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HYPNOTISM AND ALLIED PHENOMENA. 

 By Walter Spencer, M.D., M.E.C.S., Etc. 



In judging newly observed phenomena for the purpose of 

 reconnoitering the field for further exploration it is not easy 

 to steer a medium course between the caution which demands 

 too much and the receptivity which is satisfied with too little 

 investigation. The former borders upon obstructiveness, the 

 latter merges into credulity. In the first part of this paper I 

 shall state ascertained facts, after which I shall have to lay 

 bare the dilemma between necessary caution and regrettable 

 credulity. 



In 1843 Dr. James Braid, of Manchester, found that he was 

 able in certain patients to induce an artificial sleep, accom- 

 panied by insensibility to pain. He made use of the power 

 more for the relief of pre-existing pain than as a help in 

 surgery, but under his auspices the eminent dentist, Sir J. 

 Tomes, was surprised to find that he could extract several 

 teeth without his patients having any consciousness of the 

 operation. Dr. Braid used to rivet the attention and eyes of 

 the patient upon something shining placed close at hand so 

 that it was a strain to look at. He considered that fatigue of 

 the ocular muscles was a chief factor in inducing the re- 

 quired condition. The new process was christened Braidism, 

 but was not adopted to any extent in England, the triumph 

 of the easy aneesthetics, chloroform and ether, seeming to 

 render its practice unnecessary. In France, however, two 

 great schools devoted to the subject (which Braid called 

 hypnotism) have conducted interesting experiments for many 

 years, under Professor Charcot, at the Salpetriere, Paris, and 

 Profesor Liebault at Nancy, the latter becoming known to 

 fame as the originator of "hypnotic suggestion." Charcot is 

 one of our foremost authorities on the management of hysteria, 

 and has pursued the enquiry into hypnotism chiefly with re- 

 ference to that abnormality of nerve function. We shall see, 

 however, that the popular impression as to hysterical sub- 

 jects being most predisposed to hypnotic influences is by no 

 means proved. 



At a general meeting of the British Medical Association 

 held in August, 1889, a special section was devoted to 

 hypnotism. It resulted in the expression of divergent 

 opinions, in which, broadly speaking, French physicians 

 maintained the affirmative and English physicians the negative 

 view of the value of the study. Amongst the speakers was 

 Dr. Voisin, of the Salpetriere, who stated that he had by this 

 means cured persons suffering from hallucinations and from 



