I shall not take up space here in describing the cataleptic (see CATA LEPSY) and the lethargic conditions. The somnambulistic state is the most interesting, both for psychological and therapeutic purposes. It is induced most typically by the suggestive method of effecting hypnosis, although it may be caused by any method that affects the imagination, especially by staring. It may be brought about secondarily from the cataleptic or lethargic condition by the operator gently pressing or rubbing the subject's head. The insensibility to pain found in the somnambule is usually the result of the suggestion that the patient cannot feel pain, although it sometimes occurs without any voluntary suggestion on the part of the operator. There is no increase of muscular irri tability, similar to what is found in the lethargic state. If the hypnosis is slight the muscular tone is nearly normal, but if it is deep the muscles are relaxed; yet slight muscular contraction can be caused in some cases by exciting the cutaneous nerves over the muscles. The special senses and memory are sharpened during hypnosis.
[Many claim that the mental facul ties generally are improved while the subject is in a somnambulistic state. but my observations have led me to believe that this apparent improvement can be accounted for by the heightened state of activity of the special senses. J. T. ERR RIDGE.] For the most part the somnambule is largely deprived of his normal sponta neity, although he does often exhibit some power of reasoning, and performs certain acts that meet with his approval, and refuses to do other things because he seems to realize that they are sary or improper. On the whole, the dis criminating power of the somnambule is usually far below normal, and it can often be almost, if not completely, de stroyed by repeated suggestions for this purpose, provided that the suggestions are made with discretion and the subject is positively given to understand that the thing suggested for him to do is right and proper for him under the circum stances.
Physical Effects of Hypnotism.—The cataleptic and the lethargic stages do not interest us here. Nearly all, if, indeed, not all, the altered conditions found in the organs of locomotion in hypnosis, in duced by the suggestive method, are due to suggestion. If no suggestions are made the subject sits or lies as if asleep, and the limbs fall from force of gravity. If one succeeds in hypnotizing an ex tremely hysterical person by the suggest ive method, and she be allowed to go into a cataleptic or lethargic state, then she may exhibit the phenomena common to these conditions. (See article on CATA LEPSY.) By timely suggestions the hysterical can be prevented from exhibit ing any cataleptic phenomena.
Hypnotism is divided into three stages: Catalepsy, lethargy, and som nambulism. Physiologically, the condi tion resembles sleep, and is caused prob ably by the separation of the dendrites from the nerve-cells. The hypnotic sleep is first induced by fatigue. (for example, of the eye-muscles) ; second, by sugges tion. Communication with the outer
world then takes place through the ear alone. Other impressions are not per ceived, and spoken suggestion therefore produces a profound effect. Dercum (Med. News, Apr. 7, 1900).
Nearly all the general and special sen sory functions seem to be sharpened in a person while in a state of hypnosis, and those that are not affected by the hyp notic state may be increased by the proper suggestions. It is remarkable how acute the hearing often becomes. The subject at times will be able to tell what figures or letters have been written by some one in a distant portion of the room, while the other occupants can scarcely hear the motions of the pencil.
[I have never found one who has been able to read in this manner what has been written if several words or a few lines are written in small letters. I have repeatedly satisfied myself that hearing, vision, taste, and smell are increased, especially if the suggestion is made that they will be. J. T. ESKRIDGE.] Temperature and pressure sensations are increased by suggestion. Power to feel pain may be present unless the sug gestion is made that it will be absent, although I have found it absent when no voluntary suggestion has been made.
Persons soon become fatigued on put ting them to severe tests to determine the capacity of their sensory functions. I have seen patients become exhausted, manifest great nervousness, begin to sigh, the face to flush, and profuse per spiration to appear after undergoing an examination of their physical or mental powers.
in cases in which a patient, on being subjected to hypnotic influence, shows convulsive tremors, all hypnotic sugges tion should immediately cease, and the subject should he wakened and advised to rest in the recumbent posture; a small amount of some gentle stimulant should also be administered. G. de Clive Lowe (Austral. Med. Gaz., Dec. 20, '97).
Psychical Manifestations in Hypno tism.—Of all the phenomena of hypno tism that of memory is the most pro nounced and the most easily studied. The memory, as in the sleep-walker, or natural somnambule, is acute during hypnosis, not only for occurrences dur ing previous hypnoses, but generally, both for the waking and sleeping states.
Some persons affected with natural nambulism remember during the som nambulistic state only what occurred during previous states of this condition and nothing of their normal states.
[So far as I have investigated, all persons in an artificial somnambulistic state retain a memory of all occurrences during previous hypnoses, a partial, and sometimes an accurate, memory of things that took place during their nor mal states. Most cases of hypnotism that I have carefully studied, unless I have made a suggestion to the contrary, have been able during their normal states to recall a few things that have been said to them during hypnosis, and as time elapses, they have, by effort, re called much that has occurred while they were in an hypnotic state. J. T. Estc