,

MESMERISM
AND ITS

IN

INDIA

PRACTICAL

APPLICATION
AND

IN

SURGERY

MEDICINE.

BY

JAMES
CIVIL ASSISTANT

ESDAILE,
SUROEON,
H.

M.
C.

D.,
8., BENGAL.

"I than
to

rather choose
go
on

to

endure

the wounds
easy

of those ways

darts which

envy
"

castefh

at

novelty,

in the and sleepily safely

of ancient

mistakings. RALEIGH.

AMERICAN
PBINTKD

EDITION
BY

THE

PSYCHIC
THX

RESEARCH
OOLONNADK8,

COMPANY,

VlNCENNES

AVE.,

CHICAGO.

1C02,

COPYBIHHT, B*

THE

PSYCHIC COMPANY, RESEARCH

CHICAGO AND LONDON.

PREFACE

TO

THIS

EDITION.

There its
may

is

frankness,
the
power

an

absence mind recorded.

in
over

of

art,
matter

about
of

this double

book

which
worth.

makes No
one

testimony question
as

to

of

the Truth be asked

facts

here

They
speech.

are

FACTS,

and

they

are

recorded,
It
may to

should

be,
the record

simple

by
this

non-professional
of Dr. is Dr. the

reader

if

it

was

necessary

to

present

the

laity

somewhat

sickening

surgical
ago

tions opera-

performed
Our would wish
answer

painlessly
is that

by
this

Esdaile
Esdaile's he alive

sixty
book, today.
offend

odd he

years wrote

in

India. he for find The because

as

it, and
very easy

as

it

to to

be

reprinted
those in

were

It his
his

will
taste.

be

the

lay-reader
other Research

skip
matter

portions
these has
pages

which
to

He
attention. oblivion

will

sufficient

repay

close from data

Psychic
it contains
the mind It is

Company simplest,

rescued and
most

this

book

the
to

clearest

convincing

on

the

power

of

control that force

;

agonizing
we

pain.
with
To

nothing
or

disagree

Dr.
Dr.

Esdaile Esdaile

touching
the
marvel

the

nature

of
the is

the

power

manifested. in the

lay
this

in book

thing
clearest
person.

Mesmerism
"

operator,
power

or

mesmerizer.
in

To

us

evidence To his
the

of author
To

the

that
was

lies
a

the
to

subject
the time collection the

the
"

mesmerized of
a man

his
use

work it is
a

tribute
of the

power to
come

to

help
shall be

fellow. himself. when

promise
of

when
facts
can

man

help

The
we

full
grasp

importance
the of
to

this all

of

only
duced pro-

appreciated by
mesmerism

idea

that

phenomena auto-suggestion.
which

here

are

capable

reproduction
health,

by
are

The

control the

of aid the
us

pain
of

the

restoration and

"c.,
shall

effects

man,

out within self him-

another,
of

can,

some

day
while he the

perfectly,
in
a

accomplish waking

by
Let but
cut

power

his
man

own

will who

is

normal

condition.
to

honor the

the

blazed

path.

We SYDNEY

have

little

do

now

away

underbrush. THE PSYCHIC

FLOWER,
COMPANY.

RESEARCH

Chicago,

May,

1902.

ENGLISH

EDITOR'S

PREFACE.

APPEARING I I ago
trust

before
be

the

public
for
to

as

the

Editor
to

of

work

on

Mesmerism,
under which

may

pardoned
upon

alluding
undertake
in

the such service

circumstances
a

have
my

been

called
a

duty.
of
now

Several East
India

months pany, Comto

brother,

medical

officer

the
that

the

surprised dispel the Apostle

had removed
and

me

by

announcing life, and

India."

he his

had

found
was

something
to

ennui

of

Indian in

that More M.
a

mission twelve

become
my

"the
tion atten-

of

Mesmerism been
arrested

than

years account

ago,

by
breast

reading
from

Cloquet's
while
in

of

his

having
trance,

cancerous

lady
to

the

mesmeric the
of

by
M.

his

certifying
as a

her

insensibility
and the

pain.
as a

Knowing
man

eminence I
was

of

Coquet
to
or

surgeon,

his

reputation
of

veracity,

constrained

believe Animal operator

in

reality

the
and

mysterious
my

agent
was

denominated confirmed From

Mesmerism,
the

Magnetism;
not

belief
in

by
that frauds

fact
I

of
never

the

being
many
new

believer
scouted

Mesmerism.

hour
or

doubted
were

that

things,

by
of

most

people

as

delusions,
The

merely
was

manifestations strong,
me

this

incomprehensible
seemed
to

power.

evidence avocations

so

that

incredulity
further Mesmerism

irrational. the
was

Professional
and I

hindered ceased before

as me

paying
of

attention when

ject; sub-

had

almost

to

think

it

again
vinced con-

unexpectedly
of his his

brought honesty,

by
of

my

brother.

Being
detect

thoroughly imposture,
with the about
my

well

as

his

ability
time

to to

read

communications,
and his

transmitted
to

from

time,
he

liveliest
to
municate com-

interest,

rejoiced experience

be
to

at

length

informed that

that
he

was

the

public ; and
and
in

relied
any

on

services alterations

in

seeing
in the
A

his MS.

work

through

the

press,

making

necessary

determination of

to

know it

the for and

truth, and
themselves,
to

to

afford

to

others
me

the
to

tunity oppormy

investigating
work

has the

induced

read

brother's it for I have is due treatise

to

with
press.

care,

undertake
him I must

responsibility
that
;
so

of

ing prepar-

the

In MS.

justice
have
as

to

add,
verbal

the that
or

only

alterations merit

made
to

in the
an

the

been
a

merely literary

whatever
a

work,

either

performance,
branch
of

philosophical
none

upon
me.

imperfectly

understood

science,

of

it belongs

While
so

he

will

be the
on

gratified
aspect another

to

learn
a

that

his

literary being

offspring
transferred
and

has
to

sumed as-

little of that

of

changeling,
he will

by
be

my

care,

fear

point

mortified,

that

some

ENGLISH

EDITORS

PREFACE.

5
was

of

his

readers

will

share

in

his

regret.
also in

His

MS.

accompanied
been

by

nine

beautifully
these

executed friends

drawings,
interested
not

intended

for

publication. After
resolved
;

consulting with
that

Mesmerism, They
for

it has
are

drawings

shall
very

be

published.
a reason

very

striking

but,

unfortunately, their assuredly, they

witness the them
are

is fidelity
to

their

non-publication, for,
are

fitted
ravages

shock of

the
on

delicate, who
the the
at

unaccustomed

to to

fearful
would

disease

human

frame.

Moreover,
work of
"

publish
which
who

add
to

materially
some

to

price of the object

of

result

would

frustrate,

extent

least, the

the

author,

obviously desires
information
reason,

that

the

British

public shall have

derided
an

every

facilityin
and

procuring
such

regarding the
is
so

science

which,

with

good
On the

he

decided the

advocate.
work in

probable
to

reception of
I cannot

this

country,

it may

be

imprudent
of the

speculate ; but
and

help hoping
to

that the

evident

honesty
from
his it be,

writer,
in

his

willingness
incredulous,

receive
of

assistance, even
them has

opponents,
will
a

detecting the
the
most

imposture by

Mesmerism,
induce who

if imposture

conciliate

and
a man

calmly
never

to

examine

multitude
be either

of facts
a

accumulated
or a

been

suspected
in

to

knave
to

fool.

Every
It

body
of be the

is alike

interested facts
and

fair ries theo-

play being afforded

connected

the

propounders
is to
; and

strange
in
we

with evil
as

Mesmerism.
well
as

borne

mind,

that

it may

be
even

used
to

for

for
we

good

that, if

obstinately refuse
to

examine
a

the

subject,
of be

expose

ourselves, defenceless,
to

the ends. who

abuse

of

power

capable
will
not

being perverted
reckoned
remarks
on
a

the

most

nefarious

This,

perhaps,
peruse

fanciful the

danger
by

by
the

those

carefully
of
a

the And
of

author's if from

tion singular trial for the abduc-

boy.
in India

this

case,

corroborated
more

general

pression im-

the frequency of far that Mesmerism

reason

detestable
a

crimes, the public

arrive

at

the

conviction
as
we

is
for

terrible

engine in the hands

to

of

villain,

have

good
laborious

believing it
of
see

be, surely

our

legislators,who penalties against

various the
men. sense

spend
the of

nights in perfecting bills of pains

abductors
race,

and the

felonious the canine

favourite it to
be

poodles

and

members
of

will
save

their duty to

make

practice
If my of

Mesmerism
book
not

penal,
does

by
more

regularly educated
than
in
arouse

medical
a

brother's

nothing
been I have

the public to Small

own as

danger, personal experience of Mesmerism,

enough
the
to

it will

have

written

vain.
my

is my done
as a are

yet, with

hands,

impress
it

me

with

profound
be in used

conviction
with
care,

that, manifold
and that it is
and
an

blessings

confers, it
of
a

must

most
principled. un-

formidable

source

mischief in the
over

the

hands

of

the
will in

ignorant
be

the

In

note,

body
a

of the

work,

found

account
can now me a

of the relate

influence
a

I exerted

young

gentleman

London.
to

still more
wrote you

striking case.
to

When

lately inviting a lady

in Mesmerism
you
as

pay I

visit, I thus
to

her its

"

"Unbeliever

you

are,

hope
she

convince
"

of

reality by

setting
me

asleep."
to

In

her

reply
but

observed:

"You

will, indeed, find

hard

be

convinced;

if you

ENGLISH

EDITORS

PREFACE.

can

procure had
a

me

refreshing sleep, it sleep

for

will

be

the greatest

blessing, for
the
was

I have she paired, im-

not

sound

eighteen months."
and

Knowing
her
me

anguish
much

had

endured
a

by family bereavements,
to

that

health resolve

desire
be

relieve under

her

sufferings made
influence of

to

try whether

she

could

brought

the

Mesmerism. On the the

presented
of
this

itself shortly after her

arrival

here. of
was

opportunity evening of the gth

rendered
her

An

month
; her

(June,)
voice
of
was

the
very

oppressive heat
rough,
and
she

weather

languid
a

evidently labouring under

the inflammation
to

slight

attack

bronchitis.
of

Believing that
I I

might

be

subdued This for

she

by

means

Mesmerism,

requested permission subjected her

to

try its efficacy.

having
half
was an

been

kindly granted,
She
became and

the

usual did
not

manipulation
fall asleep; symptoms failed ; but,
had
a

hour.

perfectly placid, but

disinclined that
to

merely
been
I

drowsy,

rise.

No

marked had she

and

having
next most

exhibited,
was

I concluded

the
to
seven

experiment
learn that
hours

morning,
comfortable Her

agreeably surprised
and
was so

passed
without

night,
also she

had

slept for
that the
to

half had
at
was

waking.
countenance, of
a

voice
and

clear, the expression of languor

well
from

left her
house
cause

felt

she

ventured

to

dine

the
the

friend, distant improvement, again

on

three I
was

miles

Manse.
see our

Whatever friend

of the
resolved

delighted
'her. of the

my

evidently better,
a

and

to

mesmerise

On

return

from

saunter
on

in the the

garden,
waiting

the

evening
of than
we

the

nth

(June.)
to prayers.

she

lay
As

down

sofa,
to

the
in The

entrance

servants

they happened
I
my
we

be

longer you?"
five

coming
before "Oh

expected,
Before
very

I said

"Suppose

try to

mesmerise
at

reply being "Very

ten.

well,-"I
that

commenced

manipulations
had
the I

minutes

hour
"Do

struck,
you

following
am

conversation.
any

! I
over a

am

sleepy."
"How
most
can

really think
it?
I
never

ing exert-

influence
I
am

you?"
state

I doubt

felt this way

before. had
a

in

of the
the don't

delightful placidity." "Why,

"

then,
and
on

better

put

off
no,

prayers,

and

keep
I
to
am

the
very

house

quiet
her head noise
to

for

little."
"

"No,
words

do

that.

drowsy,"
sank
no

with
the

these

she relinquished the attempt

rise,and
ordered

pillow.
I found

Having
her
on

slipped
my

out

of

the

room,

and

be

made,
another

return

still very
my answer,

somnolent,
for
to
"

and, without
twenty
a

saying
I
my

word,

proceeded

with
no

manipulations proceeded
I said

minutes. of

then

spoke, and, receiving doings.

Mrs.
to my

get "Come

witness
and

subsequent
can
means

Calling
I

my

housekeeper,
mesmerised

try if you tried

every

waken
so

C:

have

her, I think."

She
not
a

do, but in vain.

order and
to

Her with

respect
a

for the lady would

; I

allow

her

to

obey

prick
I

her

pin

therefore
were

took

sharp-pointed
No ness uneasiwas

instrument,

pricked

her
was

hand
now

till the

marks

visible. mesmeric

being manifested,
established, and
my

certain

that

the

sleep

proceeded
close
to

to

test

its intensity by loudly calling,and

of the

ping clap;

hands

the

face

sleeper. Not
my

feature friend

moved

and live

the in

placid exquisitely
my memory.

countenance

of

entranced

will

long

ENGLISH

EDITOR

PREFACE.

7
I could

As
to

she

was

laid

on

sofa

in the

dining-room,
to

not
or

permit
causing
the

her
my

remain
to

there do
so.

without

sitting up
her. I used
any
success.

all night

watch

her,
work

servants at
ii

Circumstances demesmerise
an

rendering this inconvenient, I proceeded,

This
all the

o'clock,
but

to

proved
methods

of
to

greatest
merists, mes-

difficulty : for half

with
repose, water

hour

resorted

by the
to

hardly
I
on

Being
blew

resolved, however, smelling salts

it with after
a

break

in

upon

her

applied the strongest

her

to

her

nostrils,
bellows. sit up, been

threw This she

as

cold

face,
her
arms,
a

and

upon
even

pair of
her
to

rough

usage

roused

but little;

I got

fell helplessly into my fast asleep On

as ever.

and, if let alone, would

she that could she

instantly have
of that done
I

questioning her
She
her

next

morning,

give
I

no

account

what
soon

had made her

happened.
very

only remembered
She

lay down, might

that

and have

drowsy.
I

acknowledged
unconscious
of

that

with

whatever
she this

chose, and
have
as

expressed her conviction

for of
a

had

I amputated
a

a limb, then, is

would

been

the operation. foolish

What

power,
expose
as

for evil
to
a

well

as

good !
the

How

in people to

themselves
a

the

machinations
!

wicked, by treating Mesmerism

evidence
or

fraud

or

delusion

It is
to

fact, proved by incontestable

relief of

; and

capable
so as

of

being applied
the

the

of

suffering humanity,
a

perverted
I shall be
men

to to

accomplish
convinced
of

designs
for

villainy. As
relief of the of

clergyman, sick, until

and

happy
become

apply it,gratuitously
the
for

the

medical

therapeutic value
anxious

Mesmerism,
of

introduce
sons, perto

it into their practice. And

the encouragement
to

non-professional
I
am

who,
be able
are

like
state

myself, are
that
a

investigate the truth,

and his

glad

to

benevolent
in

bishop in England, gratitude for

the the

amiable
my

ily, famfriend

successfully employed
C.
my expresses

relieving the afflicted ; and

benefit

that she

Mrs. from The

the

warmest

has

derived

mesmeric above

treatment.
are

remarks the

for

general

reader.

I would
to

now

fully respectdetailed

invite

attention He

of

the

medical
nor

profession
an

the

facts
a

by

my

brother.

educated,
is I

a quack truth-loving physician, whose

is neither

enthusiast, but
be

regularly honesty
as
are

reputation for talent

cannot

and

unquestionable.
was

The

facts he
a

adduces
man

controverted, and,
from where

happy
both

to

learn

from

medical
and

just arrived
the
no

Hooghly,

admitted If

by Europeans eight months,

natives, on performed

spot

they occurred.
tions, operamen

he, then,

in

has

less than how

to
can

seventy-six
medical

besides this country

a

relieving eighteen medical justify their heartless highest degree

even

cases,

in

apathy
to

in

regard

Mesmerism?
our

It is will not

fact, in

the

disgraceful
their

them,

that

doctors benefitted

be

persuaded

to

try

whether insist
on

patientscan
on

be

by the
an

mesmeric

agency.
to

They

going
may
not

inflicting tortures,
be

without

attempt

ascertain
and

whether

they

obviated

by Mesmerism.

The

Royal Medical
without
a

Chirurgical Society

of

London

permitted Dr.
that

Copland,
wise
pro-

word

of

disapprobation,to

declare

"pain

is

ENGLISH

EDITOR'S

PREFACE.

vision

of

nature

; and
are

patients ought
all the that
persons
we

to

suffer

pain while
recover

their

surgeon

is

operating;
dentist
extract

they

better several in
are

for of

it, and
his

better."

London
not to

has

announced teeth and

we

fraternity have sleep!

with into

resolved

the

of

the

mesmeric

By

this combination infliction of

and

of

doctors

dentists,
are
so

threatened
as

the their
assurance as

pain,
our
a

whenever

unfortunate

to

fall

hands;
that

agonies
wise

"are

to

be

soothed

by
for

Dr.

Copland's
!

pious
do

pain is
for
self my-

infliction I shall

intended
say,

good

Let

others suffered
me

they please,
the

only

that, having
shall

twice
not
a

under
to

surgeon's knife, again

made
suasive perto

all the

doctors
my
me

in Europe

persuade
of
a

permit them
has As
I

mangle
to

"pleasant flesh," until

to

persevering
similar
my

attempt

been

reduce
to

insensibility by
sufferers
to
resume

means

Mesmerism.

the

best

induce
to

form
of

resolution,
mesmeric
eve

request

their
as

attention

the

subjoined
in
a

brother's
on

practice,
his

published
for the It
to
now

by

him of

Calcutta

newspaper,

the

of

departure

army

the

Punjaub.
that
of I

only remains
Professor

should

publicly
in

offer

my

warmest

thanks

Dr.
to

Gregory,
Mr.

Chemistry
of

the

University
and
many

of

Edinburgh,
other well-

and
known
on

Colquhoun,
for

author

"Isis

Revelata,"

works,
brother's
addressed

the

highly flattering commendations

and for
many

they
generous

have

bestowed

my

labours,
to

friendly

and

tions communicaESDAILE.

myself.

DAVID

Manse

of

Rescobie, Forfar,

I3th June, 1846.

POSTSCRIPT.
of
woman

iQth June.
in

"

To-day
the sick.

f have I
was

had

new

proof
A

of

the
a
,

value young second

Mesmerism

relieving
from her
an

visiting
had left

Isabel

recovering
I
saw

fever;
attack of

the
of

fever

her,

but

the had

night before
necessary

inflammation
I found her

in the

breast

rendered mation, inflamIn

the

application
also from

leeches.
and

in pain from
of
;

the

and
ten

toothache,
her into the and

complaining
trance

inability to sleep.
was

minutes
at
2

I threw
A.

mesmeric

this
The

at

p.

M.

she

awoke
has

M.,

refreshed

hungry.
This

23d.

"

change
a

of

weather

injured

my

relative, Mrs.

C
her

evening pain.
of

she
I

had

dreadful
to

cough,-

which
her
more

banished
in

sleep,
way:

and

gave

much

proceeded
rendered

mesmerise

the

usual

the

paroxysms ; at

the

cough
in her

the

process

laborious of the
on

than

formerly

last I succeeded
my

allaying the spasmodic

throat, and
seat

motions

thorax,
the her.

by placing
which

fingers
to
was

on

breathing
irritation

continuously
which

spot
In

appeared
hour she

be

the fast

of

the

annoyed
awoke

half

an

asleep; she
has
not

slept

two

hours, and
at

refreshed.
These

The
are

cough

had

left her, and

I record

returned fit beneI have

this of

date the

(25th June).
Let
any

facts; and

them
of

for the

suffering. pain
"

sceptics
one

scoff, and
will

doctors

talk

danger attempt

alleviated
the
same.

; and

who

honestly

make

the

may

do

D.

E.

TO

THE

REV.

JAMES

ESDAILE,

D.

D.

MY

DEAR

FATHER,

However
new

and

strange

the

subject

of

this

work
may

be

to

I
you,

that
am sure

it

will

afford
you

pleasure

to

know

that

have

introduced,

and

hope

I
may say

established,
a new

and

powerful
means

of

alleviating

human

suffering
among

the

natives

of

Bengal.

shall
soon

ascertain

to

what

extent

other

varieties

of

mankind
are

capable

of

benefitting

by

this

natural

curative
power,
as

I
am

ordered

to

join

the
army

in

the

field,

and

depart

tomorrow,

by

dak,
a

journey

of

eleven

hundred

miles!

I
am, your

affectionate
son,

JAMES

ESDAILE.

HOOGHLY,

Feb.

ist,

1846.

PREFACE.

IF

this

production

should

be

unfortunate

enough

to

attract

attention

at

home,

hope

that

criticism

will

be

chiefly

expended

careful
upon
a

examination

of

the

alleged

facts,

and

their

practical

application

to

the

improvement

of

Surgery

and

Medicine.

What

I
now

offer

to

the

public

is

the

result

of

only

eight

months'

mesmeric

practice,

in
a

country

charity

hospital
;

but

it

has

been

sufficient

to

demonstrate

the

singular

and

most

beneficial

influence

that

Mesmerism

exerts

the
over

constitution

of

the

people

of

Bengal,

and

that

painless

surgical

operations,

and

other

medical

advantages,

their
are

natural

right; birth-

of

which

hope

they

will

be
no

longer

deprived.

Duty

calls
me

to

another

and
more

extensive

field,

(the

Civil

geons Sur-

being

ordered

to

join

the
army

of

the

Sutlej,)

where

hope

to

work

out

this

curious

and

interesting

subject

in

all

its

practical

bearings,

and

to

live

to

communicate
my

experience

to

the

public.

Hooghly,

Feb.

ist,

1846.

MESMERIC

FACTS.

REPORTED

BY

JAMES

ESDAILE,

M.

D.

To

the

Editor

of

the

Englishman.

SIR,
"

Before

proceeding

to

join

the
army,

have

the

pleasure

to

send

"resume"
you
a

of
my

mesmeric

practice

during

the

last

eight

months.

My

experience

has

demonstrated

the

singular

and

beneficial

influence
erted ex-

by

Mesmerism
over

the

constitution

of

the

natives

of

Bengal,

and

that

painless

surgical

operations,

with

other

advantages,

their
are

natural

birthright,

of

which

they

will
no

longer

be

deprived,

hope.

Duty

calls
me

to

another

and
more

extensive

field,

where

hope

to

work

out

this

curious

and

interesting

subject

in

all

its

practical

details,

and

to

ascertain

to

what

extent

other

varieties

of

mankind
are

capable

of

being

benefitted

by

this

natural

curative
power.

I
am, your

obedient

servant,

JAMES

ESDAILE,

M.

D.

Hooghly,

22d

Jan.,

1846.

12

REPORT

OF

Return

showing
at

the

Number

of painless during
the
last

Surgical eight

Operations

performed

Hooghly,

months.

Arm

amputated
ditto
------

-----

Breast Tumour Scirrhus

Penis

extracted testium

from

the

upper

jaw

extirpated
-

amputated
knees
-

Contracted Ditto
arms

straightened
...

"

3 3

Operations Large
tumour

for

cataract

3
-

in for

the

groin

cut

off
-

Operations
Ditto
Actual

Hydrocele

-7
-

Dropsy Cautery
acid
sores

applied
ditto

to

sore

Muriatic

Unhealthy
Abscesses

pared

down
-

7 5

opened
six
inches
-----

Sinus,
Heel
End Teeth

long,

laid

open

flayed
of thumb extracted

cut

off
-

3
i

Gum

cut

away cut

Prepuce
Piles Great Seton

off
-

3
i

ditto
toe

nails

cut

out

by
ankle removed

the. roots
to

5
i

introduced
tumour
on

from

knee
-

Large
Scrotal
removed

leg

tumours, 17

weighing
------

from

8 lb. to

80

lb.,
14

Painless

operations

73

MESMERIC

FACTS.

'A

Return

of Medical

Cases

cured

by
months.

Mesmerism,

during

the

last

eight

Nervous Tic-doloureux

Headache
-

...

3
i

cured ditto.

by

one

trance,

...

Nervousness,
Rheumatism

and of
-----

Lameness

from

2l/2

years'
I

standing Spasmodic
Acute

by
by by by

chronic
one

treatment.*

Colic

trance. trances treatment. trance

inflammation ditto inflammation

-

of
......

the

eye

repeated
chronic

in

24

hours.

Chronic
Acute

of

testes

by
by

repeated
one

in

36 hours.

Convulsions Lameness
from
......

trance. treatment.

Rheumatism

by chronic by general
for
a

Lumbago

and

local

mesmerising

week,

Sciatica
Pain in crural
one

i
nerve i

ditto,
ditto.

Palsy
Ditto

of

arm

ditto ditto

for
for

month,

of half
of

the

body

6 weeks.

Feeling
the

insects
-

crawling

over
i

body

by

one

trance.

18

It
nervous

will

be

perceived
But for I
as

that

the
and

above the

cases

are

chiefly diseases pain

is the

of

the

system.
of of the

sleep

absence
of

of

best

tion condiers pow-

body

promoting

the

resolution local

inflammation

by

the

Nature,
entranced

have

extinguished
was

inflammations

by

keeping

the

patients

till this

effected.

*By
of

chronic

treatment

is meant

daily mesmerising
is not
necessary.

without

the

intention

entrancing

the

patient, which

14
I beg
to

REPORT

OF

state, for
of the
persons

the

satisfaction

of those
seen

who
no

have bad

not

yet

tical pracever whattrance. to

knowledge
arise Cases have
even

subject, that
in which

I have
on

consequences

from

being operated
no

when been

in the

mesmeric

occurred
;

pain has
a

felt subsequent

the
;

operation
and
in the

the

wounds
seen

healing in
no

few

days

by the first intention

to

rest, I have

indications it appears
has

of any
to
me

injury being done

to

the and

constitution. that

On

the

contrary,

have

been

saved,

less constitutional

disturbance

followed

than

under

cumstance ordinary cir-

There

has

not

been
I availed

death

among

the

cases

operated

on.

In

my

early operations,
whether But calculate will
be if the
on

myself of the first fit of insensibility, not

it back

ing know-

I could
trance

command

again
and
one

at

pleasure.
may

is not

profound
the
the

the first time, the surgeon when

or

safely

its being
to

deeper

next,

operating in public, it
two

prudent
the

take

security of
and

preliminary rigid in
there
but

trances.

Flexibility of
we

limbs

till moved,

their

remaining
:

any

tion positions, excepIt

put
and

them these

in,
are

are

characteristic

of the trance
and
to
as

are

equally diagnostic,
the limbs
a

be

depended

upon.
on

sometimes them

happens, that they have

At

become

rigid
to
a

they lie,and
to
a

ing bendmodic spas-

always
other and

disposition
is

return

state

of

extension. whole
a

times, there
the limbs
can

complete
tossed

relaxation

of

the
of

muscular

system,

be

about

like those

person

just dead.
eyes
are

The

usually closed, but half-open

and

the

eyelids

are

sometimes
is
even

seen

little separated, or wide

open,
a man

tremulous, and
to

the eye
one

occasionally

fixed, and
to

insensible

the

light. On
after
two

occasion, having
was

ordered

be

entranced,
the
man was

I returned
not

hours, and
to see,

told found I

by
him

my

assistant with

that

affected.

I went
and

and

half-open

eyes,
was

quivering

eyelids,

trembling

hands.
tion, condi-

immediately

said that he
a

ready, and, without operation

upon

further

testing his

performed
anything
I also
on

most

severe

him, without

his knowing

about wish

it.
to

remark

that

have

seen

no

symptom

of

congestion of
ural, nat-

blood

the

brain; the
of
a

circulation

in the

trance

being

usually quite
to escape to pass

like

that

sleeping person.
the mesmeric death.
manner

My

patients

appear

the
at to

stimulating stage
once

of

influence This in
I
am

altogether, and disposed

the the
a

from

life to

temporary

to

attribute

the
As

concentrated
soon as

uninterrupted
is
no

which
to

power
to to

is applied.

it is felt,there and

time

given

system

rally from
the
straining con-

the

first

impression,
power.

it succumbs

without

struggle

Some
and

when patients,

suddenly
I take and

awakened, this to arise the

organs

say

that

their vision

is

hazy,

their heads

light ; but
the

from of

the

imperfectly
which
are

ered recov-

of sensibility

brain

sense,

not

at

MESMERIC

FACTS.

IS

once

roused
in That

up

into

the

full

possession
from the
brain

of

their

waking
natural

powers,

just

as

is

seen

persons the

suddenly
mesmeric is

aroused of

profound
and
nerves

sleep.
not

torpor often
trance.

does

arise of

from

sanguine

congestion,
from their it is

beautifully

seen

in

the

first

actions

sons per-

awaking
They
; open

the

eyes,

and the

at

the
is

same

moment

recover

all this
and

their

ulties facalso

but

seen

that

pupil
that

insensible

to

the

light
open,

they
that
and

become

aware

of;
but
do

they
not.

know The their this

their

eyes

are

they
with
struck

ought
a

to

see,

thought
faces in

fills their

them

with

horror,
like
persons

fearful

cry

they

bury
but

hands,
and the dreadful

blind

by

lightning; by
under
a

soon

passes

off,
eye.

retina shock

recovers

its
to

sensibility
the
finds

little such

rubbing
circumstances,
in
some

of

the

The

given
awakes

mind himself

or

when

somnambulist

and of

standing
(an

strange have
often and

attitude

naked,
is
a

in trial

the of
to

midst the make

strangers which
but

experiment
be
very

made,)
even

nerves

it

would such
and

imprudent, impassive
of the
to

dangerous,
my

with

any

singularly
the

subjects inducing by
to

as

Indian mesmeric

patients.
disease than
to

This,

inconveniences action
in

the

taneous (sponnecessary

mesmeric
for in

system)
me

doing
the
real

more

is

the the I

cure

of
of

disease,
Mesmerism able

appear

be

dangers

be

avoided

use

as

remedy. experience,
reception
of

am

now

to

say

from

that
the

debility
mesmeric
when

of

the

nervous

system
I
augur

predisposes
well

to

the

easy

influence,
I

and in

of

patient's

powers

of
"I' air

submission, abattu,"
that

recognize accompanies

him

the

listless

dejected
of the

air,
nerves.

usually

functional

debility

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER

I.

Aversion

of
must

the
be
"

old

Schools

and
in
to

the

Public

to

new

Ideas.

"

Some
"

old

tions No-

suspended
Mesmerism
not to

fairly considering
be

Mesmerism.
Laws of

Irrational Evidence.
"

Incredulity.
Medical Public
men

tried
decide Matter

by
the

the

usual

entitled

to

Matter of Fact.
"

for

the

Public. Men
"

"

The this
easy

invited

judge

of

the
"

Medical
necessary.

in All

Country
afterwards.

favourably
"

placed.
of

Personal
a

Labour
"

Qualifications
Sick
very

Mesmeriser.

The

Mesmeric
"

Power

very

general.
of

"

The

the

proper
to

Subjects
the

for

Experiment.
Influence.

The
"

Natives the Man. India.

"

Bengal
of

susceptible
true

Mesmeric
a

Nature of in

School Instincts Trial Reason Disease. Public

the of Skill

Physician.
"

"

Mesmerism
known

natural
and

Power

Animals. with
an

Mesmerism
Eastern

practised
of the

"

of

Magician.
need
to

"

Dangers
with Mental and

Mesmerism mind in

no

for
"

rejecting
Patients
to

it.
"

No

interfere for the

Bodily
"

My

bad the

subjects Question

Phenomena.

The
19

invited

judge

practically

fairly

Page

CHAPTER

II.

The

French

Commission

of
"

1779."

Both

Right required myself.

"

and

Wrong."
in the of

The
"

merists MesState of

properly
of
my

punished.

Condition for

Patient. the of
"

mind
to

before the

experimenting Pope.
"

Report
Nature

Bishop
my

Lausanne

His Nature
"

Reply.
of
my

"

Accidental Second
-----

First

Experiment.

"

Accidental

Experiment.

First

meric Mes34

Surgical

Operation.

Conclusion

Page

CHAPTER

III.

Mesmerism

the
"

same

in of
the

India

and
"

in

Europe.

"

Examples
"

of

Mesmeric
alysis. Parof

Sleep.

Sealing
"

Eyes.
"

Altered

Sensibility.
to

Temporary

Muscular
"

Rigidity.
Convulsions.
"

Insensibility
"

Pain.

"

Exaltation done
here of
"

ular partic-

Organs.
of the

Delirium.

"

Injustice
Evidence
"

to

the
"

Memory ture Impos"

first Mesmerists.

Every

available

given.

morally
and

and

physically

impossible.

Mode

Proceeding. Physiological

meric Mesonstration Dem-

Non-Mesmeric
of

Operations
of

contrasted.
-

the

Impossibility

Imposture
16

Page

50

CONTENTS.

17
IV. Introduction
to

CHAPTER Somnambulism. Definition.

"

"

Singular
"

it.
"

Suspected
bulist. Somnamstolen
out

Child-stealing by its Means.

"

First
a

Experiment
Court

in

making
"

Trial
"

of Mesmeric of be
"

Skill in

of Justice.
"

Men

of
Its

Court.

Truth
can

Mesmerism imitated Mesmeric

"

publicly proved. by
Artificial Means.
"

Natural
"

Sleep, and Sleep.

"

Varieties,

Mesmeric

Mesmeric
"

Day-mare.

Sleep-walking.
to

Mesmeric
"

ing. Sleep-wakImitative
"

Mesmeric of

Dreaming.
"

How

make

Somnambulists.

Stage

Somnambulism.

Communicative Coma. the

"

Stage
Natural

of

Somnambulism.
"

Mesmeric

Catalepsy.
" "

Mesmeric Nature
of

Clairvoyance.
"

meric Mesamples Ex62

Clairvoyance.
--..---

Mesmeric

Power.
...

Illustrative

page

CHAPTER The Mesmeric

and

V. best

Processes.

"

Publicity the
the
Real

Security
"

to

the

Public.

"

Ignorance
Disease
a

Indifference
for

Dangers.
"

Mesmeric
and

Treatment

of

Field Men.
"

the

Philanthropist.
for

Puysegur
Coma. of
"

Deleuze,
in
"

fessional unpro-

Processes Coma.
" "

producing
consecutive

Tumour

Upper
Trance

Jaw
newable re-

removed

during
at

Hypertrophy
Chronic

Scrotum, Operations
"

ditto.
on

Pleasure.

Three
in

one

Person.

"

Mode

of

Mesmerising
"

Diseases.
"

Cure

of

Rheumatism
"

and

Nervousness.

Local First

Mesmerising. Experiments
---..-..

Mesmerised
it.
"

Water.
last.
"

Process of

for

preparing
Persons

it.
"

with

The

Means

awaking
Page
90

Mesmerised

CHAPTER Mesmerism

VI. Medical
of

as

remedy.
"

"

Coma

as

Agent.
Eye
ditto.
"

"

cal Journal of Practi"

Mesmerism.

Chronic

Inflammation
of

cured.
"

Nervous of

ache HeadNervous
a

ditto. Headache
"

"

Acute
"

Inflammation
Rev.

Eye

Return How
cured
to

prevented.
drawn

Mr.

Fisher's
"

Report.

make
"

vert. ConArms atica, Sci-

Tooth

in the
"

Trance. of

Convulsions

by ditto.
"

straightened in ditto.
Pain in Crural
"

Sense

Formication
"

removed.
an

Lumbago,
"

Nerve,
Tic

cured.
"

Palsy of

Arm ditto.
"

ditto.

Hemiplegia
as a

greatly benefitted.
Disease. Public would-be
"

cured.
"

Rheumatism

Mesmerism

Resembles
"

Hysteria.
Public

Ignorant
"

charges Folly
and

of

Imposture.
Unfairness

"

The its
"

abused.

The
"

disabused.

of

Guides.

Spontaneous Development

of the Mesmeric

Disease.
"

Mesmerising
natural

themselves. by doing nothing taught by the Mesmerists of ising of MesmerConsequence frequent Mesmerising.- Examples

by doing
as a

nothing.
"

"

Hysteric Theory.
Mode
of

"

Hope

to

hear

of

Hysteria Page
103

Remedy

soon.

Rational

studying Mesmerism
VII.

CHAPTER Mesmerism Trance:

A

in

Surgery.

"

Journal

of

Practical
cured

Mesmerism.

"

Mesmeric

Leg

straightened in; Colic

by;

Penis

amputated

in;

CONTENTS.

Arm

straightened
in
;

in;

Arm in Three
;

amputated
Tooth
extracted

in;

Breast
in

cut

off of Thumb

in;

Abscess
cut

opened
in Gum Mesmeric
;

Heel

flayed
in in.
"

End
in
;

off in
;

Arm
cut

laid
away

open

Abscesses of the

opened waking
cut

Sinus

laid

open

Invasion

by
off

the

Sleeping
suppurating in; "c.,
;

State.
"

Trance: great burned in Groin Toe with removed

hypertrophied
Nails Muriatic in
cut out

Prepuce in; in;

Sores
on

in;

Pile
on

in;

both

Knee Seton

straightened introduced,
off in

Ulcer

Temple

Acid

in;

mour Tu-

Fungoid

pared Malignant

scirrhus of

Testes Testes
cut

extirpated extirpated
in;
in
;

in; in;

Cataract

operated
Sore

in; in;

Disease

unhealthy
by; pared
to

pared
on

hypertrophied

Prepuce Amputation
of
in.
"

off

Pain

extinguished
Sores favourable

Return in the

Awakening; Operations
and the for

Penis merism Mes120

unhealthy
alike

Two

Hydrocele
-

Operator

Patient

Page

CHAPTER

VIII.

Hypertrophy
in

of
and

the Lower

Scrotum; Egypt
;

different

Causes Causes Scrotum.

"

of." of."

Elephantiasis Example
of from Mode of

endemic Malarious

Bengal
"

probable
the
of

Fever. from

True

Elephantiasis

of

Hypertrophy
involved;
Number the the Mesmeric late Increase

cele; Hydroof
ating; oper-

Syphilis;

Condition

the

Organs

Mismanagement
for six Years Months."
in

by
to

the

Native

Doctors; 1845;
Cause
in

Operations Trance,
of
for

previous
First the

April,
Some Trance

Eight
"

Case." Mesmeric

for

Cases.

Operations

....

Page

134

CHAPTER

IX.

Curiosities

of

Mesmerism.
"

Unsatisfactory
Account
"

Nature
of

of

Public The
"

Exhibitions.
modes in tances. Dis-

"

Apology
the Is
"

for

giving

one.

it

by

Visitor. It
"

which

Mesmeric absorbed

Fluid

can

be

transmitted. Can
pass

acts

at

great Wall.
"

by
----___._

Water.
"

through

Final

Experiments
APPENDIX
...-.....,

Page page

145

I56

MESMERISM

IN

INDIA.

CHAPTER Aversion
old

I. the in Public

of
Notions
"

the

old
must

Schools be

and

to

new

Ideas.

"

Some

suspended
"

fairly considering
to

ism. Mesmer-

Irrational Laws

Incredulity.
"

Mesmerism Men Public in

"

be

tried
to

by

the

usual the

of Evidence. for the Public.

Medical
"

not

entitled
to

decide

Matter

The
Men

invited

judge

of

the

Matter

of
"

Fact.

"

Medical
Labour
a

this
All

Country
easy

favourably
"

placed.

Personal

necessary.
"

afterwards.
Power

Qualifications of general.
The
"

Mesmeriser. the

The

Mesmeric

very
"

The

Sick

proper

Subjects
to

for
the

Experiment.
Mesmeric
"

Natives
"

of Bengal
the School Man.

very

susceptible of the
true

ence. Influ-

Nature Power and

"

Physician. of
Animals.

Mesmerism Mesmerism
an

natural

of

"

Instincts
"

"

known

practised
Dangers
to

in India.

Trial

of Skill
no

with

Eastern

Magician.
it.
"

of Mesmerism
the

Reason in

for rejecting
Disease.
" "

No

need

interfere with

Mind Mental

Bodily
Phenomena.

My

Patients invited first

bad
to

Subjects for judge

the of and have

the

The

Public

Question
new

practically and
of among wisdom

fairly.
there

ON
is
ever

the
a

broaching
commotion

any

branch

knowledge,
the of vias "let have

great

combination
on

lished old-estabtors, ances-

schools,
and satisfied and there and
to

which

thriven
more

the "stare
content

their

desire

nothing
as

than
are,

super
to to

antiquas,"
alone"
;

with

things
a

they

and in

well

is also
to

general
called
set at

dislike
to rest

society again
ago.
we

its mind
matters

settled, un-

be

upon

think

about We

posed supsame

have

been old

long
that

have for

the old

affection

for
and

familiar because

ideas

entertain the

coats,
our

shoes,

hats,

they humour
has
at

peculiarities of
the

constitutions. But medical relates I

hope

the

time
to

last

come

for
a

public, and
man,

the he

profession,
facts that and

listen

patiently
under of I

to

medical observation he

while

have for the

fallen truth
as

his which

regarding
his

Mesmerism,
and

pledges

private

professional character,

hereby

do.

"9

2O

SOME

OLD

NOTIONS

NOT

TENABLE.

Under
that his

such
statements

circumstances,
shall be of the
a

writer till

has

a are

right

to

expect
or

believed

they

disproved,

till dishonesty in any In

considering
to

shall be detected. partiesconcerned and it will wonderful, subject so new

be

necessary grown it for

sown.

clear

away

many

thorns

and its

thistles

which

have

up

in the mental

soil,exhausting
of be

strength, and

receiving the
At will of be is

seeds it will the

are

truth, however

freelyand

present
dismiss
our

reader
powers
cannot

sufficient, if, as a respectable old notion, that

confined within upon their
own

unfitting carefully preliminary, the

the vital

bodies

limits, and
the of

transferred

to to

and

act

others.
vital

On
fluid

contrary, one_perwhich it

there
son

can

good reason be poured

for it
as a

believe the

that the
of

into

system
to

andlffer, upon
and
extent

has

various

effects,according remedy, and

to
answer

constitutional the
manner

the peculiarities,
to

demand

which is not,

it is exhiSited
as

in order

different
up

purposes.

Man

commonly
a

supposed,

shut

in his

that

pent-house, his
resources.

body,

isolated, and

by
God

benevolent has

impotent to will, and his

affect
own

fellow-creatures

beneficially
A merciful power

innate

ingrafted

"^j

\x

in the

human

a communicable, body, in order that when

curative life-giving,
two
one

individuals in health

are

found
often
to
a

together,deprived
be him power able
a

of the

aids

of art, the his sick

may

to

soothe

and

relieve

companion, by imparting
that
we

portion
will the

of his

vitality. To proud
with and

believe

possess

such

is, surely, a
entertain
to

public

I hope the exalting idea, which I trust be able to to pleasure; and and dispassionate of for
an

prove that this is

satisfaction
no

of all

minds, reflecting
a

fond

delusion
at

excited

brain, but

tial substan-

blessing,daily
man's
powers,

individual and the

good, extending immeasurably natural doing good by his unaided comfort and to humanity, suffering bringing healing
work
power

of

all

over

world. force of

Such

is the

habit, and
extension

aversion of man's been has

to

new

train

of

thought, that
with him of
a as

this

proposed
one

much
or

distaste, as

if it had and
can

has been received power intended to deprive been

limb,

of his senses,

subjected to
is
more

an

irrational
common

which incredulity than

to

nothing
a

satisfy.Nothing they
in

hear
"

persons go

boast, "that step farther

not

will not

believe

it

till

they

see

it:"

some

smothering
it if

their it ;"

reason,
"

and

declare, that "they would

known

believe the

they
had

saw

and

I have but

others, not
their
own

only refuse
because

evidence

of their declared

senses,

deny

deeds,

they

IRRATIONAL

INCREDULITY.

21

and ludicrous thing to be "impossible!" It is a common error to see people mistaking obstinacy for strength of mind, and selfand sufficiency for knowledge; aiding the delusion, by calling themselves been respectable in "Sceptics,"that name having once had doubt the about philosophy; whereas, they have never any condescend and will never the subject mentioned to hear matter, without emphatic expressions of contempt and disgust. These the "enfans perdus" of knowledge, and be left to the must are free indulgence of their passions and who prejudices; for a man the
"

never

doubts, will Few,

in the of be

never

learn of

he

may

grow
can

older, but
be

not

wiser.

extent

would
not

privilegedto the and of human St. Thomas; the horizon knowledge if all that did we miserably circumscribed, rejected we
and refused
to

solution

their

doubts,

understand,
of what
our we own

believe is

facts, except
this is
no
a

on

the

dence evi-

senses. seen

There and
to to

absolutely no

merit

in believing

have

handled;

exercise savage
:

of the
but it is

judgment, and is level of reason the privilege

statements

the

understanding of
to

be able

believe

in the most

surprising
and
to

of

others, if properly supported

by evidence,
may

adopt their
and rational the the

conclusions,
the deductions

although
drawn,
a

the

facts
our

have

been

served, obsuch

by
to

antipodes.

One

conversion for When

seen

is worth

thousand

senses;

its influence
a

extends says,
not
a

produced by crediting all over reasoning minds

not

world. I had

person
must

"I be

would

have
at

believed

it,

unless

it," he

surprised
of truth
my

his

neighbour
own

requiringequal
I
am

satisfaction.. As

lover told very

for its

sake,

very

little gratified by
say

being
is
a

by

because

only
a

you small

so."
our

This

friends, "I believe it, barren belief,and reaches

be

circle ;

faith

and

opinions should

built upon

broader

basis, than

personal confidence
for

recognised laws testimony, upon

new or

of evidence
whatever the

in any There one. are the human of testing credibility

may
we

subject it
may

be

strange

proposition

be,

given ; and however shall, by a careful and

of dispassionate examination what we safely believe,on may our judgments, and how much

the

proofs, be able to determine what points we ought to suspend should be rejected. In spiritual
are

matters,
and

we

have

been

told, "Blessed
This of truth
in

they

that

have the

not

seen,

yet have

believed."

blessingalso

follows

ready, but
and cared
lar secu-

reception discriminating,
affairs. Mental
reward the
men

philosophy,morals,
if profit,
nature

satisfaction, honour, and

of the know
secrets

for,
await
to

the

first discoverers
sense,

of
to

; riches
new

of clear

who

how

turn

the

truths

22

MEDICAL

MEN

NOT

ENTITLED

practical purposes
remedies have been
removes

; and

in

medicine, the early application of

human It

new

much

otherwise that
a

hopeless.
disbelief

suffering that would probably is a curious nomenon, psychological pheseems

hard

in Mesmerism afforded the

to

be

in proportion

to

the

extraordinary facilities
by his
own

himself
senses.

deeds, and
resorted

of satisfying every one evidence of his own

to

No
at

"hocus

pocus," no
are

pretensionsto
to

exclusive
many
are

powers,

no

attempts
whose be neither

concealment,
has
never
nor

by
who
us,

Mesmerisers,
well known
to

word

been knaves.
as

doubted, and

fools

They
as

say

to

"Do

thus, and
cannot,

you
or

will

probably
But

become

wise

ourselves;
"

will not, be at

people

the necessary in general

amuse

trouble,

come

if you see." and

or

prefer
of

to

dictate
at
own

laws the

to

nature

from
of her

their

easy

chairs, and
the To

themselves their

expense

"0
_

are

followers, chasing pleased to say.

whatever that favourite

shapes
those it may examine would

imaginations, as
to

they

who

reallydesire
upset, I would
the evidence
matter

know

the truth,
to
mend recom-

ideas

venture

they just as
I To
can

should

in support worth will be

of

merism, Mes-

about

; and

they any confidently promise

other

inquiring
richly
warded. re-

that

they

of "y
or

Bacon,

remind them, I would encourage "that the inquiry of truth, which of

them is the

in the

words

love-making
presence

wooing
it ; and

it; the
belief

knowledge
of

of

truth, which
is the and

is the

of

the

truth, which nature;"

be

"" sovereign good of human

of

humanity can only the senses to which are only handmaids. exercising our intellect, The public are too apt to consider the subject of Mesmerism come to bea as means professionalone, and not to take the necessary acquainted with it till the doctors shall have decided what
is to be believed I
am

attained

enjoying of it ; is the that this highest gratification by carefully training and

about

it.

This

is

an

error men

on

the

part of the
as

public, for,
know

nothing
or can

to say, sorry there about it; and

medical is

in in

general
their
upon
on

yet
ject, subor

nothing

previous
the truth

knowledge,
falsehood

however

great and
to

varied, that
ex

bears

entitle them of the

one new

decide,
of

cathedra,
the

the
at

discoveries.

As evidence

question
can

present

stands, it is
which
as
so a

of of

facts, and

in support

of

them, of
as

jury
When
or

sensible

unprofessional men
the shall
to

judge

well
plexing. per-

many

doctors, to whom
the the doctors trouble the taken

subject is equally new

have

and for

experimented
the

selves, them-

witness

practice of
cannot

others,
better

and

carefully studied

subject, the

public

do

TO

DECIDE

THE

MATTER

FOR

THE

PUBLIC.

