Published in 1903, just sixty years after the term hypnotism was first introduced, this intriguing book delves into the understanding of hypnotism as it was known in its time. With a history that spans centuries, the practice gained immense popularity in the mid-to-late nineteenth century as a groundbreaking approach to exploring the human mind. While our comprehension of hypnotism has advanced significantly since then, this work offers a captivating glimpse into a technique that was once considered cutting-edge in the realm of medical science. (summary by Stuart Bell)