Chapter One
A Historical Digest of Hypnotism from Mesmer to Freud
A Historical Digest of Hypnotism from Mesmer to Freud
~ The History of Hypnotism ~
What would a hypnotism course be without a bit of history?
This is an abstract, but there are many historical accounts available
that make fascinating reading. Perhaps you've already had some
instruction in hypnotism's history.I mention in The Mary Experience that these historical figures were highly skilled--perhaps with greater ability than hypnotists of this century. This has led some folks into believing that they had perhaps secret techniques for hypnotizing. Yes, I think they had greater skill, but not from technique but from the power of observation.
Think of James Esdale. Dr. Esdale practiced surgery in India in the mid-nineteenth century. He did hundreds of surgical procedures, and some of them were horribly brutal. Before developing skills of Mesmerism, Esdale had patients held down and tolerated their screams of agony. He certainly would have learned when a patient had reached a level of becoming more or less insensitive to pain. It wasn't the words he said, or some secret procedure he used, but rather knowing what to say to create the state of mind necessary for pain-free surgery. It's interesting that in those times the procedures were not oral, but relied on so-called hand passes.
Esdale knew what was necessary, as did Dr. Braid, and the other surgeons of the day. They had no chemical alternatives, so hypnosis wasn't an elective, but essential to reduce traumatic shock. And imagine the increased bleeding from a pounding 180 bpm pulse, as opposed to one half that rate. These surgeons accepted the usefulness of hypnosis because they had the experience. Major surgery demanded the ultimate response from hypnosis, and surgeons certainly couldn't damand a patient tolerate an amputation and maintain a normal pulse.
One factor, however, might escape us. People that lived in times without analgesics or anaesthics were more accustomed to pain, and feared it much less than we do now.
I've studied the few available bits and pieces of those archaic scripts and I couldn't see anything special--probably not as profound, for example, as an NLP script. Certainly few of these oral procedures would be affective today. Braid or Esdale wouldn't get to first base with a 21stCentury patient, and of course, you and I wouldn't do well with a patient from their era.
So, rather than magic, there were fine-tuned observations allowing educated guesses of how a patient is receiving instructions, and whether they were progressing into a mental place required for anesthesia. The goal was to help the patient reach the most profound level possible, and then knowing when they have reached the response limit. And then they could make a determination if that level would facilitate the procedure that was about to take place.
What follows is a sample of these pioneers. If the names aren't familiar, you might consider furthering your education in this area. See also Chapter Twelve and the Bibliography.
Keep in mind that these men had heavy demands placed on their hypnotic technique. They lacked the scientific understanding and tools you and I have, but their observational skills must have been superb. We can learn much from these historical figures, especially those that published exetensively.
An Introduction to The History of
Hypnosis excerpted from Primary
Hypnotism 100
Carl Weisbrod ©1968 & 1972
Carl Weisbrod ©1968 & 1972
 |
Franz Anton Mesmer
(1734-1815) Mesmer, a physician, was born in Germany and practiced medicine in Vienna, Switzerland until 1779; and then in Paris, France, until 1794. The first theory he called Animal Magnetism was that magnets could be used to cure disease. This was a follow through from an earlier historical figure known as Father Hell. Later he decided we were all surrounded and permeated by an invisible fluid that is influenced by the moon, sun, and the planets in the same way as the tides. If all this seems strange, don't forget, this was the eighteenth century.This fluid, he wrote, can also be influenced by magnets, magnetized objects, or by hand passes from one who has magnetic power. Mesmer used the term Animal magnetism, but it became known as Mesmerism. |
The nature of Mesmer's trance state was sometimes characterized as hysterical, manifesting in convulsions. Mesmer is credited with advancing an early and popular objective theory now called hypnotism. He was one of the first to give the state a name--Animal Magnetism. He became famous for his carriage trade clinics in Paris. He also expanded the field by training practioners.
Mesmer's theories were in error but his methods are still in evidence today.
