571 A. Different observers take different views of rapport. Bernheim and Liébeault believe that a real rapport exists between the subject and the operator, and that this follows as a natural consequence from the methods employed in inducing hypnosis. On the other hand, according to Braid, it was possible to create by suggestion an artificial state in which the subjects appeared to be en rapport only with the operator, but this condition was only apparent, not real. The subjects really heard the suggestions of others, though special artifices might be required to make them respond to them. Dr. Bramwell says (see " What is Hypnotism ?" Proceedings S.P.R., vol. xii. p. 229): -

My own observations in reference to rapport have led me to conclusions similar to those of Braid, viz.: 1. That rapport does not appear unless it has been directly or indirectly suggested. 2. That the condition is always an apparent, and never a real one. It could always be experimentally proved that the subjects actually had been cognisant of what had been said and done by others who had not been placed en rapport with them. In those who did not know what was expected of them, and to whom neither direct nor indirect suggestions of rapport were made, this condition did not appear. On the contrary, they heard and obeyed any one who might address them.

Moll, in Der Rapport in der Hypnose, published in 1892, comes practically to the same conclusion as Braid in regard to rapport, viz.: that it is caused by direct or indirect suggestions of the operator, or by self-suggestions which result from the subject's conception of the nature of the hypnotic state.

571 B. Experiments in "community of sensation" were made by the "Committee on Mesmerism" of the S.P.R. first in 1883. The first series (see Proceedings S.P.R., vol. i. pp. 224-27) were carried out with a boy named Wells, who was blindfolded and hypnotised by Mr. G. A. Smith. Out of twenty-four experiments in the transference of pains, the exact spot was correctly indicated by the subject twenty times will in any way dominates the other will, or that he succeeds by superior ' strength of will' in any ordinary sense. It is still primarily an image, not any form of force, that is conveyed - but an image of movement, i.e. an image whose nervous correlate in the brain is in intimate connection with motor-centres; and the muscular effect is thus evoked while the subject remains a sort of spectator of his own conduct".

On September 10th, 1883, Gurney made further experiments in the transference of pains and tastes with another subject, Conway. His account of them is as follows (see Proceedings S.P.R., vol. ii. p. 17).

Conway sat with his eyes closed, in a tolerably deep trance. Mr. Smith and I stood behind him, without contact, and Mr. Smith preserved absolute silence. I from time to time asked Conway whether he felt anything, but of course gave no guiding hint or indication of whether he was right or wrong.

I pinched Mr. Smith's right upper arm. Conway at once showed signs of pain, rubbed his right hand, then passed his left hand up to his right shoulder, and finally localised the exact spot.

I silently changed to Mr. Smith's left arm. In a very few seconds Conway's right hand flew to the corresponding place on his own left arm, and he rubbed it, uttering strong complaints.

I nipped the lobe of Mr. Smith's right ear. Conway first rubbed the right side of his neck close to his ear; he then complained of his right leg, and used threats. I then gave a severe nip to his own right ear, and he made no sign of any sort. He then rubbed close to the left ear, and finally localised the spot on that ear exactly corresponding to the place touched on Mr. Smith's right ear.

I now pinched the right side of Mr. Smith's right thigh. Conway, without receiving any hint that he was expected to feel anything, immediately began to rub the corresponding part of his left leg.

Mr. Smith now put a succession of substances into his mouth, according to my indications, still keeping behind Conway, and preserving total silence. I kept Conway's attention alive by asking him from time to time what the taste was like, but gave not the faintest guidance, except in the single case of cloves, when - to see if Conway would take a hint - I asked if it tasted like spice, and he said it did not.

Mustard

" Something bitter." "It's rather warm".

Cloves

"Some sort of fruit." "Mixed with spirits of wine." "Not like spice." "Tastes warm".

Bitter Aloes

•"Not nice." "Bitter and hot." "Sort of harshness." "Not sweet." (I had suggested that it was sweet.) "Not nice." "Frightful stuff." "Hurt your throat when you swallow it." "Bitterness and saltness about it".

Sugar

"It's getting better." "Sweetish taste." "Sweet." "Something approaching sugar".

Powdered Alum

"Fills your mouth with water." "Precious hot." "Some stuff from a chemist's shop, that they put in medicine." "Leaves a brackish taste." "Makes your mouth water." "Something after the style of alum".

Cayenne Pepper

Conway showed strong signs of distress. "Oh! you call it good, do you?" "Oh! give us something to rinse that down." "Draws your mouth all manner of shapes." "Bitter and acid, frightful." "You've got some Cayenne down my throat, I know." Renewed signs of pain and entreaties for water.

The subject was now waked. He immediately said, "What's this I've got in my mouth?" "Something precious hot." "Something much hotter than ginger." "Pepper and ginger".

Further experiments of the same kind with the same subject, made by Gurney and Dr. A. T. Myers, are recorded in Proceedings, vol. 11. pp. 205-206.