"Animal magnetism" or "Electrical Psychology" is the name used to describe the subtle sympathetic life-force by which certain persons are able to influence, attract and even cure other persons. If their influence is good, they are said to impart a "healthy magnetism." Mesmerism is a term of similar import, and was given to the practice of human magnetism by the followers of Mesmer, just as the electrical fluid was called galvanism after Galvani. Hypnotism is a more modern term, originally suggested and employed by Dr. Braid, Manchester, and for all practical purposes is synonymous to the foregoing:

There are, however, shades of difference between the "theory of suggestion or Hypnotism" and the "theory of Mesmerism or animal magnetism" and between their respective modes of procedure. A separate chapter will therefore be devoted to "Mesmerism," so that the student will be able to better differentiate their uses and practical applications.

Nature of Hypnotism.—Hypnotism means the theory and practical manipulation of the phenomena of hypnosis. Now, hypnosis is usually described as artificially induced sleep or a trance-like condition of mind and body. But though this is the definition generally adopted, yet it leaves aside, as I think, the chief characteristic of the phenomenon, hypnosis, as distinct from ordinary sleep, and which gives it its special interest. I mean the rapport established thereby between the hypnotised subject and the hypnotiser, which makes the former susceptible of receiving suggestions of the latter, or, even, so disconnects the hypnotised subject from all other objects save the hypnotiser as to bring the former more or less completely under the control of the latter.

"The hypnotic sleep," Braid informs us, "is the very antithesis of opposite mental and physical condition to that which precedes and accompanies common sleep; for the latter arises from a diffused state of mind, or complete loss of power of fixing the attention, with suspension of voluntary power. The state of mental concentration, however, which is the basis of hypnotic sleep, enables the subject to exhibit various passive or active manifestations, such as insensibility, rigidity and entire prostration or inordinate energy of physical power, according to the train of ideas and motives which may arise spontaneously in his mind, or be addressed to it by others through impressions on his physical organs."

This is Braid's view. It is certainly one view out of many which appears correct, according to the aspect from which we distinguish hypnotic from ordinary sleep; although the latter can be converted into the former, just as ordinary sleep verges into somnambulism, through certain mental impressions received in the preceding waking states, or arising from pathological conditions in associations.

One point to be noted; "the audible suggestions and sensible impressions addressed to the sleeper, if not intense enough to awaken entirely, seldom do more than excite a dream, in which ideas pass through his mind without causing definite physical acts; but, on the other hand, the active and concentrated state of mind engendered by the process for producing nervous sleep are carried into the sleep, and in many instances, excite the sleeper without awaking, to speak or exhibit physical manifestations of the suggestions received through words audibly uttered in his hearing, or ideas previously existing in his mind, or excited by touches or passes of the operator, which direct the attention of the sleeper to different parts, or excite into action certain combinations of muscles and thereby direct his current of thought."

In the foregoing, we have a simple outline of hypnotism as it appeared to Braid; and giving it a modern application, it will be seen:—

1. That hypnosis is a state of sleep induced, and in this state a more or less effective condition of passive receptivity, susceptibility or suggestibility obtains.

2. That the modus operandi of inducing hypnosis and the ideas associated therewith pass into that state when induced, and are intensified or modified by the hypnotist, as he may deem most desirable, and within the limitation of the subject's approval.

3. That the subject responds to the ideas or trains of thought, arising spontaneously in his own mind, to audible suggestions and impressions—physical—made by touches on his body or by passes over it and through these, his mind is led to concentrate on the object most desired.

The practical hypnotist first seeks—with the conscious co-operation of the patient or subject—to bring about a state of hypnosis, passivity and suggestibility, and then by verbal suggestions—with or without contact—to arouse and confirm certain trains of thought in the patient, in order to bring about the end sought, i. e., to direct the current of his thought on the lines of the least resistance.

Who Can Be Hypnotized?—Hypnosis is a state of susceptibility normal to, and possessed by, more or less, all individuals. Prof. James Coates, Ph. D., F. A. S., in his "Practical Hypnotist," p. 11, says:—

"Discarding the idea of only certain percentages of the people being susceptible to hypnotism, I have myself long since arrived at the conclusion that all persons can be hypnotised—that is, if the necessary conditions and precautions are taken—those living in warmer climes furnishing the greatest percentage of spontaneously affected, while at home (England) several sittings may be necessary to educate the patient into the suggestible state, hypnosis and its approximate states (for many persons become suggestible who are neither drowsy nor become sleepy) as generally understood. Then, again, the age of the patient has a relation to states of susceptibility. Liebault hypnotised 92 per cent, of his patients, and Bernheim expressed the opinion that physicians who cannot at least hypnotise 80 per cent. of hospital patients have no right to express an opinion of the subject of hypnotism, while Wettersbrand (Sweden), Van Reuterghem (Amsterdam), Van Eden, too, as well as Liebault, in France, substantiate the conclusion that the majority of patients, be they French, Dutch or Swedish—the latter, at least, are neither excitable, hysterical nor easily impressed—are equally hypnotisable. Coming to the relation of age to susceptibility— all persons under 14 can be hypnotised—the percentages of exceptions, according to Prof. Beaunis, vary with age. From 14 to 21, 10.3 per cent.; 21 to 28, 9.1 per cent.; 28 to 35, 5.9 per cent.; 35 to 42, 8.2 per cent.; 49 to 56, 4.4 per cent.; 56 to 63, 14.4 per cent; above 63, 13.5 per cent, of failures. This is based on practice with French subjects, and on the induction of a state of hypnosis, and is so far interesting. But as a matter of fact, patients who cannot be affected by one hypnotist can be affected by another—showing that the ability, experience and influence of the individual operator is a factor, although not the sole factor, in the induction of hypnosis."