Father Gassner (1727-1779)
Father Gassner was a Jesuit Priest who was born and practiced in Germany. He believed the state was produced through personal power. His method of trance induction was by using the psychological influence of religion heightened by the ambiance of a dimly lit cathedral. Gassner was said to have a tremendous effectively rate using a diamond-studded crucifix as a fascination object. He combined this with a direct gaze with a forceful oral technique in Latin.
The trance state induced in his clients was characterized by a quiet and deep sleep.
Father Gassner was known as a faith healer, and won renown by stopping a young girl's heart and breathing rates for 2 ½ minutes, and then fully reviving her after she was pronounced dead by a horrified physician.
Father Gassner contributed very little to the scientific nature of hypnotism aside from being among the first to promote a quiet state as opposed to Mesmer's convulsions. Because of the spectacular nature of his cures, however, he did much to bring the benefits of hypnosis into public view.
The Marquis De Puysequr (1751-1825)
De Puysequr was born and practiced in France. He was a retired military officer with unquestioned integrity, and a member of a well-known family in French history. He received his training from Dr. Mesmer.
His theory of the hypnotic phenomenon was similar to Mesmer's but with association of supernatural forces and the power of the Mesmerist's "will." Puysequr's trance induction technique was similar to Mesmer's with the addition of relaxation suggestions. Many of Puysequr's early patients manifested Mesmer-style convulsions until 1784 when he discovered Artificial Somnambulism or the quite sleep. There are two things that should link in your mind for this historical figure: the habit of using an elm tree to mesmerize (sometimes adopter as a hypnosis symbol), and Artificial Somnambulism.
The Abbe Faria (1755-1819)
Faria was born in India, but practiced in Paris. He was a Catholic Priest with a doctorate in theology.
Faria rejected Mesmer's theories. He instead emphasized suggestion, concentration, and the condition of the blood as predisposing factors for what he called the "Lucid Sleep." He was to first to center his theories on the subject rather than the practitioner.
He induced a trance by sitting a subject in a chair, suggesting they relax, and suddenly giving the command "SLEEP!" He used his hand as a fixation object, and as the subject's eyes closed, he would sweep his hand toward the subject and then make hand passes to deepen. His subjects manifested a quiet sleep-like trance. There are a few faith healers today that still use this technique.
Faria brought Mesmerism into the public view through his many demonstrations. He was the first to use Mesmerism for the elimination of pain in surgery. He is considered one of the first investigators that appeared somewhat modern. He promoted much interest through his demonstrations, and perhaps created a model reflected by the 20th-century stage hypnotist.
John Elliotson (1791-1868)
Elliotson was a British physician who practiced in the prestigious University Hospital in London where he held the position of Professor of Surgery.
Dr. Elliotson accepted Mesmer's theories and induced mesmerism by hand passes. The nature of the state he produced was similar to his predecessors--a quiet sleep. As a surgeon, his interest was in the elimination of shock and pain during major surgery. He did much to advance hypnotism scientifically. Without regard for his large following, the public and the bulk of the medical profession reacted with intolerance, typical for his time, and forced him from practice.
| James Braid (1795-1860) Braid was born in England and practiced in Manchester. He was a physician and surgeon. He represents the beginning of an era of hypnosis and hypnotism, as you will see. His theory of the phenomenon was that eye fatigue would cause a change in the nervous system that in turn causes a paralysis of the nervous centers controlling the eyes. This, he theorized, resulted in a sleep-like state. In 1843, Dr. Braid coined the word "hypnotism." Hypnos is the Greek word for sleep. Later, realizing that hypnosis wasn't sleep, per se, he tried to change it to a more descriptive Monodeism meaning a single focus at the core of the human thought process. It was, however, too late. The term hypnotism had stuck and we've used it ever since. |
 |
James Esdale (1808-1859)
Esdale was born in Scotland and trained as a physician and surgeon. He practiced surgery in Hoogly, India. Esdale learned Mesmerism from Dr. Elliotson's writings.
He induced the state of Mesmerism by making body-length hand passes and stroking, often done by an assistant, and sometimes taking quite a long time. Esdale's patients fell into a quiet trance state and become insensitive to pain.
