124 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



There is abundant evidence of the fact of an abnormal con- 

 ■dition — however induced — called mesmeric, magnetic, or hyp- 

 notic. That cannot now be disputed ; and we are led to ask, 

 what is its nature, and how is it produced ? Braid maintains 

 that hypnotic and natural sleep are analogous ; and we con- 

 sequently inquire, what induces sleep? Observers of the brain 

 dui'ing sleep aver that it is paler than it is during ordinary 

 waking hours. There is considerably less blood in it, and 

 its functions as an organ of animal life are suspended. " The 

 possibility of artificially inducing sleep at any time in a per- 

 son by simply withholding from the brain all stimulation by 

 means of the senses has been frequently tried and realised. 

 Thought-activity ceases, the brain lies dormant, and a bodily- 

 state is produced which naturally leads to and engenders 

 sleep." Now, writers on hypnotism state that by concentrat- 

 ing the attention on some particular idea, and excluding all 

 other ideas, the circulation in the brain becomes less active, 

 and the individual passes into sleep. And this appears to be 

 borne out by the general practice of mankind. Wiipn wakeful 

 of nights, we all think of, and mentally repeat, a few monoto- 

 nous words, and continue doing so, to the exclusion of all other 

 thought, till the brain becomes less active, and sleep follows. 

 From all this we may, " I think, fairly conclude that in the 

 hypnotic slumber the quantity of blood flowing through the 

 brain is less tlian the ordinary quantity, and, being less, there 

 is less consciousness ; for consciousness is said to be the result 

 of the activity of the brain occasioned by a supply of blood 

 circulating through it with healthy regularity. And this is so 

 far proved, for if we lessen the supply of blood we at once 

 reduce brain-action. If the supply is cut off the brain-func- 

 tions are entirely suspended, and the animal falls into a deep 

 coma. Restore the How of blood, and consciousness and 

 brain-functions are restored. Now, Dr. Beard, of New York, 

 compares common consciousness to a large chandelier with all 

 its jets lighted, but burning dimly ; while inducing the hypnotic 

 state is like turning off all the jets but one, which burns all 

 the more brightly. Or it may be likened to a complicated 

 machine thrown out of gear, and all its parts motionless save 

 one small part, whicli revolves and acts as usual. Hence con- 

 sciousness is said to be normal only when many different 

 impressions are acting upon it ; but wdien these impressions are 

 restricted — " when certain large parts of thought are sunk in 

 forgetfulness or torpid indifference" — it is held to be abnormal. 

 This last is its condition in the hypnotic sleep. 



We may next inquire, what persons are usually affected, or 

 thrown into the hypnotic condition? It appears that the 

 child-mind, or the uninformed and inexperienced mind — 

 whicli is nearh- related to it — is easilv affected. This I veil- 



