Hypnotism and Surgery.

Evening Post, Volume XLIX, Issue 115, 16 May 1895, Page 4

Hypnotism and Surgery.

Writing on the hypnotic operation, mentioned in onr oable message some days ago, the Adelaide Advertiser of 'the Ist May says : — " On Sunday afternoon a representative of the Advertiser was afforded an opportunity of witnessing a most snooessfial Burgical operation performed on a patient when under hypnotio influence. A doctor in, this city who has for some time made a study of hypnotism, and has carried out many buocesßful experiments, resolved to operate on one of hia patients who was suffering- from tumour in the breast, provided he could'gain her consent. The lady operated upon hod been several times hypnotised by the doctor who had proved that whilst under, the inflnence she was quite insensible to pain. Evan after having needles thrust into her arm she Buffered no pain when told that she ,was not to feel any. Having obtained 'the consent* of -the patient and her hnabind to theopera-ionbeingperfoimedunaWhypnotio influence, Sunday afternoon was fixedfor tho experiment. Before proceeding further it Jnay be mentioned that the patierit'is of a very nervous disposition, and as it was feared 'hat this faot might to somd extent interfere with the success of tho experiment; posthypnotic suggestion was relsdr£ed,lo 'in order to remove this obstco'e - T.&e' patient' when under hypnotic influence earlier in tho week room the would'see all the surgical instruments tp ba'aeod in the operation laid ou the but she was not to notice these or to be jnade nervous by the presence of 'strangers .-but to take her plaoe on the operating' table I as soon as she entered the room. She came '?• vi • rocm withont showing the slightest sign of nervoußners, advanced to the operating table, and took up a poaition on it apparently quite unooncerned. She was then ordered to go to sleep for three, quarters of an hour and to feel no pain ?nor to oommenoing tho ute of the knife 1 the doctor repeatedly told the patient &at she was to feel no pain. 'No pajnj ,abso- ' lately no pain, were the words repeatedly used to the patient, who -lay in"' ti tranquil 1 sleep with a smile on her face. The opera- ' tion was speedily performed, the tumour removed and the cut sew/up with several \ stitobes. the patient to, all appearanoe suf. foring 'absolutely no • pain/ After th* operation had, been performed "onr"fepres«ntatire had a conversation with- l£a ,Jady, woo assured him tbat shefelt no pain , under the operation, and was lilso i Absolutely free from pain then, whioh could - readily be bebeved when one looked at he* smiling face and heard her merry laugh, at ■ she spoke of her absolute ignorance bt Wyt ' thing having happened to hurt her so. Jarvas." J her feelings would allow her to iudeo T?ha fact of her suffering no pain after t& operation ia due, the dootor states* lo Mst." hjpnotio suggeation, as he told her while nnaer the influence that she was) to feolno pain dunng the Operation no* afterwards. Thxs is Uie first operation cf this' nature per^ _ formed in Adelaide, and. that it wasVemi, nentljr successful ali who ' witnessed ti readily admitted, and eipresse'd their .thanks" A to^ f i* !i? °/, bb J ln f Pre&enirat'euih. a, | h^noHsm.'' 11 ' 15^ 011 ° f ** *°™° oi