Hypnotism
.The art of producing trance-sleep, or hypnoʹsis; or the state of being hypnotised. (Greek, hupnos, sleep.)
“The method, discovered by Mr. Braid, of producing this state … appropriately designated … hypnotism, consists in the maintenance of a fixed gaze for several minutes … on a bright object placed somewhat above [the line of sight], at so short a distance [as to produce pain].”—Carpenter: Principles of Mental Physiology, book ii. chap. i. p. 65.
