River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-03-12

one, like the other, is due to the fixa-
ton of the attention and of the nerv-
Gus force upon the idea Of sleep.
The individual who wishes to sleep
isolates his senses, meditates and re-
mains motionless. The nervous force
concentrates itself, so to speak, at one
point of the brain upon a single idea
and abandons the nerves of sensation,
motion and special sense The con-
centration of the whole thinking be-
ing upon single idea gives rise to the
inertia of the will, which constitutes
the basic of the hypnotic condition.
A Brief History of Hypnotism.
Hypnotism was preceded by what is
still known as mesmerism. | am not
speaking of the thing itself, but of the
name. For that which is now known
as "hypnotism" we could trace back
as far as the writings of Paracelsus
and even to more remote period and
then not discover it's true origin. In
fact, hypnotism, although not known
by that name, antedates the Christian
era. But to DR.. Franz Anton Mesmer,
is due the credit Of having first
brought the subject to the attention
of the scientific world-for which he
paid dearly.
After becoming imbued with the spirit
of astrology and attributing his cures
to an electrical and planetary inf1u-
ence, he changed his views and called
it magnetism"
At that time (1776) he discarded the
use Of artificial magnets with which
he stroked the body, seeing that the
same results were being accomplish
ed by one Gasener, catholic priest
simply by manipulation, DR.. Mesmer
saw fit to call this animal magnet
ISM" but his followers prefer the term
''mesmerism"
Two years later all Paris was
thrown into state of the widest ex-
element by the marvellous effects or
his method of treatment and the
many wonderful cures that resulted.
While the medical fraternity and
committee of investigation were
obliged to acknowledge the cures he
had wrought, they denounced him
most bitterly because of his 'fiuidic"
was purely imagination"
All this trouble and annoyance
caused by mere theory and-an in
fringement ON the sole right of the
regulars This status of affairs has
not changed much even to this day
and generation. What mattered either
theory or cause providing it was harm
tc hnnnfinj411
are facts, the how but mere incident.
! The final outcome, as far as DR.. Mes
mer was concerned, was disastrous to
him as he was forced into exile and
died in 1915.
A number of years passed during
which time the subject was agitated
| again and again but without definite
or satisfactory results until DR.. Braid,
of Manchester, England, discredited
the magnetic fluid theory and, by
placing the cause on a physical basis,
gained the confidence of the public
(and the physicians) to such an extent
that the subject was at last acknoWl-
edged to be within the domain of the
exact sciences.
a name to fit the theory and to meet
the prejudices of the medical profess
sion. Inasmuch as the result of the
mode Of treatment produced sleep, or
a condition thereof, the word sleep"
proved a key to the solution; hence
the word 'hypnotism," from the Greek
radix "hypnos," signifying sleep.
From this beginning various schools
have sprung up, each with its own the
DRY but the results practically the
same. The two best known and thor
oughly established are the Nancy
(founded by Liebault) and the Paris
(by Charcot). The one known as the
Mesmeric also has many followers.
To Liebault, more than to any other
man, is due the credit of discovering
the underlying principle, the master
kew to the whole situation. 1t Ia
summed up in that one word 'sugges-
ton" This word, DR.. Hudson claimed,
will unlock the secrets of every psy.
Geological mystery. All hypnotic phe'
nomena are the result of suggestion"
in some form.
Dr. bCdlU nGCuOQ "a ny
was to cause the subject to gaze stead.
ily upon a bright object. He dis.
claimed any theory of suggestion but
the very act itself was suggestive.
Well do l remember when in my
boyhood days-away back in 1856
the Braid system of hypnotizing was
introduced into this country. l can yet
see. with my minds eye. a row of US
Youngsters lined up on one side of the
.'deestrict" schoolroom and with the
teacher in the leading role endeavor.
ing to ascertain how many subjects
he could find. This, OF course, after
school hours.
We were instructed, in accordance
with the Braid formula, to look stead
ily at the bright object. When
count three" said the teacher, your
eyes will go tight shut, you cannot
open them, you will be asleep; one
two-three" If that was not sugges'
ton, what was it?
Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowies.l