The experiments and observations in hypnotism now being made by some of the highest authorities in human science—from the mortal mind standpoint—afford an interesting commentary on, and confirmation of, the revelations and warnings of our Teacher on the subject of animal magnetism. Facts and results identical with those described by her, drawn from the experiments of Dr. Charcot of the Salpêtrière, M. Bernheim of Nancy, and others, have been published during the last months in several foreign periodicals.
All investigators agree that, at the will of the magnetizer, the following phenomena are brought out on the subjects:—entire insensibility, even under the surgeon's knife,— all the phenomena of somnambulism,—perfect control of particular organs or members, or of the whole organism, shown in partial or entire suspension of organic action or sensibility, or increase of action or sensibility, and finally, entire control of the subject by the magnetizer of mental condition.
Some investigators describe still another range of hypnotic experiment, involving exchange of function by the organs of sense, knowledge of events taking place at a distance, knowledge of the hidden thoughts of others, and knowledge of the future. The methods of operation and the limitations of this class of phenomena—called by observers, the higher order, or second sight—are not so well established as in the former, and are yet under discussion but their reality in outline is admitted.
