Hypnotic therapeutics : illustrated by cases : with an appendix on table-moving and spirit-rapping / by James Braid.

  • Braid, James, 1795?-1860.
Date:
[1853]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Hypnotic therapeutics : illustrated by cases : with an appendix on table-moving and spirit-rapping / by James Braid. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

    10/48 (page 8)
    America, under the designation of Electro-Biology. Tlie onlt novelties, therefore, of this alleged importation were the name and theoiy or explanation ; and in respect to the name, it was absurd, and as to the theory, it was obviously erroneous. It iS certain that there was no electricity in the matter more than in any other opera- tion' in nature, and that the patients were merely partially h/pnotised by the fixed gaze at the discs. -fi:-)« brin anoivci' .•■'111 patients, again, who passed into what is called bhe douWe- C(AiscioUs state of the nervous sleep, these results of expectant ideas and fixed attention came out still, more promptly and prououncedj but, apparently, merely fi'om their, attention being still more con- centrated, tlieir imaginations and expectant ideas more vigorous, and the counteracting influence of reason being more in abeyance during <lle'COWiJ]ilete nervous sleep. Again,, wheii the limbfe were extended ah'd'rendered cataleptic, i\M the circulation thereby excited, the-in* fluence was still more intense and remarkable in some respects. ■ •■<'' With due attention to these facts, there need be no; difficulty in iitdniprehendin^ 'hoW*'hypnotism may be rendered available for the relief and cure of various maladies, when skilfully direeted^ud con- trolled: By our various modes of suggestion, through iinfluencing the riiind hy audible latiguage, spoken within the bearing! of the' pa^ tient,'©!? by definite physical impressions, we fix certain ideas, strongly and involuntarily on the mind of the patient, which thereby act as stimulants, or as sedatives, according tothe purport of the ppectanit ideals, and the directioh of the current of thought in the mind of the patient, either drawing it to, or withdrawing it from, particular organs 6r functions; which results are effected in ordinary practice, by pi-e- scribihg' such'medicines as experience has>proS^ed' stimulate or im^ tate th§se ot^gansj thereby directly increasing their functions, or which produce the reverse effect, either by dii«(?t sedative action on the organs, or by diminishing the heait's action, or by stimulating some distant part,'and thereby producing revulsiowi biii j'^^-^v r'->'The' great object of all treatment is, either to excite or to depr^sd fM'CtioU, 'br to increase or to diminish the existing state of sensibility and circulation, locally or generally, with tlie n^ecessary attendant chano-eS in'tli'^ geii^ralv and 'mbi-e'especially m the capillary, cu-cuia- tidii.- For this'punwse I feel convinced that hypnotism may be ap- pliM 'in tiie cure of some forms of disease with the same ease and certainty as our most simpleaild; approved methods of treatment; ah'd l'therefore wish to direct attention to it as a valuable adjunct to other treatment, and as one particularly usefxil iir many nervous affections, which resist all ordinary treatment by the exhibition ot me- dicines ' I'AVigh'it'tb be disti'rlctly undei-stood, however, that 1 by no means desire to hold up hypnotism as a panacea or umversa remedy: indeed, I do not believe in the existence of am/ universal remedy. Diseases differ in their nature and causes, and the pecuharities ot thec6hstitutioilfe of individuals who may be the siibjects of disease; aWd, cbhsequontiy, they ref(utre treatment to be varied accordingly.