Another practical method of illustrating hypnotic control may be of great service to beginners in forming a figurative idea of what must be accomplished and how it must be accomplished. Object lessons may seem simple methods of teaching; but their simplicity always renders them effective when properly applied.

In the following diagram, let A and B represent two telegraph operators, seated side by side, sending various and different messages to the ends of their respective lines, represented by X and Y. A conceives the idea that he would like to transmit his own messages to Y over B's line, and calls B's attention to some special object of interest and succeeds in so completely attracting his attention that he is enabled to connect his own line with B's, as shown by the dotted lines. A can therefore transmit whatever messages he may desire and instead of their being received at the end of his own line, X, they will be received at Y, the end of B's line.

Peculiar expression of countenance during the first stage of hypnosis.

Again, without trying to detract B's attention, he may propose the connection of his line, and be absolutely refused the privilege, and then set to work B he may overpower him and transmit his messages as desired.

Or, after expressing his wish to B to send messages over his line, B may readily give his consent and cease to use his own instrument and allow it to lie idle while the connection is being made, and the result accomplished will be satisfactory.

The practical application of these illustrations may serve a most excellent purpose to beginners in hypnotism. Let A and B represent the thought centers of two individuals and X and Y their respective centers of physical action. That is, when A conceives a thought he can at his pleasure transmit it to his own center of physical action and carry out his desires by physical manifestations. For instance, let him conceive the thought of walking and voluntarily he wills to walk, his thought has been sent to X, and immediately his legs begin to move and he walks. B, near him, is also entertaining thoughts and carrying out his conceptions in a similar manner.

A wishes to hypnotize B. That is, he desires to compel B to do whatever he may suggest. To accomplish this he manages to concentrate B's thoughts upon some object or occurrence and while the mind is thus comparatively passive he suddenly "makes connection" with B's mind and his suggestions are immediately transmitted to B's center of physical action and carried out by B in an involuntary manner.

The request to hypnotize him may not be well received by B, but through fear or inferior will power he may be forced to yield, and the result will be precisely the same.

Again, B may desire to be hypnotized and enter heartily into the arrangement and be able to facilitate matters greatly by his aid. As a rule, subjects who have been hypnotized a few times throw aside all doubt and fear and greatly help the operator.

Many persons believe that only the weak-minded can be readily hypnotized. This is not so, for they often prove to be difficult subjects. On the other hand, a very highly intelligent person who has his mind and thoughts completely under control, and who can render himself completely passive, may be hypnotized with the greatest ease, if he is interested in the subject of hypnotism and yields himself to the operator's influence. Otherwise intellectual capacity does not enter much into hypnotic susceptibility, which is controlled by other factors.

Occasionally, during an attempt to hypnotize a new subject, the operator may find himself utterly unable to accomplish his purpose, and the concentration of his own thought upon the single idea of producing hypnosis being continued without effect for some time may render him passive toward his subject, and thus reverse the relationship of the parties. The would-be operator then becomes the subject, and is himself hypnotized. Such an occurrence is rare; but its possibility serves as a warning to operators who persist in repeated fruitless efforts to hypnotize others who are capable of exercising great will power in their resistance.