A quarter of a century ago Proctor remarked (see pp. 203–4 of his essays, Rough Ways Made Smooth) that the phenomena of hypnotism “promise to afford valuable means of curing certain ailments, and of influencing in useful ways certain powers and functions of the body.” He recognised “possibilities which, duly developed, might be found of extreme value to the human race.” Since these words were uttered this branch of science has not stood still, and there seems every prospect that his prophecy will be fulfilled in the near future. There are now cliniques for hypnotic treatment in France (Dr. Bérillon’s in Paris, for example), Germany, Belgium, Sweden, Holland, Switzerland, and America. “The commencement of the present revival of hypnotism in England, from its medical side, was apparently due to Dr. Lloyd Tuckey, who happened to be in the neighbourhood of Nancy in August, 1888, and visited Liébeault out of curiosity” (see p. 35 of Dr. Milne Bramwell’s Hypnotism: Its History, Practice, and Theory [Alexander Moring, Hanover Square, London; 2nd ed., 1906]).
The following are some of the facts about the matter which should be clearly understood and widely made known:—
(1) “The object of all hypnotic treatment ought to be the development of the patient’s control of his own organism” (see p. 436 of Hypnotism: Its History, Practice, and Theory).
(2) The hypnotic control may be obtained without any effort on the part of the operator, the effort formerly supposed to be required being purely imaginary, and the hypnotic state being, in fact, obtained without any operation whatever. Indeed, it has now been found that for curative purposes the “suggestion” may be conveyed without throwing the patient into the hypnotic condition, and that anyone not absolutely an idiot or insane may be amenable to the treatment.
(3) “Both ‘Scientist’ [the author is speaking of Christian Scientists] and Suggestionist also use the same method for creating belief—namely, Assertion.... Assertions are not made clumsily, ignorantly, and at random, as assertions are in our daily intercourse, but are made skilfully, with a purpose, and with a knowledge of the effects they will produce” (see p. 9 of the late Richard Harte’s The New Psychology; or, The Secret of Happiness [Fowler & Co., London and New York]). Is this one of the reasons why the believer is able to continue a believer in spite of all disproof? Certainly he is constantly repeating assertions, and sometimes these must get through to his subliminal consciousness—his subjective mind.
(4) Auto-suggestion. The suggestion should be made when you are composing yourself to sleep. Dr. Bramwell tells me that the best time is on first waking in the morning, before dozing off again.
(5) “Many cases of functional nervous disorder have recovered under hypnotic treatment after the continued failure of other methods.... Further, the diseases which frequently respond to hypnotic treatment are often those in which drugs are of little or no avail. For example, what medicine would one prescribe for a man who, in the midst of mental and physical health, had suddenly become the prey of an obsession?” (see p. 435 of Hypnotism: Its History, Practice, and Theory).
(6) “The volition is increased and the moral standard raised” (see p. 437 of Hypnotism, etc.). “Experience proves that ‘principles’ instilled into anyone while in the hypnotic condition become irrevocably [?] fixed in the mind” (p. 3 of Richard Harte’s Hypnotism and the Doctors). Thus degenerates, dipsomaniacs, morphinomaniacs, kleptomaniacs, sexual perverts, and other unfortunates, may be reclaimed.
(7) “‘Suggestion’ is of universal application, and of incalculable power for good in almost every department of human life.... The three principal ways in which suggestion (which has been called ‘the active principle’ of hypnotism) affects human beings beneficially, in addition to curing diseases, are: By facilitating education; by preventing crime, and reforming the criminal; and by raising the general standard of manliness—of courage, of independence of character, and of respect for self and others” (ibid, pp. 2–4).
Note.—“The Medical Society for the Study of Suggestive Therapeutics” was constituted at the close of 1906. Let us hope that it will soon rival the flourishing French Société d’Hypnotisme et de Psychologie.