EVEN HYPNOSIS may now be produced by machinery. We are approaching a day when the direct influence of Svengalies will not be necessary to throw Trilbies into subjective states, when hypnotists will exert their powers through machinery set to operate at given times, the presence of the instruments being unknown to the subjects. The mechanical mesmerizer will then find an essential place in the burglar’s tool kit, and we will have to look under our beds to see if such traps have been set by our enemies. The mechanical hypnotizer as now made, however, is strictly a scientific instrument. The government’s bureau of education recently purchased a collection of such apparatus, which are new in this country. They will be used by a specialist for studying the values of hypnotic suggestion in the education of the abnormal classes. [???] Experiments will be made determining their effect upon the sensibilities, emotions, breathing, circulation and temperature of the body.     The most elaborate form of hypnotizer is a small box, containing clock work, surmounted by two horizontal oblong fans, one over the other, revolving rapidly in opposite directions. The fans are studded on each side with 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.

    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.     Equally interesting devices of a related class, now growing in vogue among certain experimental hypnotists, are for application to sensitives for the purpose of causing hallucinations known as crystal visions. One instrument of this class is a ball of crystal mounted upon a handle. Mirrors and other polished or transparent surfaces are employed for the same effect. The crystal or reflecting medium by producing partly obscured or scattered reflections to the sensitive mind’s eye aid the subject in perceiving unnatural mental embodiments of various objects. Many abnormal persons, habitually haunted by phantasms, for which visions they develop appetites, so to speak, employ these crystals and reflectors for throwing themselves into states during which they may experience what is alleged to be the actual or imagined “sixth sense” or “second sight.” Crystal gazing has lately become so popular that many psychic experimentalists in Europe are inviting tests with the paraphernalia thus employed, and agents were some time since engaged by the Society for Psychical Research to furnish balls for the purpose. Prof. Wm. Romaine Newbold of the University of Pennsylvania recently made an extensive investigation of crystal vision and found that twenty-two subjects out of eighty-six could perceive illusions by gazing into mirrors, surfaces of water and objects of glass varying in form. Phantasms appeared to the sensitives usually within five minutes, being preceded directly by cloudiness, hazes of color or illuminations before the eyes. The phantasms varied from dim outlines to brilliant colored pictures. Like dreams some of these forms were based upon recent experiences of the subjects, while others were purely fantastic...

From—Evening Star. [volume], August 22, 1896 Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.