L
11
THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 1955.
HYPNOTISM
A SENSATIONAL REPORT
"London. 'YPNOTISM, the un-
H
canny power of one mind over another, becomes respectable as from now. It is officially hccepted as a most effective form of treatment by the British medical profession.
A report recommending the fullest use of hypnotism wherever it can help has been sent to more than 60,000 doctors by the British Medical Association.
It is based on.. an 13-mqnti: Inquiry by experts led by Trufessor T. Ferguson Rodger.
of
of Glasgow University, who have examined the claims medical hypnotists and studied their methods.
The experts state they are convinced that hypnotism, which has so long savoured of witch- craft, really has the power to help sick people and relieve pain.
For thousands suffering from "psychosomatic" ailments dis. orders with real symptoms but imaginary causes-hypnosis may be the best treatment available, the report to the doctors states. Such symptoms include stube born, skin inflammation brought on by "nerves," palpitations of an otherwise healthy heart, for headaches and body pains which no organic causes exist. the use The report endorses
for helping to of childbirth relieve the pain and occasionally to replace anaesthetics in operations.
of hypnotism
Can man one day bring his scientific and mechanical skill to a pitch where life will be an effortless push-button paradise of peace and pros- perity? Not so many years ago the thought would have been writ-
ten off as a Wellsian pipe dream. Today the pioneers of this brave new world
are at work widen-
ing their
frontiers.
An analysis
of the ..B.M.A. inquiry
by
CHAPMAN PINCHER
NOW IT CLIMBS UP FROM THE
WITCH-DOCTOR LEVEL-Official
It may
also
treatment for
૧
the
seems to lull the critica! best tribute
the it to a solution of
which of the mind cerlain: forms problem created by the very faculties
resent the of neurosis, enabling the doctor large number of people require would · Termally
(treatment commands of the hypnotist. mental ing psycho-therapy to detect the hidden conflicts at the root of the dix- by psychological means)," they
said. order.
J.
"As a method of treatment, The experts are so convinced hypnotism has proved its ability of hypnotism's
value that to remove symptoms and alter they urge all hospitals to teach morbid habits of thought and the art of it to medical students. behaviour," says the report.
SO QUICK
+1
met recently to discuss the legal. aspects of such crimes.
The experts also warn that highly emotional bond is often Created between the Aypnotist and the person under his control--especially
woman.
слы
of
the
Nobody can keep * person hypnotised for as long DA Svengali kept Trilby in George du Maurier's famous novel But the power of hypnotism is SO great that it should be strictly reserved for professional men who are bound by a rigid ethical code, the experts urged. Further, only à doctor has wviten 3 the skill to decide patient is likely to beneft under hypnosis.
EXPERIMENTS
TT is largely because hypnotism has so aften been practised charlatans shownnen and by
Some specially susceptible that the medical profession has people can be put into a trance, been slow to accept is. at the hypnotist's first attempt, Though hypnotism will never but with most people several be a cure-all its ultimate value sessions are needed.
may be so great that the ex- recommend a full-scale perts Framme of research to probe ita precise effects on the brain and mind The Medical Re- search Council may
now be
shut-down There is no
of
Hypnotism is an art which brain activity and no suspension almost anyone can learn,
the of consciousness during hypnosis experts stressed.
It is not an as there is during sleep. Brain inborn gift peculiar to a few wave recordings made under asked to sponsor such ex-
Svengali" types.
hypnosis are like those of 4 periments. wakaful person."]
So not only psychiatrists but family doctors may now make device
four
experts--Professor THE
Rodger, Professor Alexander Kennedy, or Edinburgh, Dr' Edward Bennet, London's
of Institute of Psychiatry, and Dr use of a black magic Stuart Noy Scott, a physician which has been professionally commented the other day their hypnosis inquiry, the first to be carried out by the B.MA. for 60 years.
- na odiseredited for centuries,
They pointed out at a con-..
that hypnotism often ference
'so quickly benefits in patient
The precise methods of in- that may eventually become ducing hypnosis, which involve one of the main answers to the such devices as watching flash- serious overcrowding ot the
ing lights and listening to monotonously repeated words, mental hospitals.
"Because
relative are withheld from the report,
INobody
how knows brevity of treatment with hypnotism, research may con- hypnotism works, except
of
the
that
The experts could only defris hypnosis vaguely by calling it a "state of altered attention in- duced by another person."
faith
During this State strange At the same time, scientists changes may appear, such as should look for a possible Link immunity to pain, temporary between hypnotism and paralysis, and extreme suscept- cures, the experts suggest.
and ibility to carry out suggestions
"Hypnotism was known
of healing used made by the hypnotist.
mainly in a religious setting by the major ancient civilisations,"" the report states.