23

than
to

take

them

for their is
so

guides

; but

this "consummation
not

devoutly

be

wished" will

remote,

I fear, that

many

live to

benefit

by Mesmerism,
recommend

if

they

of this tion generawait till it is admitted

into the I
common

Pharmacopoeia.
the
in

would

therefore
and of of

sense,

sober

judgment,
if the

their public to exercise tors determining for the docdecides that it is

the

matter

fact ; and

community

reallya remedy proofs in support

to
a as a

that there is no resistingthe great efficacy, of it,that to know mendation nothing about it is no recomman;

medical remedial alone

then

Mesmerism be

will

assume

its of

proper those abuses

rank who

agent, and

should

practise it ;

for

in the hands and

doubting
entreat

ignorant and dogmatising about Mesmerism,

brethren
a

of the

lodged in the hands it is subject to enormous unprincipled. Instead

I would
test

of

earnestly

my

medical for it is
not to

to

put

it to

the
not

experiment,
want
common

thing
most
men

to be

done, and
answer

talked

by personal of only : "I

person of

facts,and
sense

ivords," will be the

of every

the

It is

by
to

medical

experimentally,without
theories Mesmerism instructions
as

ingenious objectors. this country taking up the subject previous knowledge of it,and having no
in

dogmatical

and

make
may
to
as

good
be be

or

defend, that

the

truth

or

falsehood

of the

very

speedily
given,

decided.
not

By
that of from
to

following
many

hereafter for

I doubt

will be
tion mo-

successful
a

myself,

law
are

of nature
most

whose wonderful

they are the means springs are hidden

and beneficial

putting in
us,

but

whose when

effects

humanity,
yet
a

properly directed. I beg leave But to warn knowledge of the subject, that
is In

all who
to
so

have the

not

practical
of Mesmerism

produce
light and

phenomena
as

by

no

means

thing

easy

some

imagine.

the extreme so degree of coma, singularly sensitive persons out intense as to permit the performance of surgical operations,within a few sometimes be obtained awaking the patient, may hour minutes or an two, and the process ; but, in general,it takes often In and does
not

succeed

till the

second,

or

even

fourteenth

time.

this, as

in

everything else,nature
secret treasures

will not
to

"unsought
who
ct

be her

won,"
with

only yieldsher
be the Mesmerist's his

those "Lahore has

court

earnestness,
to

and sincerity,

resolution.
until he

sudore"
the

ought
desired
to

motto,

produced
for
our

results himself proper

by
and

personal efforts,and
After be

thereby given
under

confidence number

others. may

this, all is easy,

to act

any

of

assistants

taught

superintendence;

24

QUALIFICATIONS

OF

MESMERISER.

and

this is the
to

only
extent.

way

in

which

physician can
that the it will not book.
to sweat

merism practiseMes-

any

But
set

I would
to

venture

to

suggest,
us

be

enough

to
too

people
the

mesmerise
nature to
our

for

by

It is

exacting
But

much

of human

expect

people

for hours

ing paw-

air, "c.,
and
see

for the and

incomprehensible objects.
effects of

let them labours of

look their will

on

wonderful
a

produced

by

the

superiors; spring
it from up,
to

host

willing and
will of the needful

efficient Mesmerisers and

lieve re-

execute

the

directing mind,

the

drudgery
about and
it is
to
a

of the

bodily exertion.
moral
a

Much

has in
a

been

written

the such

physical and
a

Mesmeriser,

picture
to

of

qualitiesnecessary has "perfect monster"

from

been

drawn,
to

that

enough
a

deter

one

making
I should

the be

tempt. at-

If asked choose

select person

natural of
a

Mesmeriser,

posed dis-

the high organisation, in whom and mined nervous circulating systems were equally active, with deterdo the thing if possible, and love to will, a resolution a of truth and induce him "do for love to humanity, that would what far

gold

could

never

buy."
and

But, when

the

way

has

been for

shown,
all practical and
can

less energy
purposes.

of

mind

body
the

is

quite sufficient
who
are

Healthy
who will
out
our

young

persons, necessary

tractable

and patient, be and

more

give

degree
most

of attention, efficient
power
manner

made I

to

work
to

intentions that than the

in the the has

;
a

hope

make of

it appear
nature

mesmeric hitherto
to

is

far

general gift Finding it impossible, after

in
my
own

been

supposed.
the ject sub-

first month,

prosecute

person,
"

fatigue
has
a

it caused,

for
young

owing to the great bodily and mental I spared neither, I set work to my
"

hospitalattendants,
been
my
success,

Hindoos every I
to
one

and

Mahomedans;

and has

such

that Now

I have need
my

taught
to

become
at

skilful
a

Mesmeriser. dozen

do

not

mesmerise whether

all,

having
in in

assistants of

execute

wishes,
or

it be
coma

mesmeric

treatment

medical

cases,

for

procuring
to
an

surgical operations. To those who, by their

for
to

own

powers,
venture

may

desire that
a

test

the

truth desire
overcome

themselves,
know the

I would

to

suggest
conditions

earnest to

truth,

fixed

attention, and

resolution

first difficulties, are

as

essential

of

mind up

for the

the

operator,

the of

means

of vital
on

concentrating and
agent, whatever
the

keeping
be. of

continued

action should

the

it may

First

experiments
them
; which

be made

sick,in
be

the
a

hope

benefitting
to

will hopes, if strongly felt,

stimulus

exertion,

THE

SICK

THE

PROPER

SUBJECTS.

25

and

an

element

of

success

totally wanting

in
to
are

experimenting
be affected.

on

difficult healthy subjects, who are also more whole need not a physician, but they that bountiful and
never

"The ever how-

sick;" and
she is
never

nature wastes

may

be

to

her

creatures,
power.

igal, prodis the take it

unnecessary

Mesmerism

"Medidne_joi_Nature
when it is not needed

;" and
; and

she

refuses, very
upon

wisely, to
in
a

if forced

her

state

of health,

it is very to do mischief likely "well" is pretty sure to make like to ascertain

very

; for any attempt to be better than ill People say to me, "I would one ;
as as

if I

can

be

mesmerized I should

do
soon

try." I reply,

"

You
your
a

probably cannot;
to

and of

comply
you

with

desire
cause;

feel the
you

effects need in

opium
will

mesmerise

without

when

it, you
health

probably be benefitted
influence
state

by it."

Besides,
that he when

a person will remain

resistingthe
to

is

no

proof
body,
for
i"Ar5P'

insensible be
an

it in

an

altered the

of the

there
sustenance

may

actual

craving of

nervous

system

this

from
am

without.
to

As

yet, I
Say

sorry

add, I cannot,

with

any

degree

of

fidence, con-

who

fluence, without
have
to

ara-lha-persnnssnsrppHhlp fo thA-mpcmprir first trying. But it is satisfactory to know,

persons

inthat

by far the majority of

been their in
most

acted

affected

in different for the

by me, and my degrees, all of which

upon

ants, assistare

valuable ineases; diswe

and should The sensitive that

a

possessors, of the

relief and I have had world

cure

of

their that

failures
process

little doubt been

seem

have

succeeded,
of this the mesmeric

if the

prosecuted.
to

people
to

part

of
power;

the

be been its

peculiarly
observed

and

as

it has favours

reception, understand we can easily why they, as a body, should be more of the affected than Europeans. population Taking Bengal generally, deficient they are a feeble, ill-nourished remarkably race, natural in nervous debilityof constitution being still ; and energy for their further lowered will account probably by disease, Their mental stitution conby the Mesmerist. being so readily subdued of the morbid have also favours none irritability jis ; we
nervous

depressed state

of the

system

of

nerves,

and

the

mental of

impatience
which
met

of

the

civilised the
to

man,

to

contend of
nature.

against; both
The
success

resist and with the

neutralise is

efforts uted, attrib-

I have

mainly

be

I believe, to children of but smallest nature;

my

patientsbeing
neither
to

simple, unsophisticated
strating, remon-

thinking, questioning, nor

my

passivelysubmitting
my

pleasure,

without

in the

degree understanding

object or intentions.

How

far

26

NATURE

THE

TRUE

PHYSICIAN.

artificial had the

man means

may

have

forfeited but my
out

his

birthright I have
small number

not

yet
have

of have
to

knowing;
come

of the

of Europeans

who

under

observation, the
if the
a

majority
sons

also succumbed will mother We have

us

the influence
to return

; and

proud
to

of civilisation feet of their her she bounties. has

nounced re-

condescend

for

moment

the

Nature,
so
as

they

also

will

probably

benefit

by
to

far

deserted

Nature,
but

that, in
left

return,
us

unnatural

children, and

our

ciency self-suffiare mere

and make-shifts curative

artificial resources; and

these, in general,
with
the

palliatives, compared
of The
to
sees

steady

and

ing endurand is of he
erted ex-

powers action.
nature

nature, whole

when
art

properly
of the
true

understood

brought
to

into

physician
the
case

induce and when

interfere

and her

take

up

his

patient ;
in

he
on,

signs of
confines routine the the

gracious presence,
to

reverentially looks
her
to

and

himself

way.

But with

removing practitioner will rarely

of the
cure.

only ments impedidescend con-

divide and be

nature

merit have
to
cure

He

and

his

pills, powders,
one

potions, must
able sometimes he is called

all the

credit ; and the

or

if any

pretends
powers

to

of

nature,
as a

by quack, impostor,
my

disease

ed unassist-

fool, and
uine gen-

hunted

down medical

fera

naturae.

But, in

estimation, the

lows disease, yet alprofessing to cure and perish,by ignorantly, or presumphis patients to tuously, of relief. The despising any promising or possible means from his degenerate Father of Medicine thought very differently in an which for he says, art "Nothing should be omitted sons, the whole be beneficial interests to world, which suffering may life and comfort." does risk human not humanity, and which when But time apothecaries, chemists, and diploma'd a was, was an man unreasoning animal, physicians did not exist ; when

quack

is he

who,

suffer

"

devoid natural

of

all the

resources

of

art, yet
a

flesh is heir the

to ; and

it is
to

subject to all the ills subject of deep interest to

what
were

that the

philosopher and
remedies,
were

physician
with
as

ascertain other
to

his natural his stincts in-

in

common
as

the

animals;
what

whether

strong

theirs, and
under

conservative That he the

powers

he such

resorted appears animal

when
to
me

labouring
to

disease.

possessed
analogies Deity
to

be

extremely
the be if not

probable, from
benevolence and

of the
to

creation, and
It must
were,
man;

universal
most

of the

his

creatures.

important
what their

instructive the

discover remedies

what of

or,

yet known,
of

are,
we

natural best
to

for

by observing
processes

effects

shall

understand

the

restorative

Nature,

and

be

able

ANTIQUITY

OF

MESMERISM.

imitate

them

by art, with
from Mesmerism
reason

hitherto unattained certainty

cine. by medi-

So there natural

far

being
believe that the
us

new

and

unnatural oldest and

art,
most

is every mode of the

to

it is the
severe,

of

curing
race.

many

of Let

uncomplicated
for
a

eases disthe had

human
savage

imagine,

moment,

condition learned and diseases. brute

to us,
to to

of

men,

before, by long experience, they

of the medicinal
for the would
cure

avail

themselves

virtues of
more

of the
most

ble vegeta-

mineral

kingdoms,
in
;

their

pressing
than the known

Man,
which

this have
are

state,

be

helpless
of them their far
as

creation

they

happy instincts, many

directed
not

by
could

they

only
man,

to
so

natural
we

food,
the

but

their

natural in his

medicines.

But make

yet know
on

him,

sufferingsonly
him,

vague

experiments

natural upon but he

objects around
some

in the This

suitable
more

remedy.
be fish
were

desperate hope of stumbling might occasionally happen,

than cured

was

to likely

poisoned
more

by
than

his first he.

periments. ex-

The

very

favoured the

The

salmon,
and
the

by

ascend sea-lice

at a sea instinct, quit the rivers, thereby getting rid of their and (which the fresh water speedily kills,)
an

infallible

certain

season,

tormentors,
at

the of

same

time kind. and

to

reaching
After

the

spots

destined the
spawn,

for the

the

propagation
to

their

depositing
to renovate

parent

fish, black, lank,

us,

sick,distasteful
the
sea

themselves, and
their in health
;

unwholesome

hasten issue
run

to

whence,
brilliant The heads

again, they
as

in the the

another
same

year,
course

increased
as

size,and
turn

silver, to
and

long

as

life continues. egg,

ocean,

young

fry, also,
for

moment

they
and

break

the the

their

seaward,
is necessary

never

stop till they reach

whose

action

their

growth
The and from

health.
eats

dog
even,

grass,

and
to

licks induce

his

sores
crows soon

when
to
as

sick; the

cow,

calf

sham and
to

dead,
ears

the
as

pick

the

vermin

their

eyes

; the

chick,

it breaks after

the shell, bitten

pecks gravel,

aid

digestion; the
retires
to

mongoose,

being

by
and

its enemy, the

the

snake,
and

the

fields,to seek
it
comes

its antidote

against
at

poison ;

this it the

finds,for
animals
the

back from

quite well
the
most

certain

seasons

wild
to

resort,

distant

parts of the country,

Numberless the and naturalist, that the

"salt-licks," to
of the
same

renovate

their
occur

constitutions.
to

instances humble

kind
even

will

the

observer

of nature

; and

is of

it

imaginable
should

ever-watchful, all-bountiful
"noble

Providence

God

have

left the

savage,"

alone

of

all His

crea-

28

MESMERISM

THE

UNIVERSAL

CURE

tures,

to

run

such

cruel

risks,and

in perish helplessly

his natural

should we Reasoning a priori, our tive posisay not ; and the bestowed all his knowledge of equal care on by God forbids the creatures, supposition. Man, then, had probably some instinct by which he was directed medicine of sovto a natural ereign saved virtue, and by which the hunter and his family were from starvation, when disease, for a time, deprived his right hand of its cunning, unnerved his iron sinews, and bowed his If this be a natural what could be his gallanthead. supposition, if not Mesmerism that inherent resource implanted, as power, I conceive, in the human being, for the solace of his suffering
"

ignorance ?

speedy restorative of the powers of life, in cases ural adapted to it (for, like every natand in pain limits;) and men agent, it has its conditions have instinctive an tendency to perform the required processes.
creature most

fellow

This

is the

simplest and

From

its

how simplicity, would be such

consonant
a

with

all

we

know

of the

laws
to

of nature
meet

the

The
would

exigencies of more observing

detect the them

and power, life ! savage

how

admirably adapted

soon

it is men, among savage of their latent curative powers into

own an

presumable, bodily system,

disease, and

and the had

we

develope
them

art

for

the

cure

of when

advancement

of

their

interests.
a source

But of

given
may

skill,and
a

it became

experience gain, they made,

attempted
to
cure se-

suppose,

mystery
secret
races

of their
for

and calling, and

see

the among the

lucrative
savage

themselves
we

families.

Hence,
tised pracsecret

of

mankind,

exclusively by
of their themselves
power

conjurors,either
into
a

healing art artfully concealing the

the other
mummery,
or,

by

incantations, and
Mumbo
the

possibly,
plishments. accom-

deceived If the

belief of the

efficacy of
of

such the
ever

Jumbo
charmers

men

Africa,

medicine succeed

men

of

America,

and

of this country,

disposed to relievingtheir patients (and here they do,) I am Mesmerism. The curable that it is generally in cases think by that from "Mesmeric Journal" will show following extract my
in

this is not that

so

fanciful is
so

speculation
time

as

it may this

at

Mesmerism been

actuallypractised in
immemorial,

first appear, and country, other

and has

probably

from

like every

custom

in this immutable

society.
"

June Qth, 1845.

to
one

of

the

most

high reputation for

been
sent

of being introduced to-day the honour famous enjoys a magicians in Bengal, who of hysteria, and had his successful treatment I had my

for

to

prescribe for

patient (whose

case

will

be

AMONGST

SAVAGE

NATIONS.

29
of

afterwards Mesmerism, Ghosaul,

me

given,)

but

came

too

late; the

success

having left him nothing to do. deputy magistrate of Hooghly,

to

Baboo
at

charm, my Essanchunder
duced introthe
art

my

request
studied

him

as

brother

magician,
of the the
secrets

who

had but the that the East from

of

magic
from
to

in

different I the had

parts
learned and

world,
of

Egypt,
mann,

where

particularlyin great SooleyI had

same,
a as

moollahs whether held all

fuqueers, and
charms
men

great
the

desire hakeems

ascertain of

our

were

Europe
that
we

the

wise

of the
come

in

high

tion, estima-

knowing

knowledge
show
he

had

proposed
and,
for and after

that much

should

each

other
to

our

quarter. I respective charms,

me

that

persuasion, assuaging pain. He sent

a

agreed
a

show

his

process water,

for

brass
upon

pot,

containing

two twig muttering his charms,

with

or

three arm's

leaves

it, and

commenced In
a

short

time of his

help
the

the patient. length from he dipped his fore-finger into the water, and, with face ; he then thumb, flirted it into the patient's
at

the took

leaves, and
to

commenced the toes, with

the

stroking
a

the

person motion. he

from The

the

crown

of the head almost

process

slow he

drawing
said that

knuckles the
me

touched for
an

body,
or ever

and

would

continue

hour,
charmers

longer,
do

if necessary

; and

it convinced it is

that, if these
Mesmeric that would if I
was now

good by
great
that

such
to

means,

by
I

the said and

influence, probably unknown

convinced of mine his
own

themselves. his

the

efficacyof
he would After
some

charm,

show

him
on

; but

understand

it better

performed
to

person.
to

difficulty, we
to

got

him

lie down,
as an

and,

give
him
to

due

solemnity
chorus his eyes,
entrance

my

ings, proceedof the

I chanted, Cannibal his that felt his and his had he felt Islands

invocation, the
I

of the

"King
the and

!"

I desired

shut
no

and
to

he clenched brain said

to

eyelidsfirmly,that
inlet. In
a

might
of
an

find hour

by
he

quarter

he

jumped
him, and
lie down
eye

something disagreeablecoming over He was over-persuaded to escape.

I
soon saw

up, wished

make

the

muscles

around

the and

again, however, begin to relax, and

I
was
a sure

face

became my

perfectlysmooth
brother

calm.

that

caught
bolted

magician napping, for, in

his hands him
to

few

minutes,
cried he

up

suddenly, clapped
and

his
to

head,

nothing could induce "abiit, exccssit,evasit, erupit!" Next

drunk, "Well, put you
allow you
to
were

lie down

again;
said,
not

day

I last

saw

him, and
I could

too

strong for
"Oh ! yes, you that

my

charm

night ;

sleep."

Sahib," he put
me

answered, "you did

; I

it ; it is allowed

to

sleep."

3O

CONTRARY

TENDENCIES

OF

MESMERISM.

will case gentleman, whose of the two recognised the identity

A had been

be

given hereafter, immediately

and told
me

processes,

that

he

Mesmerised,
and with
to

he

now

knew,
a

in

different

part of the
of the

country,
In

much

in relief, with

painful affection

leg.
had had
pears apare

addition

the

traction the him

the

leaves, his mesmeriser

assistant It thus
processes

breathed done when

carefullyupon mesmerising
the this beneficial

pained part, just as my for rheumatism. locally

of the Mesmeric the
secret

that known from when in

remote

effects and

country,

has

probably
castes.
"

descended
on,

in certain antiquity, speaking of Somnambulism,

families, or
a

Farther be

curious

history will

given,

the evil, as well as they knew villainous good, of Mesmerism, and practiseit for the most poses. purThe evil from the possible resultingto society practiceof Mesmerism favourite has been when the evidence a objection,even
me

which

leads

to

suspect

that

of But

its existence the

and of
or

power

could

no

longer be resisted.
the direction and mercury,

tendency
good,
the from

given

to

it for

all power evil; and

depends upon to eject opium,

prussic

acid

administered,

pharmacopoeia, because, when injudiciously instead of they poison, curing our patients;or to
of
us as a

reject the
sometimes be
as

agency

steam

for the

takes

longer
refuse if

purposes journey than be cured

of
we

life, because intended,

would

it

reasonable also

to

it could

injure
may,

us,

by Mesmerism, because ignorantly and injudiciouslyapplied.

to

That

this

agent
is most upon

and

will, be

turned

to

the be

most at

diabolical the trouble

purposes,
to

certain, if the
the

public will
defend
comes

not

think

subject, and
the

itself

by

common-sense

precautions.
pure,

But

and of

the man's

it as power perversion of it is the life here all done

use

from

the

Creator

is The

work
to

of the separate

creature.

object
the and

clearly is
"

the

good
is else:

from

evil ; "to

prove

things, and
in of any

hold

fast that
as

which

good ;"
the and

this

can

be
not

Mesmerism,

in

anything
be

abuse, and
far to
me,

the

great power,

is to
my

dreaded

guarded against.
go
to

I have

great hopes that

separate
been Mesmeric

the

have

regions of mind unnecessarily and

observers;
of
"

by former
the Mesmeric

and

experiments will and body, which, it seems perplexingly intermingled this will not only simplify
remove

treatment

disease, but

the
on

principal
the

objection
often
appear,
most

to

it; namely

the the

necessity of acting
cure

mind,

injuriously, during
that in the
as

of

a as

bodily infirmity. It will

a

exercise
as

of the

art,

medical mind

agent
has
never

of the

benign

well

powerful nature, the

been

SIMPLICITY

OF

MESMERISM.

$1
it been sanative heard of in

attempted
my

to

be influenced In

by

me,

nor

has

ever

practice.
Mesmerism

of

subjecting my patients to the for bodily complaints, no mental

so

influence has
ever am

rapport
without and

thought of; and if sanguine that it will soon complication of the

been than

much

can

be be

done
a

it, I
sary unneces-

be

proved

to

tedious

art, and the

"more

honoured of
as

in the

breach

the. observance."

In

management
be

mental the mind

disease, it

will
much

probably
more

be

required, and

useful,

depends

upon
an

this is

only

in all honour the

a

But organisation than is generally supposed. of the blessing,if the power extension is wielded of purpose. and simplicity In this,as in other matters,
we

danger lies in the company

purse

keep.

The

possessor

of

well-filled
; and

does
man

not

seek eschews

the the

companionship society of knaves

us,
us

of

pockets pickif

the honest is of

; and
common-

Mesmerism
sense our

mode bodies in the

thought likely to proceeding should

minds,
need when of
to

benefit

the

same

influence

in the I
am

disposal of
convinced this To
means,

and

affected evils with

by disease.
removable the mind

that there is
a

majority
no

bodily
interfere

by
at

will be
mere

all.

do

so

mixed ment treata travellingout of the record ; and where be safely adopted, by using the simple is required it can the necessary with edge knowlprecaution of seeking an honest man let us hope that such abound. of the subject; and will soon mental will be disappointed that I have wonders to Many no

relate; but
can

no

inference from

against the
the silence

existence of
my

of

such

wonders

be

fairly drawn
have been
at

purely physical,and

searches patients. My refrom preclude me getting

at

the the

mind

all, for all activity of mind

made the brain from all external
to

is the
upon

natural the

enemy

of

purely physical impressions

seclude

system;
as

I
idly rap-

therefore
as

impressions

object being together, and altogether; and in proportion to our sensibility of Coma for in effecting this, is the early inducement success It is quite unreasonable to expect to extract surgical purposes. from fiddle without music to break at strings: and I endeavor a the five senses. all the strings of the mind blow, as it were, a possible ; the
"

extinguish bodily and

mental

It is true,
or

that this treatment

is

only required for

it

acute

diseases,
that

to

induce
treatment

to pain, and insensibility

might
be But

be

expected
to

in the mental

of chronic if

diseases, I should
exist in nature.
new

able
as

elicit the

phenomena,
is to

they
how

my

principal
viating alleem-

object

ascertain

far this
have

agent

is

capable of

bodily suffering,I

purposely -kept myself from

32

MESMERIC

SOMNAMBULISM.

barking on the troubled sea of metaphysics, till the bodily problem shall be solved, and a "terra firma"
facts

more

of
at

pressing indisputable
leisure, examine,

created, from
and above

whence
to

we

may

securely, and
the

attempt
us.

understand,

high and
most

jects mysterious ob-

ignorant of the people, and convicted felons from the same degraded orders, are the most for unfavourable subjects psychologicalexperiments. As all the world to physique, men versal uniare nearly the same over : an
vital law reduces be all to able is
so

My

patients, being the poorest

and

the
to

same

level

of

animal, and

the

coolie, therefore, may

the

mesmerise
not

the

philosopher; but
races,
amount

difference

in
to

morale

great,

only
and

individuals, as
actual the for

preclude
mutual

all

sympathy,
repulsion.
I have
we

among to often in
any

but
to

antipathy,and sympathy
and

Although
not
so
seen

producing
necessity
I
can

physical effects of Mesmerism,

the

rapport
in

read

much mental

about,
be

readilyunderstand, 'that
these for fine mental the
success

the higher eliciting

may

phenomena,
necessary but my

sympathies
of the

be

developed, and

abnormal
too

mental

manifestations;
common

patients and
mental

I have

probably
us.

little in be

to

admit

of

sympathy
on

between

It will I have and

seen,
a

however,
when

in the

chapter
versement

Somnambulism,
in the minds influence.

that

created

singular bouleunder

of coolies

pariahs

even,

the

Mesmeric
The

to public,when examing a subject so deeply interesting I take and liberal the view of ter, matan them, will, hope, enlarged

and
are

look

for

fundamental and

and
not

incontrovertible allow

truths, which
to

important, practically
of their
senses

themselves

be

cheated

out

and

judgment,

and

theoretical who

parts of the
wish the Mesmerism
nor

by the doubtful, mysterious, subjectbeing exclusivelydwelt upon,

to

by those
have Errors of

be

untrue,

or

by others
occur

who

neither

desire

observation
a new

and will

capacity to acquire new often and of judgment must difficult subject,but I hope
excused;
all doubtful and wherever
to

knowledge.
in such tional unintenbe

vestigat in-

mistakes

be

they shall

pointed
and and
am a

out

correct
mass

in my them. of

observations, I shall be ready

Let evidence be

acknowledge totally rejected,

I

substantial

confident, the
can

important truth will remain, which, public "will not willinglylet die;" for human
to

nature

ill afford

lose

any

new

and

promising
I

source

of

comfort Before

to

sufferinghumanity. concluding these prefatory remarks,

beg the reader

MESMERISM

AND

MEDICINE.

33

do
not to
me

the

injustice
to

think
me a

Mesmeric

doctor,

for

it

would

be
as

call
true to
me a

rhubarb,

jalap,
or

castor-oil

cian. physi-

Mesmerism

often
to
comes

the

aid

of
my

patients,

when

all

the
resources

of

medicine
are

exhausted,

and

all

the

drugs

of

Arabia

useless
;

and

therefore,

consider

it
to

be
my

duty
to

benefit

them

by

it,

and
to

assist

in

making

it

known

for

the

vantage ad-

of

mankind.

'

CHAPTER

II.
Both
"

The

French
Mesmerists

Commission

of 1779.
Mind

"

Right

and

Wrong.

"

The the

properly
"

punished.

Condition

required

in

Patient.
"

State

of my

before experimenting
Lausanne my
to

for myself.
"

Report

of the

Bishop

of of

the

Pope.

His
"

Reply.

"

Accidental

Nature my
"

First
"

Experiment.
First

Accidental

Nature

of

Second

Experiment.

Mesmeric

Surgical

Operation.

Conclusion.

THE

most

formidable,
existence of the

because Mesmerism French The

nature

the
as

most
a

reasonable
natural in the evidence this
to

argument is,
of
was

against
Franklin

the

power,

haps, per-

the

report
was

of

Commission
verdict of the of

1779,
Savans

which fair before

president.
the

enough,
them;
but

considering
yet,
summa

placed
case

(such

is human truth
a

in fallibility,)
was

summum as

fus

was

also will This

injuria, probably
say,

sacrificed

falsehood,
their

think

clearly appear
will

from
not

short time

analysis
wasted,
of the
a as

of

ings. proceedheard

be the

I have

telligent in-

gentlemen
still decided their

that

report
had truth
was

French of

philosophers
axioms in merism Mesand faction satis-

opinions.
to

They
whose

series
were

presented
the

them,

they
to

to

examine,
to

efficacy of

certain

processes

be

proved

their

by experiment.
The Mesmerist's that

object
he it to

seems a

to

have

been,
worth its

to

try

to

convince and

the

commission
to
a

had

secret

knowing,
extreme

yet

continue under

keep
of

himself,

by

hiding
and

simplicity
of
mery. mum-

load

complicated
the

machinery
of

various

kinds his

D'Eslon,
animal "I. absolute between

pupil

Mesmer,
fashion
an :
"

propounded

laws

of

magnetism,
Animal

after

this is and

magnetism
in nature, celestial

universal medium betwixt

fluid, constituting
of all mutual the earth and

an

plenum
the

the and

influence animal

bodies,

bodies."
This "II. and kinds of is It

only
is

gigantic
most

assertion. fluid in

the and

subtle

nature,
and

capable

of

flux,
all

reflux,
of

of

receiving, propagating,

continuing

motion."
34

FRENCH

COMMISSION

OF

1779.
; the

35
last is

The rash

first two

clauses

are

probable enough
is

only
this

dogmatism.
"III. The
means

animal of the

body

subjected to
which
are

the

influences

of

fluid

by

nerves,

immediately

affected

by

it." We
see no

other human

way,

at

present.

"IV.
to

The the

body

has

poles, and
been likelihood of animal

other

ogous analproperties,

magnet."

The

first

propositionhas
is action
one

never

proved, and magnetism

takes

thing every-

for granted ; there

"V. The and from

only
to

in the second.
may
or

virtue

be

municated com-

body
the

another, whether
between

animate

mate." inani-

True,
these
can

as

regards

relations inanimate

animate

bodies;

and

also

impregnate
a

substances. the intervention

"VI. of
any

It operates at

great

distance, without

body."
It is increased
and and increased and reflected

True.

"VII.

by mirrors, communicated,
and
may

propagated,

concentrated,

by sound, transported."

be

accumulated,

Soothing sounds possibly assist in lullingthe brain, but may essential ; the other assertions borne out are quiet is far more experience. by modern "VIII. Notwithstanding the universalityof this fluid, all
animal
some,

bodies

are

not

affected

by

it ; the

on

the

other of

hand, there
which

are

though
The "IX.

but

few

in number,

presence

destroys

all the

effects of animal

magnetism."
last not

first part correct, the

improbable.
diseases
are

By
and

means

of this fluid,nervous

cured

diately, immeto

the

mediately; and its virtues, in fact, extend and universal cure preservation of mankind." do not how True yet know ; to so great a degree, that we
others
go.

far

it may
1

Is

it

surprising that
a
mass

the

Commission
assertion but
so

dismissed and

ously contemptu-

such seasoned
to

of
to

sheer be
sure,
a

unsupported theory,
and obscured
was as

with

truth

diluted

not
tent con-

be

? recognisable
to

Like

Bengal witness, D'Eslon

but
one

not

tell the

truth
own,
as

simply,
that
no

added knew of

so

many
to

corroborating believe,and
the

inventions
case was

of his

what

dismissed

unworthy
cause,

further

investigation. He
in

ruined

himself,

and

his

also, (perhaps

ignorance, how-

BELIEF

IN

MESMERISM.

ever,) by loading the truth with a parcel of trumpery he hoped the power of nature would through which
penetrate.
her But

machinery,
nevertheless turned upon

Nature,
threw him

like and and

an

over-loaded

camel,

driver, and

his
ropes,

conducting-rods
buckets, into the dirt
her forth As
; and

paraphernalia of magnetic platforms, pianos, magnetised trees and

in

truth till
more

retired

disgust
men

to

the bottom

of her

well, there

to

dwell

honest the

should

draw

again
far if the
as

to

surprise
my

and

benefit goes, relation

a

world. is necessary and for

cess, suc-

observation in the

all that of agent

partiesare
in the

is passsubject, ive and

obedience
on more

patient,and
The in
state

sustained process
nature

attention

patience
one,

the

part of the operator.

the

being
the

natural
:

the of is

parties are

of

better

the

bodies

patients being naked, probably of no small consequence

my

and

their

heads

in the
my

generally shaved, proceedings.

Before

presenting
I may the

to

the be
my

reader excused belief life the of

sketch

of

perhaps history of
in
a

the in

merising, experiment in mesegotism of giving a brief

first

Mesmerism,
he discovers death
over

as

it is
that his he

markable re-

epoch
the
creatures.
v \

man's power

day

sesses pos-

temporary
Dr.

life and

fellow-

\"

^1

Ever

since

Elliotson did
not to

declared, years
declare his it

of
to

despise himself Mesmerism,"

all

if he

ago, that he "should conviction of the truth

became

and paid attention lightly, At well-attested the subject. last the facts reports upon well supported by credible witnesses, and were so so numerous, both adverse and their soning reakept against ground so firmly, I ceased

regard

and in the

ridicule, that
of the
Ten friend

I felt

compelled
Power,

to
or

surrender
cease

my
reason

belief
and I thus
tery, mys-

existence

Unknown

my

judgment.
wrote to
a

days before in England

? For
my

making
:
"

my

first

experiment,
of this
new

"What
am

think

you

Mesmerism and
cannot

part, I
we

thinking seriously about

hit upon
one

it,

help
I

suspecting that

have

of Nature's hear the

to

great
and in

secrets.

con.

If it turns its

keep myself perfectlyneutral, out to be a delusion, I shall

of the from

and be

pro

happy

assist

digging
The
and

grave." phenomena
various described of with the the

uniformity

by different
world,
conviction

sons, per-

coming
my

parts
me

strongly
that

arrested
some

attention, and

impressed
had

new

general Germany,
in

law and of

of Nature

been

discovered.
to

England,
the
new same

France,
evidence

America,
the
new

all combined

give

support

doctrines,

or,

rather,

phe-

BISHOP

OF

LAUSANNE'S

REPORT.

37 Martineau's
closures dis-

nomena

of

Nature.

About I also

the
a

time

that

Miss and

written

in

read appeared, May, 1841, by the addressed

to

curious

document striking and As

on

Geneva,

and

the Sacred

Archbishop of Lausanne at Rome. Penitentiary,

others that it did

it may possiblymake the it is here transcribed. me, "Most Eminent that

impression upon

Lord,
which
seems cases

Since
wished and

has

hitherto
no means

been
to

answered and suffice,

mal anirespecting it is much

to

magnetism
be
more

by
not

that
more

unfrequentlyoccurring may be uniformly,the undersigned humbly lays

follows who
:
"

solved before raT"

your

Eminence "A

that which
person,

magnetised
into that state
not
or even

enters

generally of the fpmaia-ggy, of sleepcalled Magnetic Somnambulism so

the

is

deeply,that brought
whom various

greatest noise

at

her

ears,

nor

any

lence viois

of iron
into she has

fire,is
kind

capable of
of

raisingher
the
is

from

it.

She

ecstacy by (for consent given consent touches when or gesticulations,

and

this

magnetiser alone, to necessary,) either by

is present, or by when he is at one,
a a

he

simple command,
distance of
even

that,too,

an

internal

several

leagues.
or

"Then, being interrogated,aloud

own

disease, or
who

those is

of absent

persons

mentally, concerning her to her, entirelyunknown

at
once

this person, anatomical

one evidently

unlearned,
men

exhibits
most

great
ternal of in-

in superiority diseases

science

to

medical

announces

accurately

matters;

indicates

the

cause,

seat, and
to

nature

most are skilful, and unravels their progress, difficult of understanding, variation, this in the terms and and to them, and complications; proper

in the human

body, which,

the

the prescribes "If the consulted them

simple and efficacious remedies. the magnetised woman concerning whom person is present, the magnetiser establishes the relation
most

is tween be-

If, however, he be absent, a this his place, and suffices; lock of his hair supplies for, when by
means

of contact.

lock

of

hair is

brought

magnetised person, he hair whose eyes on it,)

to whom

the hair

proximity of the hand of the what it is (without casting his declares it is,where the person is actually ing, sojournwhat he is and affords the doing, belongs,
into the

above-mentioned than

information
manner

respectinghis disease
men,

not

otherwise

if,after the

of medical

he

were

the inspecting
v

interior of his

body.

\" f V/T)

38
"Lastly, the
The
eyes

BISHOP

OF

LAUSANNE'S

REPORT.

magnetised
is

person
not
on

does

not

see

with
to

the

eye.

being covered,
off whatever

though

knowing
or

how

read, he
whether
seem

will read
a

placed

his head His

out

stomach,
too,

book

or

issue
at

from

manuscript, open or this region : but when

even

shut.

words,

to

brought

of this state, either

or, as

the order,
at

internal, of the magnetiser,

moment at

it were,

taneously spon-

the

previously
of
soever

announced

appears

to

be not

all conscious

the

by himself, he things gone through by

have have lasted ; what answered
;

him
may

in the

have
he

paroxysm, been demanded have

how

long
of him

it may he
may

what

r^JL

undergone; all these things have left no idea may in his understanding, nor the least vestige in his memory. "Therefore, the undersigned petitioner, seeing valid reasons for doubting whether of which such effects, the occasional cause is shown little proportioned to them, be simply natural, to be so in your that your Eminence earnestly and most ferventlyprays for the of the well the as wisdom, Omnipotent, as greater glory redeemed have been at by the Lord greater good of souls, which the be so to decide,whether, admitting a price,may pleased great of the premises, a confessor truth curate or safely permit may
to

what

his

penitents
That

or

parishioners :
"

"i.
or

they

animal practise
as

other
to

like characteristics, medicine.

magnetism, endowed art an auxiliary and

thrown into such
a

with

such,

tary supplemenstate

"2.

That

they they

consent

to

be

of magnetic

somnambulism.

"3.

That

consult

persons
or

magnetised
of these

in

such

manner

either concerning themselves

concerning
one

others. last mentioned three

"4. Or
in well their
as

that

they

undertake the

things,having
minds

first taken
every

precaution of formally renouncing

compact,
such

diabolic

explicit or

implicit, as
such
cautions, pre-

all satanic similar

interventions, since, notwithstanding

effects, or

some

effects, have

been

obtained

by

some

persons.

"Most of and
most

Eminent Lausanne obedient

Lord, by command
and servant,

of the most

Rev.
most

the Archbishop humble

Geneva,

your

Eminence's

"JAMES
"Chancellor of the

XAVIER

FONTANA,

Episcopal Chancery.
the

"Friburgh,

in

Switzerland,

Episcopal Palace,

ipth

of

May, 1841."

REPLY

OF

THE

PENITENTIARY.

39

RESPONSE.

"The

Sacred

Penitentiary, the premises having

that of these should
as

been
as

maturely
it
now

weighed,
answers :
"

considers the
use

be
set

answered in the

magnetism,
in the

forth

case,

is not

permissible.
"Given
at

Rome,

Sacred

Penitentiary,the
Castracane,
ELLA, to

1st

day of

July, 1841.

"C. "Pii.

CARD,
POM

M.

P.

of the

the

S. P.
"

Sec'y.

"Certified the 26th

as

copy

conformable

original. Friburgh,

July, 1841.
the

"By order, J. Perroulaz, Sec'y.of

It will be

Bishopric."

though the subject is held in dread by the reporter, as probably of diabolic origin, yet it is treated believed in, by a large coma as to, and munity, "great fact," known that catholics and protestants are found alike professso ing
observed,
a

that

belief

in

Mesmerism. it well

If

the

twentieth careful that

out

part
has truth

of

what

was as

reported was
I had be
on
no

true, of

deserved

investigation ; and,
God the

dread

knowing
to

anything
try
to

permitted
for

to

known,
the

I determined

find In

first favourable upon, of

to

experiment
female who

I should
a nervous

opportunity. choosing a proper have selected some probably

temperament,
to

sensitive

and

excitable influence.
was

myself, subject highly ination, imagBut,

desired

to

submit

the
my

supposed
first essay

beg

it to be and

remarked, particularly
was

not to

guided
able. favour-

by theory,
On

not

made the
was

on

subjectsupposed
specimen
destined than
on a

be

contrary, considered, theoretically

mesmeric
the

the

worst very the person

none

of
to

humanity,
be
my

first of

victim;
cast, alone

he

being

other
to

Hindoo

felon in

hangman

condemned
my

labour

the decided

roads,
the

irons. for

Accident
me,

determined
much have I met better

choice, and

matter

perhaps
as soon

should
first his

dog

or

pig
some

have done; for I theory would thought of commencing operations on the for the road, as of selectingthis man on than

good mesmeric
There
are

"material."
in particulars interesting in this first successful leave
to

mesmeric reader's

experiment
attention. The

India, to
and

which

beg

direct the

I.

purely accidental
want

unpremeditated
the

nature

of

the

experiment.
II. All of consent between

parties.

4O

NATURE

OF

MY

FIRST

EXPERIMENT.

III.
had
never

The
seen

operator's

want

of and

belief all I

in his knew

own

power;

for I from

Mesmerism,

about

it

was

scraps IV.

in the newspapers. The absolute should

ever

ignorance
have

of the

patient ;

it

being impossible
mesmeric

that he V. The

heard

of Mesmerism. of

therefore, impossibility,
all the circumstances
of be
source

imitating the
case,
:

phenomena.
Under
the
care

the

collusion and

between

partieswill not,
was

taken

I presume, to exclude any

suspected
of

possible every in the fallacy experiment.

European
senses,

belief gentlemen, sceptical and critical, or so strong in disthat they would have reasoned themselves of their out if they could : Ignorant Hindoos and who Mussulmanns, used be their eyes and their
ears

merely
will all

without

an

attempt

at

reflection,

independent reports, As I might same bearing testimony to phenomena. succeed this case to make never as again, I endeavoured perfect of different as possible in all its parts, by bringing the senses people to bear upon it,in all its stages ; and, I must say, that I cannot possible opening for mistake see or deception. It any has months been before the Indian for many public, who were invited of error that may have to point out source escaped any made and to disprove the facts, or no me, attempt has been explain them except by the easy and sweeping charge of away, in the observers; of the imposition in the patient, and delusion of I shall now give the reader the means probabilityof which judging.
separate
series and the of

found, by

First Madhab

Experiment.
condemned
in
a

Kaura,
with
to

hog-dealer,
on

to

seven

prisonmen years' ima

labour

the

roads, got
the

irons, for wounding

double the

man

so

as

endanger
to

his life,has

was

ordered

be

taken

from

jailto
off
sub.

Hydrocele. He to charityhospital,

be

operated upon. April 4th. The

"

water

was

drawn
cor.

one

side of the scrotum,

and

thrown in. injectionwere he threw his head On over feeling the pain from the injection, of the chair, and the back pressed his hands along the course of the spermatic cords, closing his eyelidsfirmly, and making the in pain. Seeing him suffering in this way, I grimaces of a man
two

drachms

of the

usual

turned

to

the

native asked

sub-assistant him if he

surgeon, had
ever

an

eleve

of

the ?

ical medHe

and college,

seen

Mesmerism

FIRST

SURGICAL

OPERATION.

41

said

that

he

had

seen

it tried
I

at

the "I

medical have
a

but without college, great

The mind know
man

effect.
on

Upon
man,

which but
as

remarked,
never saw

to

try it
it

this

it
not

practised,and
"

only

from

reading,
in the

I shall

probably

succeed." his his the

ing continu-

and of
an

position described, I placed began to pass my hands slowly over

inch, and
was

knees

between
at

mine,
distance stomach.

face,
he

the his

carried for
at

them half the

an

down hour of

to

pit of
was

This and

continued

before this time

spoken

to,

when

questioned
and

end

his

answers

were

quite
He

sensible
was

coherent.
to

ordered
a

remain
an

for

quarter
to

of

hour

quiet, and longer

"

the still

passes
no

were

tinued con-

sensible

effect.

Being
declared remained open roused breathed his

now

tired
it

(thermometer 85",)
a

be

failure. made said

While

I gave it up in despair,and I rested myself, the man and in

to

quiet, and
eyes,

fewer there
was

grimaces,
smoke
me

when the

ordered
room.

to

his my

he

This I back where took

now

attention, and
his

tempted
carried down my
to

persevere.

on

head,
face

and and The and

hands the this

from

the

of
I

head

over

his

epigastrium,
was

pressed
hands mine and

them his
a

united.

first time

done, he

his

off
; drew

groins
him
an were

pressed
and

them
was

both

firmly
was

down and

upon

long breath,
life

said, "I
to

his father process

mother,

had

given
senses

in, and
that He and the his

in about

again." The hour he began

gone;

same

persevered
must

gape,

said

he

sleep,

and

his

repliesbecame
said
were

incoherent.

opened
could lids
were

his

eyes,

when

ordered,
one

but

distinguish no
his hands
the
were

; his

eyes

smoke, only saw and quite lustreless,

of

he

opened heavily. groins,and

He
now name

All
on

appearance

pain
the

now

appeared dis-

crossed

his breast, instead showed

of
most

being
fect per-

pressed on
repose. called I for
a

his countenance
no

took,

notice

of

our

questions, and
notice. then him

loudly on him by now pinched him, pin in English, I

and drove

without

without desired the

attractingany disturbing him, and

my

asking
rowly, nar-

assistant
of his

to

watch
; it

it into and
as

small

back

produced
intervals
to

no

effect

whatever;

my

assistant

repeated
back
was

it at

in arch

different
more nos

places
nape

backwards

uselessly. His and he now latterly, resting on

it. the

had
in
a

continued
state

of

"opisthotothat

;" the
his

of his neck
on

the

sharp
now over

back

of the chair,
we

and had and

breech

edge of

Being
went

satisfied
to

got something extraordinary, I

the

Kutcherry,

begged Mr.

Russell, the judge, and Mr.

Money, the collector,

42

FIRST

SURGICAL

OPERATION.

to

come

and

see

what

had

been

done,
remained
no

as

I wanted
to

the presence
We found
ears

of

witnesses intelligent

in what

do.

him could

in the attract

position I had
his attention. in the

left him Fire

in, and
was

hallooing in his

then

his
tears

shrinking
into
our

least; and
a

applied to his knee, without liquor ammoniac, that brought

was

eyes
an

in

moment,
to

inhaled This

for seemed

some

minutes have
vived re-

without him I asked took the

causing
a

eyelid
he
to

quiver.
his head
;

to

little, as
if he

moved-

him

wanted
to

drink

he

shortly afterwards, and only gaped in reply, and I

opportunity
I could

strong
and
his

that

not

of ammonia give, slowly, a mixture so bear to taste like milk, it; this he drank
As

gaped

for

more.

the

"experimentum
was

crucis," I lifted
to

head, and
other, but
were

placed
without
an

his

face, which
a

directed

the ceiling
one

all this time, in front the

eyes

of

full

light; opened
any

his eyes, the

after

producing
amaurotic We
senses on were

effect upon

iris; his
their
total
to

exactly

person's, and
all
now

all noticed

lack-lustre

appearance. all the

convinced I ordered
to

that
him

of insensibility

existed, and floor,and

not

be

placed
at

on

mattrass
was now

the
I

be

disturbed

till I

returned.
ii A. M.

It

o'clock, the process

vexed

having
to

commenced

I returned

at

o'clock, and
back
-to

was

find

that The the

he

had

awoke,
doctor

and of

been the

carried
come

the
on

jail hospital. hearing doing

I that
so, and
went

native

jailhad
the
water

in; and
set

Sahibs

could

not

awake

he patient,
on

about

succeeded
to

by throwing
Russell the and
to jail,

his and

face, "c.
he

again
to

Messrs.
me

Money,
be
;

requested them
was
a

accompany

to

present
and and
we

when

interrogated regarding
series of We the

his

reminiscences
to

put down
of

questions to
found him

be

put

him,

at

once,
a

without

explanation.
face, and

looking
the
same

well, with
were

expression lively
him
; his
answers

following questions
down
at

put
:
"

to

being

taken

time

"How

do

you

feel?"

"Very well." "Any

"A "What "I
water
went

pain in the
has

throat,
in

or

elsewhere?"
no

little uneasiness

the
you
to

throat,

pain anywhere

else."

happened
of my

to

to-day ?"
the Imbarah

in the
out

morning

Hospital, to get

the

taken

scrotum."

QUESTIONS

PUT

TO

PATIENT.

43

"Was "Yes." "What "I

went

the

water

drawn

off?"

do
to

you

remember
soon

after

the

sleep
eat
or

after,and
after the

operation?" remember nothing

drink till Kurreem

else."

"Did "I

you

drink

operation ?"
to

felt

but got nothing thirsty, awoke me." burn

Ali, the

native
"Did

doctor,
any no." you

body prick, or
smell

you?"

"No,
"Did

anything disagreeable?"
when

"No."
"Were
you

happy
hear

asleep?"
when
not

"Very."
"Did "I
you

anything
did any

you

were

asleep?"
them." me?"

heard you

voices, but
see

understand in the

"Did

gentleman

hospital but
after

"No."
"Did "I you
none

felt

feel any pain in the scrotum till I awoke." in that

going

to

sleep?"

"Any
"A "How from

pain
many

part

now

?"

very

little." motions have

you

had

to-day?" (he
none

was

ing suffer-

chronic before

"Four,
much easier

diarrhoea.) going to the

it has been for all these
was

hospital,
some

since; belly

is

than

time."

Having began
to

answered

questions readily and

some

frankly, he

cry,

thinking it
is
we are

kind

of

judicialinvestigation,
took
there

I suppose. "The presence, above and

an

exact

relation

of

what
that

place
was

in
a

our

thoroughly

convinced external

plete com-

to suspension of sensibility

impressions of

the

most

painful kind. (Signed)

F. D.

W.

RUSSELL.

J. MONEY.
CRUNDER

BUDDEN

CHOWDAREE,

Sub-Assistant

Surgeon."
and in

April 5th. There

"

is less

than

the

usual
on

inflammation,
the other have

he
a

makes

few

complaint. days, mesmerizing

no

I intend him

to operate

side

and if possible, first,

invited

many

persons

to

be

present.

44

SECOND

EXPERIMENT.

Second
"

Experiment.

inflammation The has become o'clock, A. M. n April 6th. high during last night ; the part is hot, and excessively tender ; the lightest touch hot; pulse quick. I causes great pain. Skin could resist the temptation of satisfyingmyself still further, not relieve him and time. tors, at the same So, turning to the native docI said that I would Muntur" (the Europe try the "Belatee and the he In before; as charm,) began lying in bed. process the mesmeric minutes haze ten (smoke he always calls it) was produced. After half an hour he still complained of the pain in the inflamed part, and could not bear its being touched ; in threewas established, and I squeezed the quarters of an hour the coma inflamed

part with
business
to

no

more

effect
to

than

if it had

been six

bladder.

Having

attend the

in

Chandernagore,
Mr.

miles that

off,
he
;

I called, in

might
and

now

passing, on himself satisfy

mesmeric
to

Rev.

Fisher, and

said
my

by going
means,

to the

hospital in
at

absence
use

that, except
to

he
or

was

libertyto
feel. Here

every

possible means the pleasure

Fisher and

awake

him,
a

make of
at

him the

I have of Mr.

introduce

report
I
was

Mr.

