HYPNOTISM IN MENTAL AND MORAL CULTURE

When the thought occurred to the author during the winter of 1898-99 to test the availability of hypnotic suggestion as a means of removing criminal impulses and substituting conscience-sensitiveness for moral anesthesia among young criminals and castaways, he was convinced that the results of his investigations would possess deep interest for the men and women of his profession, and he purposed publishing them, together with his conclusions, in the form of a medical monograph. But he was wholly unprepared for the sensation that has been excited throughout this country and in Europe by the premature birth of his report in the columns of the daily press. The demand for full and authentic information regarding hypnotic suggestion, which has suddenly become appreciated as a great moralizing power at its true worth and with an intelligent reference to the wide range of its applications, explains the appearance of the present volume.

The position therein taken in regard to the constructive treatment is high, but tenable; nor is it in the slightest degree at variance with the purest Christian belief and practice. There is no mystery about the procedures, nothing uncanny or occult in them. No supernatural gift is implied; no theory of "a magnetic influence.'' The results reached must be gratifying to all who are working or wishing for the intellectual, ethical, and spiritual elevation of humanity.

HYPNOTISM IN MENTAL AND MORAL CULTURE

BY JOHN DUNCAN QUACKENBOS

FELLOW OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF MEDICINE

MEMBER OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

FELLOW OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE MEDICAL SOCIETY

MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE

1901

Quackenbos devoted himself to the practice of his profession, and became widely known for his applications of suggestive therapeutics in mental and moral disease.

Especially should be suppressed the circulation, by charlatans, of literature on hypnotism, advertising instruction in methods of inducing this abnormal mental state, teaching " the art of fascination " for money, promising to empower business men to secure patronage by hypnotizing prospective customers, and adventurers to win similarly the affection of heiresses, and illustrated by shameless pictures of hypnotic sharps in full dress " influencing '' fashionably attired women amid the surroundings of sumptuous boudoirs.* I have been called upon to disabuse a number of persons of the delusion that society is at their mercy if they can but master the mesmeric art. Hypnotic power is, like that of the poet, born, not made. High-principled hypnotism cannot be learned and cannot be taught. It is like the gift of teaching itself, which, as has been noted, John Milton long ago proved to be more intimately associated with the personality of the teacher than with the method of instruction. Machine teachers may be turned out by professors of education; born good teachers are only ruined by them. So, safe hypnotists cannot be manufactured to order. The success of hypnotic effort depends upon the ability to produce rapport; and only a few human beings are so constituted as to be in rapport with the majority of their race. Their sympathy must be genuine and thoroughly disinterested; they must be persons of the deepest feelings ; they must be touched by that in life which is more precious than social ease, worldly distinction, business success ; they must be impressible by the deeper springs of good in himian nature ; they must have insight into the darkest passions that convulse humanity ; and, above all, they must ardently desire to elevate and purify the souls in their keeping. Like the lapidary of penetrating sight, they must " know the gem whate'er the setting."

* What Judge Thomas Troward eluded to around 1900 in England