The ultramaterialists of the day felt that since it had a material cause, there was nothing degrading to their intellects in giving it some consideration.

It must be borne in mind that, at the time, the tremendous power of suggestion had not been recognized. Later in life Braid modified this idea of a physical cause, announcing very clearly his belief in mental concentration or monoideism as the allimportant factor, altho he still held that the monoideism "depended on a definite physical change in the subject."

But it must not be supposed that Braid escaped professional persecution and ostracism. He said: "Like the originators of all new views, however, hypnotism has subjected me to much contention; for the skeptics, from not perceiving the difference between my method and that of the mesmerists, and the limited extent of my own pretensions, were equally hostile to hypnotism as they had been to mesmerism; and the mesmerists, thinking their craft was in danger, that their mystic idol was threatened to be shorn of some of its glory by the advent of a new rival, - buckled on their armor, and soon proved that the odium mesmericum was as inveterate as the odium theologicum."

I

Braid wrote extensively and practised special surgery. Some idea of the extent of his work may be gained from the statement that two years before his "Neurypnology" appeared he had operated on 1 1 Bramwell: Hypnotism.

262 cases of clubfoot, and seven hundred cases of strabismus.

After Braid's death little attention was paid to the subject for twenty years, but this period saw the rise of the Nancy school, which has been the inspiration of most of the later interest in the subject.

"Good Father Liébeault," as he was fondly called by his patients, settled in Nancy in 1864, and soon built up a large free clinic, giving up all remunerative practise. He had been interested in mesmerism for three or four years. Without knowing of Braid's work he independently discovered the subjective nature of hypnotism. He discarded all medicines and worked along quietly, dealing out therapeutic suggestion with a liberal hand.

In 1882 he cured a case of sciatica which Bernheim had treated in vain with drugs for six months. This converted Bernheim, who became a zealous pupil, and a few years later published "Suggestive Therapeutics."

Altho the Nancy hypnotists disclaim the term "school," as their individual opinions are quite at variance, yet there is among them a consensus of opinion which is opposed to the claims of the Salpêtrière school, which was so called from certain dogmatic statements of Charcot, which will be considered later when dealing with "Theories."

Altho Braid was translated into German in 1881 by Preyer, yet in England little was heard of the subject till the formation in 1882 of the Society for

Psychic Research. This society numbers among its members many of the most eminent scientific men, both in this country and in Europe. The reports of hypnotic investigations have appeared from time to time in its " Proceedings." Among these none has been as clear-cut and convincing as the contributions of Bramwell, who has given us the results of his labors in his recent treatise, to which I am indebted for many of the facts of this brief history.

Besides the public exhibitions, little has been done in this country in the legitimate practise of hypnotism. Doctor Quackenboss, of New York, has written, lectured, and practised.

His practise has been largely in the line of moral reform, and he is accomplishing a noble work. He will be referred to again under " Methods of Induction."

In our own city (Boston) some of the names one frequently hears mentioned as interested in this subject are Dr. Morton Prince, professor of diseases of the nervous system, Tufts College Medical School; Dr. Boris Sidis, formerly director of the New York Pathological Institute; Dr. Henrik G. Petersen, the translator of Wetterstrand; Prof. Hugo Munsterberg, of Harvard University, and Dr. James J. Putnam, of Harvard Medical School.

Doctor Prince has written quite extensively for the Psychic Research Society and medical journals. His "Dissociation of a Personality" is a most exhaustive

study of what he believes are several different personalities occupying one body.

Doctor Sidis' most important contributions to the subject are the following books: "Psychology of Suggestion," " Psycho-pathology," "Multiple Personality."

METHODS

The methods of inducing hypnosis have been as varied as the theories concerning it.

It has gradually developed that magnets, relics, and paraphernalia are superfluous. Even fixed gaze is not essential, as Braid discovered by successfully hypnotizing a blind patient. Physical methods are entirely unnecessary, and possess no virtue in themselves, but are a powerful means of making indirect suggestions. The patient comes to the hypnotizer with an unknown quantity of preconceived ideas, among which are sure to be the efficacy of passes and fixed gaze, so that all operators have found it expedient to use physical methods in conjunction with verbal suggestions. It is always advisable to begin with some explanation of what is expected. The patient should be assured that the sensation will be agreeable and that success will be in proportion to his ability to coöperate.

The eyes may be closed and the idea of sleep suggested. This idea is more readily accepted if the patient be put in a comfortable position with the head resting. The patient should be told to think only of sleep, and this idea should be repeated suf

ficiently often to secure his attention. He should be told to breathe regularly and deeply, and that his lids are getting heavy and that he is drowsy. Gradually the strength of the suggestion should be increased till the lids cannot be opened.

The patient is still conscious of all that is transpiring, but his lids are firmly closed. Catalepsy in the most awkward positions is now easily secured, by stroking the part and suggesting increasing stiffness. Anesthesia is also easily produced. In fact, all that follows is as the operator directs, provided that the subject be sufficiently suggestible.

The superficial stages are easily obtained with the majority of people, but trance and somnambulism are obtainable only with a few.

Before hypnotizing it is well to suggest that it will be a pleasant experience, and as soon as one gets control of the eyes, to say with decision: "No one shall ever be able to hypnotize you against your wishes, or except for your good, or no one but your physician," and before waking, suggest that an agreeable feeling will be experienced like waking from a refreshing sleep.

Fixed gaze on some bright object like a coin held above the eyes is also a very common method. This serves to fatigue the muscles that raise the eyes and hastens the result. The subject should not be awakened suddenly, but told that he will awake after you have counted ten. waking from sleep.

This is more like the normal

The operator should conduct