THE Z01 ST.

N o. L I.

OCTOBER, 1855.

I. R eic h e n b a c h a n d h i s R e s e a r c h e s .- th e p rin cip a l “ L a w s o f

S en sitiv en ess,” a b stra cted from R e ic h e n b a c h ’ s w ork, D e r

S e n s it iv e M e n s c h , b y A l e x a n d e r J . E l l i s , R .A .,
T r in . C o ll., C a m b . <
(Continued from No. L., p. 131.)

“ More than 2,000 years hare elapsed since Thales discovered that pieces of
amber, when rubbed, attracted light bodies, and explained the phenomenon he
observed by supposing that the amber possessed a soul,* was endowed with
animation, and was nourished by the attracted bodies. Nothing further was

* “ The ignorant of all ages have ascribed natural phenomena, especially

when new to them, to a soul in the material, or to miraculous agency, or indeed
to diabolic or satanic agencies :—all pure fancies. ‘ Thales ascribed the cha­
racteristic phenomenon, the attraction of a piece of iron, to the agency of a
mind or soul residing in the magnet/* just as, even in the present day, the world
at large ascribe the phenomena of the brain,” —phenomena no more theological
than astronomy or geology is, but a department of physiology, and like these to
be cultivated by observation and reason only,— “ to a soul residing in it. *The
magnetical properties of the loadstone, like the electrical ones of amber,’ says
Sir David Brewster, ‘ were supposed to be miraculous.’ ” t
“ The acknowledgment of the positive fact of the brain, or whatever other
name may be given to certain nervous matter possessing in certain circumstances
the properties of feeling, willing, and thinking—of personality, does not interfere
in the least with the belief of a future state, the only evidence of which must be
a revelation. This is a supernatural matter, and to be determined by super­
natural evidence only; while natural knowledge should always be prosecuted
without any reference to revelation or any fear of inconsistency with it.”
“ *When I went to the University,’ says the acute right reverend Lord Bishop
of LlandafF, Dr. Watson, the author of the celebrated Apology for the Biblet 1 I
was of opinion, as most schoolboys are, that the soul was a substance distinct
from the body, and that when a man died, he, in classical phrase, breathed out

* A System o f Mechanical Philosophy. By John Robinson, LLD., late pro­

fessor of Natural Philosophy in the University of Edinburgh, with notes by Sir
David Brewster. Edinburgh, 1822; vol. iv., p. 203.
f 1. c., p. 3.
VOL. X III. R

Hosted by G o o g l e
220 L a b o u r -p a n g s o f n ew k n o w led g e.

added to the observations of the Milesian philosopher until the thirteenth cen­
tury, the knowledge of electricity remaining for 1,500 years in the same state as
among the Indian children on the banks of the Orinoco at the present day, who,
according to Humboldt, amuse themselves with exciting by friction the dry and
polished seeds of rushes, and attracting filaments of cotton with them. About
the time alluded to,* a celebrated physician, Gilbert, of Colchester, a cotempo­
rary, according to Dr. Friend, of our first Edward, in his essay, de Magnete,
recorded several phenomena connected with electrical excitation, and gave to them
the title of electricity—a term derived from the Greek word fiX e u r p o v . Notwith­
standing the very considerable developments which the science of electricity
received, it was not until the beginning of the present century that anything of
real value was done towards elucidating its connexion with physiology. Few
things are more interesting and instructive than to trace the birth and progress of
an infant science,— to watch the labour-pangs by which it struggles into existence
against the obstacles opposed to it by ignorant prejudice,f and those influ­
ences which the illustrious father of the inductive philosophy—the great Lord
Bacon, so happily denominated idols, inasmuch as men are too apt in this blind
fealty to idola specns, theatri etfori, to shut their eyes to the first burst of truth :
nor is it until the light of a discovery blazes out with sufficient brilliancy to dispel
the mists and fogs of error and preconceived opinions that much is done towards
giving it its proper position in the circle of the sciences. With all such difficulties
had the infant science of galvanism or physiologic electricity to contend.” —
Lectures on Electricity and Galvanism in their physiological and therapeutical
relations. Delivered at the Itoyal College of Physicians. By Golding Bird,
A.M., M.D., F.R.S., F.L.S., &c. London : 1849. p. 7.

P a rt I I . — T r a n sie n t O d ic C o n d itio n s in th e H u m a n B o d y

te m p o ra rily p ro d u ced b y th e in flu e n c e o f fo re ig n ex tern a l

o r in te r n a l a g e n c ie s.

I .— T r a n sie n t O d ic C o n d itio n s p ro d u ced b y in ter n a l ch a n g es

in th e b od y.

A. In tern a l T r a n sie n t O d ic C o n d itio n s d u r in g p e r fe c t h e a lth .

41. S t o m a c h .■
— T h e d ie t o f sen sitives is so m a rk ed an d p e ­
cu lia r th at, w h en w e p erceiv e an y p erson s in clin e d t o it, w e have
g o o d reason to su ppose th e m sen sitive. T h e y ea t v ery sp ar­
in g ly , esp ecia lly th ose o f th e h ig h e r d eg ree. R e ich e n b a c h has

his soul, animam expiravit; that it then went I knew not whither, as it had come
into the body, from I knew not where nor when, and had dwelt in the body
during life, but in what part of the body it had dwelt I knew not. . . . This
notion of the soul was, without doubt, the offspring o f prejudice and ignorance/
—Anecdotes o f the Life of Bishop Watson, p. 14, &c.” *
* Dr. Elliotson, Harveian Oration, p. 59.

* Gilbert was not born till 1540 : and died in 1603.—Zoist.

f Dr. Golding Bird illustrated in his own conduct with regard to mesmerism
what he condemned in others with reference to other points of science. He was
most bitter against it. When Mr. James Salmon, whose very interesting case
and mesmeric cure are recorded in No. XXXIV., remained uncured by him, and
had no hope held out to him of cure, proposed to consult Dr. Elliotson, who
had cured a brother with mesmerism after Dr. Hoots and others had failed, he
“ said that mesmerism was no more than what was called Perkinism when he was
a boy, and *no more than the effect of a dull sensation, such as the sound of a
waterfall or any monotonous sound, which of course would produce sleep/ and

Hosted by G o o g l e
 I n te r n a l tr a n s ie n t o d ie s ta te s o f h e a lth y sto m a ch s. 221

n o t m e t w ith an e x ce p tio n t o th is. T h e y d o n o t lik e eatin g

s o o n a fter sleep, an d u su ally d ela y brea k fa st to a b ou t n o o n .
T h e y eat m ore in w in ter th a n su m m er, an d at th e fu ll m o o n
th a n at th e new m o o n . T h e y p re fe r th e ir fo o d c o o l o r co ld ,
as m eat and c o ffe e . T h e ir fa v o u rite dish is s a l a d , n o t very
sour, b u t w ell salted, “ I n s a l a t a , b e n s a l a t a , p o c ’ a c i d a , b e n
o lia ta .” R o s e -le a v e salad is p referred (th e l e a v e s o r p e t a l s ( ? ) ;
b o th G erm a n and E n g lish are a m b ig u o u s .) T h e y lik e sou rish
sw eet fru its, as figs, oran ges, pin es, a p ples, pears (th e last, n o t
so m u ch ), plu m s, a p ricots, pea ch es, ch erries, grapes, m elon s,
& c., straw berries, rasp berries, b u t n o t cu rra n ts, barbaries,
b la ck b erries, b ilb erries, cra n b erries, w h ich are t o o sou r, n o r
u n rip e or v ery sou r fru it. A ft e r th ese, fa rin a ceou s p u d d in g s
an d p orrid ges, m ilk an d e g g s are p referred . B u t th e m ilk
m u st be w arm fro m th e cow , o r co ld , n ever w arm ed u p.
T h e h ig h e r sensitives p refer r a w u n d r e s s e d m e a t , “ season ed ”
b y a ch a rg e o f n ega tiv e o d fro m th e r ig h t h an d. R e ic h e n ­
b a ch fo u n d even lo w e r sen sitives p referred th e u n b o ile d
W e s tp h a lia n h am s to all c o o k e d m eats. S im p le roast m eats
ca n be eaten b y low er sen sitives, stew ed and b o ile d m eats
are u n en d u ra b le. F a t an d grease are d etesta b le, w h en c o o k e d .
B o ile d sou ps, b o ile d vegetables, b o ile d m ea t, m a n y b o ile d
p u d d in g s , all th in g s prep ared w ith lard, o r b a k e d o r fried
w ith la rd o r b u tte r, and b u tte r p a s tr ie s ; “ m a de d i s h e s a n y
th in g lo n g dead, “ h ig h ,” o r “ g o in g ,” also a n y th in g r e ­
w arm ed, o r prepared w ith yeast, ba rm , o r b u t t e r ; c o n fe c ­
tio n e r y an d “ g o o d ie s ” o f all k in d s, ices e x c e p t e d ; spices,
(b u t n o t p ep p er, m u stard, o r h orsera d ish ,) an d to b a c co , are
all repu lsive. W a te r is th e d rin k p referred , an d n e x t to it
u n b o ile d m ilk . C offee is d ru n k b y som e an d refu sed b y
o t h e r s ; tea is g en e ra lly d is lik e d ; w in e is d ru n k b y few , n o n e
lik e spirits, an d m ost p refer w eak lem on a d e, o r rasp berry ,
stra w b erry, o r c h e rry ju ic e , & c., a n d e fferv escin g d r a u g h t s :
o n e e n jo y e d ch lo r o fo r m in w ater. T h e y d rin k m o r e in w in ter
th a n in su m m er. F rl. B e y e r d ecla red th a t h e r to n g u e w as

that there was ‘ really no such thing as mesmerism grew excited, and scolded,
and rose from his chair and walked about the room, and so frightened Master
James Salmon that the youth dropped the subject and took his leave as expe­
ditiously as he could. The lad grew worse and worse : could scarcely walk on
account of the weakness and pain of his back: and in three minutes after at­
tempting to walk in the street was obliged to be carried into a shop : and his fits
all continued.’ ’ Long after this cure, after he could not deny it and had sent a
civil message to Dr. Elliotson (see No. XXX IV., p. 195), he told a lady living in
Hyde Park Gardens, who was being mesmerised, that h e knew what mesmerism
was and had no objection to it, but had a great objection to its being called by
an improper name,— “ Why could it not be called galvanism or electricity as it
really was ?” So that what he had always been railling against was, according to
himself, galvanism or electricity.— Z n is t .
R 2

Hosted by G o o g l e
222 T ra n sien t o d ic c o n d itio n s — S leep

ord in a rily lo a d ed , an d h e r stom a ch op p ressed , w h en sh e ate

ord in a ry fo o d , b u t all th ese sy m p to m s disappeared w h e n she
c o u ld eat raw flesh and d rin k fresh w arm b lo o d .
4 2 . L u n g s . — T h e b re a th is s t r o n g ly o d o -n e g a tiv e . H e n c e
in all o d ic ex p erim en ts th e b rea th sh ou ld b e h eld o r d ire cte d
aw ay fr o m th e p a tien t, as it w ill oth erw ise p r o d u c e m u ch
d istu rb a n ce. T h is is so im p o rta n t th a t it m u st b e c o m e a
co n firm ed h a b it in ev ery ex p erim en ter.
4 3 . R e p r o d u c t i o n . — S en sitiv e w om en are m o s tly fertile.
T h e ir sen sitiven ess is m u ch in crea sed d u rin g m en stru a tion
and p reg n a n cy . C h ild b e a r in g a n d m a rria ge d o n o t d im in ish
th e sensitiveness.

B. T r a n sie n t O d ic C o n d itio n s d u r in g F a tig u e a n d S le e p .

4 4 . B o d i l y f a t i g u e appears to d im in ish o d ic p ow er b o th in
sensitives an d n on -sen sitives.
4 5 . S l e e p . — A ll sen sitives are restless, an d apt to th row
o f f th eir b e d d in g .
S en sitiv es m u st sleep w ith th e ir n eg a tiv e h ea d tow ard s
th e positive n orth , th e ir p ositiv e fe e t tow ards th e n ega tiv e
sou th , an d w ith th e n eg a tiv e r ig h t side tu rn e d (in th e n orth ern
m a g n e tic h em isph ere) tow a rd s th e p ositive su rface o f th e
earth , o r else w ith th e n e g a tiv e ba ck tow ard s th e p ositive
earth . H e n c e th e p r o p e r d ir e c tio n is on th e rig h t side (or
b a c k ), w ith th e head t o the m a g n e tic n o rth . T h e p resen ce
o f a w all, h ow ev er, w h ich is s tr o n g ly n ega tiv e, requ ires th a t
th e face sh ou ld be tu r n e d tow ards it.
C ooln ess is desirable. F e a th e r b e d s an d d ow n cov e rin g s
retain th e o d an d p r o d u c e th e effects o f ov erch a rg e.
T h e rem ov a l o f th e su n ’ s rays at su n set predisposes sen ­
sitives to sleep m ore stro n g ly th a n ord in a ry p erson s.
T o secu re sleep it is n ecessa ry th at n o o d ic op p ression
sh ou ld exist. O piates w ill n ot avail to rem ov e su ch o p pression ,
b u t a sin g le dow n pass w ill fr e q u e n tly set all to righ ts.
S l e e p ( i n s e n s i t i v e s ) i s p r o m o t e d b y cooln ess, d o w n passes

(2 2 . Z o i s t , N o . L ., p. 1 2 4 ) w ith th e h a n d , m agn ets, o r c ry s­

tals, a w all, o r an y stron g o d o -n e g a tiv e b o d y in fr o n t o r o n
th e l e f t h an d side, du ll ra in y w eath er, a n o r t h w in d (at least
in V ie n n a ), e a tin g m od era tely , th e p resen ce o f trees, esp e­
cia lly apple an d pear trees a n d rose b u s h e s ; in sh ort, b y
e v e ry th in g w h ich acts o d o - n e g a t i v e l y u p on th em .
S om e sensitives fall in t o a sleep w h ile w a lk in g , an d w ake
o n re a c h in g th eir jo u r n e y ’ s en d . T h is is d ifferen t fr o m o r d i­
n ary som n a m b u lism o r o rd in a ry sleep.
T h e o d ic state o f th e b rain d u rin g sleep is d eta iled in
R e s e a r c h e s , f y c . , § 2 5 6 (G r e g o r y ’ s tran slation, p. 1 9 3 ).

Hosted by G o o g l e
 — In D is e a s e . 223

S l e e p i s d i s t u r b e d o r p r e v e n t e d b y d r in k in g w in e, u p passes,

m o o n lig h t on th e l e f t side (on th e r ig h t side it w ill p r o m o te

sleep) ; in sh ort, ev ery th in g w h ich a cts o d o - p o s i t i v e l y .

C. T r a n sie n t O d ic C o n d itio n s in D is e a s e .

4 6 . T h e so -ca lle d c o l o r m o r d a x o f in va lid s is an o d ic p h e ­

n o m e n o n , a ch a n g e o f o d ic d ev e lo p m e n t in th e d iseased b o d y ,
a p ro g re ssio n in th e o d o -p o s itiv e d irection , w h ich is re n d e re d
p e r ce p tib le t o sen sitive observers b y a v iolen t d isa g reea b ly
te p id rea ction , fo r m ic a tio n , and “ pin s and n eed les,” w hich
rise to an ap p aren t p r ic k in g an d b e a tin g sen sation.
T h e o d ic rad ia tion s, o d ic g lo w , an d th e o d ic en v elop o f a
diseased b o d y , are c o lle c tiv e ly n a m ed b y R e ic h e n b a c h the
o d i c a t m o s p h e r e , w ith o u t an y in te n tio n o f assertin g its o b ­

je c t iv e rea lity as an ex tern a l su b s ta n ce .* T h is a tm osp h ere is

c o o le s t and p lea sa n test arou n d h ea lth y b o d ie s. R e ich e n b a c h
con sid ers th a t it is ox id a tio n w h ich m akes th e org a n is m m ore
o d o -n e g a tiv e a n d its o d ic a tm osp h ere co n s e q u e n tly c o o le r,
an d th at in th e g rea ter n u m b e r o f diseases th ere is an ov e r­
p lu s o f o d ic p o s itiv ity fr o m a w an t o f su fficien t ox id a tio n ,
an d th a t th e d isa g reea b le te p id ity o f th e o d ic a tm osp h ere is
d u e t o th at cau se. H e b elieves also th a t h erea fter all r ich
p eop le w ill k e e p sen sitives to ex a m in e th e m d a ily, an d w arn
th e m o f th e ap p roa ch o f disease. H e co n sid ers th a t h e has
estab lish ed th e fa ct th a t o d p la y s a n im p o rta n t p a rt in all
co n ta g io u s diseases.
4 7 . S en sitiv es are su b je ct to rh eu m a tism an d catarrh .
C a ta rrh a l a ffection s e x e rt su ch a p ositiv e effect th a t ev en th e
p a tien t’ s r i g h t side b e c o m e s p ositiv e, P ersp ira tion is a lso a
co n s e q u e n ce o f o d o -p o s itiv e co n d itio n s.
4 8 . S o - c a l l e d n e r v o u s i l l n e s s e s .— A restless n ig h t p ro d u ce s
th e sam e e ffect as a s lig h t in crea se o f positiv ity.
B u r n in g s in th e ey es are o n ly fo u n d to o c c u r w h e n eith er
th e w h ole b o d y o r th e eyes o n ly h ave b e e n ex p o se d to o d o -
p ositiv e a ction .
S ta r tin g s a n d t w i t c h i n g s i n t h e l i m b s w ere fo u n d to o c c u r

in sensitives w h en a n y m etal, as brass, iro n , lea d, c o p p e r,

g o ld , silver, o r zin c, o r a p iece o f su lph u r, was firm ly h eld in
eith er th e r ig h t o r le ft h an d, o r in b o th h an ds at o n c e ; w h en
b o th h an d s seized th e lik e or u n lik e poles o f a steel m a g n et,
o r cry stal, o r h u m a n h a n d s ; even w h en th e p a tie n t fo ld e d
his tw o h an ds to g e th e r o r o n ly b r o u g h t th e fin g er o f on e
h a n d a gain st th e pa lm . I n sh ort, th e y appear as an artifi-
tica lly -p ro d u c e d c o n d itio n o f th e lim bs, b u t m erely lo c a l and

* Thus Reichenbach is not one of the visionaries mentioned at p. 219.— Z o i a t .

Hosted by G o o g l e
224 T r a n sie n t o d ic c o n d itio n s — in D is e a s e

m o m en ta ry , due t o th e in tr o d u ctio n o f an y m o r e o r less

in ten se o d ic c u rre n t. T h e d istu rb a n ces th u s p r o d u c e d m th e
n atu ral o d ic eq u ilib riu m are fe lt b y sen sitises as dartin g ,
tw itch in g , h eaviness, an x iety , d u ll b e a tin g o f th e heart, &e.
W h e n th e air is th u n d e ry , som e sen sitives fe e l a pecu liar
p a in in th e r o o ts o f th e hair.
P ain s in th e fa c e are som etim es o c ca sio n e d b y th e p r o x i­
m ity o f m eta ls, v ola tile alkalis, alk aloid s, o r a n y o d o -p o s itiv e
b od ies.
“ D e a d fin gers,” o n w h ich R e ich e n b a c h h as m a d e a series
o f v ery in te r e stin g ex p erim en ts, h e has fo u n d to b e du e
solely t o o d o -p o s itiv e o r o d o -s im ila r r e a ctio n s. S to m a ch ­
a ch e, h e a d -a ch e , an d m e g r im are o c ca sio n e d b y th e sam e
cau ses, a n d fre q u e n tly term in a te in sy n co p e .
S p a sm s ( k r a e m p f e j are an a ffection to w h ich alm ost all

sensitives are esp ecia lly in clin e d . M a n y , esp ecia lly th ose o f
a h ig h e r d e g re e , su ffer fr o m th em sev erely . T h e y fo rm th e
last te rm o f th e series— stom a ch -a ch e, h ea d -a ch e, fa in tin g ,
spasm . T h e y m a y b e o cca sio n e d b y m a gn ets, b y terrestrial
m a g n etism , b y p oles o f crystals, b y a m orp h ou s, u n ip ola r,
b o d ie s, eith er o d o -p o s itiv e o r o d o -n e g a tiv e , b y h u m a n o d ic
p oles, b y th e p rism atic rays o f eith er th e solar o r lu n a r sp e c ­
tru m , p a rticu la rly th e g re e n rays, b y d o w n passes, b u t
o fte n e r b y u p passes, b y c h a rg in g a n d c o n d u c tio n , w hether
im m e d ia te o r a p proxim a tive, b y th e m ere o d ic a tm osp h ere,
b y th e p s y ch ica l a ction o f in su lt, g rie f, a n x ie ty , fear, a n ­
n o y a n c e , je a lo u s y , qu arrels, m en ta l e x e rtio n , j o y , o r even
d ream s. T h e y are m ost con sp icu ou s in th e ex trem ities, solar
plex u s, a n d h ead. T h e y ca n b e artificia lly e x cite d and
ca lm ed , o r d ep a rt n atu rally. T h e y o fte n fo llo w a to le ra b ly
sim ilar c o u r s e fr o m th e toes th r o u g h th e a b d o m e n to th e
b ra in , and th e n c e d o w n th e spinal c o rd , lik e a pass. In
m o s t cases th e y c a n b e m ore o r less ea sily c a lm e d b y d ow n
passes. H e n c e as th e y are essen tially related to sensitiveness,
a n d im m e d ia te ly d ep en d en t o n o d ic m o tio n s, th e y u n d o u b t­
e d ly b e lo n g t o th e d o m a in o f od .
C a t a l e p s y , as d istin g u ish ed fro m r ig id ity an d spasm , is

v e ry easily in d u c e d in m a n y sen sitives b y o d o -p o s itiv e r e a c ­

tio n , frig h ts, an d m oral in flu en ces. I n th e case o f F r l.
A tz m a n n s d o r fe r th e fo llo w in g phases o f an a tta ck w ere read ily
d is tin g u is h a b le :— a , n atu ral c o n d it io n ; b , sto m a ch an d h e a d ­
a c h e ; c , fa in t in g ; d , sle e p -w a k in g ; e , cata lep sy, w ith c lo n ic,
fo llo w e d b y t o n ic lo c a l sp a s m s ; / , r ig id it y ; a n d th e n e , d , c ,
b , a , in re g u la r reverse ord er.

A ll f e v e r s o r feverish states are o d o -p o s itiv e c o n d itio n s .

49. A p h o r i s m s o n v a r io u s d i s e a s e s . — S en sitiv en ess fo r

Hosted by G o o g l e
 E x tern a l— fr o m M a g n e tis m . 225

ch a n g e o f w eath er is an o d ic p os itio n , n o t d e p e n d e n t o n the

h e ig h t o f th e b a ro m e tr ic co lu m n . A n u n pleasa n t fe e lin g
b e g in n in g in th e fe e t an d a s ce n d in g in a few m in u tes to th e
h ea d p red icts b a d w e a t h e r ; th e p a in ceases as soon as th e
ra in falls. T h is is esp ecia lly th e case in th u n d er-storm s.
A lm o s t all th e h ig h e r sensitives su ffer from c o l d f e e t , a n d
u su a lly h ave c o ld d r y h an ds, w h ile th e head is m ostly h o t.
T h e y are v ery s u b je ct to ch ills in th e feet.
D im in u tio n o f th e q u a n tity o f b lo o d in an y p a rt (as in th e
h an d s fr o m h o ld in g th e m up) dim in ish es th e o d ic in te n sity .
S en sitives are tr o u b le d w ith in co n tin e n c e o f u rin e, are
o fte n c h lo r o tic, an d v ery p red isp osed to ty p h u s, esp ecia lly
ty p h u s n erv osu s. T h e sen sitiven ess o f fem a les is m u ch e x ­
cite d d u rin g th e ca ta m en ia l p eriod .
S en sitiv es are su b je ct to th e m ost sin gu lar tra n sp o sitio n s
o f pa in s, g en e ra lly p r o c e e d in g fr o m th e fe e t u pw ards.

D. T r a n sie n t O d ic C o n d itio n s in T h e r a p eu tic s .

50. T h is is a b r ie f ch a p ter, sca rcely c o n ta in in g m ore th an

a reca p itu la tion o f th e co m p la in ts to w h ich sen sitives are
lia b le, w ith ex p e rim e n ts to sh ew th a t th e restitu tion o f a
n eg a tiv e c o n d itio n g e n e ra lly effects a cu re. B u t this is a
s u b je ct w h ich R e ic h e n b a c h leaves to th e p h y s icia n , c o n t e n t
w ith th e esta b lish m en t o f th e fa ct o f cu rative o d .

