Hypnosis in anesthesiology

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PRACTICE OF Hypnosis in Anesthesiology
Hypnosis in Anesthesiology By CARL A. COPPOLINO, M.D.
with a foreword by GEORGE WALLACE, M.D.
GRUNE & STRATTON • New York and London • 1965
Copyright © 1965, Grike & Stwatton, Inc , 381 Park Ave South, New York, New York iooi<
Printed in the L'nifrd Suta of Amenta <E—B)
Foreword vw
Introduction u
i Hypnosis—Past and Present i
a Hypnosis—Facts and Theonea 19
in Selecting the Patient for Hypnosis 30
ip The Mechanisms and Characteristics of Hypnosis 45
c Techniques of Hypnotic Induction 53
n Classical Methods ofHypnotic Induction 64
tn Hypnotic Induction Complications 73
rtti Dehypnotization of the Patient 87
it Alteration of Physiologic Processes by Hypnosis 90
x Hypnosis in the Preoperatie Phase too
n Hypnosis in the Operative Phase 113
m Hypnosis in the Postoperative Phase i?8
mi Hypnosis in the Painful Syndrome 132
xtv Hypnodontics 149
xv Indiscriminate Use of Hypnosis 1B1
Reference* 192
Index *y*
roreword
The utilization of hypnosis has always liad a broad appeal Perhaps, because of this universality, the
development of hypnosis as a truly delineated, scientific modality has been slower than other scientific
endeavors Perhaps, also, because the very basis of the hypnotic relationship is so easily achieved, there has been
a skepticism and even agnosucumconcerning its scientific value
Therefore, contributions such as Dr Coppolino's are invaluable if hypnosis is to continue to serve as a
therapeutic approach
Each discipline has a potential me fur hypnosis Anesthesiology,with its manifold patient Approaches,is well
served by the hypnotic pattern which may be achieved between the anesthesiologist and hu patient The
psychologic sustenance offered to the patient by the anesthesiology who has added hypnosis to his

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armamentarium is of great value As an adjunct, as an interchangeable technique,hypnosis should be an integral
part of all anMihesiologic procedures
Dr Coppolmo has clearly and precisely illustrated the role hypnosis has to play ID patient care His emphasis
upon the selection of patients 11 a most important contnbution Hypnosis has to lie placed as carefully in the
therapeutic regime as does any medicament or technique
Dr Coppolmos compilation of the expencnecs of others,along with hu own original contributions,is a
significant progression in the establishment of hypnosis as n truly scientific toot
This book, fills the need fur a text in the field of anesthesiology and will be welcomed by all practitioners of our
specialty
Ceoroe Wallace, M D Director, Department of
Anesthesiology Methodist Hospitalof Ibmlfuif
Introduction
The role of hypnosis in anesthesiology is a relatively new one For a better appreciation of its status a specific
definition of it is necessary.The two fields are closely interrelated since all physicians who practice anesthesia
also practice a form of hypnosis,either consciously or unconsciously.Fur'hermorc, I feel that in the future this
relationship will become even more interdependent.Therefore, a basic knowledge of hypnosis—when and
where to apply it, how far to carry it, and when to recognize whether or not it has lost its effectiveness—is
important for the present-day anesthesiologist.
The practice of anesthesiology as we recognize it today is a totally different field of endeavor from that which
existed a little more than a decade ago World War II gave a tremendous emphasis to a fledgling and mostly
unrecognized area of patient care Pnor to this stimulus, anesthesiology was essentiatly a cause and effect t) pc of
medical practice The patient was given a drug, and if sufficient unconsciousness resulted for the surgical
procedure to be accomplished, the anesthetic process was judged to be successful
The progress of anesthesiology has kept pace with the progress of medicine As the knowledge of pharmacology
and physiology and of the nature of disease processes and their effects on the human mechanism grew, a
concrete form of patient care within the specialty of anesthesia developed The •nraufesruii^nc" iJecanie-
idvoitwr' </urt dita1 irspuMixM' i6t- xttz- i^xictmi1 jkr patient for that period of the patient's illness which has
as its focus the surgical procedure
This trend has come to encompass and perhaps transgress on,depending on one's viewpoint, several other
medical specialties Anesthesiologists have become respiratory physiologists,for how else could the various
physiologic alterations in respiratory function which the patient has suffered and which very well might alter
radically the approach to the administration of anesthesia lie appreciated' AnesthesiologisUhave become part-
time cardiologist!, otherwise, how could the vagaries of the wandering pacemaker be understood and the
circulatory abnormalities that are not infrequent occurrences during anesthesia be counteracted* It could be
related how easy it has become for the anesthesiologist to be involved in fluid balance, blood volume studies,
central nervous systempathology,endocrinology,and a myriad of physiopathologic states which could give rise
to a major exacerbation during anesthesia or m the immediate postanesthetic period.As more and better
modalities for caring for patients were conceived,
newer and greener fields were sought Perhaps the last outpost in the new Concept of anesthesiology^the one
area that relatively few workers in the field have delved into, is the psychic approach This deals with the field of
emotional stress,that limbo of the patient that holds so much and about which so little is known There is little
understanding relative to pain perception and pain reaction We know the pathways to the upperreaches of the
central nervous system,but what occurs after that is not very definable Why do some patients evidence no pain
following major surgery and some become practically moribund after a relatively minor procedure* What
determines one's pain threshold' The definitive answer is yet to be given.
As a result of advances in chemoanesthesia and with the continued search for better anesthesiologic care, it
became rational for the practitioner to move into this land of the unknown via suggestion,orhypnosis Perhaps
with this modality we can add to the ultimate welfare of those patients underour care Why hypnosis* It has
been stated that hypnosis is an integral part of psychotherapy Are anesthesiologists capable of practicing
psychotherapy* This is best answered by stating that without so labeling the approach,anesthesiologists have
been practicing psychotherapy all along In the modern pracUce of anesthesia,anesthesiologists feelthat rapport
with the patient is of utmost importance This rapport usually is established during preoperative visits to the
patient a day or two before surgery or m the preoperative evaluation dime that exists in some hospitals Along
with determining the patient's physicalstatus the anesthesiologist tries to estimate the patient's emotional
attitude to the impending surgery and anesthesia The bravest of patients is afraid to be anesthetized,for in the
miads of everyone this state is dose to death However, by discussing the technique, by reassuring both the
patient and the patient's family, by answering the patient's various quesuons,by explaining the steps to be taken
before "sleep" ensues and what will happen when the patient awakens, the anesthesiologist hopes to establish a
more tranquil state.

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It has long been taught that a patient who understands and trusts the physician who will care for him while he is
in the unconscious state will receive the anesthetic service with less psychologic trauma than that which
otherwise might ensue This approach is not completely altruistic, for the patient who arrives in the operating
room in a calm, relaxed state is much easier to anesthetize than one who is excited, ncrous,and distraught
Furthermore, it is known that by alleviating the patient's fears and apprehensions and by promising a smooth,
quiet induction of anesthesia with no possibility of "feeling pain" or "seeing anything," the amount of drugs that
otherwise would be necessary to administer is often lessened
This approach cannot be labeled hypnosis,for a true trance is not attempted It is hoped, however, that through
reassurance some of the tension which patients experience preoperatively will be alleviated. It is only a short
step from this approach to the achievement of the truly interpersonal relationship that hypnosis has as its
foundation.But should all anesthesiologists practice hypnosis? Should the anesthesiologist have a specific
psychiatric orientation before he enters into such an interpersonal relationship with his patient* Not all
anesthesiologists arc desirous of developing the necessary emotional ties that hypnosis implies For those who
are, it is best that they understand what this relationship encompasses Authorities agree that the hypnoanesthetic
approach should be utilized only after a specific and constructive course in the psychodynamic limitations of
hypnosis As more and better educational facilities become available for those seeking such knowledge, more
anesthesiologists who desire to add the practice of hypnosis to their armamentarium will become better
equipped to do so.When properly understood and applied, hypnosis is a very desirable adjunct to the practice of
anesthesiology.
Hypnosis—Past and Present
As the ylanvs of nature seem to demand that all things come and go, then are revived again under different
conditions,so it has been regarding the interest in hypnosis Although it is one of the oldest known phenomena
yet generations ago it fell into a decline which threatened complete death to it Now it has been revived and, with
its resurrection, have come new understanding and new methods and uses These uses have converted it from a
thing of amusement to one of benefit to mankind.
In the past,hypnosis has been condemned on the one hand and lauded on the other At long last the world is
coming to at least a near agreement on its benefits It is obvious,throughout life, that when the need is greatest
the means is provided, and so it is now with the study and use of hypnotism Especially, this is true in regard to
its use m the medical field and in the study ofanesthesiology.
Human nature rejects what it cannot understand It is obvious now that former eras of rejection of hypnosis were
due to lack of understanding of the condition, its uses,and values,and to a great extent to the Jack of
knowledge/ at that time, of how to use it and not to use it
Serious medical and psychic researchers have learned that, first it definitely is not a toy Nor is it an amusement
feature In either misuse it can be extremely dangerous All realize that such is the case with any anesthetic.
Why an exception ever should have been made in the case of hypnotism can be attributed only to complete lack
of understanding from a medical standpoint and because it was misused before it was properly used Had it fallen
into the hands of the medical profession first, instead of those of necromancers and the theatrically inclined, it
would have had a far different history, a record of benefit to humanity, and would have been free of the
prejudice which its misuse created for a long time
The age of hypnotismruns back to antiquity More than thirty thousand years ago our ancestors revealed their
knowledge of it by means of paleolithic carvings on bone Then it was called magic One of these carvings which
impresses medical science more than others,shorn a woman, obviously pregnant,lying unconcernedly while a
reindeer tramps over her body The
theory intended to be imparted was that she was absorbing the strength of the animal, to aid in labor and
delivery, and that, through hypnotism(magic)
Other means of concentration were pictured where healing was dctired, centering the mind of a patient on some
object as a means of concentration True, in view of this, one might say that medical science at that time must
have been the first to use it However, it should be remembered that medical science then consisted mostly of
superstitiuon,and healings were few They had the idea in this and other such cases,but failed to understand it,
so it finally fell into disuse for the purposes forwhich it was intended, and became a plaything or a means of
hoodwinking the public along with rabbits in hats
In fact, in those eras,etiology attributed all diseases to one or more of three "causes" the soulofthe patient had
become lost, the patient was possessed by some evil spirit, the patient was obsessed by some object This was
the extent of diagnosis which later would be expanded into the science of etiology when the real, rather than
weird, imaginary causes of diseases would be known It has come a long way since paleolithic times, and soil has
not seen the end of progress in that field of medicine
The primitive systemof treatment was as complicated and eerie as the diagnoses When the diagnosis "revealed"
that the patient was possessed by some evil spirit, the cure must consist of ndding the patient of that unwanted
entity The practitioner, or "medicine man" attempted to accomplish this by blowing his breath, first into the

