K. S. HYER-LAW OF HYPNOTISM. 
13 
him is frequently sufficient for this. The importance of this idea is 
shown by the fact that no hypnotist has ever made a subject of one who 
was unaware of his purpose. To face unmoved the confident look of 
one believed to be able to hypnotize would be impossible with many. 
For what is hypnotism as it is usually understood ? A strange and mys¬ 
terious region, where the visitor is led on by illusive visions or left to 
grope amid grotesque forms; a bourne from which no returned traveller 
has ever been able to tell how he went there, save that he was carried 
by an irresistible agent. Many will be excited by the possibility of 
being forced to make a similar journey. The fascination of an untried 
danger leads to compliance with the hypnotist’s demands. Excited over 
the idea of a novel experience, half dreading its possibility, the subject 
is now waiting to see “ how it is going to feel,” and his whole attention 
is directed towards his sensations. This state of mind will greatly 
heighten the usual effects of exertion, a sudden sensory expression, pro¬ 
tracted attention, the uncomfortable feeling arising from constrained 
positions. Some such result may arise from the manipulations of the 
operator. Their real cause being misunderstood and greatly exaggerated 
by the heightened susceptibilities, they are presented to the mind as 
evidence of the presence and operation of the anticipated agent. The 
alert operator detects from the expression of his subject that some such 
suspicion has arisen in his mind, and his confident look, sudden com¬ 
mand, quick, imperative glance are taken as further evidence of his 
complete overthrow and necessary surrender. Being told, it may be, 
that he can not now do some simple act, his confusion is heightened by 
the audacity of the proposition. He hesitates, turns again his attention 
to himself to see what is his condition; for he can not put forth a voli¬ 
tion if there be the least suspicion that it can not be executed. This 
state of mind further heightens his feelings, and they in turn further 
decrease the possibility of his forming a correct judgment. But judge 
he must; for, as Bain has said, “ it is a standing weakness of the human 
mind to pronounce general opinions under the pressure of the passing 
moment.” Under such pressure and from such data the opinion formed 
is quite likely to be that the suspected power has already seized upon 
him and that further resistance is useless. 
If such be in substance the way in which this belief arises, it shows 
why the operator alone is obeyed, why he alone can restore to the nor¬ 
mal state, why so many methods having apparently nothing in common 
are about equally successful. It further shows that success depends not 
so much upon the method as upon the skill of the operator, the precon¬ 
ceived ideas and mental habits of the subject. It also explains why 
small children, idiots, and lunatics can not be hynotized. 
In the practice of “ faith cure,” “ magnetic healing,” and “Christian 
