HYPNOTISM AND ITS PHEEOMENA. 7$ 



proportion as cerebral influence is in abeyance ; and further we 

 notice that the longer this state exists so much the more difficult 

 is it to regain cerebral control over reflex spinal movements. Many- 

 instances of this latter fact have been witnessed in the hystero- 

 epileptic patient already alluded to. Thus while examining the eye- 

 with the ophthalmoscope I have asked her to look down, up, <fcc. At 

 times this has been done with ease, while at others no apparent 

 efforts on her part could overcome the ataxia due to the lack of cere- 

 bral force over reflex spinal action. Again the hyper-excitability of 

 afferent sensory nerves induced by this condition is in its effects 

 readily appreciated. Let us suppose a patient hypnotized and sleep- 

 ing quietly, the whole muscular system being apparently relaxed. 

 Here we find that the sensibility is so great that very slight friction 

 along the course of any nerve causes tonic contractures of the corres- 

 ponding muscles supplied by its branches to take place. This I have 

 frequently witnessed in sets of muscles in all parts of the body. 

 "What the pathological condition is, inducing this state is in some in- 

 stances difficult to explain ; but a curious experiment which I had 

 the good fortune to witness in M. Charcot's laboratory would seem 1 

 to throw some light upon the subject. There was present a patient,, 

 very healthy-looking, well developed, of fair complexion, and of 

 sanguine temperament, but one of peculiarly emotional tendencies. 

 The experiment upon her was as follows : She, having been first hyp- 

 notized, was sleeping peacefully while sitting in her chair. An 

 assistant now bandaged the right arm, and having tied it above the 

 bandage showed it to be anaemic. N"ow by slight pressure upon the 

 ulnar nerve at the elbow the forni of contracture en griffe was set up> 

 in the corresponding fingers of that side. A large magnet was then 

 placed in contact with the left arm when, wonderful to relate, there 

 followed a slight muscular tremor in the muscles of the left arm, and 

 thereafter the same contractures took place in the muscles of that 

 hand, the contractures on the right side being correspondingly re- 

 laxed at the same time, but by irritation were again induced, there 

 being contractures thus present in both at once. I did not hear 

 M. Charcot's theory as to the causation of this phenomenon, but 

 it seems to me that we have a right to assume that : — (1) anaemia of 

 the right arm made it verv irritable and sensible of impressions ; 

 (2) when the cerebrum was even slightly impressed it set up motor 

 reflex action and contractions took place ; (3) and in the third, and 