It is generally believed that only weak-minded, soft and hysterical persons can be successfully hypnotised— that persons of robust health, will and character cannot be so affected. There never was a greater mistake. Reichenbach for many years selected his sensitives from delicate and hysterical persons while pursuing investigations into odylic force. He, however, soon discovered his error, and found that healthy men and women made the best sensitives for his investigations. Dr. Braid fell into the same error.

Charcot and others, including the whole range of recent hypnotists, have revived this error. The experience of all hypnotists—past and present—worthy of the name is this: the healthier and finer the organization the more perfect and exalted the manifestations.

There are relative conditions of superiority and inferiority in hypnotists and sensitives only. I have hypnotised men who were my superiors in every way— health, strength of body and mind—the only conditions of difference consisting of this important fact, that for the time being they approached the subject with open minds—a desire to get at truth—and sat down with a non-resistant attitude of mind and perfectly willing to be hypnotised.

In the majority of cases the 7th or 8th sitting suffices to overcome all difficulties, and induce sleep in the most healthy and vigourous. There have, however, been exceptions to this.

Don't waste time with a man who makes a bet through pride, vanity or ignorance, that he can't be hypnotised. Don't waste health and energy trying to influence him just then. His manner and words indicate that he will arouse all his faculties to resist you, presenting thereby positive and antagonistic mental conditions for you to overcome. Men have done this. If you really want to hypnotise them, the best plan is to throw them off their guard as to your intentions. But as soon as their opposition has cooled down a little, proceed gently and steadily to impress them with what hypnotism has done and can do; thus gradually and surely psychologise them, leading up to, and preparing them for, the final coup. In the end it may not be so difficult to hypnotise them as they at first imagined. The persistent man of business, the advocate of certain views—temperance, anti-slavery or what not—the man with "a mission" the doctor of medicine, preacher and lover, all adopt this method more or less unconsciously, because naturally; the hypnotist, detecting the law, applies it consciously— that is all.

Different Stages in Hypnotism.—The phenomena presented by persons under the influence of hypnotism are various, as well as the methods by which the effects are produced. The former are classed under four degrees, as follows. The latter will be presented under "Modes of Procedure."

1. The Waking Stage.—Here the subject is under partial control, the intellect and senses retaining, apparently, their usual powers and susceptibility. The experiments in this stage are exceedingly interesting to all concerned, especially in case of a drawing room or other entertainment. These are useful preliminaries to the induction of hypnosis-proper.

2. The Cataleptic Stage.—When the subject reaches this stage, the hypnotic sleep or coma is complete. The senses refuse to perform their respective functions. The subject is therefore unconscious to pain. He possesses no volition, does not respond to mental or verbal suggestions—nervous muscular excitability appears to be absent—and in whatever position the various parts of the body are placed, they will remain in that position.

3. The Lethargic Stage.—Here the subject is a helpless lump of inanity; the muscles are unflexed, flaccid and flabby, the body is in all respects like that conditioned by a dead faint, or in a lesser degree, by the coma of drunkenness. Surgical operations can be performed in either stage, without real or apparent pain to the subject.

4. The Somnambulistic Stage.—In this stage the subject wakes up within himself. The faculties become responsive to hypnotic influence, direction and suggestion, the sensitive becoming largely an irresponsible agent, thinking, seeing and hearing only as permitted or as directed by the hypnotist. It is in this stage that the phreno-hypnotic and mostly all other experiments are conducted, whether deemed hypnotic or mesmeric. With good subjects, memory, reflection and imagination can be intensified and exalted, the past recalled by the present, and action done therein confessed, should such be determined upon by the operator. It is in this stage that the rapport of hypnosis is fully established between the hypnotist and his subject. The hypnotised subject can be made to experience the wildest illusions of sense and perform most absurd actions. Thus he can be easily persuaded that a glass of water is tea, wine or vinegar, or vice versa, and can be made to stroke an imaginary cat or shrink from an imaginary lion.

These four stages may be progressively developed on the same subject. The majority of hypnotic subjects pass from the cataleptic to the somnambulistic stage without any apparent intervening condition.