Hypnotism, and magnetism, mesmerism, suggestive therapeutics and magnetic healing ...

Front matter

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Preface

In bringing before the public this book on Hypnotism, Mesmerism, and Suggestive Therapeutics, or the treatment of disease by Hypnotism and Suggestion, I feel that no apology is necessary for introducing so important a subject.

No method of treatment has during the last few years attracted so much interest among men of science and members of the medical profession, as has the science of Hypnotism and Suggestion.

The dangers of Hypnotism and Mesmerism have been proven chimerical; and are merely imaginary, for in proper hands no undesirable medical results can occur through its practice, and there is, I believe, hardly one authenticated case of its being used for a criminal purpose in the countries where it is extensively used, especially by the medical profession. More than this can hardly be said of any system of medical 7

8 PREFACE.

treatment. The treatment of disease by Hypnotism and Suggestion has been very successful where it has been practiced By qualified physicians and intelligent operators whose knowledge and experience has taught them the use of Hypnotism and Mesmerism in its practical application, and many noted physicians unhesitatingly advocate its use as a powerful auxiliary in combating many forms of nervous and other diseases, not readily reached by other means.

Hypnotism and Mesmerism, so called, consists of a true knowledge of the science of the human mind, or soul.

The mistake the medical fraternity have and are making is that they have made an exhaustive and scientific study of the physical or material part of the human organism, but not of the immaterial part ; they analyze and dissect the physical body, but seem to have no realization or knowledge of the non-physical part, or soul of man.

The mind controls the physical body, the body being merely a register or an indicator of mental conditions, or the actual condition of the

PREFACE. 9

mind; therefore it is essential that every physician should have a thorough knowledge of pyschology (Hypnotism and Mesmerism) as well as physiology, which is a scientific knowledge of the mind and its relation to the human body.

Bodily disease is always mental in origin, mental in action, mental in character, and mental in cure, and but for the action of the life or vital forces on the diseased organs and functions of the body no disease would ever be cured. The physician gives medicine to, as he says, assist nature, which consists of the life and vital forces, or mind, of which he has no true knowledge.

Hypnotism and Suggestion is the fundamental principle of curing and healing every disease. No matter what other means may be employed, when nature or the life forces within the body fails to react on the diseased functions and organs, all the medicine and physicians in the universe cannot effect a cure, or prevent a death.

Observing people do not always have time to wander through a perplexing multitude of books in a fruitless attempt to gain a little knowledge buried therein. The instructions and methods io PREFACE.

given here are the latest and most complete known for inducing the Mesmeric and Hypnotic sleep. Nothing problematical is given ; but facts gained from personal experience by the author in the successful practice of Hypnotism, Mesmerism, Suggestive Therapeutics, and Magnetic Healing, for many years.

Many conceited and narrow-minded individuals look upon Hypnotism as a fraud.

"Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit, There is more hope of a fool" than of him."

The fact that complete anaethsia can be produced in any part of the body, provides the experimenter with a ready means of demonstrating that there is no simulation on the part of the subject.

There are two things for this class of people to learn yet : First, that a statement that they do not believe in Hypnotism or Magnetism brands them as being ignorant and destitute of a knowledge of Psychology,

And that to ridicule what you do not understand is what really wise men never do.

PREFACE. II

The author does not wish to be understood as attacking the teaching of materia medica, or antagonizing the medical profession, but as suggesting a way by which they may be rendered more effectual and potent by a study and better understanding of Psycho-Therapeutics.

This book will be of great value and interest to the physician, clergyman, lawyer, teacher, merchant, and the private citizen of either sex, and will, I trust, be a useful hand-book for practitioners and those who have not the time to devote to more elaborate and systematic works.

The Author.

'Hypnotism embodies and unfolds the law and secret power, by which and through which all personal influence is and ever shall be exerted."

De Laurence.

"All that we are or ever will be is the result oj what has been thought."

De Laurence.

