HYPNOTISM 



2899 



HYSTERIA 



tistics are variable, according as they make this 

 distinction; but it is safe to say that ten to 

 twenty per cent of persons may be induced or 

 trained to enter a form of hypnotic trance; 

 while far higher percentages of success are given 

 by French observers. Braid used intense fixa- 

 tion of the eyes at near range (staring at a 

 glass ball), together with a powerful command 

 and a passive acceptance of a sleeplike "going- 

 off." Once the state has been induced, mere 

 expectation, word of command, as "Sleep," or 

 an agreed signal is sufficient to induce the state. 

 Subjects may in part or whole hypnotize them- 

 selves; this is called autohypnosis. They are 

 recalled to consciousness by a sharp command, 

 as "Wake up" or "All right;" though the diffi- 

 culty of awakening is one of the many reasons 

 why the practice in amateur hands is a dan- 

 gerous one. The susceptibility to the state can- 

 not be regarded as in itself a sign of nervous 

 instability; for vigorous and nervously-sturdy 

 persons may succumb. Yet in general and 

 with reference to the extreme and deeper forms 

 of hypnosis the relation to nervousness is es- 

 tablished. 



While at one time great expectations were 

 formed of the curative value of the procedure, 

 and while unquestionably it forms an impor- 

 tant aid in medical hands to break up stubborn 

 nervous resistance, it is now conceded that hyp- 

 nosis is but one of several methods of mental 

 therapeutics. Hypnoid .states in which the sub- 

 ject remains more nearly awake and renounces 

 less of his personality are induced by some 

 physicians; the same mechanism of suggestion 

 is the basis of the treatment. In the main the 

 value of hypnosis lies in restoring functions 

 which have lapsed from normal relations. Its 

 practice should be limited to physicians and 

 psychologists who are conversant with its na- 

 ture and dangers. The question whether a 

 hypnotized person may be induced to commit 

 a crime is not simply answered; but that an- 

 swer in the main is affirmative, since moral re- 

 sistances may be overcome, and the hypnotized 

 victim be substantially in an irresponsible, be- 

 cause oversuggestible, condition. The law has 

 bad to recognize this possibility. 



Consult Jastrow's Fact and Fable in Psychol- 

 ogy; Prince's The Unconscious 



Related to Various Beliefs. The articles on 

 the following topics, while not bearing on hypno- 

 tism, are of interest in this connection. 

 Alchemy Demonology 



Astrology Divination 



Clairvoyance Faith Cure 



Conjuring Magic 



Medium 



Mesmerism 



Mind Reading 



Necromancy 



Occult 



Palmistry 



Phrenology 



Physiognomy 



Psychical Research 



Psycho-Analysis 



Spiritualism 



Suggestion 



Superstition 



Telepathy 



Theosophy 



Trance 



Witchcraft 



HYPODERMIC INJECTION, hipoder'mik 

 in jek'shun, a method of forcing medicine be- 

 neath the skin by means of a small glass 

 syringe, so it can enter the blood directly 

 when quick results are necessary, or when the 

 stomach is in such a condition that it cannot 

 retain drugs. The term hypodermic is derived 

 from two Greek words meaning under and 

 skin. The medicine may be injected just be- 

 neath the skin, or the point of the syringe may 

 be thrust into the body of a muscle, but care 

 must be taken not to wound the blood vessels 

 or nerves. It is customary to make a special 

 preparation of the drug which is to be intro- 

 duced, but only a physician or trained nurse 

 should undertake to administer the treatment, 

 and all instruments used must be sterilized. 

 For the use of the hypodermic injection in pro- 

 ducing insensibility to pain, see ANESTHETIC. 



HYSSOP, hiss' lip, a plant of the mint 

 family which, although a native of Southern 

 Europe, has been cultivated extensively in the 

 warmer sections of the United States for its 

 medicinal properties and for its seeds, which 

 are used to season salads and soups. It is a 

 bushy plant, which grows about one and one- 

 half feet high; it has a square, coarse stem, 

 with little stiff, pointed leaves. The tiny blue 

 flowers grow in clusters so close to the stem 

 that they are inconspicuous. 



HYSTERIA, hisste'ria, a diseased state of 

 the nervous system which causes a person to 

 manifest intense excitement and emotion or, 

 in more severe cases, even to have convulsive 

 attacks. Uncontrollable laughter and sobbing 

 and violent screaming are common in some 

 attacks of hysteria. Among the causes of this 

 ailment heredity plays a very important part, 

 for parents having epilepsy, insanity or other 

 nervous diseases are very liable to bequeath to 

 their children a tendency to hysteria; over- 

 work, worry, mental shock or injury to the 

 nerves from an accident will also often cause 

 attacks of the disease. In minor cases rest will 

 work a cure in a short time, but tonics and nu- 

 tritious diet, together with a change of environ- 

 ment and relief from worry, are needed to help 

 the victims of severe attacks. W.A.E. 



