LSU medical students learn use of hypnotic methods; Hypnotism course slated by LSU medical school

              A year ago the American Medical Association gave its official okay to the use of hypnosis in medical treatment.
Since then more and more doctors have been hypnotizing their patients.
As medical hypnosis has increased in popularity many questions have arisen regarding it.
What techniques are used by doctors in hypnotizing a patient?
What are some of the misconceptions concerning this unique form of therapy?
Can hypnosis be effectively employed in all types of treatment?
Because the answers to these questions are regarded as all-important, a course in hypnotism is being offered to seniors for the first time this fall at the Louisiana State university medical school.
SELECTIVE BASIS
During the course, the students will not only practice hypnotizing each other, they themselves will be hypnotized by their teacher, Dr. Carl L. Davis, resident psychiatrist at the medical school.
Since hypnotism should never be attempted without some advance knowledge of the person to be hypnotized, Dr. Davis has interviewed each student in his class and all pupils have been chosen for the course on a selective basis.
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what to do as job of hypnotizing, he will also tell them what NOT to do; when NOT to hypnotize.
First he will explain the various techniques involved.
"There are a multitude of tech* niques which can be used to induce a trancelike state," said Dr. Davis. "These include everything from having the patient gaze at a spinning crystal ball or coin to allowing the subject to sit in a chair or walk around while the hypnotist offers suggestions to induce a trance."
The physician said fixing people in the eye is a technique often employed.
RELAXING TECHNIQUES "In our course," he explained, "we try to teach our students techniques which do away with all the hocus pocus of the crystal ball. Never do we employ the overpowering techniques of the stage entertainer. Instead we concentrate on simple relaxing techniques which are natural to the patient."                                     
Dr. Davis said there are many misconceptions regarding hypnotism.
"Sometimes," he pointed out, "people are afraid they will not wake up. This is a very common fear. And a very groundless one. Even if the doctor does nothing to bring a patient out of his trance the patient could still come out of it spontaneously. How do you bring someone out of a trance? Well when you are through, you merely ask the patient to wake up."
Dr. Davis said some people think their will power will be taken away from them during a trance; that they will always have to follow the commands given by the hypnotist.
WILLINGNESS NEEDED
"This is not true," he explained. "The subject can resist suggestion if he wants to and can actually come out of the trance if his resistance is strong enough."
The physician said some people believe they will have to have a weak mind in order to be hypnotized; that strong-willed persons cannot be hypnotized successfully. PHOTO: DR DAVIS (LEFT) PRODUCES TRANCE DURING CLASSROOM PRACTICE - Subject Nods Sleepily as Classmates Observe