An Improved Means for Use in or connected with the Cure of Insomnia.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Aug., 1899--Accepted, 23rd Sept., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Means for Use in or connected with the Cure of
Insomnia.
I, ALLAN BENNETT MACGREGOR, 67, Chancery Lane, London, Analytical
Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to an improved means in or connected with the cure of
insomnia and consists in the provision of means whereby a patient may obtain
the necessary sleep by auto-hypnosis.
In carrying my invention into practice, I provide an appropriate device
whereby light from a word or phrase embodying a proper suggestion is conveyed
to the eyes of the patient in such a manner as to tend to carry the patients eyes
upward thereby producing the most favorable condition for the inducing of the
hypnotic sleep.
And in order that this my said invention may be the more readily understood
and carried into practical effect, reference is hereby made to the accompanying
sheet of illustrative drawings, wherein :
Fig. 1, represents a perspective view of my apparatus a portion of the side
being broken away to more clearly shew the interior, and, .
Fig. 2, is a similar view of a modified form of my invention.
Referring particularly to Fig. 1, of these said drawings, is a case of suitable
construction wherein is situated a clockwork or other convenient mechanism b
whereby a spindle c is caused to revolve in a direction contrary to that of the
hands of a clock.
66
Attached to or formed integral with the upper end of this said revolving
spindle ca black or other dark colored attachment is provided preferably of
rectangular form upon one surface of which the letters comprising the word
sleep," or other such word or phrase conveying the necessary suggestion are
attached, these letters being of a reflecting nature preferably of mirror glass. In
operation, the patient desiring to be influenced by the apparatus lies down on
his or her right side at about the level of the rotating mirror word and a lamp
or other source of light is placed behind him in such a position that its rays are
reflected directly from off the rotating word into his or her eyes. By this means
the eve becomes fatigued, sleep being thereby induced.
Referring to Fig. 2, of the drawings, I have there shewn a modified form of
my invention wherein instead of the revolving mirror word, I have provided in
one end of a case or box a an opaque face a¹ wherein transparencies are intro-
duced, such transparencies consisting of a word such as "sleep."
At the other end of the box or case, a lamp or lantern c is situated, said
lamp being contained within the box or case a, the light from which is made
to fall on the transparent word gradually from left to right and intermittently
by means of an oscilating or revolving shutter d, or a mirror, prism, or other
device may be employed.

page_text: By means of this oscilating or revolving shutter for instance, which is actuated
by clockwork mechanism, (not shewn) the word "sleep," or other adopted device
is as afdresaid intermittently illuminated and this intermittent illumination
produces that fatigue of the optic nerves which is the readiest cause of hypnosis.
It will be understood that in operation the patient lying on his or her right
side and the illumination of the device proceeding from left to right, there will
be induced a continual tendency to gaze upward, an act which in itself is highly
conducive to hypnosis and the utilization of a word such as sleep," being con-
tinually conveyed to the mind of the patient further acts as a powerful hypnotic
suggestion to that end.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The means for the effectual cure of insomnia consisting of an apparatus for
use in combination with a lamp or other source of light not contained by the
apparatus, whereby the light from the said lamp or other source of light is
reflected from a design or device caused to revolve in a horizontal plane in a
direction contrary to that of the hands of a clock, directly into the eyes of a
patient, the patient being situated in such a position as to induce a continual
tendency to gaze upward, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
2. The modified apparatus for use in the cure of insomnia, whereby a trans-
parent device in an opaque background is caused to be intermittently illuminated
by a source of light contained in the apparatus, the illumination proceeding
from left to right, substantially as and for the purposes herein before specified.
3. In apparatus for the cure of insomnia of the class described, the utilization
of a particular class of device such as the word " sleep," for the purpose of con-
veying the desired suggestion to the mind of the patient, substantially as and
for the purpose specified.
Doted this 11th dar of August 1900
HUGHES & YOUNG,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for Applicant.