Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-06-26

Now, if we can by any artifice en-
gage or put to sleep the conscious part
Of ourselves and at the same time by
some device induce the unconscious
part to work on a directed object, it
would appear probable that We could
obtain results in the direction Of our
feelings and processes that would be
otherwise unattainable. Now, this is
just what hypnotism does: the con-
scious attention is either occupied or
suppressed by the various methods in
use, and the unconscious is thereby
enabled undisturbed to receive direc-
tions-directions which may be such
as the conscious could not fulfill, like
the banishment Of pain and other
things that we shall refer to.
I'm this way the patient or subject
is enabled indirectly to exercise COM
mand over the processes of his own
body, including sensations which he
could not by direct willing control. We
can do for himself just what he asks
the hypnotist to do for him, and that
hypnotic treatment is essentially n
training in self control, such as can be
obtained in no other way
The method Of the older hynotists
was the almost mechanical suppression
OF the activity Of the conscious by
passes, by fixing the gaze on light with
the eyes in a strained position and by
other like artifices. DR.. ]. Milne Bram-
we'll has informed us that he uses
these methods mainly because his pa
tients expect them, and consider them
selves, or their performance, bound 10
give a rest to their waking conscious
ness. But he finds like most modern
practitioners, that it is enough to ask
the subject to compose himself as If to
sleep in his wonted manner, and then
in dull, monotonous voice to repeat
a suggestion of sleeping, which, how
ever, the subject is to disregard as far
as possible.
This is a hard task for the observ-
ant and the mentally active no less
than for the unstable, the neurasthenic
and the hysteric, constantly occupied
with their own experiences Of the mo-
ment Accordingly these two classes
are difficult to hypnotic, whereas chill
dren and soldiers and sailors, accus-
toned to passiveness and to being
bored in monotonous duties, are, on
the contrary, extremely good subjects.
The result Of the treatment Is that the
patient feels very complete sense OF
rest, his thoughts become vague and
in some cases-not in all-he loses
consciousness and passes into hypnotic
sleep. During this sleep, as we'll as in
the mere resting state, his unconsci-
BUSINESS remains open to suggestion,
and this is the point in which it differs
from the normal sleep.
THE method myself adopt for self
suggestion is when comfortably settled
bed to count each full break inspir-
alton plus expiration, and after every
five or ten to make the verbal sug-
gestion-each word formulated in
thought as if in silently repeating a
lesson-what I wish to be accomplish
ed. The formulation should be by
rote without thought Of the sense.
Thus my first suggestion was that
should sleep by the completion OF $50.
| found that this worked very well;
but that l was apt to wake up sudden
ly after a short time too sleepy to sug-
gest and too wakeful to sleep.
THE next thing was to put in at the
tens My sleep shall be continuous,
alternating with the other suggestion
at the odd five and this succeeded.
Another difficulty was that in counting
l got into a state in which again
could neither count nor rest. This dif-
ficulty was overcome by altering the
tens suggestion. My sleep shall be
sudden and continuous Suggestions
for relief Of pain, etc, have to be very
carefully formulated, for the unconsci-
ous Is somewhat Of O foolish servant,
and is apt to act on the strongly en-
phaSiZed word rather than on the
meaning of the behest.
Thus If we want to inhibit tooth
ache and the formula be L shall have
no more pain the word pain seems to
impress the unconscious. I must put
it the pain will cease or my teeth
will be comfortable The only time
when l find it difficult to insure sleep
is when am very tired and find count
ing a burden; it is hard to be both
hypnotist and subject
Inherited muscular tremor has been
cured by the suggestion that all move
ments should be very steady. For
nervousness at examinations, stage
fright and other such trouble self-sug-
gestion the evening before is invalu-
able. But after a little practice has
been obtained / recommend every one
to follow my example and go to pro-
fessional with the request that the sug-
gestion to be impressed be that the
method grow in ease and efficiency
this will as it were, clinch the capacl-
ty in the mind.-London correspon-
dence New York Sun.
- DraeiIapf