All the functional disorders of the nervous system do not improve by hyp notic suggestion. I have never suc ceeded in improving the condition of a typical hysterical subject by means of hypnotism, mainly from the fact that I have refrained from using any method to induce hypnosis in this class beyond the suggestive method, and none have become thoroughly hypnotized. Many experimenters—among whom may be mentioned Van Reeterghem, Eeden, Bidon, Stembo, Sperling, Bernheim, Danillo, Moll, Striibing, Mendel, Briand, Ringier, and others—report success in the treatment of a number of their cases of hysteria by means of hypnotic sug gestion. What method they employed to hypnotize this class of their patients is not stated. Danillo acknowledges that most of his cases have relapsed after they had been helped or cured.
Those cases of hysteria in which the symptoms are many and quickly chang ing are less amenable to treatment than those cases in which there is some single severe symptom. Sperling (Dent. med. Woch., Oct. 31, '89).
In 40 cases of severe hysteria and other neuroses, 9 were completely cured and nearly all improved. In 164 slighter neuroses, 47 were cured, 37 markedly im proved, and 39 slightly improved. Van Beeterghem and Eeden (Clinique de psycho - therapie suggestive. Compte rendu des rdsultats obtenus pendant la premiere periode bisannuelle, 92 pp., gr. S, 'SD).
Two severe cases of imaginary disease reported cured by suggestion. Both cases occurred in women: one of these imagined that she had paralysis of the legs, through paternal inheritance, and for nine years was actually confined to bed and chair, from a supposed inability to walk. After so long a period of im aginary suffering, one single suggestion was sufficient to effect a cure. The other patient imagined that she had a tape-wo•m, and was cured when she was made to expel the imaginary animal. William B. De Wees (Kans. City -lied. Index, Feb., '91).
Of three hundred cases observed more than one-third were hysterical. The author had good results in almost all from the use of hypnotism. It is indi cated IF) in the spasmodic attacks of grave hysteria and the paralyses follow ing: (2) in monosymptomatic hysteria; (3) in ordinary hysteria; (4) in hyster ical insanity. BC:rillon (Wiener Min Woch., No. 4, '92).
My personal attempts favorably to in fluence epilepsy have been a failure, and this is in accord with the experience of others. I have had no experience in the
treatment of chorea or paralysis agitans by hypnotism. Some report good re sults, but I suspect that the effect is temporary.
Functional neuroses of all kinds are favorably influenced by suggestion. The nervous disorders of writers and artisans yield in a short time, epilepsy and paralysis agitans excepted. Mental dis eases are not at all, or but very little, influenced by suggestion. Alcoholism is. Suggestion can be used in various dis eases for which one can find no adequate cause, as in insomnia and a great many pains. By producing local amesthesia of the skin, one can do minor operations. Neurasthenic conditions in the sexual sphere are markedly benefited by sug gestion. Louis Liehtsehein (Med. Rec ord, May 2, '90).
I have seen a few cases of stammering greatly benefited by suggestion, but they have all relapsed. Insomnia yields quite readily to hypnotic suggestion if the sub ject is easily hypnotized. Repeated hyp noses are necessary for the relief of sleeplessness, and relapses are common. I have never seen any permanent benefit result to the neurasthenic. They are difficult subjects to hypnotize and the hypnosis is rarely profound. Neuralgia of a mild form and headache may be re lieved in good subjects, but no perma nent results are obtained without the removal of the causes. I have tried in vain to relieve severe odontalgia and trigeminal neuralgia. Others claim great success.
In neuralgia the writer affirms that he has effected a permanent cure in about 10 per cent. of the cases treated by hyp notic suggestion. W. C. Delano East lake (Med. and Surg. Reporter, Sept. 5, '91).
Hypnotic suggestion practiced nearly fifteen hundred times, usually with very marked success. In various functional nervous disturbances, hysteria, insomnia, neuralgia, headaches, and in morbid mental states bordering on insanity decided benefit has followed its use. Frederick H. Gerrish (Boston Med. and Surg. Jour., July 21, '92).
Case of mydriasis cured by hypnotism. It was unilateral and disappeared after seven sittings. Three months later the other eye presented the same condition and was cured in the same way. Booth (Amer. Med.-Surg. Bull., Nov. 1, '95).
Hypnotic suggestion acts upon specific cases of either pain or disability which depend upon morbidly persistent organic memories of pain or disability. Mary Putnam Jacobi (N. Y. Med. Jour., Apr. 9, '9S).