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mouth, then into the eyes of the ailing one The procedure entranced the patient, usually, after which he
obviously either recovered or died
In the case of supposed obsession by an object, the treatment consisted of pointing arrows at the patient At the
psychologic moment, he was given a "magic shot11 That ended the work of the medicine man, who then tiirned
his victim over to a so-called healer The "healer" by means of "abracadabra" placed the patient in trance, and
removed the shot Again he either survived or perished
For the one whose case was diagnosed as loss of soul, the procedure was one that would stymie the greatest
medical expert of our present ume It seems that this departure of the soul took place while the patient had slept
It never was determined, however, whether it was lost, strayed or stolen, the problem simply being to bring 'em
back alive
The procedure was as follows the medicine man must do a marathon in some forest nearby, while holding in his
hands an ivory tube The idea was to catch the roving soulin the tube,carry it back and, by some undisclosed to
catch the roving soul in the tube, carry it back and, by some undisclosed means inject it back into the patient
Since no one ever has seen a soul, it is so far undetermined how the medicine man knew when he had captured
it, how he retained it in the tube or how he knew when it had again entered the patient All that is known to
present day medical men in that respect is that the Creator of the soul is the only One w ho has the placing of it,
nowa days at least We do not mean to ridicule or deny any claimed powers or knew We simply lail to
understand,and we admit that several tnousand years from now we and our methods may be just as difficult for
our progeny to understand
Then as we icw the history* of hypnosis,we recall that many eons later, and continuing for hundreds of years,
the Magi in Persia, and fakirs in India accomplished some amazing feats of hypnotizing themselves This was
done, and still is, by means of continued concentration on one object a tree, a jewel, a fire or even the person's
own foot
In Egypt as much as four thousand years ago,incubation, a form of temple sleep, was common In fact, this still
is in effect in Egypt today,although mostly by one particular sect As a means of self hypnosis,an induction tech
nique in the form of staring for a prolonged period at one object, is used The entire procedure is thus veiled in
mystery, as arc the practices by these same persons,of walking barefoot through fire or over sharp spikes Who
are the wiser, we or they, is yet to be determined, but few of us would care to attempt what seems to come
naturally to them
In our journey through the medical world, we come upon an extremely interesting customfrom antiquity one
which is being revived with a vengeance That is the healing method outlined in our Holy Bible—the laying on
of hands This never has been discontinued,but for thousands ofyears it was only consciously used by certain
groups.Now, practically every denomination has come to use it, if not in regular church service, at least in
special services, and where not always in the same manner, yet in some form, usually accompanied by prayer
and, tn some cases,by prayer or its equivalent alone Jesus used both methods,often healing from a distance,as
some are doing today In olden times, before actual studies were made of such things, kings and emperors did the
lavme on of hands,and called it. The Royal Touch
The Middle Ages was a time of belief in witchcraft, causing many natuial and normal experiences to be
condemned The devil reigned supreme in the fears of the people If one became ill, it was believed that the devil
had lodged himself inside the body, and cure came only with the devil being removed The cure was a taskfor
the "priests n They believed that no such mild treatment as laying on of hands or prayer was sufficient In
addition, the patient had to be beaten until he was in such a deplorable condition that even the devil would run
from him Therefore, we can see that eons ago, beating the devil out of someone was an actuality—or so they
believed— and the expression has come down to us as slang or swearing At that time it was known as exorcism
Doctor John Veycr, a man with different ideas at that time, investigated some of the witch doctors1cases
Usually they were women He also examined the ointment which the witch doctorfed to the afflicted one It was
found to contain belladonna and cannibus indica When it was consumed by the women the skin became
reddened and the mind filled with hallucinations
In the sixteenth century,Paracelsus wrote in part, "Man possesses a hidden power which may be, in a way,
compared to a magnet, for by his power, man attracts the surrounding chaos,and this magnetism comes down
from the stars " Also he stated that magnetic iron would cure ailments Further, he stated that a wound could be
eased if a "weapon salve," which he introduced, were rubbed on the patient's weapon.
During the Shakespearean era, Sir Kcnelm Digby, it is said, discovered the power of sympathy as healing balm
for wounds The clothing or weapon was treated with the sympathy ointment, and so great was its power, that the
wound would heal
In the i6oo*s, Valentine Greateakes declared he was blessed with a great power that would heal scrofulous
lesions His cure was administered by means of the laying on of hands It is true that his success was phenomenal
In fact, it was so much so that he became widely known and sought AH went splendidly with him and his
healing until he entered the Court of Charles II There his humane work ceased,as he suddenly i»as unable to
effect a cure All these practices,superstitions and beliefs were but forerunners of hypnotismas it is known today

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In the eighteenth century, 1734 to be exact, Frcdench Anton Mesmer was born at Wciler, in Germany Von
Swicten, of the schoolof Boerleave, later became his tutor Mesmer was graduated with a medical degree from
the faculty of Vienna, in 1766 Soon after, his dissertation,De Planetarura Influxa was published An excerpt
from it reads "J believe that health is based on a fluidum, that this fluid comes from magnets and astral bodies H
He further advanced the theory that if two magnets were connected with the human body a cure would be
effected This coincides with the theory by Paracelsus presented approximately two hundred years earlier
A contemporary of Mesmer, one Father Gasner, in 1773, achieved noteworthy success in exorcising By his
method, patients were cured, and again it was said that he had literally scared the devil out of them In fact,
various diseases were overcome by what was then termed Father Goner's Miracles
Although he was a contemporary of Mesmer, Mesmer was far from being in harmony with him "What this
clerical gentleman is doing is superstition what I am doing is science I'm talking about magnetism, and
magnetism is something every scientist can know something about," he declared
Three years later Mesmer published a book called Mesmer*s Memoirs It described the discocry of animal
magnetism, and indicated that he actually believed himself to be the source of such magnetism He stated—in
two out of twenty sccn provisos regarding a cure—that first, the patient must cooperate with the healer and be
in perfect accord with him, and that second, the one requesting healing must really wish to get well
He spent much time in cxpenmentmg, before he actually went into curing as a profession The ailments of his
patients ranged all the way from bunions to boils, and from melancholia to malaria Soon his name became a
household word, and his sen ices in demand Medical science became interested Augsburg Academy issued a
report in 1776 which said in part, "What Doctor Mesmer has achieved in the wiy of cunng the most diverse
maladies
leads us to suppose that he has discov ercd one of nature's mysterious motive energies "
The Academy of Science of ElectoraJ Bavana oted him a member, cinng him with these words, "It is
undeniable that the activities of so outstanding a personality, who has won fame by special and incontrovertible
experiments, and whose erudition and discoveries are as unexpected as they are useful, must add lustre to our
institution "
Despite these enviable laudations, there were those who disagreed vigorously The famed medical men of
Vienna held Mesmer in no such high regard They denied and disputed the theories which he vouchsafed They
derided what they termed his so-called cures,his theories of magnetism and the idea that he was the discoverer
of it
There was, however, one noteworthy point throughout all the hubbub
In Vienna, while doctors sneered,patients practically mobbed Mesmer, begging for his mystical cures Mythical
or mystical became the leading question of debate, p^fessionah and laymen were at loggerheads
It took a young woman to bnng the controversy to a head Maria Theresa Paradis, a godchild of the empress of
the same name, whose father was the Emperor's secretary, went to Mesmer in 1777 for treatment of blindness
Although a well-known Vienesse singerand pianist, she had become blind when only three, and half-past years
age. The best of medical attention had been secured for her, but the blindness persisted It seemed for a time that
Mesmer had effected a cure, at least, so he claimed However, some of Vienna's best medical authonties pointed
out to the parents of the child, and to others, that the cure was faked The result was that little Maria Theresa
ceased to be a patient of Mesmer, and conditions became extremely Humiliating (or him finally, he decided he
would prefer the ransienne atmosphere, and decamped thereto
At that time religion was considered outmoded, rat 01 alrau being in vogue,however, superstition continued to
hold the people ir vic» us clutches
6
Selecting the Patient for Hypnosis
The Interview
The importance of an interview pnor to any kind of hypnotic treatment is of great importance For best results,
boih doctorand patient should establish an understanding and feel that there is enough of a bond between them

