Let us add a few remarks on hypnoses in psychoses, although the hypnosis of psychoses is of theoretical rather than of practical interest. It is self-evident that psychogenic depressions will react to psychic treatment and we need not offer any proof of this fact. But there is no sharp line to be drawn between endogenic and reactive depressions, and it is desirable not to renounce hypnotic treatment even when mild circular disturbances are present. We have not only observed occasional symptomatic pacifications, but also interruptions of the disease, interruptions that were not secure against relapse. If success is attainable, it will probably be observed very soon, and it is not desirable to continue the attempted hypnotic treatment for more than three to five sessions, unless a decisive improvement ensues. In serious melancholias such attempted treatments should not be tried at all. On the whole, we must remember that the hypnotic treatment of depressions promises success only in a small number of cases. The hypnosis usually remains superficial, further profundity should not be forced, since such patients are very frequently refractory even toward narcotic hypnoses.

In schizophrenia and paraphrenia hypnosis should not be applied as a rule. Only those schizophrenia cases constitute an exception which begin with the aspect of neurosis; for the most part other modes of psychotherapy will promise more success here also.(*) In delirious conditions, Kauders has attained striking pacifications and profound slumber by hypnosis, both in delirium tremens and in hyperkinetic encephalitis. This fact, though of interest theoretically, is of slight practical importance. Also, the phenomenon pointed out by Hartmann and Schilder, namely, that far-reaching visual suggestibility is attainable in paralytics with the use of narcotic hypnoses, that the absence of amnesia and motor phenomena is only of theoretical interest.

(*) Breuking reports successes in the treatment of (schizophrene!) psychoses with cathartic hypnosis. But his essay is unfortunately not accessible to us in the original.

A general glance backward over our remarks concerning the theoretical utilization of hypnosis will show that we are, of course, not dealing with an infallibly effective magic remedy, but with a very valuable technical auxiliary device which, properly utilized, is entirely without danger. Of course, the hypnotized must not be tormented during hypnosis by more or less senseless experiments, in which case there will be no reason to echo Meynert's statement to the effect that hypnosis is an undignified exhibition.