of his pupils, looking at him
fixedly, sent him to sleep. The boys soon got into the habit of amusing
themselves by sending him to sleep, and the unhappy professor had to
leave the school, and place himself under the care of a doctor."

Dr. Ernest Hart gives an experience of his own which carries with it its
own warning. Says he:

"Staying at the well known country house in Kent of a distinguished
London banker, formerly member of Parliament for Greenwich, I had been
called upon to set to sleep, and to arrest a continuous barking cough
from which a young lady who was staying in the house was suffering, and
who, consequently, was a torment to herself and her friends. I thought
this a good opportunity for a control experiment, and I sat her down in
front of a lighted candle which I assured her that I had previously
mesmerized. Presently her cough ceased and she fell into a profound
sleep, which lasted until twelve o'clock the next day. When I returned
from shooting, I was informed that she was still asleep and could not be
awoke, and I had great difficulty in awaking her. That night there was a
large dinner party, and, unluckily, I sat opposite to her. Presently she
again became drowsy, and had to be led from the table, alleging, to my
confusion, that I was again mesmerizing her. So susceptible did she
become to my supposed mesmeric influence, which I vainly assured her, as
was the case, that I was very far from exercising or attempting to
exercise, that it was found expedient to take her up to London. I was
out riding in the afternoon that she left, and as we passed the railway
station, my host, who was riding with me, suggested that, as his friends
were just leaving by that train, he would like to alight and take leave
of them. I dismounted with him and went on to the platform, and avoided
any leave-taking; but unfortunately in walking up and down it seems that
I twice passed the window of the young lady's carriage. She was again
self-mesmerized, and fell into a sleep which lasted throughout the
journey, and recurred at intervals for some days afterward."

In commenting on this, Dr. Hart notes that in reality mesmerism is
self-produced, and the will of the operator, even when exercised directly
against it, has no effect if the subject believes that the will is being
operated in favor of it. Says he: "So long as the person operated on
believed that my will was that she should sleep, sleep followed. The
most energetic