n can be detected only once in a
way. Compare Binet and Fere. They are perhaps noted when hypnotic speech
does not come off and is not heard. The small vision in one eye only is
separate from the landscape, and practically does not much influence the
mind of the person on whom it is inflicted, who continues aware that it
is a mere delusion, causing scarcely anything but trifling interruption.
This is perhaps only the case with the few, more numerous however amongst
the strong nations than amongst the weaker ones, who are impervious to
ordinary hypnotism, or could only be hypnotised if extraordinarily
fatigued.
The development of intelligence and perhaps endurance increases the
number of these. I imagine the students in Germany, whom Heidenhain found
so superior to our British students, were not only better educated, as is
usual, but were also fighting club men, hardened to pain, and very
superior to the bulk of their British contemporaries in courage and
endurance.
The word skin-deep hypnotism might well be applied to the cases just
mentioned. To show instances of its criminal use. Hypnotism has been
used, there is reason to believe, against an Austrian ambassador in
Petersburg, who found his papers in disorder, and saw a pale young man in
his study. Ordering the gates to be closed, he was told by the porter
that no one had entered, but that the ghost of the son of a former
ambassador--a lad the writer knew who died at the Embassy--haunted
the house. The ghost was therefore a hallucination inflicted on the
ambassador. Stepniak's death at a level-crossing on a railway, might be
brought about as Mr. Stewart's was in the street. Prince Alexander of
Battenburg's mental prostration might be brought about by the same means
when he was kidnapped.
At the time of the dispute between England and Russia, caused by Penjdeh,
a Greek naval officer showed a slightly indiscreet attachment for
England. Shortly afterwards he was removed for a time from the post he
held, as he was considered not quite sane; he had been at Copenhagen, He
was, however, restored to the navy, as it was considered rather good for
his health than otherwise that he should go to sea. He and an English
diplomatist at Copenhagen had been at Fiume together on duty, and the
former was undoubtedly tricked by hypnotists, pretending to be acting for
freemasonry, a trick played since on another person, and before in
England on a third. It has also been played in It
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