Hypnotism
that which formerly was, that which, popularly, still is called has become recognized as hypnotism. The actual foundation of modern hypso-called "magnetic fluid" which is supmagnetism," founded on a belief in a posed to pass from operator to subject, practical experience in 1866, he wrote The actual foundation of modern hypnotic suggestion was discovered by Liebeault of Nancy. After several years of practical experience in 1866, he wrote his first book on the subject. It was six years after Charcot, in 1878, began his studies in Hypnotism. In 1884 Hypnotism remained a curiosity and Liebeault's book was not reproduced till suggestion and this created a demand for Liebeault's book, which then gave him his studies in Hypnotism. In 1884 means putting a person to sleep and means nothing else. If an individual suggestion and this created a demand heim's teacher. The word hypnotism means putting a person to sleep and means nothing else. If an individual seems to be subjected to another in the waking state it should be said that he is unduly influenced. He is not hypnotized. That would mean that he was asleep.
The means by which hypnotism is used enced by suggestion in the waking state, for suggestion is a great force in daily enced by suggestion in the waking state, life. As connected with hypnotism, however, suggestion is the expression of an idea or combination of ideas which becomes impressed upon the mind of the somnolent subject to whom it is adsults are sure to follow. sults are sure to follow.
If a subject be awake he can, accordthe effect of a suggestion which he has ing to the strength of his will and de- sire, control to a greater or lesser degree received. sire, control to a greater or lesser degree the In the hypnotic state this self-control is decreased in a degree corresponding to that of the increase of the degree of sleep. Nevertheless, if merely the first the subject, conscious of all he hears, may degree of hypnosis have been attained, be influenced by the suggestion of the opbe influenced by the suggestion of the op- erator. In this way a vast amount of may claim that they have not been afrelief has been given to individuals who fected at all. In the hypnotic state there are nine sharply marked degrees of somnolence. In the first six degrees not- HYPNOTISM withstanding he has been perfectly quiet and apparently asleep, the patient remembers all that has been said. In the last three degrees the patient, on waking, remembers nothing. Strange as it may seem, however, a person may be more influenced by suggestion in the lighter degrees of sleep than in the more profound degrees, and vice versa. This is due to the patient's suggestibility.
Generally, if the subject be made to reach any degree of somnolency he can be relieved by suggestion. No person can be hypnotized unless he be willing. No person can be hypnotized at a distance, unless by telephone, or if he be a good and willing subject, by letter; and the patient must first have been hypnotized by the writer at some previous time.
Otherwise the operator cannot influence him at a distance in the slightest degree.
It is an absolutely safe and beneficent form of aid. It may not always bring relief, but never in the hands of a competent operator has it done harm. The method of the operators of the school of Nancy is wholly verbal. The patient is talked to sleep and on waking he is delighted by the changes in himself which are apparent and he has become convinced of the agreeable effects of the treatment.
Formerly a bright object was held between and above the patient's eyes, and he was directed to fix his eyes upon it.
This created sleep. But it was found that nervous distress was apt to follow this method, and it has been abandoned by followers of the school of Nancy. If a sleeping person be assured by the operator that he will lose his craving for alcohol, or opium, or cocaine, or, that his pain will cease, that he will sleep at night, that his nervous unrest will disappear, that his power of will or a mental concentration will increase, and so forth, in nine out of ten cases the desired result will follow.
There are scores of popular forms of relief which act wholly through the patient's mind and in themselves literally have no value. The effect of the mind cure and Christian Science is due to a weak form of suggestion, behind which an intelligent knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and disease is wholly lacking.
The results are owing to influences produced upon the minds of those who seek these forms of relief, which thus have accomplished a degree of benefit but are dangerous aids where serious disease exists.
With reference to causation of crime by means of hypnotic suggestion: few or no scientific men believe it possible.
Habit is as strong as death. If a man's HYPOPHOSPHITES habit of mind be honest, no suggestion, sleeping or waking, can cause him to commit crime of any sort. If he be dishonest, naturally or by inclination, the suggestion would be unnecessary .
The hypnotic sleep is a natural sleep.
Those who claim that it is not natural are not intelligent in the matter and their opinions are based upon pure and uninformed theory.
As has been shown by scores of thousands of cases, treated by brilliant and educated physicians, the treatment is absolutely innocuous. It either relieves or produces a neutral effect, and is useful in a multitude of ailments which baffle ordinary means of relief.
But the operator must be educated in the use of this valuable method of treatment. Hypnotism should be used only by physicians, and amateurs should by no means experiment with it as a means of amusement.