II. T r a n sie n t O d ic C o n d itio n s o f th e B o d y p ro d u ced b y

E x t e r n a l In flu e n c e s .

A. M a g n e tis m .

52. T h e p rin cip a l resu lt and p rin cip a l p reca u tion s in c o n ­

d u c t in g ex p erim en ts w ith m a g n ets m a y b e read in Z o i s t , N o .
X L I X . , p, 4 , n o te f .
W h e n th e dissim ilar p oles o f bar m a g n ets w ere u n ited ,
th e fr e e o d ic em a n a tion o f each rem a in ed con sid era b le, and
c o u ld b e d istin ctly p erceiv ed b y th e sen sitive h a n d . H en ce
th e y d id n o t n eu tra lize each oth er.
T h e in sertion o f b o d ie s b etw een th e m a g n et an d sen sitiv e
d o e s n o t p rev en t, a lth o u g h it w eaken s, th e a ction .
T h e su d d en a p p lica tion o f th e arm atu re t o th e m a g n e t,
b y c u ttin g o ff th e o d ic a ction , p r o d u ce d a sh u d d er r e se m b lin g
th e sh o ck o n b r e a k in g th e v olta ic c ircle.
E le c t r ic m a g n ets a ct as o th e r m a gn ets. A n iro n r o d la id
in th e m erid ia n suffices to p r o d u c e th e effects. T h is is o f
p ra ctica l im p o rta n ce to sensitives w h o p la y th e p ia n o ; w h e n
th e strin g s are h oriz on ta l, th e y sh ou ld n ev er ru n n o rth an d
sou th , o r, i f th e y d o , th e p e r fo rm e r sh ou ld sit a t th eir n o r th -

Hosted by G o o g l e
226 E x te r n a lly -p r o d u c e d tr a n s ie n t o d ie

w ard e x tr e m ity , as th e o d fro m th e sou th w ard e n d is suffi­

c ie n tly d isa g reea b le to d ep riv e h im o f all p lea su re in th e
m u sic.
L o w sen sitives m u st keep th e ir han ds o n th e m a g n et fo r a
v ery lo n g w h ile to fe e l th e sen sations.
T h e first a ction o f th e m a g n e t, p r o p e rly ap p lied , is c o o l ;
th e se co n d , w arm .
S en sitiv es p ictu re to th em selv es an d d escrib e th e o d ic
em a n a tion s fro m m a g n e ts as co n s istin g o f fin e th reads o r
fib re s .* O n e com p a red th e c o o lin g effects to pin s stu ck t o ­
g e th e r as clo se ly as th e h eads w ou ld allow \ th e in terstices
rep resen ted th e warm effects.
T h e effects o f m a gn ets h ave b e e n fe lt at v ery g rea t d is­
ta n ces, fro m 3 6 to 1 5 0 feet, v a ry in g w ith th e p o w e r o f the
m a g n e t an d th e deg ree o f sen sitiven ess.
53. T e r r e s t r i a l m a g n e t i s m . — T e rrestria l m a gn etism affects

m e n o d ica lly in p recisely th e sam e m a n n er as th e m agn etism

o f m a gn ets,— e x citin g , refresh in g , w ea k en in g , S e e . T h e d if­
fe r e n c e b e tw e e u th e tw o in flu en ces lies in ex ten t a n d in te n ­
sity, and in th e fa ct th at terrestria l m a g n etism w ith its c o rr e ­
sp o n d in g o d ca n b e observ ed sep arately an d th erefore m ore
d is tin ctly , w hereas th e effect o f th e m a g n etism an d o d o f
m a g n e ts is alw ays and u n a v oid a b ly c o m p lica te d b y th e c o n ­
jo i n t a ction o f terrestrial m a g n etism and o d , and is th erefore
m o r e difficu lt to treat.
T h e m a g n e tic n orth p o le o f th e earth is o d o -p o s itiv e , an d
th e sou th p o le od o -n e g a tiv e . W h e n a m a n lies, h is lo n g i­
tu d in a l axis is th e p rin cip a l d ir e c tio n in w h ich od a c t s ; n e g a ­
tive at th e h ea d , positiv e in th e lo w e r p a rt o f th e b o d y .
H e n c e i f th e h ead is to th e sou th , th ere is th e u n pleasa n t
a ctio n o f sim ilar o d ; i f th e h ead is to th e n o rth , th ere is th e
a g reea b le a ction o f dissim ilar o d . T h e h ead to th e east is
partially n orth w a rd , and th e h ea d t o th e w est is p a rtially
sou th w ard, in its o d ic relation s. T h e fo llo w in g is an a cco u n t
o f som e v ery ca refu l ex p erim en ts m a d e w ith F rl. Z in k e l on
th e o d ic e ffect o f d ifferen t p osition s : — S h e w as la id on a sofa
in a la rg e r o o m , e q u a lly dista n t fr o m all th e w alls, an d in
th e m a g n e tic m eridian .

F ir s t— H ea d to th e n o rth .

a.L y in g o n th e r i g h t side, w ith fa ce to th e w e s t : c o o l

fr o m head to k n e e s ; w arm from k n e e s to toes. T h e cooln ess
m ild an d p lea sa n t lik e slig h tly c o o l b a n d a g es a b ou t th e h e a d ;
th e w arm th in th e fe e t w ith som e tin g lin g ( g r u s e l n ) , b u t o n ly

* See Miss Barber’s case, No. X X III., p. 225.— Z o i s t .

Hosted by G o o g l e
 C o n d itio n s — f r o m M a g n e tis m . 227

in th e le ft fo o t as h ig h as th e m etatarsu s. H e a d w ith ou t
p a i n ; eyes g o o d ; solar plex u s free— th e b est p o s itio n fo r sleep.
b . L y in g o n th e l e f t side, w ith fa ce to th e e a s t ; c ooln ess

a n d w arm th as b e fo r e , b u t th e r ig h t fo o t w arm er an d so m e ­
w h a t p r ick in g , up to th e m etacarp u s o n ly . H e a d free, ey es
a n d stom a ch g o o d . A n d y e t th e p o s itio n w as o n th e w h ole
less so o th in g th an th e p r e c e d in g ; she fe lt m o re liv ely and
w a k efu l, a n d w ou ld n o t h ave easily fa llen asleep.

S econ d — H ea d to th e so u th .

c. L y in g o n th e r i g h t side, w ith fa c e to th e e a s t ; w arm

fr o m head to k n e e s ; c o ld fro m k n e e s t o toes. H e a d -a c h e
fr o m crow n to foreh ea d ; stom a ch h eavy, n a u s e a ; b u r n in g o f
th e eyes. H e a d -a ch e stro n g e r o n th e r ig h t side o f th e head.
B o t h fe e t e q u a lly c o o l ; n o tin g lin g .
d . L y in g o n th e l e f t side, w ith fa ce to th e w e s t; all th e
circu m sta n ce s as in c, b u t m u ch m ore u n p leasa n t. H ead­
a ch e v ery stron g , esp ecia lly o n th e le ft side d ow n to th e in fra ­
o r b ita l n erve. S to m a ch v ery n au sea ted, as from p o w e rfu l u p
p a s s e s ; ey es b u r n in g v io le n tly . B o t h fe e t w ith ou t tin g lin g .
T h is was b y fa r th e w orst p o s it io n ; h e a d -a ch e an d e y e -b u rn in g
rem a in ed lo n g after sh e had reversed h e r p o s itio n . I t m u st
b e re m e m b e re d th a t th e n o rth e r n h em isp h ere is o d o -p o s itiv e .

T h ir d — H e a d to th e ea st.

e . L y in g o n th e l e f t s i d e ; op p ression in th e r i g h t lo b e o f

th e solar p lex u s, th e pa in h a v in g p r o c e e d e d fr o m th e sp in a l
c o rd .
f . L y in g o n th e r i g h t s id e ; op p ression in th e l e f t lo b e o f
th e solar p lexu s, p r o ce e d in g as b e fo r e fr o m th e sp in e.

F o u rth — H ea d to th e w est.

g . L y in g o n th e left s i d e ; op p ression o n th e r ig h t side as

b e fo r e .
h . L y in g on th e r i g h t s i d e ; op p ression o n th e l e f t side as

b e fo r e , b u t m u ch w orse.
H e n c e .in all th e fo u r la tter p osition s th e op p ression was
o n th e u p p er side.
E x p erim en ts on p e rso n s sittin g lea d to sim ilar resu lts.
P la c e d in su ccession o n fo u r ch a irs w ith th eir b a c k s to th e
m a g n e tic qu arters, th e sen sitive g e n e r a lly feels o il th e
N o r t h c h a i r — a g reea b le c o o ln e s s.
E a st c h a i r — less a g r e e a b le n e s s ; som e, c o o ln e s s still, b u t
m ix e d w ith h eav in ess, a n d a slig h tly n u m b in g op p ression
in th e o c cc ip u t.
S o u t h c h a i r — D isa g re e a b le te p id ity ; op p ression at th e stom a ch .

Hosted by G o o g l e
228 F rom M a g n e tis m a n d C r y s ta ls.

W est c h a i r — o b scu re w a rm th ; s t o m a c h -a c h e ; opp ression in

th e h e a d ; b u r n in g in th e eyes.
U p w a r d s o f 91 sen sitives o n b e in g tried p referred th e
n o r th seat. O n th e east seat th e p resen ta tion o f d issim ila r
p o le s in th e latitu d in a l axis to th e n o rth an d so u th d im in ish ed ,
w h ile o n th e w est seat th e p resen ta tion o f sim ilar poles
in cre a s e d th e d isagreea blen ess o f th e situ ation . O n th ese
circu m sta n ce s d ep en d th e restlessn ess o f p erson s w h ose b ed s
are tu rn e d in a w ro n g d ir e c tio n , a n d th e p a in th e y som etim es
fe e l fro m r id in g in a ca rria g e, w h ere th e y are o fte n fo r c e d to
sit fo r a tim e in som e w r o n g p o s itio n . H e n c e also th e in c o n ­
v e n ie n c e o f sittin g so as to fa c e th e altar at th e east en d o f a
ch u rc h , an d th erefore w ith th e b a c k to th e w est.
5 4 . V e r t i c a l a n d h o r i z o n t a l d i r e c t i o n s . — A ll rod s, & c.,
h e ld v ertica lly b e c o m e o d o -p o la r, th e u p p e r en d b e in g p ositive,
th e lo w e r n ega tiv e. B u t o r g a n ic b ein g s, as trees a n d anim als,
h a v e th e o d o - n e g a t i v e p o le u p p erm ost. S im ilar resu lts en su ed
w ith h oriz on ta l rods. I n tr y in g th ese ex p erim en ts, th e g re a t­
e st ca u tion is n ecessary in th e p o s itio n o f th e sen sitive an d
th e n a tu re o f th e rod s. I n all cases th e s p e c i f i c o d o f th e r o d
m u st b e allow ed fo r b e fo r e th e re su lt c a n b e d ep en d ed u p o n .
W h e n o d is co m m u n ica te d b y c h a r g in g it is n ev er p o la r ;
h e n c e w here p o la rity is ob se rv e d , oth er cau ses m u st b e lo o k e d
fo r . T h e cau se o f th e p ola rity o f h o riz o n ta l a n d v ertica l
ro d s, o r ro d s in th e m a g n etic in clin a tio n , m u st th erefore b e
so u g h t fo r in terrestrial m a g n etism w h ich is alw ays a c c o m ­
p a n ie d b y od .
5 5 . W i n d s . — A n ex a m in a tion o f 1 8 7 observ ation s shew s
th a t, a t V i e n n a , (th e case m ay b e d ifferen t in d ifferen t situ a­
tio n s ,) w e s t e r l y w in ds g e n e ra lly p r o d u c e d b u r n in g in th e
e y e s ; s o u t h e r l y , s t o m a c h -a c h e ; e a s t e r l y , h e a d -a c h e ; an d th e
n o r t h e r l y a lon e w ere free fro m a ll in co n v e n ie n c e , an d refresh ed

a n d stre n g th e n e d th e sensitive. G e n e ra lly , so far as G erm a n y

is co n c e rn e d , n o rth e rly an d ea sterly w in ds are a cco m p a n ie d
b y a ch a n g e o f n eg a tiv e, an d s o u th e rly an d w esterly w in ds
b y a ch a n g e o f positive, od .
5 6 . A u r o r a B o r e a l i s . - — I n th e fe w cases in w h ich th e
A u r o r a c o u ld b e o b serv ed so fa r sou th as V ie n n a , it d id n o t
seem to h ave an y p e cu lia r e ffect on sen sitives.

B. C r y s ta ls.

57. T h e b a se o f th e cry sta l, w h ere th e “ g r o w ” fro m th e

r o c k , is o d o -p o s it iv e ; th e p o in t, to w h ich n ew m ole cu le s
a tta ch th em selves, is o d o -n e g a tiv e . T h e n ega tiv e p ole is
th e re fo re at th e p o in t o f g rea test cry sta llin ity , an d th e p o s i­
tiv e at th e p o in t o f least cry sta llin ity .

Hosted by G o o g l e
 F rom E le c tr ic ity a n d H ea t. 229

C rystals act o d ic a lly in p recisely th e sam e w ay as steel

m a g n ets. T h e o n ly d ifferen ce con sists in th e o d d u e to th e
su b sta n ce o f w h ich th ey are fo r m e d .

C. E le c tr ic ity .

5 8 . F r i c t i o n a l e l e c t r i c i t y . — I n m o d e ra te doses friction a l
e le c tr ic ity is n o t d a n g erou s o r p re ju d icia l; even to th e h ig h er
class o f sen sitives; and m a y th e r e fo re b e ap p lied w ith ou t fear.
P o sitiv e e le c tr ic ity sets p ositiv e o d in a ctio n in han ds and
a r m s ; n e g a tiv e e le c tr ic ity , n eg a tiv e o d . T h e c o o l effect o f
th e p ositiv e electricity on th e r ig h t sid e is so m u ch m ore
p o w e rfu l th a n its te p id effect o n th e left, th at th e first and
p r e d o m in a n t sen sa tion o f a sen sitive d erived fr o m p ositiv e
e le c tr ic ity is cooln ess.
T h e electro-p ositiv e fr ictio n a l strea m passin g fro m th e
r ig h t h a n d th ro u g h th e b o d y to th e le ft acts o n th e sensitive
as an o d o -p o s itiv e d ow n p a s s ; b u t, w h en it passes in th e c o n ­
tra ry d irection , as an o d o -p o s itiv e up pass.
5 9 . C h e m i c a l e l e c t r i c i t y . — B y passin g co ils o f w ires rou n d
sen sitives, R e ic h e n b a c h fo u n d th at o d w as p r o d u c e d b y th e
e le c tr o -m a g n e tic in d u ctio n c o il in th e sam e w ay a n d th e sam e
d ir e c tio n as m a gn etism , an d w ith th e sam e p o la rity , so th at
th e ap p earan ce o f th e o d m ig h t b e a scrib ed to th e in d u ce d
m a g n e tism . A n d g e n e ra lly e le c tr ic ity is a p o w e rfu l r e -a g e n t
o n od , a n d esp ecia lly vital o d , e x c it in g o d ic m o tio n s w hen
im m ed ia tely c o n d u c te d th r o u g h th e b o d y , o r w h en led past
it in w ire coils, o r th ro u g h th e m ere e le c tr ic a tm osp h ere at
com p a ra tiv ely g rea t distan ces. T h ese effects are p rod u ced
b y th e w eak frictio n a l stream o f th e e le c tr ic m a ch in e, as w ell
as b y th e m ost p o w erfu l v o lta ic cu rren ts. T h e o d ic co n d itio n s
in th e w h ole b o d y , as w ell as in p a rticu la r orga n s, ca n be
p o la rize d b y e le ctricity , as in a sim p le glass o f w ater o r any
o th e r b o d y .
D. H ea t.

6 0 . Im m e d ia te c o n ta c t o f w arm b o d ie s p rod u ces a very

d isa g reea b le, in te n s ify in g , o d o - p o s i t i v e , effect, lik e th a t o f an
u p p a s s ; w h ile c o o l b o d ie s a ct e x a c tly in th e op p o s ite m a n n er.
W h e n a rod o f p orcela in , glass, co p p e r, ir o n , o r steel has
o n e e n d h eated in th e fire, it gives o f f p o w e rfu l n e g a t i v e od
at th e o th e r ex trem ity . I f a r o d o f w o o d o r a sh av in g b e set
lig h t to at on e e x tr e m ity it g iv es o ff n e g a tiv e o d at th e oth er.
R a d ia te d h eat, w h e th e r e m a n a tin g fr o m th e flam e o f
ta p ers o r fro m an a rg a n d la m p , w ith o r w ith ou t its su rrou n d ­
in g glass, p ro d u ce s c o ld in th e sen sitive, w h ich is sligh t and
a p p r o a c h in g te p id ity on th e r ig h t s i d e ; b u t in ten se and suffi-

Hosted by G o o g l e
230 F rom F r ic tio n a n d P ressu re.

c ie n t to cau se sh u d d erin g s th r o u g h m arrow and b o n e o n th e

le ft side ; th a t is, it p ro d u ce s p ow erfu lly n ega tiv e od .
T h e o d ic ra d ia tion o f h ea ted b o d ie s ex ten d s to a su rp risin g
d ista n ce, a n d acts n e g a tiv e ly .
H e n c e h eat a cts p o s i t i v e l y w hen c o m m u n i c a t e d , (as in
h ea ted air, liq u id s, o r h ea ted b od ies in im m ed ia te co n ta c t
w ith th e sen sitive,) a n d n e g a t i v e l y w h en a c tin g i n d i r e c t l y as
b y c o n d u c t i o n , (at d ista n ces w here n o p ro p e r heat can b e fe lt,)
o r r a d i a t i o n (either fr o m flam e or h eated b od ies), at c o n s id e r ­
a b le d ista n ces. ■

E. F r ic tio n .

6 1 . I f a r o d b e h eld b y th e patien t an d th e o th e r end b e

ru b b e d , o r i f th e sen sitiv e ru b tw o b od ies to g e th e r , p o s i t i v e
o d is p ro d u ce d . H e n c e th e g rea t dislik e w h ich m ost sen sitives
en terta in ag a in st te a rin g p a p er or lin en .
T h e fr ic tio n p r o d u c e d b y th e passage o f w ater th r o u g h
p ip es p ro d u ce s p o s itiv e o d . R e ich e n b a c h a ttrib u tes th e
p o w e r possessed by m a n y h ig h e r sensitives o f d is co v e rin g th e
p o s itio n o f u n d e r g ro u n d sp rin g s to th is circu m sta n ce , and h e
v erified his h y p oth esis b y ex p erim en t.
A stream o f air d riv en th r o u g h a pair o f bellow s also acts
p o s itiv e ly . H e n c e i f th e air b e d irected o n th e o u t s i d e o f a
g lass o f w ater, it m a kes it te p id . ( I f it b e d ire cte d o n th e
su rface o f th e w ater, it p ro d u ce s ev ap oration and th e re fo re
n eg a tiv e o d . 6 8 .)
F r ictio n o f th e h a n d s again st o n e a n oth er p ro d u ce s p o s i­
tive od .
T h is fr ictio n a l p ositiv e o d c a n b e c o n d u c te d lik e o th e r od .
I t is u n pleasan t t o sensitives to to u c h ro u g h su rfaces w ith
th e le ft h a n d , b u t n o t so w ith th e r ig h t, an d th is e ffect is
co n s e q u e n tly tra cea b le to th e a ctio n o f friction a l o d .

F. P ressu re.

6 2 . A l l p ressu re o n pa rts o f th e b o d y p ro d u ce s o d ic
tep id ity o r p ositiv e a c tio n , w h ich o n rem ov al o f th e pressure
b e com es co o ln e s s o r n e g a tiv e a ction . A b low , w h ich m u st
b e con s id e re d as an in sta n ta n eou s pressure, p rod u ces th e sam e
o d o -p o s itiv e effects.

G. S en sa tio n a l e ffe c t o f L ig h t.

6 3 . S o l a r l i g h t . — O p e n su n sh in e acts o n th e le ft side
plea sa n tly c o o l, on th e r ig h t te p id , op pressiv e, u n p le a s a n t;
in fr o n t c o o le r , m o re a g r e e a b le ; b e h in d , m o r e te p id an d
disagreeable. S om e sen sitives, esp ecia lly w h en sleep -w a k in g ,

Hosted by G o o g l e
 F rom L ig h t. 231

ca n lo o k stra ig h t at th e su n w ith o u t h a v in g th e ir ey es in ju re d .
F r l. L e h rb a s s c o u ld lo o k at th e su n a n d read sm all p rin t
im m e d ia te ly afterw ards. I t w as h ow ev er o n ly th e l e f t ey e
w h ich rem a in ed u n a ffected.
W h e n o n e e n d o f a rod o r lo n g w ire is h eld in th e su n ­
sh in e, th e oth er en d appears co o le r.
W a t e r p la ced in th e su n tastes c o o le r th a n w ater p la ced
in th e shade.
S ola r rays are th erefore p rin cip a lly o d o -n e g a tiv e . B u t,
w h en th e y are p ola rized b y reflex ion , th e tra n sm itted lig h t is
p rin cip a lly o d o -p o s itiv e , an d th e re fle cte d lig h t is p rin cip a lly
o d o -n e g a tiv e . H e n c e th e sola r rays c o n ta in o d o -p o s itiv e as
w ell as o d o -n e g a tiv e rays.
T h e e ffect o f th e c o lo u r s in th e sp ectru m is very ex tra ­
o r d in a r y . T h e fo llo w in g w ere th e re su lts o f ca refu l e x p e ri­
m en ts w ith F rl. A n n a B e y e r , w h o h eld a deal r o d in h er l e f t
h a n d , an d passed it fro m som e d ista n ce b e y o n d th e red to
som e dista n ce b e y o n d th e v io le t e n d o f th e sp ectru m .
N in e in ch e s b e fo r e th e r e d — c o m m e n c e m e n t o f th e sen sation
o f w arm th .
C lo se t o th e r e d — greatest h eat.
R e d — w arm , u n pleasa n t.

O r a n g e — tep id .

Y e l l o w — o n ly a tra ce o f w arm th .

G r e e n — coolish , a trace o f te p id ity , m o s t d isa g reea b le m ix e d

sen sa tion s, trem b lin g o f th e h an d, in to le r a b ly painfu l.

B l u e — c o o l an d pleasant.

V i o l e t — n o t so c o o l as th e b lu e.
I n d i g o — c o ld

O n e fo o t b e y o n d v iolet— cold est, v ery co ld .

