Complete Hypnotism, Mesmerism, Mind-Reading and Spiritualism: How to Hypnotize: Being an Exhaustive and Practical System of Method, Application, and UseAlpheus, A.
History
Complete Hypnotism, Mesmerism, Mind-Reading and Spiritualism: How to Hypnotize: Being an Exhaustive and Practical System of Method, Application, and Use
Alpheus, A.
Hypnotism; Mesmerism; Spiritualism; Telepathy
“The hypnotic state, generally produced by the contemplation of a
bright spot, a lamp, or the human eye, is in his case induced by a
peculiar kind of mirror. The mirrors are made of pieces of wood cut
prismatically in which fragments of mirrors are incrusted. They are
generally double and placed crosswise, and by means of clockwork
revolve automatically. They are the same as sportsmen use to attract
larks, the rays of the sun being caught and reflected on every side and
from all points of the horizon. If the little mirrors in each branch
are placed in parallel lines in front of a patient, and the rotation is
rapid, the optic organ soon becomes fatigued, and a calming soothing
somnolence ensues. At first it is not a deep sleep, the eye-lids are
scarcely heavy, the drowsiness slight and restorative. By degrees, by a
species of training, the hypnotic sleep differs more and more from
natural sleep, the individual abandons himself more and more
completely, and falls into one of the regular phases of hypnotic sleep.
Without a word, without a suggestion or any other action, Dr. Luys has
made wonderful cures. Wecker, the occulist, has by the same means
entirely cured spasms of the eye-lids.”
Professor Delboeuf gives the following account of how the famous
Liebault produced hypnotism at the hospital at Nancy. We would
especially ask the reader to note what he says of Dr. Liebault’s manner
and general bearing, for without doubt much of his success was due to
his own personality. Says Professor Delboeuf:
“His modus faciendi has something ingenious and simple about it,
enhanced by a tone and air of profound conviction; and his voice has
such fervor and warmth that he carries away his clients with him.
“After having inquired of the patient what he is suffering from,
without any further or closer examination, he places his hand on the
patient’s forehead and, scarcely looking at him, says, ‘You are going
to sleep.’ Then, almost immediately, he closes the eyelids, telling him
that he is asleep. After that he raises the patient’s arm, and says,
‘You cannot put your arm down.’ If he does, Dr. Liebault appears hardly
to notice it. He then turns the patient’s arm around, confidently
affirming that the movement cannot be stopped, and saying this he turns
his own arms rapidly around, the patient remaining all the time with
his eyes shut; then the doctor talks on without ceasing in a loud and
commanding voice. The suggestions begin:
“‘You are going to be cured; your digestion will be good, your sleep
quiet, your cough will stop, your circulation will become free and
regular; you are going to feel very strong and well, you will be able
to walk about,’ etc., etc. He hardly ever varies the speech. Thus he
fires away at every kind of disease at once, leaving it to the client
to find out his own. No doubt he gives some special directions,
according to the disease the patient is suffering from, but general
instructions are the chief thing.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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