This once within his power there is hardly a limit to the reactions it is possible to produce. "As a result of my work," says Dr. Sidis, "one central truth stands out clear before my mind and that is the extraordinary plasticity of the subwaking self. If you can only in some way or other succeed in separating the primary controlling consciousness from the lower one, the waking from the subwaking self, so that they no longer keep company, you can do anything you please with the subwaking self." 2

1. J. M. Guyan, op. cit. p. 10.

2. Arthur MacDonald, Medical Progress, Sept., 1899.

3. Moll. Hypnotism. New York, 1890. p. 232.

The physiological states produced under hypnosis, we may readily believe, have a direct influence on character. Since the Lange-James conception of the emotions was put forth, the intimate connection between the condition of the vaso-motor system and the emotional states has been generally recognized. It is equally evident that these and the particular ideas that gain the field of consciousness are closely bound up together and condition each other. If a bystander allows himself to be led into the shouting and running of a mob bent on a murderous deed, the chances are he has, by virtue of his thoughtless procedure, become emotionally a sympathizer and participant in their act. It is equally certain that, having felt the flush of excitement, the hot blood of the avenger of justice, and the tense muscles during the act of revenge, the thoughts of the person will subsequently be shaped by the deed and his views of life formed accordingly. The physiological reactions are, in a sense, father to the attitude of mind. Similarly religious transformations are sometimes little more, originally, than induced emotional attitudes which finally develop into thought and activity in harmony with the initial impulse. Hypnotism can, under right conditions, dominate the vaso-motor mechanism.

It can arouse in every feature and gesture the cringing and pallor of fear, the heat of anger, the frown of scorn, the brightness of hope and the strength of determination. Whenever it awakens the physiological counterpart of a wholesome impulse, it is producing the soil for the growth of character.

1. Moll, op. cit. p. 267.

2. Boris Sidis, The Psychology of Suggestion, New York, 1898.

The important consideration arises, are the changes produced by physiological suggestion permanent or only temporary? Aside from the numerous instances in which the effect has every indication of permanence, there are important theoretical considera-tions which argue that it may be so. One evidence is found in, the phenomena of post-hypnotic suggestion. During hypnosis the operator suggests that hours or even days afterwards the subject will choose a certain course of action. The subject proceeds with the normal course of life and does not even know the idea has been suggested. When the given time and occasion come the person irresistibly obeys the prediction, in some cases even when it abuses every sense of propriety. M. Delbpeuf; suggested to his maid that she embrace his guest, a young man. She carried the suggestion with her as an obsession she must obey in spite' of her sense of its impropriety. As she confided to M. Delboeuf , it was with extreme dificulty that she resisted Later the order was repeated and in the evening was obeyed.

She felt; as if she were "absolutely obliged to do it."1 Equally powerful;are suggestions of moral betterment, as when M. Berillon suggests to a girl of 12 that she will be regular in her habits, will be clean and will not be coquettish, and she is dominated by the idea. The hypnotist does not usually expect' a complete transformation from one seance. He follows rather the law of the formation of habit. A single suggestion leaves an impression on the nervous mechanism which it obeys until crowded out by other reactions. A repetition of it may drill it in until it becomes the principle factor in the organization of the mental life.

In a departure so comparatively recent as is the use of hypnotism in character formation, there are limitations and cautions which should not be overlooked. There is the practical difficulty of securing operators whose skill and wisdom can he trusted. The work of the hypnotist is to operate upon the manifold instincts and impulses, the complex of which make up the personality, so that they will stand in the right relation to one another. Moral defects we may conceive to result, in the last analysis, from a lack of harmony in the native impulses. The glutton, drunkard and sensualist have perhaps all the impulses of the best man but the thousand other normal desires and longings are held down by the one or two overpowering ones. Let the property sense run riot we .have the miser or the thief. One of the highest virtues is kindliness among men, but if it is overdone it weakens both the giver and the receiver. A stimulation of the saving element of hardihood and self-dependence might save both. Too much of the same remedy, however, will make the one selfish and the other envious or set him to preying on his fellows.

In the matter of the delicate adjustment of the manifold rival instincts the operator should be a profound psychologist, - should have an insight into the deeper springs of human life and their normal relationships. As Moll points out, "As it is necessary to have some physical and chemical knowledge to prescribe drugs, so it is necessary for a doctor to have some psychological knowledge before he can use hypnotism." In lieu of this perhaps much can be done by the mere suggestion that such and such an undesirable course of action or feeling shall be abandoned.

1. Revue Philosophique, Feb., 1887, p. 123. Reported In Guyan of clt 9-6.

The operator must furthermore be a person of sterling character Whose entire influence over the person in his power, will be the best.; The same charges that have confronted the use of hypnotism in medical practice will be present here. There is no scarcity of persons who are willing to use the art for selfish personal ends. This difficulty must be overcome gradually through legal and social precautions.*