A s fa r as 3 2 in ch es b e y o n d th e sp e ctru m — c o o l.
W a t e r is ch a rg ed w ith n e g a tiv e o d b y th e b lu e rays, an d
w ith positiv e o d b y th e y ellow a n d red rays.
T h e e ffect o f th e g r e e n ray s is m ost e x tra ord in a ry . “ T h e
first ob serv a tion on th is su b je ct w as m a d e w ith F r l. K ru e g e r
(O c t., 1 8 4 5 ), b y m o o n lig h t, w ith a pa le sp ectru m . A s she
w as passin g h er r o d slow ly th r o u g h th e colou rs, a n d d escrib in g
th e ir effects fo r m e to n ote,” w rites R e ich e n b a c h , “ she cam e
t o th e g re e n rays, a n d fell to th e g ro u n d so su d d en ly th a t I
c o u ld n o t ca tch h er. I was n o t aw are o f th e cau se, an d after
h a lf an h ou r, h a v in g rem ov ed h e r spasm s, I w ish ed to co n tin u e
m y observ ation s o n th e sp ectru m . S h e n ow drew h er fo r e ­
fin g e r slow ly th r o u g h th e red an d y e llo w , c o r r o b o r a tin g h er
fo r m e r statem en ts, and ap p roa ch ed th e g re e n . I saw th at at
th e m o m e n t w h en th e e d g e o f h er fin g e r rea ch ed th is c o lo u r
sh e b eg a n to tre m b le , an d lo s e h er con sciou sn ess, a n d she fe ll

Hosted by G o o g l e
232 F ro m L ig h t.

as i f stru ck b y lig h tn in g . I c o u ld sca rcely ca tch h er. P ru ssic

a cid c o u ld sca rce ly an n ih ilate a m a n m ore ra p id ly th an th is
g re e n c o lo u r o f p a le m o o n lig h t.” H e a ttrib u ted th is e ffe ct
at first to a n id io sy n c ra sy o f th e in d iv id u al, b u t soon fo u n d
it co n firm e d b y o th e r sen sitiv es.
T h e o d ic rays o f su n lig h t w ere n ot, lik e th e ca lo ric rays,
a b sorb ed b y passin g th r o u g h te n glass plates. A la rg e
p o r tio n o f th e m passes th r o u g h and ex h ib its all th e p h e n o m e n a
o f th e o r d in a r y sp ectru m .
T h e solar o d ic rays pass th r o u g h tran sp aren t b od ies, su ffer
r efra ction , an d ap pear in th e p rism atic sp ectru m (lik e th e
lu m in ou s, ca loric, a n d a c tin ic ray s). T h e ir re fra n g ib ility is
u n eq u a l, and th e sp ectru m e x h ib its a sep aration o f positiv e
a n d n eg a tiv e o d ic ray s, w h ich are n ega tiv e in th e b lu e h a lf
a n d positiv e in th e y e llo w h alf, r e a c h in g o n b o th sides far
b e y o n d th e visible sp ectru m .
M o r e th a n th is : colou rs, g en era lly , are an o d ic su b ject,
an d affect th e feelin g s o f sen sitives, n o t m erely in th e d ire ct
lig h t o f .the sp ectru m , b u t in su n lig h t, o r even d ispersed d a y ­
lig h t, reflected fr o m v ariou s c o lo u r e d o b je cts. T h e effect is
o f th e sam e q u a lity as in th e prism a tic sp ectru m , b u t d ifferen t
a n d in ferior in qu a n tity . W h e r e v e r o d ic sen sations are m a d e
th e su b je ct o f th e e x p erim en t, th e e ffect o f th e c o lo u r o f
o b je cts m u st th e re fo re b e a tten d ed to and allow ed for.
T h e n u m erou s p e cu lia rly diseased c o n d itio n s o f sensitives
are m a in ly d e p e n d e n t o n th e p e r io d ic ap pearan ce an d d ep a r­
tu r e o f th e o d ic ray s o f th e sun, an d th e tim e o f th e ir
c o m m e n c e m e n t an d cessa tion is c o n n e c te d w ith th e h a r m o ­
n iou s su ccession o f day an d n ig h t, su m m er a n d w in ter,
p resen ce a n d ab sen ce o f su n sh in e.
64. L u n a r l i g h t .— T h e th e r m o m e tric h eat o f th e fu ll m o o n

is a c c o rd in g to B o u g u e r ( F o g g . A n n . , v ol. lxviii., p. 228) o n ly

o n e th ree h u n d red th o u sa n d th pa rt o f th at o f th e su n . Y e t
sensitives feel its ray s w arm . T h e m o o n n ev er ren d ers th e m
sleep y, b u t o ften m a k es th e m w ak efu l. O n e x p e rim e n t,
F r l. Z in k e l (O ct. 1846,) fo u n d m o o n lig h t v ery u n pleasa n t in
h e r f a c e ; u n p lea sa n t, b u t n o t to so g rea t a d e g re e at th e
b a c k ; th o r o u g h ly d isa g reea b le on th e le ft side, b u t co o lish
an d c o m fo rta b le o n th e r ig h t side. H e n c e th e lu n a r rays are
p rin cip a lly positive. W a t e r th a t has stood in m o o n lig h t is
v ery n a u seou s and tep id , a n d o fte n ex cites v om itin g .
F rl. B e y e r fo u n d tra n sm itted p ola rised m o o n lig h t tep id to
th e le ft an d coolish to th e r ig h t h a n d ; th e reflected ray,
coolish to th e left a n d tep id to th e r ig h t. H e n c e th e tra n s­
m itted lig h t is p ositiv e ; th e reflective n ega tiv e, th e sam e as
s u n lig h t ; b u t th e p ositiv e rays are m ost n u m erou s in th e

Hosted by G o o g l e
 F rom S ou n d a n d th e M a teria l U n iv e r s e . 233

lu n a r lig h t. A s lu n a r lig h t is o n ly reflected solar lights

it w o u ld seem th a t th e su rfa ce o f th e m o o n (an d th erefore
p r o b a b ly also th a t o f th e ea rth ), a b sorb s n e g a tiv e od.
T h e lu n a r sp e ctru m a cts iik e th e solar, th e b lu e h a lf
b e in g n eg a tiv e, th e r e d h a lf p ositiv e, b u t th e p o s itiv e a ctio n
is m u ch th e stro n g e r.
6 5 . F i r e l i g h t . — T h is lig h t is p r in cip a lly n ega tiv e : w hen
p ola rised , h ow ev er, th e reflected lig h t is m o r e n eg a tiv e th a n
th e tra n sm itted . T h e sp e ctru m a cts sim ilarly to th e solar
sp e ctru m b u t m ore w eak ly, th e p ositiv e a c tio n b e in g sm all.

H. S ou n d .

6 6 . S o u n d is a sou rce o f n e g a tiv e o d , fr o m w h ich oth er

b o d ie s, as w ater, m a y b e ch a rg e d , an d w h ich is p ow erfu l
e n o u g h to o v e rco m e th e o d ic sou rce o f a sim p le m e ta llic b o d y ,
as th e b ell itself.

I. C h em ic a l A c tio n .

67. C h em ica l a ction n o t o n ly p r o d u c e s od — n ega tiv e o d

in all cases w h ich R e ich e n b a c h has o b s e rv e d — d u rin g d e c o m ­
p o s itio n , b u t it d oes n o t r e c o m b in e it in th e p r o d u c ts fo r m e d .
O n th e c o n tra ry , it co m m u n ica te s it fr e e ly to its e n v ir o n ­
m e n t.
K. 6 8 . E v a p o r a t i o n fr o m solid s o r liq u id s is a cco m p a n ie d
b y th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f n e g a tiv e o d .

L. T h e M a teria l U n iv e r s e .

69. E a ch o b je c t in n a tu re h as its o w n p ecu lia r o d , d if­

fe r e n t in q u a lity an d q u a n tity . O d n o t o n ly appears b ip ola r
as in m a gn ets, cry stals, an d o r g a n ic b ein g s, b u t u n ip ola r,
in h e re n t, lik e e le ctricity , in each p a rticu la r su b sta n ce. T h e
c o m p le te series o f m a terial su bsta n ces fo rm s, it is tru e, a
b ip o la r w h ole, b u t its in d iv id u a l elem en ts are u n ip ola r, and
fo rm a vast o d o p o la r series in w h ich ea ch h as its o w n p ecu lia r
p o s itio n . T h is series ru n s so e x a c tly pa ra llel t o th e e le c tr o ­
* ch e m ica l, th a t w e m a y u n h e sita tin g ly p la ce it in th e sam e
c a te g o r y w ith th e la tter, an d call it th e o d o c h e m i c a l series.
T h e fo llo w in g is th is series o f sim p le b o d ie s as d e term in ed
b y ca refu l ex p erim en ts, c o m m e n c in g w ith th e g rea test o d ic
w a rm th o r m ost positiv e, and p r o ce e d in g to th e g rea test o d ic
co o ln e s s o r m ost n eg a tiv e :—
P ota ssiu m , sod iu m , o sm iu m , r h o d iu m , g o ld , silver, p la ti­
n u m , irid iu m , p a llad iu m , m e rcu ry , cop p e r, tin , b ism u th , lead,
ca d m iu m , c o b a lt, m a n gan ese, ir o n , n ick e l, s ilico n , p a ra cy a -
n o g e n (C 12 N °, ?), tita n iu m , g ra p h ite, d ia m on d , c a rb o n ,
a n tim o n y , c h r o m iu m , tu n g s te n , m o ly b d e n u m , arsen ic, te llu -

Hosted by G o o g l e
 234 F rom , th e M a te ria l U n iv e r s e .

riu m , p h osp h oru s (red, y e llo w ), io d in e , b ro m iu m , selen iu m ,

su lph u r, p e r ch lo r ic a cid (O 7 C l 1 R e ic h e n b a c h g ives O 7 TJ3,
a p p a ren tly an e rro r fo r O 7 C l 3 ?)
70. C o m p o u n d s u b s t a n c e s .
P ositiv e. C o m b in a tio n s w ith a lk a lin e bases as potass,
soda, lith ia, h y d ra te o f ba ry ta , ca u stic lim e, fresh c a lcin e d
m agn esia, & c. M e d ic in e s lik e op iu m w h ich co n ta in alk alin e
bases in va ria b ly p r o d u c e ba d effects o n sen sitives.
N e g a tiv e . O x y g e n stan d s at th e h e a d ; it w as n o t w ell
a d apted fo r d irect e x p e rim e n t, b u t its n ega tiv e ch a ra cter is
w ell sh ew n in co m b in a tio n s, as p e r ch lo r ic a cid w h ich con ta in s
7 0 p er cen t, o f o x y g e n . C o m b in a tio n s lik e th e n o n -a lk a lin e
ox id es, as siliceou s earth , q u artz, z ir c o n , and h y a cin th , r u b y
a n d sapphire, and m e ta llic o x id e s, as ir o n ore, o x id e o f c h r o ­
m iu m , o x id e o f cop p e r, a rsen ic, & c. C o m p o u n d s c o n ta in in g
m u ch c a r b o n or su lph u r, ch lo r in e an d o th e r n eg a tiv e s u b ­
stan ces. T h e m ore c o m p lica te d salin e c o m b in a tio n s in w h ich
th e e le c tr o -n e g a tiv e elem en ts p re d o m in a te . O n e o f th e m ost
u n p leasa n t su b sta n ces is v erd ig ris, an d brass appears to b e so
u n p lea sa n t o n a c c o u n t o f its b e in g alw ays m ore o r less a c ­
c o m p a n ie d b y v erdigris. S u lp h a te o f lim e (selen ite g yp su m )
is v ery n eg a tiv e, a n d a lso c h r o m ic acid an d its co m p o u n d s .
C a rb on a tes an d su lph ates are all n eg a tiv e. S p rin g w ater is
o fte n slig h tly n ega tiv e fr o m th e sm all q u an tities o f ca rb on a te
an d su lph ate o f lim e w h ich it con ta in s. C o m m o n b o t tle
glass is a lm ost in d iffe re n t, b u t i f a n y th in g slig h tly n ega tiv e.
71. O r g a n i c s u b s t a n c e s .
P o s itiv e . P y r o lig n e o u s a cid (spirits o f w o o d ), a cetic
acid , n a ph th a, a lco h o l, su lp h u ric eth er, tu rp en tin e, caffein e,
tliein e, & c.
N e g a t i v e . C a m p h or, c re o s o te , a cetic eth er, d ry w h ite o f

eg g , sa licin e, su gar, m a n n a , su g ar o f m ilk , p h lo rid zin e, all

o r g a n ic a cid s.
N ea rly in d iffe r e n t. P araffin e, oliv e oil, d am m ara resin ,
p o ta to e starch , in u lin e, r h e in e , g ly c y rr h iz in e (lic o r ic e su gar).
H e n c e b a sic b o d ie s in c lin e to th e p ositiv e, acid s or th ose
n ea rly r e se m b lin g acids, to th e n eg a tiv e, series, an d o d ic is
n early c o in c id e n t w ith c h e m ica l in d iffe r e n c e .
72. M i x e d s u b s t a n c e s . — S en sitiv es d islik e th e sm ell o f
flow ers, bath s c o n ta in in g su lp h u rou s w aters, fa tty su bstances,
fresh w h itew ash ed ro o m s (on a c c o u n t o f th e o d o -p o s itiv e
ca u stic lim e) an d h e n ce n e w -b u ilt h ouses or fre sh ly plastered
w alls. O ld w alls, in w h ich th e ca u stic lim e has b e c o m e c o n ­
v erted in to a ca rb on a te a n d silicate, are so stro n g ly o d o -n e g a ­
tiv e th at n o sen sitive ca n sleep w ith h is b a c k tow ard s su ch a
w a ll; h e feels an in co n tr o lla b le desire to face it. H e n c e also

Hosted by G o o g l e
 F rom C r y s ta lliz a tio n a n d V ita l A c tio n . 235

o n e cau se o f th e in ju riou s a ctio n o f sto n e floors. A ll vessels

o f bu rn ed earth , as p o tte ry , ston ew a re, p o r ce la in , & c., w ith
g la zin g s o f o x id e o f lea d, tin ash, g y p s u m , felspar, qu artz o r
b ora x , are stro n g ly o d o -n e g a tiv e . D r y b on es are n early in ­
d ifferen t. I r o n stoves b e in g p ositiv e are p a in fu l, an d e a rth e n ­
w are stoves b e in g n ega tiv e are a g reea b le, to sen sitives. L o w
r o o m s an d n arrow passages p r o d u c e p a in fu l effects fr o m th e
n e g a tiv e a ctio n o f th e w alls o n th e n eg a tiv e p oles, a n d th eir
o v e rc h a rg in g o f th e p ositive p oles o f th e b o d y .
T h e earth as a w h ole is o d o -p o s itiv e . H e n c e th e n ecessity
fo r a sen sitiv e’ s sleep in g o n th e r ig h t side.

M. C r y s ta lliz a tio n as an A c t.

7 3 . E x p e rim e n ts are difficu lt, b eca u se w hen cry sta lliza tion
is slow it is im p e rc e p tib le to sig h t an d fe e lin g , and w h en
rap id it is a ccom p a n ied b y a d ev e lo p m e n t o f th e r m o m e tric
h eat. B y m eans o f th e rapid c ry sta lliza tio n o f G la u b e r’ s
salt, R e ic h e n b a c h was en a b led t o separate th e o d ie an d th e r ­
m o m e tr ic effects, and d eterm in ed th at cry sta lliza tion gives o u t
n e g a tiv e o d d u rin g th e fo r m a tio n o f th e cry sta ls.

N. V ita l a c tio n as a sou rce o f o d in so fa r a s it a ffe c ts liv in g

h u m an orga n s, th a t is, B i-o d .

a. P o la r ity o f P la n ts.

7 4 . T h e resu lta n t o f th e o d ie em a n a tion s o f p la n ts is

n ega tive.
I f a le a f b e h eld v ertica lly , p o in t u pw ards, an d b a ck or
u n d e r side tow ards th e h old er’ s breast, its p oles c o rre sp o n d to
th o se o f a m a n ; n e g a t i v e at to p o r p o in t o n th e rig h t, and at
th e b a ck ; p o s i t i v e at th e base o r stalk e n d o n th e left, and in
fr o n t o r on th e u pper side. H e n c e th e n ega tiv e u n d e r side
is tu rn e d to th e positiv e earth, an d th e p ositiv e u p p er side to
th e n eg a tiv e su n lig h t.
T h e o u te r an d dow n w ards tu rn e d p etals o f th e c o ro lla are
o d o -n e g a tiv e w ith resp ect to th e in n e r an d u p p er parts.
P la n ts tu rn tow ards th e b lu e, o r c h e m ica l and o d o -n e g a tiv e
rays, and fr o m th e y e llo w and red , o r o d o -p o s itiv e rays.
D e a d leaves have n o od ie p o la rity . H a y is u npleasan t
fro m its p ositiv e od .

h. P o la r itie s o f M a n a n d th e L o w e r A n im a ls .

a . P o la r itie s o f e n tir e b e in g s a n d th e ir sev era l m em b ers.

7 5 . T h e e g g is positiv e at th e b ig and n ega tiv e at th e

little en d . T h e n ega tiv e head o f th e c h ic k lies in this n ega ­
tive little en d . W e m a y ob serv e th at th e ch ild g en era lly lies
VO L. X III. s

Hosted by G o o g l e
236 F rom V ita l A c tio n .

in th e •womb w ith its n eg a tiv e h ea d to th e m o th e r’ s positiv e

le ft side. M o th e r s g e n e ra lly c a rry th e ir su ck lin g s o n th e le ft
arm w ith th e h ead t o th e le ft. T h e e g g derives its p o la rity
fr o m th e c h ic k .
A n im a ls are all p o la riz e d as m an.
76. T h e b lo o d carries m ix ed o d th r o u g h th e b o d y , p ositiv e
fr o m fr ictio n , n eg a tiv e fr o m th e ch em ica l a ction o f th e lu n g s,
See.
7 7 . W h e n o n e p e r so n lo o k s at a n oth er, th e first ex ercises
an o d ic in flu e n ce o n th e se c o n d , d ifferen t fo r each ey e, so th at
a lth ou g h a sen sitive can b e a r h is righ t ey e to b e r eg a rd ed b y
a le ft ey e, & c., h e c a n n o t en d u re it to b e fixed b y r ig h t ey e.
7 8 . I f a spiral w ire b e w ra pped r o u n d a b o d y and o d o -
p ositiv e an d o d o -n e g a tiv e h a n d s be applied to th e e x trem ities,
n o in d u ctiv e o d ic e ffe ct is p ro d u ce d .
7 9 . O d ic p ow er in a m a n is w eak en ed b y an y e x e rtio n o f
h is stren g th .
8 0 . E v e ry d e v e lo p m e n t o f m u scu la r stre n g th d ev elop s od ,
w h ich in crea ses w ith its in crease,'— positiv e o n th e left, n ega tiv e
o n th e r ig h t, side. H e n c e m u scu lar ex e rtio n does n ot, lik e
fr ictio n , d ev elop a co n s ta n t u n ip ola r od , b u t o n ly th e o d
b e lo n g in g t o th at p o r tio n o f th e b o d y in w h ich th e e x ertion
ta k es p la ce.
T h e p h y s ica l d e v e lo p m e n t o f stren g th in an y p erson c o m ­
p lica tes th e a ction o f h is o d , p a rtly b y c o n d u c tio n an d p a rtly
b y c o m m u n ica tio n i n d i s t a n s , an d can b e passed ov er w ith th e
o d to oth er p erson s in a c e rta in deg ree.
8 1 . O n th e a p p roa ch o f lik e poles th e o d o n e n te r in g th e
b o d y p r o d u c e s a series o f ra p id q u iv erin g sen sa tion s, w h ich
fo llo w in reverse o r d e r w h en th e sou rce o f od is rem ov ed .

/3. S e n s itiv e E x c ita b ility .

8 2 . O d ic e x cita b ility is v ery d ifferen t in d ifferen t p erson s,

re a c h in g fr o m an im p e rce p tib le co n d itio n to v io le n t m a dn ess.
O d ic e x cite m e n t d ep en d s, lik e all oth ers, u p o n th e d e g re e o f
e x cita b ility in th e re cip ie n t, a n d th e stren g th o f th e e x citer.
8 3 . T h e d e g r e e o f e x c i t a b i l i t y i s l o w e r e d b y a fu ll m eal, b y
d r in k in g w in e, b y a ca ta rrh o r c o ld in th e h ead, b y b o d ily
ex ercise, b y la y in g th e h a n d s to g e th e r, b y lo o k in g at a p o w e r ­
fu l sou rce o f o d (as a fla m e, o r an e y e), b y rh eu m a tic a ffec­
tio n s and m e g rim , b y r e co v e ry fr o m th ose diseases w h ich
in crea se th e d eg ree o f e x cita b ility (as th o se w h ich are a c c o m ­
p a n ied b y so m n a m b u lism ), b y a lo n g u n iform a p plication o f th e
e x c itin g cau se, b y d o w n passes, esp ecia lly c o m p le te d ow n w a rd
passes, and g e n e r a lly b y a n y loss o f p ow er in th e h u m a n b o d y .

Hosted by G o o g l e
 S e n s itiv e E x c it a b ilit y . 23 7

T h e d eg r e e o f e x c ita b ility is h e ig h te n e d b y a g o o d sleep

w h ich in creases stre n g th w ith o u t d im in is h in g th e diseased
c o n d itio n o f th e sen sitive, b y fa s tin g o r m o d e ra tio n in diet,
m en stru a tion (n ot d u rin g th e w h o le tim e, h u t th e first d a y
a n d th e d a y b efore, th e d eg ree sin k s o n th e se co n d d a y an d
o n th e th ird th e o rd in a ry c o n d itio n r e tu rn s ), p r e g n a n c y , so-
c a lle d h ysteria , b y m a n y diseases (m ea sles), b y u p passes,
esp e cia lly co m p le te upw ard passes, an d b y sim ilar o d ic action ,
(as b y th e op era tor sta n d in g b eh in d th e sen sitive.)
8 4 . T h e p e r m a n e n t p o i n t s o f p r i n c i p a l o d i c e x c i t a b i l i t y are
th e p o in ts o f th e fin gers (the h a n g in g h a n d w ith lo o s e ly d is­
jo in e d fin gers is b e s t adapted fo r te s tin g th e o d ic qu alities o f
a n y o b je c t ), th e ro o ts o f th e nails, th e p it o f th e stom a ch
(sola r p le x u s), u n d e r th e eyes (n ervu s in fra -o rh ita lis ), th e
n ip p le , th e c ro w n o f th e h ead, th e lip s, an d a p o in t o n th e
fo r e h e a d im m ed ia tely ab ov e th e n ose at a b o u t tw o th ird s th e
h e ig h t o f th e foreh ea d .
A c c id e n t a l p oin ts o f g rea t e x cita b ility are o fte n o cca sion ed
b y w ou n d s o r diseases. S o m e p a tien ts are m ore sen sitive for
p ositiv e and oth ers fo r n ega tiv e od .
T h e u n c o v e r e d sk in is m ore sen sitive th a n th e c lo th e d .
D o w n qu ilts an d b e d -co v e rs w ill sca rcely allow a n y o d to pass.
S en sitiv es are at th e b e g in n in g o f a series o f ex p erim en ts
seld om so clea r an d certa in o f th e n a tu re o f th eir sen sation s
as th e y b e c o m e after th e ir a tte n tio n h as b e e n d ire cte d to
th e m . “ F r l. Z in k el,” says R e ich e n b a c h , “ w h o is so g o o d
an d c le a r a sen sitive, gave m e n u m erou s in c o r r e c t answ ers in
h e r first s é a n c e s . I let h er h ave h er o w n w a y as I saw she
w as sh y an d fr ig h te n e d . W h e n sh e h a d b e g u n to fe e l at
h o m e an d qu iet, an d h er sen sation s b e c a m e fam ilia r, h e r replies
w e re all p e r fe c tly ex a ct. T h e sam e w as th e case w ith m a n y
o th e r sen sitives.” T h is assim ilates sen sitiv en ess t o o th e r n e rv ­
ou s an d m u scu la r a ction s.
8 5 . D iffe re n t p erson s possess th e p o w e r o f o d ic e x cite m e n t
in v ery d ifferen t d eg rees. N e ith e r s u sc e p tib ility n o r p o w e r to
e x cite d e p e n d , as rega rd s d eg ree, o n y o u t h o r a g e. B u t th e
q u a lity o f th e od e m a n a tin g , ev en w h en o f th e sam e p ola rity ,
is v e ry d ifferen t fo r d ifferen t p eop le, a n d so m e sen sitives
c a n d istin g u ish p erson s b y th eir o d ic ch a rg es a lon e. T h ere
is also a d ifferen ce o f sex. W o m e n d o n o t lik e th e sim ilar
o d ic em a n a tion s o f o th e r w om en , so m u c h as th e dissim ilar
o d ic em a n a tion s o f m en ; an d c o n v e rs e ly . T h e e x a ct n atu re
o f th e d ifferen ces still req u ires in v e s tig a tio n .

7 . M o d e o f A ctio n o f O d ic E x c item e n t.

