The volume here presented does not assume to be a systematic treatise upon hypnotism, nor even upon its therapeutic uses; for that the works of Bernheim, Moll, Wetterstrand, Tuckey and others may suffice - but there are certain phases of hypnotism which seem to the author to be of special interest and present importance, and it is for the purpose of distinctly presenting these special phases that the following chapters have been prepared.

The volume here presented does not assume to be a systematic treatise upon hypnotism, nor even upon its therapeutic uses; for that the works of Bernheim, Moll, Wetterstrand, Tuckey and others may suffice - but there are certain phases of hypnotism which seem to the author to be of special interest and present importance, and it is for the purpose of distinctly presenting these special phases that the following chapters have been prepared.

This Is A New Release Of The Original 1897 Edition.

To whatever conclusions it may lead us, there is no mistaking the fact that now more than ever before is the public interested in matters relating to the "New Psychology." Scarcely a day passes that notice of some unusual psychical experience or startling phenomenon does not appear in popular literature. The newspaper, the magazine, and the novel vie with each other in their efforts to excite interest and attract attention by the display of these strange incidents, presented sometimes with intelligence and taste, but oftener with a culpable disregard of both taste and truth. The general reader is not yet critical regarding these matters, but he is at least interested, and desires to know what can be relied upon as established truth amongst these various reports. There is inquiry concerning Telepathy or Thought Transference, is it a fact or is it a delusion? Has Hypnotism any actual standing either in science or common sense? What of Clairvoyance, Planchette, Trance and Trance utterances, Crystal-Gazing and Apparitions? In the following papers intelligent readers, both in and out of the medical profession, will find these subjects fairly stated and discussed, and to some of the questions asked, fair and reasonable answers given. It is with the hope of aiding somewhat in the efforts now being made to rescue from an uncertain and unreasoning supernaturalism some of the most valuable facts in nature, and some of the most interesting and beautiful psychical phenomena in human experience, that this book is offered to the public.

1897. Contents: psychical research, telepathy or thought transference; mesmerism and hypnotism, history and therapeutic effects; hypnotism, psychical effect; lucidity or clairvoyance; double or multiplex personality; natural somnambulism, hypnotic somnambulism, dreams; automatism, Planchette; automatic writing, drawing and painting; crystal gazing; phantasms; conclusions.

1897. Contents: psychical research, telepathy or thought transference; mesmerism and hypnotism, history and therapeutic effects; hypnotism, psychical effect; lucidity or clairvoyance; double or multiplex personality; natural somnambulism, hypnotic somnambulism, dreams; automatism, Planchette; automatic writing, drawing and painting; crystal gazing; phantasms; conclusions.

Originally published in 1899, this account of recent investigations regarding hypnotism, automatism, dreams, phantasms, and related phenomena is accurate enough for scientists and simple enough for lovers of "ghost stories." On a thread of theory and discussion Dr. Mason links many startling examples from his own professional experience and from The Proceedings of the Society for Psychical Research. He includes a copy of a portrait made while in a trance by a person who had never painted before.R. Osgood Mason, M.D., was a Fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine.Boston Transcript: "He repudiates the idea of the supernatural altogether, and in this he is in accord with the best thought of the day. ...Interesting and logical."Hartford Courant: "The work of a scientist and not of a crank. ...Fascinating reading."New York Times: "The curious matter he treats about, he presents in an interesting manner."Nation: "A popularly written book ... A not inconsiderable contribution to psychical research."Chicago Tribune: "Certain to attract wide attention ... Thoroughly interesting ... The spirit of his work is such as to deserve respectful attention from every scientific mind."

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