The value of hypnotism in each indi vidual case depends upon whether the mental impression made by the hypnotist upon the subject in the state of hypnosis is capable of removing and taking the place of another mental impression of which the subject is possessed. I believe that the therapeutic influences of hypno tism are due to suggestions which are made sufficiently strong to become more or less permanent mental impressions. The mind of every normal person is in a more or less receptive condition, the de gree depending largely upon the presence or absence of disturbing influences. We are constantly, when in contact with others, making and receiving impres sions. It is not necessary for us to be hypnotized to be swayed to some extent by the influence of others.
[Tuke's work is replete with examples of this fact. Probably the reason why a person in a state of hypnotism is more susceptible to suggestions than in his waking or normal condition is due to the fact that the mind is freed from all influences at the time save those of the hypnotist. J. T. ESKRIDGE.] We should not expect too much of hypnotism. At best it permits only of making suggestions more effective for good or bad than can be done upon one in his waking state.
[Elsewhere I have said: "It seems to me that much injustice has been done hypnotism as a therapeutic agent by the extravagant claims made for it by some conscientious physicians. Whether it has or should have a place in therapeu tics we must decide after giving it a fair trial. co many of the results alleged to have been obtained by hypnotism seem so exaggerated that one is led either to doubt the honesty of the hyp notist or suspect that his judgment has been warped by enthusiasm." J. T. EsKm DOE.] I have never seen a case in which a fixed habit of years' duration has been broken up by one or two hypnotic treat ments, although many claim such a de gree of success. In these cases my expe rience leads me to believe that repeated hypnotic suggestions extending over prolonged periods are necessary, and that even then the treatment will rarely be successful for periods of years. There will come times in the feelings of the alcohol or morphine habitué when the impulse to indulge is overpowering.
Further, it must be remembered that scarcely any habit can be broken up by hypnotic suggestions unless the patient is desirous of getting rid of such a habit and fully co-operates with the hypnotist. The desire of the subject in his waking state and the influence of the suggestion made by the operator during hypnosis are both necessary in enabling a person to overcome such a habit as the morphine or alcohol, and even then they often fail, owing probably to the weakness of the will of the habitué when the temptation is at its strongest.
ANALGESIA.—Some contend that pain amesthesia does not occur spontaneously in hypnosis, but is the result of sugges tion. Bjornstrom seems to take it for granted that it is almost universal even without suggestion. My personal expe rience is that in numerous cases anal gesia does not occur irrespective of sug gestion, and in a few it is not complete after repeated suggestions to this effect have been made.
Were it not that we possess better and more reliable anmesthetics in chloroform and ether, hypnotism would to-day be extensively employed in surgery. It is only when the administration of an anmsthetic would be likely to be attended with danger that there is any excuse to resort to hypnotism in surgical cases.
Hypnotism recommended for opera tions in the mouth, as the patient is able to swallow the blood, and thus escapes the danger of its falling into the respira tory passages. Forel (La Semaine Med., Aug. 14, '89).
Case of a patient who, under the in fluence of hypnotism, was operated upon with the most satisfactory results. It was a case of osteomyelitis in the upper third of the 'humerus, and required a painful surgical operation. Three days before the operation the patient was hypnotized six times, and was very well under control by the proper time. Ed ward L. Wood (Med. Record, Jan. 4, '90).
Hypnotism is of great value in chil dren, and also in dental operations. In operations of sonic gravity, however, the fear of the patient outweighs any other influence, and hypnotism does not suc ceed. Osgood (Internat. Dental Jour., June, '93).