86 . T h e a ctio n o f o d o n th e sen sitiv e sen se, t o use this

s 2

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238 S o r e tic a n d N e m e tic M o d es o f A ctio n .

ex p ression fo r th e tim e , falls n a tu ra lly in to o d o -p o s itiv e an d

o d o -n e g a tiv e . B u t th is is o n ly th e case, in th e p ro p e r sen se
o f th e w ords, w h e n th e o d is ap plied on th e sam e s p o t o f th e
sen sitive b o d y w ith ou t a n y c h a n g e in in te rn a l o r ex tern a l
c o n d itio n s. I f a n y th in g essential or a ccessory is c h a n g e d ,
th e n atu re o f th e sen sa tion an d o f its p e r ce p tio n is also
ch a n g ed . I n th is case, r e g a rd in g th e a ctio n fro m a n oth er
p o in t it m a y b e sep arated in to —
F irst, an a ccu m u la tiv e, c h e c k in g a ction , w here w e im a g in e
th e o d to b e fo r ce d b a ck an d co n d e n se d , as a cu r re n t o f w ater
w h ich is s t e m m e d ; th is R e ich e n b a c h n am es s o r e t i c , fr o m
a r o p e l a , a h e a p in g up, an d

S e c o n d ly , a resolv in g , d issip a tin g a ction , w h ere w e im a ­

g in e th e o d o r its a ccu m u la tion to b e dispersed, o r r a r ifie d ;
an d th is R e ic h e n b a c h n am es n e m e t i c , fro m v e g w , I ta k e aw ay.
S o r e t i c a ctio n is p r o d u c e d b y an up pass, n e m e t i c b y a

d ow n pass. I n th e first th e o d is, as it w ere, fo r c e d tow a rd s

th e cen tre, a n d in th e secon d draw n fro m it — th is b e in g o f
cou rse a m e re ly illu strative c o n ce p tio n .
T h ese are th e sim p lest cases, an d are o f com p a ra tiv ely
rare o c c u r r e n c e . “ "W hen a pass is m ade fro m h ea d to fo o t

its first e ffect o n all th e parts it h as n o t reach ed is a c c u m u la ­

tive, or s o r e t i c ; a n d on th o se w h ich it has passed, dispersive
o r n em e tic. S u p p ose th e n a pass to be m a de, as th e F r e n c h
o fte n m a k e it, fr o m th e h ea d to th e stom a ch , an d th ere b e
te r m in a te d ; th e u p p er pa rt o f th e b o d y w ill be trea ted n e m e ti-
ca lly , th e lo w e r an d th e extrem ities soretica lly an d so le ft to
th em selves. W h a t has ta k en p la ce m ea n w h ile in th e arm s ?
T h e pass w en t ov er th e breast and sh ou lders at th e ro o t o f
th e arm s an d le ft th e arm s u n to u ch e d . N o w (§ 3 3 . Z o is t,

N o . L ., p. 1 2 8) a dissim ila r c o n ta c t w ith th e sh ou ld er places

th e w hole lo w e r pa rt o f th e arm in an accu m u la tiv e c o n d itio n .
H e n c e a d ow n w a rd pass e n d in g at th e stom a ch p la ces b o th
u p p e r an d lo w e r ex trem ities in an o d ic c o n d itio n o p p osed to
th a t w h ich it p ro d u ce s in th e b o d y . H e n c e w e see h o w
illo g ica l su ch passes are, w h en in ten d ed o n ly to p r o d u c e a
n e m e tic effect. F r l. B e y e r an d oth ers o fte n asked fo r d o w n
passes over th e arm s after th ey h ad b e e n m a d e over th e b o d y .
T h e reason is n ow ap paren t. B u t w e also k n o w th at m a n has
a la titu d in a l a n d tran sverse as w ell as a lo n g itu d in a l axis, an d
th at his w h ole b o d y is th ic k ly strew n w ith g ro u p s an d fibres o f
r e tu rn in g n erves,, w h ich w ill b e affected soretica lly w h en th e
p rin cip a l n erv ou s stem s are affected n em etica lly . H en ce, in
every pass, n o m a tter w h a t its d ir e c tio n , th ere m u st b e an
en dless c o m p lica tio n o f a ccu m u la tiv e an d dispersive a ction .
P o s itiv e an d n e g a t i v e s h o u ld c o n s e q u e n tly on ly b e u sed fo r

Hosted by G o o g l e
 S o r e tic a n d N em e tic G rou p s o f S e n s a tio n s . 239

fo r th e p ola r v a lu e o f o d , so retic an d n e m e tic fo r th e n erv ou s

c o n d itio n s th e y g en e ra te .” .
87. S o r e t i c g r o u p s o f s e n s a tio n s , a rra n g ed in in c re a s in g
ord er.

a. D is c o m fo r t ; ro u s in g , aw a kin g, e x c it in g ; disag reea blen ess,

p a in fu ln ess, d istu rb a n ce.
b . T e p id it y ; w arm th , h eat, persp ira tion , v ex a tion , an ger.

c . F u ln e s s ; th ic k e n in g , sw ellin g , stuffiness, h eavin ess.

d . C o b w e b s ; h airin ess, (as i f cov e re d w ith fu r, p a m s t i g k e i t in

th e B a va rian an d A u stria n dia lect,) creep in ess (as i f th ere

was a soft g r o p in g m o tio n u n d er th e sk in , an a u g m e n ta ­
tive o f hairin ess, in th e V ie n n a d ia lect w u r l n , ) tin g lin g
(an a u g m en ta tiv e o f creepiness, th e in te rn a l sen sa tion o f
m o tio n b e in g g rea ter an d m ore d istin ct, & c., V ie n n a
g r u s e l n ), fo r m ic a t io n ; p r ick in g , th r o b b in g , e la sticity ,
v erm icu la tion .
e . O p p ression , co n fin e m e n t o f th e ch est, a n x iety , b e a tin g o f

th e h eart.
/ . O p p ression at th e stom a ch , sto m a ch -a ch e , n au sea, fa in tin g ,
spasm in th e stom a ch , v o m it in g ; p ressu re o n th e h ead,
h ea d -a ch e, m eg rim .
g . B u r n in g o f th e e y e s ; w aterin g o f th e eyes, w eep in g .
h . Y a w n in g , to n ic an d c lo n ic spasm s, cata lep sy.

i . N u m b n e s s w ith ou t s le e p ; dead fin gers, feet, h a n d s, arm s

an d l e g s ; n u m b n ess o f th e lim b s, te m p o ra ry b lin d n e s s ;

tra n ce, rig id ity , ap paren t death.
k . M a d n ess, tem p ora ry o r p erm a n en t.

88 . N e m e t ic g r o u p s o f s e n s a tio n s .
a . C o m fo rt, q u ietin g , a greeablen ess, ch eerfu ln ess.

b . F resh n ess, co oln ess, co ld , w in d y co ld , fro sty c o ld , g o o s e ­

sk in , te e th -ch a tte rin g .

c . S leep in ess, sleep, stren g th en in g .

d . E m p tin ess, lig h tn ess, fea th ery lig h tn ess.

e . D r a w in g , p in c h in g , (la cin g to g e th e r , z u s a m m e n s c h n u e r e n , )

fib ry feel, p rick in g .

f . S o m n a m b u lism (soon er o r la ter, after th e w h o le o r pa rt o f
th e p r e ce d in g steps o r w ith ou t an y fo re ru n n e rs, a c c o r d ­
in g to th e in clin a tion o f th e v ariou s d e g rees o f sen sitiv e­
ness.)
8 9 . M i x e d e f f e c t s . — S in ce positiv e an d n e g a tiv e od d o n ot
d e s tr o y each oth ers effects, (as positiv e a n d n e g a tiv e e le c tr i­
c ity and m a g n etism appear to d o,) b o th ca n b e p erceiv ed at
o n c e as a c tin g o n th e sen sitive. S en sa tion s are th e n e x p e ­
r ie n c e d w h ich th e sen sitiv e term s d isa g reea b ly c o ld , h ard co ld ,
s t iff c o ld , te p id co ld , jo in e d to h eaviness, c o n fin e m e n t o f th e

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240 M ix e d S en sa tio n s.

ch est, op p ression o n th e h ea d , tr e m b lin g a n d con v u lsiv e

attacks.
A n e x c e lle n t ex a m p le is afford ed in ta b le -tu r n in g , w h ere
th e n u m b e r o f c o n jo in e d h a n d s an d feet te n d to ch a rg e th e
ta b le p o w e rfu lly w ith m ix ed od , w h ich n o sen sitive c a n e n d u re,
an d h e n ce m a n y p erson s are u n a b le to c o n tin u e e x p erim en ts
in ta b le -tu r n in g a n d su ffer m o r e o r less fr o m th e a ttem p t.
M o s t diseases ca u se a m ix tu r e o f o d ic fe e lin g , so th at
w a rm th is fe lt w ith th e c o ld even o n a c o n ta c t o f dissim ilar
p oles. T h e h ea lth iest person s g iv e th e m o s t g e n e ra lly c o o l
sen sations, a n d th e g e n e ra l w arm th in creases w ith disease.
T h e s u n lig h t gives m ix ed sen sations, an d so d o e s w ater
o d iz e d b y th e su n 's rays.
W h e n w a te r is o d iz e d (or m esm erized ) in th e u su al w ay
b y b e in g h eld in o n e h a n d a n d p o in te d at b y th e o th er, or
h e ld w ith b o th h a n d s, it r eceiv es a m ix ed ch a rg e a n d is th e r e ­
fo r e v ery im p r o p e r ly o d iz ed . F o r certa in diseases it sh ou ld
b e o d iz e d p o s itiv e ly (w ith th e le ft h a n d o n ly ), a n d fo r oth ers,
a n d m o r e g e n e r a lly , n eg a tiv e ly (w ith th e r ig h t h a n d o n ly ).
T h is is b e s t d o n e b y h o ld in g th e glass in th e r ig h t h a n d (for
n eg a tiv e od ) o r le ft h a n d (fo r p ositiv e od) fo r a few m in u te s,
an d ta k in g c a re n o t to u se th e o th e r h an d eith er t o p o u r o u t
th e w ater o r t o offer th e glass. T h e p a tie n t sh ou ld ta k e th e
w a ter w ith th e sam e h an d.
Ts it b est t o m esm erise w ith a m a g n et o r w ith th e h a n d ?
W it h th e h a n d ; b e ca u se i t is alm ost p u re ly p ositiv e o r n eg a ­
tive, w hereas, th e steel o f th e m a g n e t b e in g p ositiv e in itself,
th ere is a m ix tu re o f o d ic em a n a tion s w h e n its m a g n e tic
p o le is a p p lied . F o r th e sam e reason cry sta ls are p re fe ra b le to
m a gn ets. C rysta ls p r o d u c e a p u re, u n ifo r m , m ild , q u iet,
pleasant, c o o l o d ic stream , w h ile m a g n ets, a lth o u g h g e n e ra lly
c o o l, h ave at th e sam e tim e so m e th in g h ard , u n sta b le, an d
d is tu rb in g to th e feelin g s, n a y ev en w arm a n d a lm ost sharp,
w h ich is u n p lea sa n t a n d som etim es p ro d u ce s p ersp ira tion in
th e m id st o f a fe e lin g o f co o ln e s s. T h ese rem ark s p a rticu la rly
a p p ly to th e u se o f h orsesh oe m a g n ets w ith b o t h p o le s ap p lied
to th e p a tien t a t o n ce .
I n d ista n t passes each h a n d w ill act sen sib ly as a dissim ilar
p o le o n o n e sid e a n d a sim ilar p o le o n th e o th e r, an d h e n ce
p r o d u c e m ix e d d isa g reea b le feelin g s. T h e re is n o p o s itio n o f
o n e h u m a n b o d y w ith re sp e ct to a n oth er in w h ich m ix ed
sen sations are n o t p r o d u c e d , d istin g u ish a b le b y th e h ig h e r
sensitives.
A c c id e n t a ffo rd e d a strik in g p r o o f o f m ix e d o d . R e ic h e n ­
b a ch p la ced a series o f crystals, a ba r m a g n e t, an d his r ig h t

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 L ife a n d D ea th . 241

h a n d , in su ch a m a n n e r as to c o n c e n tra te th eir n eg a tiv e o d ic

e ffe ct th r o u g h a len s o f 13 in ch e s dia m eter. F r l. Z in k e l
on p la cin g h er le ft h a n d in th e focu s fe lt a g en era l c o o l e ffe ct,
b u t in th e m id d le o n e u n p leasa n t, w arm , b u r n in g sp ot, a n d
o n th e r ig h t h an d a g en era l tep id effect w ith a c o ld p o in t.
O n ta k in g th e b u n d le o f crystals, & c., to p ieces, R e ic h e n b a c h
fo u n d , th at, in sp ite o f his care, h e h ad p la ce d th e s o u th ­
w ard o r positiv e p ole o f th e m a g n et tow a rd s th e glass. On
c o r r e c t in g th e error an d rep ea tin g th e e x p erim en t, n o su ch
h o t o r c o ld sp ot w as n ow p erceived . H e n c e m ix e d o d m a k es
it s e lf p e r ce p tib le w h en ra d ia ted and refra cted .

8. L ife.

90. H e a lth y o r g a n ic life is p rin cip a lly u n ip o la r a n d n e ­

g a tive. L ife , as su ch , m u st b e c o n s id e re d as o d ic a lly n e g a ­
tive, an d th e n e g a tiv ity is m o r e d e c id e d in a n im a l th a n in
v eg eta b le life.
e. D ea th .

T h e o d ic p o la rity w h ich is p erceiv ed b y a sen sitiv e in

ev ery liv in g b e in g , w h eth er clea rly alive o r i n a d e a t h t r a n c e ,
ceases g ra d u a lly to be p e rce p tib le a fter dea th , an d in som e
th ir ty -six h ou rs e n tir e ly disappears. H e n c e sen sitives b e c o m e
p ra ctica lly th e o n ly m ea n s w e possess o f d e te rm in in g th e
re a lity o f d ea th in m a n y cases, an d p r e v e n tin g th e h o rr ib le ,
a n d y e t n o t u n fre q u e n t, a c c id e n t o f b u r y in g a p e rso n n o t
o n ly alive b u t p e r fe ctly co n s cio u s o f all th at is b e in g d on e,
a n d y e t u n a b le to in d ica te h is life b y an y m ea n s o f h is o w n .
S ev eral su ch cases have c o m e to th e p erson a l k n o w le d g e o f
R e ic h e n b a c h , w h o , a fter h a v in g satisfied h im s e lf o f th e p o w e r
o f sensitives to d eterm in e th e reality o f death, ap p lied at th e
g rea t h ospitals in V ie n n a fo r p erm ission to a d m it F r l. Z in k e l
t o fe e l a series o f p a tien ts a n d dea d p erson s. “ I a p p lied ,”
sa id h e, “ to th e c h ie f p h y s icia n in th e n erv ou s p a tien ts’ d e ­
p a rtm e n t, an d h e asked th e d ir e c to r o f th e g rea t g en era l
h o sp ita l fo r perm ission to h ave som e o f th e dead b o d ie s ta k en
b y th e h a n d :— fla tly refu sed . I th e n applied t o th e d ir e c to r
o f th e g rea t h osp ita l in th e su bu rb o f W ie d e n , th r o u g h th e
c h ie f p h y s ic ia n :— fla tly refu sed ! T h e dea d m ig h t r o t an d
b e ea ten o f w o rm s, b u t n o t to u c h e d b y a h a n d , n o t ev en to
save th e w o rs h ip fu l d ire cto rs fro m b u r y in g th em alive. A n d
th is h a p p e n e d in th e im p eria l ca p ita l a n d ro y a l re sid e n ce o f
V ie n n a in th e y e a r o f g ra ce o n e th ou sa n d e ig h t h u n d r e d
a n d f if t y - t h r e e !”
“ S e n s itiv e s w ill be ou r p reserv ers in life a n d ou r s u r e tie s

in d e a t h !”

Hosted by G o o g l e
242 C u re o f th e a g on y o f a C ru sh ed F in g er.

[T h is c o n c lu d e s th e first se ctio n and first v olu m e. The

p rin cip a l co n clu sio n s o f ev ery d iv ision are h e re g iv en , b u t
th e n u m b erless ex p erim en ts b y w h ich th e y w ere d e m o n ­
strated an d illu strated , w h ich ren d er th e b o o k as a m u sin g as
it is in stru ctiv e, a n d th e m an y in stru ctiv e ob serv a tion s and
ca refu l n otes o f th e p reca u tion s n ecessa ry to en su re success,
are o f co u rse o m itte d . T h e ex trem e b rev ity o f th is ab stract
is sh ew n b y th e fact th at th e few pages o f th is an d th e fo rm e r
p a p er p re se n t an a c c o u n t o f th e m a tter co n ta in e d in 8 3 8
c lo s e ly -p r in te d large o cta v o G erm a n pages. T h e a b stra ct o f
th e se co n d v o lu m e w ill b e c o n tin u e d in fu tu re n u m b ers.—
A . J . E .]

II. C u res o f C ru sh ed F in g e r , C on d em n ed P a ls y o f b o th A rm s

a n d on e L e g , T ic D o u lo u r e u x , a n d U lc e r a te d L e g in w h ic h

th e d o cto r h a d c o n s id e r e d tr ea tm e n t u s e le s s . B y M r.
W il l ia m G ib b in s , C roydon. C o m m u n ica te d b y D r.
E llio ts o n .
“ I have devoted more years than Mr. Carpenter is old to the improvement
of the medical profession:—I. Upon the Medical Reform; II. Medical Poor
Law Relief; III. Vaccination; and, lastly, my opposition to the fashionable
quackeries of the day, viz., homoeopathy, hydropathy, m e s m e r i s m &c.—
George Bottomley, Surgeon, Croydon, Dec. 10, 1854. A s s o c i a t i o n J o u r n a l ,
Dec. 15, 1854; p. 1132*

D r . E llio ts o n .
S i r , — I n c o m p lia n ce w ith y o u r w ishes I have sen t y ou
fo u r cases c u r e d by m e w ith m esm erism . I w ish to say that
I am in d e b te d to th e la te la m en ted It. B a rrett, E sq . fo r m y
in tr o d u ctio n t o th e M e sm e r ic In firm a r y fo u r y ea rs since,
w h ere “ I saw an d b elie v e d .”

C ru sh ed F in g e r .

M y first ca se was th at o f m y o w n so n — a b o y th en 14
y ears o f age, w h o h ad h is fin g e r cru sh ed b y th e sla m m in g o f
a h eavy d o o r . T h e fin g er b eca m e v ery m u c h in flam ed , as
d id th e arm t o th e sh ou lder. F o r tw o days an d n ig h ts m y
w ife p o u ltice d it, b u t th is d id n o t reliev e th e p a i n , w h i c h w a s
v ery g rea t. O n th e th ird d a y I p rop osed to m esm erise it,
a n d g o t la u g h e d at o f c o u r s e : b u t I p ersev ered a n d at last
p reva iled. I m a de passes fo r a b ou t fo u r m in u tes ov er th e
part, w h en h e ex cla im ed , “ O h , f a t h e r ! m y a r m i s i n s u c h

* We shall be delighted if this old gentleman will let us know where his op­
position can be read. We will not fail to answer him. We have already spoken
of him in No. X LIX ., p. 421.— Z o i s t .

Hosted by G o o g l e
 C u res o f P a ls y , N e u r a lg ia , a n d U lc e r a te d L eg . 243

p a in ." I k e p t o n a b o u t five m in u tes m o re , w h en h e to ld m e

th e p a i n w a s g o n e ; b u t it fe lt so b e n u m b e d th at I c o n tin u e d
m a k in g passes fo r a b o u t fifteen m in u tes, w h en h e to ld m e
th a t h e th o u g h t i t w a s w e l l ; a n d h e n e v e r f e l t a n y m o r e o f i t .
I t h ealed so soon th a t I w as q u ite aston ished, and I m a de
co n v e rts o f b o t h m o th e r a n d son . T h is was n e a rly fo u r
y ea rs ago.
P a ls y o f b o th A rm s a n d on e L eg .

M y n e x t case w as th at o f W illia m O u ttra m , a g a rd en er,

a g e d 6 6 . H e h a d n e a rly l o s t t h e u s e o f b o t h a r m s a n d o n e
l e g : and c o u ld n o t dress o r u n d ress h im s e lf w ith o u t assist­

an ce. H e w as an o u t-p a tie n t at o n e o f th e L o n d o n h osp ita ls

fo r t h r e e m o n t h s . H e was also u n d e r D r . S y lv ester at C la p -
h a m , an d afterw ards u n d e r a m ed ica l g e n tle m a n * o f C r o y d o n
f o r tw e lv e m o n th s. T h e la st-m en tion ed g e n tle m a n to ld his
w ife th a t it w as u s e l e s s t o p u t t h e m t o a n y f a r t h e r e x p e n s e , a s
h e w a s p a r a ly z e d fr o m h ea d to fo o t.

I b eg a n to m esm erise in N o v e m b e r, 18 51 , an d m e sm er­

ised o n ce a d a y fo r n i n e t e e n su ccessive days, w h en I le ft h im
a b le to g o to w o r k . H e sh ortly afterw ards p ro cu re d w ork w ith
C . P e n fo ld , E s q ., th e n o f C r o y d o n , n ow o f S y d e n h a m , fo r
w h o m he has w o rk e d ever sin ce, w ith th e e x ce p tio n o f a sh ort
tim e last w in ter w h en h e was laid u p a m o n th w ith a v iolen t
c o ld . H e still c o n tin u e s to w ork fo r M r . P e n fo ld at S y d e n ­
h a m , g o in g o n M o n d a y m o r n in g and r e tu rn in g o n S a tu rd ay
e v en in g . H e lives at N o . 11, T h a n e t P la ce, C r o y d o n .

T ic D o u lo u r e u x .

M y n e x t case was th e w ife o f th e a b ove, H a r r ie t O u ttra m ,

w h o was afflicted w ith tic d ou lou reu x . S h e had h ad th e p a in
so v io le n t fo r tw e n ty -fo u r h ou rs th a t she to ld m e she th o u g h t
sh e m u st lose h e r sen ses. S h e h ad p o u ltice s o f m u stard an d
p ep p er, b u t th e pa in so d ea d en ed th e fe e lin g th at sh e e x p e ­
r ie n c e d n o u n p lea sa n t sen sa tion fr o m either. I m esm erised
h e r a b o u t s e v e n m i n u t e s , w h en she ex cla im ed , “ I feel so v ery
f a i n t a n d so o n a fte r th a t th e p a in w a s e n tir e ly g o n e . She
t o ld m e a few da ys b a c k sh e h a d n o t h a d i t s i n c e .

U lc e r a ted L eg .

I n ow c o m e t o an u lce r a te d le g , in w h ich th e d o c to r s had

c o n s id e re d all trea tm en t u seless, in a fem a le w h o does n o t
w ish h er n a m e m a d e p u b lic, b u t w h o w ill answ er priv ately
t o a n y scep tica l p e rso n fo r all that I have w ritten . H er
n a m e is A -------- G --------- , w ife o f a w ------------ o f C r o y d o n . Sh e

* Dr. Burney.

Hosted by G o o g l e
244 In su lts to th e S c o ttis h A s s o c ia tio n

h as b e e n th e m o th e r o f n in e c h ild re n , an d p reviou sly t o h er

a c c o u c h e m e n t fo r th e last f i v e t i m e s sh e h ad b een afflicted w ith
a b a d le g th a t she ascribes to certa in even ts w h en y o u n g .
E a c h s u c cessiv e t i m e t h e l e g b e c a m e w o r s e , an d th e seven th

an d e ig h th tim es th e c h ild w as s till-b o r n : th e d o c to r stated

th is to b e e n tir e ly o w in g to th e state o f h e r leg .
I n M a r c h , 1 8 5 4 , she was a b ou t six m on th s g o n e , an d h e r
le g was so b a d th a t sh e h ad n o r e s t d a y o r n i g h t , a n d c o u l d
n o t w a lk a cro ss th e room w ith o u t th e a s s is ta n c e o f a cru tch .

T h e d o c to r to ld h e r h e c o u l d d o n o t h i n g f o r h e r , as it c o u ld
n o t g e t b e tte r till a fter h e r co n fin e m e n t, w h ich h e said w ou ld
ta k e p la ce at s e v e n m o n t h s .
W it h o u t h a v in g m u c h fa ith in it, sh e a sk ed m e t o tr y
m esm erism . I did so, an d a fter m y m a k in g passes b e fo r e h e r
f o r f i f t e e n m in u te s she w as a g reea b ly su rprised t o fin d t h e p a i n

g o n e. I d id n o t th in k o f th e le g h e a lin g till a fter h er c o n ­

fin e m e n t : b u t th o u g h t I c o u ld in a g rea t m easu re reliev e th e
p a in . I m esm erised h e r ev ery e v e n in g fo r t h r e e w eeks an d
k e p t it f r e e f r o m p a i n , an d a t th e e n d o f th at tim e th e l e g
h e a le d to h e r surprise an d m in e. S h e w e n t h e r t i m e , th e
c h ild w as b o r n , an d is n o w l i v i n g — a fin e h e a lth y girl. In
th e severe w ea th er last w in ter h er le g b e g a n to sw ell again.
I m esm erised it a few tim es, b r o u g h t it r o u n d , a n d it has
been q u i t e w e l l e v e r s i n c e !
T h a n k in g y o u fo r th e v alu ab le in fo rm a tio n I receiv ed
w h en I saw y o u ,
I rem ain , y o u r h u m b le servan t,
W il l ia m G ib b in s .
13, T h a n et P la ce , C r o y d o n .

