Now the lay reader must not be frightened by this formidable-looking word. Its meaning is very simple. A neurosis is any affection of the 18 nervous centres occurring without any material agent producing it, without inflammation or any other constant structural change which can be detected in the nervous centres.

As will be seen from the definition, any abnormal manifestation of the nervous system of whose cause we know practically nothing, is, for convenience, termed a neurosis. If a man has a certain habit or trick it is termed a neurosis or a neuropathic habit. One man of my acquaintance, who is a professor in a college, always begins his lecture by first sneezing and then pulling at his nose.

Many forms of tremor are called neurosis.

Now to say that hypnotism is the result of a neurosis, simply means that a person's nervous system is susceptible to this condition, which, by M. Charcot and his followers, is regarded as abnormal.

Dr. Moll considers that, in the light of our present knowledge of hypnotism, the most we can accomplish towards an explanation of it is to compare its phenomena with those observed in waking life. By way of explanation, let us suppose that we are trying to explain a hypnotic negative hallucination of sight. We must compare it with a corresponding phenomenon in waking life. By so doing we will notice that in the hypnotic state the patient fails to perceive any object which the operator tells him he cannot see, while in waking life we should be all the more certain to see an object when told that it is not there, from the fact of our attention being directed toward it. In explanation of this point of difference Dr. Moll, following Wundt, assumes the existence of a so-called dream consciousuess in the hypnotic state.

It is believed by Dr. Moll that by means of this method of analogy, many phenomena, both hypnotic and post-hypnotic, can be explained, and he advises self-observation as a most valuable aid to investigation. He considers that a great number of different states are included under the. head of hypnosis, and takes up the discussion of the various hypnotic phenomena in the following order:

(1) The phenomena of suggestion as regards voluntary movements; (2) positive and negative delusions of the senses; (3) rapport; (4) the phenomena of memory; (5) post-hypnotic suggestion.

Two rules are emphasized by Dr. Moll, as of great importance in enablingus to clearly comprehend the various symptoms of the hypnotic condition. These rules are (1) that men have a certain proneness to allow themselves to be influenced by others through their ideas, and, in particular, to believe much without making conscious logical deductions. Dr. Moll is evidently much confused upon this point. Ordinary credulity does not resemble the hypnotic state. Inform a man, no matter how credulous he may be, that he cannot see the knob on the door in front of him, and the chances are that he will laugh at you. Let his attention be focussed, and let him believe some occult power is working on him, and the result may be quite different. I have known a number of very credulous people who were hypnotized only with great difficulty, and some could not be hypnotized at all, although they believed firmly when the attempt was made that they could be. (2) A psychological or physiological effect tends to appear in a man if he is expecting it. In regard to the first of these two points, both Bemheim and Bentivegini are in accord with Dr. Moll in saying that every one is more or less influenced by ideas.

Among other examples, as an illustration of the second point, Dr. Moll cites a case as follows: "A judicial disinterment was to be made; the grave was opened and the coffin raised. The official who was present said that he already smelt putrefaction, but when the coffin was opened it was found to be empty. Here expectation caused a distinct sense perception."

It is possible in this case that the officer mistook the scent of the earth or some other foul smell for the smell of putrefaction which was supposed to come from the dead body. I do not doubt, however, that many times such events occur in the way described by Dr. Moll.

Can a person be hypnotized against his will? Dr. Moll expresses his views on this subject as follows:

"The question whether hypnosis can bo induced against the wish of the subject is by no means unimportant. We must distinguish here whether the subject complies with the prescribed conditions or whether he does not. If he does; if, for example, he sufficiently concentrates his attention; if he gazes at some object with the necessary attention, then hypnosis may be produced at the first attempt, even against the wish of the person experimented upon. However, it must be remembered that a person who does not allow himself to be hypnotized will hardly place himself in the necessary mental state. He will not generally fulfil the conditions; he will fix his eyes, but will allow his attention to wander. However, I think I may assert that certain persons accustomed to obedience can be hypnotized at the first attempt even against their will, and without the ordinary necessary straining of the attention if only they are told that hypnosis will occur.

"The conditions for hypnosis may occur occasionally by chance, without the subject being conscious of them. (Max Dessoir.)

"There is an interesting case of a girl who had often been hypnotized by loud noises, and who went to a drawer to appropriate some photographs from it. The casual beating of a gong threw her into a cataleptic state, so that she stood motionless in the act of carrying out her theft, and was discovered.

Hack Tuke remarks that it is a pity all thieves cannot be taken as easily."

Going on to discuss the single phenomena of hypnosis, the first symptom considered is, the functional disturbances of voluntary movement. Dr. Moll thinks that the explanation of this is to be found in the principle that expectation may bring on functional abnormalities, but he says that in order that this should be understood thoroughly, the hypnosis should be induced by slow degrees, as in this case the motor disturbances are plainer.

If we can direct the subject's whole attention to the belief that such an effect as before mentioned - that his arm will be paralyzed, for instance - will take place, that effect will gradually occur. Such a result having been once produced the subject's will-power and power of resistance are considerably weakened, because he is much more inclined than at first to believe the hypnotizer's assertions.

This is generally the first step in the process of hypnosis. The method pursued at the school of Nancy is to convince the subject that his eyes are closing by directing his attention to that effect as strongly as possible. However, it is not necessary that we begin with the eyes. According to Mas Dessoir, any member of the body will answer as well.