Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 December 1890 — OPPOSED TO HYPNOTISM [ARTICLE]

OPPOSED TO HYPNOTISM

CHItfXGO PHYSICIANS CONDEMN ITS FREQUENT USE. They Will Ask the Illinois Legislature to Pass a Law Pro hi bi ting the Practice of Hypnotism by Experimenters What SOlllO of. the Loading Physicians Say. [Chicago dispatch.] All reputable physicians in this citv unite in commendation of the resolve of the Medico-Legal Society of Chicago to seek the passage of a law preventing laymen from employing hypnotism, mesmerism, or magnetism for experimental or other purposes. The society, which was organized for the purpose of discussing the legal phases of medicine and the necessary legislation for the science, has passed the following resolution: Rcsolwd. That public seances of hypnotism. mesmerism, and magnetism should be prohibited by law under severe penalty, and that the employment of hypnotism for medical purposes should be permitted solely to duly qualified medical men, conditioned upon its being practiced only in the presence of other medical men or undoubted friends of the patients operated upon. A committee was appointed to present this resolution to the Legislature. “Hypnotism,” said Dr. E. M. Hale, “is a dangerous agent in anybody's hands, and its use should certainly be restricted to those who are responsible to the law as medical men are. I have read sufficient in the French journals to know that ths subject under the operator’s hands is absolutely irresponsible and will do anything suggested—even what is suggested in the operator’s mind. After coming out of the hypnotic state a subject does not recollect what he did when in that state. There is nothing, therefore, to prevent murder and make an irresponsible criminal. “When I was young I took up the study of biology—what is now called hypnotism and mesmerism—and lectured on it. I was astounded by the results that can bo secured by the power, and it is clear that it should be used only by medical,men for the relief of suffering and d'gease.” “Why Shbuld hypnotic seances be stopped?” “Medical men are and will not adopt any method that is in vogue amongst the laity or charlatans. If a law were passed preventing the quacks from employing hypnotism the study be taken up by all medical men in earnest. Mind-curers are a species of hypnotizers. They cure at times, especially nervous diseases, by the power of one mind over another, but medical men do not stoop to consult them.” “Would the law, then, if passed, wipe out the mind-curers?” “A strict construction of the law would put faith cure, mind cure, and Christian Science in the same category with hyphotism. Public exhibitions of hypnotism tend to degrade the science, just as vivisection would do. The law confines that to the medical college. There is just as good reason for confining the use of hypnotism as the use of poison. No’ layman can secure morphine or arsenic without a physician’s prescription.\ I know twenty or thirty prominent,''citizens who have become monomaniacs by being votaries of hypnotism or Christian science, which is the same thing. A law such as the one proposed will meet with the approbation of every reputable physician in the city.” Dr. J. E. Owens said: “The resolution is proper ,apd should be enforced as speedily as possible. The indiscriminate use of hypnotism should no more be tolerated than ether for amusing audiences, individuals ’ or for Hypnotism.*! think, will riot fe of much use in therapeutics. It's an old thing that has liben revived to be used by more efficient and-more scientific men, but I do not think it will take a strong hold on the profession. The doctors, however. see that if it is going to be planted with an expectation of growing some restrictions ought to be placed around it. I do not think a law on tho use of the power will affect faith-curers.”

Dr. J. H. Stowell said: “There is a good deal of danger attending the practice of hypnotism, and it ought to be handled by those who are skilled in its use. The means to which it can be put are too far-reaching to be intrusted to laymen. I think that is the chief reason why such qja.w should be passed. Outsiders might use hypnotism for base and improper purposes. As for public exhibitions, they are used for deceiving people, and the science is brought into ridicule. These is some good in hypnotism, and it should ’-be kept under the most careful supervision. There is sufficient merit in the proposed law to, engage the support of all. Upright physicians.” “Hypnotilin/ought to be policed, just as alcohol said Dr. J. H. Etheridge. “I was the meeting,” said Dr. Belfield, “bilk there is no doubt as to the facts on which the resolutions were based; the business of mesmerism and hypnotism fags been much abused, especially in Paris, and its influence has been exercised Xor improper purposes. I do not thin is any danger of this misuse becoming general, as the subject for hypnotism has to act in accord with the mesmerist. The greatest evil that can arise from public exhibitions of this aft is, I s tftiitk, that it is the&hy brought prominently before ' the public, and a great deal too much attention is given to it. I do not think, howeypr, that the law need take hold of the affair, as the less attention called to the subject the better. Some time ago it was thought hypnotism could be used in surgical operations successfully, but comparatively few of the patients were-apparent-ly insensible to pain. “I have not given much study to the subject, and doubtless there are men jn the society who know far more of it than I do.” - 7 ; Dr. George S. Isham—The subject is comparatively a new one, which in the next few years will demonstrate just what can be done, with it. With the dangers arising from it at present arc I do not know, but I do think these public and private seances given for amusement ought to be broken up, as we cau not tell what might result from them. In our profession hypnotism’s practicability has yet to be demonstrated. ”

Among historic rings is one said to be Shakspeare’s signet. Upon the seal, entwined with a true-lover’s knot, are the initials W, S. It was lost before his " death, and found many years after by a laborer’s wife hear Stratford churchyard. This is the only authentic piece of his personal property known to be in existence, A well’ ih ( Stanwood, Wash, eightythree feet deep} sucks in air wifh’a roaring noise that be heard tor 100 yards, and the next day expels the air with terrific forte.