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While
James Braid was making quantum leaps with hypnosis, another
Scottish doctor, James Esdaile, was experimenting and gaining
permanent recognition in the history of hypnosis. Stationed in
Hoogly, India, Esdaile used hypnosis in surgery with astounding
results; and even today many would say that his work with
applied hypnosis almost borders on the fantastic.
Esdaile
submitted reports at the end of 1846 indicating that he had
performed several thousand minor operations and about 300 major
ones, including 19 amputations, all painlessly. Due mostly to
the removal of post-operative shock through hypnosis, he cut the
50% mortality rate of that time down to less than 8%! (One book
even reported less than 5%.) The Medical Association actually
accepted his report, and he was assigned to the Calcutta
hospital to continue "mesmeristic" operations.
While
the Association considered mesmerism taboo at the University
Hospital, mesmerism could quite easily be expected to work for
the uneducated masses in India. They were right, of course. In
India, long known as the home of occult sciences, Esdaile was
assured of success from the very beginning because of the common
belief system. Later, when Esdaile returned home, he was unable
to duplicate his work because of lack of belief and negative
expectation; so his career went down the same dark path of
discouragement take by Elliotson.
Dave
Elman gave Esdaile respect by referring to an ultra-deep
hypnotic state as the Esdaile state (Chapter 13 of his book,
Hypnotherapy, is entitled: The Esdaile State).
Taken
from our Textbook "The Art of Hypnosis" by Roy Hunter. Used by
permission as a Certified Hypnotherapy Instructor for Alliance
Self-Empowerment, Inc. |
