Complete Hypnotism, Mesmerism, Mind-Reading and Spiritualism: How to Hypnotize: Being an Exhaustive and Practical System of Method, Application, and Use — John Shaqi
Complete Hypnotism, Mesmerism, Mind-Reading and Spiritualism: How to Hypnotize: Being an Exhaustive and Practical System of Method, Application, and UseAlpheus, A.
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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
One young fellow, aged about eighteen, said that he was addicted to the
cigarette habit. The suggestion was made to him that he would not be
able to smoke a cigarette for twenty-four hours. After the
entertainment he was asked to smoke, as was his usual habit. He was
then away from any one who could influence him. He replied that the
very idea was repugnant. However, he was induced to take a cigarette in
his mouth, but it made him ill and he flung it away with every
expression of disgust. *This is an instance of what is called
post-hypnotic suggestion. Dr. Cocke tells of suggesting to a drinker
whom he was trying to cure of the habit that for the next three days
anything he took would make him vomit; the result followed as
suggested.
The same phenomena that was shown in unclasping the hands, was next
exhibited in commanding the subjects to rotate them. They immediately
began and twirled them faster and faster, in spite of their efforts to
stop. One of the subjects said he thought of nothing but the strange
action of his hands, and sometimes it puzzled him to know why they
whirled.
At this point Dr. Flint’s daughter took charge of the class. She
pointed her finger at one of them, and the subject began to look
steadily before him, at which the rest of the class were highly amused.
Presently the subject’s head leaned forward, the pupils of his eyes
dilated and assumed a peculiar glassy stare. He arose with a steady,
gliding gait and walked up to the lady until his nose touched her hand.
Then he stopped. Miss Flint led him to the front of the stage and left
him standing in profound slumber. He stood there, stooping, eyes set,
and vacant, fast asleep. In the meantime the act had caused great
laughter among the rest of the class. One young fellow in particular,
laughed so uproariously that tears coursed down his cheeks, and he took
out his handkerchief to wipe his eyes. Just as he was returning it to
his pocket, the lady suddenly pointed a finger at him. She was in the
center of the stage, fully fifteen feet away from the subject, but the
moment the gesture was made, his countenance fell, his mirth stopped,
while that of his companions redoubled, and the change was so obvious
that the audience shared in the laughter—but the subject neither saw
nor heard. His eyes assumed the same expression that had been noticed
in his companion’s. He, too, arose in the same attitude, as if his head
were pulling the body along, and following the finger in the same way
as his predecessor, was conducted to the front of the stage by the side
of the first subject. This was repeated on half a dozen subjects, and
the manifestations were the same in each case. Those selected were now
drawn up in an irregular line in front of the stage, their eyes fixed
on vacancy, their heads bent forward, perfectly motionless. Each was
then given a suggestion. One was to be a newsboy, and sell papers.
Another was given a broomstick and told to hunt game in the woods
before him.
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