Money

while

proceedings Chandernagore :
"

"To

J. Esdaile,
to

Esq.
I twice
or saw

"My
whom and

Dear

Sir,
"

beg
a

certifythat
trance, of

the of

native

put into you had from the successful

in

mesmeric

state

catalepsy,
I have
to
no

application
my

different
add the
cause

tests

hesitation
own

stating,should testimony, or be of any

known,
that the of
not

statement to

weight
of the

your

service

fectly imperentirely

and

hitherto
in that

unfairly treated, science question

I saw, when
was

of
state

ism, Mesmer-

individual

in

that had

insensible he would

pain, and
have in

I believe, if you I

felt it.

publicly and
by
unnatural But that his
own

private, many
and wonderful
case

leg off, was England, both of Mesmerism cases accompanied without vinced. phenomena, being concut

his

in

your
to

is

one

so

free

from

all

of possibility have

picion, sus-

have

doubted

it, one

existence.

might as well Yours truly,

"D.

doubted

J. MONEY.

"Hooghly, gth April, 1845."

"I have

only

to

add

to to

the

above, that I
Mr.

was

present

upon

the with

last occasion

referred that

by

Money,

and the

fully concur
Mesmeric

him

in

thinking

the

patient,during

trance,

REPORT

OF

KURREEM

ALI

KHAN.

45

was

totally insensible
be

to

pain.
from

Indeed,

all

the

senses

appeared
Dr.

to

unnaturally suspended any available and operations, every

upon

manifestation
test at
was

of their ordinary in vain.

tried

Esdaile

this occasion

was

absent

Chandernagore, having
"F.

previously put the patient into the

trance.

FISHER."
him

Returned

to

the

hospital at
Awoke

o'clock, and
in
a

found

just

as

I had

left him.

him

few

minutes,
water

lying by rapid
to

transverse

passes,

blowing

in his face, and

to

giving
says

drink.

Is free of Translation

pain,

and

still desires

sleep;

his head

turns.

of
he

Report from
saw

Kurreem in the

All

Khan,

native

doctor,
the

of

-what

and

heard

Jail

Hospital, on

6th

'April, 1845.
"At
II

o'clock, A.
there
was
an ever

M.,

the

patient, Madhab

Kaura,
The

was

in

fever, and
Dr.
to

acute

pain
came

in the
to

scrotum.

Sahib
do

(may
was

he
to

prosper)
When

the

and hospital,
was

something
do
you
see

him.
"

the

experiment

worthy began going on,

Madhab "What "I

asked,

see?"

cannot

clearly; something
the but Dr. doors ?"

like

smoke

is before

my

eyes."
"Do you
see

"No,
"Do

nothing
you I see there
see

smoke."

Sahib?"
but in

"No,
"Is

nobody, pain any

perceive some body?" your

pain
in

one

is

talking near

me."

"Yes,
"Is

breathing causes there pain in the

as

the

belly."

scrotum

?"

"Yes,
"How "I

acute

as

ever."

do

you

feel now?" and

feel cold the

sleepy." nearly three-quartersof to be no a deep sleep, and there seemed pain the pricking of his slept so sound, that even
Sahib
not restore
was

After
an

Doctor fell into

; he

had

tried

for

hour, he
scrotum

in the

body
a

with

pin

did

his senses,

or

awake he
was

him.

Before,

touch

of the

scrotum
no

but after painful, whatever.

asleep,even
the Dr.

pricking it
He Sahib
and

caused

pain

continued

in

this state
twice

for
or

three

hours, when,
came

calling him

aloud

thrice, he

to

his

senses,

He asked opened his eyes. feelingcold, covered himself."

for water,

which

he

drank, and,

46
Translation
saw

REPORT

OF

NOBOO.

of

and the

heard

he Report from Noboo, native doctor, of what the 6th April, 1845. in the Jail Hospital, on
of

"On and felt

found
a

morning of the 6th the body of Madhab

pain in the
scrotum.

April, I
hot

went

to

the

hospital,
he

Kaura

and

feverish, and

great
ii

At
some

o'clock, Dr.
on

Esdaile, the

civil doctor, I do
was

came

and

made While could

one,

operations operation
was

the

body
on,

something
the

not

know. if he
see

the
see

going

patient
asked

asked could knew

When plainly, but said no. he answered, that he could see rhat
some

if he but

any

no

one,

by

the

sounds

people
he
was

were

there. if he

Again
a
severe

asked

pain

in the

on belly,

pain ; breathing, and

he

felt any

he

said, that he felt

in the scrotum, senseless. Mr.
senses

also

and

felt very cold. At 2 o'clock p. the

Soon
M.

afterwards Rev. Mr.

became and his and

the

Fisher

Money
a

came

to

him his

and tried to bring him to hospital, with a pin, putting fire on his hand,

by pricking
gong in

beating

ear,

but

all
to

proved
note

ineffectual."
what
soon

forgot
of

down

these after the

reports notice;
process

"

his
; and

plaining com-

feeling cold
the
two

began

that

when On

I left him

temperature
in and
a

of his

body
were

was

natural.

these

occasions, the effects

about Has had less.

witnessed

by all the

patients and
the
scrotum

hangers-on
"

both is
a

hospitals.
little feverish
;

April 7th.

good night,
now was

pain

in

much

He he

pain in the places where

This
a

complains, for the first time, of pricked and burned.

and I will never incredulity, put It this way is only excusable again. of believe the evidence can hardly

makes

one

ashamed

of

patient to the "question" in for the first time, when we

senses.

our

Third

Experiment.
surgeon

April
to

nth.

"

Took

the

sub-assistant

with

me

to-day
taken
to

the time Jail Hospital, and desired him to watch is still considerable produce the different effects. There Pulse the side operated upon. regular, 60; skin warm. the o'clock wall much leaned back the
;
A.
M.

pain
At

in
n

I seated

him

on

the
on

floor
a one

with

his back

placed myself before

as

him

stool, and

against the proceeded pretty

varied; I
over

before. elbows

The
upon

process, my

in

particular, was
my

my

knees, placed

mouth
upper

the

joined hands, and breathed along their points of my fingersbeing pointed steadilyat
of my

surface;
nose,

his eyes,

THIRD

EXPERIMENT.

47 */

and and

forehead, in succession.
was

This of

seemed

to

be

done the that the

with whole he had

the

idea into

concentrating the
conductor.
on

effectual, very mesmeric ence influwas

of observe

body
for

one

It

curious
was as

to

begun

to

think and

effects After

himself,

subject,and testing his senses

the

serving obwe

manipulating for a few minutes, he opened his looked sharply and minutely about him, and being asked eyes, it he saw he two or quite well, he said, "Oh, yes." In a minute repeated his inspection, and answered again, that he saw quite minutes he again looked about distinctly;in seven him, seemed "smoke." surprised,and said he only saw he was In fifteen minutes asked if any pinched; and when was one pinching him, he replied that he could not tell, as I his feeling it. I cut a might now piece out of his body without proceeded.
now

tried

for
to

an

abnormal

mental
"

manifestation; certainly not

"What
will
cure

expecting
"You "Has "How

be

gratified. I asked,
best."

your

plaint?" com-

know the

Baboo

any

complaint ?"
a

should

I know?" this
as

I understood the
as

hint

to

attend
to

to

the

business mesmeric

in

hand,
coma

body, and quickly as

commencement.

therefore

proceeded
said in
to to

induce in

the

possible; and
I then
upon

succeeded the

twenty

minutes
surgeon

from that of Chin-

the

sub-assistant

I would the

operate
two

him

this be

state, if I could

find

some

European

gentlemen
off. I

witnesses.
a

On

going

to

surah,

miles

fortunately found

considerable

party,

of ChanLaw de Clapernou, Governor consisting of the Baron the magistrate, dernagore, Mr. Russell, the judge, Mr. Wauchope, lege, J. St. Pourcain, Esq., Mr. Clint, Principal of Hooghly Col-

and
all

Mr.

Clermont,
me

head
to

master

of

the

Lower The
man

School
had

; who

accompanied
and
was

back

the

hospital.

fallen

lying on his back. The large gong of the jailwas of 'his ear, inches few a brought, and struck violently within in the I then effect. with pierced the scrotum, and threw no ment without one being sensible of the smallest moveinjection, any His limbs were quite flexible ; but on in his face or body. for a few hand seconds, it gradually of his legs in my holding one
down,
became
same

quite rigid, and

in the other

we

could
arms

not

bend
were

it

again;
when

the

occurred
any

leg. The

supple, and
and

lay
the

in

position into
was

which
the

they

were

thrown;
and then

fore-arm

bent

upon

humerus,

let go,

it fell

THIRD

EXPERIMENT.

upwards, fingers
over

or

downwards,
the ends of

instantly.
his, the
to
arm

But

on

placing
fixed
to

my
at
a

united

remained

right
ments. move-

angle in the air, and

The 6 the

swayed of the insensibility

M.

and iris
most

fro, according
was

my

also

tested, and
relaxation tossed be lie. the

proved.
of all in about

o'clock, p.
now

Still The

sleeps;

complete
can

limbs

exists.

every
to

direction,and
the

where

legs and arms they fall there

artificial state awake
was

they
on saw

Being
natural the

curious
process

ascertain

effect of the
not water at

of
as

inflammation, I did
flaccid
as

him,

but

that

part

was

when
"

the He

just withdrawn.
o'clock last
to

April
Recollects
knows
not

I2th.

awoke after

12

night,spontaneously.
the it.
water

nothing
how;
he

going
the

sleep;
Sahib

sees

supposes

Dr.
there has

did

The

is gone, testicle is it did

not
some

considerably enlarged to-day;

swell till after and awoke. He
a

is little chronic has

pain, and
diarrhoea

had

for

time; four

last which
a

had since yesnone day, but terday forenoon eased disand morning. Natural, artificial, therefore all equally arrested actions have been for the thirteen hours; a practical fact of the utmost importance, will not be lost sight of by myself, or others, I hope. What till this

five motions

blessed the

prospect

this

opens

to

sufferers time
we

who may

may

be
to

sensible discover power

to

Mesmeric

influence!

In

hope
trouble

who

they are, by detecting the laws which ourselves much of Nature, and thereby save
In for
a

regulate this
and

pointment. disapthe seed

the

mean

time

let

us

accumulate

facts,as

succeed theory hereafter. Although I should never as again, I will in future think, speak, and write of Mesmerism
correct

the a or realityas the principleof gravitation, being as much all the circumstances, I cannot For, under propertiesof opium. if I should these to be unexceptionable facts; and but consider shake belief in not not again be able to elicit them, it would my I should that the of Mesmerism; the existence only conclude

failure

arose
or

from from

my
some

ignorance
not

of

the

conditions

required by
The

Nature,
the

personal disqualification.
make it less
a

occurrence

would
it has been

reality;and
be
are as

rarity of to deny a
reasonable
ances. appear-

fact because
as

seldom of

witnessed, would
because

to

doubt

the existence

comets

they

rare

Great
any and
new

weight is very justly attached to first experiments in for these are oiten a voluntary subject of investigation,
of nature
we

unexpected evolution of the powers results surprise the experimenter even,

; and

when

the

feel confident

that he

THIRD

EXPERIMENT.

4Q

only
by

relates

what

he
and

actually

saw,

and of

that

he

is
to

not

seduced,
pearances apthese heard

previous
in

theory
support
I
was

prepossession
a

mind,

interpret making.
who has

of in

foregone
situation had

conclusion. of
a

In

experiments,
that
a
new

the

chemist,
discovered

elementary
and who

substance

been his

by
to

tain cer-

process, the
way

thereupon
is rewarded

sets

apparatus
the

work results

in

prescribed,
first discoverer. the

and

by

obtaining

same

as

the

Besides

general facts,

results,
which

noted

in the

this
course

case

the of

following
my

particulars proceedings.
I
matter.
was sure

as

determined

future

that

there

could

be

no

imagination

at

work

in

the

That No That I

there mental the

was

no

consent

between

the

parties.

sympathy. patient's
came

eyes
to

need the of

not

be

open. that in this

therefore
must

conclusion,
a

instance,

the
and

influence
on

have

been I

purely
my
seen.

physical subsequent

description,
experiments

this

supposition
success

conducted

with

what

will

be

shortly

CHAPTER

III.

Mesmerism

the

same
"

in India

and the

in

Europe.
"

"

Examples

of

meric Mes"

Sleep. Temporary
Pain.
"

Sealing
"

of

Eyes.

Altered
"

Sensibility. Insensibility
"

Paralysis.
done

Muscular

Rigidity.
"

to

Exaltation
"

of particular Organs.
to

Convulsions.
the
"

lirium. De-

Injustice

the

Memory
here
"

of given.

ists. first Mesmerally mor"

"

Every
and and

available

Evidence

Imposture of
contrasted.

physically
Demonstration

impossible. of
the

Mode

Proceeding.
"

Mesmeric

Non-Mesmeric

Operations

siological Phy-

Impossibility of Imposture.
described in Mesmeric The
persons

HAVING,
satisfied
no

by

the
of

experiments
the existence

the

last power,

chapter,
I lost duced proupon, in like and is

myself
in

of

the

time
were

applying
nearly
as

it to various

practical
as

purposes. different

effects acted observed

the

and

corresponded
; and
on

perfectly
the

with
see

the the and

appearances
same

Europe
causes

when banks

public

effects

following
the
same

the

of the

Thames,
it will

the

Seine,
that the

Rhine, agent
matters

the
at

Hooghly;
work,
is received truth

I presume the hot

conclude,
in

provided
for

same

evidence,
cold

support
and

of

of

fact,
that of
a

and

climates,
of

it is not In the
a

supposed
number

the

is affected and the

by degrees
Medical

latitude.

late

the

"British of

Foreign
Mesmeric writers

Review,"
as

reviewer
to

gives
and
a

summary

symptoms
on

known and

himself,

recorded

by
accord

various in

Mesmerism,
of the

acknowledges
The before

perfect

all the

accounts

bodily phenomena. succinctly

account

following
my

extract

will
I with the
:
"

place
them

these
to

appearances my

readers,
in

and

beg

compare

of
in

ism Mesmerand
west

Bengal
whether established

this

statement

of of the

its effects

Europe,
east

then is not

say

identity
there

thing

in

the

and

"Sometimes,
coma;
at

however,

is

said

to

supervene
or
a some

state

of

others,
of
to

exaltation,
and

depression,
wherein the

anomalous

modification

sensibility;
that

occasionally,

state

somewhat

approaching
conscious,
as

of

reverie,

individual, although
and
or

feels it were,

exertion, incapable of independent of train to a thought particular

convulsive

bound, spellfeeling. rigidity,

The

occurrence

of

action,
5"

and

of

muscular

MESMERISM

DESCRIBED.

51
less

is described
extent.

as

taking place
results
are

in
to

some

cases

to

greater

or

These

said shall

constitute

the

simpler phenomena

of from

Mesmerism.

We writers

illustrate

them

by

some

extracts

accredited "In this

sometimes

feeling is
and resist

subject. peculiar state of sleep, the surface of the body is of acutely sensible, but more frequently the sense The absolutely annihilated. jaws are firmly locked, effort to wrench them often every open ; the jointsare
upon the limbs
senses

the

rigid,and
but deadened

inflexible ; and

not

only
and

is the

sense

of
are

ing, feelso

the

of

smell, hearing,

sight also,

impressions,that no pungent odour, loud excite them in the slightestdegree. can report, or glare of light, The be pricked, pinched, lacerated, or burnt; fumes body may of concentrated be passed up the nostrils; liquid ammonia may the loudest reports suddenly made close upon the ear; dazzling and intense lightmay be thrown the of the pupil upon eye ; yet so is the of the that state lethargy, profound physical sleeper will
remain undisturbed be concise in other and insensible
"

to all external

to

tortures,

which

in the

ing wak-

state, would
The is laid above

intolerable." sketch works this

(Dupotet, p. 36.) corresponds very closelywith

of Mesmeric

what
brief The he

down

repute.
we

few

quotations, exhibiting
first
states
we

correspondence,
Practical feels he the

subjoin.

take that

from "the
are a
"

Deleuze's

Instructions, wherein

magnetised
so

eyes

; his
a

eyes

sealed

that

necessity of closing the them cannot ences ; he experiopen

he of becomes

calm,

feeling of comfort;
writer "it

put
the but
nervous

sleep." Teste, another physical insensibility, says,

to

drowsy; he is distinction,speaking of
in
even

in the

subcutaneous

tissues, in
Dr.
as

exists, not only the muscles, and

of "As
an

the

skin,
in the

ramifications." referred
to,
avers

Passavant

Frankfort,

an

author

often

follows:

magnetism, results the of the senses deeper than ordinary sleep,the mediation have is yet more can so sensibility decidedly suspended. The that the loudest sound, the brightestlight, vanished in a moment, not perceived in this sleep." Indeed, all are even bodily injuries,
the power is mostly

of animal

especial effect of magnetic sleep. This

the authorities this

we

seem

to

coincide
to

very

much

in their

accounts,

and,

say,

after referring

Chenevix,
reader

Elliotson, Townshend,
of all the
drawn from

Gauthier, Foissac, and

1 shall
states
now

others."
to

present

the

illustrations

gular sinmy

of the system

described

above, and

practicehere.

52
Mesmeric

CASES

OF

MESMERISM.

natural simulates, perfectly, sound Sleep. This if it has been resorted to for sleep, and is more refreshing,even of the system, and be had can soothing pain, or disturbance
"

recourse common a

to

when

it would
"

be which

improper
it has

or

useless

to

administer ducing incific spe-

narcotics;
influence has

over

disagreeable constitutional
ceased. The
to

advantage of not derangement, after the

infusion powers of nervous of

the

restorative actual

mesmeric

depend upon an vigour when induced remedial this as body, and, a agent, may for its superiorityover account common sleep. the whole April 7th. Janokee-Sing, a hardy looking peon; of the scrotum is sloughing, from the applicationof some acrid intense. leaves, and the pain is most The whole has scrotum April 1 5th. sloughed off; has not since telligent slept coming to hospital. The compounder, a healthy, inin putting him to sleep to-day, in half Hindoo, succeeded He hour. awoke when but an by name, pinched, or called upon instantlyfell asleep again. Has from n slept, almost without interruption, April i6th. o'clock A. M. yesterday till 7 o'clock this morning, the only sleep
seem

sleep
into

the

"

"

"

he

has

had
i

since

he He

was

burned.
been
to

April

Qth.
"

has

mesmerised mesmerise
now

daily, and
him,
becomes
overcome

sleeps the
more

greater part of his time;

every

easy

day April

;
"

and
"

few

minutes

suffice to

him.
woman.

2Oth.

Kowsoalla;
the
a

aged

forty, a

peasant
minutes

I awoke limbs in any

subdued

her called

to-day, for
upon,

first time, in ten

; she

when
are

but, in
when become

second, fell asleep again. The

remain for
a

new
a new

quite loose, but position, they

I let them

moment

attitude; the muscles

when
can

rigid,and require to be dragged into yield precisely like lead, without a

the

vestige of re-action, April 25th. She

"

bending force
be mesmerised

is removed. in
a

now

minute.

May
for three instrument and

3rd.
"

Bissumber

days; the
can

Chowdry: has had is prominent at bladder

Ordered
to

retention the

of urine
no

navel, and
easiest

be

introduced.
to

lie in the

ture, pos-

to
"

be

put

sleep,if possible.

May 4th. He slept for two hours yesterday, and voided his urine freely, when he awoke. from cholera, is May 4th. Deenoo, a prisoner; convalescent tormented with incessant hiccough for the last twenty-four hours. Opii Grs. ii.
"

Con feet. Arom.

Grs.

x.

ALTERED

SENSIBILITY.

53
to

If this does

not

check

it,a
To

blister

be

applied over
I
:

the

phragm. dia-

May
three

5th.
"

No

better found

"

be

mesmerised. awoke him

returned
no

after

hours, and
nth.
"

him

asleep"
of the

has

hiccough.

May hiccough. The the Sealing of quivering of the eyelids, and their eyes. of the most subsequent spasmodic closure, is one meric messpecific
return
"

No

symptoms.

June 27th. pain from the

"

The

woman

Alunga
of her
arm

complains

of

considerable

extension

the of

elbow the
my my up
nerve

is very

tender.
a

for

few

at yesterday, and the nerve passed my fingersalong the course removed the pain ; I then minutes, which

held into
sat

fingers before
arms

quite

eyes, and insensible. I soon

us as

her

in

few

seconds

she

fell she

after could
was

awoke
not

her, and

conversing
when

with

usual, but
do
so,

her

eyes;

ordered with her

to

she but

possibly open obliged to pull the

eyelids asunder
open,

fingers ;

and

the

was difficulty

blowing
cases, to

in her

eyes.

I have

remain not they would only removed by my rubbing, and shown this peculiarity, in numerous

great numbers
"

of persons.
an
,

Hindoo intelligent tleman, genhas received who an English education, and speaks our for hydrocele, to be operated on language perfectlywell, wished After half an hour's manipulating, while in the mesmeric trance. his arm, and it took a fix in any I extended position I -put it: motionless it was put perpendicular into the air, and remained for ten minutes depressing it again, it bent like lead, in the ; on his side, at true Having replaced his arm catalepticfashion. he awoke his dress, when with a violent start, I began to open and instantly said that he had no feelingin his arm ; that it was into all felt,and cold, which on we putting a thermometer very found it to be two his hand, we degrees colder than the other. hold let go my He remembered raising his arm, and felt me my Altered

sensibility. Rajah

of
not

his

thumb,
"

but

what it

became
was

of his

arm

after

that, he
the

could
tion sensa-

tell of

he

imagined
he

lost.
he

Having
felt

latelyfelt

galvanism,
the process, I have

said, that
like

during

exactly
observed

what

slightshocks in his he had experienced patients.

skin from

galvanism.

this in other
"

Madub, a shopkeeper. This paralysisof muscles. in the trance, without man was operated on for hydrocele, when since has been feeling it,and ever easily affected; I have, very

Temporary

therefore, made

him

the

subject of

several

experiments.

In

54
minute

CASES

OF

MESMERISM.

or

two,

his

eyelids begin
short

opening
effort
to

heavily at
If at
so

quiver, then slowly close, closed intervals, till at last they remain
to

altogether.
do

this

stage he
the

is ordered

to

open

his

eyes,

the

which to be glued eyelids, appear together, and he says it is impossible to separate them. Being desired with his fingers,he rubs his eyes lently, vioto help himself and then forciblyseparates the eye-lids,when nothing but the white of the eye is seen being turned up to the ; the cornea roof of the orbit. While seize his rubbing his eyes, I sometimes hands his arms and extend horizontallyon either side; the arms fixed in a moment, desired become and when to apply his hands

only

strains

to

his

eyes

now,
arms

he
are.

says

that

he

cannot,
on one

that
arm,

he
or

does

not

know

where of his air

arm

impel a current against it by fanning, the rigiditydisappears,and he uses desired, but the other continues as less, catalepsed and usein the
same

his

If I blow

till relieved
arms,

says he has only the other, he passes the flexible side for it, but soon at the other is not his hand and

he

When way. and on one,

arm

I urge

him

to to

use

both for

being

desired

seek

across

his the

body, and

gropes

gives
look

there:
up

being
the

tries in vain and Muscular

higher up, he carries opposite side till he reaches the catalepsed arm, remains to depress it ; the arm tended, horizontallyexto

desired

up for it

search, saying, it

resists

all his efforts.

"

rigidity.

Is

usually attendant
will be first

on

mesmeric

coma,

of which
medical

numerous

instances

given, when

treating of the

part of the subject. My

became

ments, patient,by repeated experiexcessively sensitive,and affords a good specimen

this
are man can

of mesmeric

May
than is
a

catalepsy. Kaura; I3th. Madub

"

be

catalepsedin
If, when

less he

minute

; and

the

effects

passing strange.

standing, I point my fingers at him for a few seconds, his eyelids fall their his his to arms mere immediately droop, by weight sides ; his whole body begins to tremble, owing to the incipient loss of command the muscular over system ; and, if not supported, moment's he would fall down in a heap. But give him a support, and he becomes and if the of centre as gravity rigid as a statue,
is well that
must

poised he
a

will

remain than

in any I have fixed

posture
waited
to

he
see.

is put The have

into, and
muscles

for
be

longer time
out

dragged
a

of the
to

positionthey
in
a

assumed,
out

and

allowed

moment

contract

new

attitude,
goes

of the
most, fore-

perpendicular;
like
a

for if

statue

suddenly pushed, he and its pedestal, from

down,
life is

head

his

endangered.

CONVULSIONS.

"

DELIRIUM.

55

However

inconvenient,
well heels wall behind
at
an

or

grotesque,
continues

the
to

equally
with his

satisfied,and
his
acute

be, he is position may sleep,quite comfortably,

forehead
is

neck;

and

if his remains

placed
from

against it,like a buttress,longer than

the
"

angle, he
I have

sticking out

ascertained. my

This will be copiously illustrated in to pain. Insensibility numerous surgical operations. Somnambulism. Will have a chapter to itself,and need
"

not

be

now

introduced.

Exaltation Instances and be of found

; so

of particular organs,
all these
to

"

convulsions,
"

delirium.
this

"

will

occur

in the

the

course

of

work,
in

correspond general
in the

with

observed irregularities

Europe

that the the

same

rule, and
eastern

its and

exceptions, will be recognised

the

to be

thereby proving
honest and

the

universality of the

independent men,
which the from

propounding
Apart
the of
secret

processes

during the they were laughed at, and scorned. of being admitted to see personal gratification of nature's workshop, and the advantages
her

hemispheres ; truths declared by many last sixty years, and for

western

being
if any

able of

to

imitate

removal
me,

human evidence

for the alleviation and processes, suffering; it will be a great satisfaction to and should labours assist in raising the dishonoured the of

dead them wisdom her. I

was now as

into

public consideration
mankind,
in the and in

and

respect, due

to

benefactors
called
so

long (and
I

exciting a regret that regarding streets, without any one

my

know

deplore
before

long ignorance)
was

that

the

tle batand that

fought, and

won,

I and

born, by the truthful

their and

benevolent

Puysegur,
tHe tropics, am
of the

Deleuze,

I, under
the banks

companions, only again demonstrating what

long
ago

Seine, had
been last the
an

established. both the

The

they, on people of

the continent Mesmerism

have for

familiar

with

only
the
on

now

giving
which of

thirty years, unwilling ear to

much
a

good and evil of while in England are we the expounders of a law

constitution
as

of nature,

is

as

part

of the human

processes this

thought and digestion. It is to be hoped that, to subject, our neighbours will no longer have reason
our

reproach
and

merism ignorance and presumption, and that if Mesis rejected by the English public,it will be after study experiment, and not from prejudice and passion. of the subject,and and wonderful nature Knowing the new insular the

that

public

was

ill

prepared

to

receive

the

naked

truth

on

56
individual
on

IRREFRAGABLE

EVIDENCE

testimony, I
and the for

have

called
related

in all the

available
be

evidence
to

the

spot;

facts

by
and

me

will and

found

be

vouched both of

by disinterested,honourable,
and

gentlemen, intelligent
is not exist of
a

residents

strangers;
have

if there
no

cloud
in this

European

witnesses, it is simply because

I would

more

neighbourhood.
for been my

preferred
may day, and of
or

the

plain

Calcutta

theatre, and
All be
a

all the I have

inhabitants

for

spectators, if it had

possible.
shall

done,

hereafter
case

do,
The

has

been has

done, and
had
are are

done,
dozen
can

in open
to

from
on

half

hundreds

every witnesses.
a

related

the

spot,
the

or

easilybe
who may

found,
take

and

host

of
to

ready
on

for any
these
to

one

the trouble

patients eye-witnesses the investigate

I

matter

spot.

Taking
leave
to

general
be adduced

circumstances
to

into for

account,

might
I

the

cases

speak

but themselves,,

hope

will, I pointing out some that imposture, in the generalityof my trust, demonstrate cases, is morally and physicallyimpossible. It is morally impossible that I could have taught my patients
be

excused

for

particularswhich

what

I did

not

know

; for

I knew

not

the

existence

fied of the diversia a

symptoms
of
their

they exhibited, till, day by day, I I had never unexpected occurrence.

I made
to

became read

witness

Mesmeric succeeded
to

book,
in
some

when

my

first

experiment;
to

and

having
only

getting nature
time, and

speak,

I determined

listen

her

for

the
see

be

from reading on purposely refrained be in order that my senses predisposed to might not subject, things in any particularlight,and that my judgment might did not left unbiased My reason by the opinions of others.

for months

teach

me

to

expect

what,

was

presented
I
saw

gradually
about nature,

instructed

by
has

what
been
or

and

my did : and

to

senses

; but

was

all that the

I know

Mesmerism without

acquired by reading
If I
was

book

of
the

guide

interpreter.
coolies
rumour

ignorant of
must

subject, the peasants equally so, I presume.

the existence of in such
a

and

of
had

Bengal
gone

have

been

No

abroad
not

regarding
become
rogue
was

power;

Mesmerism enable he had

had
some

the
to
no

village talk
exhibit
the

Bengal, so as to phenomena of which

it observed
in

clever
"

heard:

there

type

to

imitate,therefore
Be

imitation, in the first instance, was also, that

at

possible. im-

the

cases

did but

not

among

hospitals people day, among patients newly

The routine

the

same

time,
A

arose,

happen day by

arrived

from

different person

parts of the

country.

followed

is this.

presents himself

OF

THE

TRUTH

OF

MESMERISM.

57
disease
go

before
an

me

for

the for is

first time, and its removal

; he

see

he

has

requiring
another

room
a

operation (which

is desired himself

to

into

dark,)

and
an

repose

after this

his

journey, not
cause a

word

being
assistants the

said

about

operation, as
to

would

mental of much
to
coma

excitement,

destructive

the

mesmeric himself
; and

influence.

One

my

follows

him;

seats

better,) at
the end

the head

of the bed reduces do

be

hereafter

described, often
of my visit
:

the what

(if unperceived, so by using the process patient to a state of

is necessary, whether

by
to

I then

straightena limb, without his knowledge or postors, consent. Now, supposing these poor ignorant people to be imwhence their intimate comes knowledge of the mesmeric bility phenomena, from the quivering of an eye-lidonwards to insensiIf they are cruel tortures? what to the most not they seem heaven-born have to be, then had are they impostors, or natural superinstruction,
"

it be

take

off, or

on

earth

they

could of
to

not

have coolies

learned

it.
to

It may have red-hot life ; be be

or

be

said, that it is the

cut to

taste

the

of

Bengal
a

themselves

pieces,and
to

have without

corrosive

acids, and

pokers applied
that, knowing
the

their

sores,

showing
from Or

sign of
to
we

my

tormented, silently told, that

the To of it,for the

in

hobby, they come order to please my

endurance American of

all quarters

Honour. is
no

passive
North the

pain

sign

of

the

may sence abhim

invites

his enemy

to tear

at

stake, and

reader
my

himself. torments voluntarily do justice the to this ingenious hypothesis,I shall present with in which some examples of the way pain is borne by
Indian

Fuqueer

patients,in

the

mesmeric

and

non-mesmeric

condition

of

the

body. June I2th.

on

"

Lokee,
the

peasant
nine

woman,

aged 60, has

subdue
common

tumour

the

calf

of and
not

leg

of

years' standing;
to

it is full of

tilcerations the

maggots.
allow her

I tried
to
one

her

pain
much

did

get beyond
person,
tumour
we

deep yesterday, but sleep. To-day,

was

after

trouble, first by
and
I cut her
"

and

then

another, she
of

entranced,

out

the

in the

presence

Captain

Elder, without

feeling it,and
awoke and
woman

left her

sleeping. operation; felt

off the tumour?
to cut

June
no

1 on

3th. She waking,

"

three
me

hours

after the

pain
return

asked

to-day, who
has
come

Oct. 24th.
a

The

Lokee
cut

back

with hospital,

of the tumour,

out

Oct.

27th.
"

She

has I

been

June last,to be mesmerised. mesmerised daily, for two hours,

in

but
could

without
spare

effect.
no more

therefore

operated

on

her

to-day, as

we

time

for her, others

requiring equal

atten-

58
tion.

INSENSIBILITY

TO

PAIN

The

poor

old

woman

screamed her ; and

miserably the
she continued

whole

time,

crying,that
pain
If the

was

murdering
afterwards.
shammed do
so
on

in the greatest

for hours old she

woman

insensibility on
the second?
were

the had

first occasion,
had and

why
every

did

not

She

practice;
she knew

and facility
was

encouragement
of her, and and

given her,
not

what

wanted perverse

yet would
the

pretend
appears

to be to
me

asleep !
to

This

inconsistent
very to

conduct

be of

easily accounted
what
was

for, from
and her

fact of her
be done
; her

wanted

intended

being aware anxiety to

of mind of

go

to

sleep neutralised
destructive

good

intentions

r-^excitement for the

being
coma.

of the mesmeric
1

influence

production
muriatic
to
a

August
as

3th.
"

Dr.
the of

is furnished

by

freely applied Company's dispensary)

the
woman

Finch

acid

(such

sore,

covering

all the in his the

right temple by one presence, smallest degree of

I awoke

Gendo

(who
it
was

was

mesmerised,
her

of my
he had

without assistants,)
; and

showing
culty diffiing burnthe

consciousness

with

great
her

her, after

failed to do 88"
to

so.

During
and

with

the

acid, her
was

pulse

fell from

80",

tion, respira-

mesmerised, became quite natural before she was entirelydiaphragmatic, and abdominal; the voluntary and semiof the chest being completely paralysed. voluntary muscles Dr. Bedford August i8th. to-day asked permission to apply
"

which

the

acid I

to

the

woman

Gendo's

sore,

when

she

was

awake;
order

and nessed witit He

though

thought

this most

irrational I

scepticism (he having

consented,
in
save

Dr.

Finch's

experiment)
I interfered end of the the

that

might not be said accordingly wetted

and did touched
not

that

to

my

phenomena.
with
a

glass stopper
woman,

the

acid,
doubt
set
a

the
any
was

sore

with

it,and
acute

the

for

few be

seconds,
no

show

signs of
found

pain.
The
now

There

could

about
snare

it, she
and
not

out!
was

arch

deceiver, having

delusion relieved "that

for me,
from she
my

was

laughing at my beard ; and thick-coming fancies by Dr. B. kindly

insensible person was probably a very suggesting, from of bewilderment, roused trance soon naturally." I was my had put pepper however, by hearing the woman cry out, that "we diatelyshe sat up, showing signs of great pain ; immeto her head !" and

after, she bed, walking

head
trance to
:

declared

"her

head

was

on

and fire,"

got
her

out

of her the its

be the

in great agony. distractedly bathed, and, as the best anodyne, threw about

I ordered into

sore

being
the

surrounded

by tubercles, which
pare them

retarded
to

healing,I

took

opportunity to

off; and

this she

WHILE

IN

MESMERIC

TRANCE.

59
I awoke her
we

was

perfectly
were,

indifferent. order knew

In that

half Dr. B.

an

hour,
what

her

with

much which

in difficulty, that
even

might
about
; an

hear

first words,
were

she

nothing
the will be So the

talking

of, having

forgotten
is
we

burning
seen

invasion in another

of the

by

the

sleeping state, which

Clermont's
this old in
case

waking patient,when
did
not

Mrs.

given.
have
to

that curious surface

if Mesmerism

protect

woman,

fact of muriatic Dr.

acid,

Finch, acting large quantities a raw by and the time the narcotic, calming at a as anodyne same circulation, and revolutionisingthe respiration,while a drop in
direct the hands of Dr. !
" "

applied

Bedford "Non

causes

the
tantas
a

greatest

sufferingand
lites."
entranced

eral gen-

excitement

nobis

componcrc
was

Oct.
in the

loth.

Beppo
of Dr.

Dass, Roer,

prisoner,

to-day;

Bradbury, Major Riddell, Mr. Higgins, Mr. Muller, Mr. Graves, Messrs, Savigny, Mr. Bartlett ; him for hydrocele. The and I operated on thrown injectionwas in without his showing his arm, which and a vestige of feeling, I had at the commencement, never placed in the air, on purpose, the and had taken down after this to be moved, was operation; the the last night; fortthe second man during operation performed on
presence

Mr.

and knew

on

both

occasions had

he

slept for
on

two

hours and

afterwards,
felt
at
no

nothing

of what

happened

waking,
at at
noon.

pain

till the the

artificial inflammation

commenced

o'clock This

night ;
been

operation having been performed called a painless operation.

"They
and I shall

has

laugh

at

scars

who

never

felt

wound,"

therefore

transcribe the

passage my

from first

friend's letter,

written "When and round

as one

shortly after
I
was

publicationof
on, up,
some

case.

first

operated
thrown

years

ago,

for
a

hydrocele,
coir
as

the
my

injectionwas
could
; and

the

pain

was some

like

rope, hard
some

loins, being pulled at each

the

end

by
down
so

persons

they
was

ran perspiration

my

head is what

as

if

laid

on sprinkling water my dormant by your Mesmerism."

hair;

this

you

have

But in order
states.

it is for the
to

sequel of this
man's after the the

case,

that

I here

quote
and

it,and
is

show

the

behaviour

in his natural

artificial

On

the
and

day
from

operation, the
nature

inflammation

usually high,
is

sensitive

of the parts, pressure

excessivelypainful. Now, on both occasions, I have requested numerous gentlemen to press the part, and ascertain if it was always their really painful: "a question not to be asked," was

60

MESMERIC

FACTS.

reply.
by the
if it
was

The
same a

man

was

then when he
was

entranced, and
he allowed then

the the

experiment repeated
part
and
acute to

persons,

be
on

pressed

as

bottle:

"

awakened,
and

being
the

now

pressed, showed
The
cases

all the above

signs of instant

pain.
use

cited, along with, if I

may

sion, expres-

very be of of

numerous
as

painless
I shall

severe

surgical operations, might

of the
to

safely adduced
imposture
facts
; but to

demonstrations
now

submit
more

which,

him, will be

can lacerating we will not that exhibit sibility insenmen may pretty certainlyconclude, without to some torture, adequate object to be gained, our observation, or be unintelligible yet the incentive may escape It is, therefore, desirable discover to to us. something which it was in a natural condition to do, under impossible for a man of any the influence the temptation of the passion, or under To highest bribe. perform the following feats, will, I imagine,

tearing,

and

physical impossibility physiologista series ting, convincing than all the cutinvent. For although we
the

be
to

found

above the

the

power

of

the

most

keep

pupils dilated, without

into

the lower for The

accomplished impostor: of drugs, in passing use

pulse hours, and
dilation and and have the
at

from
to

darkness

sunshine,
the

"

to

pleasure,
"

breathe

only by
of the

diaphragm,
at

diminish

the

temperature
of the

body,

will.

insensibility
since been

pupil are recorded frequentlyseen. Kaloo, a Fuqueer, June nth.

in my
"

first case,

has

an

excrescence,

larger than
organ
on

man's much

at the end fist,

of his

penis, and
him of

the in
a

body
few

of the

is the

also

enlarged.
in

I entranced
presence

minutes,
the

first trial,and Mr.

was

the

Major
it
was :
"

son, Riddell, Captain Anderout

Bennett, and
of all the

Mr.

Jackson,
glans, as

dissected
a

organ,

but

obliged to
was

sacrifice the
structures

eration degencartilaginous
man

of the part after organ, into the trance

the

did

not

awake derful Won-

till I

amputating
say,

the

long

dissection.
a

to

he

relapsed
and

again in
a

few

minutes,

and

remained wide

for twenty
open,
were

and minutes, quite rigid, the

insensible, with

his eyes ito which

pupils dilated,in
insensible. been wide I closed muscular
to act to

they
not

wholly
shut

This
open

noonday light, stance is not the only induring the trance,

full

in which and would the the

rest

the eyes
remain

have

when
of

them,
power.

showing,
In
most

ceive, concases

absolute

extinction

muscles

of the

eyeballcontinue
system
eye

involuntarily,after the
rest, and
on

of the muscular

has is
seen

gone

opening the
orbit, like
an

the ball eyelids,

of the

rollinground

the

MESMERIC

FACTS.

6l

agitated
influence,

magnetic
the and

needle. of
eye

Under the becomes

man.

the
eye,
as

most

intense also and

trance

degree
lose their insensible
was

of

the
con-

msucles the
a

and

iris,

tractibility, light
faint,
.of the
as

motionless the second from the

to not
a

that all

of

dead

That
not

we

satisfied but from In

"

ourselves,
the the

only
natural

general

rigidity

body,
1

regular
of

pulse.
Reverend Mr.
on a man

Sept.
Dr. the asked and the

7th.

presence

the for

Fisher while that Dr. the such the

man

and in H.

Heathcote,
mesmeric if

I
trance.

to-day
The had the

operated pupil
was

cataract
so

much After
rose

dilated

belladonna

been

applied?
the
lens

depressing
again,
and into the

lens,
was

withdrawing
continued and all
1

needle,
of in the
contact

dilation
came

pupil,
with

that the

it

passed
cornea;

anterior

chamber,
insensible

being

the

time.

Sept.
Bradbury,

8th.
"

To-day,
a

in
man

the for
one

presence the
eye,

of first

the

Reverend in the all

Mr.

-I
an

entranced inflammation

time,

hope
pain
of
in his

of and

subduing
irritation,
to to act

of

by

removing
powers
on a

and

thereby
he ; flow it
was

allowing
was

the

restorative

nature

undisturbed the
;

entranced
to

sitting
head.
;

stool,

order

lessen

of
100

blood
in

the

We

counted
20

pulse

beforehand
movement

the

minute

respiration
than usual.
to

thoracic
20

natural his

temperature
sunk
to

higher
70, of
not
as a a

After

minutes,

pulse
his chest that

had

his
man

respiration

18,

and,
of

by
him,

comparing
we

with there

that
was

lying

alongside

ascertained above the If the

vestige
as

of thoracic
the trunk lower

movement.

All and

diphragm
of
are

was

fixed had

of than

statue, natural.

temperature
tests

his

body
considered

become
an

these
at
a

not

"experimentum
more

cmcis," satisfactory
when it is
we see

am

loss

to

imagine

what It the

will

be

reckoned
to
me,

by
the
to

the

human

physiologist.
organs the effect of

appears

that

involuntary
attribute it to

body
the

revolutionised,

absurd

of

will.

CHAPTER Somnambulism. Definition.

IV.

"

"

Singular
its Trial Means.

Introduction
"

to

it.
"

SuSin Court

pected
making

Child-Stealing
a

by
"

First

Experiment
Skill in
a

Somnambulist.
"

of Mesmeric
"

of Justice.

Men
"

stolen Natural

out

of Court.

Truth its

of

Mesmerism
can

publicly proved.
imitated

Sleep,
"

and

Varieties,

be

by
"

Artificial Mesmeric

Means.

Mesmeric
"

Sleep.
Mesmeric

"

Mesmeric

Day-marc.
"

Sleep-walking.
"

ing. Sleep-wak"

Mesmeric

Dreaming.

How
"

to

make

Somnambulists.

Imitative Somnambulism. Natural the

Stage
"

of Somnambulism.
Mesmeric
"

Communicative
"

Stage
Coma.
" "

of of

Catalepsy.
Mesmeric

Mesmeric

Clairvoyance.
Power.
"

Clairvoyance.
Examples.

Nature

Mesmeric

Illustrative

BEFORE
on

submitting
somnambulism,
the
appearances
state

to

the I

reader leave

the
to

results

of

my

tions observamary sumnambulistic som-

beg

prefix the
as

following
of the the British

of

recognised
Europe.
It is

distinctive in
"

in

given
:

and is

Foreign
a

Medical in

Review,
which certain

already
senses

quoted
and whilst

"Somnambulism
are

condition rendered

faculties others

suppressed,
in
most

or

thoroughly
exaltation
;

impassive,
which
an

prevail

unwonted and
acts

in

individual, though
an

asleep, feels
munication com-

most

energetically,holding
with the external

anomalous awake
at to

species of

world,
to

objects
the

of

tion, atten;
on

and
a

most

profoundly
respecting

torpid

things

the time

indifferent

condition

which,

most

commonly,
on

patient

awaking
a

retains of

no

recollection;
and

but,
related

any

relapse into
and associated

which

train

thought

feeling
will reserved

to,
be

with,

the

antecedent I intended examined

most

paroxysm,
to

very

often branch medical

developed."
of the

have all

this

subject
but I

till I
was

had

it in

its

purely

bearings;
to enter

forced, by
into enable this
me

extraordinary circumstances,
and my obscure evidence I field in
a

prematurely
in

difficult
to

of
court

experiment,
of be

order in

to

give

justice;
in

and

scribing deI up

my

experiments,
seen a

hope

it will
or

borne of

mind,

that
one,

had
to

never

somnambulist,
first essay
was
as

thought

making
and

this

date.

My

extemporaneous

accidental

62

SOMNAMBULISM.

63
on

as

the

production
:
"

ol

mesmeric facts
a saw was are

coma,

the first occasion

I tried

to

mesmerise
1

the

simply
crowd the
act

these. I
was

June Hooghly
office. had been

7th.
"

About and what

fortnight ago,
a

driving through
before told the that and
a

Bazaar,
On

collected I
was

police
man

asking

matter,
of

apprehended
were

parties
entered

the

the stealinga boy, inside the guard-house. Upon hearing this, I house, and found a boy of ten or twelve years old,

in the

that

sittingon
The

the
was

lap of
half him
to
me.

man

who
one

was

said of
to

to

have
was

rescued

him. I

boy
then

stupid, and
to

his the
a

eyes

swollen;
The
a

therefore
was

ordered shown his

be He

taken said he

hospital.
barber

culprit
bundle I
fully care-

was was

; and

containing boy
before of
soon

instruments but

of

trade,
the and which

produced
barber's
me,

; this

examined,
the the

only
his

found

usual told I

tools.

The
sistently, con-

recovered

senses,

readily and
heard but him without
he went
man a

following tale,
a

again

repeat
tittle into
a

magistrate,in
He
a

different

sequence, in

variation.
to

said, that

early
that
as

the

morning
a as

field close

house, and
came

shortly after,
soon

strange
was near

left he

the

road,
to

and
mutter

up

to

him: and

he

him,

began
soon

charms,

then
across

took

hold

of and
man

his

hand

; very

after, he
without
came

passed
and

his hand

his eyes, that the

that

thereupon
away,

he but he

lost his senses,

only
it had eaten,

recollected felt
at

led him him.

force, and
his
senses,

that he
was

compelled
man or

to follow

When
two

to

the

gate of Chandernagore,
; and

miles
to

from He

where had

he
not

met

the

this

was

all he

had with

say.
man

drunk,
and

smoked,
all said known
man

in company he
to
was a

the

; and

his

master

friends been

clever,

well-behaved walk have in his

boy, and sleep. I

him
:

had then

never

have
was

fits, or
said
on

examined
was

the
to

who

to

rescued

his

evidence

this

effect ; that

the

the boy, whom he knew well, morning in question,he saw very following a strange man stopped him, and asked what ; that he he was The and no appeared doing there? boy made answer, to be idiotic : upon alarmed, brought water seeing this, he became
to

throw he he

on

his

face,
know

and

used

other

means

to

revive

him;
he

in said
to

which that

at

last succeeded.
not man,

On
he
was

again questioning him,

there
not ; that

did that fell

why
he and
was

he

was

obliged
after
In

follow

though
man

did

know
eye
on

him,
the
was

and

saying
the and
was

this, he
mean

down,

bruised

his

ground.
; and

time, the
to

making
I then

off, but
in the

apprehended,
this

brought

Hooghly.

called

barber

64
his story and
way.
to
on

FIRST

EXPERIMENT

he

met

the him

boy

on

the

road he

crying
said

and

looking stupid,
he had lost his him home. true, accompany take him side
was

the

asking Upon hearing this, he police station, and that

nature

what

ailed

him

that
to

desired
a

the boy

policeman

would

The

strange

of

the

transaction, whichever

strongly arrested
my

suspicions ;
reports
to to
are

as

roused attention, and the trade of the man my I had heard that barbers in this country, while tedious processes,
over

performing
and

their

could

put
them

rife,all
persons

the had

country, of
charmed The

people to sleep; people having been

; and
over

obliged
are are

follow
be

who

the victims the them

said
a

usually women. shrewd, observing race;

with the surfaces

barbers,

all

world,
into

their
most

occupation brings
sensitive
very
to

close

contact

the

mesmeric

influence; and

they
the

are,

therefore,
of
to
out

possessed perhaps it could only

of

of has
see or

secret

Mesmerism them
as a

likelyto have become at an early period, and

of their
was

descended
two

mystery
:

craft.
a case

roads

of the

dilemma
; and

it

either

natural,
it be made called
me

artificial somnambulism about unless

if the

latter, how
As accident I should

could had be

brought
a

by

Mesmerism? I

witness
to
as

in the
as

case,

anticipated that

upon and abduction; determined

to

speak

make if
to

it

probable, that
be able that

of such of a mode possibility I was completely ignorant of the subject, I experiments, to satisfymyself. I thought this could be done I should by Mesmerism,
to

the

perhaps
less ; and

imitate
to

it, as

the

greater

power

includes

the

I had
to

in order

only produce

bility, to insensistop short in the progress like effects,if obtainable by this means. the

I therefore
man;

repaired
I had several

to

Jail Hospital, and

inflammation of

mesmerised
the

in whom him

subdued times
; but

and and

only went to the the cataleptictendency, and leaving him the power of moving hearing,but very imperfectly. At this point,I led him away, then closure, lettinghim go, he stalked to the other end of the entill brought up by the wall ; being turned, he walked in a
till some obstacle
to

trancing eye, by eninducof ing extent

straight line
trance

obstructed motionless insensible all the

him, and
for
to
some

then

stood

lessly helpthe

still. If allowed

stand became him

minutes,
;

deepened,
eyes,

and

he

sounds

by blowing
peated re-

in his

and
me,

addressing
with

time, he
both

revived, and
and

after
stanee

great exactness,

English

Hindo-

awakening him, he had no recollection of any part of his proceedings,and said that he had never stirred from the spot, from where of the enclosure at the opposite end although he was
;
on

IN

MAKING

SOMNAMBULIST.

