Hypnotism: Its History, Practice and Theory |
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is induced; this often happens when the subject has been frequently hypnotized.
Certainly it is not always possible to make a sharp distinction between auto-hypnotism
and hetero-hypnosis. It is possible that some states of sleep which are generally
considered pathological, belong to auto-hypnosis. I will now speak of the physical means, which for a long time were the only ones used. They consist of certain stimuli of sight, hearing, and touch. Taste and smell (Binet, Fere) have rarely been tried, and have generally given negative results. The best known is the so-called method of Braid, in which hypnosis is caused by a fixed gaze at some object or other. It is of little consequence whether the object is bright or not (Gigot-Suard, Durand de Gros). Later, Braid gave up placing the object so close as to cause convergence. It is considered advantageous to hold the object so high that the eyelids are strained as much as possible in keeping the eyes open. Instead of a lifeless object, the experimenter can make use of his finger for the purpose, or, as the professional magnetizers prefer to do, of his eye (du Potet). Luys proposed the use of a rapidly revolving mirror, in order to produce speedy and extreme fatigue of the eye. Lemoine, Joire, and others have pointed out that Luys's method enables us to hypnotize some hysterical and mentally afflicted patients, in whom hypnosis cannot otherwise be induced. The original apparatus designed by Luys has since been subjected to many modifications, more especially at the hands of Berillon and Pau de Saint-Martin. Berillon states in his brochure on the Psycho-Physiological Institute of Paris that he has exhibited various other instruments designed for the purpose of inducing hypnosis, such as that of Ch. Verdin ; also, Aubry's magnesium lamp and Gaiffe's Casque vibrant. Bellemaniere introduced a further modification by means of which sight and hearing could be stimulated simultaneously. Just the same effect can be produced by hearing as by sight; for this the ticking of a watch is preferred (Weinhold, Heidenhain). Among uncivilized races particular instruments are used to produce analogous states ; for example, the sound of a magic drum among the Lapps ; among other races the monotony of uniform rhythm in song (Bastian). Instead of these continuous, monotonous, weak stimulations of the senses, we also see sudden and violent ones made use of; for example, in the Salpetriere, the field of Charcot's work, the |
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