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

  • James Braid
Date:
[1853]
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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.

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    others, where gruve diseases have been suddenly criirfed' 'b^' pitiwei-ful mental impressions, or where grave diseases hav6 been suddenly induced, or e^eiii deatb' itself, by sudden and intense mental ihi- pressions, cither of joy or sorrow. These all can read at tbeir leisure. I must not, however, omit to call attention to tlie cures effected by spells, charms, 'and amnlets, sadred relic's, and by various nostrums, as all these furaish powerful COiToboration of the main position I am here contending for. The cures effected ^t the grave of the Abbe Paris, at St Medard in Paris, in like manner afford clear proof of the inflilence of m^ritial 'aM'^raoral xftaSp ih changing physical action according to the exj^ectant idea in the mind of the patient at the time.' Surely few will believe that these cures were effected by the transmission of'the exuberant life of the healthy, to repair and sustain the deficient Vitality of the weak (which would be the notion according 'to the mesmeric theory of Mr Newnham), for how could exuberant life of the' healthy have come out of the ashes ' of the defid.g^iint, ^o as to have produced these cures t The moral influence of a lively faith, hope, and confidence, however, in the efficacy of a visit to the grave of this notable personanje, were quite competent to' pro- d'lifce'.^tich results, on the principles which I'have endeavoured to expound. ' ' I ■ . / 1. , ■ ■. I • I Whilst the e'xpectant'idea'niodifying or changing ]!)hysical action is' undoubtedly an important agent in most cases' of hypnotic treats-; riieijit, still it is riot the only caiise by which such cures are effected'; as the altered condition of the circulation of the blood, and the qua- lity of that fluid during the cataleptic or reverse condition of the body, Els formerly explained, makes a powerful impression on the brain and spinal cord, and ganglionic system of nerves, as also on the heart'saction, and must thus produce an alterative effect on the whole system, independently of any fixed idea ot's{)e<iial tram^ of thought in the patient's mirid. ■ In proof of the above statement, I could readily adduce casefe nv which no benefit had accrued to the patients when hypnotised with the one state of the circulation, and yet so soon as I threw them into the sleep, and acted on them in all resi)ects as previously, e.xceptmg as regarded the condition of the circtdaiion during the shep, they were not only speedily benefited, but entirely cured. The nervous sleep seems to act powerfully on the nervous and capillaiy systems, and in an extraordinary degree as regards^ tlie function of the skin, perspiration being generally excited, even in a few minutes, in cases which had resisted every other mode ot treat- reported to for that purpose. This was strikmgly verified in own case When, in September 1844, I threw 'JS^Jf 'fo the conditiori for a severe/rheumatic attack, which had resisted other i3Ae;,n>. I Sat d^wri; siifteringth^'.iltmost anguish, being unable to liriove my heatt,'i;oiift 'my ar.ri, oi* to draw a full breath, from the Mhinipaitt aWompdttying'the slightest 'motion. In mne mmutes,