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to ward off any feeling of strangeness The attitudes and emotional relationships which develop in such an
interview can exert a most important and forceful effect on the result
The clinician is unaware when first meeting a patient, whether hypnosis will be advisable or not Sometimes the
patient comes into the office for the special purpose of rrcciving hypnouc treatment Again he may know nothing
of the fact that it was suggested by his first interviewer In any case, no decision as to whether hypnosis will or
will not be employed should be made until a thorough psychologicalexamination has been completed Even
when there is a decision to treat by other means, it is extremely wise to prepare the way for its use should it
become necessary This often is the case,but it should be done only when the therapist is provided with the
patient's case history so that he (the therapist) is aware of just what reactions that particular patient may or may
not have at that particular time The doctorshould handle such matters wiih an attitude of neutrality, neither
psssiie norauih ontative. so ihut the nanrnt may remain undisturbed and at case.
When the phisician has heard the patient in an initial interview, he usually asks about specific symptoms and
other phases ofthe matters both past and present concerning the life of the patient, and which could have a
bearing on the ailment Thu history taking is accepted by the physician and his patient as a necessary preliminary
to treatment Most physicians realrre that the first examination « a two-sided affair in which the patient also is
making an examination of the doctorUntil he reaches his decision regarding the doctor, the patient will not full)
give himself into the hands of the medical man, either by words or otherwise
It is obvious to most medical men that on the first interview die patient is more or less cage), playing along with
the questioneruntil he either gains confidence or decides he wishes to see anotherdoctorThe potential patient
uses words merely as a shield to distract the doctor while he studies him It is necessary that the physician make
a_fayorjiblcjmpress^^ If he is wise, he reveals to the patient his own character and disposition in a manner to
instill confidence and assurance Then he is in a position to diag nose the case, and decide on the kind of
treatment that is necessary.
If hypnotherapy seems most advisable the next decision is the matter of approach— authoritative or passive The
interview then progresses with an eye to gaining the willingness of the patient to surrenderPart of this pro
cedure involves estimating the probable response ofthe patient to suggestion, or his defenses against it, if any
These deductions established,he is ready to proceed with the treatment
AH the above mentioned phases ofa first interview are in progress while the patient explains about his illness as
best he can, and the doctor strives to understand,a feat which often is not too readily accomplished with a
fnghtened and nervous and possibly suspicious,patient
As preliminaries to hypnosis these matters of confidence, respect and harmony arc of utmost importance On e
does not just start hypnotizing An extremely necessary groundwork must be established if the treatment is to be
successfulEm when, after all this preliminary, it is decided that hypnotherapy is not to be used,it is still well
worth the effort since it is a necessary safety measure in any kind of treatment If the preparation indicates that
hypnotherapy is advisable, the harmony which the interview has established between patient and physician will
assure the desired results
This establishment of harmony is the most important part of any medical venture, in hypnotherapy it is of still
greater necessity.No doctorcan per form to the best of his ability with his patient unless there is harmony
between the two. It must become a fact during the initial interview if the best possible results are lo be obtained,
otherwise, the first lack of it must be overcome when anotherinterview follows. As always prevention
outweighs cure. The case history, diagnosis and deciding upon the form of treatment, all are secondary to
rapport. Even if in order to accomplish this harmony, treat ment must be delayed until several interviews take
place, it is still far more important than to attempt a cure without it Not even a physical examina tian should take
place until there is doctor patient harmony.
Many times the wise doctor refrains from asking sonic certain question even though he feels that its true answer
would solve his problem. This, he believes because the patient is not yet confident in his liking for the physi
cian to give a true answer or a complete answer. If the ailment is a psychologic conflict this usually is the case.
The patient cannot bnng himself to talk freely about intimate matters to one he considers a stranger or with
whom he fears any kind of emotional conflict. Often the patient uses screen symptoms to avoid giving the real
facts.These may be true and convincing, causing the physician to believe the diifficulicue of the patient have
been fully revealed. Of this he must be certain, since a danger lies in going into hypnotherapy without all the
correct information. If the history is made up before that point has been reached, it will interfere in the
induction, since he will continue during the treatment to hold back just as he has done during the interview, and
success will not be attained If the patient is to benefit by passive means, he must give himself wholly and
willingly into the hands of the therapist,otherwise hypnosis is prevented,or at best,delayed Many failures in
passive hypnosis arc readily traceable to this very condition The only alternative is persistence in attaining good
rapport.
When screen symptoms are suspected the doctornaturally is tempted to ply the patient with incriminating
questions He must refrain, however, as to do so would be taking too great a risk of arousing rebellion on the part
of the patient Rather,it is best to end the interview or the history recording and go on with the physical

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examination It can be thorough and yet leisurely Pauses for discussion ofthe history can be brought about in a
friendly manner in order to help the patient "break the ice" and release his inner feelings
Anothertype of patient who delays treatment is the one who is on the defensive against himself The full details
are given willingly and freely, but he seems to be standing someone else up in a corner and describing that
person,instead of himself He show's no emotion, and no connection vuih the case No hypnotherapy will <ltakc"
on him as long as he maintains that attitude, nor should it ever be attempted
Clinical results reveal that abreaction in preliminary interviews aids later hypnosis,as it tends to release the
tenseness and eliminates the reluctance to speak (reel) In fact, the self is effaced and emotions take over, all
pretense ib erased and the defense is conquered One letdown of this kind paves the way for more, and passive
hypnosis becomes easier as the patient abrcacts in the therapist's presence Tn such cases it is as if emotions were
shared,with a bond of understanding created As in any case, such a bond is one of strength and harmony, and
breeds confidence and trust—two extremely important necessities for hypnosis.
Sometimes the authoritative approach is necessary.When this is the case it must be exercised from the start of
the interview. In this way, the patient has time to become accustomed to it, and to consent to obeying the
commands It is the prestige which becomes the valuable factor in these cases .With such a patient, the doctor
must be careful to maintain that feeling of great respect which he has engendered in the patient If he appears to
be less prestigious,the process fails, once it has been established.The patient must feel that the doctors
confidence in himself is highly justified.
When a patient will go along with the authoritative attitude the authority can become more pronounced as the
history proceeds.As each demand receives a cooperative response,greaterdemands can be made. The patient
may then come to the point where he is anxious to describe in detail all symp toms and other history,but the
attitude of authority must not be relaxed even then, or the patient will become less communicative. With
authority, he becomes more and more willing to obey.
Increased commands increase cooperation in these cases.Merely ordering the patient to change his position on
the table, then change to another position,et cetera, are all exercises in obedience when conditioning a patient
for hypnotherapy,who is best handled by authority.He considers the doctoras a powerful being, and surrenders
completely and—he thinks—of his own free will practice of hypnosis in anesthesiology
Motivation of the Patient.
Most of the criteria which the medical profession uses are not acceptable for hypnosis.This is understandable
from several reasons the careful doctor has been forced to suspect any claim for hypnosis because so many false
theories have been advanced,and, instead of using the psychosomatic bases for symptoms, so many have based
their criteria solely on what the patient tells them It is because of this incomplete preliminary that hypnosis in
medical practice has been held back for practically two hundred years. Therefore, it has barely progressed
beyond a state of experiment with comparauvely few medicos being trained in its use. This condition creates a
great loss to the world, both patients and doctors being the losers in many respects Indeed, much suffering could
have been avoided by having hypnotherapy administered by those competently trained in its application .
Many patients consult a physician in the hope of receiving hypnosis as a cure for some condition. The patient
may have a legitimate reason for selecting hypnosis as the means. Sometimes, it is obvious why this method
should be used.Other times a friend has recommended it because of his personal experience or his other
knowledge of such therapy. The patient may have also read about the progress which hypnotherapy js making,
and may wish to experience his own cure by that means In many of these cases he has become over enthusiastic,
almost to the point of believing that the hypnotherapist need only flutter his hands before him, uttersome
strange words, say, "You are cured ! and said patient will live happdy everafter He is surprised when he finds
that the trained medical man does not work that way, and that safety lies in proper preparation by means herein
described.
Despite the erroneous idea of such a patient, his viewpoint can be turned to advantage First, he has the necessary
quality of faith in what he seeks The patient's primitive ideas of magic can be used in gaming the necessary
rapport if the doctor, more or less, goes alone; with him and refrains from arguing, which he may be tempted to
do.
Symptoms which are the result of habit instead of psychologicalconflicts,
are excellent cases for suggestive therapy foe the, reason that the patient
already conditioned for a "magical' cure. The successfulmedical man is by
nature part psychologist,part psychiatrist and part humorist, m addition to his medical education.
There is a type of patient whose challenging attitude as he enters a doctor's
office, says,"I just dare you to cure me ". This is especially true if he has
hypnosis in mind. He refuses to believe he can be cured. He actually seems
to prefer it that way, for he is using the best possible attitude to make it diffi-
cult for anyone who wishes to help him. He not only believes he cannot be
cured by hypnosis,but he is determined not to become hypnotized.