6$ Magistrate's Court
carry off I
as a

we
a

commenced.

Being
was

summoned
"if I

to

the it

witness, I
in

asked,
way

thought
in the

practicable to

person "I

the it

described

evidence?"

replied,that

I had because possible, just done something very like it, by making a prisoner follow round the hospital enme closure, his knowing it." The without the magistrate committed when it came the judge, it was to be tried before found case ; but to be utterlyimpossible to convey even a glimpse of my meaning

thought

in

the the

minds

of

the

native

law
me was

officers

who

had
any

to

try the
to

case

and the

judge
follow

therefore in court him make would

asked that it

if I had

objectionto
one

show make that

to to

Moulavies

possiblefor
I said. but

person

another
was

involuntarily,as
the order three

I answered, would I engage

I do be
to

willing to nothing: if he
sent

experiment,
men,

whom be

named,
"

for

to

Court,

I would

try what
of
our was

could

done,
attend

the

men

be

kept
In
a

in total

ignorance
two

intentions.

day
was a

or was

after, I
crowded

court, Mahomed him of in the

which

with

requested Europeans

to

the

judge's
Nazir

and bar:

natives.

brought
and his
set
arms

in, and

placed
with down

at

the his the

I mesmerised
out catalepsed,

few

minutes, and
him

led him,

arms

court,

walking

road

for

some

tance, dis-

making
'I then all addressed

replaced
were

him

at

rigid in any position,as long as the bar, where the judge and
his
me

pleased.
; and

Moulavies them I

him, without

paying
to

any

attention him. This

to

they
on

obliged
asked from

to

ask the

awake had

did, and
since he

being

bench, if he

left the

room

first entered

it,he
him
on

speaking
entranced died
on

to

While answered, "No." they were confidently in front, I approached, unperceived, behind, and the

him his him

spot, in
he

the

act

of speaking.
to

The voices in
on

words that eyes.

lips,and
;

became

insensible

all

addressed
Madub The while
was

he

was

again awoke
dock,
with and he did

by blowing
not
see me

his

put in the
and

entering.
lepsed cata-

judge
he him
was

Moulavies

engaged
animation in the
a

him and usual

in

conversation, and praying

ceased attitude
to

speaking
from
at

I intelligence,

behind, while bar, and, in

of
or

prisoner
I
act
was

the told

moment,

he his be

speak
as

hear:

by

those after

in he

front, that
ceased
power to
was

lipsmoved
heard. He

if in
so

the

of

speaking,
that him
a

was

deeply
and

affected
to

all motive from

nearly extinguished,
my
to finger,

I had he

push

behind with

with

make

him

walk:

walked

few

yards
to

and difficulty,

then
sent

becoming
him down

suddenly rigid from

head

foot, a slightpush

66

TRIAL

OF

MESMERIC

SKILL

headlong
was

upon
so

the

floor, in

most

alarming
I
was

manner: aware

the of
not

fit of He

rigiditywas
revived his fall.

instantaneous
some

that

not

it.

with

and difficulty,

fortunatelywas
in, and,
about his he
as

injured
not
seen merising mes-

by
him

Sooroop Chund
for
a

was

next

brought
him
a

I had

month,
him him

began
of the

asking
In

health, "c.,
ceased like
a

all the time.

out

few

minutes,
him and then

to

answer,

and his

I took
arms

rigidlyfixed
place
him in
a or

all the of

dock, time,
the

turned

round

teetotum,
to

restored

him

his

former make blew he had

state

complete

hear,
eyes,

show

could no one insensibility; I slightestsign of life. When his

senses,

in his
never

he

instantlyrecovered
spot.
stole the

and

declared

left the
the
to

Whether
not

barber

boy mesmerically
me an

or

not, of

I will

pretend
most

decide, but

it gave

opportunity

proving,

in the
one

has

that the thing could be done, and public manner, no ventured to deny publiclythat I stole the men ; and, with
a

the
man,

facilities of
woman,
extreme
a
or

native

barber, I could
From the

almost
moment

engage that

to

steal

child, daily.
of its power

I witnessed

the with have

to
a

degrees of Mesmerism,
for it thus

I became evil of
as

deeply impressed
as

conviction

well

good;
public
be

and mind

driven
sense

far,
the

in the well

hope
as

rousing

the
may

of the

dangers, as
day

that benefits,

expected
for

from will

it; and

I trust condemn

is not who

distant, when

public opinion
art, except

strongly philosophic and

That however the

all those
purposes.

practise

the

medical
was was

barber

in
so

possession of illegal
clear, that
in But he
was

the

boy's person,
to

obtained,

sentenced the
sentence

nine
was

years' imprisonment, and labour confirmed by the superior court. the proceedings, and thinking, I
court, When

irons;
the

and

government
that
on

called mesmeric mind of

for
periments ex-

suppose,

the the

deep graciously pardoned the

too

had

made

an

impression
exhibition instead the

the

barber. of
new

puzzled by

the

unexpected phenomena,
of

and

derful won-

them
we

bodily,or by denying the contemptuously

shall do that and much
we

mental

of

solving our

culties diffi-

existence
as

the

offspring of
some

phenomena, or dismissing deception, or delusion,

nearer

better, and
have

generally be
betake Like
some

the of the

truth, if
human
to

we

suspect

overlooked

power

stitution, con-

resolve of of the
our

to diligently
new

ourselves the careless have

the

study
we

of

the

nature

agent.
that

knitter,

find,at

the end

work,

stitches

been

dropped,

IN

COURT

OF

JUSTICE.

67
de
novo.

and

that

we

must

recommence

our

work mesmeric

By
on

parison com-

of the

effects of natural I

and

sleep

the human

system,
in the natural

it will be seen,

think, that
we

they only
over

differ in

degree, and
than
extreme

greater
state

command

have I feel

the
to

artificial think
or

the

of

sleep ; and
nervous

disposed

that

conditions the
same

of the

system,
the and

its exhaustion
nervous

and repletion,
the

irregular distribution of effects on the bodily

sleep.
attempt
; from to

secretions, produce
organs

mental

in

normal

and

abnormal I shall between

exemplify

natural

sleep and
which of

its diseased

this,by instituting a comparison and mesmeric the varieties,

that
most

phenomena
exist in the able
nervous

it will be apparent

of the latter
in
our

routine
to

life, and
and
vary

that

the
at

novelty consists
will, by
the
a new

being
of the

produce
energy.

them,

direction

Common absolute

Sleep.
"

In

this condition and mind

; at

of

system
is
no

there

is

an

repose

of

body

least, there

ness conscious-

of movement Mesmeric restorative and

in either, on

awaking.
common

Sleep exactly
curative

resembles of

sleep, with
the

added
are

power,

which

following
10
:

cases

'examples.
July 8th. suppression
done been
to
"

Geereah,
of urine

Hindoo
two

girl; aged
days, in
the

is

suffering from
of
violence has
no

for

consequence

the

perineum,
the
can

by

which

recto-vaginal septum
up
to

destroyed :

bladder

extends
to
an

the

navel, and
of she which

instrument

be

passed, owing
her for voided half

the

painful condition freely; all

she
was

the

parts.
an

I mesmerised
on

hour, after
urine

slept

hour, and
dose

symptoms
a

waking immediately disappeared, and

her
"

disagreeable
without

cured

of medicine. loth.

July
left
arm a

Oboychurn
off, twelve
of dacoits.

Roy,
There
to not

Hindoo
ago,

land-owner: in

had

his

struck gang

days
staunch been and

against
made that bone
was

are

two

defending his house white rings on his arm,

; and

by ligaturesapplied
mortification be has

the blood

ful it is wonder-

produced.
this gave

Several

required to
mesmerised,

removed,

him

pieces of great pain : he

that

and afterwards with great relief, locally, ally: generof he dropped asleep in half an hour, and slept the whole night; the only sleep he had had since the infliction of the

injury.
2.

Night-mare.

"

If the brain

is
as

ternal disagreeably affected by inan

physical impressions, such

unequal distribution

of

68

MESMERIC

DAY-MARE.

blood,
take and shake

or

nervous

energy,

then

confused

train

of

painful images
causeless fears

possession of the mind, shadowy horrors; and

off the incubus that
"

which the

is filled with

sleeper struggles helplesslyto

him. much and resembles

oppresses

Mesmeric but

day-mare.
a

This
to

very walk

night-marc,
appears
to

with

greater
the

tendency

talk, and

and irregulardistribution of the nervous power, the consequent derangement of the respiration and circulation. This is so alarming an effect of Mesmerism, that I do not envy the amateur who it. produce may July 4th. Bunnoo, a Hindoo girl; aged 15. She sprained her ankle, ten days ago, by a fall : the foot, ankle, and half the leg, much swollen, infiltrated,and are painful. I mesmerised very her for an hour, but she only slept for a few minutes, and little relief was given. in ten July 5th. She was to-day, and again mesmerised minutes she became much convulsed, and agitated; her chest was she showed all the signs of a violent attack of hysteria. The convulsions soothed in a short time, by generalising the were mesmeric delirious, crying out^ influence, and then she became

depend

upon

"

"

that there
to
a

was

man

before Her eyes

was

her
were

with

great

eyes,

and

desiring
said
not

him
was

be

taken
;
or

away.

wide
own

open,

but

she did

Bengalee
own,

thought she
her mother's before

in her
name,

house, and
was

know her. and I

her

who

standing by
took for
a

placed
ordered

her
away,

mother

her, whom

she

man,

covering him with the choicest flowers of Bengalee abuse. She was sitting up, and carefullyprotectingher leg all this time, answering all my questions about it quite clearly. As it
was

not

in

comfortable would
not

position, I
allow I then which it to

desired be

her
:

to

place it
to

to

her

as liking,

she
now

touched

this she
go

did, and

said she and

it

was

right. "yes ;" upon

as now

asked, if she
I
went

would

sleep :
eyes,

answered she The

pointed my
into the

fingersat her
trance.

fell back

if shot, and be
my

leg could
and I made

freely pressed

all over,

without
to

ing disturb-

her,
them
now

assistants also

apply

their hands the inflamed

it,to
parts

show
were

that the heat

cooler This
was

had

disappeared ;
the of

than
not

our
a

hands.
case

in which
; it was

mesmeric
too

trance

could and

idly rapthe

subdue

inflammation
had been
too

long standing,
local

ligaments
gave

much

injured, but sleep even.

manipulations

great relief,and

induced

MESMERIC

SLEEP-WALKING.

69
the muscular

Sleep-walking.
"

Sometimes

from

of irritability

the natural of as source system, there is a craving for motion relief,and, volition sympathising to the required degree only, the person muscular he

gets
and

up,

and

walks

till tired

having

thus

exhausted

the

by exercise returns to bed, sleepssoundly, and, next of his nocturnal promenade. Mesmeric Sleep-walking. July i8th.
nervous
" "

irritation

in the cool

night air,
tion recollec-

day,

has

no

I entranced and
on

five
Mr.

men

to-day, presence of Principal Hooghly college :

up, and No.
my
set
i
on

in the

of

the

Rev.
two

Mr.

Fisher, awoke,

Clint,

of them

being pulled
understood he walk

their
not so,

feet ; the others

slept standing.
his eyes,

could
to

possibly open
and tried with
set

order

do

all his

though might ; nor

he

he

could

when

desired, but
till he
came

being
in then

in motion, with the

contact

bowed his

his head,

and
set

stood

motionless.

ward, helplesslyforhe wall, against which Being relieved from

poked

about, a-going again, he slouched a forlorn-looking wretch, till he got embayed between dilemma,
and the

and

most

window till the

shutter fit went

wall,

and

there

he

would him.

have

remained

off,if
2 on

I had

not

taken

pity on

little by rubbing, and a being raised, and roused to blowing in his eyes, half opened them, and saw sufficiently enable him obstacles. to avoid Being ordered to walk, he stalked four steps, very like a walking corpse of the room out ; descended his course in a straight line: when cautiously, and continued moved ordered would have to stop, he did again, never so, and of his own state accord, till the unnatural disappeared. than No. 3 being roused, opened his eyes wider natural, but

No.

saw

no

better be

than

the

others.

I think
to

he

even

saw

less,as

he

had
were

to

warned

of the
he
never

steps,

prevent

his

falling:his pupils

his
upon

Having got upon the grass, walked if actions as helplesstimidity : he portrayed the most in his way tuft of grass at every glass,and stared intently ;
dilated,and turning
aside
to to

winked.

sometimes

avoid

what,

to

his disordered obstacles. He

senses,

probably appeared
when steps

be

insurmountable towards the

turned,
his

ordered, and
very

made

hospitalagain, picking

to the looking up till he came cautiously,and never he then stopped, looked steps leading up to the verandah; up, studied the of the nature and, impediment, seeing the carefully of building before mass him, gave up the idea of ascending the

steps

as

hopeless,and
came

turned
to

along
we were

the

road

running
Here

round I

the

till he hospital,

where

standing.

stopped

7O

MESMERIC

SLEEP-WAKING.

him, and
steps,

very

told distinctly and desired and of

him

the nature
to
come

of the obstacle
me.

four

namely,
at

him

to

This

he
my

stood, undering warn-

undertook,
him
as

accomplished ; being
steps, and
of

assisted

by
All

each

the

counting them.
the

the

men,

usual,
to

were

unconscious

having left
one
or

spot

where

they
remain

went

sleep.
"

Sleep-waking.
active after

At

other have

times,
gone
to

more

senses

the others

rest

; the

wants

of the

waking

transmitted followed and to the sensorium, are are by an organ effort of the will to gratifythem. The sleeper rises, and performs the actions his desires to satisfy necessary usually assists ; if not, hearing and him with
an

to eye-sight,
come

small

extent, and
may

touch known

to

his aid, I the

guide
here

give

accuracy from illustration, my of of

singular

in
own

localities.

experience, of
to

preternatural
in
eager

acuteness out

hearing, developed
his troubles. and In my

aid the

bulist somnam-

getting

sportsman,

by

flood I found
not

field; and

one

youth, I night,
of

was

an a

after
room,
to

fatiguing day's sport,

and very

myself in the middle

the

cold, but

could

possibly contrive

to

get back

bed

again.
my
me

My
my
to

last under

watch from

made waking impression was by the ticking of this recollection the pillow, and to rescue came

difficulties. that if I

After

the

most

mature

reflection,it

occurred I should
my
as

me,

also find my

could.only detect my watch by its ticking, bed. Acting upon this happy idea, I hunted
actuallyifound reasoning and
a

watch the

by

ear,

till I sound

it ; and

got into bed

occurred
own

again,
to

reward

of

I may

also here
a

notice

similar

perseverance. instance which I

my
:
"

brother,
the had

clergyman
to

in Scotland. after
to
a a

give it in his
and

words

"Returning
taken

London,

tedious

dangerous voyage

from

continent, I retired

possession of
only
in
a
one

beds, of which

I shortly after reaching my hotel. two were spacious apartment, in which fell asleep, as I was occupied. I soon

bed

thought, but
the the
to my

in left my about bed, and wandered the idea that I was still on board greatest perplexity, under from berth foreign steamer, which I had recentlyleft. I went

short

time

berth,
own

as

conceived, beseeching all and

At last I
came

sundry
the

to

show

me

berth.

in contact

with it and and whom

the empty

bed, and
I my
was

it, got embayed between creeping over dilemma, long of getting out of this new to the numerous sleepersby
surrounded.
me

wall.

resuming
I fancied

plications sup-

myself
filled

I remember the

well

one

which part of the affair,

came

with

greatest trepidation. I

up

to

small

table,on

MESMERIC

SLEEP-WAKING.

Jl idea
me me

which
my

distinctly heard
that should
to

a owner

watch

ticking. The
and find would denounce

came

into
picious sus-

head

the

awake,
he

in such
as a

proximity
I

his watch,

thief.

spoke long
door, but
; but
more

and

eloquently, rebutting the base

unmoved
; I

sleeper remained
the

paced about
not

suspicion, but the in despair. I came to

my

opening
was

having locked on coming to

bewildered
me.

it, it did
the
on

yield to
up

window the

I drew

attempt at the blind, and

of London

still

seeing
means

mighty
moon,

mass

spread
on

out

before
was

The last the

light of the
of
to

however,
to

striking
full
was

the

watch,
senses.

at

restoring me
me

the

use

of my
own.

It

suddenly
the
room,

occurred

that
was

the

watch awake. A

my I
was

instantly seized
of have curious

and it, and

forthwith in
a

wide

in the time and

middle

cold

sweat.

considerable

must

elapsed, during the

occurrences

above

described,

wide the whole thing is, that my eyes were open I spoke only French, and that with the greatest volubility." time. Mesmeric ple Sleep-waking. The following is a beautiful examof the same condition of mind, produced by art. Mrs. to be entranced, to have an English lady, wished tooth taken out a was by the dentist, who shortly expected to
"

the

arrive. she and and

I told

her

husband,

that

my

labour

would

be

in vain, if

thought advantage was going to be taken of her sleep ; fear to the anxiety being quite destructive production of coma; then the dentist arrived, I should suggested that when pose promake to a preliminary experiment, tellingher, that if it
she
to

succeeded
at any

could have
came,

then the

suit her tooth taken

convenience,
out.

and

be

entranced

time,
the

The from the her

dentist

and

his
to

arrival her

being carefully concealed

powers

lady, I proposed
an

test
arms

of

submission.

At

end

of half
to
an

hour, her
the

I desired appearing cataleptic,

go

husband

order

carriage, and
without
open

for

the

dentist.

In

quarter of
and

hour
open

they arrived, and

her mouth

I bent
any to

back

the
at

lady'shead,
resistance
;

began
on

to

attempt

but,
she

the

window with
a

being
sudden her
a

thrown

give

the

dentist
was

light,
scious, uncon-

awoke thus

start, and

said

the

dentist

present.

She

described

feelings:she general
sense

very

soo'n became
and leave
not

after
on

feeling
the
to

of
arms,

warmth and did

oppression
them
me

the

chest; she

felt

me

raise
move

her

in the desire

air without her husband

power

to

them,

but

hear

get the
and
to

carriage ready.
then
it flashed

She

heard her

the brain

carriage
that her

wheels, however,
husband had
gone

across

bring the dentist, (although she firmly be-

72
lieved

MESMERIC

DREAMING.

him

to

be

in

Calcutta,)
husband,
or

and

this her

conviction, from
mind.
up

that

minute,
wished could

took
to

complete
her

possession of
or

She
run,

greatly
but the she
most

call back
move

to

get
She

and

not

tongue
of

foot, and

showed

all the heard

;
was

time the
sure

perfect
return,
he her the who

repose and
was

body and feature. knew it brought the dreaded speaking to her husband,
a

carriage
it
was

dentist and

yet remained
sense

fixed
was

to

seat, like

statue.

In

this instance, the with the how

of

hearing
world,

only

means a

of former
come

communication train
to
a

outward

but fear

it excited and

of

ideas ; and

accurately did
from the
ear

causality
a

right conclusion,
! the
nature to
me

having
and

transmitted This
case

suspicious sound
opened
out

of

Somnambulism,
Intellect. the

somnambulists. taught me how to make Dreaming of the Organs of Sentiment

no

and

"

Perhaps
parts

demand

is made
are

on

the organs connected

of

sense

; but

waking

of the brain
and

those

with The

the

passions, feelings,hopes,
becomes
most

fears

of

the with
or

individual. the excited

imagination
and
agony,

inflamed
tions sensa-

by sympathy of pain
to

organ,

the
are

vivid

pleasure, ecstacy and stimulated, and

The the
in
man

ing excited, accordor

the

organ

the

control,

more

less, of the

reflecting power.
the he

lover, the
who

murderer;
who lives

constant to
a

philanthropist, and hopes for coming good fortune, and dread of coming evil; all enjoy, or

miser, the

torment,
be

themselves awake. the

felt when

If
man

height of pleasure, or horror, that cannot the reflecting are chieflycalled organs
of business does
a

into

play, then
a

stroke of
use

in
to

conceives could

capital speculation that might

it when awake: the solves mathematician
a

be

trade, or him, if he
his torian histhe
no

recollect

student the

easily conquers
and lines his

difficulties;the
removes

problem,
forth All

doubt like

; the

poet's thoughts and

he
pours

longer
soul "in

leave

his

brain that

bird-lime, but
words

thoughts
in

breathe, and
that awake.

that
say,
us

burn." and do

fact, confess
when been have
proper

they think,

good dreamers, better things when

that the
in

asleep than
organs
our

Or, let
action that
a

suppose

reflecting
ing considerand the

intensely engaged
of
or

during the day,

certain
to

course

in

circumstances,
penetrate
the

probable consequences,
has been the

craving
the

future

haunting
habits of

idea ; then

judgment

is undisturbed

by

external

impressions, and

undistracted
and

by passion, self-interest,
only with
the bear upon

and the

routine

thought,

supplied by memory
that

past experience and

knowledge

question;

MESMERIC

DREAMING.

73
that and the mind

under

these
to

circumstances

it is and

imaginable
a

may

jump
into and

just conclusions,

receive

clear

futurity. These
verified

impressions, when
events,
are

remembered

happy glimpse on waking,

into

by subsequent

naturally converted

inspired dreams, and supernatural warnings, merely by the train lost. of reasoning having been The in reality, have persons,
reasoned have In

correctly, but
the

penetrated
this
way

unusual whose mode, by an future, only by comparing it with

processes

the

past.

"Old To

experience something

may

attain

like

prophetic strain."
and the

And

such

dreams

being remembered,
in
our

reasoning analysed,
of
our

be of real use to us, may future conduct, because

to
cause

shaping the course sleeping conclusions

the natural this is done

present
been

and
come

have of

from

just premises, and

effect
:

process

connecting
is of

and

whether

sleeping or

waking,

little consequence, the results being equally correct. If the state of one's health has intenselyoccupied the and the

thoughts,

hope

of

being
the

cured
man

of of

some

leading idea; then

may

distressing complaint is the medical and physical knowledge

his disease than he in

of possiblyhit on the precisenature and in sleep better prescribefor its cure by waking reflection ; and, perhaps, the

dreaming,
have of done selfa

could

animal
case,
we

instinct and do

preservation
course

may

be

concentrated the rationale benefit call

on

the which

suggest
not

of
but

proceeding,
which

of

stand, under-

yet may
as we

the

patient if acted
to

upon;

just
are

as

morbid

longings,
of

them, (though frequently they

never

promptings

nature,

and

ought

be

physician,) often do the system good, when gratified. This is called dreaming of what will As in natural Mesmeric Dreaming Organs. of Different their often are sleep the organs preternaturally excited, and of the nervous singularlyincreased, by the concentration powers
"

despised by the yielded to and do one good.

them upon energy and of course to person

; so,
a

in the mesmeric
more

sleep,this
wonderful

may

be effected,

greater and

extent,

by the

and directing agent, being under the control of a reflecting imagination, instead of being left to the fitful lights of his own his of the short unsustained intellect,as in common and flights of acting on separate portions of the dreaming. This power be brain, and thereby inducing such trains of thought as we may in the utility pleased to excite, will perhaps be found of practical diseases ; the diseased of mental haunting idea might treatment

74
be

MESMERIC

DREAMING.

banished, and
and

more

healthy
a reason

tone
new

of
and

feeling and
better that the habit

reasoning
of mind organs the

substituted
was can

sustained, till
I and
see no

produced.
be isolated of
a

to

doubt

mental

exalted leader

by

the

mesmeric

influence and
can

under

direction that

skilful

and

suggester,

lieve readily be-

be excited by this artificial stimulus, may into more acted by the usual vigorous activitythan when upon conditions of life. If persons derive benefit from night may in their be dreams, sleep-waking day thoughts should thoughts

the

mind,

more

valuable;
power

but than

the the

one

has The

no

more

pretensions
is
woven

to

other.

night-dream

supernatural of out

impressions lighted up by a flickeringimagination and a tage has only the advanwavering judgment; and the somnambulist of having his thoughts sustained and concentrated by his director. mental Nor, considering the excessive nervous delicacy of mesmeric and the power developed in the course treatment, of fixing the whole attention their bodily sensations, do I upon
past
think it

impossible that somnambulists

the condition of their for their

may organs,

perception of
able under which have
to

acquire an instinctive and occasionally be

persons

prescribe something

relief;just as
will do

dream,

nearly
been
at

an

analogous state, of what

them

good, and

sometimes

myself
them that and done may

My psychological experiments really does so. because bewilder I feared to limited, partly very the outset, and also from of proper want subjects to try
The mental of
range

on.

of

my

patients is

so

circumscribed,
exhaust

the with

topics
most to

food, drink, and

I have
me no common

clothing,almost

it,

of them show
;

enough
be

how
more

reached I should

and have

with

language. But I have the higher grades of somnambulism highly organised and intellectual
so.

natures,
If
very

good hopes of doing

properly

set

about, somnambulism
life from the

may
can

be be

produced
trance;

at

a as

early stage of the mesmeric

first step in the
the
return to

phasis, or

developed

the

mesmeric

but

in the latter case,

to perfect sleeper is apt to wake up, at once, it is only To make the consciousness. simple somnambulist, become till his arms the person to operate on cataleptic; necessary the person all expression then vanishes, and when answers even
on
ever

subjects of deep
disturbs
may

interest

to

himself,
This

no

sign of mental

emotion tures fea-

his

countenance.

statue-like

serenity of
then becomes

be

singularly broken
to

by concentrating his attention,

you
most

and

desiring him
automaton,

do

whatever

do:

he

an

imitative

mimicking

and servilely,

exactly, the

HOW

TO

MAKE

SOMNAMBULISTS.

75

actions

and who

words

of the
his

mesmerist,
attention.

or

him, and
not

attracts

substituted for one any Even at this stage, I have the

to

established the

any

"rapport" between
who
name,

parties,but
call upon and then the
to

have
bulist somnam-

only

desired

person

took

my

place

repeatedlyby
and There short

till he answered,
were

give clear
own.

orders,
of

which

is much

misapprehension

obeyed as readily as my convinced, prevalent,I am

physical and
lower have
my

about

the necessity

"rapport"
:

in the

mental been

nomena phemade

of Mesmerism
on

most

of my

experiments assistants,and
often

patients first entranced

over

by

my
was

subsequent
ing touch-

control them

their it

movements

acquired without
to
attract

being only
"

necessary

for

me

their exclusive

attention.

July 29th.
distance, in the
had
come

I made
presence

man

senseless
a

and

of and

large number
elsewhere* of the

at a great cataleptic, of gentlemen, who

from

Calcutta

; among rest

them of the
my

were

six

doctors, in whose
he
was

hands, and

in those

company,

left
was

as

long
to

as

they pleased,
the
extent

without

approaching
in vain. and
to

till I This

requested
I then

awake
to

him, after they had

of I would him

all tried

I did, but
me.

only

enabling him
try
to to

walk his

follow

said, that

clear

up

tive percep-

organs

to sufficiently

permit
at

understand I did
not

my

wishes,
to

with him his

which the
ear,

he

would

comply: implicitly
even,

wish

leave

of power I ordered

speech
him
to

this

do

what

stage. Having attracted fully faiththis he very I did, and

on

performed by throwing
attitude him much I assumed
out ;

himself,
to

the

instant, into
for of
not

every

but

required
was

be

careful,
did

if I threw head
may

of

balance, he
the floor.

in

danger

plunging
see

foremost

against
the

Those

who

him,

*I

take
were

liberty to give the

to
me

names

of

such
as

gentlemen
being
of them,
and
were

as

knew,
for
not

or

who
truth

introduced

; not, not

however,
know what
many

all vouchers
know

the the of

of

Mesmerism,
on

for

I did

effect produced 60
persons

their minds
and
some

by
will

they
found,
every

saw.

There

upwards
me

present,
or

be

hope,
one

to

put

right, if I Barlow, Bayley,

Hunter,

misrepresent,
and Mr. Mr. Rev. Mr.

incorrectly report,
of the Sudder

what

saw.

Messrs.

Tucker,

Judges
Mr.

Court;
Mr.

Mr.

Elliot, Law

Commissioner;

Hardinge, Wanchope,
H.

Capt.

Hardinge,

Melville, Mr. Graves,

the

Larpent, Mr.
Mr. Mr.

Jackson, Mr.
Rev. F.

Mr. Mr.

Clermont,

Betts, the

Fisher, the

Fisher,

Rev.

Bradbury,

Bennett, Major

Wood,

Major

Anderson,
Dr.

Major
Dr.

Riddcll, Capt. Duncan, Burt, Dr. Walker,

Dr.

Capt. Cantlcy, Dr.

McPhcrson,

Smith,

Elton, Dr.

Ross.

76 imagine they were Supreme

how

CASE

OF

MESMERIC

SOMNAMBULISM.

little the poor

fellow the

knew

what

he

was

about, when

judges of the Court with the cool impudence and man, precisionof a caband the gravity of an astronomer. I then proceeded to free his voice, but only to the extent of making him echo : he was my told to repeat whatever I said, and he showed his intelligence by He then gave "Ye of England," Mariners us repeating the order. if and the pronunciation was not to me perfect,he seemed very to reverberate also exactly my tones, and my gesticulations were copied. We faithfully passed suddenly from "grave to gay," and he did such justice to "Hey diddle diddle," that I lost my gravity and burst into a laugh ; he joined me in full chorus, and I heard "he it remarked can't help laughing himself;" and some were
now

told, that he took

"longitude"

of the

found out! upon quite satisfied that he was this, I stopped laughing, and, on the instant, his features relapsed into the most
repose,

awful

and

pointed

out

that

it

was

no

joke

to

him, but
dent evi-

purely
to

imitative all. He
as

laughter, and
also

this, I should

think, became

rather
a more

as

badly
skilful him fence
to cut

"God the save sang I, for he is capable of much

master.

Queen," as well, or better things,under

him up he
a was

music

now

awoke

little more, asked show

me.

and he He

made could

capable
; he

of

answering questions:
he could
; and

if

said

that

I bid

him

began
act

in the would his and this

of

native fencers, but, preliminary capers stooping, a fit of rigidityshot through him, and he with

the

of the

have

fallen
not

dangerous
this

violence I

fall had
on

been

fortunatelybroken.
man

against the floor, if am always alarmed,

on,

the

look
to

out, when
instantaneous it is very lasts

is

experimented
the

from

tendency
from

of rigidity

body.
hours.

profound
such I showed

trance,

which

difficult to awake for four

or on

him, succeeds

exertions, and
another

usually

five other

subjects; enabling them to answer simple questions correctly,and extinguishing and at releasing the power pleasure. All reflection being dormant, direct to a they feel a natural impulse to give a direct answer
phenomena, question, and
We the
are same

step in the mental

in this way that

common

tell

me

frankly

whatever also be

I choose

to

ask. in

assured
way
to

sleepers can
skilful persons, of France.
a

played
that

upon

by patient and
secret
"

and

this is well

known

the

police

Catalepsy.
catalepsy,
attack and is from

The the

following is
Cyclopaedia
of the

medical of

description of
Medicine. of rigidity

natural "The

Practical sudden and

generally instantaneous,
the

the

the

trunk

limbs,

suspension

senses,

temporary

interrup-

NATURAL

CATALEPSY.

77

tion

of

the

exercise
no

of

the

intellectual The

faculties,having patient
retains he the which

been ture pos-

preceded by
of
to

body
at

and

premonitory stage. the expression of

of seizure

countenance

chanced of fixed
a

have

the moment

; and

by

this combination air of

attitude
rather

and than

fixedly,or
whilst the

unvarying expression, presents the of an animated being. The eyes be at the shut, as they happened to

statue

continue

either

commencement,
on

pupil, though usually dilated, contracts

the

approach

of

strong

muscles

trunk,

or

the flexor and extensor light. The balance between is so perfect,that any new position given to the head, extremities, by an external force, is easily received, and This
to

steadilymaintained. permitting the body

of attitudes
as

passive
moulded

energy into
wax

of the almost
or

muscular
as

system,
a

be
a

great
the

if it

were

figureof
disease."
"

lead, is

variety ing distinguish-

characteristic Mesmeric

of the

of Catalepsy. Sept. 24th. Mr. Blyth, curator the Asiatic visit yesterday,and paid me Society'sMuseum, a saw various mesmeric in He operations hospitals. begged my allowed somnambulist I that be to see a so earnestly to to confine myself over-persuaded to gratify him, as I wished was relations of Mesmerism. I told him, thai to the purely medical
"

when felt and

man

the

mesmeric

influence, or body
my

rather could

disease, had

been
very

deeply easily,
a

by

the

constitution,any
would and

re-develop it
might
a

that for

if he

follow

directions, he
him into

mesmerise

himself,

convert

somnambulist

wards. after-

He
a

accordingly
minutes, and
was

rendered

man

senseless, standing
him, requested
me

erect,
to

in
so,

few

failingto

awake

do

which
the Mr.

instantaneouslydone.
is

But,

as

often

happens,
trance,

when

system
B.

deeply affected, he
to
see

fell back

into the

and
I

begged
Mr.
and
to
came

the

imitative

stage of somnambulism.
table few in front

said, he could
attention.
the
man,

do this also
B. made examine
was

himself, by concentrating the patient's

a

on sitting

yards
he B.

of

all kinds him

more

of

noises, which closely, Mr.

with his

echoed

back.

Wishing
table,and
The
man

jumped
and

off the

running
exactly
and he the

forward
same,

body bent,
fit of

singing.

did

but head him

sudden

rigidity passed
bed

through him,
Mr.
to

plunged
I had
we

foremost

against the floor, to

on a

B.'s

great

distress.

placed
at
man I

comfortable
p.
a

and sleep off the effects, I

was

left him
find the

o'clock,
stiff
as

M.

painfullystartled

to

log to-day,

^8
at
II

CASE

Of

MESMERIC

CATALEPSY.

o'clock, and
would the head
to

that

he

had

shown

no

sign of life since

the

we

left

him. This feared have

not

alarmed been

me

without

accident, but
set

might have
his
senses

injured by his fall,and

mesmeric stimulants
to to

about but
nose

restoring him
all in vain.

by the usual
attempt
to water

processes,
to

I then induce

had
any

recourse

volatile

the

(I could
water
on

not

swallow,) and poured

to

effusion

of cold into his

the
; but
no

body, and
to
no

from in
an

height

open my
out

eyes

efforts;
I

purpose. fluid could be

as

I returned

hour, and
his

renewed
ran

got
dead

pass

down
; while to

throat, it

of his mouth
saw an

from

man's made
an

instinctive

effort
then
some

clear
to

tively, looking on attenthe wind-pipe of

mucus

that

obstructed of this, and

my

it,and

attempt
down

swallow his throat and

to

; I took

advantage luckily for

a

poured

water

; some,
on

violent
at

fit the

passed into his wind-pipe, purpose, of spasmodic coughing. I continued

same

brought
rouse

the

system
in

time, by
But from efforts

every

possible

means,

and

succeeded of

awaking

him.

the
to

rigidity of the muscles

tion respiraaccu-.

continuing, his
mulated
mucus

of

get rid of the water, and the him. twenty-four hours, nearly choked

At

resumed their natural action, and length, the respiratorymuscles enabled him from his wind-pipe. to eject the phlegm After the trunk had become as pliable,his legs remained wards. rigid as bars of iron, and could not be bent for half an hour after-

This

will not

only be
must

lesson all

to

myself, but
to

to

others, I hope
more

and, in future, I
necessary for the

resist of and

application
even

do

than

is of

removal

disease,

at

the

expense

being thought
Coma. is
"

uncourteous

disobliging. history,"
fine of death

"Last

stage of all in this strange, eventful

from the and chamber

only separated
In

by

very

tion. parti-

this, mind
and

body

are

equally torpid, and

seen

insensible

to

all external

impressions.
mind;
and

It is

in

persons
or

exhausted intense
nervous

long watching
of

fatigue,exposure
in this

to

cold,
of

by suffering
system

body

and

condition

the

surgical operations might often be performed without causing and pain. Irregularityin the vital organs, anguish misery of the
countenance,
hand the of death

characterise
is

natural

coma,
currents

and of

indicate

that

the

icy
of

arresting the
can rouse

life,and, in general,
this

last trump

alone

the

sleeper from

torpor

exhaustion.

CASE

OF

MESMERIC

COMA.

7Q

Mesmeric

Coma.

"

In the

this, the
countenance

great
is
an

organic functions
and

are

usually undisturbed;
complexion
and
to

is calm

full,and

the

that of health. is his

The

person

generallyeasilyaroused,
instant,often, he
returns

how

different

waking

In

full life and his

consciousness,

without

feelingsare often those in pain, he often awakes he has lain down free from it,and renovated in strength and spirits. In the subsequent part of this work, will be given of this, instances abundant and I will only here introduce asleep,and
one.

knowing that he has been of pleasure and relief; if

May
head
to

22d.

"

I went

to-day

to

see

my

patient
that that she

Mr. had
was

Clermont,
gone
out

master

of

Hooghly
Mrs. her
nervous

College

; but

found

he

his

duty.
one

Clermont

mentioned, headaches,
that been

suffering
with
a

from

of

which

commence
over

pain
around She

in

the back
the

of

the

neck,
had

spreads

the
nervous
never

scalp, and
of late.
mentioned

eye-brows

; she

weakly
and

and

knew

nothing
now

about

Mesmerism,
to

I had

it to her, but No

proposed

try the effect of it on

her

complaint.
to me,

objection being made, I requested her to turn her back describe and sit erect in her chair,and anything uncommon might feel during the process.
After
a

she

few
on

minutes,

she
my

said

that

she

felt

warmth

in the
to

neck,

and and

extending
In about that you.

manipulations,

it advanced said that

the

scalp
was

eyes.

eight minutes,
she
to

she

the

pain
I

much

less, and
I put

asked,
raised
went

"shall her
to

felt very drowsy: upon She sleep?" only smiled

hand
a

which,
in

reply,
and

entered

right arm, put sleep. At this moment the room, I begged and
with her

her

to

the

side

of

her

head,

lady (Mr. Clermont's sister,) her to remain by Mrs. Clermont

him, I asked Having found his of mesmerising his wife without pardon for taking the liberty her awake. We to return to see requested him consent, and members her as I had left her, with of the family found some I extended her arm at a right angle to her body, in looking on. fixed till moved which other, it remained again, position, or any the I saw As and her sister-in-law pricked her hand unheeded. with considerable I awoke her, but becoming uneasy, party found much ashamed she felt very at having been difficulty:
till I returned husband.

asleep by
her

me,

as

she

supposed,
she headache

and

it

was

only after long

and she

tioning ques-

and

reflection that
The

recalled the circumstances

was

ing attend-

sleep.

quite

gone,

felt,and

looked, greatly refreshed.

8o

NATURAL

CLAIRVOYANCE.

Letter "MY "I

next
are room

from

Mr.

Clcrmont.

DEAR have
at

SIR,
read the
your

report
you

to

the

parties who
Mrs. and

were

in

the

time

mesmerised

Clermont. have
not

They
the

perfectly satisfied as to its slightestobjectionto your making

It would
came as

correctness,
use

of their names, the

if necessary. which

be

superfluous
my

to

detail
on

here
return

circumstances from

under

observation been

my

they

have

already
your

described of the

by
case,

corroborate

account

you. and in

Judge Russell's, But, in short, I fully

bear the
most

even

positive testimony to all that transpired will be glad to learn, that Mrs. Clermont
ever

my

presence.

You well

has

been

doing

since.

I am,

Yours

faithfully,
"T. M. CLERMONT.

"Chinsurah,
"P.
"Miss "Mr. S.

May

2$th, 1845.
insert the
names

I herein Clermont.

of the

parties present

"

Manly.
Q Scott. "

/'
",

Students Clermont

of has

the

Medical suffered

'Mr.

College."
any
return

Nov.

23.

"

Mrs.
no

not

of

the

headache,
she

and

longer

feels the
was

languor distressing
mesmerised. is recorded
a

and

sion oppres-

complained

of till she
"

Natural
cases

of

Clairvoyance. This natural catalepsy,and

several instances of

to

have

been

seen

in

French

physician, M.
are as

Petetin,
attested

has
as

related
most

it, which
M. of

well had

facts in the when

a

history of
alive, and
and
was

medicine. the
cases

Petetin

opposed
which he his first

Mesmerism,
had observed

catalepsy, in
were

transference

of the

senses,

found death.
a

among

posthumous papers, the discovery case,

was

published

after

his

In

his

purely accidental:

cataleptic patient nothing

external
to

seized

with
as on

an

uncontrollable
was

impulse
deaf and
sense.

to

sing, which

could

stop,

she the fell

completely
of accident
across

insensible

impressions
M.
was near a

organs

Petetin the

by
this

the

bed,
in

and

when

his mouth God This !

stomach, patient's
woman

exclaimed can't be

despair, "Good
to

what

pity that
the and

stopped singing!"
his great the also

exclamation

woman

heard, and
to

answered,

ment, amaze-

they
and the

continued functions

converse senses

through
were

pit

of

her

stomach,

of other
All

performed
unexcep-

by

remote

parts of the body.

this

is

supported by

CASE

OF

NATURAL

CLAIRVOYANCE.

8l

tionable himself

authority;
believed. also been

such

as

one

cannot

reject,and

hope

to

be

It has of

seen

and

described of which from

a

by unprofessional
the

persons

intelligenceand
:

veracity ;
of the
any

following
to

is

curious

example
and
was

it is

communication

clergyman
to

McKenzie,
it had

President written without

any

Edinburgh
reference in

George Phrenological Society,

and before

Sir

Mesmerism,
:
"

attracted

attention

England

"DEAR
"It is
some

SIR,

perfectlytrue,
with of
us,

that

our
one

poor

friend, who
those

has

now

been almost
are

months
cases

presents

of

incredible
distant

hysterical or
witnessed of the the

nervous

singular and affection,which

at

intervals The

under

the

dispensation
functions death seized few of the

of
nervous

the

Almighty.
system
was

overthrow

regular

occasioned she
was

by

almost

sudden
was

of her
with

father

(to

whom her
to

fondly attached,) who

from

illness,
she

during
returned the have
case,

absence her

him, and
I cannot attended the

died
enter

in into

hours

after details

home. has been

which

with

any all those

longer

of

which varieties,
men as

long
other
are

characterised The

complaint

among

medical

the
to

Protean the

disorder.
senses

by

the

extraordinary powers suspension temporary

all those of the have who into any who

communicated of do
one
or

two

of it :

them,
and be I but

beyond credibilityto
enter

not

witness

really seldom
them. she

details,because
seen

it would doubt the

reasonable, that those

colours

not

should

reality of
"All

can

distinguishwith

the

greatest

correctness

presented to her on cloth,silk,muslin, by night or by day, whether or even glass; and this I may safelysay, as easilyon any part wax, the ordinary the hands, although, of course, of the body as with exhibition takes of power of such routine an place with the the other being that of mere curiosity. Her delicacyof hands, of religiousfeeling, are such, that she has mind, and high tone she that which the greatest objection to make regards in the of show or curiosity light of a heavy affliction from God, a matter unusual all these to others, although to ourselves, of course, of nervous manifest, for at least are sensibility extravagances She can not of every twelve only read out twenty-four hours. to us, music, with the greatest rapidityany writing that is legible in a dark it,whether over passing of her fingers "c., with the mere (for her sight is for the most part suspended, or light room,
"

when

under

the

influence

of

the

attack,

or

paroxysm,

although

82

CASE

OF

NATURAL

CLAIRVOYANCE.

she

is

perfectlysensible,
"

nay, this

more

acute

and

clever

than

in her
to

natural

state;) but
contents

within of any without

month
or

collect the hand

on

printing
the

past she has been able MS., by merely laying

or a

her

the

page,

tracing the lines

contents

letters ; and
note

saw

her, last night only, declare

into the
without read the and it
room,
a

of
not

in this way, candle) and with

(when
a

I could

just brought decipher it myself,

by daylight. I have
a

rapiditywith which I could not have her seen develop hand-writing by

the back of her is

applicationof
she
can

note

to

hand,

neck,

or

foot ;
in
over

do

it at

this, for, of
the
power

course,

any the

time.
nervous use

There

nothing
cause us

unnatural all
to

susceptibilityextends
and
even

surface
more

of
to to
a

the the

body, but

habit

limit

its

fingers. Many,
we are

medical medical
to
"

men,

take

upon
as

themselves

declare, that
mere

all, her
ask
none

attendants

well, under
if marvellous thus

delusion.
to

We and

believe
case

anything,
is

they prefer

not

do

so,

only reply,
that this poor

The

equally
be

either

way;

either

patient

should

of my that eighteen or nineteen afflicted, or family persons and in the of should she habit is, friends, fancy daily seeing her, of the intervals for every twelve hours out twenty-four, doing at that which she is not

doing.
she

There
possesses,

are

many

exhibitions
we

of
no

extravagant
one

powers

which

that

talk

of

to

; for not

finding it
on

difficult to

acquire credit for lesser things, we

Her
power
ceases

do

venture

the A of

greater.
the
case

the

moment

the been
ment. treatone,

attack visible

passes
at

off. back

considerable

the

swelling has at times has yielded to the head, which

which would of be the
an

It is in the

certainly a
of
is most

instructive frame:

consideration

the

physiology
to

human

but

she,
made lack

poor
on

thing!
her; but
the
was

averse

experiments
life among know.

being purposely
us,
we

in her
we

every

day
and is
as

have

no

of

proof for all

she in her she

believe

"Between
as ever

attacks, she
life.
can,

perfectly in
one

natural
in her

state state ;

There
at

is but

paradox
some some

and
not not

that

is, that

such

times, hear
see

sounds,
hear
to

and

others, though others, though

she

very

much

louder, and
her.
a

things, and
a

placed before
could
not
or

She

could close

tune

whistled, when
is

hear absence

gun

fired

her.

It

the absorption certainly

to
some

of mind
to

that

occasions like any

this ; absent

absent
man

things, though
Dr. Y.
accounts

present
for it. the usual

others,

; and to

thus

In

making
and

this communication
my

you,

in part to

vindicate
my

testimony of
custom

friend, Mr.

M., I have

reallyexceeded

resolution; for

MESMERIC

CLAIRVOYANCE.

83
herself,
what
to not to

I do
much and the

not

think talk

it fair to the of
we

poor

sufferer few

make
we

her

too

the

others.
are

Very
no

believe anxious should

tell them,
our

therefore

in

subject. myself, had I

make about
is any
to

All been

I know

degree is, that I

it.

open

lips on
it
not

have that

believed
you

only
The
to

told

I must

beg,
you

will
my

undue
any
one.

use

of this communication, friend read for whom

by handing
ask
not

letter

the have

information written
to

perfectly
the
a case

welcome
were

it,or
the

I should should

it. it ;

If but

my

own,

world

be

welcome

young

female the world should

of such
at

might sensibility

be much all

embarrassed
on particulars

by finding
her

recovery,

large in possession of God so please to permit.

"I
am,

"c.

"c.

Mesmeric

Clairvoyance.
believe

"

If the them

above

are are

facts (and

it is

no

sign
never

of

credulity to
done,
I

till they it

refuted, which
imitate her in

has that

been

believe,)
so

I think

extremely probable
in the

art, and

having copied nature that clairvoyance has

of the
nervous

far,

can

also

this;

actually been
caused but who
cut

produced
Mesmerism.
not

ment derangenot

system

by

It has
at

yet
to

occurred
encounter

in my it. A the other

experience, gentleman day, and

I should
saw me

be

all
a

surprised
28

amputate
handle

tumor,
the

Ibs.

weight, showing
learned about

and

rudely
the is
a
"

the most

delicate

parts of the human

a

body

for twenty
at

minutes

without "Well

patient
have

one

sign of life, said thing to-day, and

:

conclusion,
never

! I

that

to

be

again positive
am now pletely com-

anything
convinced about

I did of

not

believe

word those
to

of it,and who wish his

its truth

;" and
well

to

know

the

truth

Mesmerism be
more

will do

follow
to

example.
my

It would

plead ignorance of but it is impossible not

By turning
hit, perhaps;
has occurred The but

prudent perhaps the modus opcrandi

to
we

continue

facts, and
;

of this

mysterious agent
to

think, though perhaps little

may chance
to

the
a

pose. pur-

it all round

make

happy
in

nothing
:

can

be

gained by indulging only

to

thoughtless wonder
to
me

I shall, therefore, venture it.

put down
for

what

about

exhaustion

of any

particularorgan,
of the sudden
a nervous

the

eye

instance,
the
on a

and

the consequent
to

given
effect

the

nervous
on

derangement centres by
the

system
mind

; the shock
or

mental

emotions,
the

produced
have and

imagination by
said, and

powerful
has

acting

weaker; symptoms,

all been

truly, to

simulate very

mesmeric

therefore

"imagination"

generally got

84
the credit

AUTHOR'S

THEORY.

of

being
system
the

the
; ami

"primum
I do
not

mobile" intend

in these
to

tions singular affecits power,

or

of the
the

dispute
on

realityof
the mode
an

effects

produced
the

by

this agency.

