Hypnotism and Mental and Moral Disease.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 158, 6 January 1897, Page 2

Hypnotism and Mental and Moral Disease.

/ — • — Dr R. O. Mason, an American practitioner, who has given much attention ' to experimental psychology, contributed to the ' North American Review ' a striking paper on the educational uses of hypnotism, the tberapeautie value of which is already recognised both in Europe and America. Hitherto, howerer, its physical effects have been chiefly studied. But now its moral and mental influences are being carefully investigated, and it is found that by suggestion it is possible to rectify intellectual deficiencies and vicious tendencies. Even insanity will yield, in certain cases, to this kind of treatment. A well authenticated instance of this has occurred at the Salpetriere, near Paris, where in 1884, Dr A. Voisin commenced hypnotising a young girl who was "a criminal lunatic, filthy in habits and violent in demeanor, and with a lifelong history of impurity and theft." She gradually succumbed to his influence, was sane when in the hypnotic condition, and eventually formed good resolutions for the future, which sheearrisd out when awake. "The improvement in her behaviour and character was permanent, and two years later M. Viosin wrote that she was a nurse in a Paris hospital, and that her conduct was irreproachable." Dr Berillon, editor of the • Revue de 1' Hypnotisme,' states that " under his observation hypnotism and suggestion had been successfully utilised in the treatment of raore than 250 children, with reference to the following diseases and tendencies — Nervous insomnia, night terror, somnambulism, stammering, inveterate idleness, un cleanliness, cowardice, biting the nails, and moral perversity, Itis not necessary, it seems, that the, deep hypnotic sleep should be produced, as not more than one person in ten can be thrown into trance ; " but," writes Dr Mason, " nearly every one of the other nine can be brought into the hypnotic condition to a greater or less degree — usually into a condition of reverie.