Neurypnology, or, The rationale of nervous sleep, considered in relation with animal magnetism : illustrated by numerous cases of its successful application in the relief and cure of disease / by James Braid.

  • Braid, James, 1795?-1860.
Date:
1843
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Neurypnology, or, The rationale of nervous sleep, considered in relation with animal magnetism : illustrated by numerous cases of its successful application in the relief and cure of disease / by James Braid. 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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    mena during hypnotism, as if we were operating on inanimate matter. On tiie contrary, tiiey ought to be ready to admit that a variety might be expected to arise, even in the same individual, according to the physical and mental condition of the patient at the moment the operation is performed. The next most important point for consideration is, the fact of all the phenomena being consecutive. We have thus the extremes of insensibility, and exalted sensibility, of rigidity and mobility, at different stages, and these merging into each other by the most imperceptible gradations, or iu the most abrupt manner, according to the mode of treating the patient. It is no unusual thing for different parties to be testing, or calling for tests, for the opposite con- ditions, at the same instant of time. These, of course, are incompatible, but, at a certain stage, the transi- tions from torpor of all the senses, and catalep- tiform rigidity, to the most exalted sensibility, and flaccidity of muscle, may be effected almost with the celerity of thought, even by so slight a cause as a breath of air directed against the part. If left at rest it will speedily merge back again, and thus those un- acquainted with such peculiarities, will be continually liable to think they discover discrepancies, which, however, only originate from their imperfect know- ledge of the subject; just as an unskilful manipulator will be ready to suppose, from his different results, that the observations of other chemists have been erroneous. The third point meriting especial attention is, the condition of the m.ind at different stages. As results from opium, so also from hypnotism. At one stage