Contents

PAGE

Preface . . . .7

The Science of Hypnotism 17

Introduction

Hypnotism and Mesmerism, its History. — Brief Sketch of the Life of Friedrich Anton Mesmer — Discovery of Animal Magnetism. — Mesmer's Passes. — Hypnotism a Psychological not a Physiological Condition — Definition of Hypnotism, Mesmerism, and Animal, or Personal, Magnetism. — Terms Used.

The science of Hypnotism and Mesmerism has been evolved from such a labyrinth of idle superstition and wild speculation t'Eat even those keenly interested in the development of human knowledge have held aloof from a subject which apparently presents so entangled a maze of insoluble complications.

In the long course of its history it has been

and, indeed almost everybody ignorant of its

true principle, has a theory or idea as to how the phenomena is produced. The history of Hypnotism begins almost like a fable. Methods were in use amongst the Egyptians, the Greeks, and the Romans, which present a striking similarity to the means adopted by modern Hypnotists.

In the British museum there is a bas-relief taken from a tomb in Thebes. The "Subject/' as he would be termed in modern phraseology, is sitting down, and a short distance from him a man is standing with hand uplifted and evidently about to make a pass over the subject. The Goddess Isis, on the zodiac of her temple, at Denderah, is represented as making the same "Passes" the earliest Greek physicians were in the habit of using, processes having a strong resemblance to those used by every Hypnotist.

The first traces of any system appeared about the end of the middle ages, and then it was attempted to demonstrate that the human will was capable of producing the phenomena.

It then remained for Mesmer to shed new light upon the question, and in 1775 he discovered that the phenomena could be produced in various ways, and then it was called Mesmerism, but was afterwards changed to Hypnotism, in 1841, by Dr. Braid of England, who produced

INHALING 26$ AMMONIA.

The sense of smell being Desensitized bv ^pf^w Suggestion.

THE SCIENCE OF HYPNOTISM. 19

the phenomena by a different method, and called the condition produced Hypnosis (a Greek word meaning sleep) and the art of producing it Hypnotism.

To those, however, who would have a clear knowledge of what Hypnotism is and what it is not, a study of its history is not essential. And it is quite an easy matter to teach any one how to hypnotize. Any person of ordinary intelligence can be taught to become a successful operator by simply following the methods herein described, which, if strictly obeyed, will enable any one to succeed.

In order to make plain to the student certain phrases and terms which I shall use in this work, it will be necessary to call attention to a brief sketch of the history of Hypnotism and Mesmerism.

Mesmerism takes its name from Friedrich Anton Mesmer, who was born in a village called Stein, on the banks of the Rhine, in May, 1734, and was educated and attained his degree of Dr. at Vienna, where he studied under Professor Van Switen and Professor Haen.

In 1775 he startled the world by reports of his discovery of what is now known as Personal or Animal Magnetism. He operated by a system of passes demonstrating the existence of io HYPNOTISM.

personal magnetism, and that magnetism could be directed by the will of the operator to the subject, and that this influence was capable when properly and intelligently directed of producing the phenomena known now as Mesmerism, or the mesmeric sleep.

Later, in 1841, Dr. Braid of England, the famous Manchester physician, produced the phenomena by an entirely different method. His method of operating consisted of fixation of gaze, and he and many others supposed the cause and condition was a purely physiological one.

This view, as is known by all enliglitened and learned men in Psychology, is a mistaken one. As all Hypnotic, Mesmeric and abnormal states are caused and brought about by actual psychical condition, whether self-induced or otherwise. The phenomena known as Hypnosis is not a physiological condition, and all views to this effect are erroneous.

Very few are aware of the difference between Hypnotism and Mesmerism, and many confound the two as meaning the same thing. It is essential for the student to know that all conditions induced by the subject fixing his gaze on an object, either held in the hand of the operator or not is an hypnotic state, and that

THE SCIENCE OF HYPNOTISM. 21

all conditions induced by passes or any other personal application or direction of the will by the operator is a mesmeric state. Practically speaking, the condition or state induced and the phenomena produced by either means is the same, both being a purely psychical condition, and consists of an entire suspension of the physical sense organs, whether brought about by mesmeric passes, concentration of gaze, fascination, or any other means, and while in this condition the subject is under the control of the operator and susceptible to Suggestion.

