjective mind never sleeps.
and as it's first law is self preserya-
ton of the individual, and as it is
more alert when the objective mind
IS In allegiance, and as it is in COM
plete telepathic communication with
the operator, I hold that the latter
cannot even think an impure thought
without the knowledge of the sub
ject.
A natural criminal may be made to
do criminal act when under the con-
troll of hypnotic suggestion, or at a
stated time by sub-hypnotic sugges-
ton, but the same suggestion, no mat
ter how forcibly given, would have no
such effect upon a man of real moral
worth. The criminal would commit
the crime just as quickly and just as
readily, II not little more 30. when
in his normal condition.
Laboratory experiments (the paper
dagger act. etc., count for nothing.
prove nothing, because some trace of
consciousness always remains to tell
the subject he Is playing part. When
he submits to be hypnotized he as
sures himself that no possible harm
can befall him; this is an auto-sugges-
ton of self protection. =
A suggestion that would imperil the
lie of the subject (the hypnotee) If
carried into execution, would be . 70.
sisted with an energy proportioned to
the degree and imminence of the peril
involved.
The Benefits Of Hypnotism.
BY properly directed suggestions.
the progress OF perverted mental
activities may be arrested. evil habits
OF thought can be radically changed.
and natural conditions Of health re-.
stored. The same results as obtained
in the natural, or self-induced sleeu
of which l spoke in a previous ar.
ticle.
The subject should be placed in a
receptive condition; from this state
the objective senses are in Allowance
and the purposes are not so likely to
be thwarted by adverse auto-sugges.
lions.
Right here ! wish to correct a very
general erroneous impression regard
ing the breaking down or weakening
of ones will by hypnotism. There
Is no such thing as breaking down
the will of the subject Hypnotic con-
troll is an agreement between the will
OF the operator and the will of the
subject. 1t is not, therefore, the DOW.