On hypnotism and psychic impression in treatment / by Alex. Robertson, M.D., F.F.P.S.G., Physician to the Roayl Infirmary, Glasgow.

  • Robertson, Alexander.
Date:
[1899]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On hypnotism and psychic impression in treatment / by Alex. Robertson, M.D., F.F.P.S.G., Physician to the Roayl Infirmary, Glasgow. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    right side, but present on the left, with the exception of the eye, in which the colour sense was defective, as well as ordinary vision. The electrical condition of the muscles was tested in my presence by Dr. George Macintyre, and found normal to both currents. The vocal cords were observed to move freely on deep respirations. The functions of other organs were normal. No treatment beyond slight massage was adopted for about a week after admission, as it was thought advisable that she should feel thoroughly at home in her new sur- roundings before beginning hypnotism. On January 15th she had her first stance. She passed into the hypnotic sleep after about twenty minutes’ use of the method intro- duced by Braid himself, chiefly looking steadily at a small glittering box held near and a little above the eyes when the head was resting on a pillow in bed. While hypnotism was being established on this and succeeding occasions, it was steadily suggested to her that on awaking her nervous system would be stronger, and that she would recover the use of all her lost powers. Generally one or two were specially named, such as, on the first occasion, those of swallowing and speech. She was aroused in half an hour, though on after .seances she was allowed to remain in the hypnotic state for an hour, and even two hours. Her return to consciousness was quiet and normal, undisturbed by any emotional or other disorder. Her power of deglutition was at once tested, and it was gratifying to find that she was able to swallow a little water. In the course of the day she took two meals herself, and from that time onwards there was no further need for the stomach-tube, as she had no difficulty in taking her food. Next morning (16th) she was able to speak a few words in a low tone, and in two or three days her voice was fully restored. This and other defects when once they had begun to pass away showed no disposition to recur; on the contrary, improvement usually progressed to complete recovery. The next stance was on the 19th January; a little delay, longer than was intended, had occurred, and she herself