The study of Hypnotism from a psychological point is absolutely essential to success, and the importance of a careful observation of the phenomena of Hypnotism and its relation to the psychic mind can hardly be exaggerated. And for the student of Hypnotism or Psychology there is a wide field of work where the opportunities for definite experimental work are many. This view could have been more employed than it, has been up to the present time, as too many writers on Psychology, appear to think that a casual acquaintance with the subject is all that is necessary as a basis of opinion. Hypnotism or its results are based upon natural law. It is, "The science of the age," and the most interesting of all the sciences. And any one who studies the human mind from a psychological point of view and learns its influence over the human body, has a wonderful advantage.

Strictly speaking, the difference between Hypnotism and Mesmerism, or the Mesmeric or Hypnotic sleep, is that sleep induced by passes as used by Mesmer is termed the Mesmeric or Magnetic sleep, and sleep induced by objective gaze, where the subject concentrates his mind and sight upon some certain object until Hypnosis is induced is termed the Hypnotic sleep. To avoid confusion, however, I will dispense with these several different terms for the phenomena whether Hypnotic, Mesmeric or Magnetic, is commonly known as Hypnotism. I will use this term especially in tne body part of the instructions contained in this book as specifying these different phenomena. And the different conditions when induced as an Hypnosis or Hypnotic state.

Chapter II. Instructions For Testing Subjects

Who is Susceptible to Hypnosis. — Who Make Good Subjects. — Concentration Necessary — Favorite Methods. Hand and Eye Test. — Breaking the Influence. — Drawing Test — Difficult Subjects. — Vain Struggle.

As some persons are more quickly influenced than others, being more susceptible to hypnotic influence, you can by the following methods easily ascertain what ones will make good subjects and whether you will be able to impress them or not.

First have the subject you are going to test stand up in the center of the room, place both arms down by his side with his heels touching, and ask him to let, as far as possible, his muscles relax and to stand perfectly still.

Now take a position in front of the subject and tell him you are going to draw him forward, but not to be afraid of falling as you will stop him before he reaches the floor. Now concentrate your gaze intently and directly on the pupil of his left eye, and hold the thought and intention firmly in your mind that you are going 23 to draw him over toward you, and while looking at him do not let any other thought or idea enter your mind, or nothing divert your attention from the task you have before you. Stand quite close to the subject, raise both of your open hands to the level of his eyes opposite either side of his head, fingers pointing backward, concentrate .your eyes on his, as directed above, and draw your hands steadily and firmly forward all the while intently willing him forward.

Repeat this method if you do not. succeed the first time in influencing him, being sure to get the proper concentration.

If the subject is susceptible to Hypnosis he will feel an influence drawing him forward off from his balance that he cannot resist. You can now take the same position at his back and operate on his head at the base of the brain in the same manner that you did in front of him, drawing him backward off from his balance and catching him with your hands, at the same time saying, "All right ; all right."

Another favorite method for testing a subject is to have the person you are going to operate on sit down in a chair and clasp his hands tightly together by crossing the fingers, with arms extended straight out from the shoulder.

Take a position in front of him and clasp his

INSTRUCTIONS FOR TESTING SUBJECTS. 25

hands between the thumb and second finger of your left hand, and with your right hand make passes down over his arms, touching them lightly from the shoulders to the hands. Keeping your gaze riveted on his left eye and give the following suggestions in a firm voice and decided manner, say to him your hands are getting tighter together all the time. Your hands are getting tighter, tighter, all the time. Now when you try to get your hands apart you cannot do it; you will find the more you try the tighter your hands will stick. Now step back, releasing his hands, and he will find it a physical impossibility to get his hands apart. And when he is satisfied you have got His hands locked tightly together, release him from the influence by clapping your hands together or snapping your fingers and at the same time saying in a loud voice, "All right. Now you can take your hands apart; your hands are all right now."

