Review - Medical and Dental Hypnosis - John Hartland

Medical and Dental Hypnosis - John Hartland

Medical and Dental Hypnosis and it's Clinical Applications. John Hartland. 1966. Balliere Tindall.

Review by Anthony Jacquin

Contents:
Fwd by Milton Erickson
Fwd by Eric E Wookey
Part 1: The History, Nature and Techniques of Hypnosis
Part 2: The theories and Phenomena of Hypnosis
Part 3: The Clinical Applications of Hypnosis

Fwd by Erickson
As Erickson states in his fwd this book is not one primarily based upon men's ideas with special interpretations elaborately involved to explain the work of others. Nor is it a survey on the current literature on hypnosis. It is rather an earnest and sincere objective account of one medical practitioners experience over 25 years using hypnosis in his medical practice. It details the in a systematic and orderly fashion the learnings he has derived from this clinical use of hypnosis. Erickson states that he read the book with intense interest and personal gain as well as personal satisfaction.

Fwd by Wookey

Wookey was an Honorary Consultant at Royal London Hospital as well as pat President for the British Society of Medical and Dental Hypnosis. He states that prior to 1940 most books on hypnosis tended to be secretive and guarded about the actual techniques of induction and instead were filled with speculative discussions of theory. He nots that Hartlands book keeps no secrets from us, the language used is simple and clear.

The book begins with an intro explaining that hypnosis is (by the time of writing the book) a valid form of medical treatment. Despite this it's possibilities are widely neglected. Given his scientific credentials it is perhaps small wonder that he advises against giving demonstrations of hypnosis to lay audiences because no matter how scientifically it is done hypnosis and it's phenomena will always have strong entertainment value and given that his profession wished to distance itself from stage hypnosis, in fact deplored its use, he believes that such demonstrations do it a disservice.

Part 1:

The Development of Hypnosis
He outlines that healing in a trance state is one of the oldest medical arts and gives a short but interesting bit of history prior to Mesmer. This includes mentions of the Temple of Aesculapius at Epidaurus and the 'touching for the Kings's Evil'. He mentiones Lourdes and also Paracelsus who in 1530 forumlated his theory concerning the effect of the heavenly bodies upon mankind. From this developed the further theory that not just heavenly bodies but man could mutualy influence each other using magnetic powers. Although it was another 200 years before mesmer developed his theory his initial work was based on the theory of Paracelsus. He then gives a wonderful account of Memers work including details of the 'elaborate apparatus' and that his practice 'was attended with a ceremonial similar to that employed at miraculous shrines'. He then brings the history into the 19th centruy explaining clearly the influence of Marquis De Puysegur, LaFontaine and James Braid. Apparently Braid was taken to a demonstration of magnetic experiments and was so incensed by it he stormed on stage to expose it as a fake and was astonished to find the trance was genuine. He then goes into some detail about the work of Elliotson, Liebeault, Bernheim, Charcot, Breur and Freud.

The Nature of Hypnosis
Although he discusses various theories of hypnosis later in the book for ease of undstanding he writes the book from the perspective of what he calls 'suggestion theory'. He defines suggestion as a process whereby an individual accepts a proposition put to him by another without the slightest logical reason for doing so. He also defines it as an idea which is presented to an individual for his uncritical acceptance.

Suggestibility is the degree to which an individual is inclined towards the uncritical acceptance of ideas and propositions. In other words the extent to which that individual will react to ideas presented without emplying his critical faculties.

His working definition of hypnosis is he suggests possibly incomplete but adequate
Hypnosis is essentially a state of mind which is usually induced in one person by another. It is a state of mind in which suggestions are not only more readily accepted than in the waking state, but are also acted upon much more powerfully than would be possible under normal conditions. In other words hypnosis is accompanied by an increase in suggestibility. The reason for this is in the hypnotised state the power of criticism is either fully or partially suppressed. At this point he introduces the concept of unconscious mind. He finishes the chapter by comparing hypnosis to a controlled state of absent mindedness.