8. 8
The learned practitioner recognizes him at once as a chronic neurotic who
is perfectly satisfied with himself, just as he is, and has no intention of letting
anyone tamper with his pet ailments—yet he comes to a therapist!
Patients who are by nature belligerent approach a physician in this man-
ner. Their entire motivation is a clear demonstration of the fact that they
refuse to be overpowered In these cases,the authontatwe approach is fatal
to success.To order, argue or defy such a person,in any way, is to intensify
his antagonismand strengthen his stubbornness.
The only way this type can be handled is by means of the passive technique.
It usually proves to be successful,however, actual passivity is necessary to the extent that he will come down
from his aggressive perch and really permit
hypnosis to take over completely.
There is anothertype who takes just the opposite attitude—they askfor
hypnosis mthe hope of becoming less submissive. They possess an excessive
longing to be overpowered, and hypnotherapy seems to them to be the an-
swer. This patient also requires a special handling, even though his confidence
already is gained and he is anxious to obey.
Perhaps the oddest of all, who comes to a hypnotherapist,is the pretender
of sophistication.He considers himself an "intellectual,'* and is extremely
proud of himself. His bark is worse than his bite, however, and his symptoms often are trivial He is determined
that the means of treatment be hypnosis,
and believes he knows all the answers. To him, the hypnotist is not a brain,
but rather a mechanism for his use.His life history reveals that he is seeking
new sensations and ventures constantly,and this is only one of them. His
symptoms seem imaginary or an excuse for his presence there. He has never
been hypnotized,and wishes to see what it is like .Where no ailment exists,
no treatment is given. There are, however, exceptions where such a complex,
o of exaggerated form, can be placated by hypnosis and therefore treated.
The personality of such persons is often amenable to such help.
Guilt complexes often cause the patient to seek hypnosis The psychological
fact that there is appeasment for the guilt-troubled person in being hurt, leads
to this since they erroneously imagine that hypnosis is an unpleasant experi-
ence They expect humiliation and discomfort from it and they feel that they
will be compelled to combat against their own will Their conscience is
relieved by such self punishment
The weak-willed person presents anotherkind of problem for the hypno-
therapist This patient comes in the hope of recovery of strength He usually
is the over dependent type The doctor must first determine whether or not
he is sincere If not, treatment is to be denied, since nothing would be gamed
from it
In the last group, we have the patient who comes to the hypnotherapist for
consideration These feel that the bottomhas dropped out of ever thing.
They have undergone numerous examinations and surgical operations, but
their chronic discomfort continues They have decided all medicine is useless
and doctors are quacks Therefore, they try a hypnotist as a last resort, al
though they do not have the slightest idea of just what a "hypnotist1is To
this patient the "hypnotist* is their one last hope For some such cases help
is possible by means of hypnotherapy,and the ph^ician is glad to help, how-
ever, their particular motivation presents him with difficulties to be overcome
with acumen and patience.
These are some of ihc motivations prompting seekers of hypnosis There
are others,some of which make it impossible to render help
One such instance is when a patient associates hypnotherapy with the
occult Anotherbelieves it will deprive them of will power Some fear that if
they "go under ' they never will come out of it, or that the doctorwill cause
them to say some immoral words or perform some immoral or cnmmal act
Some aversions to hypnosis are unconscious fears
After all these misconceptions are explained away, the patient may still
fear it because he is afraid of being overpowered Bang naturally insecure,
they have an aversion to losing what control they do possess,even for a few moments.

9. 9
It is true that the hypnotherapist too may be the victim of unconscious
moti ations m his profession It is highly possible for psychic mechanisms to
come to hght in the hypnotherapist s mind, causing a change in his judgment,
to the detriment of the patient He may overwork his authonty,due to an
urge for power, for obedience from others, yet not realize his own failing in
that respect In fact hypnotherapy is a breeding" ground for such a complex
unless the worker is on guard This is a point which should always be one of
the chief factors m selecting doctors for hypnotherapy Some arc suited for
that phase of medical work, and some are not.
The most even tempered and kindliest doctormust, if using hypnosis,give
commands They must be such that the strongest-willed patient will be
brought to submission It can easily become a habit, and too often the author-
itative manner will totally fail, where the passive would have been extremely
successfuland easy Self schooling asd self control ate vrcvperauve on the. pact
of the hypnotherapist,both for his sake and for that of the patient
Anotherdanger against which the hypnotherapist must guard is the devel-
oping of a desire to display his power, beyond that of an exclusive desire
to use it for the good of others Hypnotherapy neier slould be demonstrated as
a show before an audience any more than a surgical operation should be demonstrated a show before an
audience any more than a surgical operation should be demonstrated
to reieal the skill of the surgeon uho may be seeking applause from the general public'
The surgeon seeks only to save lives The object of the hypnotherapist
should be exactly the same at all times If he wishes to be an ictor he should
enter the theatrical and not the medical field, and leave hypnotismalone.
Of extreme importance is the relationship between patient and doctor m
any kind of medical work, hypnotherapy definitely included The physician
who is alert to this fact adjusts to the special requirements which the patient
presents at that time It is of extreme importance, in successfultreatment or
medication, that the two be in accord The emotional relationship, necessary
in all medical dealings, is even more important in hypnotherapy than in
other medical work
The physician must possesscomplete knowledge of the different relation-
ships which he establishes with each patient under different circumstances.
In fact, m hypnotherapy alone,many definite types of relationship are pos-
sible, and finesse is required in establishing the nght one and eliminating the
wrong one
It is on this doctorpatient relationship that the "bedside manner" is
formed The respect of the patient for the doctor is based on their mutual
accord It is that which enables the doctorto do his best work, and the patient
to give his best cooperation
Medical cases are discussed in the doctor's office or hospitalonly If the
patient and doctor meet anywhere else no mention is made of that case, or any other Each trusts the otherwith
proper respect toward their relation
ship, provided the proper rapport has been established The professional,yet
friendly, attitude of the medical man is the cue for the attitude of the patient
He must consider it his duty to set the scene,at all times
The successfulforming of the doctorpatient relationship depends more
upon how the physician impresses his patient with personalintegrity—which
must be done indirectly—than upon his academic successes ortechnical
skill Our first glimpse of our patient is the beginning of the doctorpatient
relationship in the time prior to hypnotherapy,and simple though it appears,
it is of vast import in regard to the outcome of the case.
Trus rapport constitutes the emotional adjustment without which hypno
therapy is impossible of success Important as the bedside manner really is,
this is much more important a much more deep seated and significant point
for all hypnotherapiststo remember and cultivate Without the faith and
trust of the patient little can be accomplished, and this rapport is the basis
for it

10. 10
The doctormust inspire the patient to feel free to reveal to him freely and
without reserve, what he could mention to no one else When he feels that
his doctoris the one person to whom he can speak [reely and find compassion
and, above all, understanding,the doctorhas a patient whom he can cure if the case is curable 'Aflat much
depends upon the patient's feeling for his
doctorhowever, establishing it is up to the doctor
This feeling on the part of the patient can be gained only by emotional
mechanisms It is not dependent upon any flaunting of the skill or prestige
of the physician It differs from the simple professional relationship in that
there is this exclusive element in their accord The patient then declares that
here is the one doctorwho will do everything possible for him, and he feels
sure of a cure There is no more useful instrument in the doctor's kit
This emotional harmony is not a one sided matter It must be a condition
where mutual respect is present This is one reason the doctor must train
himself to maintain a constant examination of the relationship, keeping it steadily in repair, for a very great part
of his success in treating the patient
depends on this This harmony is vital to success in hypnosis where the pas-
sive induction method is used,and is of great import in any case Patient and
doctorshould be in harmony for success whateverthe ailment or whatever
the treatment used Those who can lay claim to the greatest percentage of
cures are the doctors whose relations with patients arc the most harmonious
Questions Asked about Hypnosis
A physician suggesting a certain form of treatment for a given conditicion is professionally obligated to furnish
the patient with a reasonable prognosis
In hypnotherapy this is a matter less easily handled than in most branches of
the medical profession Often the nature of the patient s problem renders an
accurate prognosis practically impossible In that case,there is left only the
doctorpatient relationship on which to depend,a matter which must be
explained to the patient We must let him know that we hope to help him, but
that it is impossible at the outset to say positively just what measure of suc-
cess will be If we have established the proper relationship he will be willing
to trust us in the outcome
When we suggest hypnosis as the best means of treatment we should be
able to give a reasonable prediction as to the outcome, that is as much as is
possible according to the case seen at that time Nevertheless, when he has
agreed to our plan the therapist should strengthen his attitude from time to
time as success appears to be more assured,and this increased confidence
should be communicated to the patient This constantly growing confidence
renders the patient more adaptable to the therapists suggestions during
treatment
Hypnosis always should be explained to the patient prior to treatment
This is most important to the success which it is hoped will follow, as it
eliminates any fear which the patient harbois It is natural to fear what we do not understand.
Hypnotist showmen have done great harm to this branch of medical work
Their pointless shows have instilled fear in the audience and in those who
have heard about them and their antics despite the fact that the many stories
have been greatly exaggerated The point of such a show usual! is to
humiliate the subject, thereby providing laughs for the gullible audience
Those hypnotists are not trained therapists with medical degrees They are
stnctly cheap "ham 1 actors in most cases Their audience is composed of
persons who are unaware of the medical value of hypnotherapy orof what
it is comprised Nor are they aware of the dangers of it in unskilled hans or the value of it in the hands of
conscientious doctors ofmedicine
If these showmen attempt to treat, they know nothing of the causes or
deep sources which give rise to the trouble On the other hand, the knowledge
of hypnotherapy which the trained doctorpossesses is a valuable factor, both
to him and his patient in enabling him to diagnose the case before attempting
any kind of treatment
The belief is extant among the uninformed, that the subject for hypnosis
subjugates his own will to that of the hypnotist This is utterly false, and ex-

