USE OF HYPNOTISM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20721, 14 November 1930, Page 13

USE OF HYPNOTISM.

' BOOT SALESMAN FINED £SO. POSING AS A DOCTOR. CASE op INVALID GIRL, Unusual evidence of hypnotic influence having been used upon an invalid girl by a, man who posed as a doctor was given at tho Polico Court at Collingwood, Melbourne, recently, in tho case in which William Joseph \oung, boot salesman, was charged with having, not being registered in accordance with the Medical Act, pretended to be a doctor. Tho Rev. F. A. Hagenauer, Presbyterian minister, said that on October 10, in responso to a summons by Young, he went to a house in East Melbourne and saw a girl, Jean Spring, who was a member of his congregation. She was aged about 1/ years. The girl was screaming with evident agony. Young was holding her hand and her whole body was convulsively shaking. Young placed his hand on tho girl's hp ad and she immediately stopped screaming and gave a smile of recognition. Witness commented on the girl's condition, and "Young said: "I havo been selected especially to look after the case by St. Vincent's Hospital, because 1 am the only ono who understands it. She is Buffering from a disease which I cannot divulge until the British Medical Association is satisfied that I have successfully treated it." The next day witness said he again visited the girl. Young apparently put her to r.leep for two hours. She had had tho samo manifestations of agony as on tho previous day. Young adnrtted that he had employed hypnotism to induce sleep. When the girl woke she showed no sign of pain. Witness believed that she was suffering from no illness. Mr. Hagenauer added that as the result of inquiries at St. V'ncent's Hospital he had learned that Y'jung was not a, medical man. He had seen tho girl since Young's arrest, and sho had not manifested the previous symptoms. Young had not been successful in hypnotising him. Adam Spring, grocer, gave evidence that Young had told him that he was a professor of pathology and was engaged in medical research work. Jean Spring had admitted to witness that Young had hypnotised her. Counsel for Young said that there had been no suggestion of money in the actions of Young. They were foolish rather than serious. Mr. O'C'allaghan, P.M., said that the most serious aspect of the case was tho fact that Young exercised a dangerous gift on tho girl and attempted to exercise it on Mr. Hagenauer. It was a, case calling for a, substantia] penalty and he would impose the maximum fine of £SO, with £5 5s costs.