But
my

my

found pro-

impression is, that by

of nature; certain I should

first effects

produced
of
over a

are practisingMesmerism, animal influence exerted by one

patients purely physical

another, under

circumstances
as soon

and

conditions

adopt the "opium solution of the problem, as attempt by theory," as a satisfactory for what and I have the action of the imagination to account seen Would the most think the done. imaginative of my readers ever to make as a following process likelymeans people insensible* to fire and A the imagination? steel, by the effect produced on for the first time, and before me Bengal coolie, or pariah, comes I see he has a disease requiring a surgicaloperation; I never say
a

respective systems. diabolical,"or "all humbug

of

their

word

to

him,
try
to

but

desire him.

my

assistants desire
pass
;

to

take
to

him

to

another shut
over

room

and and

mermerise

eyes,
most

sleep, and
him

sensitive

parts of the

They they body

him

lie down,

his the the

their

hands their if he

slowly
breath does
not

exhaling
sweat,

upon

patient, and

loading

with

their A

readily
times some-

yieldto

the mesmeric
more a

influence.

few

minutes

of this will and

suffice, but
mesmerisers
; and

generally it
less

takes

hours,

imaginative
be
to
as

Calomel,
it
seems

rhubarb,
to

and

castor

I cannot process oil, have all the same reasonable the

to

relays of imagine. they

were

effects,and
above

me,

that
same

it would

say

thereforeall
process
to

the

thing, as

declare

effects of the

imagination." "Well ! there is one thing certain, and that is, that imagination has nothing to do with this," is the witnessed the cause and of gentlemen who have remark common stuffed it not effect, and whose senses are by prejudice. That and mesmeric inextricably, with the true mingles inexplicably,
be "all

influence, after

the

constitution and

has

taken

on

the

diseased

action
;

deeply, is
but in I
now

well

known,
of

will be

abundantly
which
nature

shown

afterwards
to

speak leading proof

induces

of first the

on effects,

alone of

I desire Mesmerism. the

insist,
One

realityand
symptoms
commotion

person

mesmeric
a

by deranging
of the of

nervous

through equilibrium,
of

mind, another sensation, "c.

as

by
; the
on

means same

squinting,a third by monotony effects being produced by different

other
same

processes, for

we

see

many

occasions.

It is too become

common

persons
to

engaged
their
is
own

in

the ivay

pursuit gaining

to

exclusively
when

addicted
a new

of

their

object, and

path

open

they

AUTHOR'S

THEORY.

85
of and
so

attempt

to

obstruct "Your

it

as

an

infringement
my

their

exclusive it is

right

of

way.

way
; and
same

is not the

way,

therefore
many

wrong,"
route,

argues
to

self-love reach
one

pretending
and

the

public seeing destination, each

his to be the

travellers

by

his
true

particular

road ; the proclaiming only them all down sets impatient public, with its usual slashinglogic, and declares them to be chasing a delusion. as Whereas, wrong, all and often, they are right, only wrong by taking too limited very of the subject: the combined view observations of all will proba ably the and each will be found a useful truth, bring us near plan every
resource,

in different
seems

circumstances. that the

It
nervous

to

me

irregularityin
bottom of

the

distribution
mesmeric

of

the

energy

is at

all the
or

symptoms,
I suspect

however that the

produced,
same nervous

whether

naturally
follow
a

artificially ; and
of exhaustion
on so or

effects may

state venture

repletion
an

of the

system.
say
may

If I that be

might
to

material in the back

tration, illus-

I should

the

first effects
a

produced
rolled

system
its

by
source

Mesmerism

likened

river

upon

by
to

heavier

body of
seen,

water,

unable From

resume

its usual

course,

stagnating in its channel, and till the opposing tide subsides.

but from

all I have of
some

I cannot
passes

believe, that there

one

is

an

fluence in-

kind
two

that

person in the
way

into

another,
scribed devital

when

one

persons in fact, there ; that, the the

one

of

is mesmerised is
a

I have

virtual other. lead be the

a

transfusion The
us

of

some

agent
as

from
as

body
and

into

the

wonderful

subtlety
that it is
a

well

effects

of this power,
may

to

suspect

nervous

product ;
the organs

it not and
even

nervous

beyond of the body ; the lungs, meanwhile, and the surface periphery of and remaining under the the body, retainingtheir vital properties, direction of the will? move Every time we a finger,it is by transmittingsomething under the control of the will to the ends of the fingers,and Supposing this why should it not go farther? be directed and that this nervous emanation to be possible, can by I would then venture to that, another, one conjecture, person upon is the of sense, it on accepted by nerves product, being a nervous
by coming
stream, into and
contact

off

of sense,

for

short

energy time going

passing

with

them

in

continuous the brain,

nervous

well-sustained

is transmitted than

by
to

them

to

thereby adding
of the If of
as

to, rather

subtracting from, the duty

are

secretions
soon

brain, which
the
sense

it is their

carry

off

as

formed.
the
nerves

sensorial and

secretions

not

conveyed
of the

away

by

volition,and

the

exercise

perceptiveand

intellec-

86

AUTHOR'S

THEORY.

organs, the manner,

tual

the

brain

becomes of

transmission
or
a mere

torpid and foreign nervous

of its of
own

oppressed. In like matter whelm might overfluids

the brain, it in
not
a

stoppage
the outlet

might steep
would lished. re-estab-

sleepy drench,

and

functions

the

sensorium

be restored

until the usual

for its

energies were
would is
seem

The

entireness the

of the the
sense

organic
external
:

functions influence

to

nance counteto

idea, that
nerves

propagated

the

brain the

by

the

of

the

general
often that

and

capillarycirculation, tranquil,
and is little affected. the brain, is also

respiration, and
as

temperature,
which
nervous

remain

natural,
The
seen

in

sleep ;
of

shows

organic life

accumulation in the

fluid that oppresses of the muscular singular condition

system,

and

may

time perhaps explain the strange" helplessness, and at the same the wonderful of resistance in the muscles, which passive power enables to stand ing cataleptics asleep in the most painful and exhaust-

attitudes, longer than

would

wear

out
resources

the

strongest and
of art and

most

practised athletse,who
The

enjoy

all the
nervous

training.

absorption

of

another's abnormal

emanations
once

being thought
established,
this

possible, and
it is

this

susceptibility being
degree
nervous

possible to conceive
and

the extreme

to

which

required
may

habit, of
be that
as

transmittingextraneous
we
can so

fluids to the the

on

brain,

developed;
would
nerves us

comprehend
subtle
on an

delicate such

impressions
it
prise sur-

be made of be
sense

by

agent
a

fiue conductors

the

; nor,

such

supposition, should
at

to

told,that
of the

the

subject

receives the

the

same

time

some a

impressions
certain
an

of individuality

agent, and
The

manifests of such

to degree of submission would interchange of vitality

we are

his will be

even.

shades

and infinite,

the effects which

told
on

can

be actually

probably resemble produced by the mere

however,
that

will of the considerable

mesmeriser
error

his

patient.

I suspect,

of the will in proregarding the power ducing the physical mesmeric willed to phenomena. People are I believe,by directingour influence sleep, nervous them, and upon simply making them the objects of our attention,which is sufficient to impel this influence against them, and, if they have become

exists

extremely
will ensue, that

sensitive and

to

the

impression,
to

the

usual

effects specific
to
our

they

appear

go

to

sleep in

obedience

will

I have tested this in a variety of ways, they should. by and of all desiring Hindoos, Mussulmans, Europeans professions,

merely

to

concentrate

their attention
results
were
as

upon

certain

highly sensitive
certain
as

patients;and

the

striking and

if the

AUTHOR'S

THEORY.

87 against
a

most

energetic
and
came

will

had

been

directed

them. learned
to

On

one

memorable

ludicrous
to

occasion, I induced
expose
a

brother
me

(who
command

purposely
of his person

the

"humbug")
The his

give
was,

the

for

short

time.

result

I forced

him, against his will, and

the
most

"in

spite of
the

mesmeric

symptoms,
coma,
to

from

intense

in

subjects of
action doubt very

teeth," to produce all quivering of an eyelid, to the morbid sensitiveness,in whom

become
a

the

tendency
The

mesmeric is
no

had

will

influential

ease. deep-rooted disin producing first

effects

to our influence,but the by giving continuityand intensity tion, deeply affected, the simple act of attensystem having been once the part of any one, seems to be quite sufficient to bring it on

within But

his I

nervous

atmosphere
it to be mental

and

influence. that such I

wish

understood,

speak only
as

of

the
;

physicaland
of the and
to

inferior

phenomena,

I have

described

I have no higher mental manifestations personal knowledge, produce them, mental sympathy will no doubt be indispensable. That the
nervous

has sensibility is evident condition that used

to to

retreated

from

the the

surface,
sal univermuscular

and

the

organs

of sense,

all observers,

by
and

and insensibility;

the
to

of

the

brain,

system, would
of and
currents

seem

indicate
means

they
to act

labour

undes

the

effects

this revulsion.

The

de-mesmerise

particular

organs,

the brain back the

to

itself, appear
the that

organs

from

load

vous by determining the nersurface, thereby relieving the deeper count acoppressed them ; at least I cannot

for the
Nov. 16.
"

following singular
In the
presence

exhibition

in any

other

way.

of

Mr.

S. Palmer,
the it becomes,
most

Major
if

Smith,

Mr.

Stopford, and
of the mesmeric
a man

Dr.

Scott, I
entranced into
own

showed

spontaneous
intense
one

disease

(for such
to

development pushed far)

in

who

becomes

the

degree, by
was

being merely
test

brought
I at
room,

my

presence:

every
no

left to

his conditions, in his

way,

and him

one

doubted and

of his condition.
to

last awoke

for them,
erect

reality carrying him

wall
; in
a

the

the

end

of the
he

placed
into Andrew

him the
on

against
and I

the

few

minutes attitude
man,

relapsed
of
St.

trance, the
cross.

catalcpsed him
mesmerised his eyes,
set

in the another and him

I then

only, however,
the extended his
on

to

the

extent

of

sealing

inducing

cataleptic tendency
arms

in the

muscles:

having
directed into

walking, I against the man

with him

and horizontally, wall. him On

on,

him

crucified

the

coming asking

contact

him,
?" He

he

stopped, and
tried in vain

I
to

urged

"what

stopped
that he

in order separate his eyelids,

88

MODES

OF

DE-MESMERISING.

obstruction, and, having no use of his hands, he thought of helping himself by rubbing his forehead against the object before him : this I stopped by pulling back his
see

might

the nature

of the

head, and
now

it remained
to
:

stiffened

in the

position
his

I left it.

He

was

reduced wall below

utter

helplessness, as
blew
on

the

I then

his

nothing but neck, thereby immediately releasing

feet struck

and on in his way, it, being again urged to tell what was he began rubbing his forehead before. One as against the man, freed in the same next arm was ; this he brought into play ; way then the other, and he used both in feelingand rubbing the man all over, with the greatest earnestness, but without a vestige of At expression in his countenance. length, he said there was a before him. I also showed, that my breath had no man specific effect by doing the same with fan air of current a thing ; a being all that was dissolve the of the to muscles. required rigidity in the also the is most of reBlowing expeditious way lieving eyes the brain, and its the functions; rubbing restoring eyes, and from also water and pouring a height are times someefficacious,
are

all needed natural

to

de-mesmerise
to

the

brain.
the most I

Air, cold, and

friction,are
to restore

stimuli

the skin, and and

jts
which

if sensibility,

diminished;
to

means likely that imagine they

relax

the

mucles

by determining again
had its been thrown back

the

surface
the

the

nervous

currents, when I

upon

muscular

system,

condition. otherwise cataleptic count aceffects of following singular cold, which, from my I patients being naked, can apply in any way I please. On several
I cannot for the entranced in the remain
persons
most
an

produced

occasions, I have
and in these

catalepsedthem
they
would be
water

standing, stript them naked, painful postures imaginable and

incredible
a

length of time,
on were

but

let and

little cold it became

squirted from
If after
;

distance
arms was

any

member,
fixed

instantlyrelaxed.
in the

both

dicularly perpen-

air, one
of

the other
and if it had

shot directed

down
to

instantly,
the
or

by
the

slightstream leg the person

was

water

was

calf of if the

fell, as
the

if he

been

hamstrung:

body

catalepsed, out
send
or

the loins would

on perpendicular,squirting water patienthead foremost against the ground.

of the

Blowing
such

on,

rubbing
too

any

part had
to

the

same

effect,but the

eral gen-

torpor
persons

is often
are

deep
with

exhibit

these

and sensibilities,
use

awoke

by the great difficulty,

of all the

de-mesmerising agents. The of the face are tive sensinerves respiratory more particularly the to impressions of air, cold, and friction ; indeed the shock

AUTHOR'S

THEORY.

89
face

given
him
;

to

somnambulist effects I cannot of

an

by blowing
actual

in his and

simply, often
to

sembles re-

the

blow,

is sufficient

awake
as a

how,
to

possibly imagine, unless by

it be
to

by acting
their

relief

the

brain,

restoring

its secretions

natural

channels.

Having
different

followed,

and

imitated,
to

nature

so

far, in producing
of the
nervous

symptoms
we

according
I
see

the

extent
more

rangement demeric mes-

induce,
than the

nothing
the

wonderful that the

occur

in the
in

phenomena
when

in

disturbances relations
a

the

mosphere, atare

electric

of

earth

and but
we

air

changed,
not,

and

the

equilibrium for
for this of for
new

time

destroyed ;
agent
are

need

suspect,
powers

seek

marvellous if

among

the

great

inorganic
so

nature;
with

they
vital
are

altered
to

and the

endowed

principleof life,that they

from their

employed, they are jected qualities, by being subno longer recognisable

of brute the
to

after the
near

being converted directing powers

the
sources

control

matter,
secret

to

be

of animal
life and

life ; and death for

I fear
man

lies too
to

of

be

permitted

approach
That the organ and
we

it very
an

nearly.
capable of affecting the
a

agent
such

physical condition
influence
on

of
the

brain

to

degree, should
appears,
at

have

no

it

as

of

thought,
mental
act

first

might

reasonably

expect

sight, extremely improbable, the production of singular and

was

abnormal
so as

to

influence the phenomena, when the intellectual principallyupon organs.

extreme

directed

Like

wine

and the

opium,
brain,

the but

degree of the mesmeric

influence

torpifies

in

smaller

stimulus, and
the be
a

if it be

quantities,it is a bodily and mental possible to transfuse our cerebral fluid into
see no

brain

of

another,
with
our

absurdity in supposing
may,

that

it may

stamped synchrony

individuality, and
between the

for of the

time, induce giver and

the

of

action

brains

recipient.
But, beyond
is
so

the
to

simpler manifestations
stop

of for

somnambulism,
farther The

all

dark,
than

that
to

short, and

wait

evidence, is

better

ignorance and lous, marvelpresumption of man ; his passion for the mysterious and and the pranks of knaves of self-delusion, with his powers the simplicity of fools, have mystified the subject, that the so
advance and

step in the

dark.

artificial difficulties cost

;

us

more

trouble
must

to

remove

than

the
we

ural natcan

and the

mass

of

rubbish
stone

be

removed

before

reach

foundation

of

truth.

CHAPTER
The Mesmeric
"

V.
best real

Processes. and Disease

"

Publicity the
the Field

Security
Dangers.
"

to

the

lic. Pub-

Ignorance

Indifference
a

Mesmeric
"

Treatment
gnr

of

for

the
"

Philanthropist.
Processes Jaw ditto.
"

Puyse-

and

Deleuze,
"

unprofessional
in

Men.

for producing

Coma. Coma.
"

Tumour

Upper
Scrotum,
consecutive
in
"

removed Trance

during
able renewon one

Hypertrophy
Pleasure.
"

of
Three

at

"

Operations
Diseases.
Local

Person.

Mode

of Mesmerising
and Water.
"

Chronic

"

Cure
"

of

Rheumatism

Nervousness.
Process last.
"

Mesmerising.
it.
"

Mesmerised zvith

for preparing
Means

First
Persons

ments experimerised. Mes-

it.
"

The

of awaking

At

the
to

commencement

of

my
to

mesmeric

experiments,
men

I had

solved re-

communicate
most

only
effectual

professional educing
the of the

the

modes of
to

which ism. Mesmer-

I had

found I was,

in
at

influences

alarmed at first, effectual

means

possible dangers

the

public,

were

the

most

producing
but is I
a am

the
now

extreme

degrees
that

of the of

Mesmerism

generally known;
danger
and
to
a

of

opinion

greatest
an unseen

community
enemy,

contemptuous

disregard
all I know
on

unknown

and,

therefore,
The

this

important danger
to

subject
is to
meet

shall know

be its

revealed. full

best

means

of the While

avoiding
best the

extent,

and,
to

sometimes,

policy is

it half in
a

way,

fully prepared
indifferent of it
are

repel it.
about I may
to

public
the

remain

listless
an

humour
very

ism, Mesmersay

dangers
certain
"

from
to

abuse But of will its

likely,
"

are

very

occur.

when,
truth home

by attending
shall pour
to

the

lowing folevery
as a

directions,
quarter,
then

proofs

in

from minds
to to

Mesmerism become
an

come

men's

reality, and
the instinct

object

of

personal
will
rouse

interest

all ; take

and the

of

self-preservation
for its

people

necessary

steps

deriving all practice.

the
to

the

benefit, and

avoiding
blame

all the
rest
on

danger attending
the those The the who

If evil

arises, let the

and the

culpable negligence of
pervert

public,
consonant

punishment

fall

on

good

evil.
to

utmost

publicity
best

is most
to

my

taste, and, upon

whole, the

security
and

the

public.

Many

benevolent

honourable
90

unprofessional

persons

may

PUBLICITY

THE

BEST

SECURITY.

QI

gifts,in the alleviation of human suffering,under the superintendence of the physician, who the time, and of body, which cannot waste quired reare spare before his patients can be benefitted the of by processes The Mesmerism. whom its knowledge to Europe owes persons of Mesmerism, uncontaminated by self-interest and the devices of quackery, were unprofessional men, the Baron Puysegur and M. Deleuze; the one a nobleman, who wealthy French crated consehis life to relieving the sufferings of the who poor, and said it was mission his in the hands to lodge Mesmerism of the doctors nately;) (a trust they have been neglectful of, unfortuvery
to

also

be

induced

exercise

their

natural

and

the

other,

truthful

and

benevolent

man

of letters,

long keeper of the "Jardin des Plantcs," at Paris, who practised the art for thirty-five whose and works honest most are years, and of judgment, to which all are true subject, guides; errors being their only defects; as I have tested by experience, before
reading them.
Coma inclined
to
"

usually -procure
that its influence

to

think

following manner, comparative rarity in Europe

not

in

the

and is

am

owing
all the

the

mesmeric
on

being

at

once

sufficiently
from channel

trated concen-

the

patient,by

transmitting it to his brain through

the
every

organs
can

of the

operator, and
With

by

which

it

be

communicated.

necessary

degree of patience,

in is so effectual following process with that in a large enough field, and properly producing coma, obtained for the purinstructed here be assistants,it may daily, pose No trial of procuring insensibility to surgical operations. and sustained

attention, the

under

an

hour the

should
most

be

reckoned

fair

one

; two

hours

are

ter; betures, fail-

and but Desire

perfect success is sometimes insensibility the patient to lie down,

if you wish
to

will often induced and

follow in
a

frequent
minutes.
to

few

compose

himself
does
not

sleep,
your trial

taking
for

care,
:

operate, that he
be destructive of
as

know

intention fear

this object may

gained by saying
to

it is

only
to

and

expectation

are

the

physical impression
the end face

of

required. Bring the crown the bed, and seat yourself so

with

the
to

patient'shead
able hands
room

be

to

bring
to

your

into contact

his, and

extend
make

your the

stomach,
and then

when

it is wished; your

pit of the dark, enjoin quiet,

the

shutting
the

nands,

in the

from

patient'seyes, begin to pass both your face, shape of claws, slowly, within an inch of the suring back of the head to the pit of the stomach ; dwellover

for several minutes

the eyes,

nose,

and

mouth, and

then

92

MODE

OF

OPERATION.

passing
the

down

each

side of the neck, go

your hands
a

downwards there
an

to

the
some

pit of
time.

stomach,

keeping
and

suspended
quarter of
time. The

for

Repeat

this process the head be

steadily for
eyes

hour, breathing
both hands
"

gently on
may

all the

longitudinal passes
and
on

then

advantageously terminated,
firmly,
and
not
on

by placing
the effect

gently, but
perspiration
him, but
arms.

the
seem

pit
the if

of
to

the aid

stomach

sides;

the

saliva
to

also

the system.

It is better

test

by gently trying
If the
arms

remain force been

to

condition patient's by speaking to the cataleptic tendency exists in the fixed in any position they are left
move

in, and
the be the what

require some
process
upon

them
; the

out

of every

new

tion, posiafter

has

successful and

patient may
if he does

soon

called

by
may
extent

name,

pricked, and
with.

not

awake,
say
trance to

operation precise
be

be

proceeded
broken

It is

impossible to
us

the

will insensibility

befriend

:
can

the

is sometimes

completely

by

the

knife, but

it

ally occasion-

and then the sleeper reproduced by continuing the process, remembers nothing; he has only been disturbed by a night-mare, of which of
on

waking
In

he

retains

no

recollection.

Here

is

an

stance in-

this.
"

July 29th.
came

the
and

presence

from

Calcutta
prepuce
was

the

sixty gentlemen, who I to-day cut off an vicinity, enlarged

some

of

and had from could

ulcerated

; the

man

moved,
thrown

and

cried

out, the

before trance,

finished, but
which
not

immediately
of the excite
a or

back

into doctors

all the
arouse

efforts

spectators, six

included,
was

him,

sign
awoke
no

of
at

vitality.He
three
:

ated opertioned, quesan

on,

at

twelve

o'clock, and
he had

on

being
not
seen

he

said, that

felt

the pricks of day, he European that day. Next him had by my visitors,who actually made pins, inflicted upon In future, I must a pincushion of him. request that pins be left
at

pain, and had complained of

the The

door.
can some

person operation ; but

be

raised

into

any

position required
case as

for the

the ting sitstance. in-

in peculiarity the

the

may

demand

posture

from

commencement,

in

the

following
Two

June 3d. Teencowrie he began to suffer ago,

"

Paulit,
from
upon
a

peasant,

aged
the

40.

years
;

tumour

in the

antrum

maxillare filled up the the

the
nose,

tumour

has into

pushed
the

the

orbit caused

of
an

eye,

passed
of the
was

throat, and

enlargement

of

glands
I

neck.
desirous
to

very

reduce

him

to

state

of insensibility

ILLUSTRATIVE

CASE.

93

fortnightmy assistants all pcrseveringly tried it, but without have inducing sleep even. the tumour his Indeed, from he has hardly throat, obstructing that he was slept for five months. easier Having ascertained
when him in I and the then former and
were

before

operating on

him, and

for

the

last

sitting,I took
a

him

in

hand

myself, to-day, and

process.
over

entranced

by suspended
carried

chair

the
my

following
spread
the

The

room

being
for
some

ened, dark-

hands

his head
in

time,
behind of the
;

them

slowly down,
over

one

front, the other mouth,

the of the and of sides base

dwelling
the then latter

eyes,

nose,
over

neck,
both
to

being applied
down the where
;

the

brain:

carried

centre

body, claw-like,
gently
the head

stomach, pit of pressed, one opposite the other

the the and and
eyes

they
I

were

spread and
man

and
an

kept breathing on
was

all the

time.
more,

In I in

half

hour, the
one

catalepsed,
severe

in

quarter

performed
surgery;

of
man

the
was

most

and

protracted operations
I put the from the of
a

the

totally unconscious.
and

long
out

knife

in at

the

corner

of his mouth,

brought
between
corner

point

over

the it

cheek-bone,

dividing
skin
to at

the the

parts
inner The anterior it and

this, I pushed
eye,

through
the

the back

of

and
tumour

dissected had and

a

the cheek

the

nose.

pressure

the

caused

the antrum, it burst, and followed. under the

pressing my shocking gush

on

absorption of the fingersbetween

of
as

wall

of

the bones, matter,

reach
"

blood, and
far and
as

brain-like

The orbit

tumour

extended

my

finger could

and the and

cheek-bone,
bones and I turned

having destroyed
touched the
man,

passed into the gullet No one partitionof the nose. his head sired, into any position I deit remained till I wished his head
to

without
move

resistance, and
when from
nor

there

it

again :
it
ran

the

blood

accumulated,
as

I bent
a

ward, forThe
sional occa-

and
man never

his mouth

if from

leaden

spout.
an

moved,

showed
but

indistinct

moan;

any when

signs of life,except
I threw back his

head,

and

passed
some

fingers into his throat to detach the mass my directed of blood into his the stream was
instinctive effort became
necessary
to

in that

tion, direcand

wind-pipe,
;

for

existence

he
;

fore thereand I

coughed, and
finished, and
and while he
was

leaned

forward,
The
the

get rid of the blood

supposed that he then

was

awoke.
on

operation
to

was

by this time
face

laid

floor

have

his

sewed his eyes.

up,

this
"

doing, he
is
even
man

for the first time

a more

opened
affair

June 4th.

This

wonderful

than

I supposed

yesterday. The

declares

by the

most

emphatic panto-

94

MESMERIC

COMA.

mime, awoke,
that
were

that I
was

he

pain while engaged in sewing

felt
no

in the up his

chair, and face,

to
on

that the

when

he
"

floor;

so

the coughing

and

forward

movement

get rid of the blood,

involuntary,instinctive June 6th.

"

efforts,to prevent suffocation.

undone

to-day, and the whole in the face has united of the wounds extent completely by the He is out of all danger, and first intention. can speak plainly: that he knew he declares most positively, nothing that had been
The

dressings were

done up

to

him

until
"

he

awoke

on

the he

floor,and
best.
"

found Here

me

sewing
a

his

cheek;
of his

and

I presume
statement

knows

is

lation trans-

own

in

Bengalee:
under

"For

two

years

laboured On the
or

this

disease, and
I
came

scarcely
Imamme

sleptfor
barah but

five months.

I9th May,
persons

to

the

Hospital, and
all in vain.
my

three the with

out

four

tried

to

make

sleep,
dertaken un-

On

3d June
a

Dr.

Esdaile of

having kindly
me

cure,

great deal
my

labour, made
which
not at

sleep,
time
two

and did

took
not

something perceive.

of

left cheek,

that

After

the

operation, I did
I have

sleep for
PAULIT,

1 nights,but after the third

day,

sleptas

usual.

"TEENCOWRIE

of Madra." If

patientsare
not
even.

fortunate

enough
no

to
on

sleep

some

time
none

after the
quently subseof

operation, they
the absence

only feel

pain
is
an

The

following
first to

waking, but extraordinary

instance

of
"

pain, from

last.

Sept. ist. Teg AH hypertrophied scrotum,

cele

Khan,
caused
;

tall

strong-looking man;
for
as

has

by repeated operations
the
water
cure.

hydroas

by native

doctors without

who

only withdraw
the man's
as a

often
tumour
ised mesmer-

it accumulates,
is

attempting
as

radical head.

The
was

perfectly round, and

in two

big

He

hours, Sissmore,
the
was

on

the

first

and, in the trial,

out

presence
;

of
was

Drs.
very

Ross

and

I dissected
testes

all the contracted before them.

at

parts
the Not

which

tedious, from
them
; and

having
half
an

adhesions
organs
a

all round
were ered cov-

it

about

hour

up

flaps over again by stitching

visible
a

quiver of the body

was as

flesh stiff be

was
as

all this head

time, and
to

the his He

end, his
awoke

log,

from

foot,

and

separated legs
in half
an

could
hou-r

difficulty put together again. after the operation, and felt no pain.
has

with

Sept. 4th. The stitches healed throughout, and

"

were

taken has had

out
no

he

to-day; the pain whatever

wound since

ILLUSTRATIVE

CASE.

95
of the
usual

the operation;
"

so

much

for

the

absence

irritative

shock We

to

the

system.
renew

can

insensible

to

pleasure, in order repeated operations.

at
"

the trance

to

render

people

Sept.
unhealthy
and left

i8th.

Morally
for six

Dass,
sore,

peasant,
an

aged

fifty,has
the

an

cartilaginous
it has

half

inch

high above

skin,
the the

extending
leg, which
a

inches

contracted

along the outer ham-string of to nearly a right angle with

for
a

thigh, for
He
was

year

past.

entranced the whole

to-day,
sore

the

first

time, and

deeply

cauterised

with

red-hot

plaister iron, without

hard,
and

awaking him. Sept. iQth.

"

The off

excrescence

is

so

thick, that
with the

it

must

be the

dissected diseased

the
was

ham-string: pared down

he
to

was a

again entranced,
level
rounding sur-

and

part

skin, without
"

his

feelingit.
was

the and and

When he Sept. 20th. leg completely, and when he

to

in the it up

trance

bound

in

to-day I straightened splints:he awoke not,

it took

did, had
break
my

no

pain ; although
the The

weight

down hands.

adhesions, which
Rev.
Mr.

all my strength I felt and heard

saw

cracking under

Bradbury
Mr.

the

first

Mr. Rev. operation. The Mr. and Blyth the third. suited for

Fisher, and
In the is not

Graves,
of
:

the

second,
diseases it is

treatment

chronic

Mesmerism,
because
nature

coma

required
we

if it occurs,
to

probably
with with the
any

needs

it; but

ought

be

satisfied

of the patient, though it is unaccompanied improvement The is not less effectually strikingphenomena. system

recruited, because
is least natural

silently, just as the best digestion For felt. inducing refreshing the nervous system, and sleep, mesmerising "a longs courants," as the French
it is done
"

call it, it will

be the
may

found

sufficient. of the

These

are

steady continuous
head
to

tractions, with
foot ; the allowed hour back head
to rest

point
be

spread fingers, from

of this, on natural

breathed and the hands occasionally upon, the pit of the stomach. An for a few minutes on going to bed, will often soothe restlessness, bring

sleep, and
"

invigorate the

nervous

system.
name came

Sept. 25th.
who has of

Mr. been

Calder

(I

mention

his

at to

his
me

own

quest,) re-

twenty

years

in India,

to-day,
debility.

complaining
He
cannot

walks

with
a

general rheumatism, with great difficulty,

stair.
hands

nervousness,

and
a

the

help of

stick, and

ascend and his

His
tremble

nerves

are

shattered, his eye-sight is

he walks
on

weak,

when

writing; when

96
smooth effort has

MESMERIC

COMA.

ground,
made been
to

he

fancies himself
to to

that

it

slips from

helow down

him, and
:

the

save

not

able him

drive

him nearly throws his buggy, from a his horse from

state

of

late he it is
any

impossible for
carriage a half; during
a

prevent
has he has

feeling that running into

for
two

he

meets.

He

been gone

in this
a

years

and lowed swalthat him

which of

tour

of

doctors,

and

dispensary
not nature

I could
to

in conscience

physic, to no physic him

do for

good
more,

purpose.

I said

but
as,

recommended upon the

try what

would

him,

whole,

but that it adapted for mesmeric thought his case treatment, would require time and patience to do him any good. He was of of relief, and I desired one glad of any untried chance very for an him hour in bed, every people to mesmerise night. my Never Mr. Calder mesmerised, was having been present when I am indebted for the following note of his case. to him

"On
directed but sleep, "26th "28th.

the

25th
you,

of

September
the
:

last, your
to

native induce
an

assistant,
the mesmeric and
a

as

by
and
"

made
success

first attempt the

without

trial lasted for ditto. trial for which

hour

half.

27th September,
a

After thrown

persevering
into
"

the

same

length of
after
wards uplids, eyeto

time, I

was

trance,

from

I awoke

of
or

five hours,
my

I found
eyes

in raising my great difficulty I left the couch and

keeping
had For
my
a

open.

retired

bed,

and

natural week
an a

sleep afterwards,
afterwards,
the

till six
to

o'clock

next
me

morning.
were

efforts

mesmerise effect
to

repeated
a

for of
at

hour few

daily,but
minutes.
my
so

without

farther continued

than

causing
my
nerves

sleep
rest

I however

enjoy
my

natural

night, found considerably braced up;

down stairs without
a

pains abating daily, and

much
so,

that

I could

walk

up

and

assistance, and
I could

with
not

every

confidence

drive for two

out

in

buggy

alone, which

have

attempted
third you

"Up
or

and half previously. a years thrown I was to the i /th of Oct.

into sleep, every

the walk than effect

fourth

night,

for

about
my

two

hours;
able
more

of which

may
more

judge
than

of, from four, and

being

to

yesterday morning
six miles. CALDER.

this

morning,

"(Signed)
"Oct.
This the

J.

28th, 1845."
is the

gentleman who,
processes

I said, Indian

mesmeric

with

the

recognised the identityof of charming away modes

pain.

MESMERISED

WATER.

97

Topical mesmerising, by suspending the ends of the fingers the pained part, breathing on it at the same over time, and then continued for a long enough drawing the fingers downwards,
"

time,
local and

say

an

hour and

or

two,
seen

"

is often it relieve

very

effectual

in

soothing
bruises,

pain;

I have

the

pain

in gout,

rheumatism.
The much ridiculed the mesmeric for choose "mesmerised water" and be
as

is another it is

means

of

producing
who before be do

symptoms,
avail

useful, the
those But

process
not

preparing
to

it shall

practically described; and let

of

themselves

it, let it alone.

doing this, and

advisable that
matter. to

its illustrating the

way

effects the

by facts,it

will

perhaps
about

clear
no

for

reception
Bacon's the the of the

of them,

by showing
the will "foment those who their

there In

is

prima facieabsurdity or
with Lord
enter

impossibility
advice, I
To better."

accordance make
to

the will

part

to

the

unguent
the

condescend

think
to

seriouslyon
examination from

subject,and
it, I would

apply

previous knowledge
if there there is is
a

suggest,
it be

that

vital emanation

body, called
that

"Mesmerism,"
can

nothing improbable
to water

in the

assertion

communicated invisible and

and

other

inorganic substances,

absorbs air imponderable agents. Water different and the odours of neighbouring objects with gases, and be charged with a electricity, can glass of water great facility; filled it. Mesmerism has been called with an or glass empty should "animal if correctly named, and we electricity," expect it to in resemble particulars: but inorganic electricity many whether
reason

like other

it is

modification should
not

of

electricityor
an

not,

can

see

no

why
as a

water

absorb

invisible

animal

fluid, as
There is that

easily
water

fluid

which

is laws
as

imperceptible and
of

nothing
can

in the

known

physics to
as

make

organic. it improbable
On
I my the

be mesmerised,
to
me so

well

electrified.

contrary,

it seemed the

statements

of

probable from analogy, that others regarding it, and made

confidence. honest for and

fully believed
first

ments experihad

with

considerable
a

Deleuze,

most

practised Mesmerism,
success,

and trustworthy man, in France, thirty-five years

who with

great

for mesmerising water. gives the following directions the tips of the fingers, and the glass is "It is to be poured over its sides, and then to be mesmerised by passing the hands down also be breathed the water upon." The following process, may

though
mode

less delicate, is

shorter, and, I believe,

with the

more

effectual

of

charging

water

mesmeric

fluid.

p8
As there with of
contact
a

MESMERISED

WATER.

is the

good
vital of

reason

to

believe

that

the

breath tube of

is into

nated impregthe tom botin

fluid,I breathe
water,

cupful
the my
"

through a keeping the points

the with it.

the

fingers
is

with
are

surface;
first From her that of

in five minutes

water

charged,

and

here

experiments
extreme

June 28th.
seemed
to

be

probable
virtues

the

woman

to sensibility Alunga

the would

influence,it
exhibit any.
ounce

in In of

perfection the
the
water

mesmerised

water,

if it had took
an

presence

from
like into

of my hospital attendants, I the common reservoir, and

water

to-day

mesmerised

it, putting

the
went

quantity of plain
the women's her

into
I

another

ward,

and

very

slowly, asking
she she said it
was

if it had
gave

water,

said ; I then

her from

the gave taste? any the other ; after the

"

then glass. We first plain water It was only plain

waiting
it
was

some

time,
to

different created
a

first, that
in the

sharp
Almost

the

tongue,

and

warmth

stomach.

immediately, her getting up to upon

somnambulist: have she

countenance

walk

; and
a

after
was

taking
the

began to change; she insisted I immediately saw that she was a few she would staggering steps,
and taken
coma,

fallen, but

prevented,
into

back and

to

bed,

where
so

instantlysank
"

mesmeric

remained

for

hours.

June 29th. Mr. Long, from

asked
at
me

to-day
show

had
a

the

pleasure
to
me

of and

meeting

the

Rev. who

Calcutta,

stranger

mesmerism,

if I could I

him

present.
an

presence,

replied that important experiment regarding

which I had made for

in the hospital cases any mesmeric I should be happy to verify, in his

water,
was

glad to learn that he had never he willinglyagreed to accompany me I took the same quantity of water cistern, and charged it before common of plain water in another same measure
unconscious the
common

of mesmerised efficacy the first time, yesterday. I of such heard a thing; and to the hospital.
the
as

yesterday,
and

out

of

the

him,

glass,the
went

again put the woman being

;
none

of

our

water

presence. first,and
water

We waited
was

then

to

her, administered
few ing, appearher minutes

for the

effects
in
a
a

the

mesmerised
altered then

given, and
walked
the of in

expression
manner,

; she
set

rose,

and

and

about she

washing complained
she said I

wavering uncertain floor,which was dirty,

room

she

said.

Soon
and

after

the them
a come

being
be scared and her

full of
away.

kites, crows,
On

paddy birds, and

who I was, brother

desired
was

to

being

asked her

Baboo,
to

that

the
;

sweeper

was

Essan, who

had

take

home

ILLUSTRATIVE

CASE.

99
mesmeric Mr.

she We he

was

put

to

bed,
to

and talk that

immediately
over

fell into the and

on

trance.

then had

retired
any

the be

matter, resolved the

I asked the

Long
He

if

doubts be

could certain

spot.
of

said,
and time she

nothing

could that
to

more

than

connection it. her

cause some

effect, and
we

he

would
I

returned
not

her, and
; but

gladly certifyto awoke her, all but

After
eyes

; these

could
seen
as

to
was

open be in

evinced in

being done with my assistance, she was and faculties, complete possession of all her senses by her ready and consistent replies,and the total
her
"

this

revolution

countenance.

June
woman

3Oth.
Alunga,
of

thought

of

varying
not
seen

the

experiment
I therefore
to

on

the
went

whom my

I had

to-day:
him

to

the
a

house

assistant, and

asked

give

me

phial
to

and

little water,

tellinghim
whom
him then the
to to

my

intentions, which
had
never on

were seen

call

for

Mr.

Betts, the
and
to

deputy-collector (who
I
go

merism Mesject,) subwater

had
to to

never

spoken
that

the the
was

and
to

request
and

the

hospital, give
me

the

woman,

send water,

inform

it
to

done.

Having
and for

mesmerised him
at
on

I carried

the

phial

Mr.

Betts,

begged
me,

be
same

and

the
my

good enough to perform an experiment time satisfyhis curiosity, perhaps. I

that this
to
was

assured

him,
and and
a

honour,
him
me came

pure

water,
woman

only

merised, mes-

requested
then
to

go

and

give
He

it to the

named and
woman

Alunga,
a

let

know. for
same me

kindly consented,
when
I arrived, the
state
as on

in

short

time

messenger
to

was

getting up
open her

walk,

in the

delirious
varied when her

former
could

occasions, her
not

phantasms only being

eyes,
even

; and

again
and in had he

she

by pulling:
relieved

partiallyopened they rubbing.

her mind

instantly closed
On
or

again, till I
was no

by blowing
facts he

awaking

there Mr.

vestige of derangement
was

perceptions.
uwtcr.

Betts
some

sure

of the

witnessed,
had

but, I suspect, had

in believing that difficulty

only
pital hoshas

given

June
;

28th.
saw

"

Sidissur
for for the

Ghose,

prisoner,

in
1 1

different o'clock of he
to ; he

him

first time

to-day, at
the
to

been

suffering
were

three

days from
tender
to

inflammation

the
was

testes, bent if

which
double

extremely walking.
the seemed
to

touch,

and

in

I determined
reasons.

subject him
As
a

the

trance want

for possible,
of

following
me

fire

expires for

fuel, it

very

probable

that

inflammation

would

TOO

MESMERISED

WATER.

die out and

during
all

many

hours

of absolute

repose

irritation

being the sustaining causes for hours, pain and sensibility

the be
too

the system, of inflammation.

to

pain
move Reto

and
to

it is

only natural
effort. If
can

suppose

that

circulation removed
to

will return
a

its usual

channels, and
the be
ceeded suc-

the

disease be

by
recruit the

natural the

curative

repose

short

repeated
in I then

at

will when

system
in half

vital powers, has been once

an

the

trance

affected.
left him
my

entrancing
to

him

hour, and
and made

sleeping.
ment, experi-

went
as

the

Charity Hospital,
on

first

above

related,

the

woman

Alunga,
had
no

with

mesmerised
to

water.

Having completely succeeded, I Sidissur Hospital, and found that the man
pressure

returned

the

Jail
He I

just awoke.
in the

bore

much

better, and

there

was

heat and

part.

him of mesmerised three ounces gave he was again in the trance.

"

water,

in five minutes

went

o'clock last night, but at nine June 29th. Sidissur awoke ing to sleep again immediately, and slept all night; the swellhas

decreased,
for the

and he

can

squeeze

the
ease.

part
The him
was

all

over

without
is subdued, dose of

causing pain, and

but mesmerised

walks

erect, with

disease another

sake and

of

experiment
minutes

I gave he

water,
"

in three

in the o'clock

trance.

June 3Oth.
and had
a

Sidissur

again slept till nine

Dismissed

last
at

night,
own

good night afterwards.

Nobee,
in her

cured,

his

request.

July 2d.
rheumatism
trance

"

an

elderly,
for
some
was

worn-out

woman,
:

has

had

back
on

months

she

was

put into the

to-day, and
"

waking
Gave
warm

free of
a

pain.
of mesmerised
;
a

July 3rd.
she
soon

No

pain.
she

her

dose
over

water;

said that
and

turning, and
to

lowed folgeneral tremor on being desired to walk she complained of her head walked with little, a great difficulty. On returning
felt

all

asleep immediately, and slept for two hours. July 2Qth. At the public Seance, already mentioned, eight drank mesmerised water assistants, and prepared by my men doctors, and two clergymen; and in spite superintended by two
bed she fell
"

of the

incessant

tormenting of

their

visitors, four

of them,
were

to

my
verted con-

great

surprise,became
into

entranced

and

and cataleptic,

somnambulists.

December is

I4th.
"

Jadoo,
he

prisoner, convalescent
"

from in

cholera,
a

plagued
To be

with

continual
:

hiccough
was

eight convulsions
in fifteen

ute. min-

mesmerised

subdued

minutes, but

ILLUSTRATIVE

CASE.

IOI

there

was

little He
was

change
raised around
to

in

the

hiccough for
his

half
a

an

hour

wards. afterin and for

upon his

feet, and

cold he the him

was

water

wound

chest, without
hour

bandage awaking
:

soaked

him,

allowed
I
now

better.
; he
no

sleep half prepared

drank

an some

longer

still no

change
and the

mesmerised he fell

water, He

awoke cough hic-

sooner

it than

asleep again, and

returned.

three To

immediately stopped, and never after drinking the water. hours illustrate the subject farther,
be

slept for
scores

as

I could I

do

by

of
be

examples, would
for
a

intolerably tedious
that I
mean

; and

hope
such

it will not

moment

supposed
effects the been

to

say but such

that

be

the

of mesmerised
mesmeric known
to

water,

only

will in eral genthat in persons

can

already
:

under

influence

results

be

cured pro-

it has
a

affect the

uncontaminated

system,

but

it is The

rare

occurrence.

means

used

preciselythose
or

influence, are dissipatingthe mesmeric employed for disengaging the brain in fainting, by
a

for

natural

caused insensibility, fluid

revulsion

or

stoppage

of the

exactly They act, I presume, in the same rousing to by re-determining the nervous way, from of sense the skin and the organs ; thereby rousing the brain of fainting, in the case its torpor of exhaustion or relievingit of I have the nervous suggested might be the cause plethora which
nervous

by natural

causes.

of mesmeric

coma.

Blowing
and

sharply in the sprinkling

cold the

eyes,
water

and rubbing the eye-lids,

in the when

brows, eye-

face,

are

the

methods
are

for

de-mesmerising

brain, and

locally applied,
Let
an arm

equally efficacious,in de-catalepsingrigid limbs.

be

intense degree of coma, and although short of the most catalepsed, it may require considerable force to bend it,yet blowing on it, fall on it, rubbing it gently,or letting a few drops of cold water the rigidityof the muscles, and the will generally relax cause
arm

to to

fall down
me

at

the

side, with

its

restored flexibility their functions relieved

; and

it

looks the
nervous

as

if the

muscles is have

recovered

(just as
of the

activity of the
secretions
on

brain that

renewed)
deserted and and the

by being
the

surface, and
system. of the

become

concentrated
The when
senses,
we

the

sensorium

muscular the

smallness
restore

of the cause,
a

greatness

result,
his

person

to

complete possession of
in his in eyes when natural

and

intellect, by sprinkling water

coma,
are

in the

mesmeric

quite

as

remarkable

fainting,in

IO2

MODE

OF

DE-MESMERISING.

which and of I the in the

the leave

effects
it
to

are

often reader in

equally
to

striking
whether and assist in

and

instantaneous;
the exhaustion

the

determine

nervous

system
mesmeric and

natural does

coma,
not

its

presumed
in

tion reple-

the

state,
differences

us

understanding
and
meric mes-

similarities

observed

natural,

sleep.

CHAPTER Mesmerism

VI. Medical

as

Remedy.

"

Coma
"

as

Agent.

"

Journal

of

Practical
"

Mesmerism.
Headache

Chronic

Inflammation
"

of

Eye of
Rev. Tooth

cured.

Nervous
"

ditto.

Acute

Inflammation

Eye
Mr. drawn

ditto.

Return

of
"

Nervous How
to

Headache
make
a

prevented.
Convert.
"

"

Fisher's in the

Report.
Trance.
"

"

Convulsions Sense

cured

by

ditto.

"

Arms bago, Lum-

straightened
Arm ditto.

in ditto.

of Formication Nerve,

removed. cured.
" "

"

Sciatica,
"

Pain

in

Crural

Palsy
Tic
"

of

an

Hemiplegia
ditto.
"

greatly
as

benefittcd.
a

cured.

"

Rheumatism

Mesmerism

Disease.
"

Resembles
The Public

Hysteria.
abused.
"

"

Ignorant
The Public
"

Charges
disabused.
"

of

Imposture.
and

Folly

Unfairness of
the

of its
meric Mes-

would-be

Guides.
"

Spontaneous
A natural

Development
Consequence

Disease.

Mesmerising
"

by doing nothing taught by doing

as
a

by

the

Mesmerists

themselves.
"

of frequent

Mesmerising.
"

Examples
"

of Mesmerising
to

nothing. Remedy

Hysteric
"

Theory.

Hope

hear

of Hysteria
Mesmerism.

soon.

Rational

Mode

of studying

FOR
may

practical
divided

purposes,

the

physical
the the

effects

of

Mesmerism

be

into
or

simple
coma:

somnolence,
of of

semi-insensibility,and
more

total

insensibility,
abundant of

first, nothing
others will be

need in

be
my

said, and

examples
Mesmerism."

given

"Journal
offer
in

Practical

Although
answer

accepting
to ;

thankfully
not

whatever various
to

nature
cases

deigned
in which vis

to

my

inquiries, in the
were

consulted natura,
indeed
many
a

her
at

yet they

presented
selection.
many

the

medicatrix
case

haphazard,
"pomegranate
from which

and

without full of

My

first and could in

was so

kernels,"

offered
be

facts
I

great
out
so

practical deductions
indications
my
a

drawn,
sequent sub"A

that

only

followed

the that

of

nature

all my been

proceedings;
mighty
I. the
maze,

operations plan."

have

not

and

all without

was

certain trance, obedient I

(if
the
to

life

is

not

phantasmagoria)
whole

that been

in
as

mesmeric

muscles
my

of

the
as

body

had hands

plastic,and
potter;
and

command,
that if the

clay in the
state

of the

felt satisfied

same

of

things could

103

IO4

MESMERISM

AS

REMEDY.

be

brought about,
before this

muscular

spasms

and The

contractions

would

appear dis-

great

solvent.

straightening of

limbs,

verified this inference. long contracted, very soon II. the total extinction Having, in this case, witnessed of I was led to conclude, that in a like state of nervous irritability, vanish before this supreme pains would things,nervous anodyne. The truth
cure

of

nervous

headaches

immediately demonstrated

the

of this idea. The

to that the most insensibility pain convinced me without painful surgical operations might be performed the knowledge of the patient, and this has been done to an extraordinary of course. extent, so much so, as to be a daily matter I had IV. seen high local inflammation, and sympathetic fever suspended in my first patient, and that during the trance the artificial inflammation (which it was object to excite, for my of hydrocele,) did not the cure while the mesmeric develop itself, influence in activity, and that the pulse and was temperature had

III.

become

natural

thence

inferred, that

inflammation

was

ably prob-

incompatible with such a state of the constitution, and I succeeded in curing acute inflammation of the eye and soon than the mesmeric testis,by no other means trance. As regards the certainty of my conclusions, it required no of my and to go great sagacity to believe the evidence senses, and do as bid me. A {act in nature nature tained, ascerbeing once and all its accessories be concarefullyobserved, we may fident of re-producing it,at will,by fulfilling the necessary tions, condiif the tried
to

phenomenon
about used the be

is under
same

human of

control.

I therefore the
means

bring
to
our

condition

body, by

required
in it would

terfere by nature, before she will condescend to inthat if she did interfere, favour, feelingconvinced

unerring wisdom, and unapproachable skill ; and that what had been feebly begun by her weak, but obedient would be creature, triumphantly completed by her laws, when for them brought into action ; the way being merely prepared, in the manner pointed out by experience.
"Nature the Author is but
a name

be

with

for

an

whose effect,

cause

is God should

;" and
often

of nature

has

ordained, that such

in the

effects

follow

such

predisposing causes.
coma

Mesmeric

will

following
so

pages

chieflyfigure in
treatment

surgical operations,and
of medical
cases

is not when

often
can

required in the
induced,
nervous

; but

it

be

it is

extremely

important

in

instantlyextinguishing

pains, arresting

COMA

REMEDIAL

AGENT.

