Bernheim Hippolyte
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
Bernheim Hippolyte (1837-1919) was a French physician and professor of medical clinic in Nancy who became interested in hypnotic experiments of Liébeault. He widely conducted these experiments and significantly contributed to resolving the question of the essence of hypnosis. Bernheim opposed Charcot's theory that hypnotic sleep could only be induced in nervously predisposed subjects and represented an artificial hysterical seizure, instead proving that hypnosis affects most healthy people and is purely a psychological phenomenon resulting directly from appropriate suggestion.
Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)
BERNHEIM HIPPOLYTE (Hippolyte Bernheim, 1837-1919), French physician, professor of medical clinic in Nancy; B. became interested in hypnotic experiments of Liébeault, widely conducted them, and thereby significantly contributed to resolving the question of the essence of hypnosis. B. opposed the theory of Charcot, according to which hypnotic sleep can be induced only in nervously predisposed subjects and represents as it were an artificial hysterical seizure; B. proved that hypnosis is susceptible to most healthy people, that this phenomenon is purely psychic and is the direct result of corresponding suggestion. These views of B. constitute the essence of the teaching of the so-called Nancy school, of which B. was the main representative. Works of B.: "De la suggestion dans l'etat hypnotique et a l'etat de veille", P. (1884); "De la suggestion et de ses applications a la therapeutique", P. (1886).
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“Bernheim Hippolyte.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/bernheim-hippolyte/