Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-03-28
WHENCE THE PREJUDIcE7

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 a 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 it is
injurious? Again let us reason to-
gether. Is hypnoism 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 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, hystericai
persons can be hypnotized. This en-
tirely wrong superstition is based eth
er upon imperfect observation, or
upon Il narrow field of experimental
ton.
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 a suggestion so strong
ly upon a 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
perate man, when under hypnotic
control, cannot be made to simulate
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
70 hot cn6 IN, ta oil n
ton. Besides, the moral tone of the
hypnotic subject while in that condi
tfon is always elevated.
As the subjective mind never sleeps
and as it's 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 1 hold that the latter
cannot even think an impure thought
without the knowledge of the sub
ject-
natural criminal may be made tt
do a criminal act when under the con
troll of hypnotic suggestion, or at
stated time by sub-hypnotic sugges
ton, but the same suggestion, no mat
ter how forcibly given, would have NJ
such effect upon a man of real mora
WORTH Inc criminal WOULD comm
the crime just as quickly and just al
readily, if not a little more so, whel
in his normal condition.
Laboratory experiments (the pape
dagger act, etc), count for nothing
prove nothing, because some trace o
consciousness always remains to tel
the subject he is playing a part. Whel
he submits to be hypnotized he as
sures himself that no possible harm
can befall him; this is an auto-sugges
ton of self proteo ton
A suggestion that would imperil tn
life of the subject (the hypnotee) /
carried into execution would be re
sisted with an energy proportioned Z
the degree and imminence of the peri
involved
The Benefits of Hypnotism.
BY properly directed suggestion.
the progress of perverted ments
activities may be arrested, evil habit
of thought can be radically changed
and natural conditions of health r,
stored The same results as obtaine
in the natural. or selfinduced slee
of which / spoke in q previous a
ticle.
The subject should be placed in
receptive condition; from this stat
the objective senses are in abeyanc
and the purposes are not so likely
be thwarted by adverse auto-sugge
tions.