10$ of

convulsions, and by its anodyne

in

aiding
and

the

natural

resolution and of the for

inflammation,
be duced infatal diseases, the the

restorative of their other

powers;
some

if it could
most

the

commencement arrest

it would whole

probably

progress,

it revolutionises affection is for

system, and

every

constitutional

time

suspended.
inflammation and and for it is
a

In chronic the

useful

lating discutient,gently stimuof the

nerves,

capillary vessels
this purpose,

part,

to

more

healthy action;

local

Mesmerism

is

only
in

required.
The diseases functional that
we

chronic
of

exhibition

of Mesmerism
to

as

general tonic,
and
I
am

debility promises derangement

of
at

be
nervous

of

great

service, especially in

the
a

system
nervous

hopeful
a

have

last

got

direct

remedy, hitherto,
it many

"desideratum"

in medicine. from Dr. weakness Elliotson of the nerves, has recorded All who

palsy greatly,and
could truth
not to

In

promises
cures

to

assist
cases

us

of
to

he the of

have

managed
know

before.
how

venture

confess
cure means

themselves,
and
nervous

palsy,
hitherto and the often the the

diseases If of
we

miserably impotent for the the medical generally, are

we

employed.
connection
treatment

succeed,
and

often

cannot

tell

why,
in

cause

effect is very

uncertain.

But

chronic feels action that

palsy, by Mesmerism shows and early and continued of this natural remedy; and we
of
it is the

alone, the

patient
under
to

improvement
cannot

refuse that

lieve be-

exciting

cause:
cure

we

must
a

believe

it is, or ease dis-

own

that ! But

it is both

spontaneous
the

of

commonly
the
cure:

incurable

that

Mesmerism disease will be

and practitioner is no exception have in

a

the
to

patient must

chronic labour

must

chronic mesmeric

remember,general rule, that a much patience and

of

required
the of result

the

treatment

paralytic
the tem. syssedative

affections, and
disease is In effects
on one

will

greatly depend
think, that
we

upon

whether
nervous

or debility

over-excitement

of

the

the

latter case,

I should

unless should

the be

the in

could be induced, system the former, every degree of service. that practice,
are

pointed; disapwould

the

influence

probably
We

be

of in

find

nervous

persons,

from

ment over-exciteappear

of the nerves,
to

with

subdued, and great difficulty

to by subjecting suffer from of irfitability

be

still farther
; whereas

irritated
those who

them

the

mesmeric
the
nerves

process from

weakness,

are

easilyaffected,

and

soon

benefitted

by

it.

IO6

EXTRACTS

FROM

JOURNAL

The
occur
as

medical in my

cases

adapted for
the do
not
are

the

use so

of Mesmerism,
often
to
as

do

not

practiceamong
poor

poor

surgical cases,
advice for

the

labouring
with

usually
past

resort

medical however I will

nervous

diseases, till they

some

cure:

can

present
extract,
as

the

reader

interesting cases,
my
OF PRACTICAL

which

they

occurred

from JOURNAL

MESMERISM.

7th. Nazir, a Mussulman ; aged 20 : is suffering from the sequela of ophthalmia of two months' standing; the sight of the left eye is destroyed. The of the right eye is muddy cornea with ulcerations, and a superficial pterygium is forming; there is constant lacrymation, and he cannot distinguisha white man "May
"

from the him that

black.

I
to

placed
the he

him
eyes

in

chair

before

me,

and

directed

operation
to

and
as we

head

generally, desiring
He
soon

mention

what

felt warmth

proceeded.
my

said,
out with-

agreeable touching ; shortly after, he said to the body, on extending the process stood in drops on pervade it, and sweat
an

he

felt

where

fingerspassed
were a

him

his eyes he

easier, and
warmth He

felt

general
not to

his he

face.

next account

said, for,
I

that and

he

felt

fear

come

over

him

that

could desire

desired

greatly
"

to

sleep: having
to

no

go
ten

farther,

here
and

stopped :
then be

the eyes
to

be

mesmerised

daily for daily, and

minutes,

put
"

sleep."
been

"May
twice:
he

22d.

Has

mesmerised after
the

put

to

sleep

always

feels

better

process;

and the expression body feels pleasant and "light, is much improved. The lacrymation has ceased, and he Persian words in Bengalee and read two to-day; the pterygium will be the only impediment to his sight. him for the first time Keenoo, "May 22d. a prisoner; saw He has had a pain extending from severe to-day, at ii o'clock. half of his head for four the left eye-brow to one days; and I made him there is pain on pressing at the supra-orbitornotch. and in twenty minutes in a small room off the hospital, lie down, raised left him arm perpendicularly in the air, asleep with one
"

that his says of his countenance

and

locking
"I

the

door,
at
I

I left him

alone.
on

returned

o'clock, and
left him

opening the door, found

his
arm

him he

lying exactly as
awoke

I had
was

with

still in the that he had

air:
not

whilst

asleep. On give no reason

looking at him, being asked why his

I

and
arm

said
was

been could

in the

air, he

for it. So

sensible is the

approach of sleep under

OF

PRACTICAL

MESMERISM.

IO7
in the minds
tending at-

this
of

grand narcotic,
sleepers often their sleep ! 24th. 24th.
" "

or no

so

sudden
trace
was

its invasion, that

remains of the
case

the

circumstances of Mrs.

This

seen

in the

Clermont.

He

awoke

perfectlyfree
No Nazir
at
II

from of

headache.

"May

return

pain

"

"May
first time laboured

Mahomed,
o'clock. inflammation

to-day,
under

For

discharged cured. him for prisoner; saw the last four days, he
the

the has
con-

acute

of

conjunctiva:
the
cornea

the

junctivalvessels form a raised zone constant a lacrymation, pain over distinguishobjects.

"I made him lie down
on

around half the

; there

is

head,

and

he

cannot

the

floor, and
the the much

rendered

him

tic catalephis

in twenty

minutes the

; then

putting
took

his hands,

clasped,above
me

head,
two

I locked miles the

door, and
I

key
Rev.

with Mr.

to

Chinsurah,
and Mr.

off,

where

found
are

Fisher,
in
my

Money,
and entranced with
me.

collector, who

interested
I

ings, proceeda man

daily ask, 'What

was

progress?'
return ; and
we

answered,
offered the he
man

that
to

waiting opening
asked that
to

my

they
found

go

back

On
and he the

the in

door what
were

had himself

just
on

awoke;

being
said

attitude

found
over

waking,
reports
and the

his

hands

clasped
side

his

head:

he

pain

have the

quite
eye
; the

left the

of his
much

little remains

about

eyelids move

head; only a more freely,

:

before
cool

watering the sleep he

light.
we a man

is less ; his

felt his
water

general feelingsare much improved body hot and heavy, and it is now
to

and

Cold
were

the the in

head

and

eyes

; a

dose

of

physic. When reported that

his

had
man

leaving just come

cured he
on

hospital the with a pain

23rd.
for the

native in
one

doctor side
to

of be

head, like the

us,
an

the that

I desired last six

him

brought before
suffered side and that of from his head

and
acute

stated

days

he
to

had
one

intermittent it
commences

headache,
at

confined in the

; that

4
to

o'clock
my

morning,
as a

continues if

till would

12

p.

M.

Turning
to notes

friends, I observed
this man, Fisher
:
"

they

wait

I should

like to

entrance

preventive. They consented good enough to send me his

"Mr. "On
in company awakened

do

so,

and

Mr.

has

been

of what

followed

Fisher's

Report.
visited the of

Saturday last,the 24th inst.,I

with
out

Dr.

Esdaile, for the

mesmeric

of the with
an

purpose trance, who eye.

Jail Hospital, seeing a prisoner

been ing suffer-

had
our

for

some

time

inflamed

Upon

arrival the

IO8

EXTRACTS

FROM

JOURNAL

man

was

awake,
this

and

no

further

tried

with

patient.
had and

experiment Another, however,

been I

could

therefore be

himself, who
influence He had

never

immediately presented subjected to the mesmeric

doctor had
never severe
seen.

before,
been and

whom,

believe,the
for
not
some

suffering much
face ;
to

days from
moment

pains
it
was

in the

head

though

at

that

in
as a

pain,
in

thought
The minutes
means

advisable

try the effects of Mesmerism

were

preventive.
seven

manipulations
the
to test
man

immediately commenced,
in
a

and tried

was

cataleptic state.
the
trance
:

We limbs

various

the

of intensity in
at

his

tained rigidlymainchose his tQ

themselves

any

posture
was

in

which
upon

Dr.

Esdaile
his

place them;

and

last he

raised

feet;

back

stretched being slightly bent, his arms over head, which was his shoulder, and he remained fixed in this condrooping upon strained position for some time, without exhibiting any symptoms of
was

consciousness,
to

or

uneasiness.
reclined

After upon has

few

minutes and

he I

left

his

deep

repose,

the
never

ground;
had the

understand
return
were

he that, since this first trial,

of

the

pains

of

which

he

slightest previously complained : we

exhibited
on

much
; the

astonished
limbs of

at
so

the

phenomena

this

sion occa-

time

capable

being being

so

extraordinarilysupple, and at the same rigidlyfixed in any position, at the will (Signed)
F. FISHER."

of the

operator.

"Chinsurah, May
May
head
zone

2$th, 1845."
Mahomed,
well all about the vivid the
eye.

25th.
"

Nazir

entranced

yesterday
is
: no no

for in

junctivitis, con-

has
; very

slept

night.
the
cornea

There
eye

pain
the

the The

slight uneasiness
around from colour inflamed the of

watering.
and
acute
can

of blood-vessels
is reduced

is gone, of
state.

mation inflam-

redness chronic

the He

stage
now

to
see

the
very

dull, brick-red
well I put with him he
on

the
a

high

stool

before he

me,

and
not
:

desired time
was

him do

to
so,

tell
as

me

when

became

sleepy, but
in

had

to

I the

left him idea of

entranced sitting

five minutes

this
to

done head.
was on a

with

lesseningthe determination
to to

of blood

the and
was

I then there

proceeded

my

usual

business the

in Chinsurah,

troduced in-

Mr. the
to

M'Ouesten,
house
see

dentist, who

sional profesthat
a man

visit at
a

of

one

of my
my

patients.
I

As

he

expressed
he

great

desire

some

of

Mesmeric

cases,

I said left

had

better

take and

the

present
to

opportunity, as
so

had

entranced,

hoped

find him

on

my

return, and

that others

OF

PRACTICAL

MESMERISM.

I"X)
I knew

were

undergoing the
with The what

not

process results.

at

the

Charity Hospital,but
house,

lady and
to

gentleman
and the the

of

the

hereupon, suddenly
rise to
a

resolved

go,

too;

expedition gave

little

sode, epi-

which

I have

pleasure of introducing here, by permission. Jail Hospital, after I sitting preciselyas

natural. The had I had
was

We

returned found colder

to

the
man

been

absent

an

hour, and
his
worn

the than

left him,
now

and

body
out
soon

influence

nearly
and he still
was

no (partly,

doubt, by the
arrival. it looked
most

exhausting position,)
said that the
case

awoke farther It
was was

after

our

He
so.

eye

improved,
evident,
to

and the

I consider

the

terminated. inflammation

unpractised eye,

that

incompatible with such a state of the system. But ing knowa man on a high .stool for an hour without sitting not it, was enough to satisfythe curiosityand unbelief of be "Angelus out lady visitor. Her theory was, that I must my such be permitted to do both Diabolns," to as things ; and she took refuge in an hypothesis had their difficulties, proachable unapunbelief. This to me was a enon, singular mental phenomand I determined her mind to experiment upon through
her and
own
senses

(as she
the
sent

would The

not
man

believe

her

husband for The

was

even,)

to

observe
was

effects.

entranced the stool. he

now

hemicrania

yesterday pulled out

to

for, and
and

put

their
as

watches,
stool
on

upon in three he
sat.

gentlemen
as

minutes He
was

ble insensi-

life

the

which

put through
friends
came
were

all the called

amazing
in to he

postures awake him, but

awoke with
a

already described, and

all to violent that he
no

his

purpose,

till I look
to

to ;

their

aid, when
on

start, and had gone

of alarm

and,
own

being questioned, said

visitor
senses,

sleep of his

accord.

My honoured collectingher
it can't will be be able

had

now

evidently
"

some

and

kept exclaiming,
it ; it's all
to
a

be ! I won't

believe
to
more

trick !"

in difficulty "It's impossible! "If you I replied,

good enough
to

go

the

other of the

I shall, perhaps, hospital,

same

show

you

tricks "Blue

kind." she I had

a
was

Having
see

entered

the the the

Chamber,"
have

resolved ordered taken

a man

to

its be
on

mysteries,and
mesmerised in the

party proceeded.

to

morning,

to

tooth

out;
to

and,

reaching

find him
benefit

Charity Hospital, had the satisfaction entranced, and begged Mr. Mc'Questen to give him
This
he

the

of his skill.

declined; and

I extracted

the

tooth

IIO

EXTRACTS

FROM

JOURNAL

before

him, without
as a

awaking
"souvenir." made
to
was an

the

man,

and
a

presented
collection

it to of

the

lady
near

mesmeric
ear,

Seeing
incision he
.

matter

the

I also

into said

the that

swelling
he felt
as

before if
an

he
ant

awoke. had

On

coming
while the
see

his

senses

bit him I had

now

asleep. rarely granted gratification,

triumph of the truth. My

he

to

first believers,
"

of

living to
up

the

fair infidel she could convinced I

my
was
new a

frankly
not

gave

the

"diabolic
one

theory;"
in my

and

although
was

adopt
instead

the of

angelic

favour, yet she

yet that,

favoured

being in league with the evil power, individual, and on congratulated me

At

highly
powers
most

of doing

good.
manner,

parting I took
that there
was

the

to hint, liberty

in the

respectful
to
me

something
that
was,

still

more

ful wonderof human,

than

Mesmerism;
the I
was

and

the

extent

incredulity on

subject.
called
at

June
of I Baboo

6th.

"

8 o'clock

last

night,to
was

see

the

wife

Essanchunder her from her in

a

Ghosaul,
in and her like I
a

deputy-magistrate of Hooghly.
;

found

dreadful

convulsions the she

she

speechless,and
threatened
or

suffering
suffocate
at

constriction

throat, that

to

every

minute;
moment

constantly beat,
was

pointed
the back

the

part.
it head

At
was

one

body
bow,
saw

perfectly rigid, and

rested
on

in another of her

bent heels

back

till she
such

and and

only.

never

convulsions of the
resources

except
of she

in Tetanus medicine could

power,
not
was

Hydrophobia,
useless; for
breath how

arid all I knew could had she

recourse

take

physic when
to

take

! I therefore
an

my

new

solvent

and, after

nearly
has had

hour's

hard

work,
fit.
came

I left her

asleep,

and

catalepsed.

July
for whose

ist.

"

She

no

return
was

of the

This
too

is the late.

lady
of

relief the 26th.

"

conjurer

sent, but she has with

June
both

Alunga, aged
at the

24;

slight contractions
acute

elbowthe ulnar

joints, from
nerve

rheumatism,
elbow. At
on

pain
not

on

ing press-

she first,

did

bear

much
trance

handling

without and she

awaking;
them freer

but,
me

being left alone, the

to

deepened,
hinges, and
One
there
arm

permitted
to

work

her

joints like

door

extend much

the

natural the

degree, without
and

awaking.

was

after

first trance

extension, and
left

was

no

pain.
"

June 27th.
to-day,
removed
and the

Complains
nerve course

of

considerable
is very

pain in her
tender.
a

arm

at

the elbow of the

nerve

passed

my

fingers along
the

the

for
to

few

minutes, which
the
arm:

pain,

and

allowed

her

extend

I then

OF

PRACTICAL

MESMERISM.

Ill

held
into

my
my

fingers before
arms
"

her

eyes

for

few

seconds,
but

and

she

fell

insensible. This any woman's

July 3rd.
them short taken
away

pains fly about, by holding

my

can

chase

from She of her the

time.
out

fingers over

it for a fingers over came limping up to me to-day, to have the pain "tendo Achillis ;" and this I did by passing my pained part. I then grasped it firmly: she felt no

part

pain, and by and delight.

can

words This her

more
"

and

looks

woman's delirious

now

make
; but

astonishment expressed the utmost is such, that I, or any one, sensibility by merely looking at her for five

minutes

of this hereafter. I

Aug.
the
woman

i8th.

requested
had
was

Dr.

Bedford

to

satisfy himself
body.
Dr.
at

if

Alunga
she time
was

pain
acute

in any

part of her
in
one

On

being

asked,
a

said in

there

pain
was

heel ; and He

B. spent last said that

long
he

of testingthe reality there

its existence.

that

convinced
my

considerable

I then the

passed
as

fingers over
as

the

part for
she it had.

pain minute,
the then

in

spot.

and

grasped
had
at
ished van-

heel

firmly
Dr. in
to

I could, and allowed that

declared He the

pain

; and

B.
a

looked

her

steadily,and
and desire is influence

few

minutes

developed

mesmeric

delirium,

tremor

if the walk, always produced in this woman, sleepher: the other not quickly concentrated toms, sympupon them when of the eyelids,inability to open closed, trance, all followed
a

and

the

mesmeric
"

in due For

course.

July 4th.
had
a

Dookee,

shop-keeper.
insects
to

several about
; his
an

months his face wink and

has and and then

constant

feeling of
extends He
was

scalp, and it often water constantly.

got
a

the

crawling whole body

for
soon

eyes

mesmerised
water.

hour,

dose

of

"

mesmerised

He

after the
sense

complained of
then of
more

at general agitation,and feeling of alarm slept a little. On leaving the hospital the had entirelydisappeared, and he did not

heart, and
than

formication
was

wink

natural

he
1

has
"

not

returned.
men

July
No. No. No. No.
No.

3th.
for
for

Four

and

one

woman

were

entranced

to-day.

I.
2.

Lumbago.
Sciatica. of pain in the course rheumatism. Syphilitic the crural
nerve.

3. for
4.

for

5. ditto.
were

They
the

all subdued

by
the

the usual

manipulations,assisted
induced in them

by

breath.

After

the

first

day

trance

was

all, by

112

EXTRACTS

FROM

JOURNAL

giving
three
cases

mesmerised

water

daily, till

the

i7th

on

which

day the

were

dismissed neuralgic pains were cured; the syphilitic not were benefitted, as might be expected, the constitutional disease still in specific being operation: the local pains and eased, however, in sleep procured: no small matter
cases.
"

with

such

July 2Qth.
in
cannot

Sustee left
arm,

Ram,
than

bearer

aged

30.

He

became the

alytic parhe the

merised mes-

his

twelve his

days

ago,

during
is

night:
under
to

raise
; and

it he

higher
has

navel;

there the

pain
:
"

capula

slept very
half-an-hour.

little since

attack

be

daily,for
"

raise his arm his breast, to July 3Oth. Slept all night, can to be mesmerised head, spine,shoulder, and arm : daily. July 3 1 st. Slept yesterday, immediately after being mesmerised,
" "

and forehead

all

night:
Has
at

can

touch

the

opposite

shoulder

and

his

to-day.
1

Aug.
process,

5th.
"

improved
night.
hold
over

daily: usually sleeps

arm

after

the

and

well
"

Aug. Sept.
well force. The with

25th.
command 8th. the
"

Can

his

perpendicular,
above
my

and

has

siderable con-

it. his hands

squeezes
own

Can

clap
at

his hand

head,
with fit for in

strikes

out

left arm,

and his

considerable work. if
new

Discharged
next
case

request,
never

being
taken the

should
infused

have
me

hand,

hopes

had

not
on
"

been

into

by
;

evident

effects

of

Mesmerism

the

nervous a

system.
husbandman There
can

Aug. 9th.
frame,
whole side
years,

Geeois,

aged
is be

22.

man

of

large
of the the

and of the
a

in

good
left inches.

condition. the He
: arm

complete palsy
separated
six four
state
:
"

side;

only

from

for

few

has

taken

mercury

times, in four
months
to

for he has for

rheumatism been half

"

the

paralysis began
in his

ago,
merised mes-

and

three
an

months

present

be

hour

daily.
goes hours
to

Aug.
and
more,

8th.

He

sometimes for
two

sleep during
it : he the
can

the

process,

generally sleeps
and there is
a

after
on

raise
on

his

arm

little resistance

left side,

walking

between

two

persons.
"

Aug. Aug.
the

2oth.

He
"

began

to

walk

little with is
more

stick

to-day.
over

25th.

Improves leg
to

daily;
is

there

command he raises the the

diseased

side; the

stronger,
of the
room

and

arm

higher: he walked
of
a

the end

to-day, with

help

stick

only.

OF

PRACTICAL

MESMERISM.

113

Sept. 8th.
the aid of
a

"

Much
arm

better; walks
also has discarded his

across

the

compound,
crosses

with

stick ;
"

improving.
stick, and
hold his the
pound com-

Sept. 2Oth.

He

unaided.

Sept. 25th. perpendicular:

"

Daily improving;
there is every orders

he

can

his

arm

nearly
he

prospect
to

of

recovering, and
to

was

allowed

him

go home, with in the way daily, they had

to

his

friends

mesmerise

witnessed.
woman;

Dec. suffered and and

loth. for

"

Horo,
years

Hindoo
from the

aged
in the
:

28.

She

has

three

tic-dolowrcux cold weather till 2 her

right eyebrow
intense
now,

temple, especiallyin
comes on

it is very
M.
"

at

6
an

A.

M.,

remaining
and
no

p.

to

be mesmerised. she awoke

now,
soon

I returned

after said

hour,
was

found

asleep :

after, and
that "it
was

there
as

pain
no

whatever

in the

part

and

cold
"

water." has
a a

Jan.
Dec. has been

8th.

She
"

had

return

I4th.
a

Podo,
knees:
are so

Hindoo
year

woman,

of pain. a beggar; aged

rheumatism about sit with and with she tenderness

40.

She
in her

cripplefor
and

and is much that herself

half, from
she

shoulders and her and the

there weak
ease

the her
cannot

joints,
hams rise
:
"

knees is

cannot

bent,
from
to

obliged to
an
"

standing,
herself
up

ground
i6th.
1

without hour half much

an

be mesmerised

pushing daily.
an

her

hands

Dec.
Dec. Dec. is much walks

Slept
Feels

hour better.

after

the

process

to-day.
the

7th.
" "

i8th.

Slept
can

hour rise

to-day;
from the

the

pain

about without

joints

less; she
much
more
"

ground
is

aid, and
dismissed

freely.
she has
no

Dec.

iQth. Says
at

pain, and

quite well

cured,

her

own

request.

Mesmerism,

like other
a

powerful

natural disease

agents, is
when of

not

only
far, and

remedy,
deeply

but

becomies
in

formidable

pushed

rooted

the

constitution

; and

knowledge
"

this is the

mesmeric in their phenomena, key to a variety of anomalous origin, but not directlyproduced by it at the time, and which give rise to absurd charges of imposture, delusion, "c., from in fact, the totally ignorant of the subject. These are, persons of the primary disease secondary or constitutional symptoms
"

Mesmerism,

"

which it to

has take
on

contaminated the Mesmeric

the

nervous

system,
whenever

and it is

predisposed

action

114

REMARKS

ON

MESMERISM.

deranged, especiallyby
by
In which it
was

any

thing having
developed
very

reference

to

the

cesses pro-

first

in the

system..

this

respect,

Mesmerism

closely resembles
is apt
to
recur on

which,
tion of

however the

primarily induced,
or

Hysteria^ agita* any

way
corre*

body
with each how there
manner,

associated

the

mind, more particularly if it is in any and first disturbing cause; they both
sometimes

spond,
one

in

knows

being a genuine
can

that

often

be
some

no

voluntarilyproducible. Every fit of hystericscan be willed on, and doubt of the reality of the exhibition ;
can

and, in like
the other To

persons

zc'i// on

somnambulism
are

and putable. indis-

Mesmeric
an

symptoms,

the
person,

experienced
without that the The

realityof which the springing

usual has

up

of

true

Mesmjeric
moral

phenomena, by Mesmerism.

the

exciting
been
centres

cause,

is

demonstration

system
nervous

lutionized previously revohaving become nervous

morbidly

sensitive of the

by

the

action

of

this

great
connected

excitant,
ism, Mesmer-

every

shock

nerves,

especially if
of tell
:

with

is exhibited The
eye

in the hunter

shape
can

abnormal

mesmeric

symptoms.
kind of the

of the has of

by
the in

the

the foot-prints
we can

animal semblance

that

gone

before

from

shadow like

guess

the he

substance;
sees

and,
here

manner,

the

qualified
at
once

observer,
says,

when Mesmerist

pseudo-mesmeric
been the before should finer
me

appearances,
"

the

has that

ex

pede

Herculem.

It is
erroneous

high
which

public impressions regarding the

have been

time

be

disabused

phenomena by

of many of Mesmerism,
men

sedulously propagated

medical

but, in reality, labouring under affectedly impartial, prejudice, and profound ignorance of the subject.
even,

intense

It is of

no

consequence

to

the

community

whether

it is misled

by

set themselves ignorance or dishonesty of those who up of public opinion ; the offence leaders as against truth, the injury have and the injusticeto those who done to the public, practically declared what be true, studied the question, and to they know

the

careless

whom

it may

displease, are
who
to

equally great.
seen or

It is

mon com-

thing for Doctors,

to

have

never

thought
coma,"

of

merism, Mesthe

step forward

enlighten the public,and

of
severe

expose

"humbug."
under its

They
without

have

heard
most ; and

"Mesmeric

and
can

that,
be

influence, the pain

surgical operations
exact

performed
and if any in

they thereupon

bility total insensi-

into their

experimenting
Achillis"

crucis of the truth

of Mesmerism
a

unfortunate "tendo

Mesmeric
even,

wight, having
should

vulnerable their ob-

point

his

fall under

REMARKS

ON

MESMERISM.

11$
and determined
or

servation, he
and
to

is denounced

as

hardened
as a

postor, im-

his

physician exposed
a

quack,
life will

lowed charitablyal-

be, perhaps, only

short of the
:

fool. of

Nothing
altered the
senses

extinction

satisfythese

criminati dis"

observers

bearing
"

approach
"

and the

in the system physiologicalrevolutions and voice changed expression in features of of some advance sleep the extinction
"

"

and

preservation
such
as

or

exaltation
are,

of

others,
one

are

all not

only
Such down
powers.

lost

upon

strong
is the Nature If

philosophers, but Holy Writ," of the

bed
to

and of

firmations, all, "con-

existence

imposture !
bind her

procrustean
in this the
most

which
and

the

anti-mesmerists

varied their

wonderful mother

display of
be

her

unnatural the

amputate
stretched A

longer than children, the Doctors, wish it, they mercilessly if shorter, she is pulled and offending members:

body

of

venerable

by pulleys, sccundem
and candid

artem,

to

the

dispassionate

judge of

this

length prescribed. description (the wolf

Mesmerist to judging the lamb) is perhaps invited by a medical in his hospitals,since satisfy himself by ocular demonstration meric nothing short of this can affect his understanding ; and the Mesof practicalexperiment his course by guest commences ble) tossing and goring the patients (fortunately generally insensilike a mad at to kill two bull; his only thought being how
a

blow;
it to

and

because

he

has

been he

compelled
revenges and

to

develop

all the ing declaris

Mesmeric

phenomena
be all all
over
a

himself,
world, and
that the

himself delusion
to
:

by

miserable the

imposture

passion

the than

same

it is easier

instruct

ignorance

pride.
But I
am

anxious
order be
no

reallyis, in
them,
interested acute,
pages,
to

and

what ism Mesmerpublic should know it comes fore beknow it when that they may longer deluded by prejudiced,ignorant, or of the the it. Abundant will be

quasi descriptions
extreme

examples
found

of

its

and
as

effects many of

on

system

in these and

well

as

intermediate

phases,

each,

discriminating observer, is distinctive and characteristic of an The condition of the body. unusual involuntary quivering of the eyelids,and the spasmodic closing of the eye, in persons minute before wide a perhaps ; the awake, and resisting,
the
"

extinction in the

o"

one

or

more a

of the

organs
"

of the

sense,

which up

we
so

saw

full

activitybut
can

moment

ago;

eye

turned

that

white

insensible

to

or staring wide open, fixed and only be seen, light; sleep walking, delirium, convulsions,
" " "

"

Il6

MESMERISM

BY

DOING

NOTHING.

catalepsy, in subjected to
induced
as

persons the

not

subject to
processes

these
;
"

affections is not of
some

till they
one

were

mesmeric
as

any

of

these

symptoms

of the

same

in

fluence constraining inthe production of insensibility?They are all links chain, and in some hibited expatientscan all be beautifully and from the of connection, an quivering sequence

clearly the

effect

eyelash

to

the

most

intense

coma.

Another
to

anti-mesmerist,
look
at

who
of the is

to

save

appearances

has

scended condesays,
dinary extraoron

certain
"

mesmeric
no use

phenomena,
in

seeing
secret

their

: reality

"There

denying
to; of
poor

the

condition of the

these

people
is that
you

are

reduced
are a

but

the

whole

matter

they
that

set

hysterical
as

wretches, and
as

I will show

can

mesmerise

them

well

you,

by
to

proceeds
delight
truth serious of

and

doing nothing." The enterprising experimentalist his pledge, and actually succeeds, to his great redeem the mystification of the public, in disproving the
axiom,
"ex

the

nihilo nihil

fit,"
"

for

he

produces
of call upon the

disease, hysteria,by the

Upon the public to put

suppose

this,the

obstructives down the

compelling power congratulate each other,

naked

nothing! lic pub-

and
not
an

humbug.
anti-mesmeric

Would
was

that

this

mesmerising by nothing
of the

ingenious
of

and

original experiment
? And

school

phy philosofavourite that this

ceedings, pro-

yet the
but

truth

is, that
who
a

they

were

trick
can

by
be

the

Mesmerists;
that
to
a

have natural
extent.

not

taught only declared,

of
very

their

done,

it is

if carried and but

certain the

consequence It is often action

recurrence

their

difficult,
;

laborious,

to

excite

mesmeric

in the
to

constitution the

original the paroxysm in all its first intensity, will bring on and processes of the nervous if the excitement system is kept up by frequent mesmerising, it takes on an independent diseased action, obeying
once

being

excited, a

very

slight

constitutional have
acts

laws the

which

we

do
a

not

understand disease
to

we,

in

fact,
often

inoculated

system

with

nervous

which the

spontaneously, especially on any this stage the and at exciting cause;

steps in, and
demands for the

reference

primary
observer and had
founded con-

candid
an

medical

applause
done
so

of

admiring
what
to

world,
his It is and that

having
brother

with much

"nothing,"
trouble had it:
"

cost

stupid mesmeric
hardly
our

effect.

credible

that

Dr.

Elliotson knew almost be

expressly said,
length
there

candid such
no

philosophers
at

"At

is sometimes

that sensibility, process last may

sleep; indeed,

thing will induce to produce the requisite

any

MESMERISING

DY

NOTHING.

117

effect.
in

I have
to

three

patients,whom
I gave but who

was

originally some
half go
an

weeks

sending

sleep, though
and
my

each
now

hour
to

manipulations, merely raising

to

gazing;
hand,
her
or

daily of sleep on my
are

looking
each
next

at

them them

when

they
the

pared pre-

expect

sleep.

I told in the

of

that, if she

sat

still,
I into the little tract dishave

would

mesmerise

room

retired, shut
a

the door
turned

behind

me,

did found I did

through nothing, but

her

door.

walked
so

further
two

room,

back,

and

asleep:

with
as

other

in
as

succession.

While busied

this, I thought
with
any

of

them
my

possible,and
"

myself
bear the

thing
the world

to

attention."
same

Mesmerists I
can

in all parts of
most

stated
to

the

fact, and
mind,

ample testimony explanation, will

its truth. What candid

demonstration of the regard "mesmerising ? imposture of Mesmerism I was disease come, explaining the mesmeric (for such it has beat this stage) to a party of gentlemen, the other day, and while intention mesmerise to anticipated my speaking, a man him the spot, on "by nothing," by becoming intensely entranced I was The when not regarding him. gentlemen, and Dr. Scott among
were were was as

considering by nothing," as a

after

this

them,
well in

used

every

means

to

ascertain lost his

his
senses,

condition, and
as

convinced of

that theirs

he
:
"

had in

that

they

possession
he

fact, although
a severe

the

paroxysm

spontaneous, without feeling it.

would I the
went

have
to

borne the

surgicaloperation hospital to-day (8th Dec.

had there and the

1845)
the

after Dr.

writing
Behn,
the

last line, and

of

meeting
Curator

Professor Mr.

Anatomy

pleasure Physiology
Mr. former

of in

University of Kiel,
of
are

Kiellerup, Naturalist, and

the
two

Blyth,
tlemen gena

Asiatic
to

attached scientific

Society's museum: the Danish frigate,now

As all three

here

on

litical po-

and
nature

mission.

were

observers

of

my

own

by profession,I thought it a good opportunity to impressions by theirs,if different from mine, and
to
man

correct

fore theremerism. Mes-

submitted A tender and about

their
was

notice

cases

of direct
us

and
an

indirect

brought
the latter the

before

with Behn could

enlarged and
himself mistake be

testis, and

of

point
part
"

Dr. there

satisfied
no

friends, by pressing
it. I

then, by the
me,

hands

and
not

breath, mesmerised
his eyes, and

him,

standing

before skin

tillhe could

open

bility the sensiany

of the

had

of pressure

then used disappeared. Dr. Behn he chose to apply to the tender part,

gree dethe

and

Il8

HYSTERIC

THEORY.

man's
was

face
used and
any

was

as

placid
the that
to

as

statue

of the

Somnus;
skin and

to

ascertain
was

state

of
was

means every the organs

of

sense,

it

clear

the

ear

the this

only
he
to

organ

that transmitted when he felt

wet.

sensation

the

brain, and

only of sound;
said find that his the

squirted suddenly into his ear, surprised nothing, and on waking, he was
water
was

face

also

converted
at
once

him have

into

somnambulist,
as

that

gentlemen
;

might
on

before

them

many
man

as

possible of the genuine

then
was

mesmeric

phenomena.
him about his

Another

was

brought
feverish
case;

and and for

asking
a

health, he said that he

This
was

had Dr.

severe

pain in the side.

evidently the

the ribs, and the intercostal found pressed between I then in a corner of the exceedingly tender. put him spaces and bid him he was sleep: in less than five minutes asleep, room, his eyes, catalepsy was could lished, estabnot turn round, or open had and all sensibility disappeared; as Dr. Behn tained ascerbetween ribs the to pressing by now degree he any to be catar seen pleased ; and not only so, the whole chest was His forced and the eyelids were lepsed and immovable. open, The white he awoke, Dr. of the eye could only be seen. moment the Behn and intercostal spaces, he on again made pressure immediate and showed acute suffering. In a word, the spontaneous in no differed mesmeric condition particular from that o f the direct mesmeric induced influence, and by the applicationof satisfied the realityof the visitors seemed to be perfectly my
" "

Behn

symptoms
It would

in both be

states. to

tedious

dwell

on

this the

point farther, and

hope

enough has been said to convince when people are said to have been is a certain proof that something know we nothing that can do this
worth
cure

public that, in general, mesmerised "by nothing," it has pre-disposed to this, and
but
;

Mesmerism,
if it is allowed

It

is

hardly
can

while
nervous

to

dispute about
headaches,
and

names

and

that I

perform

painless surgical
mesmeric
"

tions opera-

by hysteria,call the
not.

process

hysteric or
in how

care

But

after

all, there
and I

is

satisfaction

right names,
my
not
a new

I cannot

possibly see
never saw

callingthings by their hysteria has got into

"

hospitals,where being
at

it before
I have,

coolies

and

felons

all

nervous

subjects.
my

therefore, generated
the
my

disease

among

mesmeric readers
to

processes.

decide.

patientsby nothing, or by using Which is the more likely, I leave be supposed to As natural hysteria may

be

MODE

OF

STUDYING

MESMERISM.

IIQ

more

powerful
the been of

than

the
in

imitation,
"The

shall

look

with
that the

impatience
Mrs. Freak

for has

announcement,
cured of and her

Morning
headaches

Post,"

nervous

by
had
it. and
to

skilful
cut

tion applicaoff be when

hysteria,
of

Lady
without

Tantrum

has

her

arm

in feats the it and

fit for disease

hysterics,
our

knowing physicians ready

made

These
surgeons,

should
as

easy

fashionable and and of antidote assistants

they

have

their
to

hands;
make the

whereas,
coolies
to

cost

me

my

great

trouble
to

prisoners
them But

Bengal
to

hysterical,
the loss of

the

degree
members.

necessary

render

insensible if

their

seriously,
of

medical

men

wish

to

see

and

understand -and in rational

the
mode of I

effects

Mesmerism is
to

on

the

body,
to

the

natural them

of
their

proceeding
own

attempt
if

develop
take
a

the
the

persons trouble The

patients
at,
as

and

they
them

will

tithe

of
success.

have

been
as

can

promise
most

very

general
will

finest,

well
to

the

striking
eyes, and

phenomena
and imitate and their the

then

be

equally
will

diagnostic
be of

their and

practised
free
to

understandings
curative processes

left

clear,

study by
and
doubts

Nature,
of

undisturbed

suspicions
of others.

regarding

the

powers

observation

the

honesty

CHAPTER
Mesmerism Mesmeric Penis in

VII.

Surgery.--]
Trance: A

onrnal

of

Practical

Mesmerism.
"

Leg
Arm

straightened straightened opened

cut

in; in; in;

off laid

Colic Arm Heel Arm

cured

by; in;
open
cut
"

amputated
Breast
cut

in;
off

amputated

in;
Tooth

in; Abscess

Hayed
laid

extracted

in; End

of
the

Thumb

in;
open

in;
away

Three

Abscesses Invasion Trance: Pile

opened of

in;

Sinus

in; Gum
State.

in;

waking
Toe

by

the

sleeping
cut
cut

Mesmeric

Hypertrophied
Both
on

Prepuce
Nails burned in

off
out

in; in;

purating SupKnee Acid

in;

great

straightened
in; Seton

in;

Ulcer

Temple
in;

with Groin

Muriatic removed

introduced,
Sores

"c.

Tumour

in; in;
tirpated ex-

Fungoid
Cataract

pared
on

off

in;

Scirrhus

Testes

extirpated

operated
in;
off

in;

Malignant pared

Disease'

of

Testes

Unhealthy
in; Pain

Sore

in; Hypertrophied by;

Return
on

puce Pre-

-cut

extinguished in; Unhealthy

in.
"

awaking;
in;
Two

Amputation

of for

Penis

Sores

pared
alike

Operations
to

Hydrocele
and
the

Mesmerism

favourable

the

Operator
the

Patient.

IN the

Surgery,
of and

benefits

of
an

Mesmerism

are

not
are

confined of the

to

extinction

pain during
The

operation,
in

but

est greatof

general

particular advantage
nerves

the have

after-treatment
not

surgical diseases.
by

and

brain

been excites

shattered
an

bodily
fever local all

and in

mental the

anguish,
in the

which the

generally
powers
;

tative irriing rous-

system,

wasting
injured

of

life, and
often In been

inflammation the

part
the

thereby
has

ing destroythe
meric mes-

hopes

and the the

a

precautions
necessary

of

surgeon.

sleep, only
and and
on

local
sometimes

injury
feels in the of

inflicted

awaking,
sets

patient

no"pain
wound;
substance

whatever,
and the

generally only
about best under
can

slight smarting repairing

by
the circumstances

constitution and

breach

quietly,
follow,
which all

the
be

possible
removed

; if local

pains

they
will

easily
in the

topical manipulations;

be

seen

following
OF

JOURNAL April eighteen

2Oth.
months
"

PRACTICAL

MESMERISM.

Jeolal,

my

washerman,

aged

35,

has with

been rheu-

ill; first with

dysentery, afterwards
120

PRACTICAL

MESMERISM.

121

matic the

fever, thigh
at

in consequence
a

of

which

his

left knee

is bent

upon

right angle.
him
a

I him knee and

considered

to

be

a an soon

hopeless cripple.
hour. At first he
me was

mesmerised
his

to-day
with

in both

quarter of hands; but

in the

supported
remove

allowed
The

to

them,
tended, ex-

suspend
and him.

them

air.
a

leg

then

gradually

straightened to

considerable

extent, without

ing awak-

April

2 1 st.

"

The

process

was

used, which

awoke The

him

; the

force repeated to-day,and more still farther leg was improved.

used awoke.

April
power

22d.

"

pulley was
he
and

to-day, and
The muscular

very

able considercontraction

is

now

applied before nearly overcome,

be from the

the and

seems

'to

tendons

remaining ligaments

stiffness about

of the

knee

the

joint,and

will

probably yield to May

i

mechanical
now

extension, by
without I of
am a

exercise. the direct

not

ith.

"

He

can

walk

stick, but
that but could

fibrous
force have

contractions

give
torn

way

slowly.
muscles

convinced

might
relaxed

have them. 22d.

the

the

thigh,

June
he in has
a

"

His

leg is

got

violent
"

and quitestraight, colic, and when speaking

now

the knee
to
me

flexible
fell down

fainting state.
"

Ordered

to

be

mesmerised. awoke much and relieved still

tinues. con-

June 23d.
yesterday;
"

He
a

slept for
paroxysm

an

hour, and
last

but

returned

night,

Repeat
"

the

Mesmerism.

three hours in the mesmeric sleep June 24th. He remained His so. leg quite well, and continues yesterday, and awoke returned his work. is now and he has to quite strong, is a fistulous openThere Khitmatgan. ing which is in the urethra under the glans penis, sloughing, and requires to be amputated. I desired him to be mesmerised, and in an returned hour. I found him looking at asleep, and when to sleep him, he suddenly opened his eyes, but immediately went off the after I cut glans, without again, and in five minutes from He awoke fear, after, and said it was soon awaking him.

May

I2th.

"

Buxoo,

not

pain.

April 2Oth, weak,

and

ii

o'clock,

A.

M.

"

Kangalee,
a

peasant;

aged

20,

ill nourished.

He

had

fever

four years ago,

after

122

EXTRACTS

FROM

JOURNAL

which
left

sores

broke

out

in different

parts
is

of his
one

body,
the

and

have

large cicatrices like burns.

has
seven
was

There

about
to

left elbow
a

joint,which
angle, for
; a

been

permanently
He
was

contracted

nearly

right

months. then

bottle
was

put

under

his

utes catalepsed in twenty minfor a fulcrum, and elbow He

soon
arm

the moved

arm a as

gradually
the under

extended

and little, it were,

muscles
my

by depressing the hand. contracted but occasionally,

and air hour I left and ago.
no

melted

hand,
in the
an

him, with
still

his
"

perfectly straight,extended
o'clock, p.
M.

asleep.
his
can arm

Two is

He

awoke it

half
was

Sees

knows straight, it freely.

not'how

done, has

pain, and

move

May
exercise.

2d.

"

He

pulls the punkah

daily with

his

left arm,

for

June May

4th. Dismissed
" "

cured.

Buttachangie, a Brahmin; 5th. Rantoonee aged haematodes There is a prodigious Fungus from protruding took left elbow-joint. A the joint when at swelling place five years old, and has gone was on increasing gradually,but
skin remained entire till an the incision
was

40. the he the

made

by

native

doctor,

twelve

days
the

started tegument bloody mass through the inago, when of an It exactly resembles the contents old aneurism of the

by the actual cautery applied to it all over, in order to stop the bleeding : I desired him it was to be carefullymesmerised, a frightfulmass. with Dr. Elton, in charge and went to Chinsurah, to consult the We returned of the troops there. to hospitaltogether, and decided off found him in a profound sleep, and to take the arm his moving or complaining, removed, without instantly. It was
; structure

fungus having

been

broken

up

and

Dr.

Elton He

assured
awoke and

me

that

his

countenance

had
was

never

changed.
been
he

immediately

after
was saw

the

limb

off, and
; and

declared, again
done
then
saw

again,
till he for

that" he and

aware

of
arm

nothing having
was

to

him

awoke the

his

gone

Dr.

Elton Is He

first time.

May May
To be

I3th.
"

doing well.
complains
of

6th.

"

pain

in

the

stump

to-day.
"

mesmerised.

May

7th. He
"

was

easily put

to

sleep yesterday, and

slept

OF

PRACTICAL

MESMERISM.

123

for

three
so.

hours;

was

free

from

pain

when

he

awoke,

and

tinues con-

May
which
lie down,

nth.

"

Meeroolla,
He has
me

policeman; aged
a

28, strong
the I desired him

and

healthy looking.
he and him.
more

got
to

fatty tumour to-day.

it, and

of

ma, right mam-

begged
let In
me

remove

to

carefullyexamine
ten

commenced

merising mes-

minutes the it out,

tumour

he

was

utes fast asleep; in five mina

I transfixed and
cut

with

hook,

drew

it up

off

the and that

my

muscles,
he he hands did felt

without
an

disturbing him
afterwards.
remembers which
was

in the He

least,
after

not
no

awake

till half till he

on

hour and

declares

pain
the

awoke,
his

nothing
in about

were

placed

stomach,

five

minutes

from
nth. false it.
"

commencement.

May
over

Podoo,
ribs of

young

Hindoo

woman,
an

has

swelling
to

the in

the the the

right side, requiring compounder

to

incision

be

made I I
was was:

I desired with

mesmerise she made

was

her, while ready

before ing, swellthe

engaged
a

last

deep incision, an without awaking her, I4th.

"

patient, and inch long, was

I left her

into

and

sleeping.
30. I
a

May
saw sore

Maduh,

him
on

for the

the

first time

healthy-looking coolie; aged He has to-day, at n o'clock.

; the

got

heel, of two
from To the be

years' standing
mesmerised. be

skin

is half and
to

an

inch

thick, separated
to

subjacent parts
I introduced

all round,
went to
on

requires
Mr.

be

removed. I had who

"

Chinsurah,

where

the

pleasure to
on a

the

Reverend

Banergie,
him
a

is there under of

visit, and
with had

person

the

mesmeric

to show begged me influence. I replied that

so a

who

disapproved

gratify mere
and that be there if he

experimenting curiosity; but I

would
go
to

formidable
man

power,

to

left

under

the

process,

the

on hospital,

chance, he might possibly

after
an

gratified. I
found the the

returned Mr. The

to

the

hospital

hour,
and I

and Mr.

Reverend

Fisher, Mr.
was

Money,

collector.

patient

Banergie, asleep, and

skin from its thickness and

ately immedi-

commenced

dissectingthe thickened
was

the and

plantar
ness. hardmust

fascia,which
It have been

very

difficult, owing
a

to

almost

resembled

horse's

hoof,

removal He

painful under very completely insensible to the

a

ordinary circumstances. pain, however, and remained

I had finished. in

was

asleep

quarter
Mr.

of

an

hour then

after

Banergie

questioned him,

Bengalee, regarding

124

EXTRACTS

FROM

JOURNAL

his

and he protested that he felt nothing till he awoke. feelings, of the patients, already mentioned, being still in hospital, Many them in Bengalee, and in no Mr. instance did Banergie examined
accounts

their

vary Ram

from

what

I had

related.
has first him

May growing
mattress
me some

26th.

"

Dass,

large robust eye-tooth, and

mouth,
a

man,

numerary super-

tooth

between

the his in

the

grinder,
noyance. ana

horizontallyinto
I entranced
on

and

causing
of
open
an

great

him

quarter
to

hour,
his and

lying
to

on

the

table, and
to

proceeded
not

jaws.
I had the

It cost
ceed pro-

trouble

relax he

the

temporal muscles,
appear
to

cautiously,as
influence
to

did

be its

under

extreme

of the

mesmeric of the

power.

lay

hold

tooth, but
moaned
not

He him blood.

moved,
and he declared

and did he

it was cult diffiposition, it was at last grasped, and tracted. exbut I soon little, a tranquillised till almost from this suffocated and
not

From

again,
He

awake

by

the

awoke

cause,

from

pain. May
thumb

29th.
"

Sibehurn

Sing,
by
if
a

young

robust
fourteen

man,

had

his
An

nearly
was

cut

through
to

sword,
In the

attempt

made be
a

unite

it, but

failed; and
ten

days ago. the point of

I made without

the him

finger
him.

would

nuisance off the

kept.
of

minutes

insensible, and
He you "Has
your
soon

cut

end

thumb and

awaking
him:
"

after

quietlyopened
"Yes."
you

his eyes, "Have

I asked you
any

"Have "No." wish looked "God

been
any

asleep?"

pain?"
"Do
you
so,

thing
off?" and

hurt

to-day?"
"Look "It's
at

"No." it." "Who He

nail

cut

"Yes."

did did

confounded,
knows." tell
"

exclaimed,
did it about

gone!"

it?"

"How I know

happen,
it."

has

it fallen

off

itself?"

"I can't

nothing

May 3Oth. brought to the

"

Modoomohun

Ray,
fourteen the of

fine

boy,
ago,

12

years
a

old,

was

hospital,
bones

days

with
my

compound
had the

fracture several

of times

both

forearm, him,
has

and

assistants of

tried to mesmerise
success.

in the

hope
As his

assuaging
the
was

pain, but
must

without

Matter and
wet

formed,

and he

wound
hensive, apprewent
on

be

enlarged, upwards
I put
a

downwards. cloth
over

piece

of

eyes,

and

with

my

affairs, telling him

were

that and in

it would

cool him

his

brain.

The I the

people
succeeded
arm

all dismissed, in

approaching
ten

unobserved,
laid
open

without

entrancing him disturbing him.

minutes,

and

I returned

after three

hours, and

OF

PRACTICAL

MESMERISM.

I2fj
v

X
was

found much

him

still

sleeping.
no one

On had

awaking,
hurt
a

he that

said

the

pain

less, and

that

him

day.

June
ago,

2(1.
"

Gungaram
rubbish

Dass,

prisoner,was
him,
and in

injured,ten
consequence

days
three

by

some

fallingon

at the elbow, wrist, and ankle, which large abscesses have formed in a few I subdued him minutes, opened require to be opened. the abscesses, and left him after two sleeping. On my return, I found him hours, he had just awoke, and sittingup looking at
saw

his

wounds. in He the

I asked

him He Had

how

the

pus
not

had tell.
or

escaped,
Of
hurt its him

since

him

morning?
so.

could any
one

own

cord? ac-

supposed

cut

to-day?

No

one.

June
muscle,
close it entranced diseased

6th.