III. C u re o f N e u r a lg ia o f th e F a c e a t on e s ittin g , R h e u m a tis m

o f lo n g sta n d in g a t o n e s ittin g , P a in o f th e F a ce, P a ls y

o f th e F a ce s u c c e s s fu lly tr ea te d a s fa r a s M esm erism w a s

a llo w e d , g rea t r e lie f in C a n cer w h ile M esm erism w a s

a llo w e d , cu re o f C h ro n ic I n fla m m a tio n o f th e O v a ry. By

J o h n J a m e s B i r d , E s q ., o f M a d d o x S treet.
“ PROVINCIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
u Edinburgh, March 26, 1855.
“ Professor Gregory and Mesmerism.
u On the 22nd instant another of these disgraceful exhibitions which have
become so frequent of late took place. The Annual Meeting of the so-called
Mesmeric Curative Association was held, Professor Gregory presiding. There
was nothing in the whole entertainment sufficiently novel to call for any report,*
* Not the statements of a very large number of fine cures 1—Zoist.

Hosted by G o o g l e
 in th e M e d ic a l T im es. 245

nor need I again indulge in the reprobation which I have already expressed as to
the conduct of any professor who should give his countenance or sanction on
such an occasion. Can Professor Syme, whose honest indignation against his
colleague Bennet, for sanctioning the admission of Braid’s vagaries on this subject
into the Monthly Journal was the means of breaking up the professorial control
over that Journal, do nothing with his other more deeply criminal colleague? It
is, indeed, a melancholy spectacle ! One Professor supporting the absurdities of
mesmerism, not among scientific men, where its claims might be calmly and
scientifically discussed ;* but among a rabble rout, and in company with those
who, neither from their antecedents or (sic) from their presents, are likely to com­
mand a respectful reception for any scientific truth—another Professor the Magnus
Apollo of Mesmerism; while three of their enterprising colleagues, who, in an
age of Free Trade and Abolition of Tests, have done their best, in their own
Institutions, to oppose the former and maintain the latter, struck with the decline
which that Institution manifests, refuse to recognize the obvious causes which are
leading to it, and beguile their learned leisure by framing Bills for the Regulation
of the Profession, in the concoction of which the Profession are never consulted,
and whose grand purpose it is to maintain and extend, at all hazards, the interests
of their own University.” — M edical T imes, March 31, 1855 ; p. 317.

TO TH E E D IT O R S OF THE Z O IS T .

G e n t l e m e n ,— I h ave m u c h plea su re in fo rw a rd in g th e
fo llo w in g cases fo r in se r tio n in T h e Z o i s t , and b e g r e s p e c t­
fu lly t o s o licit fro m th e read ers o f th is jo u r n a l th e ir n o tic e o f
th e n o b le display o f fo r titu d e a n d p e r s e v e r a n c e ex em p lified in
C a se N o . 6 . D u r in g n ea rly tw o years o f an x iou s m esm erisin g
in th e m id st o f scep tics h er p e r s e v e r a n c e n ever fla gg ed . T o
th e p o l i t e o v a r i a n p h y s icia n in P a r k S treet, G ro s v e n o r S q u are,
w h o in 1 8 5 2 t o ld m e th a t n o v irtu ou s w om a n w ou ld a llow
h e r s e lf to b e m esm erised , I r e sp e ctfu lly su b m it th is case fo r
his lea rn ed and c h a r i t a b l e c o n s id e ra tio n . A n d to a ll w h o,
a fter h a v in g called in a m esm eriser, d ism iss h im , as I w as
la te ly dism issed in G rea t S ta n h o p e S treet, w ith th e v ery
s o o th in g reflex ion th a t “ th e d o c to r s in a tten d a n ce m a y n o t
lik e it,” I w ou ld g e n tly w h isper th at, h a d this la d y r eg a rd ed
th e ex p ression o f th e d o c to r ’ s d i s l i k e , sh e w ou ld n o t h ave
b e e n alive to requ est m e, as sh e has d o n e , to p u b lish h er case
fo r th e b e n e fit o f oth ers w h o, liv in g u n d e r th e m isery o f
leech es, b listers, and d ru g s w ith o u t n u m b e r , at le n g th d ie in
d espair. T h e su pin en ess o f e d u ca te d p e o p le a n d th eir p r o s ­
tr a tio n to m ed ica l b ig o t r y are to m e in co m p r e h e n sib le . The
facts a ccu m u la tin g in th e v o lu m e s o f T h e Z o i s t are fo r m in g
a p y ra m id w hich w ill cast its b r o a d sh adow ov e r th e R o y a l
C o lle g e o f P h y sicia n s.
T h e R e v . J e ffe ry E k in s , o f S a m p ford , in y o u r J u ly
N u m b e r , rem a rk s th a t “ M e sm e r is m ta k es w on d erfu lly w ith

* Were its “ claims calmly and dispassionately discussed ” by the medical

profession when the painless and successful amputation in the mesmeric state in
Nottinghamshire was detailed without comment in the Royal Medical and Chirur­
gical Society of London? Read Dr, Elliotson’s pamphlet, pp. 12—64.—Zoist.

Hosted by G o o g l e
246 C u res o f N e u r a lg ia a n d R h e u m a tis m .

th e p o o r , sca rcely a d a y p a ssin g w ith o u t an a p plication from

som e su fferin g p e r s o n a n d “ th a t i f th e c le r g y at la rg e
w ou ld o n ly take it as th eir v a d e m e c u m in th eir p a roch ia l
visits th e y w ou ld b e a m p ly r ew a rd ed b y h ea rin g th e v o ice o f
j o y an d h ea lth m ore fr e q u e n tly in th e d w ellin g s o f th e p o o r .”
M r . E k in s speaks w ith th e a u th o r ity o f d isin terested e x p e ­
r ie n c e : I k n o w h im as an orn a m e n t to m esm erism , and tru st
th a t his b reth ren o f th e C h u rch w ill h elp to d iffu se it m ore
g e n e ra lly in the h om es o f th e rich .
I h ave th e h o n o u r to be, G e n tle m e n ,
Y o u r very o b e d ie n t servant,
J ohn J am es B ir d .
2 2 , M a d d o x S treet, H a n o v e r S qu are,
J u ly , 18 5 5 .

I. N e u r a l g i a o f t h e F a c e c u r e d i n o n e s i t t i n g .
M a r y H a w k es had b e e n su fferin g fo r m a n y m o n t h s fr o m
n eu ra lg ia o f th e face, an d s c a r c e l y e v e r f r e e f r o m p a i n . She
had ta k en m u c h m e d i c i n e , b u t c o u ld g e t n o p e r m a n e n t r e l i e f ;
a n d ap plied to m e to m esm erise h er in N o v e m b e r , 1 8 5 4 .
W h ile m a k in g th e passes sh e fe lt th e pa in fo llo w in g m y
h a n d ; h e r ey es w ere firm ly closed , b u t she was qu ite c o n ­
sciou s. I n a h a l f a n h o u r s h e w a s e n t i r e l y f r e e f r o m p a i n .
I d id n o t see her again u n til th e 1 3 th o f J u ly , w h en ,
w a lk in g d ow n H ill S treet, B e r k e le y S q u a re, I h eard a v o ice
b e h in d m e, “ M r. B ird , I h a v 'n t had it s in c e .', T h e g irl
w as so m u c h im p rov ed in ap p earan ce th at I did n o t at o n ce
r e co g n iz e h er. S h e to ld m e th at, fro m th e day I had m e s­
m erised h er, she n o t o n ly h ad n o re tu rn o f h er pain, bu t was
b e tte r in h ea lth th a n she ever r e m e m b e re d to have b e e n , an d
w as liv in g in th e fa m ily o f S ir G e o r g e F o rb e s.

II. R h e u m a tic P a in s in th e L im b s o f lo n g sta n d in g a n d w a n t

o f s le e p cu red in o n e s ittin g .

O n th e 2 7 th o f A u g u s t, 1 8 5 3 , I h ad o c ca sio n to call u p o n
a la d y in K in g s la n d . S h e m e n tio n e d to m e th at h er servant
h a d lo n g su ffered fro m rh e u m a tic pa in s, w h ich h ad b een so
severe th e la st f e w days as t o d e p r i v e h e r o f s l e e p . I pro­
p o s e d to m esm erise h e r : an d, th is b e in g a g reed to, I la id h er
o n a c o u c h an d p r o ce e d e d w ith slow passes fro m th e foreh ea d
to th e k n ees. I n t e n m i n u t e s s h e w a s s o u n d l y a s l e e p . I m e s­
m erised lo c a lly fo r an h ou r, a n d le ft h er sleep in g . B e fo r e
lea v in g I d esired h er m istress to w rite an d tell m e i f I h ad
b en efitted h er, an d I receiv ed th e fo llo w in g l e t t e r :—
“ 3 , T rafalga r T erra ce, M o r t im e r R o a d , K in g s la n d .

“ D e a r S ir,— A c c o r d in g t o p rom ise, I d rop a lin e to say

Hosted by G o o g l e
 C u re o f P a in o f th e F a ce : b e n e fit in P a ls y . 247

th a t m y servant Ja n e a w ok e so o n after y o u l e f t : th e p a i n s
h a d left h e r , b u t a grea t stiffn ess r e m a in e d w h ich con tin u es.

T h e pa in has s l i g h t l y re tu rn e d . S h e r e s te d th a t n ig h t w ell.

“ Y o u r o b lig e d ,

“ S. G r e e n w o o d .”

III. P a in o f th e F a c e c u r e d a t o n e s ittin g .
N o v . 1 7 th , 1 8 5 3 . T h e la d y w ho is th e su b je ct o f th is sh ort
n o tic e h ad b een su fferin g fo r som e days fr o m la n cin a tin g
pa in s in th e fa ce, and c o u ld n o t sleep at n ig h t and h ad n o
a p petite. I m esm erised h er at 1 1 o ’ c lo c k in th e m o rn in g ,
and su cceed ed in tw en ty m in u tes in p r o d u c in g a tra n q u il
sleep. I rem a in ed som e tim e, p r o m is in g to retu rn at fo u r
o ’ c lo c k , and requ ested th e a tten d a n ts to keep th e h ou se v ery
qu iet. W h e n I c a lle d I fo u n d th a t she h ad n o t b een lo n g
aw ake, h er pain s h ad e n t i r e l y c e a s e d , an d h er ap petite h ad
retu rn ed . S ix m on th s a fter I receiv ed th e fo llo w in g l e t t e r :—

“ 12 5, S loa n e S treet.
“ M y dear S ir,— I receiv ed last n ig h t th e in te re stin g ac­
c o u n t o f th e op era tion p e r fo rm e d in th e M e sm e r ic I n s t itu ­
tio n , an d th a n k y o u m u ch fo r h a v in g sen t it. W h y is n o t
th is g rea t b lessin g to m a n k in d m ore g en era lly pra ctised ? I s
it b eca u se it ta k es u p t o o m u ch tim e ? T h e fa ct o f an o p e ­
ra tion b e in g p erform ed w ith ou t ca u sin g pain c a n n o t be d e ­
n ie d , an d as n o ill effects fo llo w fr o m m esm erism , w h y is it
n o t alw ays a d o p te d in su ch cases ? I am th a n k fu l to say I
h ave n o t su ffered from m y fa ce la tely .
“ B elieve m e, m y dear S ir, y ou rs tru ly,
“ M . A . Y a n s it t a r t .
“ J o h n Jam es B ird , E s q .”

IV . P a r a ly s is o f th e L im b s fro m b ir th : g rea t b e n e fit d e r iv e d

fr o m M esm erism .

M d lle . L e o n tin e de M a c e d o , a g ed 10 years, d a u g h ter o f

H is E x c e lle n c y th e C h ev a lier de M a c e d o , A m b a ssa d o r fr o m
th e E m p e ro r o f th e B razils, w as u n a b le to w alk. M a r ch 2 3 rd ,
1 8 5 4 , I en g a g ed to m esm erise h e r daily. I n six w eeks she
h a d m u ch im p rov ed in h ealth , an d b y th e en d o f M a y c o u ld
w a lk su p p orted . I n co n s e q u e n c e o f a c o ld H is E x c e lle n c y
d e c id e d to d iscon tin u e th e m esm erism o n th e 8 th o f J u n e,
an d I r eg ret to say th at it has n o t b e e n resu m ed , and I h ave
n o t h eard fro m h im sin ce. A n e x tra ct from a le tte r I r e ­
ceiv ed from H is E x c e lle n c y w ill ex plain . “ I h op e w e w ill
s o o n re co m m e n ce w ith M iss L e o n tin e , as u n d o u b te d ly she
was g o in g b e tte r b efore h er co ld : b u t I desire again to c o n -

Hosted by G o o g l e
248 G rea t b e n e fit in C a n cer.

su it th e p e r so n o f w h o m I sp ok e t o y o u , a n d w h o is ex p e cte d
b e fo r e fifte e n d a y s.”

Y. G rea t b e n e fit f r o m M esm erism in C a n c er : cu re p rev en ted

b y a w a n t o f p ersev era n ce.

J a n u a ry 4 th , 1 8 5 4 . I rece iv e d a le tte r fr o m w h ich th e

fo llo w in g is e x t r a c t e d : — “ I h ave co n s u lte d m y h u sb a n d , an d
h e th in k s m esm erism in m y case m ig h t b e o f grea t assist­
a n ce : an d, as m in e is a life a n d d ea th case, I fe e l I m u st
m a n a g e it som eh ow . I sh ou ld lik e to h ea r w hat y o u th in k
o f it, o r w h a t w ay y o u th in k w ou ld b e best. I am so v ery
an x iou s to d o w hat I can , as I see death starin g m e in th e
fa c e at p r e s e n t ; an d th o u g h I k n o w it is v ery w ro n g to b e
t o o an x iou s, an d th a t G o d k n o w s w hat is b est fo r us, still
som etim es I c a n n o t h elp w ish in g t o g e t w e ll.” T h is p a tien t,
a g ed 3 2 , th e w ife o f M r . R o b e r ts , g ro c e r, C rescen t P la ce,
P a r k R o a d , C laph am , w as su fferin g fr o m c a n ce r in th e breast.
S h e h ad b e e n in th e h a n d s o f m e d ica l m en th ree years, and
h a d su b m itte d to o n e o p e ra tio n o f rem ov a l w ith th e k n ife
u n d e r c h lo r o fo r m b y M r . S tartin . O th e r tu m ors fo r m in g in
th e sam e r e g io n , she p la ced h e r s e lf u n d er D r . C u rie, u n d e r
w h ose tre a tm e n t sh e re m a in e d so m e m o n th s u n til his death .
S h e th e n c o n s u lte d D r . E p p s, a n d it was at th is ju n c tu r e th at
she w rote t o ask m e to m esm erise h er, h a v in g d ecid ed n o t to
en d u re a n o th e r o p e ra tio n . I m a y b e allow ed to ob serv e, in
d e fe n ce o f m esm erism , th at I u n d e r to o k h er case g ra tu i­
to u sly . I c o m m e n c e d m esm erisin g h er o n ce a d a y fo r an
h o u r on th e 9 th o f J a n u a ry , and b y th e 3 0 th she had m u ch
im p ro v e d in g en era l h ea lth , h e r a p petite was b etter, h er
sleep tra n q u il, and th e tu m ors h ad decrea sed in size. So
p a lp ab le w as this, th a t I re q u e ste d h er n o t to in fo rm D r.
E p p s th a t sh e was b e in g m esm erised , fe e lin g a n xiou s to hear
h is o p in io n o f h er state. I a c co m p a n ie d h e r to D r. E p p s o n
th e 3 1 st J a n u a ry . H e h ad n o t seen h er fo r a m o n t h : h e
n o tic e d th e fa v ou ra b le c h a n g e in h e r state, as in d eed h ad all
h e r frien d s. H e t o ld h e r th a t she w as m u ch b etter, and th at
t h e l u m p u n d e r t h e a r m w a s d i s a p p e a r i n g , an d th at th e oth ers

w e r e less. S h e c o n tin u e d to im p ro v e slow ly u n d e r d a ily m e s­

m erisin g till th e 2 9 th M a r ch , w h en , r e m o v in g w ith h e r fa m ily
t o K in g s to n , sh e w as p la ce d b e y o n d m y reach . M y e x p e ri­
e n ce in th is case p rov es th e tru th o f D r. E llio t so n 's m a x im ,
th at n o m esm erist sh o u ld u n d erta k e a case unless h e is p r o ­
m ise d t o b e allow ed t o g ive m esm erism a fu ll trial. H er
h u sb a n d c o n s e n te d to m esm erise h e r ; and it was th e n th e
w ant o f p ersev era n ce w as sh ew n. S om e n ew treatm en t was
com m en ced. O n th e 9 th o f th is m o n th (J u ly , 18 55 ) I h eard

Hosted by G o o g l e
 C u re o f D is e a s e d O v a ry. 249

th a t sh e w as ly in g in a h op eless state, h a v in g b e e n u n d er
so m e q u a c k trea tm en t.

V I. C u r e o f C h r o n ic In fla m m a tio n o f th e O v a r y .
M rs . C o llin s, a g ed 2 9 , o f N o . 2 , L o w n d e s T e rra ce , K n ig h ts -
b r id g e , h a d b e e n u n d e r m ed ica l tre a tm e n t m o r e th an n in e
m o n th s fo r w hat w as term ed c h r o n ic in fla m m a tion o f th e
r ig h t o v a riu m . D u r in g th at p eriod , leech es h a d c o n tin u a lly
b e e n a p p lied , ex te r n a lly a n d in te rn a lly , as w ell as b lis t e r s ;
sh e had ta k en 1 8 0 la rg e b ottles o f m ed icin e , besid es p ills.
T h e p h ysicia n s co n s u lte d w ere D rs . L o c o c k , R o b e r t L e e a n d
P r o th e r o S m it h ; a n d she h ad a su rg eon in W il t o n S treet,
G ro s v e n o r P la ce. W h e n , on th e 2 9 th J u ly , 1 8 5 3 , I w as first
in tr o d u ce d to h er, sh e w as e x tre m e ly w eak and w a lk ed across
th e r o o m w ith th e u tm o s t d ifficu lty . S h e d id n o t b elieve in
th e cu rative p o w e r o f m esm erism , n o r d id h e r h u sb a n d o r
fr ie n d s : a n d in passin g I m u st a ck n o w le d g e th e im p a rtia lity
o f M r . C o llin s w h o im m e d ia te ly th a t m esm erism was a d op ted ,
a lth ou g h a t th e tim e h e h ad n o fa ith in it, refra in ed fr o m
in te rfe re n ce . T h r o u g h o u t th is m ost tr y in g ca se h e d id n o t
b y w ord o r sign th w a rt m e. O n th e ev en in g o f m y first
in tr o d u c tio n she w as in m u c h p a in . I m esm erised h e r o n e
h ou r, h er ey es b e ca m e sealed, b u t she w as c o n s c io u s . W h e n
I b e g a n h e r h ea d was v ery h o t a n d h e r fe e t ic y c o l d : she
fr e q u e n tly expressed sa tisfaction , sa y in g th a t I w as d o in g h e r
g o o d , “ s e n d in g it d o w n .” I le ft h er w ith a c o o l h ea d an d
w arm feet.
M o n d a y , A u g u s t 1st. T h e effect o f th e first m esm erisa tion
w as v ery s a tis fa c to r y : she slep t v ery so u n d ly a ll n ig h t an d
a w ok e w ith im p rov ed a p petite, b u t in v e ry g rea t p a in . T h e
fo llo w in g d a y leech es w ere again ap p lied i n t e r n a l l y w ith e f f e c t ;
a fter th e y w ere w ith d ra w n th ere was a flow o f m o r e th a n a
qu art o f d a rk c lo tt e d b lo o d . I m esm erised h e r m ore th an
an h o u r : a g en ia l h eat w as estab lish ed, an d I le ft h er in less
p a in and co m fo rta b le .
2 n d a n d 3 rd . I n m u c h p a in ; h er a p p etite w h ich h a d i n ­
crea sed a fter th e first sittin g , h a d again d e clin e d . I ob s e rv e d
a te n d e n c y t o m esm eric s l e e p : I m esm erised h e r fo r an h ou r,
sh e was m u c h reliev ed an d h er c o n fid e n c e in m esm erism in ­
crea sed.
4 th . B e tte r, slep t s o u n d ly all n ig h t, free fr o m pa in all d a y ,
a p petite im p rov ed . I n pain tow ards e v e n in g : d eriv ed m o r e
b e n e fit fr o m th e m esm eric passes a n d b r e a th in g o n th e seat
o f pain th a n at an y fo r m e r p e rio d : asleep part o f th e tim e ,
p a in a b a t e d : satisfied as to th e b e n e fit she is r e ce iv in g fr o m
m esm erism . D u r in g th is sittin g o f n early tw o h ou rs, she w as

Hosted by G o o g l e
 250 Excellent effects of Mesmerism.

in d isp osed t o speak, b u t occa sio n a lly rem a rk ed th a t she fe lt

v ery c o m fo r ta b le — th a t the fe e t w ere v ery w arm a n d th a t I
was m a k in g h er v ery h u n g ry .
5 th . H a d slept w ell, ap p etite g o o d , d ig e stio n m u ch im ­
p rov ed , in cre a se d p a in tow ards th e ev en in g , h y sterica l. E y e s
sealed, b u t c o n s cio u s : left h e r very h u n g ry .
6 th . B e tte r th a n at an y p rev iou s visit. S h e t o ld m e th at,
after m y le a v in g h er last n ig h t, th e p ain s cea sed , th a t she
h a d slept so u n d ly all n ig h t a n d h ad b e e n c o m fo r ta b le all day
bu t d ep ressed in spirits. P a in h ad co m m e n c e d a b o u t five
o ’ c lo c k this a fte rn o o n . T his has b e e n its h a b it th ese last fe w
days. M e sm e rise d as usual, slep t all th e t i m e ; m u c h relieved.
H a s alw ays d u r in g th e m esm erisin g fe lt a t in g lin g and n u m b ­
ness in th e lim b s, b u t n ow she said I seem ed to b r in g th e
pain in to th e k n ees. T o ld a la d y p resen t th a t she sh ou ld
n ev er fo r g e t h ow m u ch g o o d I was d o in g h er. T e lls m e th a t
th e su rg e o n a tten d in g h e r is an o p p o n e n t o f m esm erism and
th a t, fr o m th e m a n n er in w h ich h e had sp ok en o f it w h en she
to ld h im , sh e has fo r e b o r n e to m en tion it again to h im . S till
co n tin u e s to receiv e his m ed icin e, b u t has at m y req u est dis­
p en sed w ith th e b lis te rin g and b le e d in g .
8 th . D u r in g th e last tw o days m u ch b e t t e r ; says th at I
have d o n e h e r “ so m u ch g o o d ” at this s it t in g : slep t all the
tim e and a w o k e free fro m pain. I n c lin e d to dism iss th e sur­
g e o n w h o is th o r o u g h ly op p osed to m esm erism b u t m u ch
esteem ed b y th e fa m ily . I left this m a tter in h er ow n hands.
S h e ob serv ed , “ W h a t ca n I d o ? I m u st take his m e d ic in e :
y o u k n ow w h a t a d ecid ed o p p o n e n t he is to m esm erism , and
th a t I am k e e p in g th is a secret fr o m h im . I am rea lly
b e t t e r : th e b lo o d d oes n ot n o w m o u n t u p w a r d : I have n o
m o re h ea d -a ch e, flu sh in g o f th e fa ce,’ 1- & c., & c. I u rg e d h er
to d is co n tin u e the m ed icin e.
9 th . T o ld th e su rg e o n h er d e te rm in a tio n to d iscon tin u e
his m e d ic in e fo r o n e w eek . R e m a rk e d th a t opiates had
alw ays fa iled w ith h er an d th at she n ev er h ad ob ta in e d an y
r e lie f fro m c o n sta n t p a in till I m esm erised h er.
1 0th . M u c h b etter, slept w ell all n ig h t. A lw a y s h u n g ry
after b e in g m esm erised .
1 1th , 1 2 th , 13th . C on tin u es b e tte r b u t alw ays in pain
tow ards e v e n in g ; I seld om fail to a bate it. B e fo r e she was
m esm erised th ese pains fre q u e n tly co n tin u e d all n ig h t, so that
h er c o n d itio n was a ggravated b y w an t o f sleep. T h e su rg eon
tells h er th at she w ill a ga in req u ire lee ch e s, w h ich I refu se to
allow . O n m a k in g passes over th e liver, I p r o d u c e d a very
m arked effect. M rs. C . d escrib ed it as a le a p in g sen sation .

