Hypnotism or psycho-therapeutics / by R.W. Felkin.

Date:
1890
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Hypnotism or psycho-therapeutics / by R.W. Felkin. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    hypnotism given before the Medical Society of Manchestei in 1885. Dr Walter Whitehead, referring to it, makes the following remarks“ I can affirm that of every one I have since met who witnessed the demonstration—and I have discussed the matter with at least a score of our leading professors, teachers, and medical men—not one expressed a hint of disapproval at what took place, or stated that they disbelieved the genuineness of what they had seen .... Six weeks ago I was practically ignorant and wholly sceptical of the merits of mesmerism; now I am con- vinced that it is a subject of deep psychological interest, but devoid of any practical application in the domain of surgery, and I strongly deprecate its being made the means of pecuniary gain and public amusement. These convictions I believe I share in common with the major part of those who have had frequent opportunities of investigating the subject during the last few weeks in Manchester.” 1 Let me now very briefly refer to the attention paid to the subject of hypnotism in this country. It is probable that the little attention which it has received is due to, or perhaps we should say took its start from, a paper published by Dr Arthur Gamgee in 1878, in which he gave an account of a demonstration on the phenomena of hystero-epilepsy given by Professor Charcot at the Salpdtribre. At this demonstration were present, amongst others, the following physicians and scientific men:—Professors Virchow, Grainger Stewart, Turner, Oscar Liebreich, Pay Lankester, Dr Broadbent, Mr Ernest Hart, etc. Professor Charcot demon- strated the remarkable influence of solenoids and magnets upon the diseased organisms, as well as the ready induction of hypnotic and cataleptic conditions in various patients. It is unnecessary to describe just now the remarkable effects which were produced, but they appear to have been greatly appreciated by the gentlemen present, and we cannot imagine that they were likely to have been misled in regard to the facts they saw, either by the distinguished demonstrator, or by the patients he submitted to their observation. Professor Gamgee, in a few remarks at the end of his paper, says: —“ The reader who is acquainted with physics and physiology will at once admit that many of the facts narrated are absolutely inexplicable in the present condition of physiology,” and he goes 1 British Medical Journal, 1885, vol. ii. p. 721. B