"

Toorab,
a

peasant,
inches in

aged
We

30,

of
under
not

stitution, rickety con-

has of
seven

sinus,
months'
means,

six

length,
have
to

the been

pectoral
able He of
was

standing.
it is necessary

to

by

any

and
my

lay

it open. the whole

by
tract

one

of

assistants, and
his
soon come

I laid

the

open
"

without awoke had

knowing
after

it,and

left him and

on

sleeping.

June
asked

5th.
the

He

I left him, He

where in the

blood

from?
no

pain
in

wound,

and

has

recollection

awaking, has hardly had any of being disturbed

his

sleep yesterday.
"

July Qth.
teeth; half
the of indurated the of

Mrs. it has and

Clermont
come

is

sufferingfrom
but I the

one

of her is covered the the

wisdom with
source

through,
gum.

rest

ulcerated be

irritation

must

removed,

explained that by cutting away

ing offend-

gum.

July
the
cut

loth.

"

entranced her husband

her and

to-day, sittingon
his and left her
as

couch,
back

in and

presence away

of gum
"

sister; laid her

the nth.

without is
a

awaking her,
very

sleeping.
it shows the

July
invasion

This

interestingcase,
sleeping
common

of the

waking
as

by

the

state.

Mrs.

C,
went

on

ing awak-

yesterday, arose
her this
gum
to

if from she

sleep,and
blood the
me

to

adjust
and the

hair

in

the

glass,when
her
was

saw

about tooth
to
seen

her

mouth,

first attracted had

attention still

to

; she

thought
that her

burst, and
she had
no

expecting
of
an

call.
me

For, strange

say,

recollection for half

having

day,
to

nor

of The

what

happened

hour

before
me,

I put that

sleep.

incidents, her

husband

informed

occurred

during

126

EXTRACTS

FROM

JOURNAL

this and and

time

were

these:
; a

"

She
came

received
to
a

letters

from

the then

paid for them

sat to

lady

visit her ; and short time.

postmart, I arrived,

lady
and

conversing with them her carriage,I returned

were

After her: feels

are
"

seeing

the

and her

mesmerised mind. She

all these

occurrences

blotted

from

quite well,
into the

awoke of

much
sense,

refreshed.
at
one

If such

inroads effect of

made

regions

the sitting,

be guessed at in such experiments may trifled with, and this lady ; and this is the power for

sary frequent unnecessensitive subjects as

made

show

of

money!* July
1

7th. To-day,
"

in the

presence

of

Mr.

Davidson, Registrar
to
name

missioner com-

of Board of

the

district, and
have
a man

Mr.

Alexander,
me

to

the
as

(who witnesses,) I operated on

without asked did
once so

Revenue

requested
for

them

awaking
the in
a

him.

After if I should

hypertrophy of the sleep some letting him

awake

prepuce,

time, I desire,
at

gentlemen
moment,

him, and
eyes.

at
was

their

by blowing in his
and Mr.

He

restored "I

to

full consciousness,
was

Davidson
you

remarked,
if any like his

wish

Doctor

here, who

says

do

this

by opium."
one

My
hurt
to

visitors, understanding Bengalee, asked

him

him

had

to-day.
*While
in

He

said, "No."

If he

would

disease

be

London,
of
two

arranging
introduced

for
to

the Dr.

publication
Elliotson.
never

of

this

work,

I had

the

pleasure
attempted
I
was

being

under before

whose
seen

guidance Mesmerism,
to

I mesmerised
or

females, although

I had
women

to

practise
not

it.

These
at my

being
but
an

accustomed
event

be

merised, mes-

surprised
At
me

success;

which friends

happened
who nessed witfrom merism Mes-

few

days
the

afterwards, astonished
occurrence. an

both

myself
I met

and
a

the
young

evening party
to

gentleman
never seen

Oxford,

who
; and

requested
yet, in
than I three
one

mesmerise his eyes

was as

him. closed

He

had

minute,
minutes he him

under

my

manipulations,
diffident in my
He thus
at

and
own

in

less

fast

asleep. Being
as

powers,

de-mesmerised
:

speedily
you

possible.
your ;
a

scribed deI

his felt

sensations

"The dared

moment

pointed
gaze
at

fingers
sensation
and

me,

uncomfortable.
a

I of

not

meet

your

of

heat,

resembling
the
open
course

stream your

commenced electricity, down

was

my my

forehead
stomach.

followed
not

of
eyes. my
to

hands,
I

to

the

pit
a

of

I could and I the

ever

my

I knew

sitting on

chair
was

before
this
"

you,

last be

idea allowed

in

mind,
rise

before

falling fast asleep,

that the
in

Shall

again?"
to
more

This

fact

seems

prove

power

of mesmerising, than
is

and

of being
posed. sup-

mesmerised,
"

is

general

this

country

commonly

Editor.

OF

PRACTICAL

MESMERISM.

127
thank sit up, gone,

removed? would do

He
so.

answered,
He
was

that

he

would
to
was

God
and he

if any his cloth

one
moved; re-

then his

desired

when,
an

seeing
of

nuisance and

fell back

with

exclamation

wonder

gratitude.
Hindoo
woman,

July 25th. Buggabuttee,

"

aged
as

40, of

has
my

been thumb. I cut

troubled

with
was

suppurating
at

pile, as
eleven she

big

the

end
at

She
off the half
to

mesmerised and

o'clock, and
moved and that
any

twelve
on

tumour,
an

though

moaned,

awaking
been done

hour

after, did

not

know

thing

had

her.

Aug.
nails of

4th.
"

Sona,
toes

Hindoo
are

woman;
to

25
the and

years

old.

Both
bined com-

the

great
of

destroyed
mercury,
was

roots, by the
their
at

effects with and

a

syphilisand
ulcer.
one p.

place
twelve
root

is

filled

fungoid
half

She
MV

mesmerised
out

o'clock,
of
one

at

past

I dissected
: a

the and

entire
arm

nail, without
and in this mine.
"

awaking
subdued her

her in

her few

left hand

trembled hand

only,
held

was

minutes,

by her

being

Left

sleeping.
and I
cut out

Aug.
without

5th. Again entranced,

"

the she

other had

nail
any

annoying awaking.
"

her.

On

neither

occasion

has

pain

on

Aug. 6th.
to
was a

Golam
extent

Hassein. for
two

His

knee

has

been

contracted He
I

considerable mesmerised

months,
at

from

rheumatism.

for
at

the
one

first time

eleven
new

o'clock, and
He felt

made

his
were on

leg straight
felt,and

o'clock, the
under

ligamentous
hands.
"

adhesions
no

heard, cracking

my

pain

awaking.
Gendo, a Hindoo Aug. 8th. large sloughing ulcer, covering
"

woman

aged 50.

There She
was

is

all her
at

right temple.
half without her

mesmerised

at

ten

o'clock acid
to

A.

M.

; and

past eleven, I freely

applied
any

muriatic

the

whole

sore,

showing
knew

sensibility. She
about it.

awoke

twenty

minutes

after, and

nothing

Aug. Qth.
"

Parbuttie,
the the thirds
inner

an

elderly Hindoo
the
is contracted

woman,

has the

sinus side

extending
of the

from
near

ankle, under
the in

calf,

to
a

outer

leg

knee, which
round been has

by
ten

dense

cicatrix strings: ham-

running
put
to

two

joint, and
this
state
was

involving the
years. the in

the

knee

for made

Being
and
a

sleep, a

counter

opening

leg,

128

EXTRACTS

FROM

JOURNAL

seton

run

through
on

all my but and

a

weight
stronger

the

diseased

feeling it. I then leant in extending it a little, the knee, and succeeded would heavier A structures yield no farther.
the

leg, without

her

gentleman
but could it
was

then

applied
that But

all his
no

power,

and of

effected ing break-

little more, the limb

evident

force
was

short

straightenit.
or
"

it

equally certain,that
must

any

common on

muscular the

ligamentous
woman

contraction
to

have hours

yielded
after.

spot.

The

continued

sleep for

Aug.
fungoid

23d.
"

mass

Napaul Bagdy, a in the right groin;

husbandman,
it is the the surface
in

has
a

singular
flower, caulifrom

size of

small whitish

and

sloughing.
and bleeds

like it in appearance, It spreads from a much

was was

being
the
says

peduncle
His in six the

abdominal

ring,
at

when

handled.
one

father

that,
and
no
a

his

birth, there
of the other

only
seen

testis
was

scrotum,

trace

till he

months

old, when
increased

ing swelltill his this bility sensicame

appeared
twelfth time he and
on

in

the
was

year,
was

but

groin. This not painful

with

gradually
or

inconvenient. with

About

attacked

fever, attended
tumour,
the and he

increased

increase
a

of size in the
up
to

the paroxysms

twice

month,
used it
was

June
to

last, when

applied

to

barbercourse

surgeon,

who

means

ripen
as

swelling.
with in
a a

In

the

of

few

days
was

and punctured,"
as

blood

only followed.
candle few but shot It is

The covered

opening
with
came

plugged
smeared the

well
some

possible
a

cloth

with

ointment,

days
very

this

out, and

following day,
to

fungus
size. crevices

out
now

of the
a

wound,
foul

and
mass,

daily

increased

its

present
and the

its surface

mortified

filled with

maggots.
and trial,

Aug.
the
mass

26th.

"

He

was

mesmerised
his

after

two

hours'

removed

without

feeling it.
his
own

Aug.
well.

st.

"

Discharged

at

request

"

wound

looking

Sept.
his
nates.

1st.

"

Raimgopal,
about
was

syphiliticsore,
He Dr.
cut

the

size

young of half
on

Hindoo,
a

has
on

got
each
in

high
of
ence pres-

lemon,

side the

entranced and Dr. the

the

first trial; and I turned level him with

of

Ross

Sissmore,
excrescences

round the It

like
then

log,

and

off both back

not

skin,

turned
to say

him he did

again,
feel it.

and

left him

sleeping.

is needless

OF

PRACTICAL

MESMERISM.

129 suffered from

as was

Oct.

8th. and

"

Nazir,

peasant, aged 60, has

four years
; the

larged en-

scirrhous

testis for

parts
"

are

large
tranced en-

as

child's after

head, and
two

hours

extirpation is necessary. to-day.

mesmerised
the second the

He

Oct.
the

loth.

"

He of Mr.

was

time, to-day, in
Reverend Mr.

presence

Sutherland, Dr.
Mr.

Owen,
Mr.

Bradbury, Major Riddle,

Messrs.

Higgen,
Mr. his

Muller, Mr.

Graves,

Savigny,
the

Mr.

Calder, and

Bartlett. any then

I removed

parts without
was

showing
tied: half of
to

sign of sensi-'
woke
on

bilitytill the
went

last artery
to
was

immediately
said that
a

he

being sleep again for only conscious

and found
me

he
an

up,

but

hour, and
little

ing, awak-

awoke
was

for

moment,
and in
was

be
no

cheerful

talkative,and
countenance

showed
or

exhaustion the wound Nov.

cataract

his

manner,

he pain when tying something. He signs of suffering or and said the pain in

very

trifling.
Dass,
He
was a

2oth. in
one

"

Mohun
eye.

peasant
of

;
on

aged
the

55

has

got
H.

entranced presence

first trial, and of M.'s

broke

down

the

lens

in the

Major Smith

9th Regt., without

Nov.
and leeches Nov.
an 2 1 st.
"

awaking
is much

him.

There

pain
He

in the

eye.

"

To

be

ised, mesmer-

leeches and
on

on,

hours slept for two awaking, the pain was nearly gone.

applied.

with

the

26th.

"

Mahes

Banergie,
size of
a

Brahmin,

aged

40,

has

got
He

enlarged
and
very

testis, the
the

child's is
a

head;

it is red, above

ing, glistenit.

painful, and
on

there

scrotal

hernia

was

entranced

first trial,and inflamed

I returned

the

gut into the

abdomen,

showing
D.
L.
was

his rudely, without part very the least sensibility.I then, in the presence of Captain

handling

the

Richardson,

dissected
as

out

the

diseased

organ.

The

tedious,
sack. till he The
we

I had He
were

to

carefully separate
as

the

mass

operation from but did very

ment. mo-

the
not

hernial

moved,

in the had

an

uneasy

dream,
were

awake

tying
he movements,

arteries, which
felt

numerous;

then

said, that
induced contortions every

nothing
seen,

till that
looked

muscular

sometimes

more

like the contractions than the

common

by cutting a recently dead

from,
trance

animal,
may

pain ;
seems

and
to

I believe

be

avoided

by patience, as
I need
not

deepen
the

the

sibility. insen-

point

out

to

the

surgeon

advantage

130
he would derive and

EXTRACTS

FROM

JOURNAL
.

from

the

mesmeric

trance, of 32,

in the has

reducing strangU"
urethra.

lated

hernia,

spasmodic
a

strictures

Nov. of
a

3Oth.
"

Mahes,

peasant,
root
are on

aged
of

got

deep
it

ulcer

under He
was

year's standing, at the the pubes; the edges

subdued in two and

the

penis, day,
of

that

penetrates

callous, and
the of of first officers the
sore

prevent
and

healing.
ence pres-

hours
a

in the

of Dr. N. He

Tritton

party

the

?ist Regiment
his

I., I pared
awoke that
a

off the few

margins minutes after, said

one

without had the

at

awaking.
and
a

he off

been roof the allow

asleep,
of
moment
me

dreamt and

some

had felt

pulled
no

him

house,
of
to
cut

declared I

speaking.
him
but
a

pain thereupon proposed that

little, as
not

that

he

whatever he

should

very

it would of it. he

facilitate the
Dr.

healing
the
rest

of

the

sore,

he

would

hear

Tritton
us

and the cut,

also

joined
to

their him had cloth

persuasions; but
alone
"

implored
die He the "c.
was

for be

love of God that

to

let

he

would

rather

than

the

proposal
and his
was

already removed;
alarmed

killed
on

him,

desired
state

sit up,

seeing

altered

of

things, he

greatly

and had I got

flesh, said

they
how

the pieces puzzled, and on being shown certainly belonged to him before he went
hold of of them he and had
no

of
to

sleep,and
myself
showed

idea.

As

I found I

in the them

company Mesmerism

candid

in all its and

dispassionate observers, whether physical symptoms,

Tritton
very

produced, directlyor indirectly at quite parting, that he was

symptoms
from and first to he
was

kindly said convinced of the reality of the last, whether produced by something, or
quite libertyto
understood
say
so,

Dr.

nothing,
and Dec.

that I

now

the if I

"mesmeric

ease," dis-

said
ist.

at

pleased.
the
Mr. Dr.
was

pleasure of receiving a visit from gentlemen engaged in the railway survey, consisting of Simms, Captain Western, Captain Boileau, Mr. Eraser, and
"

I had

the

Macauley.
about be the
to
to

They
remove a

found

man

entranced,
prepuce.

from As that he he

whom

hypertrophied
at

appeared
shrunk

to

ready,

I commenced

once;

but

seeing
I

from

knife, without

awaking, however,
other
on our

desisted, and
that this
man

proposed
would
and before
;

adjourn
be

to

the

hospital,saying
return.
to

probably
had
rest

ready
in his

We

accordingly went,
if
a man was

requested
us

Dr.

Macauley
scrotum.

ascertain He there before said

was

brought
no

pain
were

there
no

doubt about

and
I

the

satisfied
to

that

mistake
was

it.

ordered

him

be

entranced

them, which

easilydone,

OF

PRACTICAL

MESMERISM.

as

he

had

been
him and

twice
and

operated
set

on on

for his

hydrocele, in
feet with

the

trance.

pulled

up,

him
to

sleeping,
him
as

before

the

begged gentlemen, He was catalepsed by them

he
was as

them

deal

they pleased.

in the most
a man

indifferent the

as

of
as

painful attitudes, to which clay; and Dr. Macauley now

effect
; and
as

squeezed
been found
a

painful part
I

with him the

much naked
presence

if the he

man

had and this

was

mummy.

stripped
in of

when

awoke in

himself

standing
look

of

gentlemen
if not

condition, his
most

wonder he

and

shame,

natural,

certainlyescaped being found out. As he awoke, Dr. as soon Macauley pressed the diseased part, and there could be no his feelingson the subject; doubt about the pain was and On acute. returning evidently instantaneous the enlarged cellular substance to the Charity Hospital, I removed
"

beautiful

acting,and

from the

the

whole

penis;
said
now

the

man

did

not

shrink the

in the

least On

from tioning ques-

knife, and him,

he
; but

slept a good
that he
was

while had he

after been

operation.
to

put
the

sleep
it to

to

be

operated
had been it had

on

as

he

awake,
showed he

would

wish

be that

put off till

how

to-morrow.

We

then and he

him

liberties

taken

with

him,

recognised
no

his

property;

but

changed
Dec. of the

owners

had
a

conception.
weaver,

2 1 st.

"

Samoo,
and

prepuce

glans,

of

sloughing sore merised. year's standing. To be mesgot

a
"

has

bad

Dec.

22d. hour

"

slept
him

an

after

half

established, his
I left him, I cut and stiff. half the

yesterday,and afterwards, apparently naturally. To-day I saw hour's the trance was an mesmerising, when fully whole As I had time not then, body being rigid.
was

He

mesmerised

for two

hours

returned and took

in

an

hour,
prepuce
man

and

found
; and

his

body
of

still

open
cut

off the The the did

went

finding the glans

no

eroded, I

it off too. and stiff, and

showed natural. discover make last

sign
He any

life;
in

body
an

continued hour done

pulse
not to

awoke

half
had

afterwards,
to

that

thing

been

him

till he

water.

Dec.

29th.
"

Mahes,
in

callous, and
To be there the
to to

it will

operated greatly advance

my

on

month.
to
on

The it

sore

is
"

his

cure

have

pared.
and who

mesmerised
met

absence.

I went

to

Chinsurah,

Rev.
see

Mr.
any

Cahusac,
mesmeric
we

and
cases

the in

Rev. hand. Mahes

Mr.

Mullins,

requested
with
me

They

returned I hour

the

hospital,and
and he did
not

found

entranced.
an

pared

the

sore,

awake

till

quarter of

132
afterwards.
he the had been
was

EXTRACTS

FROM

JOURNAL

Mr.

Mullins,
in

who his than

speaks Bengalee, asked

sleep.
before He he said
went

him and

i"
that

disturbed
not

"No;"
to

pain
We

greater
man

sleep.
had been
my

found for did

another

entranced,
I tried moved
to ; he

whose reduce

elbow

dislocated

twenty
not

days.
I had

it, using all

force, but
till ten had

succeed after

minutes

uneasily, but did not awake desisted, and then said that nothing

disturbed Dec. 26th. A

him. Goluck
young

"

Seit, a prisoner,has
Hindoo When subdued about
on one

got

hydrocele
in
saw

on

each

side.
on

him
to

to-day
I little
to

ten

utes, minhe and

the

first trial. consecrated value

operate,
his

that

possessed a knowing the

of

nail,
to

of

fingers ;

attached
a

this,
of

I resolved

it, if
as

possible, as
soon
me

moral
a

test

his

get possession being insensible, for he

eaten
a

would allowed It is
a

have
cut

cut

cow's

throat
in

and

beefsteak of his
senses.

as

to

off his

nail,while
with the had the

possession
to
vow

common

practice
to

Hindoos

their of

hair,

beards,
his Shiva shrine

or

nails and

Shiva,
man

Destroyer,
consecrated

in the his

anger;

this
"

hope averting little finger-nailto

a

Forakissore,
of the

Forakissore,
I transferred
remonstrance

in this district,being the sacred

excrescence

famous
to my

god.
any

being made, and then performed the less formidable operation of withdrawing the water, of which he knew and nothing, on throwing in the injection, His the loss of his only distress was awaking two hours after. in hunting for it, supposing that it had nail, and he spent hours been off by accident. broken
pocket,
Dec. and the

without

29th.
"

I entranced

Goluck

Seit
and
was

to-day

in five

minutes;
on

of Mr. Cahusac in the presence other he hydrocele, to which But before

Mr.
as

Mullins, operated
indifferent
as on

the the
ago
;

first occasion.

putting
the side

him

gentlemen
and

how

painful was
minutes

sleep, I showed operated on three days

to

yet, in
to

five

after, he hour, that

saw

allowed

me

to

squeeze

his

testicle
I awoke him

any him he

extent,
in half said that
no

without
an

exhibitinga
Mr. the
water
was

vestige of
gone, but

uneasiness.

Mullins

might

question
it had

; and

he

how

escaped
Dec.
tumour.

he

had

idea.
on

3Oth.
"

Bungsee, operated
wound,
is from his him

last month

for

scrotal

The

debilitated with
to
a

and

callous, and

wasting
his

would

greatly shorten

cure

pare

glazed useless discharge. It the sore, and bring it

condition,

is

OF

PRACTICAL

MESMERISM.

133

together
to

with it
to

deep
a

sutures; person in his

but

could it

hardly
would

bring
be makes
as

myself painful
surgery

propose the

senses,

as

as

capital
to

operation.
both

Mesmerism,
and

however,

pleasant pared
by
He
two

parties;
the inserted four
sutures
sore

having leisurely,
sutures,

easily (it
and
was

entranced six inches him

him,

and

shaped

very

long,

deep,)
after 2d.
"

the hours.

deep

left

sleeping.

awoke

Jan.
adherent This

The

were

taken

out

to-day,

and

the

sore

is

throughout.
power without of

remedying pain,

any

defect
not

in of

the the

operation
least

wards, after-

inflicting

is

one

advantages

of

Mesmerism.

CHAPTER

VIII.

Hypertrophy
endemic

of
in

the

Scrotum;
and

different
Lower

Causes

of.
"

Elephantiasis
Causes

Bengal

Egypt;
"

probable
from

of.
"

Example
Scrotum.
"

of

Malarious

Fever.

True

Elephantiasis

of

the dition Con-

Hypertrophy
the

from involved;

Hydrocele;
Mode Number in Some the the

Syphilis;

of
agemcnt
Six
Years

Organs
the

of operating;
Mesmeric

Mismaii-

by

Native
to
"

Doctors;

of Operations
Cause

for
late

previous
Months.
"

April, 1845;
Case.
"

Trance,

for Eight
Increase

First

for

the

of Cases.
disease that is

Operations
in
a

in

Mesmeric

Trance.

THIS

so

common

Bengal,
to

and

attains
which

such

magnitude,
be
seen

it deserves

chapter

itself, in
it is very and often the of

it will in

that
its
are

if Mesmerism

cannot

prevent,

effectual

assisting
tumours

removal.

These called is
a

singular,

prodigious
;" but,

generally
this in from
sores,

"elephantiasis of
misnomer,
many

scrotum not

correctly speaking,
their but

them

having
caused of

origin
arising

the

constitutional irritation and

affection

called

elephantiasis,
parts,
appearance characteristic

local
or

debility of the
and
are

by
the of

syphilitic
tumours

simple
of

hydrocele; patients

the

and

aspect

the
causes.

often

their
In

respective exciting
true

constitutional
and

elephantiasis the general cachexy

the local
excrescence.

disease
to

is
a

accompanied degree
as

with make this

seen

periodic fever,
it unsafe
to

such

to

remove

The it

disease,

in

shape,
in upper

is endemic

in and

Bengal
appears in

almost
to

exclusively,
its

being rarely
a

India,

have the

origin
are

in

hot, moist,
and of illthe
dition con-

malarious,
clothed. In

relaxing climate, Egypt

it.is also

which

poor

ill-fed the delta and

principally confined Bengal

of in
an

to

Nile, which
of dreadful and its

considerably people.
but of should

resembles
sources

in climate disease the abound

the here

Endemic

to

extent,

chiefly originate
the

ignorance,
and

ence, indifferlent benevo-

poverty

people
interfere

and
to

enlightened
its

government
in

prevent

subjects perishing
attention

their

ignorance,
of

by

enforcing
all

stringent

police regulations for

to

the

improvement
and

the

public health,
unnecessary

especially by

drainage
old

fillingup
offensive

pools
holes

of

water.

Ragged
a

tanks, and

pools

and

of

water,

form

chain

CAUSES

OF

ENDEMIC

ELEPHANTIASIS.

35

along
like
a

the

roadside, in

network
more

only
of

the

malarious
may

cottage
of which reckoned

and spread villages, the country ; their insulation over rendering them by making each an independent hotbed pestiferous, exhalations. The thing is so general, that every be said to be built over a putrefying pool, out green
near

and

all towns

and

the
a

mud

to

build

house

had Into

been this
:

taken,
all the

and

which

is and

domestic
of

convenience.
the houses

animal wallow

vegetable debris the people wash

used
saves

is thrown

the

pigs

in it,

their fish and and of

rice, and

bathe is

in it ; and

it is then

for the

cooking
trouble

drinking, as it going to the nearest

and every breathe hole

This
a

accumulation

of animal
renders

and conveniently near, large tank, or the river. der vegetable matter, festeringunthe whole pest pit, and The fects efperpetual infection.
a

tropical sun,
eat,
as are

population
climate, and
the

drink, and
as an

dreadful
among

might be anticipated in a debilitating ill-fed people, and are deeply written in

of the natives of the

personal

appearance

Ague,
and their

remittent cholera and

are

fever, spleen, rheumatism,

inherited

country. diarrhoea, dysentery,

with evidenced the
were

by

the

poor

people along
debility is

homes;

the

general
of

constitutional

by
and

the

diseases of elephantiasis, parasiticgrowths on the body. Ague and spleen diseases when in Scotland, fiftyyears every ago, incredible

frequency

skin,
demic en-

cottage
suffer

had
so

its "midden" much from energy them.

before miasmatic in

the

door

; and

if northern
can

nations

influences,we
every

terrible

Bengal, where
illustration
a am case

aid

readilyimagine their forded and appliance is af-

I shall
causes

give

an

of which

the

of

disease, from
which I

gravity of these occurred in my private lately

extreme

practice,and
the disease

disposed
i6th

to

regard

as

an

acute

form

of

which, in its chronic

the richest
men,

elephantiasis. On
one

shape, gives rise to constitutional May, 1845, I was requested to visit

here;
of and
on

of

the

Hindoo
women,
same

families and

going,
men cases
a

found ent differ-

eight persons,
degrees
same

children, labouring under

which In the
two

of had

the

disease, and

of the
the

party
were

died, shortly before.

hard half
worn
as

worst

feet

swollen, and
extended others
or were

in up
out

and elephantiasis, the with

brick-red

inflammation The
were one

way

leg, and fever,

The

was

still advancing. their bodies of

same cause

and

generally family and

were

partiallydropsical.
: no

party

consisted the

its attendants This

other
me

persons

livingin
some

house

affected.

led

to

suspect

local

136

CAUSES

OF

ENDEMIC

ELEPHANTIASIS.

of contamination,
of is
a

and

requested
this

to

be of

allowed the

to

view

the The

suite house

apartments

occupied by

part

family.

in which, as usual, all the family conpile, nections live. I could see nothing objectionable about the rooms inhabited dows, by my patients; but, on looking out of the back winI saw that the house rose a right over large,ragged, neglected covered with and and tank, filth, smelling vilely, green that this was the only part of the house situated. I then so examined brick from

large two-storied

below,
to out

and
a

perceived
narrow

that

the

water

was

led the

upon

platform
going
led from into

passage

in the

lower

story,
parts
this

to

save as

people
as

; numerous

lanes, the
different which In

sides

high

the and

house,
all lived

the the

tank
court

to

the

of the

house,

opened
in

around
rooms.

family exclusively
was a

small

ill-ventilated contrived the

short, it

most

genious in-

labyrinth,

for

receiving and
were

retaining all
thrown This
year,

the

mephitic
"exuviae"

vapours of
was

from

tank, into which

rather
to

all the it
so

this

happened,
all the

large family, or peculiarly adapted

clan.

tanks

in

for months,
this
was

this

development of malaria ; the district being dried up to the dregs ; so that, had been exhaling death among large putrid area
family.
The form

the

unfortunate

disease, I
of the
; the

therefore fever

concluded,
that

ends

only an aggravated in elephantiasis and

than disease.

malarious

usually

dropsy

being stage of elephantiasis

the or peculiarity, to their probability of
not

acute only more severity of the

usual, from
there

constitutional

Being questioned as
was

of recovery,

I said, that
at

them,

and

this

moment

hope, except for one (ist Dec.,) one only is alive,but

tumours

little

recovered.
The in the dense
true

scrotal "elephantiasis" cells of the

are

rind, the
fibrinous the skin

cellular makes the

membrane and is
cut

excessivelydense being filled with

like half-tanned studded with

deposit,that

it look
mass

hide;

is black, and

usually
skin and fist.

tubercles. The this

arm,

disease in ended

sometimes
one

only
was

attacks
as

the

of the thick An

penis ;
as a

and

organ,

instance,
a

long
a

man's
was

and down

in

wart

bigger
from tube the

than the

incision

made

upon

the

penis
that in

symphysis
of the

pubis;
it will

and

having
the
be found

freed

it,the diseased
I believe

was

struck

off where

joined
always
quently fre-

scrotum.

body

penis
the

unchanged
unaltered, but

and
very

situ, in this disease;

testes
common

variously situated,and
allows time

with
save

expedition, the

bleeding

enough

to

all

the

MODE

OF

OPERATING

ON

SCROTAL

ELEPHANTIASIS.

137
ate of modertion castraor

if it is organs, dimensions. is

thought expedient
Even the when the

to

do

so,
are

in tumours

testes

enlarged, and

performed,
case)
be
; and

activity increased
in
one

spermatic vessels have not their calibre them at (in proof of this, I did not secure in general the arterial bleeding is moderate,
low is
as

all
as

might
The

expected in a disease of a of operating I adopt mode

organisation.
follows
:
"

The

penis
found

ing be-

always in situ, as has been said, running a bistoury from the opening
may very

it is
in
a

immediately
prepuce,

by
it is
a

the

wherever cache up

be,

up

to

the

symphysis pubis, and

for the this is and

long

blstouri it is

convenient the

instrument

purpose;

pushed
by
one

till
ward out-

it reaches
cut.

pubes,
from

penis
across

exposed
of

at

once a

The

penis
found

is then

easily freed,
each
testes

and the

semi-lunar

cision in-

carried these
are

its root
; and

spermatic cords;
to

easily they are

are

if the

prove

be

worth

reflected
on

back,

the the

incision
mass

is extended

serving, predown
; if

to

the

perineum
and

both

sides, and

rapidly removed
together.
This for suffices

the testes is

diseased, the whole

is removed continued

plan
ing findhas and mode the

simple
the

expeditious :
and of

one

wound

testes,

the
water

advantage
secure

freely,and

the wound and removing the tumour; being a gaping one, discharging the blood to see permitting one clearly. By this often adhere in four

always
support

flaps, which
; and
even

days by

first intention
to

if the

and

defend The

they partiallyslough, enough is left to some testes, as they adhere part of

often adhere
to

the

covering.
which
natives of

testes

the

fundus

of

the

tumour, the

vexatious

complication
with

is

generally
actual
; but

caused in

by
the

hope
only
are

deep escars discussing the swelling by suppuration

making
the disease. In
a

the

cautery,
the

irritation cords

accelerates

these foot

cases

the

spermatic

greatly elongated, perhaps

testes,
and
must
run

the

great risk of
In
never

natural

support.

my

long; and they, as well as ing coversloughing without any the when experience, even
them the

fail flapspartially
are a

(I

have
to

seen

do

so

entirely,)they
which the

great comfort
and
testes

the

patient by
or

adhesions

cords

form six

in two

three
to

days.

During
on

the
cases;

years in

previous
the last trance,

eleven in

and

April, 1845, I nao! operated eight months, since I began to

I have

operate
tumours,
to

the

mesmeric in all and

removed
a

seventeen

making

twenty-eight,varying from
there has
not

few
case

pounds
among

eighty pounds;

been

fatal

them.

138
The results All One Both All the
are
"

MESMERIC

OPERATIONS

ON

parts saved

in
-----

13 6 8

testis sacrificed

removed

....

28

Of

the
were

seventeen

operations

in

the

mesmeric before
a

trance

three

only
was

awaking imperfect, the persons finished ; this imperfect sensibility was

gave
an

the

operation
comfort
to

great

the patient,and first case, and

"

great facilities to
of this him
:
"

the

operator.
first time
scrotum to

Here

is my

example
Bachoo.
has
a

April 23d.
o'clock is twice his
arms

Saw

for the

to-day, at
; the tumour

1 1

A.

M.

he

got hypertrophy of the

man's head. I put him

the

size of

sleep,and
not

made

him

in three quarters of an hour. cataleptic disturbed, but did Pricking and inhaling ammonia proceeded to operate, but he awoke ; I therefore the
prepuce.

awake
I had

after

slit up him

Upon
has
to

this

I desisted, and be mesmerised mesmerised it does I

not

will

try

to

cate edu-

into

insensibility. To
"

daily.
daily, since
awake the

April 27th.

He

been

easily
to

23d
to

; is not

insensible
no more

pricking,but
time him. the

him, and

I could the

afford end and

of the bent in this

table ; allowed his

tumour

pulled him to hang

feet
on

by
down

the

legs
the

ported, unsup-

knees, putting
he

his

the for

edge
half
an

of

table; and
without

moving.
case

painful attitude His legs and arms

awake,
awake and
not

remained
were

hour,

then

of, in

he

should
did

the

tumour

properly disposed quickly removed ; the

I
was

first incisions

him,

but

before

done

he

was

completely
Since kind and
sorrue

roused. I have had in the for the I

every

then take than

month

more

operations of
in
a

this
year,

than
more reason :

place
I had for

native six

hospital in Calcutta previous. There years

see

must

be

this, and

only

two

ways say

of
to
man

accounting
their the and friends doctor
I made Do go

for it

my

patients,on
He that the
cut
me

returning home,
brother, what
to not

either
a

similarly afflicted,"Wah!
Sahib
him and and
is !

soft

pieces

for

twenty
a

minutes,

believe

I did
same

feel it.

Isn't it

capital joke?
in your
to

play
you
"

him

trick ; you

have Or

only to laugh
they
say my

elbow,
ferers, suf-

will not "Look

feel the
at
me

pain."

their brother
20,

; I have

got rid of

burthen, (of

30,

SCROTAL

ELEPHANTIASIS.

139 restored
:

40,

50,

60,

or can

80 Ibs.,as

it may

be,) am
bread

to

the

use

of my
you,

body, and
doctor
it ;
"

again
did when

work I

for my
was

this, I
I knew

assure

the

Sahib

asleep, and
say

nothing about
you
to

you

will be

equally lucky, I dare

not

; and

I advise Which

go

and

try; you

need

be

cut

if you

feel it."

of

these

selves. hypotheses best explains the fact my readers will decide for themIt ought to be added, that most of these were persons
not

paupers, inducement

but short
any

people in comfortable
of

circumstances,

whom

no a are

charity, or
aware

other

painless operations could tempt to enter all who the natives know hospital ; and only
three
out

of this. I have the said that of the

not seventeen

awoke whole

fore beteen four-

finished operation was cases completely successful of the last. I

was

; I will
on

inflict the

the

reader, but

only present

some

Sept.
to
a

2d.
a

"

stopped
to
see a

on

the

road

to-day, and
on was

requested
from

go

into

temple
man

sick

Fuqueer;
he of

entering I found nearly blind

healthy-looking
and had he

of
a

sixty, but
tumour to
remove.

cataracts,

scrotal
me

weight, which
no

begged
said Dr.

thirty pounds' I examined it,but gave

it; I then
went
on

about

opinion, and
to
see

I would

consider

of

to to to

Chinsurah,
whom show the cook him

Ross, (in charge of the troops

chose
to return

there,)
try
in

I said, that
a

if he

with

me,

I would and

mesmeric
we

operation.
carried of
my

He

consented,
us

passing
set

Fuqueer's house
of the in half and

him

with

to

the

hospital. The
was

one hospital, an

best him

mesmerisers,
insensible.
we

upon

him, and
man's
while age
to

hour

made

Considering
not

the

the
to

size of the
save man was

tumour,

did

think
was

it worth

attempt

the testes, and

never

the

operation
and did
to

therefore
awake he till
was

speedily done.
after the covered
up,

The

moved,

not

last artery and He

tied. if he then
to

Seeing
had desired
to

him

about

awake,
show

asked
was

been

said, "No."
tumour, his hands
on as

way any sit up, and so,

disturbed
me

; he

the

I wished under

examine
mass

it; he did
as

and

actually put
of
ment, amaze-

it,to raise the

usual
not to

; his

look

missing it,was published

assisted
me.
an

something
account

be

easily forgotten.
operations in

Dr.
which

Ross he

of

this

and

other

Oct

22d.
on

"

Muffer the the third

Dass,

peasant, aged 40.

He

was

made

insensible

day

of

mesmerising; Wauchope,

and the

in the

presence

of

Mr.

Reid,

collector,Mr.

magistrate, and

I4O

OPERATIONS

DURING

Mr.

Bennett, superintendent

of

Excise,
the
man

removed

tumour

weighing

eight pounds,
operation
I it
was was

without

being disturbed;
the
testes

though al-

the

tedious, from
in all over,
on

having
organs;

tracted con-

adhesions. awoke
soon

succeeded

saving
he

all
no

the

he
was

after
to
"

said

felt

pain,

and

quite ready
Oct.
has

be

operated

now.

25th.
a

Gooroochuan

Shah,
which

shop-keeper, aged
prevents
hint from

40.

He

moving; its great weight, and his having used it for a writing-desk for has pressed it into its present shape. His pulse is many years,
got weak,
to
a

"monster

tumour,"

and

his feet cedematous, its removal He

was

which such
on

will make
an

it very

hazardous

attempt
burthen. and

; but

with

appendage
fourth
to
men

life is of

literally
bed the

became drawn of

insensible with the

the

day
end then

ising, mesmer-

mattress

the

of the
held up

(my
tumour

usual in
a

mode

proceedings:) two at sheet, pulling it forward

Mr. his

the it

same a

time, and, in
circular

the

presence

of

Bennett,

I removed The

by

incision,
blood the with blood

expedition being
great, but last vessel, the
was

only safety.
was

rush
;

of

venous

fortunately soon
mattress at

arrested

and, after tying

upon

again pulled
he

back

the loss

bed of

him had and said that

upon

it, and
so

this moment he

awoke.

The
a

been

great that
a

immediately
to
remove was

fell into him. On

fainting state,

it took that he

good
had

while the

awoke

while

mattress

nothing
and

disturbed

him.

The

recovering he being pulled back, and tumour weighed eighty

pounds, body.
hurried had have

from the human probably the largest ever removed that if the circulation I think it extremely likely had been the system to by pain and struggling, or if the shock increased
to

is

been bled

by bodily
or never

and have

mental rallied

anguish,
from
was a

the

man

would of
to

death,

the

effects had he

the
tend conmounted sur-

operation. But the sudden against; and, though

this, and
Dec. the wound Oct.
a

loss in
so

of blood
weak well.
to

all he

condition,
his

has

gone

on

very

ist.

"

Has

been

allowed

go

home of

at

own

request

is

filling up
Rammahun He

slowly, for
Sunokur,

want
a

integument.
44,

27th.
"

jeweller, aged
on

has and and T

got
moved re-

large

tumour.

became in the
was

insensible presence of

the

fifth

day,

the Bennett. cicatrices them.

not

tumour

Mr.

Wauchope
the
testes

Mr.
to

The from

bleeding
the middle

violent, and
I
was

adherent
to

burnings:

therefore

obliged
he
gave over,
a

sacrifice but did

About awake

of the

operation
after it
was

cry,

tiljtwenty

minutes

and

then

said,

SCROTAL

ELEPHANTIASIS.

l4t

that he
he
was

wanted

something

to

eat,

as

he

felt empty. any allowed

to

He way;
to

said that

that he

had
now

disturbed not slept well, and was ready to be cut, but begged to be The
mass

in

ner get his dinwhich he

first.

of

flesh

was

now

shown

him,

the gods, and said it would recognised with amazement ; thanked weigh twenty-four pounds, probably, it weighed thirtypounds.
"

Nov.
a

2d.

"

Gobinchunder
man,

Lane, aged
is afflicted with when with I
a

32,

shop-keeper, and
same

very

fine handsome three o'clock

man

the

disease.

At

yesterday,
had
come

passing
tumour,
to went

the

hospital, I
my

was

told that another

since
see

morning
found been
at ten

visit, and
him

had
a

been fit state hours

entranced.
to
"

him,
he

and had

still in for

be be

operated
mesmerised

on,

although
again

asleep
o'clock. Nov.

four

to

tomorrow

3d.
the tried

The

operation
of the
was

was

performed
Mr. and

to-day,
and
man

at

twelve
nett. Ben-

o'clock, in the
As

presence

Rev.

Bradbury,
the the

Mr.

bleeding
to
save

moderate,
parts,
were a

perfectly
adhered

passive, I
to

all the which

:

although

testes

the sides

of the tumour, all

was over

minutes
organs

before
were

not

It was very thick. twenty of life and the sign appeared,

all saved.

Before

commencing,
it
never

put

his

arm

erect
was

in

the

air

as

an

"oudanometer.-" end
as

even

trembled,
to be

quite
He

stiff at awoke !" the

the

of the the

operation,
was

and

had

taken

down.

mattress

readjusted,and
he that he

said, "It is done

me

just Being
ple peo-

asked

how all

he

knew,

said, by seeing
had

bloody,
felt

and

standing round, but The little pain now. excrescence

Nov.
tumour

nothing, and had weighed twenty-fivepounds.

coolie, aged 50, has
He
was a

i6th. of time

"

Ameer

Mullick,
in

large
the and

twenty

years' growth.
the out, and
account

mesmerised Mr.

for

second Dr.

to-day, and,
on

presence

of

S. Palmer,
The but then he

Scott, I dissected
was

saved of old

all the

organs.

tion opera-

tedious,
till had
some

adhesions;

did

not

awake

time

after him.

it

was

finished, and
mass

said, that

nothing
Nov.

disturbed

The

weighed thirty pounds.

a

i8th.

"

Bungsee,

peasant, aged 55, has

when
on

tumour

which
for

weighed
nine

twenty-eight pounds,
He
was

cut

off, and

has

existed

years.

entranced

the second

it in the presence

of Mr.

Russell, Judge of
Dr.

day, and I removed Hooghly, Major Smith,

the En-

H.

M.'s

9th Regiment,

Scott, and

Captain Smythe, of

142

THE

MESMERIC

TRAtfCE".

ginecrs. atrophied
man never

I found and

all the

organs,
were a

and

showed therefore

that the

testes

were

useless; they
or

sacrificed, and
minutes

the after
to

moved,

showed then

sign

of

till ten life, he

was

the

operation, and

he

said, that

quite ready
to

be

operated upon. In concluding

that I have
seen

this
no

practical part
consequences

of the

subject, I beg
ensue

state,
sons percurred oc-

bad
on

whatever
trance.

from have the

being operated
in

in the
was

Mesmeric

Cases
to

which the

no

pain

felt,even

subsequent

tion, operarest

and I have

wounds
no

healed

by
of

the
any

first intention

; and

in the
to

seen

indication On the

injurious consequences
it appears disturbance
to
me

the been than

constitution.

contrary,

to

have

saved, and
under In

that

less constitutional

has

followed

ordinary circumstances.
my

early operations, I availed myself of the first fit of I could not command it back at knowing whether insensibility, the when and is the first coma deep enough on pleasure ; occasion, be taken advantage it is probably best for the patient that it should
of,
as

the
never

fewer
to

liberties do
more

we

take

with

Nature But

the

better, the rule

trance

being being
take

than

enough.
surgeon
may

if the

is not
on

profound
so

the

first time, the

safely calculate
is
I

its
to

operating in public, it the precaution of a preliminary trance two. or of the limbs, till moved, said, that flexibility
rigid in
any

the next,

and, when

prudent
have their

ready almaining re-

and

position
there
are

we

leave

them

in,

is characteristic
are

equally It sometimes happens that diagnosticand to be depended upon. become the limbs rigid as they lie,and, on bending them, they of catalepsy, in the first kind but not as are passive and plastic, tend towards extension of the the muscles a spasmodic always of the whole limbs : at other times, there is a complete relaxation and legs can be tossed about out withmuscular system, and the arms The are just dead. resistance, like those of a person eyes
trance:

of

the

but

exceptions, and

these

usually closed, but

or

the and

eyelids are
tremulous
;

sometimes and
one

seen

a even

half the be

open

the eye
occasion,
two
:

is

little rated, sepawide open, ordered

was

fixed, and
a man

pupil

dilated.

On

having
to

to

entranced,
that he
open eyes,
was

I returned
not

in

hours, and

told found

by
him I

my

assistant with half

affected

I went

see, and

and quivering eye-lids,

man \vas on

trembling hands.

immediately

said

the

condition

farther, performed

ready, and, without testing his him a tedious,but painless, tion. opera-

OPERATIONS

DURING

THE

MESMERIC

TRANCE.

143
of

I also wish of blood

were

to
on

remark,
the

that

I have

seen

no

indication
my

gestion con-

brain; the circulation,while

like that of the
to to

in

the I

trance,

being natural,
appear

Those
of the

operate

upon

mesmeric

influence

escape altogether,and this I

am

patients a sleeping person. stimulating stage

at to
once

pass

from
to

life to the

temporary

death;

and

disposed
in which time

attribute power the

concentrated
as soon as

uninterrupted
the first

manner

the
to

is

applied ;
to

it is felt,there

is

no

given

system
a

rally round
to

impression, and
influence. vision the of is their from

it succumbs,

without

struggle,

the

constraining
that arise

Some

patients, when
their heads bility sensiat
once

suddenly awoke, say but I take this to light,

of the
roused is
seen

hazy, and
which
are

imperfectlyrecovered
not

brain the

and full

organs

sense,

up

to

possession of

their from

in persons the mesmeric

suddenly aroused
torpor of the
first actions
open

waking powers ; just as profound natural sleep.

and brain does
not

That from

nerves

arise

sanguine

congestion, is often
the of
eyes

strikingly and

beautifully
awoke from
moment

illustrated the
trance.

by

persons

suddenly
at

They
are

their

wide, and
seen

the

same

their
and

faculties insensible

restored, but
: light

it is

to

this

they
are

also
open,

of ; but

they know
do
not.

that their eyes The

pupil is dilated, aware immediately become and that they ought to see,
that
a

the

with horror, and, with thought cry, they bury their faces in their hands, like persons blind by lightning; but this soon off, and the retina passes its sensibility, by a little rubbing of the eyes.
to any person still talk quarter, and

fills them

ful fear-

struck
ers recov-

For

see

this, or

even

hear
to

of

it from

credible
an

of

imposture, is
and

convict be

himiself of

incurable

moral

blindness, which
see." shock
a

it would
"

follyto attempt
are

to
as

dissipateby experiment
those who won't dreadful
or

reasoning:
to

"none

so

blind

The

given
among

the

mind

under and finds

such

stances, circumhaps perhave

very

when

somnambulist

awakens

himself I be

often

standing made,) is
and

naked
a

strangers
nerves, to

(an experiment
which it would

trial of the
to

imprudent,
much

unsafe,
as

beings
for
the irritable
to

my

nerves

passive subject any but such singularly impatients: sometimes, however, it is too In highly nervous and of a cooly even.
"

constitutions
and

the

effects
not

might
dare

be

most

disastrous such

both

mind

body

and

I would

to take

liberties with

European

temperaments.
of

This, and
"Mesmeric

inducing

the

veniences dangers and inconDisease," by practisingon the

144

OPERATIONS

DURING

THE

MESMERIC

TRANCE.

the
to

system
me

more

than

is

necessary
to

for
be avoided

the in

cure

of
use

disease,
of

appear

to

be

the

real

dangers

the

Mesmerism

as

remedy.
I
am

now

able

to

say

from
to

experience,
the
easy

that of

debility
the

of

the

nervous

system
;

predisposes
I I argue

reception
the

mesmeric of air mission, subthat

influence

and

favourably
in him

of the

patient's

powers listless

when characterises As I

recognise

languid,
nerves.

functional have
in

debility attempted,

of
and

the

never

never

will from

attempt,
my
are own

to

merise mes-

people
as

health,
mesmeric

cannot

speak
;

ence experi-

to

their

sensibility
persons in this. she

but health

we

assured be

by

the and had

best

authorities

that

many
to

can

subdued,
Mrs.

my
not

experiments
a

go
even

support
when and ;

My

patient
in

toothache her for the

was

mesmerised,
others

order from

to

pare presome

dentist that did

many

suffered

only
the
powers

local The

complaint,
fact is

not

apparently
;
as

impair
and is

of

life. the

sufficiently
to

established

experimenting only
undermining
The
artificial
to

on

healthy
constitutions
is
not
so

ought

be

discouraged,
no

it

healthy
disease reckoned of

for

possible
or

advantage.
a

transitory
Mesmerisers,

light
who

matter

as

it

seems

be

by
every

many
one

go
on.

about In been

upsetting
proof
of this

the I the much

nerves

they
after

can

lay

hands have have

may

tion, men-

that
two

prisoners
I

working
them still
as

on

roads under

for

or

three

months,
as ever.

found

my

command It is

proper for fun

that should

ladies know

and

gentlemen
this
;

who then

beg

to

be

merised mes-

and

they

will

probably

choose

some

other

kind

of

amusement.

CHAPTER

IX.

Curiosities

of
"

Mesmerism.

"

Unsatisfactory
one.
"

Nature

of Public
of
can

hibitions. Exa

Apology
in
at

for giving
which
the

Account l;luid Is absorbed

it

by
be

itor. Vismitted. trans"

"

The
"

Modes // acts

Mesmeric
"

great
a

Distances.
"

by

Water.

Can

pass

through

Wall.

Final

Experiments.

