810 Dynamic Theory. 



The hallucination in such a case as this, was made by Dr. Charcot to last 



several days. 



There are certain postures and gestures which are said to be the natu- 

 ral expressions of certain mental and emotional states. This means 

 that the relationships between the muscles and the brain cells are such 

 that when certain of the latter are in a particular state of excitement an 

 overflow of stimulation to the muscles causes them to assume a particu- 

 lar attitude. The converse of this is also true, namely, that if the atti- 

 tude be assumed by or imposed upon the muscles, there will be a ten- 

 dency to cause in the corresponding brain cells, an activity which con- 

 stitutes the corresponding mental or emotional state; that is, the machine 

 is worked backwards. 



Thus, if you cause a man to adopt a haughty bearing and lofty atti- 

 tude, and dress him up in smart style to correspond, he will at the same 

 time become possessed with a feeling of arrogance or pride. In the or- 

 dinary conscious states such induced feeling is more or less counter- 

 acted, diluted or neutralized by the thousand and one other stimulations 

 by which we are assailed from the environment, but when a person is in 

 the hypnotic state and the influence of these distracting stimulations is 

 cut off, this phenomenon can be observed in its full effect. There are 

 generally several sorts of muscular expression to accompany each gen- 

 eral emotional state, and to arouse the general emotional state in a 

 hypnotic subject, it may be necessary merely to place him in one of 

 these attitudes of expression in order to induce the emotion in his brain 

 and through it the other expressions of that emotion. 



Thus if the hand of the hypnotic subject be placed upon the top of 

 his head often he will draw himself up to his full hight, throw back his 

 head and assume a look of lofty pride. But if the first position is not 

 sufficient to cause the rest, the operator has only to throw back the sub- 

 ject's head and straighten up his legs and backbone, when the required 

 emotional state will be induced and exhibited in the facial expression. 

 Experiments proving these facts, were first made by Mr. Braid, and 

 afterwards repeated and extended by many others. To make your 

 hypnotic subject fight, double up his fist and raise his arm. To make him 

 devout, put him on his knees and clasp his hands together. ' ' Raise his 

 head while in prayer, and his lips pour forth exulting glorifications as 

 he sees heaven opened and the majest}' of Grod raising him to his place ; 

 then in a moment depress the head, and he is dust and ashes, an un- 

 worthy sinner with the pit of hell yawning at his feet. Or, compress the 

 forehead so as to wrinkle it vertically, and thorny toothed clouds con- 

 tract in from the very horizon, and what is remarkable, the smallest 

 pinch and wrinkle, such as will lie between JOUY nipping nails, is a suf- 

 ficient nucleus to crystalize the man into that shape, and to make him 



