Hypnotism is the science and art of mentally controlling the thoughts and actions of others. Its study embraces a knowledge of the methods best adapted for developing personal mental power and directing the mental activity of others.

The word Htpnotism, derived from the Greek word hypnos, meaning sleep, has long been accepted as the term under which all the varied phenomena of the science are included. In reality the word hypnotism is a misnomer, for it is not necessary for a person to be forced into hypnosis, or the sleep-like state, before he can be mentally influenced. But as this sleep-like state is readily induced and often most desirable while producing the various phenomena of mental control, it is more convenient to class all these allied phenomena under the one term than it would be to technically differentiate them. The word hypnotism, then, will be used in its broad sense throughout this volume, and the word hypnosis will be employed to designate the special sleep-like state which may be induced.

To. Hypnotize a person literally means to place him in the sleep-like state; but as this state is not absolutely necessary for mental control, the word hypnotize is now generally used to designate the act of mentally controlling the thoughts and actions of others, whether through the production of hypnosis or otherwise. Thus a speaker may hypnotize his audience or a business man may hypnotize his customers.

Post-Hypnotism or Post-Suggestion means the suggestion to a hypnotized person of some action which he will perform at some designated time after he has been awakened.

Auto-Suggestion is the suggestion which a hypnotized person gives himself; for instance, when angered by an imaginary wrong, resentment will usually be an auto-suggestion. The term is also used to designate suggestions which persons make to themselves when inducing self-hypnosis. An ordinary example of this is the setting of a special time to awaken, just before going asleep.

The Operator is the person who hypnotizes another by the production of actual hypnosis.

The Subject is the person who is hypnotized or to whom hypnotic suggestions are effectively made.

Mesmerism is one form of hypnotism, but the term is now employed to designate the method of producing the sleep-like condition by means of passes. It is so called in honor of Dr. Fr. Anton Mesmer. Animal magnetism, magnetic influence and hypnotic influence are various terms employed in expressing the power used in gaining mental control over others.

A Sitting is the voluntary private submission of any person to the hypnotic influence of another.

A Seance is the performance of hypnotic experiments in the presence of a few selected persons.

An Exhibition is the public demonstration of the various degrees of hypnotism, given for amusement or scientific purposes.