Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-21


like to believe in the miraculous.
Even among the most intelligent persons there
is the desire to glorify the uneXplainaole and
to attribute many things TO occult forces that
are beyond understanding.
This accounts for the wide interest that ex-
lists in so-called spirit manifestations, despite
the fact that hundreds of fraudulent mediums
have been exposed It also accounts for wide
belief in mind reading and mental telepathy,
although neither of these has been conclusiVely
proved Finally, this peculiar desire for the
unexplainabie is the reason why thousands
of highly intelligent persons will accept ex-
aggerated claims of hypnotiSm.
There are certain cases in which the human
mind reacts in strange and unaccountable
manner. There scientists who have con-
Quoted well planned experiments and whose
opinions on hypnotism are, therefore, of value.
But III contrast to these find cases of So
called hypnotism which are not hypnotism at
all despite the fact that they are convincing
TO intelligent people who witness them.
Many mental conditions that are loosely
classed as hypnotism easily explained by
simple psychological laws, particularly those
of suggestion, and those conditions are not suf-
ficiently remarkable TO be attributed to some
mysterious power known as hypnotiSm.
Furthermore, there are various fraudulent
methods used by persons who claim to be
hypnotists, but who actually deceive the public.
Trickery, like poison is dangerous, except when
properly labeled. There is no occasion for
self-Styled hypnotists to claim superhuman
powers or ability when they are merely demon
strating natural phenomena.
HYPNOTISM, as studied by capable scien-
tific men, is far different from the publics
conception of it. During the last two centuries
charlatans have been active in exaggerated
claims that have led to fabulous and erroneous
conceptions. Mesmer. the first of the modern
hypnotists claimed that he had discovered a
magnetic fluid invisible force which en-
abled one person to control the actions OF
another He gave exhibitions in Paris and
when his subjects behaved in many unusual
ways he declared that the existence of this
magnetic fluid" had been proved.
Although this theory exploded, there
still remained the belief in hypnotic force-a
tremendous, invisible power of mind dom
mating another, just as strong physical force
could overcome a weak one. This is still q
popular conception. Such stories of hypno-
tissn have been utilized by writers of fiction
and by draulatists, who have exaggerated them
until 1t is impossible to tell where actual claims
end and imaginary ones begin
The Hindus are said to be past masters Of
the art of hypnotism; it is claimed that they
can apparently die and come'to life many days
later, that they can perform bewildering feats
Of wizardry by hypnotizing the persons who
are watching them.
SANSErtE SCuocHIS O1 IlypnOtISIn
that the state known as hypnotic trance
is merely state of mind into which person
is coaxed or led by the suggestion of the
operator. The degree to which this can be
accomplished, therefore, marks the extent of
hypnotism and Is a dificult matter to de-
termine. But it is quite possible to classify
cases of so-called hypnotism which are moth
ing more than the simplest forms of suggestion
or which depend chiefly upon trickery.
The human mind is a complex mechanism
which is subject to many reactions. People
have been known TO faint at the sight of in
nocent kilograms because they believed that
the messages contained bad news. Many per-
sons lose their presence of mind during fire
or sudden emergency and act in strange and
foolish ways People who awaken at night
often imagine the Tapping Of window shade
70 be some one entering the house.
II man is confronted with a pistol he is
liable to act strangely because Of fright. He
does not stop to inquire whether or not the
gun Is loaded. Some persons, II they simply
suspect that gun viii be drawn against them,
wysv1 a.