S84 HYPNOTISM. 



resulting from hypnotic suggestion show that its limits 

 are much wider than had hitherto been supposed. 



The uses of hypnotic suggestion can only be shortly dis- 

 cussed here, as the subject is one rather of medical than 

 of general interest. Owing to the fact that, parallel with 

 mental phenomena, corresponding changes occur in certain 

 parts of the brain, it is possible to exert an enormous influ- 

 ence, by means of hypnotic and post-hypnotic suggestion, 

 over not only the mental phenomena of a person, but also 

 indirectly over the majority of those bodily functions which 

 are controlled by the nervous system. It is possible, as 

 Forel says, to work upon the body of a hypnotised person, 

 using his brain as the instrument. 



The diseases which can be so cured, or, at any rate, re- 

 lieved, are mostly of a functional or hysterical nature, i.e. 

 are not dependent on structural alterations in the nervous 

 system. For instance, hysterical aphonia, and other paralyses 

 of sensation and movement, habit-tricks, stammering, 

 writer's cramp, alcoholism, sleeplessness, unquiet dreams, 

 some headaches, and various kinds of " neuralgic " and 

 *' rheumatic " pains can be so treated. It is probable, in- 

 deed, that many of these (though not all) have their origin 

 in conscious or subconscious auto-suggestion. 



Various objections have been raised to this employment 

 of hypnotic suggestion as a therapeutic agent. The possible 

 dangers are, however, only two in number. The first is, that 

 on awakening from hypnosis, the person may complain of 

 headache, lassitude, sleepiness, etc. ; this can be easily 

 avoided by suggesting, before awakening him, that he will 

 afterwards feel quite well. The second more serious danger 

 is, that the person, if hypnotised often (which is indeed very 

 seldom necessary), may become very suscejDtible to hypnotic 

 processes, so that possibly some unscrupulous person might 



