hypnotism

(hip’no-tizm) [Gr. ὕπνος sleep]. A condition of artificially induced sleep or of a trance resembling sleep. It is induced by having the patient gaze steadily at a bright spot, with relaxation of will power, and by making pa es before the eyes. It has been used to produce anesthesia and to influence the patient by means of suggestion while in the hypnotic state.