Volume 2

Hypnotism and the doctors / [Richard Harte].

  • Harte, Richard.
Date:
1902-1903
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Credit: Hypnotism and the doctors / [Richard Harte]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    of motion. The intelligent speaker inquires as to the words he shall use in order to influence his auditory. The object in writing or speaking is the exertion of this power over the minds of others. . . . To be successful, the means used must, in all cases, be met with an appropriate state of mind in those over whom it is to be extended. This peculiar state constitutes susceptibility. . . . And the multitude look on and wonder ‘by what authority’ or ‘by what power ’ these things are done. Thus it was in witnessing the demonstrations at my public lectures. The question was ever put to me as to how these things were done. And my answer was always the same, frankly and candidly given ; and when I have affirmed that precisely one and the same ‘ influence ’ entranced people which brought them to my lectures, I have found now and then a few who could understand and believe what I said. I invite the people to come to my lectures, and they come. I tell them that I will entrance them, and the trance follows as the result of what I say. And yet, after all these explanations, so freely and fully given, it has been a common occurrence for persons in my audience to attribute the ‘ influence ’ to ‘ electrical currents,’ to my spectacles, to my handkerchief, to my watch key, to the head of my cane, on which I requested them to look while proceeding with my remarks. “ The secret which may be said to secure success in these miracles, consists in two conditions or elements, which must meet and combine in order to produce the desired results. One of these elements, which seems to be active, we may call positive ; the other, which is passive, we say is negative. These are merely relative terms, which assist in understanding what is implied in these two elements, which must be combined when there is a visible operator. At other times, when there is no visible agent, the negative element becomes active, and brings on changes, by that principle of self- induction already explained. Here is the first element, which we will call positive : — “ THAT YOU ASSUME THE AUTHORITY ; AND INVEST YOURSELF WITH THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE POWER EVERY WAY ADEQUATE FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF THE WORK YOU HAVE IN VIEW. “ It is not always necessary that the positive operator should be either intelligent or learned. Indeed, the more ignorant a ‘ Dr.,’ ‘ Professor,’ or ‘ Lecturer ’ often happens to be, the more he will assume in regard to himself and his powers; and the more that is assumed, the greater his success. . . . Indeed, the more extravagant the assumption in behalf of 1 Alchemy,’‘ Witchcraft,’ or 1 Inspiration,’ the greater the faith of the multitude.”