We may imagine in such a case, and the surmise would probably be physiologically correct, that the nervous channels are blocked to ordinary impulses sent to them from the brain, but that the extraordinary impulse from an accumulation and concentration of nerve force is sufficient to break down and overcome the obstruction; as a dam which easily withstands ordinary currents is swept away upon the bursting of a reservoir, by the rush of accumulated water.

Bernheim defines hypnotism as the production of a psychical condition in which the faculty of receiving impressions by suggestion is greatly increased. But this is only half the truth; for not only is the receptivity increased, but the power to act upon and carry out the suggestion is increased likewise. Suggestions have all the force of commands, and the patient will strain every nerve to obey them. They are received as true, and the idea tends to be realized and to be carried into execution as action. If he is told to move a paralyzed limb, or to speak after months of loss of voice, one can see what intense effort he puts into the attempt to comply. A stammerer making such effort will speak fluently, and a deaf person will distinctly hear a whisper. To express adequately the cause of such effects, the word 'suggestion,' in English at least, is far too weak, and therefore somewhat misleading. In the very excellent translation of Forel's book by Dr. Armit the terms ' dictation ' and ' to dictate ' are sometimes substituted. The truth is that the successful physician uses dictation (command) or suggestion (persuasion) according to the necessities of the case.

He treats the patient, and not merely the disease.

The increased force of suggestion does not depend so imuch as one might suppose on the profoundness of the sleep. In applying it, all that is necessary is a state of increased receptivity of ideas suggested by the operator, and an ignoring of other impressions. I have defined hypnosis as a condition of increased suggestibility obtained by artifice. This attained, it matters little from a therapeutic point of view whether light sleep, profound sleep, or somnambulism is produced. My own experience, like that of all observers whom I have known, is that good results are effected when there has been no loss of consciousness, and even when the patient denies having felt any hypnotic influence. * Dr. Arthur, when at the East End Wesleyan Mission, showed me a case of obstinate intercostal neuralgia after shingles cured in a single sitting, though the patient, a seafaring man of over forty, barely felt a slight degree of somnolence. He could have opened his eyes at any moment, but - and this is the important point - he was very conscious of a glow of reflex warmth when Dr. Arthur passed his hand over the seat of pain and suggested it.

* A gentleman, whom I have treated for various nervous affec-ions, always denies having slept, and protests that he has remained conscious of everything going on around him. Yet if I put some

Consciousness is lost only in the advanced stages of profound sleep, and even when this has occurred there is often partial remembrance on waking of many things that have happened during the sleep. A patient in profound sleep may be questioned, and will probably return answers, unless the question be put too brusquely, when it will be likely to wake him, or too gently, when he may shrink from replying; for a person in this state dislikes being disturbed, and is especially unwilling to exert his reflective faculties. Nevertheless, if questioned as to his complaint, he will describe his symptoms truthfully, and thus may help the physician in his diagnosis and treatment. Bernheim seems to accept the theory of Herbert Spencer, and of most psychologists, that two sorts of nervous action go on within the brain - the one automatic and instinctive, the other rational, volitional, and deliberative. Hypnotism suppresses the latter (the Ego of some psychologists), and allows full play to the former. It follows that, where the second kind of nervous action prevails in an individual, he is less liable to be acted upon by external impressions, and is less the creature of impulse than one in whom the first kind is predominant.

The more a man's actions are the result of impulse rather than of reason, the more susceptible he is to external impres sions, and therefore to suggestive treatment.* small article, such as a paper-knife, into his hand during the sleep and tell him to hold it tightly, he will do so, and on being arouse will show surprise at finding himself grasping it.

* He who obeys his instincts, and instantly knocks down a ma who has insulted him (this being a purely automatic action . would duced from the first or second by gently rubbing the top of the head, when the cataleptic condition will vanish, and other characteristics will appear, chief among which are abnormal acuteness of the senses, and obedience to suggestion.

This brings us to the question, Who are the best subjects for the treatment, and how far is it applicable to the bulk of mankind?

The late Professor Charcot asserted that it is suitable, and indeed possible, only for hysterical subjects, and that hypnotism is a pathological condition, or induced neurosis. He divided the hypnotic sleep into three well-defined stages: (1) Lethargy; (2) catalepsy; (3) somnambulism; and contended that there is a regular sequence in these, and that, according to the will of the operator, one or other can be produced.

He obtained a state of lethargy by fixing the patient's eyes on a given point, or by gentle pressure on the eyeballs. This state resembles natural profound sleep, but is distinguished from it, and from all other conditions, by a characteristic feature - neuro-muscular hyperexcitability; i.e., if one presses a nerve, the muscles supplied by that nerve will be put into action, and if a muscle is stroked or pressed, it will contract. Thus, pressure on the ulnar nerve will, in Charcot's subjects, produce flexion of the third and fourth fingers, abduction of the thumb, extension and separation of the first and second fingers. It passes into the second stage when the eyelids are opened; cataleptic rigidity may now be produced in a limb, and it may be bent or placed in any position. Moreover, emotions corresponding with the position are evoked. If the subject is put into a pugilistic attitude, his expression will become fierce and determined; if into one of prayer, he will wear he aspect of devotion. Moreover, if only one eye be opened, one-sided catalepsy is produced, and the other ride remains lethargic. A bright light or sudden noise will also produce this condition, and in closing the eyes he subject falls into lethargy.

The third stage is propus be a better subject for hypnotism than he who deliberately calls policeman and goes in for damages. Freud lays great stress on the importance of effective ' abreaction: to stimulation, and much ill-health 5 undoubtedly due to ' bottling up' our feelings. Some authorities attribute the greater prevalence of nervous troubles in women to this estriction of emotional outlets.