364 HYPNOTISM. 



(This use of the word " somnambulism," or " induced 

 somnambulism," must be distinguished from two other 

 meanings which have been attached to it. There is Charcot's 

 " somnambulism," an asserted special hypnotic state, to be 

 afterwards described ; and " somnambulism," or " natural 

 somnambulism," which is commonly called " sleep-walking.") 



Classes of suggestions. — It is possible to classify in various 

 ways the suggestions which may be made to a hypnotised 

 person. Thus we may do so according to the sense organ 

 by which they are received. Tor instance, the suggestion 

 that a person's right hand is insensitive may be either by 

 word of mouth or by writing ; he receives it in the one case 

 through the ear, in the other through the eye. 



In connection with this a somewhat important point may 

 be mentioned. It is found that in hypnosis, just as in 

 normal life, impressions are deepened, intensified, if they 

 are received through more than one sense organ ; thus the 

 performance of a suggestion of movement, or the acceptation 

 of a suggested hallucination, is facilitated by making the 

 subject act in accordance with it. For instance, I tell a 

 ^' subject " to walk to the other end of the room. If now he 

 be started on his way by a push, or if he hear me " marking 

 time," he more readily goes than on the mere verbal sug- 

 gestion ; or, again, if a " subject " be told he is a politician, 

 and must make a speech, he often does not readily accept 

 the suggestion, although if he be made to begin speaking, 

 he gradually assumes the suggested role. 



Suggestions may also be classified according to the result 

 aimed at ; thus one may give the " subject " the suggestion 

 of some movement to be executed, or of some object to be 

 perceived (hallucination). Again, they may be divided into 

 two classes — imperative and inhibitory (or paralytic). Im- 

 perative suggestions are those which cause the production 