11. 11
tremely regrettable Instead of sacrificing his will the patient merges it with that of the physician,in rapport,
accord, harmonious relationship, patient
and doctorworking together,neither pulling against the other as is the case if
such rapport had not been established No hypnotherapist exercises any efTect
on the will of the patient, any more than any othermedical man would at-
tempt to do such a preposterous thing
If the hypnotherapist is to succeed in a treatment, he must consider minute
ly the personality of his patient, just as any other doctordoes The patient is
under the doctors dominance, in just the same way, and to the same degree
as would be the case no matter what medico was treating
A pauent who believes in his doctortrusts him and obeys his orders, but that is far from turning over his will
power to him In fact, one of the requi-
sites of a good hypnotist is to be certain that his patient uses self control One
cannot separate that from will power Often the individuality is highly
strengthened,becomes more pronounced during and after hypnotherapy
Again, this is quite the opposite from sacrificing the will powers
Anotherequally fallacious popular opinion held by those attending the
"They Say School,* is that those underhypnosis always tell the truth wheth-
er they wish to do so or not Some unscrupulous person would wish to see him
under hypnosis so his secrets could be revealed—so they erroneously believe
True, the truth holds first place in the subconscious mind The hypnotized patient often will s ay things which he
has forgotten and which he could not
mention under other circumstances That, however, does not mean that he
will say, or reveal, anything but what he so desires
This treatise does not deal with that to which "quacks" might resort We are speaking oflegitimatc physicians and
surgeons who are also hypnothera-
pists,who have earned their credentials by long years of hard stud), and are
men of impeachable character, reliable, sincere and capable Just as the) are
trustworthy as regards drugs or surgery, so they are trustworthy as hypno-
therapists
Anotherfalse nouon which the hypnotherapist must combat is that if the
hypnotist so desires,he can cause hts subject to submit to criminal or immoral
language or acts If such were the truth—which it certainly is not—the
hypnotist would be using his will to sublimate the will of the patient This
is just anotheruntruth as mentioned heretofore A moral or honorable person cannot be rendered immoral or
unkind or dishonest by means of hy pnosis
If he reveals any of these regrettable traits under hypnosis he would reveal
them without it, because it is his nature The hypnotherapist is a professional
person,cultured, intelligent and one of integrity and dignity He is not one
who would stoop to such unfair acts as some believe, even if it were possible
He is careful that his treatment is wholly in accord with the wishes of the
patient and approved by him
Among the needless fears and doubts regarding hypnotherapy is the much
misplaced idea that cures produced underhypnosis fail to remain as cures,
that the patient seems to be cured, for a time, but the trouble returns and the patient suffers a relapse Surely there
are cases of a relapse, but so there are
such cases after any kind of treatment There certainly, as records show,are
far more speedy and lasting cures where hypnotherapy was used than where
the patients were treated by any othermeans Howexer, it would be ndicu
lous to claim that relapses never occur
Some of the other questions often asked regarding hypnotherapy follow,
and should be answered
Question Is it true that unless a person has a weak will he cannot be
hypnotized ?
Answer Many laymen answer yes to this question,but only because of
lack of knowledge There is every proof of the falsity of this idea In fact,
the truth is auite the opposite It is a strong will, not a weak one, that
is the greater aid to hypnotismThe patient who cooperates the best is
the one who uses his will to help induce sleep In fact, hypnotism
strengthens the wil) by teaching the patient to concentrate—the greatest

12. 12
aid to the hypnotherapist
Question Can the average person undergo hypnotism'
Answer Certainly The normal mind is naturally amenable to suggestion
On the other hand, the insane person cannot be hypnotized Because their psychologicalescape mechanism
reaches ever to the unreal, It pre-
vents anyone from contacting their thinking apparatus If their attention is gained, it is only for such a short
interval that no help can be given
them by a hypnotherapist In other words they are unable to concen-
trate on sleep, cooperation,cure or anything else
Question Just what kind of a person is good material for the hypnotist3
Answer One of strong will and intelligence, one who is capable of under-
standing questions,and who will force himself to concentrate Those who
keep their mind on what the therapist is saying to them Relaxation is
also a very great aid
Question Is it difficult to awaken one under hypnosis'
Answer Not at all All the therapist need do is tell him to wake up Some count three, or dap their hands,snap
their fingers or use some other pre-
arranged cue Also the hypnotist can break the rapport by suddenly
walking out of the room The patient will then awaken, anotherdemon-
stration of the vital part complete harmony plays in the doctor-patient
relationship There are some cases where the patient simply is so confi-
dent and relaxed that he simply goes to sleep The chief problem is to
induce hypnosis,no trouble ever is encountered in releasing him from it
Question Will the hypnotized patient retain a memory of occurrences
during hypnosis1*
Answer This depends upon the stage of hypnosis In the higher stage of it he usually recalls anything that was
said or done In the deep stage he
recalls nothing that took place However, if the therapist tells him before
he sleeps that he is to remember, he will be able to repeat it when he
awakens If told he is to forget it, he will declare, when he is awakened,
that he never was under hypnosis,and nothing ttdJ cause him to believe
he was
Hypnotic Susceptibility
The fact that some persons are not susceptible to hypnosis is one of the most
frustrating factors with which the hypnotherapist must deal It is another
reason why he should be well schooled in his profession and in some other
teachings which enter into it The reaction on the hypnotist is often deplor-
able when such failure ensues,unless he thoroughly understands that the
reason is no fault of his He otherwise feels that he is losing his ability, such
is not the case
Much effort has been expended in endeavoring to determine just who is a
potential patient and who is not Much has been learned about it, but still
not enough One thing that is certain is that intelligence, or lack of it, has no bearing on the part of the patient 's
ability to be hypnotized On the part of
the "gentlersex" there is evidently a sex angle, but it is comparatively trifling
except for academic study It has also been learned that older persons are Jess susceptible to hypnosis than
youngerpersons These are the only two
points on which we have positive proof
An older authority named Bramwell studied literature, of the nineteenth
century, and states the following findings on susceptibility, these correspond-
ing with those of many independent workers
(a) 78 to 97 per cent of patients respond at least partially
(b) 10 to 20 per cent of adults in the youngergroup will enter the deep hyp-
nosis stage
(c) Great stress is laid upon age as regards susceptibility Children can enter
deep hypnosis However, in the 56 to 63 age group only seven per cent respond to it
(d) 20 to 25 per cent of normal patients will easily enter deep hypnosis
(somnambulism with posthypnotic amnesia), this, under fixation meth-
ods

13. 13
Bcrnheini and Liebault, who arc recognized as the great masters of hypno-
sis, developed only twenty per cent to that stage Fifty two per cent were
reported by Chnstenson as the result of his tests for somnabulism Of these,
twenty two per cent were accomplished with considerable delay, thirty-two
per cent required but little dependence on the method mmm
The question as to the actual differences between good subjects and diftficult or impossible ones is practically
unanswerable at this time Attempts to
learn the answer have failed A measure of personality is unreliable in this
respect Many researchers and workers have noted that intelligence and sus -
ceptibility are widely separated in many cases In others,the opposite condi-
tion exists The reason,or cause,is undetermined
With fifty-five college students,each as subjects studied by Husband,
White and Davis, the following results were obtained Davis with Husband,
o 34, White, o 33 Barry and Hull, zero coefficients, for the 55 students
It is safe to state to patients or students that it is no sign of either inferior or.
superior intelligence when one can or cannot be hypnotized There is no record of any coefficient
Entering trance seems to be anotherplace where practice makes perfect,
or at least improves susceptibility At the same time some patients seem more
susceptible at certain unpredictable times than at otherThis lias been termed
"second session resistance " The subject may be easily handled during the
first treatment, yet on his next appearance may, for no apparent reason,
refuse any form of hypnosis In a few of these cases he will submit eventually
Of the few possible solutions advanced as regards this change of attitude, one
is that he perhaps told some unschooled layman of his first experience, and
was ridiculed, discouraged,frightened or talked out of it by that skeptical individual Anothertheory is that he
may simply have changed his mind 1
Many times when the patient cannot become hypnotized, it is because the condition for which he was being
treated has improved, and he feels no
further need for that kind of treatment This takes us back to our former
findings regarding the inability to hypnotize one against his will
Suggestibility Tests
Any attempt to hypnotize a patient reveals at once just how susceptible
he is Naturally the therapist prefers to anticipate susceptibility Susceptibility
tests can be made as a preliminary, by means of suggestion Those doctors
who have investigated this theory' have found that there is a decided relation between the response to certain
suggestions and the ability of the patient to
go into hypnotic trance The one who best cooperates with suggestions is the
one who will enter the deepest hypnotic state easiest Only certain types of
suggestions will serve as an inducement to hypnosis This is contrary to what
one would expect of any waking suggestion,even though the induction has
usually begun while the patient is awake and aware of the suggestions
An index to hypnotic susceptibility may be found in some test suggestions
This does not mean that they are at all dependent upon a basic process for
effectiveness It is, rather, because something affects the basic cause of the
response being as it is It is therefore responsible for the reaction of the suggestions Anyone noting tests of
susceptibility to hypnosis should bearin
mind this fact
The patient can be trained to cooperate with suggestions by starting him
with such simple suggestionsas the clasping of his hands,walking across the
roam, turning around et cetera He is thus learning to obey, and to concen-
trate If he succeeds in these preliminaries, he will doubtless succeed in
responding favorably to trance suggestions,orvice versa Such a preliminary
test is a time saver, to say the least
This testing for suggestibility can also become part of trance induction It
also prepares the patient for hypnosis,as it increases his susceptibility.
If the testing period is followed at once with suggestions forinducing
trance, a successfulhypnotic state is possible—this of course with the proviso
that the limit of the patient's capacity for it has been neared
No state of perfection has yet been accomplished in predicting susceptibil-
ity to hypnotismUnity is not the answer to the relation between hypnotic

