I cannot but feel that the term "hypnotism" is a misnomer. I have never seen a hypnotized person whose condition was identical with that of sleep. Since this has come to be the commonly existing term, however, I use it in preference to magnetism, mesmerism, psycholo-gism, etc.

In Foster's Encyclopaedic Medical Dictionary, Volume III., page 1946, the following definition will be found of hypnotism. It is derived from the Greek word meaning sleep.

The terms used to designate this condition are in French, hypnotisme, sommeil somnambu-lique provoque (ou artificiel); Latin, hypno-tismus; German, Hypnotismus; Italian, ipno-tismo; Spanish, hipnotismo. Syn. Braidism. "An abnormal state into which some persons may be thrown, either by a voluntary act of their own, such as gazing continuously with fixed attention on some small bright object held close to the eyes, or by the exercise of another person's will; characterized by suspension of the will and consequent obedience to the promptings of 'suggestions' from without. The activity of the organs of special sense, except the eye, may be heightened, and the power of the muscles increased. Complete insensibility to pain may be induced by hypnotism, and it has been used as an anaesthetic. It is apt to be followed by a severe headache of long continuance, and by various nervous disturbances. On emerging from the hypnotic state, the person hypnotized usually has no remembrance of what happened during its continuance, but in many persons such remembrance may be induced by 'suggestion.' About one person in three is susceptible to hypnotism, and those of the hysterical or neurotic tendency (but rarely the insane) are the most readily hypnotized.

Hypnotization, the inducing of hypnotism.

Hypnotized,.in a state of hypnotism.

Hypnotizer, one who induces hypnotism."

Methods of Inducing Hypnotism. The hypnotic state can be produced in one of the following ways. First, command the subject to close his eyes. Tell him that his mind is a blank. Command him to think of nothing. Leave him a few minutes; return and tell him that he cannot open his eyes. If he fails to do so, then begin to make any suggestion which may be desired. This is the so-called mental method of hypnotization.

Secondly, give the subject a coin or other bright object. Tell him to look steadfastly at it and not to take his eyes from it. Suggest that his eyelids are growing heavy, that he cannot keep them open. Now close the lids. They cannot be opened.

This is the usual method employed by public exhibitors. A similar method is by looking into a mirror, or into a glass of water, or by rapidly revolving polished disks, which should be looked at steadfastly in the same way as is the coin, and I think tires the eyes less.

Another method is by simply commanding the subject to close his eyes, while the operator makes passes over his head and hands without coming in contact with them. Suggestions may be made during these passes. This is the so-called Mesmeric method.

Fascination, as it is called, is one of the hypnotic states.

The operator fixes his eyes upon those of the subject. Holding his attention for a few minutes the operator begins to walk backward; the subject follows. The operator raises his arm; the subject does likewise. Briefly, the subject will imitate any movement of the hypnotist, or will obey any suggestion made by word, look, or gesture, suggested by the one with whom he is en rapport.

A very effective method of hypnotizing a person is by commanding him to sleep, and having some very soft music played upon the piano, or other stringed instrument. I have obtained some curious effects in this way, to be noted later. Firm pressure over the orbits, or over the finger-ends and root of the nail, for some minutes may also induce the condition of hypnosis in very sensitive persons.

Also hypnosis can frequently be induced by giving the subject a glass of water, and telling him at the same time that it has been magnetized. The wearing of belts around the body, and rings around the fingers, will also, sometimes, induce a degree of hypnosis, if the subject has been told that they have previously been magnetized or are electric. The latter descriptions are of the so-called physical methods of inducing hypnotism described by Dr. Moll.

The hypnotic state frequently supervenes in persons sitting in a spiritualistic seance, or at a "circle" as it is called. I shall reserve a chapter for the subject of auto-hypnotism.

The physiological illusions produced upon the different systems of the body vary much, according to the method used, and the degree of hypnosis induced. Also they vary widely in different individuals of different temperaments. I have seen a profound attack of hysteria induced in a woman with red hair and blue eyes, from simply looking at a coin, while her brunette sister was easily placed in a deep trance, so that an excrescence was removed without pain from her finger.

Authors differ greatly in their statements about the average susceptibility of the masses to hypnotism. Some state that about 70 per cent., others that 80 per cent., others that 90 or more per cent, are susceptible of being hypnotized, if time enough were only given. I have found the pre-requisite to hypnotism to be vol-untary obedience for a few minutes on the part of the subject. Briefly, then, hypnotism may be induced by impressing profoundly the mentality through all of the senses. The intellect, the reason, the will, the emotions, are all children of the senses, ministered to, taught, and trained by the external phenomena of the universe.

Those conditions which we term "subconscious" bear indeed curious and distorted relations to the ordinary conscious states, and yet they are related to, and not different in kind from, the phenomena common to conscious life.

The following is a description of the usual appearance of a person who is being hypnotized by the sensory method.