Hypnotism: Its History, Practice and Theory

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the opinion that the courts might wink at an evasion of the law should a layman hypnotize such a patient at the latter's request. Finally, on the motion of Soupart, it was agreed that by special authorization an exception might be made in favour of those who were not physicians. The first exception made—it was in favour of Astere Denis—certainly raised a storm of indignation in the Belgian Academy of Medicine, Brasseur having described the authorization in a pamphlet as state support of Charlatanism.
Public exhibitions of hypnotism are, however, forbidden by law in Belgium. In other ways also the representatives of science have generally opposed such exhibitions. They ought to be prohibited on both moral and hygienic grounds. It is perfectly true that at one time such public exhibitions served to draw the attention of scientists to hypnotism, but nowadays they are more calculated to repel people from the scientific study of that question, since they degrade hypnosis into an object of vulgar curiosity, instead of elevating it to one of research. For this reason alone it is a good thing that the Prussian Government, acting on the advice of the members of the Scientific Committee on Medical Affairs, permanently suppressed public exhibitions of hypnosis in 1881. Unfortunately, hypnotizers know of many ways in which they could evade the law. Since it was only public exhibitions that were prohibited they removed their entertainments to the premises of private societies to which members and their guests have free access. Now, if such a society is only used to screen an evasion of the law, the authorities would have as much right to interfere with a prohibited exhibition on its premises as if the performance were publicly advertised. It is difficult to understand why the authorities do not make requisite use of the power entrusted to them.

© 2012