Hypnotism, or PSYCHO-THERAPEUTICS. From 1784, when Mesmer at Paris claimed the power of curing all manner of disease by 'animal magnetism,' this subject has been more or less tabooed by the medical profession. The nature of hypnotism and methods of inducing it are discussed at ANIMAL MAGNETISM. It is only within the last few years that it has received the scientific investigation which it deserves; but hypnotism is now extensively used on the Continent in treating disease, and is slowly finding its way into practice in Britain. It is impossible to suppose that hypnotism will ever fulfil the sanguine expectations of many of its exponents, though it seems certain that it will render great aid as a therapeutic agent in treating some kinds of diseases. It is still necessary to write very guardedly upon the subject, as its action when used for the cure of disease is imperfectly understood; but that it is useful as a method of treatment is demonstrated by many cures which have been thoroughly investigated by the highest scientific men. Hypnotism is not any longer to be regarded as a mystery or as a superhuman gift, for its action can for the most part be explained by our present knowledge of physiology and psychology. The chief reason why hypnotism cannot be universally employed as a therapeutic agent is the fact that only a certain proportion of persons can be hypnotised. The proportion, however, of persons insusceptible to its power is much less than was at one time thought; and, when used therapeutically, somnambulism, the deepest stage of hypnotism, is not necessary. On the Continent it is found that about 80 per cent. of the inhabitants can be hypnotised.
Hypnosis may be used in two ways in relation to disease. In the first place, simple sleep is induced, and sleep when produced without the action of drugs is often of great importance, and of itself aids in treatment. Again, in many cases when the person is asleep, suggestions may be made to him which will abolish pain, and which in some diseases will bring about either the relief of symptoms or the cure of the disease. Every one knows that the mind influences the body, and that concentrated thought can bring about sensations in various localities. It is upon this knowledge that the hypnotist bases his practice. The patient being placed in a hypnotic sleep, his attention is directed to various parts of the body, and very often the effect is increased through local stimulation by means of passes or rubbing. During the hypnotic sleep the patient is uninfluenced by his surroundings, and therefore he is all the more open to suggestions, and no disturbing influences diminish his powers of concentration. By means such as these neuralgic or rheumatic pains may frequently be removed; headaches may often be cured, and so may some forms of dyspepsia, as well as the various manifestations of hysteria and hypochondriasis, and even functional paralysis. It is found, too, that hypnotism is useful in dipsomania and in treating persons addicted to opium-eating and other depraved tastes. At present it cannot be said that hypnotism is of use in any disease having an organic origin, although in such diseases various symptoms, especially those of pain, may be removed successfully. It is quite possible for operations to be performed upon persons under the hypnotic influence without the slightest pain being felt by the patient; but as various other anaesthetics are more easily employed, it is only in a few cases where these are contra-indicated that hypnotism will be used in this connection.
For educational purposes it is held possible to impress a person in the hypnotic sleep with ideas which will modify his usual character. For instance, it seems possible in many cases to cure persons of bad habits, such as stealing, lying, or the excessive use of alcohol; and on the Continent attempts are being made to influence habitual criminals for good by means of hypnosis. Young children, defective in brain-power or constitutionally vicious, may be improved by careful hypnotic treatment. It is a mistake to suppose that hypnotism can only be used successfully in treating nervous or hysterical persons. Such people are often difficult to hypnotise, and there is always a danger of either increasing their troubles or in some cases of inducing insanity. Ordinary individuals, especially those who have learned to obey, are the subjects whom a hypnotist would prefer to treat. Children at school, soldiers and sailors, and officials of all ranks, are the classes from which the most brilliant successes have been obtained hitherto in treating disease. In many cases of insanity hypnotism may be used with advantage as a therapeutic agent, although its employment in these cases is not by any means easy. Persons suffering from hallucinations, it is said, have been cured, and those who suffer from the painful result of some grievous trouble have been restored by having the incident blotted out from their memory.
Although hypnotism has power for good when properly used by medical men, it is an exceedingly dangerous weapon in the hands of the unskilful or unscrupulous. All public exhibitions of hypnotism should be prohibited by law, as persons experimented upon have been rendered lunatics, or had their nervous systems severely damaged. Crimes have been committed by persons who have been hypnotised. Just as a person when hypnotised is rendered extremely impressionable, and therefore capable of receiving beneficial suggestions, so he is nearly as liable to receive suggestions for evil: and it is quite possible for him during the hypnotic sleep to be impressed with the belief that he is to commit some act after he has awakened from the sleep—an act he is safe to do, acting at the time as an automaton. It is absolutely impossible for a person to be hypnotised unless he has the idea of what is going to happen. It is a psychical and not a physical influence which brings about the condition. Only persons whose will-power is weakened by fear, or by the idea of a supposed power which influences them in spite of themselves, can be hypnotised without full consent on their part; but the oftener a person is hypnotised the more easily may he be subsequently affected.
See Bernheim, Suggestive Therapeutics (trans. by Herter, 1889); Tuckey, Psycho-therapeutics (3d ed. 1891); and other books on hypnotism by Björnström (1889), Kingsbury (1891), Courmelles (1891), Vincent (1893), and Hart (denouncing it as witchcraft, 1894); and the article CHARCOT.