HYPNOTISM. Artificial catalepsy ; in duced somnambulism ; a method of artificial ly inducing sleep; artificial somnambulism.
The following summary of the physical manifesta tions accompanying hypnotism, is given in the In ternational Cyclopedia: "This is a term invented by the late Mr. Braid, of Manchester, to designate certain phenomena of the nervous system which in many respscts resemble those which are induced by animal magnetism, but which clearly arise from the physical and psychical condition of the patient, and not from any emana tion proceeding from others. The following are the directions of Mr. Braid, for inducing the phenomena, and especially the peculiar sleep-like condition of hypnotism. Take a silver lancet-case, or other, bright object, and hold it between the fingers of the left band, about a foot from the eyes of the Person experimented on, in such a position above the forehead as to produce the greatest strain on the eyes compatible with a steady fixed stare at the object. The patient must be directed to rivet his mind on the object at which he is gazing. His pupils will first contract, but soon dilate consider ably; and if they are well dilated, the first and second fingers of the operator's right hand, ex tended and a little separated, are carried from the object towards the eyes; the eyelids will most prob ably close with a vibratory motion. After 10 or 15 seconds have elapsed, it will be found that the pa tient retains his arms and legs in any position in which the operator places them. It will also be found that all the special senses, excepting sight, are at first extremely exalted, as also are the mus cular sense, and the sensibility of heat and cold ; but after a time the exaltation of function is fol lowed by a state of depression far greater than the torpor of natural sleep. The patient is now thor oughly hypnotized. The rigidity of the muscles and the profound torpor of the nervous system may be instantly removed and an opposite condition in duced by directing a current of air against the muscles which we wish to render limber, or the organ we wish to excite to action ; and then by mere repose the senses will speedily regain their original condition. If a current of air directed against the face is not sufficient to arouse the pa tient, pressure and friction should be applied to the eyelids, and the arm or leg sharply struck with an open hand.
"From the careful analysis of a large number of experiments Mr. Braid is led to the conclusion that by a continual fixation of the dental and visual eye upon an object, with absolute repose of body and general quietude, a feeling of stupor supervenes, which renders the patient liable to be readily af fected in the manner already described." Many of the minor operations of surgery have been performed on patients in the hypnotized state without pain, and hypnotism has been successfully employed as a therapeutic agent in numerous nerv ous and hysterical disorders in which no organic changes, in the nervous system are demonstrable. Treatment by hypnotic influence has been shown to be a very dubious procedure and one capable of eventually doing more harm than good.
A committee of the British Medical Association made a report to the annual meeting in 1892, in the course of Which they say: "Test experiments which have been carried out by members of the committee have shown that this condition is attended by mental and physical phe nomena, and that these differ widely in different cases.
"Among the mental phenomena are altered con sciousness, temporary limitation of the will power, increased receptivity of suggestion from without, sometimes to the extent of producing passing delu sions, illusions, and hallucinations, an exalted con dition of the attention and post-hypnotic sugges tions.
"Among the physical phenomena are vascular changes (such as Bushings of the face and altered pulse rate), deepening of the respirations, increased frequency of deglutition, slight muscular tremors, inability to control suggested movements, altered muscular sense, anwsthesia, modified power of muscular contraction, catalepsy, and rigidity, often intense. It must, however, be understood that all these mental and physical phenomena are rarely present in any one case. The committee takes this opportunity of pointing out that the term hypno tism is somewhat misleading, inasmuch as sleep, as ordinarily understood, is not necessarily present.