Hosted by G o o g le
 Spiteful conduct of her surgeon. 251

1 4 th , 15th . I n g rea t p a i n : th e leech es have n o t been

ap p lied.
1 6 th . M esm erised tw o h o u r s : th e su rg eon p ro n o u n ce s h er
b e t t e r : less in fla m m a tio n : he thinks the leeches may be dis­
pensed with. S h e has n ow fu ll fa ith th a t I shall in tim e effect
a cu re , an d w ishes th a t sh e h ad k n o w n m e m on th s e a r lie r :
e x p e c ts to su ffer m u ch b e fo r e she g ets w ell and k n ow s th a t it
w ill b e a severe trial fo r m e s m e r is m : was in th e m esm eric
sleep all this sittin g , an d e x h ib ite d m a n y traits o f m e sm e ric
a t t r a c t io n : aw ok e free fr o m pain . D eriv es m u ch ben efit
from passes over th e liv er.
1 7 th , I 8 th . A b le to w a lk a little in th e m o r n in g , b u t
o b lig e d to r e t u r n : in m u ch pain sin ce. I fo u n d h er su ffer­
in g severely fr o m th is effort, an d su cce e d e d in d e e p e n in g th e
sleep. A w o k e m u c h refresh ed a n d en tirely free from pain ,
b u t v ery d row sy. D u r in g th e sleep m e sm eric a ttra ction easily
d e v e lo p e d : sense o f sm ell an d taste e x a lt e d : a co m p le te
sy m p a th y o f these senses w ith m y se lf.
1 9 th . I n g rea t su fferin g, p ain s a g o n iz in g : m esm erised
from 8 till 10 : she retired fo r th e n ig h t. I th en m esm erised
h e r in b e d fo r sleep : su cce e d e d in te n m in u tes, c o n tin u in g
to m esm erise till o n e o ’ c lo c k , I o b ta in e d a m esm eric p rom ise
th a t sh e w ou ld sleep th r o u g h o u t th e n e x t day u n til m y visit
in th e even in g.
2 0 th . I had sen t h e r to sleep th e prev iou s ev en in g at a
little past ten . A t a b ou t e ig h t in th e m o r n in g rose fro m h e r
b e d as was her h a b it, b u t a s le e p : retu rn ed and c o n tin u e d to
sleep u n til h alf-past eleven , when she was aroused by the very
unkind interruption of the surgeon, who by his continued con­
versation and spiteful remarks about mesmerism irritated and
thoroughly awakened her. S h e c o n tin u e d d ro w sy all d a y, an d
b u t fo r this, to say th e least, u n fe e lin g , c o n d u c t, w o u ld I
d o u b t n o t have slept till th e tim e p rom ised . S h e was h o w ­
ever m u c h easier and b e t t e r : m esm erised h er lo c a lly , as in ­
d eed I u su a lly did.
2 1 st. A crisis seem s im m in e n t. I n fo r m e d m e to -d a y o f
a c h a n g e w h ich she says th e m esm erism has p r o m o te d — a
d isch a rg e o f clots. M esm erised lo ca lly tw o h ou rs.
2 2 n d . S p ok e to D r . E llio ts o n o f th e case : he con sid ers
it a c h r o n ic in fla m m a tion in th e ov a ry , and th a t m esm erism
w ou ld p ro b a b ly cu re h er, i f persevered in . O n m y a cq u a in t­
in g h e r w ith this and a sk in g i f sh e h ad still c o n fid e n ce in
m e, sh e answ ered, “ Y e s ; I k n ow th at y o u have b r o u g h t th is
crisis o n , and w ill cu re m e ; b u t I m u st y e t su ffer m o r e : I
am w ea k er.” M esm erised lo ca lly .
2 3 rd . H e r su rg eon (w h om I have n ev er seen ) has in ti-
VOL. X III. T

Hosted by G o o g le
252 Good conduct of Mr. Rutley, surgeon.

m a ted th a t i f she p refers th e m e sm e ric trea tm en t h e shall

w ith d raw . S h e has d ete rm in e d to co n tin u e it, an d h e has
retired .
2 4 th . U r. E llio tso n sen t fo r . H e has d ecid ed th a t th ere
is n o abscess, and p ro n o u n ce s th e case t o b e c h r o n ic in fla m ­
m a tion , an d u rges th a t she b e m esm erised reg u la rly till she
is w ell.
2 5 th . I have re q u e ste d h e r to co n fin e h e r s e lf to m e s­
m erised w ater in stead o f w in e o r o th e r bevera ge, e x ce p t tea
o r co co a .
2 6 th , 2 7 th , 2 8 th . T o -d a y p re tty c o m f o r t a b le : p ain s in ­
creased as u su al tow a rd s ev en in g . A t h er requ est a la d y
p re se n t,— M r s . G r e e n w o o d , m esm erised h er. H e r p ow er was
v e ry s o o th in g at th e tim e , b u t, o n h er d is co n tin u in g , th e
p a in retu rn ed . S h e d iscern ed a g re a t d ifferen ce in th e passes,
d e s crib in g m in e as v e ry sea rch in g , p en etra tive, y e t sooth in g ,
som etim es g iv in g m o re pain, b u t le a v in g h er fre e a n d c o m ­
fo rta b le afterw ards.
2 9 th . O b served h e r t o b e in a v ery e x cite d s t a t e : she
com p la in e d m u ch o f th e h ea d , passed a v ery restless n ig h t,
an d g e n e ra lly in g rea t p a i n : I a ttrib u ted th is p a rtly to cross­
m esm erism . B e g in n e rs m a y lea rn fro m th is circu m sta n ce
h o w m u c h ca re o u g h t to be ta k e n to p rev en t sim ila r states.
B e lie v e d h er h e a d : sen t h er t o s le e p : m esm erised lo ca lly .
S h e aw oke refresh ed a n d free fr o m pain .
3 0 th . D e riv e d m o re b e n e fit last n ig h t th a n at a n y o th e r
tim e : slept a ll n i g h t : co m fo rta b le all day.
3 1 st, S ep t. 1st, 2 n d , 3 rd . M r s . C . asserts th at she feels
m u ch b e tte r a n d stro n g e r. D r . E llio ts o n con sid ers h e r b etter,
an d has g iv en her p e rm issio n to g o in to th e co u n tr y .
4 th , 5 th , 6th , 7 th . M e sm e rise d as u su al. L e ft L o n d o n
fo r T u n b r id g e . I h a v e req u ested h er t o e m p loy a y o u n g
w om a n t o m a k e th e passes lo c a lly u n d er h er ow n d ire ctio n .
M r s . C . rem a in ed som e tim e at T u n b r id g e W e lls , an d th e n
p ro ce e d e d to D o v e r, an d e x p e rie n ce d a severe a ttack o f ill­
n ess fo re ig n to h e r c o m p la in t, b u t b y th e ab le and v ery k in d
trea tm en t o f M r . R u t le y , su rg eon o f th a t tow n , ca m e safely
th ro u g h . I have n o t seen M r . R u tle y , n o r have I had a n y
co m m u n ic a tio n w ith h im , b u t I co n ce iv e it t o be m y d u ty t o
r e co rd in The Zoist th e th a n k s o f m y p a tien t and m y s e lf fo r
h is k in d a n d e n lig h te n e d c o n d u c t, h on ou ra b le a lik e to th e
m an an d th e p rofession o f w h ich he is a m em b er.
N o v . 1 5 th . R e tu r n e d to L o n d o n m u ch b e tte r th a n I
e x p ected . S o far fr o m r id ic u lin g m esm erism , M r . R u t le y
b e g g e d h er t o resu m e it o n h er re tu rn to L o n d o n .
N o v . 1 6th to 3 0 th . M e s m e ris e d d a ily as usual w ith th e

Hosted by G o o g le
 Two instances of mesmeric jealousy. 253

a d d itio n o f passes d ow n th e spin e, and fr o m th em she is

d e riv in g ben efit.
D e c . 1st. I m u st b e a llow ed to d igress and m e n tio n som e
fa cts in m esm eric je a lo u s y . T h e re was a g irl in th e h ouse,
th e sister o f th e h ou sem aid . T h is g irl had lived as servant
w ith a la d y n ear th e R e g e n t’ s P a rk w h ose little g irl h a d b e e n
in ju re d in th e spin e, h a v in g fa llen d o w n an d b e e n ru n over
b y a h orse. T h e g ir l was cu re d b y a m esm erist u n d e r D r.
E llio ts o n ’ s su pervision . T h e la d y th o u g h t she c o u ld sen d
h e r servan t to s le e p : she tried , an d d e e p ly e n tra n ce d her.
S h e c o u ld n o t easily arouse h er, an d b eca m e frig h te n e d , an d
u sed v ery r o u g h m eans to effect h e r o b je c t. T h e g irl at
le n g th a w ok e sp on ta n eou sly , b u t v ery ill, an d c o n tin u e d to
su ffer so m u ch in th e head as to b e o b lig e d to leave h er p lace.
A s she had n o frien d s in L o u d o n , M rs . C ollin s a llow ed h er
to rem a in in h er h ou se till sh e w as b e tte r. I u n d e r to o k to
reliev e h er, an d fou n d h er ex tre m e ly su scep tib le. I sent h er
t o sleep : she slept ca lm ly m o re th a n tw o h ou rs : a w ok e very
h u n g r y an d q u ite w ell, an d con tin u e d so, an d s h o rtly a fte r­
w ards resu m ed h e r duties. T h is e v en in g (D e c. 1) th ere w ere
som e ladies p resen t w h o h ad ca lled to see M r s . C . T h e y
w ere v ery scep tica l a b o u t m esm erism . M r s . C . p rop osed
th a t I sh o u ld m esm erise E m ily . I d id so, a n d she slept
d e e p ly . I a llow ed h er to rem a in asleep w h ile I m esm erised
M r s . C ., w h o also passed in to th e m e sm e ric sleep. T h u s I
h a d o n e o n m y rig h t and a n oth er o n m y le ft h a n d th o r o u g h ly
m e s m e r is e d ; an d I fo u n d th a t I h ad p le n ty o f w ork to do.
O n a tte m p tin g to m o v e from M r s . C . sh e prep a red t o f o l lo w ;
and, h a d I b e e n d isp osed fo r fu rth e r ex p erim en t, w ou ld have
rise n fo r th e p u rp ose o r have ro lle d fro m th e c o u c h . I f I
a ttem p ted to g o over to th e oth e r, w h o was lik ew ise m u ch
d istu rb ed , she w ou ld arrest m e : and, o n m y p la cin g m y
h and o n th e h ead o f E m ily , M rs . C . w as im m e d ia te ly d is­
tressed , e x cla im in g in h er sleep th a t she was d ea th ly c o ld ,
h e r te e th m ea n w h ile ch a tte rin g and h e r w h o le fra m e v io le n tly
a g ita ted . S h e req u ested m e to aw aken h er, and n o t to u c h
E m ily till I h ad d o n e so. E m ily was little less agitated.
T h is in sta n ce o f m esm eric je a lo u s y req u ired th e u tm o st ca lm ­
n ess. I t ex isted o n ly as lo n g as th e m e sm e ric state c o n ­
tin u e d . H a v in g aw aken ed m y p a tien t, I p r o c e e d e d to d e -
m esm erise th e oth er w ith ou t c o n ta c t. I t is u n n ecessa ry to
re m a rk th a t th e la d y visitors w ere en tire ly c o n v in c e d o f m es­
m erism . I m esm erised h er to sleep.
D e c . 2 n d . M u c h d istu rb e d all n ig h t, an d g e n era lly la n ­
g u id to -d a y — th e effects o f th e m e s m e ric je a lo u s y . M es­
m e rised as u s u a l: b e tte r an d m o re ch eerfu l.
t 2

Hosted by G o o g le
254 Cure completed with Mesmerism only.

3 rd , 4 th , 5th. I m p r o v in g an d ab le to dispen se "with an

o p era tion w h ich h ad fo r m e r ly b e e n co n sid e re d n e c e s s a r y :
h er pain s are n ot n e a rly so v io le n t as w h en I first saw h e r in
h er state o f u tte r p rostra tion . Thus far accomplished with­
out leeches, blistering, opiates, or any other medicines, 8fc.
6 th , 7 th , 8 th , 9 th . H e r late m ed ica l a tten d a n t c a ll e d : a d ­
m its th at sh e is m u c h b e tte r an d g o in g o n w ell.
T h e m esm erism was steadily c o n t in u e d : sh e o fte n h ad
v iolen t p a in and w as v ery i l l : b u t m esm erism con tin u e d to
relieve h e r g rea tly and stre n g th e n h er, an d o n A p r il 3 rd I
m esm erised h e r tw ice a d a y , and she b e g a n to ta k e an a irin g
tw ice a w eek.
P r o m A p r il th e 4 th to the en d o f M a y she to o k an a irin g
daily. G re w s tro n g e r an d c o u ld walk sh ort d istan ces. D u r in g
th e m on th s o f M a y , J u n e, J u ly , and A u g u s t, I m esm erised
h er b u t o n c e a day. S h e to o k sh ort w alks w h en th e w eather
p erm itted . N e a r th e e n d o f th e m on th she was so m u ch
im p rov ed in h ea lth and stren g th th a t I was a n x iou s to sen d
h e r in to th e co u n tr y . S h e le ft L o n d o n fo r C h id d in g ly in
S u ssex, w h ere she rem a in ed till N o v e m b e r , im p r o v in g d a ily
in h ealth a n d w ith a h eart fu ll o f gra titu de. D u r in g this
p eriod th e m esm erism was d iscon tin u ed , b u t was resu m ed on
h er retu rn t o L o n d o n in N o v e m b e r . S h e was m esm erised
d a ily. I n J u n e c o u ld w alk th ree m iles a d a y , and in J u ly
was p e rfe ctly w ell.
T h e re are m a n y cases sim ilar to th is w h ich g o o n b a d ly
fo r w an t o f m esm erism , and are le e c h e d and b liste re d and
d elu g ed w ith dru gs, as M rs. C ollin s was till she ad op ted
m esm erism : to rm e n te d , d eb ilita ted , im p e rfe ctly reliev ed , and
ill fo r an im m e n s e tim e , a n d perh aps d estroy ed at le n g th b y
th e disease a n d its con seq u en ces.

IV . Cure of a nerve agonized for thirteen years. B y th e

R e v . R . A . P . B a r r e t t , B . D . , S e n io r F e llo w o f K i n g ’ s
C olle g e , C a m b rid g e .
“ Scottish C urative M esmeric A ssociation.—As we have hitherto doue
no small disservice* to this
incarnation op uuackery and vulgar imposture,
by duly chronicling its proceedings, we this week present your readers with a
specimen of the TOMFOot-ERYf which this would-be scientific association, headed
by the University Professor of Chemistry, indulge. We take the extract from

* What disservice ? We are all unconscious of it.— Zoist.

f Mesmerism must be very successful for the doctors to be so very, very
angry. Where does the Medical Times chronicle any of the numerous cures
detailed ?

Hosted by G o o g le
 The M e d . T im es at its old game of folly and falsehood. 255

one of the Edinburgh newspapers, in which it has evidently been inserted by

authority:—
“ 1The friends of curative mesmerism had a social meeting last evening in the
Calton Convening Hall. In the absence of Professor Gregory from indisposition,
Andrew Stein, Esq., W .S., occupied the chair. After tea, the Chairman con­
gratulated the Association on the encouraging hopes which the present position of
curative mesmerism was calculated to inspire. Mr. Jackson followed, and re­
marked that this was the first time that mesmerism appeared to be in so fair way
of leaving the recesses of learned castes and becoming the possession of people
at large. Messrs. Davey and Jackson then instituted a number of experiments
on various persons in the mesmeric state. Mr. Alex. John Ellis, B.A., made
some observations on the practical character of the Association, and contended
that it would be as absurd to resist the electric telegraph because we were igno­
rant o f the fundamental laws of its operations as to reject curative mesmerism
because we had not yet discovered the laws which regulate it. A variety of
musical pieces were sung during the evening by a party under the direction of
Mr. George Dowie, and the meeting separated shortly after ten o’ clock/ ” —
Medical Times, July 7, 1855 ; p. 19.

I n D e c e m b e r , 1 8 5 2 , A . (the la d y w h ose case I re p o rte d in

The Zoist, O c to b e r , 1 8 5 4 ) was req u ested to giv e a cla irv oy a n t
d ia gn osis o f a la d y w h o h a d su ffered fro m a sprain sin ce
1839.
A c c o r d in g to th e p a tien t’ s ow n a c c o u n t, in 1 8 3 9 she
sprain ed h e r a n cle severely in r u n n in g d o w n stairs. W it h
p ro p e r trea tm en t at th e en d o f th ree w eeks it w as n ea rly
w e l l ; b u t she u sed it to o s o o n a n d b r o u g h t b a c k all th e pa in .
A ft e r th a t it n ever seem ed t o g e t w e ll at all, t h o u g h so m e ­
tim es she was ab le to walk a little , an d th e n som e triflin g
a ccid e n t o r ex tra e x ertion w o u ld m a k e it as b a d as ever.
R e c o u r s e w as h a d to variou s rem ed ies, su ch as leech es, b lis ­
ters b o th to th e a n cle and side, S c o tt’ s b a n d a g es (w hich
ca u sed in ten se p a in fo r a fo rtn ig h t, an d d id n o t th e sligh test
g o o d ), galvan ism , e le ctricity , d ou ch es o f w ater, g rea t and
sm all, con sta n t fr ic tio n o f all degrees, a n d th e a p p lica tion o f
ev ery lo tio n th a t h a d ever b e e n h eard o f fo r eith e r stim u la t­
in g o r c o o lin g . B u t th ey each in th eir tu r n lo s t th eir p ow er,
and d id n o th in g tow ards e ffe ctin g a ra d ica l cu re.
F o r thirteen y ears th e p a tien t c o u ld o n ly w alk fo r five or
te n m in u tes at a tim e o n level g r o u n d : g o in g u p h ill o r up
stairs, ca r r y in g a n y w eig h t, even a b o o k , across th e ro o m ,
o r ly in g o n th e r ig h t side, p rod u ced p a in in th e fo o t. S om e­
tim es an in te n se g n a w in g k in d o f p a in w o u ld co m e o n at
n ig h t and last fo r h ou rs, ca u sin g sen sa tion s o f fain tn ess and
sick n ess, an d q u ite p re v e n tin g sleep. T h e p a in was g e n e ­
ra lly in pa rox y sm s, b u t n o t alw ays b e g in n in g su d d en ly . A ll
th is a ffected h er h ealth , an d w ea k en ed h er v ery m u ch , so
th a t, w ith o u t b e in g ill, sh e liv ed a life o f su fferin g and in ­
a b ility to d o w h a t o th e r p e o p le d o.
S o m e m e d ica l m en said th at th e y c o u ld see n o reason for

Hosted by G o o g le
256 Rationale of the benefit of Mesmerism.

h er su fferin gs : a ll agreed th a t it d ep en d ed o n h e r gen era l

h ealth , and la tte rly d id n o t r e co m m e n d a n y lo c a l t r e a t m e n t :
e v e ry th in g o f th a t sort had b e e n d o n e so o ften th a t th ere
was n o m o r e to b e d o n e . N o m easu res, h ow ev er a d apted to
im p ro v e th e g en era l h ealth , h ad th e least effect u p o n th e
fo o t . S h e c o n tin u e d to su ffer great pain s at tim es, w h eth er
sh e u sed it o r n o t, w h ile th e least a d d ition a l w a lk in g w ou ld
alw ays b r in g o n pa in .
I n 1 8 5 2 she ca m e to M a lv ern to try th e w a ter-cu re, b u t
w ith o u t su ccess as far as the fo o t was co n c e r n e d , a n d it was
as bad as ev er w h en A . saw it in 1 8 5 2 : n o th in g w ro n g h o w ­
ever was v isib le.
U p o n e x a m in in g th e case, A . said th a t th e in ju r y was
e n tirely l o c a l ; th a t part o f a n erve in th e le g was q u ite h a rd ,
lik e a p iece o f tw isted lasso, an d n o n erv ou s flu id passed
d o w n i t ; th a t p ro p e r m esm erism w ou ld op en th e n erv e an d
cu re th e le g , b u t th a t th e p erson s w h o had r u b b e d th e le g
w ere n o t su ita b le m esm erisers, and w ou ld n ev er effect a c u r e ;
o n e o f th em (th e p a tie n t’ s sister) w ou ld d o p ositiv e h a r m ;
a n oth er m ig h t relieve th e pain , b u t n o th in g m ore.
U p o n r e fe r r in g to an a tom ica l plates, w e ascertain ed th e
diseased p art o f th e n erv e t o b e tw o or th ree in ch e s o f th e
ex tern al saph enu s n erv e, ju s t b elow th e ju n c t io n o f th e com-
municans tibia w ith th e communicans fibula.
A . m esm erised th e p a tie n t fr o m Jan u a ry, 1 8 5 3 , u n til
a b o u t th e en d o f M a y , b y co n ta c t passes d o w n th e le g and
an cle, som etim es m e sm e risin g in h e r ow n w ak in g, som etim es
in h er cla irv oy a n t, state. A fte r several w eeks, A . said th a t
th e n erve h a d b e g u n t o s o ft e n ; a n d, s o o n after, th a t a b o u t
o n e -th ir tie th o f th e diseased p art was su fficien tly o p e n fo r th e
n erv ou s flu id to pass d o w n i t ; in a few days m ore, th a t th e
n e w ly -o p e n e d part o f th e n e rv e b e ca m e ro u n d a n d lik e th e
h ea lth y p a rt. T h is im p rov em en t was sh ew n to b e real b y
th e p a tien t b e c o m in g able to ride on horseback for the first
time for years, th a t p o s itio n h a v in g alw ays cau sed p ecu lia r
pain .
P r o m th a t tim e th e n erve g ra d u a lly op e n e d , g e n e ra lly
a b ou t th e te n th o f a n in c h in e ig h t o r n in e days. A ft e r som e
tim e, A . p re s crib e d g e n e ra l m esm erism in a d d itio n to th e
lo c a l m esm erism , as sh e said it w ou ld g iv e a g rea ter c o lu m n
o f m esm erism to bea r dow n u p o n th e clo se d p art o f th e n erv e.
W h e n th e p a tien t w en t aw ay in M a y , 1 8 5 3 , sh e was so
m u ch b e tte r th at sh e was in d u ce d t o retu rn , N o v . 1 7 , 1 8 5 3 :
an d she rem a in ed u n t il M a r c h 9, 1 8 5 4 . D u r in g th a t tim e
sh e was m esm erised as b e fo r e w ith th e sam e resu lts. M arch
9th , o n ly fiv e -th irtie th s o f th e diseased p a rt o f th e n erve

Hosted by G o o g le
 The M e d ic a l T im es disgraces itself again. 257

rem a in ed clo se d , w h ich w e ca lcu la ted w ou ld ta k e a b ou t six

w eek s to o p e n : th e p a tien t h ad less pain , an d m u c h m o re use
o f h e r le g .
S h e re tu rn e d D e e . 22, 1 8 5 4 , a n d was m esm erised as
b e fo r e . O n F e b . 21 A . said th a t th e w h ole o f th e n erv e was
- op e n , and th e cau se o f th e w eakn ess rem ov ed . G en era l
m esm erism was c o n tin u e d fo r a sh ort tim e afterw ards.
T h e in ju r y in th e le g n ow appears p e rfe ctly cu re d , as th e
p a tie n t feels n o m o re fa tigu e in o n e fo o t th a n th e oth er.
R . A . F . B a r r e t t , B .D .,
S e n io r F e llo w o f K in g ’ s C o lle g e , C a m b rid g e .*
A u gu st 4, 1855.

V . E X T A T IC S O F G E N IU S .
B y J . W . J a c k s o n , E s q ., E d in b u r g h .
l<Stanhope, Earl of.— On Saturday, the 3rd of March, at his residence, &c.,
&c. During the later portion of his life, Earl Stanhope lent his energies to the
support and propagation of the mesmeric delusion , and was, we believe, one
of the Vice-Presidents of the Mesmeric Infirmary.” —Medical Times, March 10,
1855.

N o . 2 .— J o a n of A rc, the M a id of O rleans.

