ANIMAL HYPNOSIS.

Shannon News, 8 June 1926, Page 2

ANIMAL HYPNOSIS.

INSECTS TOO

A PROFESSOR'S "DISCOVERY."

In New Zealand, thanks to stringent regulations, "back blox" hotels and boarding houses are practically tree from certain insect pests which render beds untenantable in some countries we have known. Commercial travellers and others who may put up for the night at such places, if they do not need the information themselves, may perhaps inform their friends abroad of what is claimed as a "scientific discovery" by Professor H. H. So verm, instructor in entomology at the University of California, The professor announces: "Lay a bug on his back if you want to hypnotise him."

Not only bugs, but sheep, rabbits, fowls, and certain other members of the bird and animal kingdoms can bo hypnotised in the same way, says the professor, who explains why. "When an animal is laid on its back," lie says, "the instinct is for him to right himself. If he is prevented from doing so his muscles become tense and lie quickly assumes a state that parallels hypnosis. "When in that state animals are devoid -of feeling, and only react to one or two simple impulses. A rabbit, for instance, reacts only to the smell of food. A hen will follow objects with her eyes, tut remain otherwise motionless.

. "The only animals I have found which cannot be thus hypnotised are cats and dogs. They are immune because they have been handled so much by humans."