The Search for Bridey Murphy Read Online Free PDF Page B

Some subjects simply have it; others do not. “It” is the inexplicable something which, with the guidance of the hypnotist, enables the subject to pass into the trance state. True, a good operator can accelerate the process of induction, or he might be successful with certain refractory subjects with whom less skillful hypnotists have failed. Nevertheless, there are still some people who just won’t be hypnotized.
    Since I happen to be one of these people—for what reason I do not know—I offer a personal report on this matter. Few will understand the lengths to which I have gone in an effort to become a good hypnotic subject. I have submitted myself to some of the finest and best-known hypnotists in the United States. Failing there, I have tried successively an electric shock treatment, a carbon dioxide treatment, narcosynthesis (hypnosis under drugs), and finally an equalizing pressure chamber which actually permits the cessation of breathing. I’m still a complete failure as a subject.
    Why all the fuss to become a good hypnotic subject myself? For two reasons. First a serious obstacle to the progress of hypnosis, as we have seen, is its apparent inapplicability to all people. If, therefore, a process could be developed which would enable anyone to enter readily into the trance state, then hypnosis will have taken a tremendous forward stride. Consequently I have incessantly sought some universal key which could be utilized by everyone.
    Second, having seen the mind control demonstrated by good subjects, even when they had been self-hypnotized, I was eager to attain the same ability. A good subject can sharpen his concentration, wondrously accelerate his mental activities, transcend his normal mental capacity, anesthetize any portion of his body, control pain, relax completely under almost any circumstance. In short, he can become master of his mind. Is this not, then, a goal worth seeking?
    That is where electric shock and other treatments came in. I had an idea that if I could smooth out some of the kinks in my nervous system I could then relax and be hypnotized. Consequently I started my search for the universal key. To a friend, a psychiatrist, I pointed out the possibility that if shock treatment could convert a psychoneurotic to normality the same treatment given to a supposedly normal person might eliminate some of his nervous habit patterns—might, in other words, calm him down, make him more easygoing.
    The doctor agreed that this was a possibility; he laughingly proposed that I find out for myself. I startled him by immediately agreeing to do just that.
    I am sure that the doctor had doubts as to whether I was serious about this shock business until one afternoon when I showed up at his hospital and reminded him of his offer. For a time he attempted to discourage the plan, pointing out that shock treatment was not exactly comparable to sticking your finger in a light socket. Besides, he admitted, this idea of somebody’s just walking in and asking for a shock treatment wasn’t in the book.
    Finally, however, curiosity overtook him too. After some preliminaries, including a careful physical examination, he led me down the corridor and into the electric therapy room. I was surprised to learn that the contraption which is responsible for the whole show is not much bigger than a cigar box and quite simple. I have operated more complicated electrical apparatus myself.
    I had read and heard a great deal about these treatments, and none of it, except the results, was pleasant. I knew, for instance, that the patient must remove his shoes, otherwise his violent thrashing might cause some damage. Likewise, he must wear a mouthpiece similar to that used by boxers to prevent the teeth from being rattled out of his head.
    I knew, too, that the patient is instantly knocked unconscious, after which he sucks in air with a desperate reflex action. The body goes completely rigid, followed by hideous convulsions somewhat