3/27/2017 No.

2823:HypnoticCrimes

No.2823:HYPNOTICCRIMES
by:RichardArmstrong

ClickhereforaudioofEpisode2823

Today,hypnoticcrimes.TheHonorsCollegeattheUniversityofHoustonpresentsthis
programaboutthemachinesthatmakeourcivilizationrun,andthepeoplewhoseingenuity
createdthem.

Paris,1893.Ayoungwomanwaitsanxiouslyinadoctorsoffice.Thedoctorfinallyarrives
theygointotheconsultingroom.Sheimmediatelydemands50francsfromhim.Heoffers
excuses,andasherisestoescortheroutthedoor,sheshootshiminthehead.Hehasbecome
thevictimofaterribleirony.

ThedoctorisGeorgesGillesdelaTourette,knowntodayforchieflyforTourettessyndrome.
Hewasapioneeringneurologist,attachedtothegreatteachinghospitalinParisknownasthe
Salptrire.TherethefamousneurologistCharcotbeganthevastenterpriseofconstructing
modernneurology.ButstrangenewthingshappenedattheSalptrire,liketheclinicaluseof
hypnosis.

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3/27/2017 No.2823:HypnoticCrimes

Charcotsschoolfirmlybelievedthatifyoucouldbehypnotized,youhadaclearhereditary
tendencytohysteria.Thatwasthebadnews.Thegoodnewswastheywerealsoconvinced
youcouldnotbehypnoticallydriventodothingsagainstyourmoralconscienceforexample
commitacrime.ButarivalschoolatNancysawitdifferently:intheirview,hypnotic
suggestionissopowerfulonecouldbemadetodoterriblethings.Hypnotismhasthepower
tomakeyouanamoralautomaton.

Thisdebatewaschieflywagedinlecturehalls,untilachanceeventdroveitintothecourts.
TheGouffaffairwasanotoriouscaseofmurder,whereayoungwomanandherlover
conspiredtostrangleabailiff.Itwasafutilecrime,astheyfoundlittlemoneyonhim.Soon
theyfledPariswiththebodystuffedinatrunk.Thecouplelaterwenttheirseparateways,but
eventuallythewomanturnedherselfinandfingeredheraccomplice.Onceontrial,her
attorneymadetheclaimthatshehadbeenhypnotizedbyherloverandforcedtocommitthe
murderagainstherwill.

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3/27/2017 No.2823:HypnoticCrimes

AdoctorfromtheschoolofNancyrushedintogivetestimonyincourt.Yes,onecanindeed
beforcedtocommitcrimesunderhypnoticsuggestion,heargued.Butrivalproponentsfrom
theschoolofCharcottorethisexperttestimonyapart.Outsideofafewlaboratory
experiments,nosuchcrimehadeverbeenproved.Intheend,thedefensecollapsed,the
womanwassentencedtotwentyyearshardlaborandherloverwassenttotheguillotine.

GillesdelaTourettewasecstaticathispartysvictoryinthiscase.Hepublishedagloating
epiloguesoonaftertheverdict.Fullofscientificpride,hedeclaredthetriumphofhis
schoolsideas.

Butjusttwoyearslater,thiswomanshowedupinhisoffice.Sheclaimedshehadbeen
hypnotizedattheSalptrire,andthatshehadlostherwill.Havingbeenreducedtosucha
helplessstate,shedemandedpayback.Whenhedidnotcomply,sheshothim.Suddenly
GillesdelaTourettewaswrittenupinthepapersasthelatestvictimofhypnoticcrime,and
hisrivalsdelightedinhisplight.Butherecoveredfromhiswounds,andthewomanproved
quitedisturbedhypnotismwasnotthecauseofherproblems.Andyet,thefascinationof
hypnoticcrimewouldendurewellintothe20thcentury.Regardlessofitsscientificstanding,
theidearemainscompelling.Foritisadramaofthehumanwill.

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ImRichardArmstrong,attheUniversityofHouston,wherewereinterestedintheway
inventivemindswork.

(Thememusic)

Sources:

Eyraudtobeguillotined.NewYorkTimesDecember21,1890.

GillesdelaTourette,Georges.Epilogueunprocsclbre.Paris:ProgrsMdical,
1891.

Guinon,Georges.AttentatcontreGillesdelaTourette.ProgrsMdical1893(2):446.

Mercier,Dsir.Lessuggestionscriminelles.DbatcontradictoireauCongrsdeneurologie
deBruxelles.Revuenoscolastique4:16(1897)409415.

Walusinski,OlivierandDuncan,Gregory.LivingHisWritings:theExampleofNeurologist
G.GillesdelaTourette.MovementDisorders25:14(2010)22902295.

OntheGouffmurder,youcanreadtheexcitingchapterinHarryBrodribbIrvingsABook
ofRemarkableCriminals(LondonandNewYork,1918),pp.305328andonlinehere:
http://www.globusz.com/ebooks/Criminals/00000028.htm

TheEnginesofOurIngenuityisCopyright19882012byJohnH.Lienhard.

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