Esdale's medical records claimed he performed more than 1000 minor operations and about 300 major operations painlessly, cutting the mortality rate by 45%, leaving a mortality rate of 5%, including deaths from all causes. If correct, these were amazing results when one takes into account the abysmal operating room conditions during these times.
 |
The School of
Selpetriere--Jean-Martin Charcot (1825-1893) Dr. Charcot, was the most distinguished neurologist of the 19th Century. He practiced at his birthplace in Selpetriere, France. Charcot believed hypnosis was an induced condition only to be found in persons suffering from hysteria manifested in three stages: Lethargy, Catalepsy, and Somnambulism. He induced these states using a procedure similar to Dr. Braid's method of using a fixation object. The nature of his trance state was categorized as follows: (1) Lethargic: unable to speak. (2) Cataleptic: unable to speak with limb catalepsy. (3) Somnambulism: a deep state induced by rubbing the patient's head. |
During Charcot's time, partly because of the development of chemical anesthetics, the interest in hypnotism was waning rapidly. Still, the Charcot name commanded authority and respect, and his writing and hospital presentations did much to advance the science of hypnotism.
The School of Nancy--A.A. Liebeault (1823-1904) & H. Bernheim (1840-1919)
| Dr. Liebault was born in France and
practiced medicine in Nancy,
France. He was, by all accounts, the quintessential country doctor. He believed that hypnotism was brought about by suggestion and other psychological factors. He induced hypnosis by placing his hand on the subject's forehead, insisting they were going to sleep. He then made hand passes over their eyelids and assured the subject they were, in fact, sleeping. The subject was then given arm locking tests, arm rotation tests, and finally suggestions for a cure of the presenting malady. As you can see, this is recognizable as modern hypnosis. |
 |
Liebeault did many hypnotism processes every day. A reason is that traditional treatment required his standard fee, but hypnosis treatment was offered free. Liebeault offered the first fully subjective theory of hypnotism.
Dr. Bernheim was a prestigious physician who visited Liebault initially to discredit him. He was so impressed with what he saw that he stayed for many years and together they established the School of Nancy. We owe Dr's Liebeault and Bernheim credit for their theories of hypnosis that are accepted today.
Dr. Bernheim also authored (as far as I know) the first modern textbook--A Treatise on the Nature and Uses of Hypnotism, titled Suggestive Therapeutics in 1884. Refer to the bibleography section.
 |
Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) I'm sure I don't have to tell you about this guy, but just in case: He was born in Freidberg, Austria (Hungary), and practiced neurology and psychology in Vienna, Switzerland. Freud studied with the contemporary physicians at the School of Nancy and The School of Selpetriere. I never felt Freud had a strong theory of hypnosis, but rather thought of it as a tool for psychotherapy. His method of trance induction was an oral method--with no physical contact whatsoever. The states he produced were the same as produced today. Freud used hypnosis as an instrument to remove symptoms of neurosis and uncover blocked recall. His hypnotism work evolved from the discoveries of mentor, Dr. Josef Breuer. Freud had a somewhat stiff personality and lacked Dr. Breuer's skill as a hypnotist. When he achieved a deep level, and was able to question a patient, he was disturbed by the symbolism that distorted reality. |
Freud reversed the positive effects of Charcot by rejecting hypnotism as a useful medical procedure for his practice. It's interesting to note, however, that he believed hypnotism had a definite place in the psychoanalytic method and would be reincorporated as the approach developed maturity, and when therapists learned to better interpret the dream-like symbolism.
~
~ ~
Well, there you have it--a bit of history. If you can say
you already knew this and more, then you're at least minimally grounded
within the historical realm of the field. If much of this was new to
you, I would suggest you do a little reading to get yourself up to
speed.Picture Credits: The first (Mesmer) came from a picture collection of the Institute for History of Medicine, Vienna.The Braid reproduction was apparently done by Mary Evans and was reproduced from Understanding Human Behavior Columbia House, New York. The picures of Liebeault and Burnheim came from the Institute for History of Medicine in Zurick. Freud's picture was taken from Volumn I of The life and Work of Sigmund Freud by Ernest Jones, Basic Books