14. 14
susceptibility and predictive tests Therefore, there are factors which have
not been considered Unless time is of the essence,it is well worth the while of
the doctorand patient to devote some hours to tests togetherin an effort to
determine which method of induction is best suited for that particular case
Even if some of these trials arc unsuccessfulorjudged inadvisable, it has been
revealed that subsequent tests ofthe same kind will result with favor, even to
achieving an extremely deep trace This often is possible on the first attempt cen when former attempts or tests
have faded Ironically, sometimes the
results are reversed
Susceptibility tests are not all revealing by any means—for instance,no
vital knowledge as to what kind of responses will be received when the same
patient is under hypnosis Anothersuch instance is that the best means of
induction arc not always learned through pre tests There is practically
nothing to be gained from them regarding the result of training It also is
seldom indeed, that any reliable idea is obtainable from them as to what
would serve as interference in regard to suggestion
The Mechanisms
and Characteristics of Hypnosis
It has already been made clear that the increased ability of the patient
to understand and obey the instituted suggestions is the most necessary aid
to hypnosis The outstanding characteristic of hypnotic trance is defined as
amenability to suggestion In * tew of this it must be assumed that hypnotrsm
is normal, and that everyone is a potential hypnotherapist and everyone a
natural pauent Every reaction to suggestion is noticeable in persons who arc
awake These could hardly be produced at will An examination of the re
action in routine experience is the most reliable guide to the universality of hypnosis
One of the first indications is the fact that the patient is giving his entire
attention to the orders or suggestions fromthe therapist This, as we know,
is necessary if hypnosis is to be successfulGenuine undivided attention means
total response in regard to the entire consciousness The entire mtnd is
focused on otic thing When all consciousness is thus centered on something
to the exclusion of any thing else, no otherthoughts orproblems can enter
to interfere Minor thoughts may attempt to gain the attention but will be
able to do so in only a negligible degree
Often the patient so concentrating or underhypnosis may be influenced
to some degree by physical changes overwhich he has no control nervous -
ness,tensenessexcitement or even amnesia in a greater or lesser intensity
A method popular among some hypnotists is influence by eye fixations as A method popular among some
hypnotists is influence by eye fixations as
a means of maintaining attention In these cases the patient is told to con-
centrate on some object—a vase,flower, ct cetera Nfeamvhile the therapist
uses the sleep suggestion This is believed by some to tire the senses,thus
producing sleep The visual sense tires, but fatigue is not a producer of hyp
none conditions The patient merely keeps his eyes focused on the vase,
flower or whatever, thus centering his attention,while the therapist makes
suggestions
Any attempt to produce sleep would be a long, time consuming process in practically all instances That would
be natural sleep if it did occur, and our
of line with the object of accomplishment The hypnotist who is schooled
and successfulknows that no dependence can be placed on the senses as a
stimulus for the hypnotic state Any such seeming success is achieved in spite
of the method used, not as a result of it
The faith of the patient in the therapist's power and ability is what renders
any method effective He must, first of all, believe implicitly in his doctor,
both in regard to methods used and personalcharacter On the physician's
part, his prestige and manner are his chief assets in influencing the pauent's
appraisal of him
The blind belief in the statements of the hypnotist during the process of
induction are expressed in the word aeduUy, coined by Doctor Luys At the

15. 15
same time he had no comment regarding the necessity of such faith before
the therapist can even begin an effective hypnotic induction
No one is a complete skeptic, not even when things do appear more or
less suspicious A certain amount of credulity is inherent in each of us Daily,
wc accept things on faith with no proof whatever Most of us t ish to belie e
To accept authority-relieves us of the care of deducing,weighing and decid-
ing We have faith in our friends, without asking for credentials We usually
rely on what advertisers present as facts We read the journalist's editorials
and at least believe he told what he considered to be the truth Rare is the
person in whom skepticism outweighs faith Therefore, it is not so strange
for a patient to truly trust a doctor
When we credit unproven ideas, it usually is because of our respect for
the authority by whom they were advanced Else we decide they must be
true since wc have read, heard or experienced them so often It usually is a
case of the emotions doing our solving rather than the faculty of the intellect
or that of reason An honest analysis of our various pet theories and tenets would appall us by the revelation that
many of them indeed possess no log-
ical hasis whatsoever,but arc strictly as we—through our emotions—with
them to be
The pauent should not be encouraged to analyze his faith, if he did so he
would probably fad to respond His awareness,beyond any doubt,of the
reality of hypnosis as a cure, is necessary for success
Upon occasion it is asked,' If the pauent fails to believe in hypnotismus
a cure, can the therapist succeed in the induction' The answer it that his
doubts are only a conscious action The credulity which is inherent, as
previously stated,is sufficient to bolster the confidence necessary for success
ful hypnotherapy
There arc many who consider all hypnosis as a jole or a "rocket " The
fact that they are so emphatic ;n their denunciation indicates that they,even unknowingly, entertain an
emotional faith in it sufficiently strong to cause
them to be readily responsive as subjects
Few who have not made a study of the human emotions can realize that
fear and belief are twins This is true to the extent that the fearful patient
usually is the best patient This is because they anticipate a cure despite
their fear It may sound paradoxical to state that it is because they fear it
they cooperate, but that has been proven to be the case The wise hypnotist
uses this knowledge in his induction It is explained by the fact that when
the patient is allowing fear to occupy his mind, doubt is crowded out and
doubt is the chief emotion to eradicate in hypnosis treatments He fears be-
cause he believes, therefore he presents the therapist with a powerful tool
When wc believe, wc expect When the patient beheves in the method, he
expects a cure When he expects the cure he is on the way to recovery, be-
cause he will then cooperate whatever the means of treatment This is evi-
denced by the fact that many a dose of milk sugar pills has put paucnts to
sleep The docior who prescribes these "sedatives** knows that the faith
which the patient has in what he prescribes will, because of that expectation,
have (he effect which both are seeking Let that same patient learn that the
pills—in themselves—were ineffective, and there will be no result whatso-
ever if he continues to take them His faith and his expectation therefore
are gone,and with them the cure
The above fact gives rise to the decision that suggestion is the answer to
sleep, that it is induced by the suggestion which the patient's expectation
exerts We find this in other experiences and in many teachings "The thing
I feared has come upon mc," was said cons ago by a learned man indeed
That may have referred to trouble then, but mankind has since learned that
we expect what we fear, and wc usually receive what we expect
It is this emotion of expectation that the hypnotist seeks to create in his
patient It is not suggested,ofcourse, that he attempt to instill fear Never f
However, their sclf-instillcd fear is used to excellent advantage by him in
the form or expectation

16. 16
It is necessary that we differentiate between fear and desire The conscious
mind of the patient may desire hypnotismThat is not assurance thai he
will be able to undergo it It is die same as anyone desiring sleep Desiring
it will not cause it In fact, trying too hard will prevent it Then he recalls Iiaving been sleepless the previous
night, therefore, he expects the same again
He is expecting to remain awake—so he does!
It is exactly so in the case of hypnotism'Hie hypnotherapist may well be
grateful for the fact that the emouon of cxpectauon occurs as a result of any
of various conditions such as
(a) We need not worry as to whether the patient believes in the efficacy
of hypnotherapy or not he fears it unconsciously if he knows prac-
tically nothing about it He credits it or he would not fear it
(b) The expectant state of mind develops in the patient as a natural rcsuh
of the positive, confident attitude of the hypnotist His attitude of
confidence generates the expectancy of success in the patient
In studying the matter of belief, it has been revealed that the patient obeys
suggestions on the basis ofsuggestions which previously were accepted and
obeyed by him Each tunc he so obeys he is further subjected to the hypnotic
influence His power of refusal is lessened each time he submits He becomes
willing to place himself wholly in the hands of the therapist as his emotion
of expectancy has risen correspondingly
At the outset there was either conscious or unconscious belief tn the cure
in the mind of the patient When the therapist s work began he relied on the
method used,and felt confidence in it as a means of curing the patient
Each suggestion increased that confidence and it was successfulbecause of
his belief and expectancy Here wc have the mechanism of suggestibility in
its entirety
Even if we take the stand that the induction is the work of the therapist,
we still must admit the truth that the mental faculties of the patient were disturbed and confused Wc have caused
in him a belief that he is powerless
to resist our suggestions Thus he lost faith in his degree of volition to cope
with the power of suggestion fromthe hypnotist
Each time the patient submits, the therapist gains in influence Care must,
however, be exercised on the part of the therapist,that his tuggesuons never
seem fantastic If the pauent considered them so, he would cease to be ex-
pectant,and all his susceptibility would be destroyed The patient can easily
be caused to rebel and come .1 wake at any anesthetic suggestion tflie is not
thoroughly convinced of his volitional inability
Everyone possesses the ability to change conditions Amidst a difficulty it
is natural to rearrange the factors to suit the individual desires Neurone
conditions are the usual result of such cases of defense against life situations
Here, the consciousnessis cleared of the seemingly unsolvablc or unavoid-
able trouble, and the mind rests,in the soothing escape It was with this
object in view that Charcot called hypnosis a hysterical condition, or a
manifestation of hysteria, since it does border, at least seemingly, on hysteria
neurosis The patient given to hysteria practically uses suggestion ofphysicil
symptoms on himself, just as the hypnotherapist uses the opposite curative
suggestions on the pauent
That many ailment* arefunctional instead of organic so far as origin is
concerned has been proven by psichosomauc medicine The most complete
examination will reveal no organic pathology,yet the symptoms cannot be denied or underestimated Absolutely
no physicalcause exists The symptoms
will disappear as soon as the emotional upheaval is conquered by first deter-
mining the cause of it There is every ev idence of the power of psychological
conflicts, moods and strong emotions causing organic disorders Further
tests showthat physical changes arc caused by strong suggestions The pa-
tient himself can, and often does,as physicians know, actually talk himself
into severe illness and disease It is interesting to consider the fact that cither
health or illness responds to suggestion

