Since the days of Count Mesmer, discoverer of "mesmerism" (the name given to the strange condition of mind we now call the "hypnotic trance"), this mysterious force has been both exploited and discredited. The author of "Using Hypnotism," George H. Estabrooks (creator of the "Manchurian Candidate" or mind-controlled assassin for the U.S. military) does his best to bring credit to the field, despite its obvious exploitation.Estabrooks believes that hypnotism stands in the same category as chemistry, physics, and mathematics, and should not be shadowed by popular ignorance and suspicion. It is based on definite laws and principles, and has evolved as a true science - a branch of the great subject of the human brain and human consciousness.The main facts and rules upon which the science of hypnotism are based are presented in this book. However, certain highly specific technical applications of those rules are unsuited for popular consumption, and are only touched on lightly, such as the use of hypnotism in warfare. Despite the obvious dangers of such techniques, the author believes it is the duty of science to discover, analyze, and master the mechanisms involved, regardless of how the unscrupulous may use them.While Estabrooks explodes a good many myths and popular superstitions about hypnotism, he makes it clear that hypnotic trance can be easily induced in many people, even without their knowledge, and then used either for good and beneficent purposes or the opposite. To know the truth about this mysterious force is a vital matter for all of us.