Hypnotism: Its History, Practice and Theory

 

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long ago. But apart from this, Forel pointed out very properly that such talk is not permissible in scientific discussions. I have often known a French professor show himself up as Friedrich did on the question of hypnosis. The attempt to bring other nations into ridicule by ascribing to them quaint idiosyncrasies is a very old mania. As far as we are here specially concerned, I need only point out that in Mesmer's time the Germans accused the French of making mesmerism the basis of nothing but the wildest swindles. In those days Mirabeau answered such attacks by calling attention to the so-called "moon-doctor," the stocking-knitter Weissleder, who caused such a stir in Berlin from 1780 to 1781 : "As if we Frenchmen had not received the notorious Mesmer from the hands of the Germans, and the latter were not anxious to have their ' moon-doctor,' who was supposed to cure all diseases by the influence of that planet, forgotten" (Ave-Lallemant).

What therapeutic factors play a part in hypnotic treatment? Some think that hypnosis is in itself beneficial; this is the opinion of Beaunis, Obersteiner, and Wetterstrand, who employed hypnosis in the treatment of epilepsy, hysteroepilepsy and other states. Later on Hirschlaff, Vogt, Bredmann and others also expressed the opinion that the rest afforded by hypnosis is curative, because it strengthens the nervous system. Brodmann distinguishes three methods of employing hypnosis : (I) Prolonged sleep, (2) periodical sleep to prevent exhaustion or a pathologically increased tendency to fatigue, and (3) occasional sleep to ward off threatened


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attacks or suppress such as may exist (convulsions, pain, emotion).

Another factor to be mentioned is the heightening of memory, to which Vogt and Brodmann, but Breuer and Freud specially, have called attention. I shall return to this when I come to deal with the cathartic method recommended by Breuer and Freud.

But the most important point in connection with hypnotic therapeutics is the direct action of suggestion, or, to use Vogt and Brodmann's words, the subject's heightened susceptibility to psychic influence. Both these authors prefer the latter expression because it is not only the subject's susceptibility to suggestion that is increased in hypnosis, but to other psycho-therapeutic agencies as well—for example, to praise or blame, to logical argument, emotional stimulation, therapeutic

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