MY examination eschew minds interest.

original
of all but

intention the the medical

was

to

confine of

myself
and

strictly to
and open of
to

an

pretentions
at
new

Mesmerism,
thus the

to

practical part reception

I
was,

present,

the selfthe but

of

men

to

of

truths,
means,

by
of

key

Not and
saw more

that

by

any

indifferent
the

philosophic
because
even,
not
were

extra-professional bearings
that than the the gross and

subject,
and I

palpable

bodily
till the

phenomena,
did had

public
facts
not

stomach

could

bear,

intend
my

to

serve

up
course

all my of

mesmeric that

stores,
cannot

public

digested
But

first

be

denied.

accident, if
and been

it does
my

determine,
recontre

generally
with

shapes
out

our

actions;
I have

(as

in

accidental the force

somnambulism)
of the

driven,

by
has

of

circumstances,
resolved
to to

prudent
But
to

mesmeric
as

course,

which
not

I had

follow.

the

"utile"

been

sacrificed reader

the for

"dulce,"

I
a

hope
ter chap-

be
to

pardoned
the

by
the

the

stern

utilitarian

devoting
for I and in

"Curiosities

of
to

Mesmerism."
of truth

Knowing
a

worthlesness the

public
of

exhibitions

effecting
was

general
to to

conversion

Mesmerism,

very

averse

subject
made
a

it to

this

unsatisfactory ordeal,
of. All

determined
are

not

be

showman
to

performers
from

public
in

.not

unnaturally suspected
of
to

take

insurances
on

Art,

the

event

Nature be
more

failing them
indispensable

; success

such

occasions this

being thought
natural distrust has

than

truth. careful

Besides and

of
not

public displays, the

the necessary
a means

really

intelligentobserver
to

o-f close and "all the

mere

inspection, required sight-seer

because of
in
state

convince

him and

beyond
declares

doubt,
it to But be in

is

only bewildered, beyond

it is his
as prehension. com-

humbug,"
the

all

our

present
to

ignorance
any

absurd

to

pretend
Nature,

to

set
as

limits it

possible
be for

unexplored
inhabitants

regions
of
an

of

would

the

MS

146
ant-hill
in the

CURIOSITIES

OF

MESMERISM^

against
I had acted
my

plains of the possible

considerable mesmeric

Bengal
existence

to

decide the

tively authorita-

of

Himalayahs.

with

confining

public

months, in consistency for some experiments to purely professional excited, and

to
an

subjects; but a very general curiositywas a length requested, from high quarter,
inhabitants "Seance." of This and Government-House I could with have said bare

was

at

gratify some
especial
without I shunned

of

the

mesmeric

hardly
have would been

refused that

appearing
the

churlish;
because

it would

light,

the most to a necessary evil,and make thought of it,by converting an exclusive party into as general and promiscuous It therefore was a meeting as possible. pretty generally that all the curious made be known, gratifiedfor the first might the 29th of July. Accordingly on and last time on that day I of meeting a large assemblage of Europeans and had the honour natives at my hospitals! and as a letter appeared in the newspapers of all that was the day after, giving an done and account to give a correct generally allowed seen, I here insert it,as it was
account

proceedings my it best to submit

not

inspection.

I therefore

of
some

all that

happened,
on.

and Six

mentions medical
men

the

points

I wish

to

make and

observations of them
to

were

of the

party,
of the

one

publicly acknowledged
newspapers.

the

faithfulness

report

sent

the

PUBLIC

DISPLAY

OF

MESMERISM

AT

HOOGHLY.

To

the

Editor

of
of

the

Englishman.
in

"Sir,
"

I esteem

myself fortunate

having
it is the

been

an

exhibition

of the powers

Mesmerism,

given by

Dr.

present at Esdaile,

last opportunity as yesterday,to satisfypublic curiosity, Dr. E. having for this once to occur, of the kind likely sented only, confor mesmerise to non-professionalpurposes. "The steamers two having brought party was very numerous,

the

curious

from

Barrackpore
of
the

and

Calcutta;
and

and

there

was

large
"The the what
room

assemblage
and

European
to
one
was

Native

residents

of

Hooghly

Chinsurah.
first went crowded for

hospital we
too

unfortunately small,
see

and

much
me

to

all that I

was as

done

; but

escaped
that the

will be

supplied by others,

hope,
be

it is desirable

all the

proceedings of the day

should

clearly laid
beds,
no

before

public. extended "On two men entering the hospital,we saw with their native mesmerisers hanging over them ; but

on

I had

CURIOSITIES

OF

MESMERISM.

147

time

to

examine said

their process,
that these
extent two
men

as

Dr.
were

Esdaile
now

proceedd
under the

to

ness. busi-

He

mesmeric

influence, to what
be be

he

did

not

know do
so,

; that

operated
insensible. "The

on,

and

that

he

would

if

they required to found to they were

first
so

man

awoke
not

name

he

would
was

thought
what
sure was

in

being pulled, and called upon by The do. the Doctor other, an elderlyman, favourable and he state, immediately did
on

needful it
was

; it is needless

to

say

what, but
first cuts
out

every
not

one seem

was

that the

very

painful.
awoke,
a

The

did

to

annoy
was

man,

but

he
was

and

cried

before

the

operation

finished,which
was

couple of minutes

meriser
on

desired

to

continue

I suppose. The meshis efforts, and I saw him breathe

the pit of time on place both hands at the same in restorthe stomach succeeded ing ; Dr. E. explaining that he often the trance, although broken to this degree. And sure enough in a few minutes, the man became perfectlysenseless, to all appearance, and every allowed examine and to was body experiment the

head, and

upon

him
were

for the several

whole

time

we men

remained

here

; and

as

I believe tions, observa-

there

medical

present,

making

active

with the results of their us hope that they will favour now investigation.We were agreebly surprised by the apparition of two his had to give them lady philosophers,and the Doctor offer they will not them receive attention, and certainlymade an choose whether to they would day, for he begged them every made senseless or by mesmeric water, prefer to see a woman declared for, and the woman's through the wall. The wall was her bed. face turned to it sitting upon I "The
some

Doctor
to

disappeared, and
see:

what the

he

did, I know
woman
soon

not, but
to
a

went

whatever
on no

it was, her

nod, and
strange
Dr. about that E.

then
way,

fell down and she

bed, her
to

began eyelidstwinkling in
what
was

paid
from and

attention

said

to

her. for

now

returned

his ambuscade,

having been
mesmeric

absent

five this
was

minutes,
very
seen

pointing
woman

to

the the

quivering eyelids,said,
state, her
restore eyes, eyes

characteristic this

of

and

that

it would his she

be

that

could
in her
to

not

open
to

without
senses,

assistance.
was

After

blowing
then the

eyes open
as

her and

desired, and
so

ordered,

her if

strained

to do violently

; but

and

she

could

not

farther, pulled the

Dr. E.
now

gummed together, She then, on being urged still separate them. lids asunder, but they instantly closed again. eyelidslooked
her
eyes,

rubbed

and

blew

into

them,

and

she

imme-

148

CURIOSITIES

OF

MESMERISM.

diately awoke, but in a delirious state, and arose and staggering about in a singular manner taken back to bed, she fell into a deep sleep,which
four
or

to

walk,
on

tering mut-

; and

being

usually lasted
that
rare

five hours,
were us as

we

were

told.

"We
now a

next

addressed the mesmeric

by
but

Dr.

E., who
was

said
so

he and

would

show

that
was

power
a

not

lar singu-

gift
be

imagined,
by
to to most

general
took would
across

law the desire

of

Nature, which

might
of

evolved

people who
this, he
a woman

trouble; and
assistants

prove

necessary of one
room,
a

degree
his pital hosdistance her
at

mesmerise think.
a

the
was

of

thirty feet, I
to

should

The
man a

woman

placed with
before acted she
; she

back

the end first

wall, and
of the
woman

the other like the side could

man

room.

young In
eyes

placed himself
short time
to twinkle
a

her,

very

exactly
from
one

; her

began
in

swayed
which
no

to

side, and
awake her
"

then
not

fell down
even

trance,

from

the
upon

doctors, who
before of

again examined
no one

the
ceeded, suc-

who I "We

had

been

operated requested
for the there

leaving,and
sensibility.

believe,in extracting a sign

now

were

to

go

to another

hospital,where
it to be for the
"

there

was

more

space

company.
was

We

found

Jail

Hospital,
party
"Dr. E.

where

ample

accommodation

all, the
ing strikinfluence

having tailed off considerably.

said the felt. that he would distance
was

attempt
at

to

show,
the made
sat

in

more

manner,

great
man

which

mesmeric
to

could with
at

be

A
to

brought in, and

the which Doctor
room,

sit

on

the floor

his back other

to

the

wall, and

down

the

end

of the
feet

I afterwards

opposite him measured, and

the effects of

found "We this

be all

eighty

long.
at

congregated 'Long Range,' and I

Doctor had

the

other
some

end

to

watch

heard

good jokes
however,
man,

cut, about

ing keephe
tended, ex-

out

of the line of fire,and

the

danger of the gun

his his

bursting,"c.
as

"The

proved
aim
across

his gun,
at

I suppose,

coolly and
and I could

steadilytook
moving
them

keeping his hands

from
ten

face, and
for
a

head

to

foot. and I

distinguish no he became impatient, imagine through an opera the effects, I presume.

and
to

sensible
as

effects he took

minutes,
at

look
to

his

opponent

glass, and
The

then
man

desired

him

rise, to judge of
great

obeyed
look cried
out

with his
us

difficulty,
him

his tormentor, be satisfied with

taking
not to

another
as

through
to

glass,appeared
to

his work,

he

prevent
bid

from

falling, and
had

unnecessarily; for
be

the

patient
now

trembled
us

and violently,

supported.

The

operator

CURIOSITIES

OF

MESMERISM.

149

move

left
now
now

positionthey were if we him entranced, and being asked might in, declared do what called ! he out touch 'Oh, yes himv you please.' He hands fell into the Doctors' principally, and I hope they
his arms, and

seeing them

remain

in any

"

will the
no

report
man was

the

results

of

their

criticism. and his limbs

I saw,

however,

that that

quite insensible,
excite his

cataleptic; and
sat

one

could
at

attention.

Dr.

Esdaile

all this time

alone,
his had

the

other

end

of the room,
and could

glass,the
extracted Dr. E.

mischief

apparently enjoying, through After we perplexity he had created.

of this mesmeric

all

we

out

condition

of the

body,
half

gree dejoined us, and set about restoring him to some of sensibility He now by rubbing and blowing in his eyes. the Doctor when led, into the opened his eyes, and followed

middle be

of the

room;

but

like

drunken E. said with the

man,

and

care now

had
vert con-

to

taken, lest he
him into and
an

should

fall. Dr.

that he would

imitating machine,
his orders, without

only

sense

to

hear
;

obey

power

of

enough left answering questions

cleared
up

reflection
a

being quite dormant.

and

Having
attention

his the

brain

little more, several do what

attracted

his

by repeating

key
most

note to

times, the
the Doctor

dered orperformance proceeded. He was did, and certainlyobeyed his orders on

exactly, throwing
of the
a

himself,
and the

the

instant, into
manner

every in

tude atti-

mesmerist,
omnibus in
a more

very

scientific credit
to

which

he

took

landsman's

did great 'sight' cad could take the

his

astronomical
an

powers passenger

; no

longitude of
His the side 'wide mode

obnoxious of

artist-like his first

manner.

cocking
was some

his eye also

and

of

applying
and time.
next

digitto
he

of his

nose,
as

much

admired,
all the instructor

proved
ordered

that

was

awake,'

thought,
"His which "He the

him

to

repeat whatever
order.

he

said,

pupil obeyed by repeating

showed himself
to

the

loyal British and hearty manner in which he repeated, subject, by the animated of England,' and 'Ye Mariners the King.' This 'God save sang, here followed by "Hey diddle diddle,' in capitalstyle. And was
now

be

patriotic and

curious

incident

occurred which the

the

spectators
himself.'

could in full

not

restrain and Dr.

their
some

laughter, in
said, 'He

singer joined

chorus,
which

can't his

help laughing

Upon
that
was

Esdaile

stopped

labouring under a the fact being that

who
was

performance, and pointed out mistake who supposed that he he was only imitating them, or
and

they were laughing;

Dr.

rather
must

E.,

laughing 'Gorge deploye?

this, I think,

have

I5O
evident
; for

CURIOSITIES

OF

MESMERISM.

been

to
on

all.

But

the

farce

was

nearly

converted

into

tragedy

the natives how to show being fightwith sticks, be began very skilfully bending forward to make a ; but on foremost into Dr. E.'s breast, and blow, he pitched head both the floor. rolled upon This actor's powers were clearlyexhausted, he "It interview of the
was
was

ordered

and

left in intimated
; or

an

intense that the

trance next

on

the

floor. be

scene

would

'A

Mesmeric side
one

the and

dangerous
two
men

effect
were

of

getting on
in, and
then with
were

the wrong

wall;'
corner

brought
lads remained

placed
us.

in
to

each work I
was

of

the

room.

Two who

despatched
This

the

will of the
to

magician,
both the
two

time,
the

resolved
room,

see saw

sides

of the

wall, and

going into

adjacent
extended desired
men

against the
under
to

heads youths standing with their foreand holding their hands wall, opposite the men, their mouths.
on

In

five the

minutes,

the

lads I
saw

were

desist, and
been turned with Dr.

returning to
and
were

large

room,

the

had their

round,
their E.
was

in

corners

arms no

standing perfectlyrigid crucified against the wall, and

concerned than I I
a

in this transaction Doctors

more

was.

The wards afterbut

took

again took possession of the victims, and an opportunity of taking a pull,and giving than the rest. more nothing by my motion any
entertainer be the that then

had

pinch,

"Our
would He be
not

proclaimed
or

that

the

concluding piece
eau

sleeping water,
when
not
we saw

the

'veritable

merveillcuse' that he
as

said

its effects, he in

hoped
it he
was

would it
was

for justified fit for the the

showing
to

public
but

how that

made,
be and and in
a

public
for

know,

would

happy
two

-to

explain
To
were

process

the

purposes
two

of medicine

philosophy.
tors, Docutes min-

guard

against all imposition,

deputed
to
see

Clergymen,
charmed,
and

the

water

few

carrying a gallipot in his of which to all appearance, water) hands, the contents (certainly, he administered who to eight men were brought from the hospital. bold "This was a scarcely undertaking, for the people were cuffed and kicked before lie down to cifully, unmerthey were permitted their of of the making a vigorous use many company understanding in this way. few minutes "A comparative quiet having been procured to
half-a-dozen lads

entered,

each

some

of the sleeping candidates,

found
to

the

result several

was,
were

that

four

out

of into

eight were
"I

be

and cataleptic,

converted

somnambulists. have thus endeavoured

to

give

an

account

of

what

was

CURIOSITIES

OF

MESMERISM.

151

done
must

and
have

seen

by all ; but escaped me,

awake,
and

in and

so

large
each

field of

observation,

much

distinctive
to

and

characteristic

will have person The medical to narrate. themselves their will

something
men

seemed

be if

wide

availed up

of

the

opportunity;
no

and

they have not subjects. Trusting

which I cannot "I

made that

minds,

it is for

want

of

they

give

the

professional details,

supply,
am

your

obedient

servant, "A

MESMERIC

VISITOR.

"Calcutta, 30th July, 1845."

It is not mesmeric it retard the

merely
can

matter

of

to curiosity

ascertain

whether
to

the tance disor

fluid
can

traverse

air,and
and

denser what

substances,
circumstances

what assist interest will

be

transmitted,
"

its

operation.

These

are

Natural detect

Philosopher, as, analogies and affinities

better known natural of
wants
an

questions of great by ascertainingthem, he

between and the
powers,

all

to

ably probfluid that

mesmeric prove

and it is of

other

perhaps
or a

only

modification
to meet

inorganic agent,
of animal

combination

several,
the

the
to

life; and

the
a

philosopher
matter

will which

naturally
If there
to

look

the

physician for
conversant.

his facts, in

with

latter is most is
a

transmission
must

of

some

vital

another, it
are

pass

undeteriorated and of
a

product from one son perthe air, for through

several in

the
can

bodies be

not at

in contact,
a

the
an

effect, in the first instance,

or

produced
can

distance
to

inch

feet,and

the

intervals the

be

increased

wonderful

degree
An be
to

sensibility developed by frequent trials.

the two bodies about

proportion to intervening inch

no

of air between in vain

to

being proved
the
to

obstacle, it is
the be mesmeric

dogmatise
; if
we

sphere of action In experiment.

wish

of possible extent ascertain this,it must

acting upon and by the gesticulations, any experiment without exciting these are frequentlysuccessful
must

persons,

through

the

by actual air, without

of water, we make can an agency smallest when the suspicion, and in first I trials, the should think that it

be considered fluid

conclusive media.

proof
The

of

of transmissibility

the

mesmeric

by these
had insist it ;
"

of affectingperpossibility sons of

in this way it is needless

any
to

never

been the

dreamt

by

my

assistants

; and

on

thing

about when
not

in

of my patients knowing impossibility word, no human being could divine my first attempt when
or

intentions
:

I made

my

to to

mesmerise

at

tance diswas

I had

determined

how

try it,and

this

152
decided

CURIOSITIES

OF

F.S.M

KIUSM.

by
there

an

accidental is
a row

favourable

opportunity.

In

the
room,

women's and
it

ward,

happened giving some

Alunga
or were

one

in the centre of pillars day that, while leaning against

saw

of

the the

centre

pillar
and of four their
ment mo-

orders, I
on

that

the

beds

of the

women

Nobee distance

either The but

women

side of me,
were

in front, at the both

;

five

yards.
open

sitting up
and them. the

in bed the

with

faces

towards,
to

not

looking at,"me battery

made
to

I seized

lucky

my

masked and

upon

I first turned

my

looks

on

attention she acted

simply Alunga, her began eyelidssoon ;

precisely in the
I then which
manner

her

object of my exclusive quiver, and in a few minutes

described

by

my

"Mesmeric

Visitor."
in her way,

turned
never

to

Nobee,
into

and

she

succeeded she

equally only

soon

partakes
at

of excitement; mesmeric other

as

becomes

lethargic, and
been

passes,

once,
to

done

subsequently
often have in my been the

these

and

sleep; and this has patients, by all kinds

of persons,

absence, and
so
numerous

experiments
I must
a

readily as by myself. The and unexceptionable, that

mesmeric fluid

consider

transmission

of

the

large body of air to be incontestablyproved. This materials the permeability of denser by it might be pretty case, be a person of cold imagination, confidentlyexpected; and he must of the vital fluid through the who, admitting the passage of impassive air, yet stops short at a wall as the "ultima Thule"
his mesmeric

through being the

belief, and
Mineral

declares

all transmural finds

no

agency
to

to' be

impossible!
in the

magnetism
and its way ambient in it
a as

obstacle the earth

its progress

grossest

textures,

traverses

from the

pole
of

to
a

pole; electricityfinds
house should
I
as

easily through
why
be

walls

through
be understand:
essence

the

air ; and modified

subtile

animal
such

fluids

not
not

endowed,

degree, with
must

qualities,
to

do

seems

they
that

condemned
of the

lose

their of
to

very

probably, to gratify our

it is in vain
we

notions

fitness
course

things !
Nature,
our

But

and

hedge her
while
a

round

to presume with dogmas,

prescribea
in order
to

tain main-

"Sacred infallibility : the

space,

College"
members

was were

through
earth
to

its learned

rapidly revolving constraining the

as

remain

fixture

by

"Senatus
schools
not

consultum,"
;

had

been fluid

determined

by the wisdom
a

of the

and

the

mesmeric the

will, "like
also

chartered
pass

libertine,"

only permeate
let its opponents In

air, but
its
clusion, con-

probably

through walls,
arguments
first trials any

oppose
to

progress I
as

by

what

they please.
also, and
I have

coming

this have

only rely on

their results

been

positive and

strikingas

recorded.

I have

shown

CURIOSITIES

OF

MESMERISM.

153

that

person

whose

system

has

been become

deeply
him

imbued

with

the

mesmeric

action, will
his face
to

sometimes

entranced

by merely
a

turning
:

the

wall, and
a

leaving
mesmeric and

quiet for
can

few

utes min-

all the account

a

that such coldness of the he

victim

give

of himself
sense

is,that he feels
of

numbness and
to
an

in the

limbs, a
I

weight
of

in the

back

head,
goes

unconquerable
But
can

ness heavi-

the that

eyelids before
first trials

sleep.
with

hardly

imagine
all the
had

this spontaneous
we

mesmeric have made

paroxysm
new

numerous

place in who subjects,

took
to

never

been could the

placed against a
not

wall
a source

before,
these

and

whom I of in
was

this
knowledge ac-

position

therefore

be
some

of excitement.

of possibility
as

of

being
be

cases

pendent indethis
tainly cer-

Mesmerism,
manner,
must

the

constitution, to
; and

affected unusual

be
to

deeply
To for

tainted solve
a

something
doubt and
one

done late been

them.

this

I effectually, has

have

of

looking out
within the the purpose

blind man,

luckilypresented
on

himself

last few of

days.

I have

experimented

him

determining the points in question,more by the wall problem ; and if this supplemental evidence particularly I shall be happy to should be still in any to objection, part open
repeat
be almost
or

solely for

the

examination

on

other the that

blind
mean

men,

till the I must

evidence declare

shall

considered

perfect.
opinion
here

In

time,
be whenever

myself
this
new

satisfied,but
other

hope

I shall

the

first to

change by

any

advanced,

contradicted

facts. Dec. both him

eyes,
on a

I4th.
"

and stool

Janoo, a blind prisoner; he can only distinguish light from

before
me

has

got
him

cataracts

in

darkness.

I in ten

placed
utes min-

to-day, and
up
a

entranced made while became

; I then ; he
was

roused with
in

him

and little,

him

list somnambuso

walked

great
bed.

and difficulty, He the

very
soon

doing
he

said
to

he

fast

asleep

his

unable

port sup-

himself, and
two

fell into

trance,

in which

remained

for

hours.
Dec.
1

5th.
"

When

sittingin
at

the

middle from

of

the

room

to-day,
window
toes

went

and

looked
ten

steadily
and he found
was

him

outside
on

the

; in

less than
a

minutes

I knocked

him

the

head

and

with make
cular mus-

long bamboo,
walk

quite
there
was

insensible.
a

On

trying to
of the

him

to-day, I
; when

total dissolution

placed on immediately sunk down him it brought on all in a heap, and an on trying to awake alarming fit of convulsive sobbing; on being put to bed it ceased,
system

his

feet he

154
but

CURIOSITIES

OF

MESMERISM.

again returned than slept for more

Dec.
1

on

my

renewing attempts

to

awake

him;

he

two

hours.

6th.

"

I sent him
to

the

Sub-Assistant
the
man

Surgeon
with
not to
care

to

the face

pital, Jail Hostowards his attention, and

desiring
the

get

placed
take

his

wall, but
and
to

not

touching

it ; to

excite I the under

keep him engaged in conversation. placed myself opposite him on the other side of forehead against it,and extending my hands my
In ten minutes in him
a

followed,

wall, leaning
my

mouth. him
versing con-

I went
manner lively more

to

see

what
my
see

was

done,

and
:

found

with
; went to

Assistant

returned, and
them and the

gave

five minutes but in about

again :
ceased

found
to

still talking, burst

two

minutes

he I
now :

answer,

into he

fit of convulsive like

a

crying :
just

fell back

person

dead the

pulled slept for

collector of his

him

by

hair, and

three of

hours.

Dec.
with
man me

9th. Mr. to-day, I

"

Samuells,
took

Burdwan,
to

being
this

advantage
to

presence
was

give

his first dose

room,

of mesmerised
sent

water.

This

different

and

him he
was

by

prisoner
to

who

prepared in a ministers usually adit

as

the
two
or

medicine, and
minutes he
was

ordered

give

such

; in

three 2Oth.

completely insensible.
saw

Dec.
room,

"

To-day

eating his dinner, observe, unperceived, the

rooms
are

and

sittingin front of the cookthought it a good opportunity to

him of his blindness. there
was

extent

The
a

cookwall in

about which
at

hundred
one can

yards long, and

look

is

low
one

front, over
I entered I

kneeling
the

he
came

near

end, and

the

other, proceeding till I

him
over

carefullyobserved
; and

wall.

He

opposite him, when had nearly finished

me

his dinner knew hands and

some now

all his looks

and and

actions

convinced After
sun,

that he washed

only
his

the and

difference
mouth
to

seemed
one

night day. he sat chirping in the feel quite comfortable;

and, if answered,
and of
arm,

of

he
as

had it
was

he

very cold, occasionally called on

a

by

name,

cracked

joke
to

with him
a

him. in

I the of and his

left my
air at hour his
on

ambush,
the distance
one

seated

open
an

myself opposite yards ; in about twenty

rested his elbow after
on

quarter

he

raised
on

his

knee,
one

leant head the

head both

the
on

hand;

immediately

he

supported

hands

his knees, and increased

inclination

gradually
lost he
water

swayed a little to making an (he never

fell head in

side ;
to

effort

rectify it)
the

till he of

his had

balance, and
made

foremost his

into tude attilike

a

puddle
was

washing himself;
and he

not

in the smallest

degree changed,

looked

CURIOSITIES

OF

MESMERISM.

155

sitting
hours,
Dec.

statue

reversed.
asked how he

He had

was

carried

to

bed

awoke

after

three

and

got

there.

26th.
"

I and of

saw

him

sunning
myself
;
on

himself the than

in

front

of

the him leaned

pital hosat to

to-day,
the
one

seated

ground
five for
two

opposite
he

distance

thirty
then

yards
as

in

less
:

minutes hours.

side,

and

fell

if

shot

slept

From

the

foregoing
is
a

facts

it
power

is

allowable of the and

most

to

conclude, body.

hope,

that

Mesmerism That That it affects in the

natural

human
muscular
severe

directly
mesmeric
can

the
trance

nervous

systems.
and

the

protracted

surgical
sensible That mesmeric That and is That
a

operations
of

be

performed,

without

the

patients

being

pain.
and
nervous

spasms
trance.

pains

often

disappear

before

the

it

gives

us

complete
service

command in

of

the

muscular

system,
limbs.
acts
as

therefore the

of chronic

great

restoring
of Mesmerism of the

contracted

administration in functional absence

often
nerves.

useful That

stimulant
as

debility
of all

sleep,
for

in

the

pain,
the

is the

best

condition
trance

of will

the

system
be

subduing
to

inflammation,
be
a

mesmeric in local

probably

found

powerful

remedy

tions. inflamma-

That

the

imagination
made
on

has

nothing
by
the
; and

to

do

with
as

the

first

physical
by
me.

impression
That them
as a

the

system
for

Mesmerism,
eyes
to

practised
:

it is not
source

necessary

be
men

open
are

always
readily

shut
merised mes-

of

distraction

blind

as

as

others.
can

That

water

be the

charged
system

with when
can

the it has be
even

mesmeric been

fluid, previously

and

has

powerful
That air
to

effect the

on

affected. the
terials. ma-

mesmeric

influence

transmitted
pass

through
dense

considerable

distances,

and

through

APPENDIX.

When belief that

speaking
in Nature diseased

of

Somnambulism,
or

I ventured of and

to

express

my

"Clairvoyance,"
states

the of

transference the

sense,

had
as we

been
can

witnessed imitate

body,

that,

step
and

by step, by
a

artificially producing
the

bulism, Somnam-

Catalepsy,
in which
;
so

state

of been

system

resembling
as a

Hysteria,
in disease

"Clairvoyance"
we

has
to

witnessed

symptom
in

might
be

expect
nervous

see

this

phenomenon

the

analogous

derangements
It

of the

system
that

brought
this is
one

about of
not

by Mesmerism.
the be wonders looked of ism. Mesmerwant

ought

to

remembered
a

of

Nature,
as a

and

also,
of
not

great

rarity in art, and

under
my

must

for,

matter

course,

in persons under the

the

influence and

It has

yet fallen
not

observation,
with
as

from

of books,

I could

present
in

reader
as
was on was

many

well-attested

proofs
After Professor there natural Mr.

of

its existence the

Nature work

desirable.

foregoing
all the

finished, I

fortunately
and,
existence the

met
as

Wienholt's

"Lectures

Somnambulism,"
to

I of

found

facts

required
in the

establish of these the

Clairvoyance,
a

and,

notes

learned

translator,

Colquhoun,
of the truth
to

parallel
of this

array

of

"stubborn I

things"
the
in

in

proof
will
to
a

Mesmeric additional

Clairvoyance,
aid
to

hope

reader

be

glad

have

his

judgment

coming
nambulism, Som-

decision.
says

Professor
:

Wienholt,

in

describing
healthy,
cannot
a

natural

"The

sleep-walker,
into
a common

when

otherwise

falls, at
be
or

ular partictime

period,
from he the rises the known from

sleep, which
of
repose.

distinguished
shorter
"

natural his

state

After about
out

longer
the into
room

couch,
He

and

walks goes
as

sometimes

about upon

house.
or

frequently paths
as or

the and

open with avoids

air, walks
as

unknown

quickly, waking
been

much all in stacles obhis

activity and
which route, and

confidence,
may

in

his

state,

stand,
his
way

have

designedly paths,
written and

placed
climbs of

makes which He

along rugged
would
never

ous dangerwrites many

heights,
when awake.

he reads
as

have and

thought

attempting
as

printed
his

papers,

well

and

correctly

in

waking
156

state,

and

performs

APPENDIX.

157

operations requiring light and the natural use of the eycr. in All these actions, however, are performed hy the Somnambulist
other

complete
his eyes in which his

darkness

as

well

as

when

awake,

and, generally,with
of

firmly closed.
these
persons

I shall afterwards have their eyes

speak
open.
to

the

exceptions,

When his

the

period of
and,
in

somnambulism his

has natural

elapsed, he sleep, awakes

returns at

bed, falls back hour,

in his

again into
most

his he
are

usual done few

instances, knows
state.

nothing
same

of

what

had

walking sleepwho of
any

At these
most

the

time, there
or

exhibit them. other

all of For

phenomena,
; and

even

very persons the greater number about in

rare.

the

part, they only wander

the instances
are

without which This

peculiar
is found

manifestation in in

several state,

of the
which

phenomena

question are

exhibited

persons

otherwise of

healthy, frequently occurs

the
nervous

in diseases, latter
case,

in diseases especially the affection

system.
with
a

In

the of

usually commences
so

paroxysm

convulsive
over

motions,
a

catalepsy, apparent
far

syncope,
as

and

then the

passes

into

state to

preciselysimilar,
;

regards
this

principal
case,

symptoms,

Somnambulism
but

only

that

in

latter

the

patients not
Before

only act,
these

mer. speak, which rarely happens in the fornary patients are completely restored to their ordi-

waking
state, combined

state, their
with
want

sleep is changed
of consciousness.

into

similar

convulsive

"Of
we

this
are

species of Somnambulism
in

occurring
curious

in

nervous

eases, diswhich

possession of
Meiners,
very
to
a

many

instances, of
in his

the Aulic has

Councillor several In

celebrated

professor at Goettingen,
instructive

inserted

remarkable its chief in

nervous

examples

collection.

respect

characteristics, this species of diseases, completely

the consider
was bles resemas

Somnambulism,
the natural

occurring
crisis ; it is

of

the

same

kind,
the

and and

recognized by all competent is comprehended under

in this view I also

judges
same

class I

of

diseases;
case

it.

begin with by Mr.

in Moritz's

Magazine,
has
one

which

first translated in his

Spalding, and
This is
a case

afterwards of what

inserted been instance

to
as

by Meiners
of that

collection.

called

'louping ague,'
species of
of sixteen and with

which,

unquestionably,
which
nervous

is

just
The

Somnambulism

I have

referred

panying occasionallyaccoma

diseases. The
paroxysm

patient was
attacked her

female

years

of

age.

in the

consisted

of

profound sleep.

In this state, she and the

morning, would jump

when
a

tables astonishing activity upon with and of out great rapidity,

chairs, house,
"

run,

permitted,
par-

generally to

158
ticular
she

APPENDIX.

place in
return
a

the

would in

neighbourhood immediately, but

direction. She

; and

when

she did

not

awake,
road,

sometimes
not

by
She

different left the

and

different
ran

unfrequently
fields.

high
nor

road,

and

straight through rough

her
more

the her

never

fell
or

injured
fast she her with the
went

herself, however

path might
was

be,
so

however

might
She

run;

and and

speed
active

sometimes could

great, that

much

stronger top of
the

brother

her.
uneven

frequently mounted
which she

upon continued

keep pace the garden wall, upon

not run;

to

nay,

she

even

much eyes other

roof without edge of the house once stumbling, less falling. During all these hazardous operations, her were fast closed, and she appeared to be deprived of all her upon

senses."
second
nine

The

volume
years

of Moritz's of age, which

were

of
of

boy of

who he

Magazine contains the history frequently fell into a species

was

Somnolency, during
His eyes he
saw

conversation. this

capable of carrying on a fast closed, but, notwithstanding

named all

circumstance,
to him.

and

objects that
me

were

sented preworthy trust-

very

remarkable

case

was

related

to

by

most

observer, the
whom the Aulic

late

Hamburgh
Meiners,
well-known thirteen
was

Physician, Dr.
of

Schulz, from
received that of
to
ous nerva a

Counsellor it in his

Goettingen, also
It
was

it,and

inserted

collection.
years

girl

between
some

twelve

and

of

age,

belonging
a

family of

distinction, who
strong

afflicted with motions

violent

complaint, in which
catalepsy and during which
In

convulsive

alternated

with

Besides, she syncope. she conversed with much

frequently had
liveliness and

paroxysms,

ingenuity.

all colours that distinguishedwithout difficulty were presented to her, recognised the numbers of the cards, and those which the stripes upon the were variegated. She described She shown in the same to her. wrote binding of books when this state, she
manner as

usual, and

cut

figures on

paper,

as

she

was

accustomed

for pastime in her leaking state. Her eyes, at this time, were that she made no use firmly closed; but in order to be assured of them the approach of the paron them, a bandage was placed over oxysm.
to

do

Another Medical

very

remarkable

case

will
to
a

be

found

in the who

"Breslau
was

Collections."
overtaken

It relates

rope-maker, daytime, and

in

quently fre-

by sleep, even
had been

in the

in the midst
menced recom-

of his usual

occupations. While
all that he

in this state, he

sometimes the

doing

engaged

during

previous

APPENDIX.

159

part
which

of the
he

day;
and

at

other
to

times

he

would
at

continue
commencement

the

work of

in the

happened
awake.
on

be

engaged
the

the
as

paroxysm,
as

finished When his

his business

with

great
him

ease

and

success

when

fit overtook the

same

proceeded
faster
over

journey
awake,
manner one

with

he travelling, almost and facility, in road

or

than
any to

when

without he of
some

missing
these

the

stumbling
Nureminto
a

thing.
Weimar.
lane

In this

repeatedly went
occasions He he

from
came

burg
narrow

Upon
there

where

lay

timber.

regularly without injury; and with At another the horses and carriages that came in his way. time, for about he was to set out overtaken by sleep just as he was He horseback. rode through the river lime, allowed Weimar on his legs to prevent them drew his horse to drink, and getting up the marketplace, wet passed through several streets, crossed ; then and booths, and which at that time, full of people,carts was, he awoke. arrived in safety at the house of an acquaintance, where similar These and of the eyes, he acts, requiring the use many performed in darkness, as well as by daylight. His eyes, however, were forced firmly closed, and he could not see tvhen they were His other senses them. open and stimulated by lightbrought near his eyes. He could not as were appeared to be equally dormant volatile spirit. He felt nothing when smell the most pinched, heard when his He called struck. pricked, or nothing by name, when beside him. close or even a pistol was discharged
There is another
case,
a

passed over equal dexterity he avoided

it

somewhat

older, observed

and

stantially circum-

trustworthy physician,Dr. Knoll, which The attention. our equally deserves subject of his observation and became somnambulous, a was a young gardener, who man, while in that state performed many extraordinary operations. He generally fell asleep about eight o'clock in the evening, and wards Afterand then sentences began to utter devotional prayers. of the house, clambered he went out a over high wooden partition,and a still higher wall, uninjured, passed through
reported by
several
to

streets,

and

returned.

At rode

another astride for

some

time upon time

a

he the

climbed

up
as

the

roof

of the house, and

gutter,
the
to

if

upon

horseback, clambered
at

about in
up
at

upon

roof,

and,
he

length, descended
was

safety.
in the his the
a

With and

view

prevent
When
to

accidents, he
became

locked

room,

watched.

somnambulous,
of

usual

time, he
and

began
from

form per-

all sorts the

room.

operations on
up
to

clothes window

the

furniture

of

He

climbed

and sill,

thence

l6o

APPENDIX.

to

stone

which the

was

much

higher,
a

and

at

some

distance,

and the

rode stone,

upon

latter, as
from

if upon the

horse. and

The

height

of

its distance that

a

window,
would After

its small have

breadth,
ventured the

were

such,
attempt
knocked
was

person

awake

these
a

operations.
table

scarcely descending from

and

to

stone,

he it

large

about

hither

thither, and

finding

to evade likelyto fa'll on him, he very dexterously contrived all it. He the he could find clothes in the gathered together them mixed and together, then separated them carefully, room, them each article in its ings hung place. The old stockup, proper shoes he endeavoured and in pairs,according to arrange to

their hold

shape
of
a

and

colour,
sewed of

as

if he he

actually
had stuck

saw

them. the

He

then
some

laid weeks

needle, which
his other

into

wall

before, and
a

small-clothes.

Besides

these,

he

performed
the
to
use

variety
eyes,

of

the

with

operations, all requiring light and enabled which, it would appear, he was
I must here with above
one

dispense.
In addition
to

the

foregoing instances,
were are

notice

two
curacy ac-

remarkable

cases,

which who and

both elevated

observed far The Feder.

a

great

by
of the

individuals

credulity, deceit,
Professor, and
was a

Aulic

imposture. Counsellor,
attacks
go

The
severe

suspicion is reported by subject of his

nervous plaint, com-

all

observations

student, who,
several would shut

during
of his
as
"

experienced
these and
out

Somnambulism.
bed-room
as

occasions

he and

from

to

his

Upon parlour
take

back,
of the

open

the he

doors,
wanted

well

his closet, and

pen,

latter whatever and selected

pieces of music,
shut!

ink,
his the

and music sheet

paper,

all this with

a

his
from

he in
a

march

proper

situation

before whole
same

eyes the opera him, and

From of

among

Medea,
found

laid the

having
also

propriate ap-

key,
the Bach's

he

played
In
gave

the

piece
manner

with he

his usual

skill upon
one

harpsichord.
sonatas,
effect. down
:

the

played
the when

of
prising sur-

and One he he

the the

most

expressive

passages

with
notes

of

persons

present turned
sheet in

side upmenced com-

this

immediately perceived, and replaced

remarked
a

he

playing,
When he

the

playing,

he

stopped, put
his

it in

order, and
what

string out again proceeded.

he
wrote
was

its proper of tune, upon He

position.
which
wrote
a

letter to

brother, and

not

only perfectly
Feder
was

rational, but
on a

straight and
one

legible.
was

While

Professor

visit to him it
was

afternoon, he
which

that

snowing,

(the somnambulist) On actuallythe case.

observed the
same

APPENDIX.

l6l

occasion,
he remarked
at at

his notwithstanding that the landlord

was

still completely were eyes of the opposite house was true, and that
was

closed,
ing stand-

the

window,
of

which another Feder's

hats also

were

hanging
fact. He

the

window
Professor
out

room,

which

the

opened
and

Compendium
several
own

of

logic and
he

pointed
as

to
some

him

passages written been

which
notes

metaphysics, esting, thought interProfessor's We

to
were

also
in
a

of his
which the

of the

lectures

volume

had

recentlybound.
"

must

observe, however,

remarkable

circumstance
"

common

him,
many

indeed, things
he did

with did

several
not

other

somnambulists

that there

he
not

perceive. Thus, while

that there
on. as
was

writing
ink struck

to

his

brother,
pen,

observe
to

no

more

in the and fire, then the

and the

continued tinder if it
was

write
ear,

At if to

one

time the

he

held

to

his

hear

crackling,and
came

ascertain

burning.

He

lighted a match,
flame.

to

candle, and

held it in the middle

In

of the

refer to the case bishop observed conclusion, I may by the Archand of Bourdeaux, reported in the great French pedia. EncycloIt is the
case

of

young

in ecclesiastic, in the habit

the

same

seminary

was Archbishop, getting up during in of of state Somnambulism, night a going to his room, taking pen, ink, and paper, and composing and writing sermons.

with

the

who

of

the

When

he

had

finished
read

one over

page

of the
he
use

writing,he Upon
divin could the made
one

would

what
made

on paper had written

which and

he
correct

was

it.

occasion, he had
In

of he

the

enfant.
not

reading

over

the

passage,

expression ce divin changed the adjective

that' the added the
ce pronoun to the former

into adorable.
stand

Perceiving, however,
the
to

before
In

word

adorable,
the

he

letter t.

order
use

ascertain

whether

somnambulist held
a

reallyany
under
was

of his eyes,
but he

Archbishop
him from
to

piece of
the paper

pasteboard
on

his chin, to prevent

seeing
write
on

which

he
to

writing;
incommoded
on

continued

without

appearing
The

be

paper

the somnambulist

slightest degree. taken writing was was immediately perceived the change.
which he in this state, and in the
same

in the

away;

but
wrote

He

piecesof music

while

manner

with

his eyes closed. The words placed under the musical notes. were written in It happened, upon occasion, that the words one were
too

large a character, and

notes.

did

not

stand

under precisely
error,
exactness.

the

sponding corre-

He
it
over

soon

part, and
I

wrote

perceived the again with great

I

blotted

out

the

hope

that these

examples, to which

might

add

great many

l62 others, will be

this of his eyes, the
same

APPK.VDIX.

sufficient

extraordinary
to

state, is enabled,

receive

consequences

somnambulist, during the use apparently without impressions equally well, or, at least, with when to his perceptive faculty, awake. as
to

sho'w that

the

Colquhoun, the translator of Wienholt, supplies us from his extensive of the best authenticated reading, with a number condition of things in Somnambulism, cases descriptiveof the same and merism derangement of the nervous by Messystem induced this is the only physical symptom of any as quence, conse; and described which I have by European Mesmerists, not in I that Mr. India, hope Colquhoun will excuse yet seen my such of in free his facts, order to complete this subject. use making
The
men

Mr.

reporters of the
whose been far of intellectual
a

facts

in

question
in whose in

are,

for the
are

most

part,
to

attainments,
and

general,
moral far
more

known

have

superior order,
suspicion;
men,

character

is elevated

above

short,

honourable

and

ators. calumnitrustworthy than their wretched, chiefly anonymous, eminent They will be found to be, principally, physicians, such as Hufeland, physician to the king of Prussia; Steiglitz. physician to the king of Hanover ; Brandis, physician to the king holt of Denmark ; Klein, physician to the king of Wirtemberg ; Wien;

Olbers,
and

the

astronomer

Gmelin

Heinecken of
a

Bockman of cine, medi-

Baehrens;
Nasse

Ennemmoser;
other
von
"

Sprengel,
works;
;

author

history
Nolte;

learned

Haindorf;

Spindler;
;

; Nees

Esenbeck

Passavant
as

; Ziermann

; Heinroth

Leupoldt,
rieth
such

"c.

such Physiologists,
; Burdach ;

Reil; Treviranus;
;
"

Autenists, Naturalsuch
as

; Humboldt
as

Eschenmayer
"c.

Kieser, "c.
"c.

"

La

Place, Cuvier, Oken,

Philosophers,
"

Theologians, Schelling, Steffens, Baader, Hegel, these "c. To such Schleiermacher, might be added as Mayer, of men of general science, and celebrated number literary vast a Deleuze, French The characters. magnetists Puysegur, Bertrand, Georget, Cuvier, Despine, Rostan, Husson, Filassier, constitute a perfecthost. Foissac, Gauthier, Teste, "c. of these enlightened But it has been alleged that the evidence
Fichte,
"

"

individuals

is liable

to

discredit, because,

forsooth, they

were

magnetism. engaged in investigatingthe phenomena of animal take the libertyof must Assuredly, this is a strange, and we the facts are saying, a most preposterous objection. Pray, how
of nature take
an

to

be

discovered in

and

appreciated, unless
Are the

by

those

who

interest

investigatingthem?

facts of chem-

APPENDIX.

163 they
and have been
to

istry

to

be

discredited,
And
is the

because ultra

discovered be

by

chemists?

same

sceptical test general

but such

galvanism, electricity,
no

astronomy,
as

applied to Arc physics?

may

facts

to

be

relied

upon

genuine,
unskilful

as

happen
neither

to

be adduced

by ignorant
nor

and the

persons,

who

have

the who

requisitetalent,
are, moreover,

dispositionfor
and

and investigation, the results?

to

careless

indifferent
in

to

The

Author,
of the
as

then, feels
most
we

no

hesitation

appealing
in

the of

perience ex-

eminent have
seen,

magnetists, in
has been
; but

confirmation

the

fact

which,
of

manifested in order for

to

many
to

stances, in-

the

natural

Somnambulism of
every

the

most

obdurate the fact in

sceptics
in which the

pretence

deprive denying the

brief
was eration enum-

realityof
and Dr. age
"

question,we

shall

proceed

the

of cases,

controverted

phenomenon
of thirteen

tinctly dis-

unequivocally manifested.
somnambulist the
"

Tritschler's and

boy
and and

years

of

saw

recognised
under the

numbers

pictures on
upon

cards,
ach, stom-

when

introduced in

bedcover,

placed

his

of the

by the complete darkness, and covered, moreover, recognition took place in the magnetiser. The same
notes.

hand
case

of written Madame

Millet, magnetised
and

by

Van

Ghert,

saw

her
At
a

sician's phylater At

hand

fingerby

means

of the
manner,
to

epigastrium.
some

period
last she

she

recognised, in a similar became dairvoyante as so

the distance of

portraits.
to
a

be
a

able and

read, by
half.

means

of the
Miss

epigastrium, at
St., under
the colours

of Dr.

foot

the

care

Lehmann,
means means

guished accurately distin-

of

cards

by

of

the

epigastrium.
pit
of the letters

Kieser's stomach.
means

boy epileptic
Maria

read in

fluently by

of the
sealed

Rubel,
of

Langenberg,
nay,
even

read

by

of
in
a

the

epigastrium ;

written

characters

oped envel-

covering
ornamental
a

double devices
on

linen.

De

Valenti's
; she

the the

his watch her

scribed patient dealso recognised In

many

picture of
the

soldier

placed
of

on

stomach.
were

other
at

patients
the
mann,

functions

other

organs

also

manifested

Baerkpatient, Louisa epigastrium. Dr. Joseph Frank's at the epigasrecognised and felt the taste of sugared water tric place. A servant girl,magregion, and heard at the same netised heard the De also at Valenti, epigastrium. Dr. Klein's by "This she is
very

patient said,
stomach;"
and

comical aloud
at

"

laughed

of my by means the singularityof the phe-

hear

164
nomenon. no use

APPENDIX.

Her
; I hear
case

ears

with

having been stopt, she said, "That this," pointing to her stomach.
somnambulists, points of
the the
common
sense

is of

In the
to

of other
to

seemed

be

transferred

Miss

M'Evoy,
manner.
saw

of

Arst, read
same

with

of fingers,as case Liverpool, Professor Kieser's patient, Anthony his forefinger, and cards in the distinguished in the when
in

the

Nay,

he

held

his elbow
to

out

of

the

window,
paces.

he Van also Dr.

every

thing
Millet

the

street
saw

the

distance
of

of
the

150

Chert's
Madame Durr's

somnambulist and An

by

the

means

fingers; as

Maria

Rubel,

patient.
read

idio-somnambulic

of his fluentlyby means in Rhenish with Meyer's patient,at Dulken the Prussia, heard his of of Dr. One Kerner's somnambulists heard points fingers. sometimes with her fingers,sometimes with of her part every Articles of food she tasted her with with her body. fingers, as
mouth. The to,
saw or
on

Holland,

formerly noticed, and boy at Halmstadt, in breast and fingers. Dr.

second

somnambulist,
when
crown

mentioned her

in

the the

work

ferred re-

only
the

she of

placed
the of the

finger on
She

pit of the
heard,
heard and all

stomach,

head.

sometimes

smelt,
with
the

and

saw cases

with
are

the

point
the

middle the

finger.
and toes,

Other
the

recorded

in which

patients saw
Miller

nose,

the

chin,

elbows, the knees, the

of body. Augusta and her with Dr. forehead, eyelids, eye-brows. saw that his somnambulist Werner mentions, as a singular peculiarity, of the of vision at pleaschanging focus ure. possessed the power would the it whole In some as body becomes cases, appear, the case with Dr. Heinecken's it were clairvoyant. This was

prominent
her

parts of

the

Carlsruhe

her

patient
or

at

Bremen,
other

who

saw

without
; and
more

the she

assistance

of

the

eyes,

of

any

specialorgan
were
were

such

somnambulists
faculties unable of the
cases,

much

expressly declared clairvoyantthan those

Hence the somnambulists

that whose
are

perceptive
metastases

localised.

frequently
in these than feeling, too, much The that
more

adequate description of these give any perceptive faculties and the species of perception, denominated be more might, perhaps, properly
to

actual

sight,hearing, "c.
these

It is

worthy of remark,
in

the

perceptionsof
vivid, acute, and

somnambulists,
in the

general, are
state.

delicate, than

waking
be the of of

to

foregoing observations, it is presumed, and candid convince unprejudiced mind every

certain states
of the

must

sufficient existence sensible

in

organism,
use

of

without perception,

the

of the

phenomenon appropriate organs.

the

APPENDIX.

l65

Here,
of

then natural of

we

have and

body

of

evidence

in

support

of

the the

istence ex-

artificial

"clairvoyance,"
of
eminence than their
to

given
and the characters that

by

same

description
honour,
any
means
a

persons of
men

physicians
who,

unimpeached
members of the is

body

perhaps dependent
It evidence

more

other of

profession, winning
for

are

on

as

daily

bread.
the

appears

me,
set

there

no

ground
the

preferring
and entitled
declare that both
to

of their unless be

one

of
and

witnesses

to

other,

are

by belief,
to

character
we

knowledge
all it human is

eminently testimony,
to

our

reject
on

clairvoyance
facts mind. and

subject
and

which its

less use-

accumulate the human

evidence,

"taboo"

tion considera-

by

THE

END.

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