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A Hypnotist’s Case Book – Professor Alexander Erskine

A case sent to me by a doctor, and cured by me when it had been given up as hopeless, naturally attracted a good deal of attention in the profession, though I may here remark that these cases were not reported in the medical Press by the physicians concerned with that frequency which, to my mind, fair play demanded. However, I had to be thankful in those days for small mercies, and as I was getting known for cures in a variety of cases, I came into touch with a number of people to whom I was able to be of service.

One of the cases which did a great deal to bring the science of hypnosis before the public was that of Alfred Thomas, whom I cured at Hackney, on October 8th, 1905.

Thomas was well known to the London hospitals. He had been in many. He had been discharged from Charing Cross Hospital as incurable. He was suffering from paralysis of the left arm, and the disease had spread to his legs, which, at the time I met him, had been affected to a more or less degree for about nine months.

His was an instantaneous cure. I put him into a deep sleep, and by the power of suggestion alone restored to him the use of his arms and legs. Anyone who doubts the truth of this may verify the facts for himself. That is why I have given the man's name. The case was reported in the Press at the time.

There was nothing marvellous in what I did, though many people were inclined to look on it as a miracle. In those days such a cure was a comparatively new phenomenon. To-day it is the commonplace of my practice.