a row of circular mirrors, about the size of nickel pieces. The rapid rotation produces an odd flashing effect which greatly fatigues the eyelid muscles of the beholder. This machine is found to be very effective when used upon sensitives who can be thrown into a hypnotic sleep by concentration or sight stimulus.
A simpler form of mechanical hypnotizer is a belt of broad tape to be placed upon the forehead and over the temples, being tied at the back of the head. From a metallic plate in front protrudes a wire, extending upward in an S-like curve and holding a bright ball of nickel, about the size of a marble, at the end. When this is placed upon the subject the wire is bent until the ball reaches a point above the eye, where it may be seen by the wearer only by intensely straining the eyelids. The same effect, as produced by the former machine is accomplished by this simpler apparatus. These instruments have been invented to serve in substitution for the gestures, known as passes, commonly made by hypnotists. The scientific hypnotist makes movements before and above the eyes of his subject to concentrate his attention and to fatigue the eyelid muscles both by causing the eyes to follow the movements and by fanning air against them. Fatigue of the muscles of the eyelids is found to be one of the direct causes of sleep. Persons in no mental need of sleep may “read themselves sleepy” under a too bright or a too dim light. A severe breeze against the eyelids will cause the same effect.
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MAGNETIC INFLUENCES.
Another form of hypnotizer, in this collection, is a large horseshoe magnet with an attached armature. It is given to a sensitive who is told to continuously separate and fit together the two parts. A similar magnetic hypnotizer is a steel ring to fit the index finger. The ring is of magnetized steel and is broken at one place, the space being filled by a small steel armature. These two contrivances are used principally for humoring the more unsophisticated and superstitious sensitives who foster the belief that hypnotism is supernatural. The magnet in most eases suggests mystery to the ignorant and sensitives of that class are readily excited by it. The ring device, also called a hypnoscope, is used by some hypnotists for determining sensitives. Hypnotizable persons are alleged to experience certain tinglings in the skin and twitchings of the muscles while wearing it. A more complicated instrument in this collection, which may be used as a hypnoscope, is a bulb-shaped rod, resembling an electrode, which may be made to create pressure against the palm of the hand by a spring inside. When the pressure is applied the subject is asked if he feels an electric shock. If he so confesses he is rated as a hypnotic sensitive. Sometimes the whole frame will tremble as a result of this imaginary electrical fluid.
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