HEREDITY. 



A Hypnotic 

 Demonstration. 



He Would not 

 Drink Liquor* 



A Fact of 



Supreme 



Importance. 



inebriate under hypnotic control was given a lead 

 pencil and told it was a cigar. He immediately 

 placed it between his teeth and tried to light it 

 with the assurance of enjoying a smoke. He was 

 shown a stream of water on the floor and was 

 instructed to prepare to wade it. He immediately 

 acted upon the suggestion without the slightest 

 hesitancy, despite the mirth and uproar of the 

 audience. He was then given a glass of water 

 and told that it was sparkling wine and that he 

 should drink it. He took the wine glass in his 

 hand and said, "Yes, Doctor, I see it is excellent 

 wine and I am very fond of liquors of all kinds, 

 but I was once a hard drinker. I signed the 

 pledge and for six years have not tasted a drop. 

 I have steadily resolved that I would not use it 

 and gradually the appetite has left me. You will 

 please excuse me from drinking this." Other 

 suggestions of a most ridiculous character were 

 given and accepted by the subject without the 

 slightest resistance. 



Thousands of like experiments have been made 

 with similar results. They disclose a fact of 

 supreme importance, namely, that a man may by 

 repeated suggestions so strengthen and fix his 

 character that he will not do under temptation 

 that which is contrary to his established ideals. 

 If character can be so firmly established as to con- 

 trol the conduct against a hypnotic suggestion, 

 it certainly can be made strong enough to resist 

 any temptation while in the normal state. Men 

 yield to temptation because repeated suggestion, 

 wrong thinking and vicious desires have weakened 

 the character and made it susceptible, 



