HYPNOTISM : WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT IS NOT. 759 



this term are determined cliiefiy tlirougli some form of mental 

 action, and afford striking illustrations of the influence of the 

 mind upon the body. This view of Lidbault's is of great signifi- 

 cance, for it is the point of departure of the supporters of the 

 Nancy school of hypnotism, who hold that an enormous number 

 of hypnotic manifestations can only be explained through sugges- 

 tion. Lidbault was an extremely conscientious and able observer. 

 He had the courage of his convictions, and, scorned by his col- 

 leagues, lived in retirement, practicing among the poorer classes, 

 and devoting his life to the study of the problems of hypnotism. 

 The originality of Lidbault's book, and the stimulus it gave to 

 investigation, entitle it to be considered the most important work 

 upon hypnotism which has appeared since the time of Braid. 



In sharp contrast to the views held by Li^bault and his pupils 

 (Nancy school) stand those of Charcot and his school (school of 

 Salpetriere or Paris school). Charcot began the study of hypno- 

 tism in 1878, and his observations were almost exclusively made 

 upon hysterical patients. His method of inducing sleep is similar 

 to that of Braid. The patient gazes intently upon a brilliant 

 object, and after a variable period falls suddenly asleep. Charcot 

 regards hypnotism as an abnormal nervous state — a neurosis, in 

 fact, of which there are three phases, each possessing certain well- 

 defined characteristics. . The patient may be brought from one of 

 these stages into another at will, by means of certain skillfully 

 performed manoeuvres. The three states are known as lethargy, 

 catalepsy, and somnambulism. 



The lethargic state may be obtained either by fixation of a 

 brilliant object, or by pressing upon the closed eyelids. The con- 

 dition is characterized by the presence of deep sleep, muscular 

 relaxation, loss of sensation, partial or complete, abeyance of the 

 intellectual functions, and the absence of all reaction to sug- 

 gestion. A curious hyperexcitable condition of the nerves and 

 muscles (neuro-muscular hyperexcitability) is, however, present, 

 which causes any muscle to contract when its corresponding nerve 

 is excited by friction or slight pressure. Thus, pressure upon the 

 facial nerve (the great motor nerve of the face) causes distortion 

 of the features on the same side of the face. 



The second stage is that of catalepsy. It is only necessary to 

 raise the eyelids in order to transform the lethargic condition into 

 that of catalepsy. If only one eyelid be raised, the corresponding 

 side of the body becomes cataleptic, while the other side continues 

 lethargic. The peculiar hyperexcitability of the nerves and mus- 

 cles is absent in this stage, and the patient remains for some time 

 in any position into which he may be put. In this stage sugges- 

 tions may act through the sensibility of the muscles as a medium. 

 Thus, if the hands are joined as in prayer, the face grows very 



