The Linacre Quarterly Volume 39 | Number 4 Article 6 November 1972 History of Psychotherapy: II. Hypnosis John R. Cavanagh Follow this and additional works at: http://epublications.marquette.edu/lnq Recommended Citation Cavanagh, John R. (1972) "History of Psychotherapy: II. Hypnosis," The Linacre Quarterly: Vol. 39: No. 4, Article 6. Available at: http://epublications.marquette.edu/lnq/vol39/iss4/6 In this section of "History of Psychotherapy," Dr. Cavanagh pre­ sents a thorough look at the begin­ nings and development of the use of hypnosis in medicine pointing to its role in the discovery of the unconscious and in the birth of psy­ chotherapy itself. He also treats the controversies of the moral implica­ tions and effect on the will and be­ havior control in the use of hypnosis. History of Psychotherapy II. Hypnosis John R. Cavanagh, M.D. As pointed out in the opening understandings about hypnotism so paragraphs of Part I of this article that a brief description is important. (see The Linacre Quarterly, Au­ A committee of the American gust, 1972, page 151), hypnosis was Medical Association was in agree­ an important instrument in the ar­ ment with a subcommittee of the mamentarium of Freud and his con­ British Medical Association as to temporaries. There are many mis- the nature of hypnosis: Dr. John R. Cavanagh, an asso­ A temporary condition of altered atten­ ciate editor of Linacre Quarterly, tion in the subject which may be induced is in the private practice of psychi­ by another person and in which a variety atry in Washington, D.C. A pro­ of phenomena may appear spontaneously lific contributor to scholarly litera­ or in response to verbal or other stimuli. These phenomena include alterations in ture, Dr. Cavanagh is the author of consciousness and memory, increased Fundamental Marriage Counseling susceptibility to suggestion, and the pro­ and Counseling the Invert, among duction in the subject of responses and other volumes. He was Guest Edi­ ideas unfamiliar to him in his usual state tor of the August, 1972, issue of of mind. Further, phenomena such as anesthesia, paralysis, and the rigidity of The Linacre in which the first muscles and vasomotor changes can be part of his article, "History of Psy­ produced and removed in the hypnotic chotherapy" was published. state. 232 Linacre Quarterly Hypnosis is the black sheep of After Father Kircher, there was medicine, being regarded by many a period of about fifty years dur­ as an illegitimate child, an instru­ ing which nothing of serious con­ ment of charlatans and quacks. Al­ sequence was published on the sub­ though it is today more favorably ject. Such lulls have punctuated the regarded by the medical profession, history of hypnosis from its begin­ it has until recently been popular­ nings. During these long periods ly thought to be allied to demons of quiescence, charlatans flourished, and witches. To it and to those who while more serious students paused employ it are frequently ascribed to evaluate their results and consider strange and mysterious powers. In to what practical clinical use hyp­ spite of its use in medicine since nosis could be applied. 1680, very little of its scientific aspects are known even today to Mesmer members of the medical profession. Very little is known concerning the A notable figure in the history relationships of this illegitimate of hypnotism is Franz Anton Mes­ child which, although it was sired mer (1733-1815). He was a na­ by charlatans and quacks, had two tive of Itznang, Switzerland. He illustrious offspring: psychotherapy had been interested in the subject and the discovery of the uncon­ of animal magnetism from his col­ scious. It is probable that the full lege days. In fact, his thesis for impact of these discoveries has not graduation from medical school yet been fully appreciated. If hyp­ was on the subject of the influence notism had made no other contri­ of the planets on man (1717). In bution to scientific medicine than his experimentation with the prop­ these, it could rest on its laurels. erties of magnets while preparing These two offspring were the most his dissertation, he got the idea famous members of a genealogy, that a similar power was possessed the origin of which is lost in by the human hand. As it was ulti­ antiquity. mately formulated his theory was In more modern times, and in a as follows: more scientific way, hypnosis was There is a universally diffused fluid, so continuous as to admit no void, a fluid the subject of a scientific report in subtile beyond comparison and of its own 1680 by Athanasius Kircher (1602- nature qualified to receive, to propagate, 1680). Father Kircher, besides be­ and to communicate all the sensible effects ing a Jesuit priest, was a mathema­ of movement. I