The next is the eye test, and is a good one when properly made.

Seat the subject as before, with both feet flat upon the floor, tell him you are going to fix his eyes so he cannot get them open no matter how hard he tries. Now have him close his eyes and place his right hand palm downward on his right knee, grasp his open left hand in your left and a6 HYPNOTISM.

with the fingers of your right hand make light passes or strokes over his eyes and forehead and give suggestions as follows :

"Now when you try to open your eyes you will find the lids are stuck so tightly together you cannot get them apart, and the more you try to get them apart the tighter they will stick, no matter how hard you try you cannot open your eyes." Now let him try but at the same time keep his left hand in yours and let him struggle in the vain effort to open his eyes. Tell him to stand up and see if he can open them, and when you wish to release him do so by clapping your hands or snapping your fingers and saying, "All right now."

If a subject is influenced by any of the above tests, he can safely be regarded as a good subject for demonstrations in Hypnotism, but if he has not been in the least influenced or affected by any of the tests you may regard him as a difficult subject, and one that will take time and patience to influence, and cannot be used right away.

Chapter III. For Inducing Hypnotic Sleep

METHOD ONE.

Disturbing Influence. — Undue Nervousness. — Precautions Necessary. — Precautious Dispensable — Constant Suggestions. — Suggested Catalepsy. — Reversing Passes. — Somnambulism. — Changed Personality. — Variety of Delusions.

"Man has the faculty of exercising over his fellow beings a salutary influence by concentrating his mind and will upon what he desires them to do." — DeLaurence.

To induce Hypnotic sleep proceed as follows : Have the subject sit in a comfortable chair with his back to the light, assuming an easy natural position for sleep, placing his feet upon the floor, and the open palms of his hands upon each knee ; never have the hands or legs crossed when inducing Hypnosis. Now take a position on his right side, and state to him that you are going to put him into a sound comfortable sleep. Tell him to let every muscle in his body become perfectly relaxed, and just think to himself that he is getting so sleepy that he cannot keep his eyes 27 open. Then, secure the subject's attention ; and hold it. Let him see by your behavior and easy, confident manner that you are competent and master of the situation ; assert that you can hypnotize him, and you will be successful. Do not let the thought of failure enter your mind for one moment, and do not be afraid to make positive assertions, but state, "You can, and will, Hypnotize him."

Now concentrate your gaze and mind on the pupil of his left eye and tell him not to let his eyes waver or try to avoid your eyes, but to look at you all the time— until his eyes get so sleepy he cannot keep them open.

Now all the while constantly willing him to sleep give the following suggestions by saying, "You will begin to feel a sleepy, drowsy sensation coming all over your body; you will feel a sleepy influence coming all over your head and eyes; you are getting sleepy, sleepy, sleepy, so sleepy and drowsy you will not be able to keep your eyes open ; your eyelids are getting so heavy you cannot keep them up. You are going sound asleep, sleep, sleep, so sleepy and drowsy ; you're getting so sleepy and drowsy you cannot keep your eyes open any longer." Repeat the above suggestions over and over until you notice the subject's eyes getting so sleepy and drowsy

FOR INDUCING HYPNOTIC SLEEP. 29

that he cannot keep them open. Then say, "Sound asleep." "Dead asleep/' "Down deep asleep." "Go deep." "Down deep." And when his eyes are closed make light passes over the forehead and eyes, touching them very lightly, but keep on giving the suggestions of deep sleep. Say to him, "Every breath you draw puts you down deeper asleep, every breath you draw is a sleepy and drowsy one ; every part of your body is sound asleep, dead asleep, dead asleep."

If the subject's eyes do not close entirely, although he looks and feels sleepy, press down the eye lids with the tips of your ringers and he will be sound asleep.

Have everybody present keep perfectly quiet. The surroundings must be free from any disturbing influences and noises like the quiet opening or shutting of a door, or the whispering of persons inside the room. All these serve to distract the attention of trie subject at a critical time. The subject should be asked to keep his mind a blank as far as possible, and not trouble his mind over anything. Every thing should be done to have the subject calm and free from undue nervousness.

