Hypnotism at Southsea
Hypnotism at Southsea is an article published in The Evening News (Portsmouth) on 9 february 1889.
Hypnotism at Southsea
(9 february 1889, p. 4)
PRIVATE SEANCE BY M. MEYER.
A gathering between twenty thirty medical and scientific men and journalist of Portsmouth last night assembled by invitation in the small hall of the Portland Hall, Southsea, on the occasion of a séance given by professor Milo de Meyer, whose experiments in hypnotism have lately attracted much attention on the Continent and in London and Brighton. As was explained by the gentleman who acted as M. De Meyer's interpreter, the Professor treats the subject of animal magnetism on a scientific basis, and claims that its practice would be beneficial in the case of many surgical operations. Ten young men were introduced as "subjects," is being explained that they were Portsmouth residents, who had been selected beforehand in order to save time, the Professor having found that only about twenty-five per cent. of people in general were susceptible of hypnotism at the first attempt. Dr. Conan Doyle having volunteered to swell the number of would-be subjects, the experiments began. M. de Meyer first announced that while being able to exert a mesmeric influence by the common method of fascination he had introduced a new process, namely, that of producing a similar effect by standing behind his subject and placing his hand on the latter's coat, at a point between the shoulder blades. Both forms of treatment were then put into effect. In adopting the usual method of fascination, M. de Meyer gazed fixedly into the eyes of his subject, who had been directed to lean forward on the left leg and grasp the Professor's hands, leaning the weight of his body upon them while he looked up into the experimenter's face. After remaining in this inelegant posture for perhaps half a minute the subject would start up, and being released, rush wildly after the retreating experimenter, until the latter demagnetised him by blowing in his face. In one case the now process was exhibited with effect, the result the contact with the Professor's hand being that the subject first raised himself involuntarily upon tiptoe, and then fell on his knees upon the floor, where he remained until released by M. de Meyer, notwithstanding his own efforts to rise, supplemented by assistance from the onlookers. All this time the subject, although bereft of sensation from the knees downwards, was fully alive to everything that went on, and this was claimed as proof that hypnotism was possible without the patient being put through the customary stages of catalepsy, lethargy, and somnambulism. An attempt to magnetise Dr. Doyle in a similar manner failed, the Professor remarking, after making the attempt, that the process would take too long. Several other remarkable experiments were performed. Some of the subjects were requested to open their mouths, and after a few passes by the experimenter they found themselves unable to close them or get them closed by main force. However, General Drayson, himself an amateur mesmerist, succeeded in "passing" one young fellow out of this dilemma. Absolute rigidity was also given to the limbs of several subjects, and one of them had a long pin thrust right through his arm while it was in this inflexible condition. No blood flowed, and both at the time and after the arm was restored to its normal condition the subject said felt no pain. Two of the young men were for the nonce converted into dentist and patient at the operator's will, and an amusing scene resulted. Yet another subject was thrown into mesmeric sleep, and instructed by the Professor that after the lapse of a minute he was to murder his father, who was indicated as sleeping on the floor in a certain part of the room. The minute elapsed, and the young fellow then rose and carried out with minuteness the details of the mimic tragedy, rejoicing over the supposed murder for half a minute, feeling remorse for the same period, and then recovering consciousness of his own accord, as directed. Finally the Professor, having retired from the room, sent six of the subjects to sleep while they were conversing with the onlookers who did their very beat to keep them awake. This was the real novelty of the whole séance, which the medicos present followed with much interest. At the close they were still divided in opinion as to the merits of M. de Meyer's scientific claims, although conviction appeared to have been carried to the lay mind. The Professor gives a public performance at the Portland Hall this afternoon, and another next Tuesday evening.
