RIDGE.] While memory during the state of hypnosis is usually so acute and so accu rate for all previous hypnoses, yet the hypnotist has it in his power, by simply suggesting to this effect, to prevent the subject in one hypnosis remembering anything that has occurred during all previous hypnotic states. This has an important medico-legal value, and might prevent criminal acts of the unscrupulous to go undetected.
Another characteristic of the memory in hypnotism is the power unconsciously to remember things weeks, months, or probably years after they have been sug gested, yet at no time during the period between the time when the suggestion was made and the moment at which the act suggested was carried out is the person able to recall the faintest idea of this latent memory: neither is he con scious that a suggestion has been made. During a subsequent hypnosis, after the carrying out of a post-hypnotic sugges tion, the person is able to describe every detail in relation to the suggestion and its execution, but during the waking state nothing of it is remembered.
[I have a patient, a noted sleep-walker of this city, whom I have for a period of years hypnotized once every two or three months. During hypnosis I suggest to her that she will come to my office two or three months hence, on such a clay and at such an hour and bring a friend with her. She has failed to appear at the appointed time only twice. On each of these two occasions she called me up by telephone at the time appointed for her to come, almost to the minute, tell ing me that she could not get anyone to come with her. I had previously sug gested that she should never come to my office alone. Her friends have re peatedly asked her between these periods when she was going to visit me. Her reply has invariably been: "I don't know; when I am wanted, I suppose." J. T. EsrcnrpnE.] The power of a person in an hypnotic condition to recite passages that they had simply casually read a long time be fore is often wonderful. While memory is usually very acute in this condition, I have found a few persons in whom it seemed poor. All prolonged trials of memory during hypnosis are very fa tiguing.
Diagnosis of Hypnosis. — It is not always possible to detect feigning. The relaxed and expressionless condition of the face, most typically seen before the hypnotist begins with his suggestions, the falling of the limbs and head by the force of gravity; the slow, labored, and jerky movements executed in carrying out suggestions are hard to simulate. A
person feigning usually overdoes his part.
Dangers of Hypnotism.--So far as my reading goes there has been only one death recorded as occurring from the direct effects of the excitement incident to intense mental strain of a person in hypnosis.
[An account of the death and autopsy may be found in the Journal of the American Medical Association (Oct. 27, '94). The unfortunate subject was a neurotic female, who, after being hyp notized, was subjected to intense mental strain and requested to exercise clair voyance while hypnotized. Her answers were not remarkable, considering the in formation given her by the operator, a non-medical man, but the strain proved too great and she collapsed and died in a few minutes. J. T. EsKurnclE.] Nearly all are agreed that the indis criminate use of hypnotism or the em ployment of it by persons ignorant of the possible bad effects that may result from it, is highly reprehensible and should be forbidden by law. Much de pends upon the methods employed to induce hypnosis. Repeated hypnosis, unless the greatest precaution is used, may result in weakening the ego of the subject. It does not seem to me justi fiable to hypnotize for experimental pur poses alone.
[He who resorts to hypnotism is deal ing with a potent agent, and he should use it as carefully as lie would a deadly poison. No one would think of giving large doses of morphine or strychnine simply to study the physiological effects of these agents upon man. If these remedies arc given for their therapeutic effects, then the resulting phenomena should be studied and recorded. J. T. EsKruDGE.] When it is necessary to employ hypno tism for the relief of some conditions, then it is justifiable, in my opinion, for the observer to study the physical and psychical effects. The hypnotized should never be subjected to prolonged physical or mental strain. Persons should not be kept in an hypnotic condition for days at a time. When the suggestive method of inducing hypnosis is employed, the same subject should not be too repeatedly hypnotized over a long period, and every precaution should be used, by suggestion and otherwise, to prevent any ill effects. It seems to me that hypnotism is only justifiable for therapeutic purposes in a limited number of cases.