It must not be assumed that these detailed observances are in all cases necessary, for it greatly depends upon the susceptibility of the subject, but if you expect to gain an average of anything over 80 per cent it will only be by attention to these details. The first Hypnosis is always the most difficult to induce, and after the subject has been hypnotized a few times you can generally dispense with a great many of these precautions.

You now have the subject sound asleep, and it will be well for you, as a beginner, especially if you have a new subject, constantly to make suggestions, as follows : You say, "Now you are fast asleep ; nothing will disturb you or wake you. You cannot wake up until I count three and wake you up. You can open your eyes, but you will stay asleep. Nothing will wake you."

You can now induce what is termed

SUGGESTED CATALEPSY.

In the following manner : Place the arm straight out from the body ; make passes from the shoulder to fingers, and say : "Now, your arm is stiff and rigid; you have no feeling in any part of your arm, and it will remain in the position I have placed it ; you cannot take it down, no matter how hard you try."

The arm will remain in this position, and if you tell him that no one can take it down or

FOR INDUCING HYPNOTIC SLEEP. 31

bend it you will find it true that no one can. Always begin operation in this way, placing both arms in the upright position. When you are ready to take them down, make strokes from hand to shoulder, reversing them, and say: "Now you can take them down. And you will do everything I tell you ; you will have to do so. No one can wake you except myself."

You can now proceed to induce somnambulism or trance condition, thereby changing the personality of the subject. Tell him that he will open his eyes without waking up, and when he opens his eyes he will behold the most beautiful flowers he ever saw, that there is a bed of them right in front of him, and tell him to pick some of them for you. And if he hesitates, insist. Tell him to get some for you, and have him give some one present an imaginary bouquet, or tell him a lot of bees are stinging him, and his frantic efforts to drive them off will be amusing; or give him a stick, for a pole, and have him catch some fish from an imaginary stream ; or tell him he is a great politician, and have him make a speech to an imaginary audience; give him a lemon and tell him it is an orange or an apple and he will eat it with pleasure ; give him suggestions that he is a little boy, and he will act out the part. Any delusion can be induced, and the variety depends on the imagination and descriptive powers of the operator. You can make him forget his name, fix him so he cannot utter a word or open his mouth or make his limbs stiff so he cannot walk, and he will find it impossible to take a step or remove his feet from the floor until you tell him he can do so, or be released by the proper suggestion,

Chapter IV. Fascination

METHOD TWO.

Magnetic Personality Used. — Vacant Stars. — Involuntary Hypnosis.

This method, introducing as it does a large amount of the personal element or personal magnetism of the operator, is a favorite one with those who prefer to use the mesmeric passes and methods.

Seat the subject in a comfortable position on one side of the room, the operator taking a position about twelve or fifteen feet away. Have the subject gaze steadily into the operator's eyes, who must all the while keep his gaze firmly fixed on those of the subject until the eyes of the subject take on a vacant and trancelike stare. When this takes place you have him under perfect control and can induce sleep by sharp and decided suggestions to that effect, and proceed to induce somnambulism or trance condition as in Method One. This method is somewhat risky, since, if the subject be difficult or refractory, the operator himself may involuntarily become hypnotized. 33

As I have knowledge of a number of instances where in using this method operators have found themselves developing decided symptoms of Hypnosis, but this can be avoided by determination on the operator's part.

Chapter V. Celebrated Table Method

METHOD THREE.

frantic Efforts. — Perfect Concentration. — Roars of Laughter.

The Table Method, as this one is sometimes called, is very desirable, as it can be used at private parties and social gatherings, especially when operating upon young ladies, or giving demonstrations in Hypnotism.

