In commencing your experiments in hypnotism, the selection of a suitable subject is a point of vital importance. After the subject has been secured, endeavor by every means at your disposal, to convince or persuade him that you are a master of the art. Endeavor to inspire confidence. Remove from the subject any -apprehensions he may have as to the injurious effects of hypnosis. Explain to him the nature of hypnotism and disabuse his mind of the common belief that hypnotism implies the influence of a strong mind over a weak one. It is practically impossible to hypnotize a man who is not willing to do as you say ,and a man who sits down with an "hypnotize-me-if-you-can" expression does not make a good subject.

I shall endeavor to explain briefly how to hypnotize and how to awaken a subject. Before describing hypnosis proper and explaining how to induce it, let us endeavor to produce some physical effects which although not properly hypnotic, will enable us to judge better as to the susceptibility of our subject and possibly to inspire him with greater confidence for further tests.