tician, physicist, optician, oriental­ It is by means of this fluid that we act upon nature and upon other beings like ist, musician, virtuoso, physician, ourselves; the will gives motion to it, and and microscopist. In his "Physio­ serves to communicate it. (Memoire sur logia Kircheriana," published about la decouverte de magnetisme animal.2) 1680, he recorded for the first time Animal magnetism he defined an experiment in hypnosis. He as that property of the living body died in this year and interest in that renders it susceptible to the the subject was not kept up by his influence of the heavenly bodies students. November, 1972 233 and to the reciprocal action of Some insight into why Mesmer those that surround it, a property was so unceremoniously hurried out which is manifested by its analogy of Vienna is obtained from the re­ with a magnet. 3 port of a commission appointed by Mesmer first attempted to prac­ Louis XVI to investigate possible tice "magnetism," later called "Mes­ immoralities connected with the merism" in Vienna. There was no practice. Mesmer's methods pro­ disease for which this treatment duced a great variety of abnormal was considered contraindicated. states, and his selection of patients In Vienna, however, after a short was rather haphazard. His treat­ time, he was investigated by a com­ ments frequently terminated in a mission appointed by Maria Theresa "nervous crisis." This gave rise to and compelled to leave the city on the term "crisis room" for the cham­ 24 hours notice. As things later de­ ber in which he practiced. In 1784 veloped in Paris, his expulsion be­ this commission reported on the comes understandable. He went moral dangers associated with Mes­ from Vienna to Paris, arriving there merism. Since there has been a in 1778. His methods intrigued the persistent fear even to the present public and aroused a general if of immorality associated with hyp­ morbid curiosity which quickly notic practices, this report is of in­ brought fame and wealth to the terest to us. Some idea of the con­ clever charlatan. Perhaps we should ditions which caused concern over not be too hard on Mesmer be­ the possible immorality may be cause in his own frame of refer­ gathered by a brief quotation from ence he believed in what he was the report of the commission ap­ doing. Sincere or not, he was the pointed by Louis XVI. This report "rage" of Paris. He appeared at his was written by Bailley, who stated: seances in a lavender suit carrying The man who magnetizes ordinarily has a wand which he used "to pass on" the knees of the women between his own the "magnetic fluid." The number so that in consequence the knees and all of those seeking help became so the lower portions of the body are in con­ tact. His hand is applied to the hypochon­ great that Mesmer devised tubs driac regions or sometimes lower on the (baquets) for multiple treatments ovaries. Pressure is then exerted at one in which there was an odorous mix­ and the same time on an infinite number ture containing hydrogen sulphide. of parts and in the neighborhood of the Arising out of this tub were steel most sensitive parts of the body . often when the man has his left hand ap­ rods which were jointed so that the plied thus, he passes the right hand be­ end could be applied by the subject hind the body of the woman. The move­ to his affected part. At times the ment of both persons is to blend mutually number of subjects was so great toward each other to facilitate this double that contact between them, which contact. The proximity becomes the great­ est force. Face almost to face, they feel was considered essential for the each other's breath. All impressions are transmission of the magnetic force, shared instantaneously and the reciprocal was established by joining hands. allraction of the senses must react with 234 Linacre Quarterly filII f o rce. It is not extra-ordinary that the and several serious students began senses are fired .. 4 to study the process. Among these Thus spoke Dr. Bailley concern­ was Abbe Faria, an Indo-Portuguese ing the technique of Mesmerism. priest. He began to hold seances, Other members of this commission the first of which was in 1814. were Lavoisier, Franklin, Guillotin, From the beginning he taught that and de Jussieu. Mesmerism reached in the process nothing passed from the United States in 1861, where the hypnotist. Everything, he taught, P. P. Quinby successfully treated comes from the subject and takes Mary Baker (Eddy), founder of place in his imagination. Abbe Faria Christian Science, for a hysterical was the creator of hypnotism as we paralysis. know it today; he practiced sugges­ An interesting sidelight on the tion in the waking state and post­ history of "Mesmerism" is a note hypnotic suggestion.