Have the subject sit in a chair on the opposite side of a table with hands clasped and fingers locked, arms resting straight out upon the table, the operator also sitting in a chair on the opposite side of the table gazing intently and steadily into the eyes of the subject for about two minutes or more, then in a low decided tone tell the subject that when he tries to raise his arms from the table he cannot do it, and when you have made him powerless to lift his arms tell him he cannot get up from the chair, that he is stuck fast and the harder he tries the tighter he 35 will stick, and his frantic efforts to do so will provoke a roar of laughter. The suggestions must be made decidedly and the concentration profess good results.

Chapter VI. For Stage Purposes

METHOD FOUR.

Hypnotic Show. — Individual Application. — Fast and Fierce — Demonstrations Positive. — Boisterousness.

The following method will be found the proper one for giving a Hypnotic show. After getting eight or ten persons to come upon the stage to be hypnotized seat them in a half circle, feet flat upon the floor, with palms of their hands resting on either knee, tell them all to close their eyes and sit perfectly quiet and think of nothing but sleep.

Then in a loud deep voice suggest, "Sleep, sleep, you are going down deep asleep, down deep, go deep, deep, down deep." Passing from one end of the circle to the other lightly touching the eyes of each individual, tell them to take long deep breaths and they "will go deep asleep, dead asleep."

Then in a loud determined voice tell them

when they try to open their eyes or wake up

they cannot do it. If some open their eyes, tell

them to again close their eyes and operate on them individually, giving them a strong application, and if you cannot fasten their eyes in this manner, ask them politely to leave the stage, as you have not the time to devote to them and can only use those who can be readily influenced. Then proceed and give a show, putting on the cataleptic state, hat pin and needle tests, cake walk, boxing match, etc.

A Hypnotic show to be a success must not be allowed to drag, but must be fast and fierce, with positive demonstrations, warm enough to melt scepticism, and drive away a frost. Get the people with you by being firm and gentlemanly but not boisterous.

Make a speech something like the following:

"Ladies and gentlemen, I desire to state, that Hypnotism is and can be used in many ways, and it is especially good where surgical operations are to be performed. Hypnotism is also useful in the treatment of nervous and functional disorders, such as rheumatism, neuralgia, tobacco and morphine habits.

"I wish also to state that I do not want anybody to come upon the stage to show that they cannot be hypnotized, as it is no honor. The same may be said of an idiot. Unsusceptibility to hypnotic influence is not a sign of intelligence, however much your ignorance of the

FOR STAGE PURPOSES. 39

matter may prompt you to think so, and unless you mean to conduct yourself in a gentlemanly, courteous manner, and not affect Hypnotism when you are not hypnotized, I do not want you to come upon the stage, as I have no use fox the pretender or professional fakir."

Chapter VII. The Lock Method

METHOD FIVE.

Mysterious.— Never Before Given Before the Public- Bolted Doors.— Painful Positions.— Psychic Forces. — Mind Upon Matter.

The most marvelous and mysterious of all psychic and spiritualistic phenomena is the wonderful Lock Method, known to but a very few operators, and I can truthfully state that it has never before been given to the public. The person who possesses this knowledge can while outside of a room or locked in a room in another part of the house or building, or outside of the house entirely, with all doors bolted and locked, hypnotize a number of persons inside of the room or building in the following manner :

Have two or three subjects sit beside each other upon chairs, have them clasp their hands and then say, "All ready now, everybody." Then the operator should leave the room, having some person lock the door. He can go to another room or out of the building, if desired, taking a position in a quiet place and mentally suggest- 4i ing to himself that the subjects cannot get their hands apart. If necessary the operator can be locked in another room, and in about five or seven minutes he can return and it will be found that the subjects' hands are tightly fastened together. Another way is fb stand the subjects in the middle of the room with arms outstretched, the operator proceeding as before, but should not remain away this time over three or five minutes as this is a very painful and tiring position for the arms to be in any length of time. The operator can by this method demonstrate that for psychic forces or personal magnetism there exists no space, and that a person can be influenced at a distance as well as in the same room providing the proper conditions are brought about. There being an immediate action of psychic forces upon psychic forces, and not, as a common view takes for granted of mind upon matter.