General Principles
Hartland outlines the conditions he believes are essential to successful induction of the hypnotic state.
1. Motivation
2. Removal of doubts and fears
3. Fixation of attention
4. Limitation of the field of consciousness
5. Relaxation and limitation of voluntary movements
6. Monotony
7. Suppression of al ideas except the one upon which close attention is to be concentrated

He explains how to set the ground work to ensure that the subject is in the right mood and state to be hypnotised. He outlines three stages of hypnosis Light, Medium and Deep (somnambulism).

Next we get into the meat of the book, clear and precise instructions on how to induce hypnosis
Various methods of eye fixation are explained
1. Eye fixation with verbal suggestion
2. Progressive relaxation
3. Eye fixation with progr relaxation
4. Eye fixation with distraction
5. Direct eye gaze method
6. Ericksons hand levitation method
7. Ericksons confusional technique
8. Whitlows cartaroid artery pressure method (don;t try that at home)
9. The use of drugs s an adjunct to hypnosis (or that).

The next chapter deals with deepening the state by
1. Direct suggestion
2. By relation of depth to performance
3. By counting an dbreathing techniques
4. By the induction of graded responses
5. By visualisation
6. BY Vogt's fractionation method
7. By the dissociation method.

Hartland then outlines word for word his preferred approach that if you have done the groundwork hardly ever fails to produce trance. This is eye fixation by distraction, deepening by progressive relaxation, the induction of graded responses and a counting and breathing technique.

Theories and Phenomena of Hypnosis
This really is the most fascinating section of the book. First he explains nine theories of hypnosis
1. Charcots pathalogical theory
2. The physical theory
3. The modified sleep theory
4. The conditioned reflex theory
5. The dissociation theory
6. The suggestion theory
7. The role playing theory
8. The psycho analytic theory
9. Meares theory of atavistic regression

Then he gets into some great stuff about hypnotic phenomena that are mostly related to the medical field including alterations to the voluntary and involuntary muscles, organs and glands. He goes into real detail and highlights some fascinating experiments regarding alterations in the sense organs.

Chapter 13 is dedicated to somnambulism and the psychological phenomena of hypnosis including illusions and hallucinations, memory, age regression and more. He includes some 'super' sense demonstrations including one classic on the ability to get someone to pick a playing card, the face is noted and its reverse side shown to the deeply hypnotised subject whose eyes are open (obviously). He is told that a black cross will appear on it and that he will raise his hand as soon as he sees it. He is told to study it carefully so that he will recognise it easily. The card is then shuffled amongst 20 others and asked to pick out the one with the 'cross' on it. The subject according to Hartland can easily recognise the card.

Hartland then gives great detail about post hypnotic suggestion and self hypnosis

The final large section of the book deals in detail with direct instruction for dealing with a wide range of applications for hypnosis.

1. General conditions
2. Nocturnal Enuresis and asthma
3. Migraine and Insomnia
4. Speech disorders, tics and other nervous habits
5. Miscellanous Conditions
6. Menstrual Disorders, dermatological Conditions and the use Hypnosis in Surgery
7. Hypnosis in obstetrics
8. Hypnotic Treatment of psychsomatic symptoms and psychological illness
9. Hypnosis in Analytical Psychotherapy
10. The uses of hypnosis in dental surgery
11. General observations on the hypnotic state its introduction, deepening and utilization.

In short if you can put aside any hard fixed notions about hypnotic theory then this book has much to offer. I have read tons of books on hypnosis and consider this one of the best. The theory and history is fascinating. The induction and deepening methods are varied and the clinical applications are hugely impressive. Beyond that he cites many little experiments and exercises that I had never come across before. All in all a super read and instructional on hypnosis.

If you have any questions about any aspect of the above then feel free to ask questions.

Anthony
www.anthonyjacquin.com