✡
means
This power, at suggestion is so great that a hypnotis: might be able to induce a susceptible It now takes its place among person to commit a crime, even the synthetic drugs. electric murder, the experts warned. machiries, and gleaming in
This danger is so real, that struments of the modern clinic. the Medico-Legal Society
-London Express Service)
has
Introducing DEUCE
by DIANA
Here you are intro- duced to one of them. brain." He is a British
CROUCH
more
electronic
has indications of this
cerebration are the flashings pinpoints of light chasing each other over a cathode ray screen.
Laboratory. But now he been, ousted from the limelight by DEUCE and consigned to a life of hindrum routine, com- paratively speaking.
Behind the scenes, the brain The big, and significant, dif- has a choice of about a quarter
DEUCE ference between
and of million digits from which it ACE is that, while the latter was can choose the answers, propelled a respected and reliable scienti- by electronic impulses, governed
the De assistant, DEUCE is rear, to in turn by
punch card which have been qualifying as a scientist in his instructions
fed to
to it. own right.
Something like 1300 valves, two "memories," plus electronic -and magnetic control
and guidance, ensure that there cen be no choice made except tha correct one.
Not only can he add, subtract, multiply and divide more efficiently than any other machine in Europe and possibly in the
As Britain's scientists press United States but he can make ahead with increasing research logical choices and solve problems programmes, DEUCE is kept complex enough to bewilder the continuously busy. He is, in finest scientific (human) minds. fact, just about the most im
All this from a "baby." For portant factor in the whole DEUCE is little more than three research set-up. months old. His birth was ат
Every now and again, though,
/ expansive operation which cost he is allowed to relax and, pro-
English Electric £40,000 in con- struction costs alone.
vided the parlous
games he plays are of the logical variety, He is a large baby but he just can't help winning.
ne. For although he hundredi two
square feet of floor space, he can
be handled by a single operator. Among his achievements to
He docs, however, have one endearing
He.. admits failure immediately when problem is beyond solution. He does it cheerfully, fashing a
green, "error" Biez.
DEUCE has two brother electronic computors working on The essence of his complex scientific research elsewhere in workings can probably, best be Britain. One of them is at five explained like this:—
Royal Aircraft Establishment at DEUCE is fed with cards, about Farnborough, where the inquiry crasives the size of an ordinary post card, into the Comet jetliner
́IS IT HIS BEARD?
"Two tips" from Alfred Drake: grow
a based and the
romantic (actor.^
WHAT GIVES THESE MEN CHARM?
W
ANNE SHARPLEY chases an elusive
little word that none can deline
wwwwwwwwwwwww
FILL" somebody tell me what' CHARM is? After a day of trying to wring confessions from two charming men I am still not sure what it is. Except that both of them have it.
So as not to make the charm-chase too difficult for myself I chose two. Americans, both of them on the stage, (Famous English charmers have a way of.coming unstuck. The Americans seem. to use stronger glue, or are genuinely-charming),
On my right, bearded, rich-voiced Alfred Drake, making eyes in the stalls starry-eyed at the swashturbanning Arabian Nights fantasy "Kismet."
IS IT HIS PROFILE?
On my left, perfectly profiled in- heritor of 10 generations of stage charm, Barrymore senio John Barrymore, Jnr.
THE BARRYMORES: Friendliness Jor a memory for detaŬ?
Or 11 the
shown below?
convince that one is not really like that."
I went away convinced-and charmed.
In dissecting the charm (un- doubted) young Mr. Barry- more, I had his pretty red- haired wife's help.
Mr Barrymore, wearing brown jacket with a white silk thread woven through it and enormous cuff-links of uncut Jade that he calls "Aunt Ethel's eyes," looks more Byronic than Barrymore.
"I don't know what charm is unless it's to be as friendly as possible. At-least it's always worth trying. You might be missing a good friend,” he said earnestly with a frown between his gorgeous brows, looking like a Neurosis Age Apollo.
Don't
tell
could
His wife, Cara, who is bright as à poppy and hardly be speaking from ex--- perience, chipped: in:
"Johnny
can take the most dull woman and make her feel she is charm- Ing him."
Mr B. "But charm isn't just that. I'm surprised anybody ever found a word for it. It's not just politeness or being attentive. It's spontaneous."
Mrs B.: "Like when you say, even in a crowd Darling, ra like to kiss you right now!"
Mr B: "Darling, you're con- fusing charm with passion."
Mrs B. "Oh, no. Lots of men love their wives just as much as you love me, but they don't tell them."
