Contents Books recommended: James," Psychology," Henry Holt; Donaldson, "Growth of Brain," Scribners; Sandford, "Experimental Psychology," Heath; Waldstein, "The Subconscious Self," Scribners; Bramwell, "Hypnotism," Lippincott; Sidis, "Psychology of Suggestion," Apple- ton; Sidis, "Multiple Personalities," Appleton. — Mod- ern psychology is becoming an important branch of medicine, because it is recognized that "no mental modification ever occurs which is not accompanied or followed by bodily change." - Cerebration is accompa- nied by a temporary association and grouping of nerve cells, but thought is not a physical matter. - Develop- ment of nervous system a part of organic evolution.— such as shows a choice of means can be called indu- bitable expression of mind."- Recepts and concepts. - - - the path of least resistance. - The development of hab- its. The moral significance. "Man is a mere bundle of habits." The concatenated impulse; economic value. Professional habits. - Intelligent reading is wise skip- ping. The conscious and subconscious; relationship. The "Moment Consciousness." Sleep a dissociation of few or many nerve centers. - Dreams are sleeping hallu- cinations; duration short. - Caused by some centripetal stimulus, somatic or external. — Infinite resources of the subconscious. - Wonderful memory; how to utilize it. ·A possible explanation of genius. — Geniuses not well 16-34 ment of tactile sense. - The outward reference of sensa- tion. The correlation of the senses. tions. - The inverted retinal image, current explanation of erect vision: tactile experience reinverts visual sensa- tion; incorrect, because not analogous to other special senses. First sight of congenitally blind is always erect. - Mr. Hanna's experience. - Man ignorant of retinal image. Each mathematical point of object is referred The blind spots; the two optic discs. Retinal shadows: erect, because cast by objects too near the eye to form Each cane. - Monocular estimation of distance. Difficult spective. — Pictures correspond to right and left retinal images. - Convergence required to fuse, determines distance; convergence excessive, nearness; convergence slight, distance. - May overcome mathematical perspective. – Binocular vision an acquired faculty. — Fusion training. — The amblyoscope. — Phoro-optometer stereoscope. - Controlled reading PAGE 55-65 CHAPTER V HYPNOSIS- Hypnotism. Historical. Neuro-hypnotism. Nerve sleep, so called by Braid, 1843.·· Phenomena are as old of Suggestion," "Psycho-pathological Researches," "Mul- best subjects. Hypnotism a physiological function PAGE 66-80 CHAPTER VI HYPNOSIS PHENOMENA Hypnosis. Phenomena. Classification, difficult and some - what arbitrary. — Mild, catalepsy, conclusive evidence of hypnosis. Deep, somnambulism, hallucinations accepted. - Catalepsy unwise to exceed at first attempt; sufficient for slight analgesia; sufficient for therapeutic suggestions. Anesthesia not practicable for general surgery, because not absolute in more than ten per cent. - Character and frequency of pulse may be controlled. Suggestibility increased, raise of threshold. — Amnesia the rule, but subject to suggestion. The alert stage, seemingly inconsistent with sleep. Hallucinations: positive, negative; en rapport with operator, but others may be introduced. — Subject reasons deductively, but not inductively. - Post-hypnotic suggestions; appreciation of time.-Automatism, not absolute, subject may refuse harmless suggestion.-Criminal suggestions, popular literature responsible for belief in; mistaken deductions from paper dagger experiment. - Refinement of moral sense. The higher self: avoid being deceived. Precautions in conducting experiments: avoid selfdeception. What is hypnotism? — Theories. — 1766, Mesmer, animal of inanimate bodies. - Confirms Reichenbach's odylic force. - Operator's will sufficient to control subject. — Defends phrenology, but suggestion will produce same results. 1843-55, Braid, three distinct theories: (1) Physical theory, “hypnotism” manipulation of cranium produces characteristic phenomena; (2) Substitute mono- ideism for hypnotism, preconceptions of subject, dominant ideas, suggested by operator, magnets, metals, and sealed medicines, inert except as vehicles of suggestion; (3) Double consciousness. · Modern theories. Charcot, Salpêtrière, the discordant note. Responsible for mod- ern prejudices. - Bernheim, suggestion, the all-sufficiency of. Sidis, laws of suggestibility. - Myers, subliminal consciousness. - Volition, subject not unconscious. Psychotherapeutics. Definition of therapeutics. - Drugs, surgery, orthopedics, electricity, mechanotherapy, refrac- tion, hydrotherapy, massage, in all a physical element. Psychotherapeutics, elimination of the physical agent. — Man a suggestible animal. Historical: "Thy faith hath made thee whole; " royal touch; shrines; prayer cure; Christian Science; "mental healing;" Whipple, New York; Newcomb, Boston. - Claim everything, but refuse to substantiate. - Silent treatments, accord with Sidis' law. Indirect suggestions, accord with Sidis' law. Bernheim, a-hypnotic suggestion.- Hypnosis necessary to overcome auto-suggestions. - Method of giving treat- ments. Sphere of psychotherapeutics: subconscious |