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
“She had been in this state of absolute immobility for seven months and
I had vainly tried every therapeutic remedy usual in such cases. My
intention was first to restore the general constitution of the subject,
who was greatly weakened by her protracted stay in bed, and then, at
the end of a certain time, to have recourse to hypnotism, and at the
opportune moment suggest to her the idea of walking.
“The patient was hypnotized every morning, and the first degree (that
of lethargy), then the cataleptic, and finally the somnambulistic
states were produced. After a certain period of somnambulism she began
to move, and unconsciously took a few steps across the ward. Soon after
it was suggested—the locomotor powers having recovered their physical
functions—that she should walk when awake. This she was able to do, and
in some weeks the cure was complete. In this case, however, we had the
ingenious idea of changing her personality at the moment when we
induced her to walk. The patient fancied she was somebody else, and as
such, and in this roundabout manner, we satisfactorily attained the
object proposed.”
The following is Professor Delboeuf’s account of Dr. Bernheim’s mode of
suggestion at the hospital at Nancy. A robust old man of about
seventy-five years of age, paralyzed by sciatica, which caused him
intense pain, was brought in. “He could not put a foot to the ground
without screaming with pain. ‘Lie down, my poor friend; I will soon
relieve you.’ Dr. Bernheim says. ‘That is impossible, doctor.’ ‘You
will see.’ ‘Yes, we shall see, but I tell you, we shall see nothing!’
On hearing this answer I thought suggestion will be of no use in this
case. The old man looked sullen and stubborn. Strangely enough, he soon
went off to sleep, fell into a state of catalepsy, and was insensible
when pricked. But when Monsieur Bernheim said to him, ‘Now you can
walk, he replied, ‘No, I cannot; you are telling me to do an impossible
thing.’ Although Monsieur Bernheim failed in this instance, I could not
but admire his skill. After using every means of persuasion,
insinuation and coaxing, he suddenly took up an imperative tone, and in
a sharp, abrupt voice that did not admit a refusal, said: ‘I tell you
you can walk; get up.’ ‘Very well,’ replied the old follow; ‘I must if
you insist upon it.’ And he got out of bed. No sooner, however, had his
foot touched the floor than he screamed even louder than before.
Monsieur Bernheim ordered him to step out. ‘You tell me to do what is
impossible,’ he again replied, and he did not move. He had to be
allowed to go to bed again, and the whole time the experiment lasted he
maintained an obstinate and ill-tempered air.”
These two cases give an admirable picture of the cases that can be and
those that cannot be cured by hypnotism, or any other method of mental
suggestion.
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