Practical understanding of the subject - Hypnotism one of the exact sciences - Relationship to other sciences - Analysis of hypnotic phenomena - Practical illustrations - Explanation of hypnotic influence - Overcoming mental resistance - Mental action explained - Relationship of thought to physical action - Involuntary actions - Day dream - A well balanced mind - Relationships of operator and subject - Concentration of thought - Passive condition of the mind - Transfer of thought to the seat of physical action - Hypnotic performances are natural actions - First essentials - Hypnotism illustrated by object lessons - Hypnotic susceptibility not a sign of mental weakness.

It is not within the scope of this volume to enter into a discussion regarding the relationship of "soul and body," or to try to define in a technical manner the changes that take place in brain cells during the action of thought and the performance of voluntary and involuntary physical actions. Such studies may be interesting, but are suitable for other places in literature.

It is the practical understanding of hypnotism that is now most desirable. Sufficient data have been collected and abundant investigations have been made to permit numerous facts to be systematically arranged into what is termed the "Science of Hypnotism." This science has phenomena peculiar to itself, controlled by laws that belong neither to physiology, chemistry, physics or magnetism. They are the exclusive laws of hypnotism. By their observance we know absolutely that we can produce certain effects and that those effects are invariable, - that is, under similar conditions, similar results will always be obtained. This is as certain as the fact that when a chemical compound has been once formed, it is established forever that the same compound may be again formed whenever the identical substances are placed under the same conditions.

We cannot produce chemical compounds by mere mechanical processes; for only chemical laws govern chemical phenomena. And so it is with every other branch of science; they are studies of themselves, no matter how intimately they may be associated. Hypnotism may seem to be closely connected with physiology or with magnetism or with electrical manifestations; but that seeming connection does not place its phenomena under control of the laws of any of those sciences.