We passed Las Vegas
trait. His quarters consist of a date is much of the research cal brain-child, developed by the long, narrow
laboratory, culations which went into the of construction of the still highly English Electric concern, coldly tiled and bare and through his efforts furnishings but for several secret interceptor aircraft. Britain may well challenge long trestle tables usually London, the United States' scientific covered with blueprints and NTRODUCING supremacy.
research notes. DEUCE, artisan of "DEUCE is the scientific DEUCE is at work on the year? A.D. For worker of the future. His your right as you enter the breakfast he warms up on a makers claim for him the room. He works relentlessly
on which a numerical code, re- was held. The other is in the little guided missile data. ability to work out in a few in all but complete silence.
presenting the proposition for National Physical Laboratory at As M Drake (42) has had 20 Не déclined the photo- At lunch, something a trifle hours mathematical calcula- Introductions are affected, solution, is punched as a series of Teddington.
years more than Mr Barrymore grapher's suggestion that he use small holes. His rate of work meatier let's say a set of tion which would have cost "Meet DEUCE, OF
two-handed gesture for his (22) in which to be charming, a would cause
steward a shop By even Einstein months of formally, the Digital Elec- Woul
Their main job is to test the differential equations.
we will investigate him first. picture ("Not in
the living- of Britain's leading
room"), and explained. there "M: B.: "But women think it's evening he's ready for a tedious figure work.
tronic Universal Calculating poplexy. For he can read and theories
соре
with two hundred of these scientists who are pioneering On the stage Mr Drake is the
were "no boy scout rules for charming, if a man bends down new, Engine."
hard-to-imagine real belt-tightener of power
cards in a minute.
world sort of man all other men must charm like being polite, decent and kisses their hand. If I can't. On either side of DEUCE two where factories are run by dislike intensely.
He makes it and clean-living." His voice, not bother." system problems,"
kiss a woman's lips, I'd rather He has an elder-and duller- satellite machines, rather like in electronic pulses and not by clear every woman needs (and also modulated to the living- which he's ready to take on At the moment DEUCE brother called ACE (Automatic human secretaries, respectively men, where life in industry and deserves) a tall, handsome per room, was soft and agreeable as all comers at bridge....and lives and works in the Computing Engine) who, in his receive the cards and announce administration will be a mere suasive buccaneer with a voice the sound of book pages being trounce them, ⠀⠀
when the master feeding and servicing of future like Mr Rank's English Electric factory in day was hailed as a genius. That the answers
gung. After turned." DEUCE is, in brief, what Staffordshire,
much
of was back in the early months mind has completed his com- DEUCES and where if men still seeing Mr Drake no
of 1952 when he stammered out putations.
feel that way a statue might be could put up with less. the layman now knows which is devoted to
elec- his fest
scientific answers in From the outside-to the lay raised to DEUCE, the robot mind vaguely as an "electronic tronics research.
National Physical observer, at least the only who made it all possible.
Sober
clothes
after
JOHNNY HAZARD
ABOUT FOURTEEN YEARS AGO, JOHNNY, I WAS AN EIGHTEEN-YEAR- OLD KID, FREE-LANCING MY WAY THROUGH BUROPE, REALLY LEARNING
MY TRADE!
4
Britain's
{I COVERED A BEAUTY CONTÉST IN BUDAPEST
AND THIS ASSIGNMENT TURNED OUT TO BE HEAVEN WITH A PAY CHECKĮ“
By Frank Robbins
ONE GIRL WALKED OFF. WITH EVERYTHING IN SIGHT INCLUDING THE HEART OF A ROMANTIC YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHER {
this situation
calls for
San Miguel
woman
Mrs B. "What about the way
you remember everything about me? Even my stocking size." He gave me a few rules;
Mr B.: "8 stockings, 5aa "Women"
are attracted to shoes, 8, 10 or 12 coats. And courtesy, provided it is not lip 34B cup, if you want to know service,'
It all. Your eyes are green with red flecks in them and ''Most women' are attracted to there is a large freckle on your someone who can be passably right eye.” Lange interesting in, conversation."
Mr B.I don't even know his shirt size And last year we passed the
place in Las Vegas where we married and I didn't even recognise It." applications because I have
Mr.
When I went to see him in
"All women, and men, are his elegant house in Kensington I expected he would at least delighted to find someone who make his entrance via the chan- 1s interested in them." deler. He didn't even use the or less general banister
are his two tips-to
STOW &
Into the roon strolled a quiet, beard f one is going to a memory for detail. You can't
actor call it charm. bespectacled, bearded man of America) and to be an medium height in sober clothes playing romantic roles. ⠀⠀
Mrs B: "Yes, you can. It's and the air of a well-groomed in the States if you wear a charm." provincial professor.
beard you must The reither
important
His handshake was preceded eccentric or by a suggestion of a bow with you've got to be important Just à suspicion of choked heels, be that eccentric."
Hie mize wis well judged to
And NB Both men pusred : the simple Sharpley test that moit men faft it. Haring once Learned that I do too smoke dalhine nelihër
kept overing
welcome but not to overwacian, scoundrel wonden, are hard
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.