17. 17
Emotions felt in the past can be reproduced by hypnosis when a modi-
fied mental image 0 created by the hypnotherapist The emotional intensity
will be experienced and the incident will be rchcd to the degree that he
remembers them The suggestion has caused a physicalchange which re-
creates the original bodily changes
That which already has happened in the life of a patient determines his
reaction to suggestion during hypnotic induction He will enact nn other
than that which past experience, either real or imaginary, such as a dream
or his imagination, has induced It is past experiences which condition him
to react in a certain manner to hypnotic suggestion
The hypnotist can insist that a certain part of the body is numb due to
local anesthesia,and the patient will agree that all feeling has left this part
Previously, he has associated numbness with novocainc (local anesthetic),
therefore, so far as he is concerned,it is numb if the therapist says it is The
greatest therapeutic aid the physician has is his patient's imagination A
cure is practically assured when he can get the patient's imagination work-
ins m the right channel This is one of the manv instances where the phvsician who has been trained in
hypnotherapy has the great advantage over
one who lacks such training The value of his ability to control directly the
imaginative faculty of the patient is of inestimable value to both the patient
and himself
Since each person is, in some degree, susceptible to suggestion,it is worthy
of note that however intelligent, reasonable or learned one may be, finding
a solution to every problem is difficult This same logical, schooled person
may consciously be misled by unproven concepts because his emotional
fancies arc intrigued by them at the time
The exceedingly great importance of suggestion in inducing hypnotismis
revealed on closer study of it It also is an aid in maintaining the control,
also n releasing the patient from hypnosis The first suggestion given should
be that the patient can be hypnotized Then he should be given a description
of the method which will be used and also what his own reaction is likely
to be Thus expecting trie reaction, he accepts it readily, and more readily
accepts what follows
The imagination of the patient is a forerunner of his belief, it is the power
for his response to the suggestion The hypnotherapist is wise who uses the
patient's own faculties to gam a positive response to each suggestion
When suggestibility is heightened it is because the patient's suggestibility
faculty has been increased It ts no great power on the part of the therapist
He is merely the agent, as it were, making a composition charge, yet not as
a part of the process
The patient who is naturally impulsive is more likely to enter the hypnotic
state easily and completely than is the one who wants a logical answer to
everything before accepting it To a great extent, hypnotherapy is dependent
upon the degree in which the pauent is impulsive The most well balanced
person possessessome impulsiveness undercertain condiUons
Rational acts usually follow impulse This impulsive charactensuc in us
ail is of great value to the hypnotherapist,for it is only when the pauent
ceases to "think the situation through," and no longer feels the need of doing
his own thinking, that the hypnotist has free rem He then is able to secure
obedience of hi* every command There is no resistance on the part of the
pauent because he has reached the state of blind faith where he no longer
cares to reason or resist
It is interesting to know just why the patient accepts the idea which the
therapist suggests It has been found to be becausrhis faculty of reason has
been so influenced that he wishes to believe what is told to him Suggestion
has then become stimulating to him, whether it is logical or not Sensory
perception has been nullified, therefore, when a thought is sent to his mind
a manifestation of it results in which he acts in perfect faith and confidence,
through the veracity of the therapist When he was bcinj; prepared for
hypnosis,his confidence was gained, and by means of that he has prepared

18. 18
himself to be amenable to all orders In that condiuon he acts as a result of
stimuli that would be useless otherwise
Hypnotism's rise from quackery to a valuable medical aid has been slow
only because untrue,erroneous views of it were promulgated by the words
and acts of old time amateur hypnotists,experimenters and showmen These
false conceptions,once instilled in the minds of the public, have been general-
ly difficult to eradicate, although the medical profession itself hat long
valued hypnotherapy as both an aid and a cure In this, as in many other
things,the public accepted the verdicts of uncontrolled CTpcnmenlcrs,
and in other instances accepted the so-called findings on the basts ofpopu-
larity which the proponent had,often in some field cnurely unrelated to
medicine
One of Mearner's closest successors,named Deslon, stated most inaptly
that all hypnotic effects were the result of imagination This belittled the
therapy most unjustly Later scientists have found hypnotherapy to be for less simple, in fact, it is a science
which requires much intelligence, study
and practice by a physician skilled in many phases ofhis own profession and
even in those of others
Bernheim was much more outspoken than Chanot,Brand and others
They declared hypnotismto be an extraphysiologic condition, and denied
its value, stating that suggestion is everything—there being no hypnotism,
only suggestion
Arguments between those who declared it a physicalprocess and those
who maintained it was strictly mental have waxed hot these many years,
and are still going strong Meanwhile, their only accomplishment in this
respect has been to retard the valuable use of hypnotherapy Those who ad-
here to the physicalschool of thought strongly reject the idea of suggestion
as having any effect on hypnotismThey insist upon the outmoded use of
blinding lights, fantastic objects and other mysterious means In fact tome
hypnotherapists,at least to all appearances,arc using methods outmoded
centuries ago In some cases,slight pseudoscientific variations have been
added
On the other hand, clinical experience on the part of acknowledged sci-
entists have shown that Bernheim was correct when he advanced his find-
ings These prove that tlic governing principle at the root of all hypnothera-
pcutic success is suggestionsPrior to submitting to hypnotic influence, ac-
tivation has begun as a result of suggestion In fact, as soon as the patient
tint hears of hypnotismthat priming effect lias begun
Suggestion is a cause of hypnotismand, in turn, hypnotismcauses more
suggestibility This is revealed in every type of hypnotic induction analysts
Wc have established that we all arc amenable to suggestion in some degree,
yet most persons object to being called suggestible,it seeming to be a reflec-
tion on strength of character, and inability to do our own thinking Yet, we
repudiate this fact in our manner of dress following the idea that some fashion
"authority" declares we must adopt,whether it be charming or judicious,
becoming or devastating to our personality, form and personal likings
Further proof of suggestibility is evident in our quick adoption of slang,
colloquisms and assumed expressions The suggestible patient is the hypno
list's joy, it is true, but not because suggestion u hypnotismor vice versa
After the patient is once convinced, all otherconvictions along the same
line of thought come easier That is natural with everyone The mechanism
lias been activated, the patient is ready for hypnosis
A marked characteristic of the hypnotic condition is the obedience, meek-
ness and desire to accept as exhibited by all hypnotized persons The only
sensible answer seems to be that the belief of the patient being established,
suggcstibdity is the natural result even when the reason for his belief seems
illogical
As soon as belief is evinced, the therapist proceeds to cause the pauent to
fee! helpless in view of the hypnotic prestige Each successive suggestion lowers

19. 19
the patient that much deeper into the trance How deep he goes depends
upon his own willingness, and his ability to obey suggestions
We take, for example, a case in point The therapist ofTers his patient a
comfortable chair, and indicates a bright overhead light which he is asked
to watch His eyes become moist, after looking at it a while, then water runs
from them That is a cue for the therapist He remarks that his eyes arc tmng
Naturally they are, but the idea of mentioning it is to increase the suggest!
bihty Soon his eyelids blink rapidly The therapist capitalizes at once upon
that muscular action also Next, the pauent nods his head wearily or lets it
drop to one side Soon he sleeps
Each suggestion is based on logic, and causes the patient to become more
susceptible to future suggestionsNevertheless,it is obvious that if the patient
had failed to expect to become hypnotized, staring at the light, for however
long, would have resulted in nothing more than inflamed and weary optic
muscles
It is clear then that hypnotic trance depends upon both normal suggesti-
bility on the part of the patient, and then skill with which the therapist makes use of it Whateverhe says must be
in dose accord with the action of the
patient, yet the patient must not be permitted to realize this fact Quite ihe
reverse is necessary since the subject must be led to believe that he is obeying
the suggestionsofthe doctor
It is natural for anyone's eyes to water, and the eye muscles to tire if
ovcrstimuiated by brightness or one object without relief However, the
patient never doubts that his rcacuon is influenced by the hypnotherapist,
and he is then ready to obey and believe all he is told Thereby, the hypno-
therapist gains prestige which increases in the eyes of the patient to the point
where he accepts greater suggestionswith less and less resistance,and finally
is wholly submissive
Techniques of Hypnotic Induction
The FinsiciAK should,by all means, be aware of the extremely important
part which hypnotismplays in his profession It is equally imperative, if he
is to perform his best work, that he understand the use of hypnotismfrom
all angles The principles upon which the basts ofhypnotic technique rests,
and its benefits,should be easily recognizable at this point
Boih ihe patient, individually, and the various methods of induction, et
cetera, should be studied by the doctorbefore induction, as each is a separate
case, requiring separate consideration What may be a perfect method for
one patient may be entirely wrong for anotherThe physician who makes a
conscientious study ofmethods as they apply to different individuals is able
to handle the situation with great success and case Otherwise, dire complica-
tions or, at best,lack of success,arc probable The personality of each patient
should be carefully studied,facet by facet, and considered in relation to the
various methods of hypnotic induction and treatment
There is much to lye said about the hypnotist also, regarding his adapta-
bility to such work This is a neglected point, which has been greatly respon-
sible for the slow emergence of hypnotismas a part of medical science Unul
the hypnotist himself could be induced to accept hypnotismas the estimable
aid to medical science which it is, instead of a superstition or a game, the
public could not be expected to do so
It is ironic that it has been the hypnotists themselves who have delayed
its acceptance They feared that to accept it as a science would deprive them
of what they either beheed,or wanted the public to believe, was a special
dispensation to a favored few They were correct in assuming that such a
belief would discourage competition That it did so lias constituted a great
loss to humanity over these many years
There stdl exists today,after all the proof through endless research and
successes,die hards in the old "game' who still try to hoodwink the gullible
by proclaiming their "magic powers"—this,despite the fact that it has been
proved that no certain persons,or groups of persons,arc set aside with any

