River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-03-26
WHENCE THE PREJUDIcE9

Prejudice, cnlIQ OIL lSuOIduCS, 40
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
a number of hours asleep in 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 a thing we know to be
efficacious because the abuse of 1t 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 un-
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 it is in the
insufficient technical knowledge of the
operator that the danger lies.
Then again there is much preju-
dice in consequence of the general
opinion that prevails viz, that only
the weak, sickly, nervous, hysterical
persons can be hypnotized. This en-
tirely wrong supposition is based eth
er upon imperfect observation, or
upon a narrow field of experimental
tion.
Erroneous Impressions!
It 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 a 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 a suggestion is to the hyp-
notice the stronger his resistance.
The man of true dignity of soul
keeps his dignity intact, and one of
real kindness of nature shows no
trace of harsh feeling. A truly tenn
of xrrHn n
control, cannot be made to simulate
or 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 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 its first law is self preserva-
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, | hold that the latter
cannot even think an impure thought
without the knowledge of the sub
joct.
A natural criminal may be made to
do a criminal act when under the con-
troll of hypnotic suggestion, OF 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, if not a little more so, 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
life of the subject (the hypnotee) if
carried into execution would be re.
sisted with an energy proportional 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 steep
of which l spoke in a previous ar
ticle
The subject should be placed in q
receptive condition; from thtS- state
the objective senses are in allegiance
and the purposes are not so likely to
be thwarted by adverse autosugges.
> tons.
Right here 1 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 VIII of the subject Hypnotic con-
troll IS an agreement between the will
OF the operator and the wiz of the
SUBJECT 1t is not, therefore the DOW
or of one will ox,o. o,14to- - -