Buchanan's Journal of Man, June 1887: Volume 1, Number 5
Philosophy
Buchanan's Journal of Man, June 1887: Volume 1, Number 5
Medicine -- Periodicals; Phrenology -- Periodicals; Science -- Periodicals
The report of the discussion given us above in _Sphinx_ shows that
these important suggestions met with only one unfriendly criticism,
and that of little force. M. Desjardins, Esq., suggested that it was
highly important that other honorable gentlemen, like Dr. Liebault,
Dr. Voisin, and Dr. Dumont, should be officially appointed to carry on
such experiments. He expressed his desire that the Congress should
recommend that hypnotic suggestion for the purpose of moral
improvement should be tried upon the worst class of pupils in the
public schools. The suggestion was seconded with energy by Dr.
Leclerc, who expressed his surprise that any one should object. It may
be said to have met with the general approbation of the Congress.
* * * * *
The _Public Ledger_ of Philadelphia published last year the following
sketch of the progress of the marvellous in France:
MARVELS OF MIND AND BODY.
For several years past a number of French physicians have been
experimenting on hypnotised or mesmeric subjects and on
hysterical patients, with results of the most extraordinary
character. It is our purpose to very briefly describe some of
these remarkable experiments, from which, we may say, the
standing of the doctors engaged in them, and the critical care
with which they were conducted, seem to remove all questions
of fraud or inaccuracy.
In these hypnotic experiments as practised by Dr. Charcot, of
the Salpetriere; by Dr. Bernheim, Professors Beaunis and
Liegeois and other persons of high professional standing, the
most striking feature is that the influence exerted upon the
patient does not vanish with the conclusion of the experiment,
but may produce its effects days, weeks or even months
afterwards, when the patient is seemingly in a normal state
and controlled solely by his own thoughts. For instance, a
sensitive person may be hypnotised, or mesmerized, to use the
better known word, and it be suggested to him by the
experimenter to go at a certain hour of the next or some
succeeding day and shoot some person and then deliver himself
up to justice. On being brought back to the normal state no
recollection of this suggestion is present in his mind. And
yet, if the experiment work as truly as it often seemingly has
worked, he will endeavor at the time fixed to perform the
action indicated, with the full belief that the impulse to do
so is his own. We may quote some instances in corroboration of
this seemingly improbable statement.
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