I n few th in g s m o re th a n th e sacred d oes d ista n ce le n d e n ­

ch a n tm e n t to th e view . W h e th e r fr o m m o d e s ty o r ig n o b ility
o f n a tu re, fr o m e x a ltin g rev eren ce o r d eb a sin g s u p erstition , th e
m asses o f a n y p resen t tim e fa il to see in it th e tru e elem en ts
o f th e h o ly and div in e. I s it th a t th e littlen ess o f o u r n atu re
dw arfs th e o b je c t s w h ich w e m o re im m e d ia te ly con tem p la te
a n d th a t fo r a tim e w e seem to re d u c e e v e ry th in g t o th e
adm ea su rem en t o f o u r ow n p u n y s ta t u r e s ; o r is it in th e
n a tu re o f th e celestia l to cast its sh adow s c lo s e at h a n d b u t
its lig h ts afar o f f ? P erh a p s to th e tru e p o e t a lon e is it
g iv e n to clea rly d iscern th e id eal a m idst th e rea l, th e p rop h et
sou l o n ly a c c o r d in g h e a rty an d im m e d ia te r e c o g n itio n t o th e
D iv in ity in h e r e n tly p erv a d in g all p resen ces. T r u ly g rea t is
th e p ow er re q u ire d t o see in to th e op en s e c r e t ; w eird th e
en ch a n tm e n t w hich reveals a fa th om less m y s te ry in th e c o m ­
m o n p la ce . O f all m a g ic, th at w h ich resists th e d ea d en in g
in flu e n ce o f h a b it m u st b e p r o n o u n c e d th e m o st p o te n t. I n
tru th , th e d iv in e is n e v e r p rim a rily revealed b u t to th e in ­
sp ired , o f w h o m oth ers are w ell c o n te n t to re ce iv e th e re p o rt

* The cure was worked under Mr. Barrett, who always put the clairvoyant
into sleep-waking and acted as her amanuensis.— Zoist.

Hosted by G o o g le
258 Exalted natures in all times and all ranks.

at s e co n d h a n d . T h is, i f we c o u ld see it a righ t, is th e tru e

h is to ry o f th o s e crem a tion s an d cru cifix ion s b y w h ich so
m a n y o f w h o m th e earth was n o t w orth y h ave dep a rted
fr o m it, n o t sorrow fu lly , b u t r e jo ic in g as at a m ig h ty d e li­
vera n ce. T o sto n e p rop h ets a n d th en bu ild th eir sepu lch res,
t o m altrea t h eroes an d th en ere ct th eir statues, is n o t in a n y
resp ect a m o d e rn in v e n tio n ; o n th e co n tra ry , it dates as a
ven e ra b le cu s to m fr o m th e v e ry rem otest a n tiq u ity . The
G o d -s e n t travel n o t o n th eir m y s tic m ission b y flo w e ry path s ;
n o t ch aplets o f roses, b u t crow n s o f th orn s, aw ait th e b row s
o f th ose tro u b le d w ith th e b u rth en o f a celestia l m essage.
S ain tsh ip and seerd om have b een cla im ed b y som e as th e
a ppan age s o le ly o f r e lig io n : b u t th is is a m ista k e, fo r a n y
g rea t an d h o ly cause m a y have its m artyrs and p rop h ets, n a y ,
i f it b e in v e ry tru th sacred, will have th em . L e t us n o t
u n ch a rita b ly re s trict th e circle o f m erit w ith in t o o n a rrow
co n fin e s. W h e r e s o is th e spirit o f self-sa crifice, th e re is
m a rty rd o m ; a n d w h oso hath u n sh a k en lo y a lty , th e sam e has
d e v o tio n . M e r e c r e e d o lo g y is sim ply sectarian and n o t
g ra n d ly c a th o lic in its sym path ies, and, w h ile lo u d ly v a u n tin g
th e p ecu lia r m erit o f its ow n especial h eroes, d en ies th a t o f
th e b elievers in a n oth er faith , th e su pporters o f a n oth er
cause. I t is tim e, h ow ever, th a t th e w orld w ere raised a b ov e
its o ld e n p reju d ices in th is m atter, and m ade to a p p rox im a te
som ew h at n ea rer to u n iversality o f a p p recia tion . L e t us
re m e m b e r th a t ev ery fa ith has h ad its prop h ets, a n d every
c o n d itio n o f life its “ e x ce lle n t o f th e earth .” B ir th has n o
prescrip tive r ig h t t o virtu e, n o r are th e h u m b le n ecessa rily
th e p u r e ; a lth ou g h , w h ere th ere are th e few est tem p ta tion s,
w e m a y p erh aps ra tio n a lly e x p e ct th e g rea test in n o c e n c e .
V illa g e m a id en s are adm irable su b jects fo r th e p a in ter’ s easel
an d th e p o e t’ s verse : n ev erth eless ' i t is sca rcely fro m su ch
th a t we sh o u ld e x p e ct th e deliv era n ce o f a n a tio n in th a t
drea d h o u r w h en th e c o u n c ils o f th e w ise and th e sw ords o f
th e brave have a lik e p rov ed ab ortiv e. S o h ow ev er it has
som etim es p ro v e d , as i f to shew th at th e w eak th in g s o f th e
earth are in d e e d som etim es ch osen to c o n fo u n d th e m ig h ty .
A n d o f su ch n o n o b le r o r m ore rem a rk a b le ex a m p le is fo u n d
in all tim e th a n that fu rn ish ed b y J o a n o f A r c , th e M a id o f
O rlean s. T h is sim p le-m in d ed y e t tru ly ex a lted peasan t,
rea red t o w o m a n h o o d am idst th e m isfortu n es w h ich b e fe l
h e r b elov ed F ra n ce in co n s e q u e n ce o f th e E n g lish in vasion ,
w as a natural e x ta tic, w h o, i f sh e had n o t b e e n e v o k e d in to
m a n ifesta tion as a p o litic a l p rop h etess an d m ilita ry le a d e r b y
th e p ecu lia r circu m s ta n c e s and especial n ecessities o f h e r age
a n d co u n tr y , w ou ld in all p ro b a b ility have b e c o m e a d rea m y

Hosted by G o o g le
 First outshining of Joan of Arc. 259

v ision a ry in som e cloistered co n v e n t, and o f w h o m we m ig h t

th e n have h eard , as o f a S t. T h erese o r H ild e g a rd is , n o t
fro m th e p a g es o f a u th en tic h istory , b u t th e ra th er a p o-
ch ry p h a l ch ro n icle s o f m o n k ish d e v o tio n a n d leg e n d a ry
sa n ctity . J o a n was fr o m h er earliest c h ild h o o d a seeress.
“ S in ce m y th irteen th y ea r,” said she, in som e a u to b io ­
g ra p h ica l n o tice s fu rn ish ed to u s b y D ela v erd y , fro m M S S .
in th e R o y a l L ib r a r y at P aris, “ I h eard a v o ic e in m y
fa th e r’ s g a rd en at D o m r e m y . I heard it fro m th e rig h t side
n ea r th e ch u r c h , a n d it was a cco m p a n ie d w ith great bright­
ness (o d ic lig h t ). A t first I was afraid o f i t ; b u t I soon
b eca m e aw are th a t it was th e v o ice o f an a n g el, w h o has ever
sin ce w a tch ed w e ll ov er m e, and ta u g h t m e to c o n d u c t m y ­
s e lf w ith p r o p rie ty an d to atten d c h u r ch . F iv e years after­
w ards w hile I was te n d in g m y fa th er’ s flock s, th is v oice said
to m e , ‘ G o d has g rea t com p assion fo r th e F r e n c h n a tion ,
an d th a t I o u g h t t o g e t rea d y a n d g o to its r e scu e .” W hen
I b e g a n to w eep at th is, th e v oice said to m e, ‘ G o to V a u -
cou leu rs, and y o u w ill find a cap tain th ere, w h o w ill c o n d u c t
y o u w ith o u t h in d ra n ce to th e k in g .’ S in c e th a t tim e I have
a cted a c c o r d in g to th e revelation s I have re ce iv e d , an d th e
a p p a rition s I have s e e n ; an d even on m y tria l I speak o n ly
a c c o r d in g to th at w h ich is revealed to m e .” T h e s e a p p a ri­
tio n s , it appears, w ere th ose o f S t. C ath erin e, S t. M a rg a re t,
an d th e A r c h a n g e l M ic h a e l— th e form s w h ich h ad b e e n m o st
fo r c ib ly im p ressed u p o n h er im a g in a tion in ch ild h o o d .
T h e fo llo w in g appear to b e th e p rin cip a l fa cts in th e life
o f J o a n th a t are o f im p o rta n ce in c o n n e x io n w ith th e s u b je c t
o f th e p resen t paper. S h e was th e ch ild o f J a cq u es d’ A r c
an d o f Isa b e a n R o m e e his w ife, p o o r v illa g ers o f D o m r e m y ,
o n th e b ord ers o f L o rra in e . S h e was b o r n in 1 4 1 0 o r 1 4 1 1 .
A t th irte e n years o f age h er vision s c o m m e n c e d ; at n in e te e n
th e y cu lm in a ted in th e im p o sitio n o f h er m ission . F in d in g
th a t h er cla im s to in sp ira tion w ere b u t a sou rce o f g r ie f to
h e r p aren ts, sh e rep a ired to th e h ou se o f h e r u n c le D u r a n d
L a x a rl, w h o liv e d b etw een D o m r e m y an d Y a u c o u le u r s , a n d
w h o was so far in flu en ced b y h e r rep resen ta tion s, as to p r o ­
ce e d , o n h er b eh a lf, t o R o b e r t d e B a u d rico u rt, g o v e r n o r o f
th e la tte r to w n . T h e re c e p tio n o f th e h on est v illa g er, b y
th e stern o ld w arrior, was a n y th in g b u t fla tte r in g ; an d e v e n ­
tu a lly J o a n h e r s e lf p r o ce e d e d to Y a u c o u le u r s , w h ere, a lth o u g h
sh e fa iled in p r o d u c in g m u c h e ffe ct on th e v etera n g o v e rn o r,
she su cce e d e d in c o n v in c in g tw o g e n tle m e n , J ea n d e M e tz
an d B e rtra n d d e P o u le n g y , o f th e re a lity o f h e r m ission .
T h ese w ith an a tten d a n t each , a n d tw o su b -officia ls, m a k in g
in all an e scort o f six, set fo r th o n th eir p erilou s jo u r n e y to

Hosted by G o o g le
 260 She performs astounding things.

C h in o n . A r r iv in g in safety, she was, a fter m u c h delay,

u sh ered in t o th e stately h all o f its r o y a l ca stle, w h ere she
r e c o g n iz e d th e k in g , th o u g h p la in ly d ressed, a n d p u rp osely
m in g le d w ith a crow d o f cou rtiers. L e d apart b y h im , she
s p o k e o f secrets k n o w n o n ly t o h im s e lf an d G o d . W h ile
b e in g e q u ip p e d w ith a su it o f k n ig h t’ s a rm ou r, sh e d escrib ed
an o ld sw o rd m a rk ed w ith five crosses, ly in g am id st oth er
arm s, in th e ch u rch -v a u lt o f S t. C a th erin e at F ie rb o is. I t
w as fo u n d , an o ld n eg lected w ea p on , in th e v e ry p la ce sh e
h a d d e scrib e d . P r o m is in g to lea d a co n v o y in to O rlea n s, she
su cce e d e d , despite, a p p a ren tly , in su rm o u n ta b le obsta cles.
H a v in g d ecla red she w o u ld raise th e seig e o f th is im p orta n t
to w n , sh e a cco m p lish e d it in seven d a ys, a lth o u g h th ree o f
th em h ad, b y h e r d irection , b e e n d ev oted to p u b lic p ra y er.
P r o p h e s y in g th a t she sh ou ld b e w o u n d e d n ea r th e b reast o n
th e m o r r o w , she receiv ed an a rrow in th e part in d ica ted ,
d u rin g an assault o n th e E n g lis h w ork s. R e tu r n in g to th e
c o u r t at T o u rs , sh e a ga in read th e ro y a l th o u g h ts, to g e th e r
w ith th o se o f som e o f th e p rin cip a l co m m a n d e rs b y w h om
th e k in g w as th e n su rrou n d ed . P r o m is in g t o c o n d u c t h er
so v e re ig n t o R h eim s fo r his c o ro n a tio n , sh e a ch iev ed th is
s e e m in g im p o ssib ility w ith ou t ev en a b a ttle. I t w o u ld seem ,
h ow ev er, th a t after th is h er p ro p h e tic fa c u lty was g re a tly
d im in ish ed , b o th in th e fre q u e n cy o f its m a n ifesta tion s and
th e clea rn ess o f its p revision s. S h e h a d in d e e d a ccom p lish ed
h er m ission , and it w as o n ly at th e u r g e n t req u est o f th e
F r e n c h g en era ls th a t she co n se n te d to fo r e g o h e r a v ow ed
in te n tio n o f r e tirin g to a m on a stery . H e r sad fa te, th erefore,
m a y b e co n s id e re d as th e resu lt o f h e r n o t o b e y in g th e d icta tes
o f th a t in te rn a l m o n ito r u n d er w h ose su p p ort a n d g u id a n ce
sh e had a ch iev ed su ch alm ost in cre d ib le m arvels. B u t, even
w ere it oth erw ise, h er cru el d ea th at th e h ands o f h e r en em ies,
a lth o u g h n o d o u b t a fford in g an o p p o r tu n ity fo r th e u ttera n ce
o f a few sm a rt je s ts o n th e p a rt o f sh allow scep tics, is n o
a rg u m en t a g a in st th e tru th fu ln ess o f h e r cla im s o r th e
g en u in en ess o f h e r in s p ir a tio n ; fo r su ch has b e e n th e k in d
o f dep a rtu re u su ally vou ch sa fed to th e a rch ex ta tics o f all
tim es.
N o w o f th is v a st array o f w ell-esta b lish ed , y e t seem in g ly
a lm ost in cre d ib le , facts, w h at is th e e x p la n a tio n ? S im p ly ,
w e re p ly , a n adm ission th a t J o a n was an h a b itu a l crisiac, a
n atu ral cla irv o y a n t, a sp on ta n eou s e x ta tic. W it h th a t as a
m a ster-k ey , th e s o lu tio n o f th e oth erw ise d ifficu lt p ro b le m
b e co m e s p e r fe c tly e a s y ; w hile, w ith o u t it, th e m o st sk ilfu l
in g e n u ity d o e s b u t in v o lv e its u n fo rtu n a te p ossessor in fresh
c o m p lica tio n s o f a b su rd ity at every a tte m p t w h ich h e m ak es

Hosted by G o o g le
 Miserable inanity of sceptics. 261

to solve th is d eep est y e t sim plest o f rid d les. “ S h e h ad seen

a p ortra it o f th e k in g o r h eard a d e scrip tio n o f his p erson ,
an d b y a stra n ge c o in c id e n c e h a p p en ed in h er su b seq u en t
con v ersa tion w ith h im to lig h t o n th e v ery to p ic w h ich had
b e e n th e su b je ct o f his secret p ra y e r,” & c., & c. S u ch are th e
fo o lis h an d in a d eq u a te ex p la n a tion s w h ich lea rn ed h istorian s
e n d ea v ou r to foist o n th eir u n h a p p y readers. A la s ! fo r th e
m isera b le in e fficie n cy o f su ch w re tch e d en d eavou rs to fa th om
th e ocea n dep th s o f a p ro fo u n d m y ste ry w ith th e ch ild ish to y s
o f a sh allow , becau se ig n o r a n tly scep tica l, p h ilo s o p h y ! S o
J o a n , p o o r , pu re, d ev ou t, an d s im p le -m in d e d g irl, was b u t a
su ccessfu l trick ste r, a lu c k y gu esser, or, at b e s t, a m o rb id
en th u sia st after a l l ! S u ch is m o d e r n h isto ry ’ s su m m a tion o f
th e w h ole m a t te r ; its g rea test a b ility ev en tu a tin g in th e
p re su m p tio n o f an im p ossib le c o m b in a tio n o f elem en ts in on e
ch a ra cter, fo r th e p u rp ose o f a ffo rd in g a v e ry in su fficien t an d
u n sa tisfa ctory h y p oth esis in re fe re n ce to p h e n o m e n a w h ose
m a n ifesta tion s an d law s are u tterly b e y o n d its k e n ! T o th e
g e n tle m e n w h ose lea rn ed to il has d isen tom b ed th e fa cts o f
th is m ost in s tru ctin g an d in te re stin g case fr o m th e arch ives
o f a n cie n t cou rts and th e fo r g o tte n tom es o f b y g o n e c h r o n i­
clers, w e ow e a d e b t o f im p erish a b le g ra titu d e. L ik e v ig o ro u s
q u a rry m en th e y h ave fu rn ish ed u s w ith th e ro u g h -h e w n b lo ck s
w h ich th e y fo u n d in situ. B u t w e m ay n o w say to th em ,
“ H a v e th e g o o d n e ss i f y o u please, frien d s, to y ie ld y o u r ru d e
m asses in to m o re sk ilfu l h a n d s, u n d e r w h ose m a n ip u la tion s
th e y m a y g ra d u a lly assu m e th a t reg u la rity an d b e a u ty o f
fo r m w h ich w ill fit th e m fo r b e c o m in g pillars an d c o r n e r ­
ston es in th e g rea t te m p le o f scie n ce . Y o u r la b o u r is n ow
fin ish ed, u nless, p erch a n ce, y o u have so m e th in g o f m o re
s te rlin g v alu e in th e w ay o f su g g e stio n th a n th a t a lready
e m b o d ie d in y o u r th rice eru d ite lu c u b r a t io n s !”
J o a n , as w e have said, was a n atu ral cla irv oy a n t, h er su s­
c e p tib ility to v ision a l p resen tim en ts was d o u b tle ss in h e r e n t :
b u t th e sp ecia lities o f h er tim e an d th e p ecu lia rities o f h e r
fa ith and position , b y th eir fo r m an d pressu re, gave th e d is ­
tin c tiv e ch a ra cter to h e r e n d o w m e n t u n d e r w h ich it is p r e ­
s e n te d to us in h istory . A q u iet an d th o u g h tfu l, a d ev ou t
and m ora l, y e t a rd en tly p a trio tic an d en th u siastic, g irl, sh e
h ad fr o m c h ild h o o d d w elt w ith m o r b id y e t p a rd on a b le earn est­
ness on th e p o litica l m isfortu n es o f h e r co u n tr y , th a t belle
France, th e lo v e and lo y a lty o f w h ose g a y a n d sp rig h tly
citize n s h ave ever p a rta k en o f th e ch a ra cter o f d e v o t io n ; an d
w h ich , in th e in sta n ce b e fo r e u s, w ere co n ce n tra te d in t o all
th e in te n sity an d fe rv o u r o f th e pu rest r e lig io n . T h e E n g lis h
in v a sio n w ou n d ed h e r p rid e as a citizen , b y th e h u m ilia tio n

Hosted by G o o g le
262 Posterity discovers her exalted nature.

w h ich it in flicted on h er c o u n t r y ; w h ile it p a in ed h er fe e lin g s

as a w om a n , b y th e m ilita ry a trocities an d socia l evils to
w h ich it was c o n tin u a lly g iv in g b irth . I n th e q u ietu d e o f
h e r ru stic life, sh e d w elt w ith p a in fu l in terest on each n ew
tale o f private su fferin g an d p u b lic c a la m it y ; till at le n g th
h e r m in d , p ossessed w ith an in te n se desire fo r th e deliv era n ce
o f h e r n a tiv e la n d fro m th e op p ressiv e y o k e o f th e h a ted
fo r e ig n e r , fa sh ion ed to it s e lf th a t m y s tic m essage w h ich im ­
p o se d th e m ission o f ch a m p ion sh ip o n h er ow n sou l. F r o m
th e in n e rm o st dep th s o f h e r p u re and m a id en ly b e in g , far
b elow th e level o f all con sciou sn ess, w e lle d u p th a t m ig h ty
ca ll o f d u ty , in w h ich “ th e d w eller o f th e te m p le ” spoke to
th e p e ris h in g ch ild o f cla y , fillin g it as w ith th e breath o f
d iv in ity , an d b ea rin g it upw ards an d on w a rd s, ab ov e all fear
an d th r o u g h every ob sta cle, to th e p rev ision ed ach iev em en t
o f w hat, to every oth er, had b e e n th e im p ossib le. Y e s ! th e
v irg in in sp ira tion , w h ich , u n d e r th e v o ice an d fo r m o f an a n g el,
h ad, fr o m h e r fou rteen th to h e r n in e te e n th y ea r, w atched so
w ell a n d e ffectu a lly ov er h e r c o n d u c t and feelin g s, n ow
atta in ed to a h ig h e r stage o f d e v e lo p m e n t, an d p r o je c t e d h er
fr o m th e re tire m e n t o f rural life, k e e p in g sheep on th e m o u n ­
ta in side, in to all th e e x cite m e n t o f a ca m p and th e p u b licity
o f a cou rt.
B ra v e h eart, h ow n o b ly d id st th o u b e a r th y s e lf am idst
th ose tr y in g and u n a ccu sto m e d circu m s ta n c e s. T h e ru stic
m a id en rem a in ed self-possessed e v en in th e a w e-in sp irin g ,
p resen ce o f roy a lty , an d the tim id w om a n q u ailed n o t am idst
th e sh ock a n d the rush o f battle. W h a t D e b o r a h o r J u d ith
o f h o ly re c o r d s shall, at tim e ’ s ju d g m e n t-s e a t , b e h eld th y
su p erior e ith e r in h eroism or sa n ctity ? A lr e a d y has th e h is ­
toria n le a r n e d ly n a rra ted , an d th e p o e t a b ly su n g, th in e
h e ro ic d eed s. T ru ly , lik e th e m o st o f th in e ex a lted ord er,
it was th e fiery ch a riot an d n o t th e b e d o f d ow n th at b o re
th e e w ith in th e veil. B u t fear n o t ; th o u g h b u rn t w ith in d ig ­
n ity b y th in e en em ies as an a g e n t o f S atan , g ra tefu l F ra n ce
sh all rem em b er th in e a ch iev em en ts an d em b a lm th y m e m o ry
w h en cen tu ries sh all have ro lle d aw ay and dyn asties b e e n
ch a n g e d lik e th e ph a n ta sm a g oria o f a tr o u b le d dream . T h e
d a u g h ters o f ro y a lty sh all m o d e l th y statue, an d th e g o o d
citize n s o f O rlea n s, w ith a p o m p an d ce re m o n ia l u tterly
u n e x a m p le d in th eir q u iet lo ca lity , shall in a u g u ra te th y m o n u ­
m e n t ; an d floa tin g d ow n u p o n th e tid e o f tim e, o u tr id in g
th e storm s o f rev olu tion a n d th e m u ta tion s o f a p rog ressiv e
civ iliza tion , th e h o n o u re d d escen d a n ts o f th a t h u m b le h o u s e ­
h o ld , o f w h ich th ou w ert so d istin g u ish ed a d a u g h ter, sh all
b e p resen t, “ th e ob serv ed o f a ll o b se rv e rs.” T h e a ge w h en

Hosted by G o o g le
 Naturally noble, she was clairvoyant, fy shed influence. 263

th y m e m o r y cou ld b e b la sp h em ed b y p erv erted g en iu s and

th e stage c o u ld b a sely r e -e c h o th e u n fo u n d e d ca lu m n y to an
a p p la u d in g a u dien ce has passed. S o th at even w e, w hose
stern an d relen tless E n g lis h forefa th ers p rov id ed fo r th ee th e
te rrib le h on ou rs o f a m a rty r’ s d eath , have receiv ed th ee in to
o u r list o f tim e ’ s m ost n o b le h eroin es.
C on te m p la te d scien tifica lly , J o a n o f A r c is an in stru ctin g
ex a m p le o f sp on ta n eou s ex ta cy , d ev elop ed in an in d iv id u a l
o f m o re th an ord in a ry m en ta l e n e rg y , In te re s tin g to th e
gen era l reader from h er h istorica l c e le b rity , she is o f value to
th e p h y sicia n as an in d u b ita b le in sta n ce o f exalted n ervous
a ctiv ity , apparently re su ltin g fro m , an d m ost certa in ly c o n ­
n e cte d w ith , certa in irreg u la rities, in v irtu e o f w h ich th is
d istin g u ish ed w om a n was su b je ct to n o n e o f th e pecu lia rities
o f h e r s e x : w hile to th e d u ly en lig h te n e d stu d en t o f m es­
m erism she presen ts n o t o n ly th e p h e n o m e n a o f ord in a ry
cla irv o y a n ce , w hich are com p a ra tiv ely co m m o n , b u t also th a t
still h ig h e r ra n g e o f m a n ifesta tion s arisin g fro m th e m y stic
a n d c o m m a n d in g m o ra l m a g n e tism , w ith w h ich it w ou ld seem
th a t o n ly the tru e m a ster-sp irits o f seerd om are ever e ffe c ­
tu a lly en d ow ed . C o n stitu tio n a lly p ron e to a d ev elop m en t o f
th e in te rio r life, h e r lu c id ity ev en tu ated n o t sim ply in v ision ,
b u t also in a ction . I t was ex ta cy in d u c e d u p on , o r ra th er
ev olv ed from , a n a tu ra lly n o b le a n d elevated c h a r a c te r ; fro m
a b r a in ca p a b le o f g re a t th o u g h ts, an d su scep tib le to th e
in flu e n ce o f ex a lted e m o t io n s ; and so c o n d u c in g to th a t
resistless p oten tia lity in v irtu re o f w h ich th e p rop h et calls
an d his disciples c o m e . R esist th e tru th as w e m a y , th ere
are b o r n k in g s and q u een s o f m en , a n d o f th e se th e d rea m ily
d ev ou t ch ild in th e g a rd e n o f D o m r e m y was u n d o u b te d ly
on e. H e r age d id n o t n eed a n ew c r e e d : its d em a n d was n o t
fo r a rticles o f faith , and th e re fo re she ca m e n o t fo rth as the
in sp ired fo u n d e r o f a re lig io n . T h a t w h ich h e r tim e an d
p la ce req u ired , she p r o v id e d ; n a m e ly , th e oracu lar resp on se
o f h o p e to a m on a rch an d p e o p le ov erw h elm ed b y defeat an d
s in k in g u n d er th e b u rth e n o f a ccu m u la ted n a tion a l m isfor­
tu n es. S h e was th e m ora l an tith esis o f C assandra, a n d, as
th e p ro p h e tic saviou r o f h e r n a tion , cast th e g o ld e n ra d ia n ce
o f e x ta tic illu m in a tion o n th e clo u d s o f th e fu tu re, till th eir
d u sk and som b re m asses b e ca m e e ffu lg en t as w ith th e reflected
lig h t o f som e celestial g lo r y . P r in c e s an d n o b le s, lea rn ed
priests and ru d e sold iers, o n c e in h e r p resen ce, w ere in v o lv e d
in th a t circle o f fa scin a tion , w ith w h ich b ein g s o f h er o rd e r
seem ever en g ird led . T o th e effectiv e exercise o f this m y stic
sw ay, n e ith e r th e ru sticity o f h er m a n n ers, n o r h er u tterly
u n le tte re d ig n o r a n c e I u n d ersta n d n eith er A n o r B ,” said

