Hypnotism and Mesmerism and the New Witchcraft

This book of Dr. Hart's recent papers is most timely. The book constitutes a sally upon the camp of those who, according to Mr. Myers, form the left wing of experimental psychologists ("who follow the wider [!] vistas which hypnotism and kindred studies seem now to be opening up" Mind, No. 5, p. 95); and the confusion which it must there cause is likely to be serious. The author's tone is polemical; but this could, in the existing state of things, hardly be avoided. How long will it be before the "educated world" learns that the facts of hypnotism must be explained in the light of normal physiological processes; that the marvels and miracles of hypnotic records are the results of imposture; and that the even tenor of psychological progress is not to be accelerated by any number of hypnotic 'experiments'? Considering the antiquity and persistence of the "attraction of the unknown" (pp. 1, 2), and of the tendency to explain it by itself, we shall not look for this millennium at any very early date. But the present series of Essays should do something to hasten its approach. The book is interesting as a novel; it is to be understood by the many: - let it be recommended to all! -"The Philosophical Review," Vol. 2 [1893]