Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 50.djvu/243

Rh these irrational and disagreeable things were imposed upon him to test his obedience or to punish him for his sins. He was entirely unable to resist them. This patient gave himself into custody at an insane asylum at Burgholzi, in Switzerland, and was cured by suggestion in one hypnotic sitting.

It is not surprising that phenomena of this kind are common among spiritists. It would seem that the most favorable condition for the development of automatism would be a state of passivity on the part of the patient or "medium," in which he simply watches the impulses and thoughts that arise within him without attempting to repress any of them. Now, this condition finds its ideal fulfillment in the "developing séance" of the spiritist. A group of credulous folk gather in the dusk or darkness, and sing invocations to the spirits whom they believe to be hovering above them and watching for an opportunity to "impress" them. Their sole practical principle is "not to resist the spirits," and consequently the least tendency to spontaneous automatism is fostered and allowed to develop to the utmost. Furthermore, its development is favored by the complex suggestions of the environment and by the direct exhortations of believers. I remember one such "developing séance" which I attended some years ago, at which a stout woman rose and delivered an "inspirational" address, purporting to proceed from the spirit of a Methodist minister who had recently died in the neighborhood. As soon as it was concluded she fell heavily on the floor in hysterical convulsions. Three or four excited women at once ran to her, crying, "Don't resist, dear," "Let him take possession of you," "He won't hurt you, don't be afraid," etc., while the victim struggled and moaned: "Oh, I can't, I can't let him! Take him away!" In a few minutes another woman began to speak in the name of the spirit supposed to be controlling the first "medium," and immediately the struggles of the latter ceased. At that time I knew little of these phenomena, and the incident puzzled me a good deal. I never supposed, of course, that it was due to spirits, but I did not see any way of ascribing it to fraud either. With the exception of myself, all present were ardent "spiritualists," and I had every reason to believe them sincere in their efforts to reach the other world. It was not a paid sitting, and most of those present were personal friends of one another. From my present point of view it seems intelligible enough, and is quite analogous to that last described.

But the best case of this kind that I have yet seen described is that of Mr. Charles H. Tout, of which he has himself written a very acute analysis. He had become interested in these