Hypnotosm and allied phenomena

Dr. Spencer deals with the established facts in regard to Hypnotism, and describes the sensation which it caused among members of the medical profession when introduced as a means of painless operations. Although its use in the alleviation of pain among the medical profession in England gave place to chloroform and ether it was taken up in France where two different schools prosecuted its study. He gives illustrations of the rival methods employed by practitioners of this new power, and points out the dangers of its practice, which caused the British Medical Association to pass a special resolution on the subject. He describes how he had practically studied the subject in London 15 years ago, and at the end of a series of 12 lessons was able to relieve small pains by its use. He shows the identity of hypnotism with mesmerism, and gave a most interesting account of the history of such phenomena illustrated by numerous examples.