Evening star., 1909-05-23

only Two cases In quarter Oh century
A case reported by the famous surgeon.
John Hunter, was that of a man who
fancied that he had been bitten by
mad dog. He felt a horror at the sight
of liquids and was actually convuised on
attempting to swallow them So uncon,
trollable did he become that the dog
that bit him was searched for. and when
found was shown to the patient. who at
once got over his hallucinations."
And speaking of fear in connection
with dogs recalls that at the last meeting
of the Philadelphia Audubon Society
Charles D. Kellogg. naturalist. an
nounced the theory that "a dog which
knows no fear will never be bitten by
fleas," and that 1.-The fear odor which the
body exudes is what makes insects and
reptiles bite" Mosquitoes. according to
him, only bite those who fear them.
A brand-new phase of the problem as
to how far one can employ suggestion
to the injury OF others came up some
Psychologists of Great Britain received
printed circular conveying threat to
kill by prayer those who should persist in
practicing vivisection. The sender, an
Irish anti-vivisectionist. explained that
she did not want to give such a stab
in the dark without challenge. About
fortnight later some little stir was caused
by the death of one of the vivisectors,
against whom the movement was aimed.
AS a matter of fact such psychic muir
object of such concerted prisons felt
suspicion that they could harm him.
K X
The dangers of hypnotism in the hands
of careless amateurs or unscrupulous
professionals are being discussed by
physicians with increased interest. One
Of the most peculiar cases was one
which came up in Denver last winter.
when Benjamin B. Laska. former
clarvoyant and hypnotist. who had been
admitted to the bar, came up for inves-
tigation on the ground that through his
peculiar suggestive powers he could un-
duly influence jurors and witnesses. Now
that hypnotic influence" is being Of
fered more and more as defense in
criminal cases it is OF some interest to
know that DR.. Liebcault of Nancy, one
Of the leading hypnologists Of the world.
now claims that no person can be hyp-
Noticed against his will Whether this be
a fact or not. there is a French law for
bidding any one to hypnotic a person
against his will. This law was recalled
during recent months when it was pro-
posed to hypnotic the famous red
widow" of Paris, and thus extract from
her confession that she assassinated
President Felix Faure. And in this con-
nection 1t may be further said that such
LHcduS VI cAlTdCLNS cTlmln0I COn1eS-
sion is no longer in such great repute as
1t used to be, there being a number of
psychologists who affirm that q liar will
lie whether hypnotized or not.
And there are now two theories as to
the value of hypnotic suggcstion' as a
defense akin to insanity in criminal cases.
One of these holds that the educated
moral sense is not annulled by a criminal
suggestion. According to the other the
hypnotized mind. educated or not, be-
hardened xVhilo nndAr the
hypnotic influence and does not .hen re-
volt at a suggestion leading 1t to crime.
Probably no subject now engrossing our
attentions enters more into our daily lives
than does this problem of suggestion. with
its many interesting phases. And we can
now consider 1t seriously without suspi-
eion of being in league with the devil. A
better understanding of its naked truths
stripped of the many embellishments
placed upon them by the fanatic. the
zealot and the charlatan-will make for
our greater health and happiness i'm the
future. and far less friction In our deal
ings with homo sapiens. Just misun-
of "suggestion's'' subtle force
has marred many great minds In the re-