Many persons can be directly hypnotized by the sense of touch, without suggestion or the employment of any other means, and when a subject has been frequently brought under control it will not be difficult to hypnotize him by omitting the concentration of thought by means of an object of some kind and also by omitting the monotonous and continuous suggestions. Merely touching a subject of this kind will often suffice to throw him into a condition of hypnosis. Still, with an operator with whom he is not acquainted he may prove a most obstinate subject and require the employment of the most impressive methods before he can be influenced.

The production of sleep through the sense of touch is usually spoken of as mesmerism, so-called after Frederick Anton Mesmer, who employed this method (1775) in his experiments that rendered his name famous and laid the foundation for the study of modern hypnotism. His method consisted largely in making passes over the head, face and body, producing what is known as "animal magnetism."

To mesmerize a subject, it is always necessary to have him realize that you intend to put him to sleep through the power of your personal magnetism. In this, as in all other methods of hypnotism, you must first secure the confidence of your subject in your ability, and engender confidence in yourself that you can and will accomplish what you desire.

It is a good plan to rub the fingers together before commencing the operation. It begets a sort of "nervousness" to the tips of the fingers that will produce a tingling sensation when they touch the subject's forehead. This sensation at once convinces him that you are possessed of great magnetic powers. Just how much actual magnetism is developed or how much is necessary, has never been ascertained, but as the expression is convenient, we will employ it.