,
awoke him. One of the subjects when questioned afterward as to what
sensation he experienced at the snapping of the fingers, replied that it
seemed to him as if something inside of his head responded, and with
this sensation he regained self-consciousness. (This is to be doubted.
As a rule, subjects in this stage of hypnotism do not feel any sensation
that they can remember, and do not become self-conscious.)

The class was now apparently wide awake, and did not differ in
appearance from their ordinary state. The doctor then took each one and
subjected him to a separate physical test, such as sealing the eyes,
fastening the hands, stiffening the fingers, arms, and legs, producing
partial catalepsy and causing stuttering and inability to speak. In
those possessing strong imaginations, he was able to produce
hallucinations, such as feeling mosquito bites, suffering from
toothache, finding the pockets filled and the hands covered with
molasses, changing identity, and many similar tests.

The doctor now asked each one to clasp his hands in front of him, and
when all had complied with the request, he repeated the phrase, "Think
your hands so fast that you can't pull them apart. They are fast. You
cannot pull them apart. Try. You can't." The whole class made frantic
efforts to unclasp their hands, but were unable to do so. The doctor's
explanation of this is, that what they were really doing was to force
their hands closer together, thus obeying the counter suggestion. That
they thought they were trying to unclasp their hands was evident from
their endeavors.

The moment he made them desist, by snapping his fingers, the spell was
broken. It was most astonishing to see that as each one awoke, he seemed
to be fully cognizant of the ridiculous position in which his comrades
were placed, and to enjoy their confusion and ludicrous attitudes. The
moment, however, he was commanded to do things equally absurd, he
obeyed. While, therefore, the class appeared to be free agents, they are
under hypnotic control.

One young fellow, aged about eighteen, said that he was addicted to the
cigarette habit. The suggestion was made to him that he would not be
able to smoke a cigarette for twenty-four hours. After the entertainment
he was asked to smoke, as was his usual habit. He was then away from any
one who could influence him. He replied that the very idea was
repugnant. However, he was induced to take a cigarette in his mouth, but
it