Hypnotism : its history, practice and theory / by J. Milne Bramwell.

  • John Milne Bramwell
Date:
1906
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Hypnotism : its history, practice and theory / by J. Milne Bramwell. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Braid’s views at once brought him fame. His books sold rapidly, the demand for them exceeding his power of supply. The medical journals were open to him, to an extent which may well excite envy in those interested in the subject at the present day. Liebeault’s book, on the contrary, remained unsold; his statements only found sceptics, his methods of treatment were rejected without examination, and he was laughed at and despised by all. From the day he settled in Nancy, in 1864, until Bernheim—some twenty years later—was the means of bringing him into notice, Liebeault devoted himself entirely to the poor, and refused to accept a fee, lest he should be regarded as attempting to make money by unrecognised methods. Even in his later days fortune never came to him, nor did he seek it. And his services—services which he him- self, with true modesty, described as the contribution of a single brick to the edifice many were trying to build—only began to be appreciated when old age compelled him to retire from active work. Though his researches have been recognised, it is certain that they have not been estimated at their true value, and that members of a younger generation have reaped the reward which his devotion of a lifetime failed to obtain. The term “ School of Nancy ” has been applied to Li6beau.lt and his colleagues; but, as Professor Beaunis points out, they do not claim to have originated a school, and, though they agree on certain points, differ widely on others. Other Continental Workers.—In 1878, while Liebeault’s work was practically ignored, Charles Bichet asserted that the phenomena of hypnotism were genuine. In the same year, Charcot drew public attention to the subject, and he and his followers formed what has been called the Salpestriere School. Charcot’s researches attracted attention in this country, but his observations were not confirmed; and the interest in hypnotism for which he was responsible practically died away, or, if his experiments were quoted, it was only in order to discredit hypnotism. In Germany, about 1880, Heidenhain and others interested themselves in hypnotism, but the influence of their work was not •? lasting. In 1882, Bernheim, who, as we have seen, had become a convert of Li6beault, commenced to hypnotise all the hospital patients who came under his care. His work was carefully D
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