Hypnotism and Murder.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIII, Issue VI, 6 August 1904, Page 45

Hypnotism and Murder.

CAN CRIME BE COMMUTED BY SUQGESTION. Can a person, criminally inclined and possessed of hypnotic power, commit murder by employing that power I Can mere hypnotic suggestion be substituted for poison, the knife, or the revolver? Albert Jounet, a French scientist and a devoted student of hypnotism, in discussing these “creepy” questions, gives utterance to this solemn warning:— “My advice is that no human being should ever suffer himself to be hypnotised, except by a person absolutely beyond all moral suspicion. “Science readily admits that suggestion has a forceful action on the heart's functions; its influence on the subject’* pulse was proved long ago. The proof remains to be adduced that a hypnotist ean stop a human subject's heart from beating for good and “At Marseilles, I personally increased and diminished the number of a man’s pulse-beats at will, and as far as I could go in either direction within the limits of safety. “So it is known that human circulation can lie seriously affected by hypnotism, even if it is uncertain that the heart ean be stopped. “To descend in the scale, it is it niaiUT of scientific redosd tlia.t Lafontaine, the celebrated mesmerist, killed at will frogs, toads, lizards, and snakes, which he placed ill glass jars. His fixed gaze irresistibly influenced them and they died of paralysis. After he had kept his eyes fixed on the frog's eyes for thirteen minutes it spread open its members, its jaw stiffened, and it died. The other creatures I have mentioned succumbed almost as easily. “But a young viper, hissing angrily, struggled furiously against Lafontame's influence for nineteen minutes before it died. And on this viper the mesmerist exerted his every power, so that he was bathed in perspiration and suffered a violent headache. “Undoubtedly hypnotism ean kill some of the lower creatures. There is also danger to man in suggestion which is not merely magnetic. “It is well for every one to bear in mind De Rocha's advice. He recommends a man who feels himself about to be dominated by an idea of inexplicable origin to violently and instantly rub his head. This simple measure will relieve his nervous strain and repel suggestion which may he put forth by some malevolent, aye, criminal hypnotist.”