20. 20
such powers The potential exists in each person Just as any other art or ability lies latent, and must be studied
and practiced, so it is with hypnotism
Every person,for example, can be taught how to handwnte and then
improve his technique,but if he never learned the alphabet, spelling and a
few other contributing factors, and then practiced, he could never write
The successfulhypnotist is the one who has studied and practiced Merely
setting oneself up as a hypnotherapist,waving the arms, and muttering
"abracadabra" is not hypnotherapy,and can serve no medical purpose
The a b c's must come first, and be used with extreme caution and much
more study One may know the alphabet backward and still be a poor
writer Just so with hypnotherapy One must study the principles of the profession,the method of application and
the psychology1that applies to
each person separately who comes to him as a patient He may lie adept
at "putnng someone to sleep1* hut still never effect a cure
He must first lye ahle to diagnose the caw. Mrs Jones will require some-
thing far different from that which Mrs Smith will require When the case
is properly diagnosed,he must decide in what manner he is to proceed in
order to accomplish the result needed Even if two persons have identical
complaints, it is highly improbable that they will respond identically Why*
Simply because they themselves are not identical The hypnotherapist roust
study the personality, the reactions, as well as the needs of each, and deter-
mine his course by the result of his findings
It may at first thought appearthat different trained hypnotherapists use
different methods of induction This is, to a great extent, proved fallacious
when looking deeper into the matter There may be a few mere surface dif*
ferenccs of no importance, but basically they are the same This must of
necessity be true because of the fundamental requirements
These have been outlined in this work and, as also shown herein, arc re-
sponsible for success in regard to both the patient and the therapist. Little im-
portance is attachable to the thing upon which the one to be hypnotized is
centering his attention,or to the physical attitude of the doctor who is pre-
paring to induce the hypnotic state The important part is the faith of the
patient that the method used will accomplish the desired result—faith in
the method and faith in the therapist To bring this about is the important
preparation which the hypnotherapist cannot afford to overlook
Verbal Method or Induction
Ease of body,and ease in conversation are two definite opening requisites
for the patient All that is said to him by the therapist should be in a friendly,
leisurely manner A humed patient never is a relaxed patient, and onc"made
to feel inferior never is at ease Chat with him, laugh with him, but, of course,
all with proper dignity and in ajnanncr to rain confidence Then when geting dowi to business the requests
should be made along this line of induce-
ment
* Now if you will just look up at that picture (or whatever object) and keep your
eyes constantly on it Think about it—just it, nothing ejse Don't worry if
your eyes wander off occasionally—and of course you will blink, but that
doesn't matter Just look back at the picture at once,and keep on thinking about
it Now is a chance to get a good rest, so relax completely, and make the most of
the opportunity That's it's Fine A little praise goes a long way "Now I have
some things I would like to talk about Just keep your eyes on the picture, but
listen to what I am going to say I am glad you are beginning to relax, but I want you to relax much more
completely Relax all of your body You are m a safe
place, so just let yourself go, so far as any tension is concerned That's it Now
you can feci )our muscles relaxing* Doesn't that tee} restful7 Keep looking at the
picture, and keep relaxing more and more as you listen to what I say Feel the
relaxauon from your head, eyes,jaws neck and on down to your feet Ah, that is
so restful1 Doesn't that feel good when your arms and your hands and your
legs are all relaxed3 It makes me sleepy to think of you being so relaxed You are
getting sleepy too, aren't you' That's fine1 Sleepier and sleepier your body is
becoming heavy your head is heavy your arms your hands,legs, feet,

21. 21
heavy oh, so heavy very heavy* heavy It feels so good to just be sleepy and heavy and with no care so
warm so comfortable, so sleepy You are going
to sleep sleep soundly,pleasantly,warmly warm all over
"Your eyelids are drooping heavy, you are sleepy and want to close your
eyes They are closing, and you feel as if you cannot open them They arc blinking,
blinking heavier harder to open them As you hear me speaking you be-
come sleepier sleepier eyes won't open now Who cares' You are relaxed
and comfortable and safe You are not going to try to open youreyes, you are
going to sleep deep sleep, peaceful, pleasant sleep sleep sleep
"Continue to listen to what I say to you Think of nothing else, but what I am
saying It is just for you to hear it and nothing else Pay no attention to any other voice or to the telephone,just
listen to my voice, and sleep sleep sounder
and deeperStay asleep until you hear me say for you to awaken Now just listen
to me, and sleep sleep sleep deeply sleep soundly sleep "
Eye fixation or fascination are the terms applied to this method of hypnotic
induction Weitzenhoffer states regarding this method of induction, that the
physician should be prepared to induce a deeper sleep as soon as the eyes of his patient arc closed This is done
by suggesting furtherthe sleep progress-
ively deepening There should then be moments of silence This allows the
trance to become more intense automatically Fifteen minutes should be the
maximumjor. these-silent periods, with a few seconds as the minimum Pre-
ceding the silence should be such a statement as
"Now I am going to be still, for a while, and just let you sleep and rest in silence
You are not to awaken yet Steep soundly and try to go deeper into sleep
deeper sleep I shall speak to you again after you have slept more deeply, much more soundly than you arc
sleeping now Keep relaxed res*, be comfortable
oh, so comfortable Sleep There is nothing here to disturb you or annoy you
Disregard anything but my voice when you hear n again Now we are quKt and
sleeping sleeping more soundly more deeply deep deep sleep"
The therapist should, at this point, refrain from further words, for a few
seconds perhaps Too great length of time invites the possibility of real
sleep overcoming the patient This would defeat the purpose,by precnting
hypnouc induction,rather than inducing it
Anothermethod of induction into the deeper trance is eye catalcps), also
rigidity of the arm Once the cyes are dosed,many hypnotherapists proceed
with eye catalepsy He may then issue trie regular challenge provided he is
sure that the hypnouc state is of sufficient intensity On the otherhand, the
patient could come out of trance instantly if he still possesses the abiiity to
open the ey es Therefore, the therapist should be doubty sure The safer way
is to keep trying to induce a deeperirancc In case he decides to omit the
challenge of rye catalepsy he may well use the following method of suggestion
You do not wish to open your eyes they are fast togetherYou do not wish to
open them so do not try Just sleep sleep more soundly sleep Just keep youreyes closed and sleep
The patient cannot break the trance if the suggestions arc properly given.
on the contrary, the effect desired wJJ become more pronounced If he u
told he cannot open his eyes he is likely to test it, and open them, breaking
the trance He should be convinced that he has no Jmre to do so
The method of the ngiduy of the arms is another challenge which ncccs
sitates the positive assurance that the patient really is underdeep hypnosisv
otherwise, he will raise Ins arm, to see if he can, and the hypnotic spell is
broken However, if he really is ready for that method, it is a splendid way
to induce deepertrance
Weitzenhofler says that after the eyes of the patient have been successfully
closed, the therapist should speakin this manner
Now you arc about to raise your arm Hold it straight out on a fevef with
your shoulderDouble up our fist, tight There is now a stiffening in your arm
it is becoming more and more rigid it feels hard like iron Your entire
arm is hard and stiff very stiff It is impossible to bend it it is so hard, you are
unable to move it You are trying to bend it but you are unable to do so You can
not move it Ah the stiffness is leaving your arm you are moving it lower it slowly to your tap As you do thist it

22. 22
slowly to yourlap As you do thtsit wdl drop to your lap you will sleep deeper
You are slipping gently into a sound sleep deeper and deeper it is wonder
ful to sleep so comfortable as you are doing now in perfect relaxation sleep
You sleep soundly now and you want to remain asleep You want la remain
quiet do not move you understand me well you are going to do all the things
I ask you to because you are anxious to do them You are going to answer my questions you will do all I tell you
to, yet you are going to be sleeping all the
time you are asleep sleep
The following also is beneficial in inducing even deepertrance
"Now you are in sound sleep You will sleep more soundly though This relaxa-
tion which you feel is so restful You are enjoying it It will aid your condition to
a very great extent, so sleep sleep deeply I will give j-ou helpful suggestions
I shall count to three That will cause you to sleep more soundly When I say
three you are going to be sound asleep One You are already sleeping more soundly,
deeper Two Soundersleep has come to you so restful so relaxed Deep sleep
Three Sound, deepest sleep is yours Rest, peace sleep You will sleep until I tell
you to awaken As I speak sleep more deeply still You will follow all my sugges-
tions, do all I say to do The more I talk, the more deeply you will sleep Only
when I give you an order when you are under hypnotic sleep will you obey, but
you always will obey then Now you are prepared to receive what you wish owing
to hypnotherapy which you are now receiving"
The above method of hypnotic induction can be used successfully in all
treatments Some or all of it may be applied, as the therapist deems fitting
It is not always necessary that the hypnotic trance be so deep In such cases the pnysician naturally uses
judgment ana, as in giving medicine, uses
only enough
Actions and Appearance of
Patient in Hypnotic Trance
It is generally accepted as a fact that the individual under hypnosis looks
and acts as if he were asleep The face and entire bodyjs relaxed with eyes
closed, if in a chair, he is slumped, arms hanging limply and head dropped
The outstanding characteristic is inablUtvJo move, of his own volition
This is not always a true picture, however, as occasionally a patient will move spontaneously This usually is
attributable to a relaxing of the muscles,
and is momentary Usually he is reluctant to exert himself by talking, re-
peated questioning often is necessary before he can be induced to do so
Many times, even then,he mil merely grunt,nod his head for affirmative
answers, or shake it for negative ones Even when it has been possible to get
a conversation underway, he is diffident, uninterested,and will not put forth
the effort to speak at all loudly or with expression, unless specifically re-
quested to do so
Administering Anesthesia
There is also the glove method of administering anesthesia First the hand
is anesthetized, then the anesthesia is transmuted from it to the rest of the
body For this method Manner uses verbal suggestions something like these
"You will feel my hand on yours now. Soon it will be without feeling, numb, no sensation in it It will be as if a
local anesthetic had been used on it, no feeling"
(The therapist touches the hand of the patient )
"I am going to keep touching your hand It is getting stiff more numb, more
and more numb There is no feeling in it It is like novacame being injected, com
pletely numb Your hand feels like it has a glove on it, a heavy one There is no
pain in it none whatever It is just numb and feels heavy, but painless and no
discomfort I am continuing to massage your hand but you do not feel it, it is
under complete anesthetic,wholly numb You have no pain That is because your
hand is under anesthetic Now wc shall put some alcohol on it that will increase
the numbness,no feeling left Even if you feel the pressure of my hand, there will
be no pain
(Therapist then presses hand with head of pin)
You feel nothing That is fine, you are going to sleep more and more soundly,
your hand getting heavier no feeling in a