Modern spiritism; its science and religion - SpiritArchive.org

COLLECTIVE HYPNOSIS 159
known, since the discovery of the un- or subconscious
mind. The whole procedure tends to
impress deeply on the patient's subliminal (Myers)
mind, beneficial suggestions calculated to restore
the patient to health. So far there does not seem
to be much connection between this science and
Spiritism. But "collective hypnotism," at any rate,
has a very close connection indeed with Spiritist
seances, as I shall proceed to demonstrate, and may
possibly be a key to much more.
Dr.
Bramwell's Demonstration
My only regret is that I was not myself present
when the following demonstration took place, but I
can vouch for the substantial accuracy of the record.
It must be premised that by "Collective hypnotism"
I mean the sub-conscious power that persuades
crowds assembled for some common purpose to
believe they saw what was suggested to them, but
which was really not to be seen; or that they heard
what was not to be heard, if suggested to them at
the time; but to pome to my record.
Dr. Bramwell was busy with his patients one
morning when a doctor friend called in, who was
much interested in hypnotism. Dr. Bramwell told
him that if he would like to see an exhibition of
"collective hypnotism," as his waiting room was
full of patients
in a favourable condition for the
experiment, he would probably be able greatly to
interest him.
The Turk on the Table
The visitor, naturally, was only too glad of the
rare opportunity, and as the two doctors entered