Treatment by Hypnotism and Suggestion; Or, Psycho-Therapeutics

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1907. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... public health should exercise a healthy scepticism and demand convincing evidence before approving a treatment of this kind, or admitting it into their practice. The work of such practical observers and clinicians as Bernheim and Lie'beault of Nancy, Voisin, Berillon, Farez, Dumontpallier of Paris, Von Schrenk-Notzing of Munich, Van Renterghem, and Van Eeden of Amsterdam, Albert Moll of Berlin, Wetterstrand of Stockholm, Cruise of Dublin, Bramwell and Woods of London, etc., will soon supply the necessary therapeutic testimony--if, indeed, it has not already done so--and we shall see hypnotic suggestion take its place in the armamentarium of the medical practitioner in spite of the difficulties thrown in its way by charlatanism and impostors past and present. The argumentum ad hominem is, as Richet* tells us, undoubtedly the best to use; and as medical men are often excellent subjects, it has sometimes been my good fortune to convince a friend, and at the same time benefit a patient, by putting a member of our profession into one or other stage of the hypnotic state. That simulation and imposture are frequently practised at public 'entertainments, ' I am not concerned to deny, though it is easier to procure a genuinely susceptible subject than to take the trouble of training a confederate. Public performers are generally careful to have with them some subjects whom they have frequently hypnotized, so as to be prepared for contingencies. One must admit that the desire to please and to appear interesting will, especially among hospital patients, lead to a good deal of simulation, intentional or unintentional. But in private practice and among intelligent patients* simulation is a bugbear of which we need take little account. With experience, too, comes the abil...