Hosted by G o o g le
 264 Her mighty ability was intuition.

sh e to th e k in g 's p len ip oten tia ries) seem to h ave p resen ted

a n y h arrier. T h e resistless fo r c e o f a grea t, n o b le , and e n th u ­
siastic n a tu re, fu lly arou sed by an a ll-a b so rb in g an d u nselfish
zeal fo r th e p u b lic g o o d , a n d th o r o u g h ly p ervad ed in all its
th o u g h ts a n d a ction s b y an in te r io r lig h t far tra n sce n d in g
th a t o f g en iu s, seem s to h ave o v e r b o r n e all th e lim ita tion s
u su a lly im p osed , even o n g rea t m in d s, b y div ersity o f rank
a n d th e m a n ifold artificialities o f so cie ty . R e g a l in sou l, a
q u een in th o u g h t, sh e triu m p h a n tly vin d ica ted h e r cla im to
th e e x ercise o f a ro y a l p rerog a tiv e o f com m a n d .
I t has b e e n a ttem p ted t o b e shew n b y som e o f h e r b io ­
graph ers th a t she rea lly ex h ib ite d n o a b ility fo r m ilita ry
leadersh ip, and th a t sh e fa iled to im press th ose w ith w h om
she ca m e p e rson a lly in co n ta ct w ith an id ea o f h e r su p eriority,
o r even w ith the tru th fu ln ess o f h er cla im s t o verita b le in sp i­
ra tion . B u t th e en tire te n o r o f h er s to ry d em on stra tes th e
v e ry rev erse o f th is. T h a t h e r en terp rizes w ere o fte n c o n ­
d u cte d o n p rin cip les th e v ery reverse o f th ose m a in tain ed b y
th e p e d a n tic strategy o f h er tim e , is n o p r o o f w h atever o f her
b e in g in e rror. S h e su cce e d e d w h ere th e greatest captains
h a d fa ile d ; sh e retriev ed th e ir defeats, repaired th eir losses,
a n d a ch iev ed a series o f b rillia n t v ictories, b y a p paren tly very
in a d eq u a te m ean s, ov e r th e bra vest an d b est discip lin ed troop s
in E u ro p e . N o pla n , even a p p rox im a tely ex ecu ted a c c o r d in g
to h e r d esig n , ever p rov ed a b ortiv e. A n d , a lth ou g h , from th e
d e ce p tio n a n d p erv ersity o f h er su b ord in a tes, som e o f h er
finest an d m o st d a rin g co m b in a tio n s w ere b u t im p e rfe ctly
a cco m p lish e d , h er p resen ce in th e h o u r o f d ifficu lty, in d u ce d
b y th eir in c o m p e te n c y , at o n c e su fficed to restore th e tid e o f
fo r tu n e to th e cause o f C h arles. T h e o p in io n s o f m e n g row n
g r e y in th e r o u tin e o f ord in a ry w arfare ca n n ev er p rov e an
a ccu ra te adm ea su rem en t o f th e a bilities o f g en iu s, w h ose o r i­
g in a lity is lo o k e d u p o n b y th ese resp ecta b le form alists as an
error. N a p o le o n in Ita ly was at first d eem ed a d a rin g ig n o ­
ram us b y th e v ery A u stria n s w h om h e d efea ted w ith su ch
m a sterly sk ill in every e n g a g e m e n t. J o a n 's a b ility was d e ­
riv ed n o t fr o m k n o w le d g e , b u t in tu itio n . T h ese rem ark s
m u st b e u n d e rsto o d as a p p ly in g to h e r b e fo r e th e k in g ’ s c o r o ­
n a tio n at R h eim s. A ft e r th at, sh e was still th e d a rin g h eroin e,
b u t was n o lo n g e r th e in sp ire d leader. A s to h er in a b ility to
im p ress th ose im m ed ia tely a ro u n d h er, H o w , w e w ou ld ask,
b u t fo r su ch a fa cu lty , m a n ifested in m o st extra ord in a ry fo rce ,
c o u ld th e p ea sa n t-g irl o f D o m r e m y , frien d less a n d m o n e y ­
less, have m ad e h er w a y t o c o u r t ; o r, w h en th ere, h ave
p r o d u c e d su ch an effect on th e m in d o f C harles and his
co u n s e llo rs as to in d u c e th em to e n tru st h er w ith th e r e lie f

Hosted by G o o g le
 Such exalted females have appeared in all ages. 265

o f O rlean s ? T h e ra p id ity o f h e r p r o m o tio n w ith ou t a n te ce ­

den ts, is, in tru th , n o t th e lea st m a rvellou s p a rt o f h er
w o n d e rfu l career. W it h o u t b ir th in an a ge o f caste, a w om a n
m a p eriod o f socia l d isorg a n iza tion an d m ilita ry v io le n ce ,
she y e t b o u n d e d at a sin g le lea p in to a p osition o f h o n o u r,
tru st, and a u th ority , th a t e x cite d th e en v y o f som e o f th e
first m en in F ra n ce . T o argu e th a t su ch a p erson was d ev oid
o f th e c o m m a n d in g m o ra l m a g n etism o f a tr u ly g reat spirit
is, w ith su ch facts in o u r h an ds, sim p ly to r e je c t tru th u p o n
system . I n th e h isto ry o f n e ith e r seer n o r h e ro d o w e fin d
a n y th in g tra n sce n d in g th e m a tch less fa c ility o f con v ersion
ex h ib ite d b y th e w h ole p op u la tio n , fr o m th e m o n a rch t o th e
m a n -a t-a rm s, u n d e r th e p erson a l im p ression s p ro d u ce d b y
th is sim p le sh epherdess. I n a m o ra l as w e ll as a m ilita ry
sense, she m ig h t w ith ou t a rrog a n ce have u sed th e h a u g h ty
R o m a n ’ s su b lim e ly la co n ic trilo q u y , veni, vidi, vici.
T h a t su ch b e in g s are c o m m o n it w o u ld be t o o m u ch to
s a y ; b u t th a t th e y are fa r less rare th a n is u su ally su pposed
w e are fu lly ju s tifie d in assertin g. U n su ite d , h ow ev er, to
ages o f rou tin e, th e se m a rv e llo u sly -e n d o w e d b ein g s g e n era lly
rem a in in a state o f la ten t p a s s iv ity ; th e ir p ecu lia r pow ers,
in m ost cases, c o n tin u in g , fr o m w an t o f d u ly evocative in ­
flu en ces, in a m e r e ly g e rm a l state. O f o ld , su ch w ere
u su a lly d e v o te d to th e serv ice o f th e altar, and, as P y th ia at
D e lp h i, D r u id ic priestesses an d S ca n d in a v ia n alru n es, h eld a
r e co g n iz e d p o s itio n o f tru st a n d h o n o u r , in w h ich th eir
p ecu lia r g ifts w ere d u ly cu ltiv a ted an d th e n p ro v id e d w ith
fittin g o p p o r tu n ity fo r m a n ifesta tion . A t a p e rio d still m o re
rem ote, th e p ro p h e tic fa c u lty o f th ese ex ta tic fem ales gave
th em b o th a u th ority and re n o w n as sybils. W h ile , in m ore
recen t tim es, th e y have in th e R o m a n c o m m u n io n fre q u e n tly
a ttain ed to th e d istin ctio n o f ca n o n iza tio n , and o fte n sh on e
fo rth a m o n g th e m ost e m in en t o f th e sain ts. I n all p eriod s
e x ce p t th e p resen t, b y w h ich w e m ean th e era o f in d u ctiv e
scie n ce , th ese w o n d r o u s ly -g ifte d in d iv id u a ls w ere p erm itted ,
and e v e n e n cou ra g ed , to fo llo w th e p rocliv ities o f th eir n a t u r e ;
and, in v irtu e o f this, th e ir free d ev e lo p m e n t n o t o n ly a t­
ta in ed to a m o re v ig orou s ex p a n sion , b u t o fte n b e ca m e m o to r
forces o f co n sid e ra b le im p o rta n ce in th e g en era l w o r k in g o f
s ociety . W e , h ow ev er, in th e fu ll en lig h te n m e n t o f a u tili­
tarian age, co n sid e r th em as o f valu e p rin cip a lly fo r th e
p u rp ose o f su p p ly in g recru its t o o u r lu n a tic asylu m s. O c c a ­
sion a lly esca p in g th is, th e y b e c o m e im p orta n t a d ju n cts to a
revivalist c a m p -m e e t in g : o r still m o re ra rely attain to th e
d o u b tfu l p r e -e m in e n c e o f q u a si-relig iou s fou n d ers, follow ed
o n ly b y a few ra m p a n t fa n a tics, w h ile th o r o u g h ly despised

Hosted by G o o g le
266 The day of shalloiv philosophy must pass away.

b y th e m a n y , an d at best p itie d as d ev ou t b u t m isled m a n ia cs

b y th e b e n e v o le n t a n d e n lig h te n e d few . F r o m th is d e g ra ­
d a tion , h ow ever, tru e scie n ce is n ow b e g in n in g to rescu e
th em w ith as y e t b u t an im p e rfe ct a p p recia tion , we fear, o f
th eir tru e p osition in th e scale o f m ora l b e in g . A m esm eric
cla irv oy a n t is b u t an in d ifferen t su cced a n eu m fo r an a n cien t
sib y l, to w h om in d eed even a v erita b le S eeress o f P rev orst,
th o u g h p ortra y ed in th e a ffection a te pa ges o f a K e r n e r , seem s
ra th er lik e a scien tific cu riosity th a n a leg itim a te su ccessor.
F ea r n ot, h ow ever, O y e m y s te r io u s ly -g ifte d d a u g h ters o f
th is sacred s is te r h o o d ! A g e s o f h a rd u n b elief, o f u n feelin g
scep ticism , o f ig n o ra n t d o u b t, a n d o f shallow p h ilo so p h y , are
b u t th e n ecessa ry rea ction a fter p eriod s in w h ich d o g m a tic
cre d u lity has ru n rio t and rev eren t d ev otion has su n k in to
g ro v e llin g su p erstition . T h e su n sh in e and th e clo u d , th e
ca lm and th e tem pest, are a lik e o f n atu re’ s p ro d u ctio n .
“ T h e eclip se o f faith ” has passed its m a x im u m , and, th o u g h
still in v olv ed in its p en u m b ra , th e ra p id ly re tre a tin g an d
d im in ish in g sh adow s p rocla im th a t th e r e tu rn in g lig h t o f
clou d less d a y is at hand. E x t a c y w ill y e t b e re co g n ize d as a
c o n d itio n o f b e in g to w h ich g en iu s is an a p p rox im a tion , an d
th e seer a n d th e seeress w ill th e n , lik e th e p o e t and th e
artist, h ave th eir rig h tfu l p la ce assign ed th em in th e great
h iera rch y o f h u m an in te llig e n ce s . A m o n g su ch th e fair
d ream er o f D o m r e m y , th e h eroic J o a n o f A r c , w ill h o ld n o
u n d istin g u ish ed p o s itio n . H e r h ig h -to n e d p a triotism , h er
lo fty d e v o tio n , h e r u n w a v erin g faith , h er fearless cou ra g e, and
h er in d o m ita b le e n e r g y , p la ced as th e y are in th e fo re g ro u n d
o f a p ictu re so h istorica lly im p orta n t, c a n n o t fa il to secu re
h er th e favou ra b le n o tic e o f an e n lig h te n e d posterity to th e
rem otest ages o f civ iliza tion . S h e is a h eroin e, w ith o u t th e
n o tic e o f w hose g lo r io u s d eeds th e annals o f F ra n ce can
n ev er b e w ritten . A s th e c h a m p io n o f h er cou n try , she is
an in sta n ce o f ex ta tic lu c id ity , t o o im p orta n t to be ov e r­
lo o k e d , to o au th en tic t o b e d o u b te d . A s a d iv in in g n u n , o r
a villa g e p rop h etess, she m ig h t an d w ou ld have b e e n treated
w ith co n te m p t b y th e p reten tiou s c o n c e it o f a p h ilosop h y
w h ich , w h ile la u d in g th e Novum Organum, y e t d ecid es every
im p orta n t q u estion b y an a priori d o ctrin e o f p rob a b ility .
B u t as a seeress, v e rify in g h er o w n p re d ictio n s b y le a d in g
arm ies t o v ic t o r y ; as a sy b il, w h ose m a g ic w ords con v erted
d efea t in to t r iu m p h ; as a p y th o n e ss, b o u n d in g fro m th e
trip os to g iv e con fid en ce to k in g s an d cou ra g e to g e n e r a ls ;
as a prop h etess, in sh ort, w h ose w ord s o f m ig h ty im p o rt
w ere co n v e rte d as b y a celestia l th a u m a tu rg y in t o u n h o p e d ­
fo r fa cts w h ich have in flu e n ce d even ts th ro u g h all su cce e d in g

Hosted by G o o g le
 The subject of many writers. 267

cen tu ries, tlie M a id o f O rlea n s m u st d escen d to c o m in g tim e

as a m a g n ificen t a n d in d u b ita b le ex a m p le o f spon ta n eou s
cla irv o y a n ce , g r a n d ly d em on stra tin g its p resen ce in th e great
th ea tre o f th e w o rld , an d a fford in g a v erification o f its rea lity
b y th e la stin g m o d ifica tion s w h ich it has in d u c e d on th e
d e s tin y o f E u r o p e a n d, th ro u g h it, o f m a n k in d .
A s m ig h t b e su p p osed, a life so rem a rk a b le a n d rom a n tic
has n o t fa iled to fu rn ish a te x t fo r m a n y litera ry p ro d u ctio n s.
T h e a n tiq u a ry , th e h istorian , th e p o e t, an d th e n ovelist,
h ave ea ch and all fo u n d a p p rop ria te m aterials w h erew ith to
p r o s e c u te th eir several a v oca tion s in c o n n e x io n w ith an in d i­
v id u a l so ex ce p tio n a l an d d istin g u ish ed . A m o n g th e m o re
illu striou s c o n tin e n ta l sch olars w h o have d ev oted th e ir leisu re
an d e ru d ition to a n in v e stig a tio n o f th e d o cu m e n ts w h ich
th ro w lig h t on th e b io g r a p h y o f th is e x tra ord in a ry w om a n ,
w e m a y m e n tio n B u e h o n , P e tito t, d e L a v erd y , an d L e b r u n
d e C h a rm ettes, to g e th e r w ith d e B ra m a n te an d S is m o n d i;
w h ile in th is c o u n tr y an e x ce lle n t m e m o ir o n h e r has b een
p u b lish ed b y L o r d M a h o n , n ow E a rl S ta n h ope. I n tr o d u c e d
b y o u r im m orta l S h a ksp ere in to o n e o f his h istorica l plays,
h e r real ch a ra cter, lik e th o se o f S ir J o h n F a lsta ff an d
R ic h a r d I I I . , has b e e n trea ted w ith th a t d ra m a tic lib e rty , o r
ra th er licen se, w h ich , in th e absen ce o f all d eta iled h istorical
k n o w le d g e on th e p a rt o f th e p e o p le , was th en perh aps a d ­
m issib le, b u t w h ich w o u ld n o t n o w b e tolera ted fo r a m om en t,
ev en fr o m a w riter o f th e m ost c o m m a n d in g g e n iu s. T rea ted
w ith equ al in ju stice b y V o lta ir e , h er m em ory has in o u r m ore
r e c e n t literatu re b e e n restored to resp ect, i f n o t rev eren ce.
B y S o u th e y she was selected as th e h eroin e o f a p oem , an d
b y S ch ille r she was ch o se n as th e su b je ct o f a d r a m a ; w hile
th e vivid im a g in a tio n an d fertile p en o f A le x a n d re D u m a s
have n o t fa iled to illu stra te th e tale o f his c o u n tr y ’ s g reatest
h eroin e.
I t w o u ld seem th at th ere is n o a u th en tic bu st o r p ortra it
o f J o a n in ex isten ce, th e o ld est d a tin g n early tw o h u n d red
years after h er d eath . A ll d escrip tion s agree, h ow ever, in
re p re se n tin g h er as a tall, g ra cefu l, an d b ea u tifu l w om an,
w ith flo w in g g o ld e n lo ck s. O b v io u s ly o n e o f th ose fa ir-h ea d ed
d a u g h ters o f th e n o r th w h o are to be fo u n d scattered th r o u g h ­
o u t th e n orth o f F ra n ce, and w h ose a n cestors m u st have
crossed th e R h in e in on e o f th e m a n y in vasions o f C e ltic
G a u l b y its m ore v ig o ro u s ly -co n s titu te d T e u to n ic n e ig h b o u rs.
P h r e n o lo g ic a lly sp ea k in g , w e h ave rea son to believe th at she
p resen ted a sa n g u in e o -n e rv o u s tem p era m en t, w ith a m ora l
a n d in te lle ctu a l d e v e lo p m e n t m u c h ab ov e th e average. H er
statue b y th e d a u g h ter o f L o u is P h ilip p e , afterw ards M a r y
VOL. X III. u

Hosted by G o o g le
268 The present age does not comprehend her nature.

o f W u r te m b e r g , is w ell k n o w n fo r its ch aste an d exqu isite

b e a u ty — it is th e d ream o f o n e fa ir w o m a n b y a n oth er. A t
th e in a u g u ra tion o f h er eq u estria n statue at O rlea n s, on M a y
6 th a n d fo llo w in g d a ys, it w o u ld seem th a t th e d irect o r
colla tera l d escen d a n ts o f all th e p rin cip a l h eroes associated
w ith h e r w ere presen t, so th at D u n o is , d 'A u lo n , la H ire , & c.,
reappeared in th e ir liv in g rep resen tatives. I t is w ell to find
h e r m e m o ry thus h o n o u re d b y h e r c o u n try m e n , w h o w ith th e
tru e in s tin c t o f u n iversal h u m a n ity fa il n o t to p erceiv e in
h e r so m e th in g o f th e d ivin e. B u t w hile su ch v ery in a d eq u a te
and erro n e o u s id ea s a re en terta in ed re sp e ctin g h e r b y m en
o f scien ce a n d h istoria n s, w e ca n sca rcely e x p e ct th a t th e
p u b lic , w h o n a tu rally fo llo w th ese as th e ir leaders, w ill attain
t o a d u e estim a tion o f h er tru th fu l a n d ex a lte d ch aracter.
W e p ity th e b arbarou s cr e d u lity o f mediaeval ig n o ra n ce , b u t
an age is a t h a n d th a t w ill lo o k w ith eq u a l d erision o n th e
b a rb a rou s scep ticism o f m o d e rn k n o w le d g e . T o w rite th e
h is to ry o f J o a n o f A r c w h ile ig n o r in g ex ta tic illu m in a tio n ,
w ith its p rev ision , th o u g h t-r e a d in g , in tu itio n , & c., is lik e
tre a tin g o f m a ritim e d isco v e ry w ith o u t an a llu sion to th e
scien ce o f n a v ig a tion b y w h ich it has b e e n a ccom p lish ed .
C o n te m p la te d as a lu cid e , h e r every th o u g h t an d a ch iev e­
m e n t is p e r fe c tly an d easily ex p lica b le, an d h er w h ole life
con stitu tes b u t a b ea u tifu l e p isod e in th e h istory o f in te rio r
illu m in a tio n , w hile w ith ou t it she seem s b u t lik e an u n a c ­
cou n ta b le a n d m e te o r ic m a n ifesta tion , sen t to d azzle and
b lin d , n o t to en lig h te n . W h e n w ill lea rn ed m e n have th e
c o u ra g e to th ro w o f f th e ir u n w o r th y p reju d ices, an d cease to
w rite th at fo r th e applause o f th e p resen t w h ich c a n n o t fail
to p r o c u r e th em th e c o n te m p t o f p osterity .
J. W . J ackso n .
E d in b u rg h , A u g u st 4, 1 8 5 5 .

V I. The Athenaeum and Phrenology. By R iia d a m a n t h u s .

“ A. new truth has to encounter three normal stages of opposition. In the

first it is denounced as an imposture. In the second, that is, when it is begin­
ning to force itself into notice, it is cursorily examined and plausibly explained
away. In the third, or ‘ cui bono' stage, it is decried as useless, and hostile to
religion. And when it is finally admitted, it passes only under a protest that it
has been perfectly known for ages—a proceeding intended to make the new truth
ashamed of itself, and wish it had never been born .” —Letters on the Truths
contained in Popular Suj)erstitions. By Herbert Mayo, M.D. Frankfort on
the Maine and Edinburgh. 1849. p. 21.*

* The same remarks have often been mado before. The most extraordinary
thing is that those who should have been the last to act thus have always been the

Hosted by G o o g le
 Ignorance and effrontery of the A th enaeu m . 269

P h r e n o l o g y is t r u e ; fo r th e Athenaeum, hath said it. We

h ave arrived at th e fo u r th stage in th e g rea t c o n flic t o f tru th ,
o n th is m u ch -a g ita te d su b ject. T h e re is after all really
n o th in g n ew in p h r e n o lo g y ; it has been known since the days
of Aoicenna and the Arabian physicians, and was a favourite
theory of Baptista Porta. S o says th e g rea t a u th ority o f
W e llin g t o n S treet, W a te r lo o B r id g e , L o n d o n . S h akespere
a m o n g p oets and R a p h a el a m o n g artists, it seem s, b y th e
in tu itio n o f g en iu s a ttain ed to a co g n iz a n c e o f th ose p r in c i­
p les, fo r th e ir a d v oca cy o f w h ich G a ll was stig m a tized as a
q u a ck , and his follow ers as fools.
“ W e all allow that the brain is one o f the great centres o f the
nervous system,— that a blow on the brain-case will often discompose
some subtle machinery, and change the philosopher in a moment
into an idiot. W e see by portraits that wide or high foreheads are
generally the characteristics o f great men, and that the Hanover
forehead, receding at forty-five degrees, is by no means the mark o f
intellectual greatness. Fools and knaves have generally foreheads
‘ villanously lo w ;’ and too much thinking, like too much wine, brings
a pain in the forehead. A ll these are undisputed facts, and were
known long before Gall astonished England or Spurzheim Gaul.”
In d eed —
“ The danger and charlatanry o f phrenology is, that it starts
from certain opinions that we all hold, but attempts to widen them
out into rules that we can none o f us believe.”
T r u ly we, th e p h re n o lo g ists, m a y in d e e d con g ra tu la te
ou rselves th at th in g s have co m e to su ch a pass as th is, w h en
o u r m ost p reju d iced en em ies are d riven t o con fess th a t it is
th e amount o f tru th in o u r s y ste m w h ich ren d ers it so fo r ­
m id a b le . I n ou r tim e, a rticles have appeared in th e Edin­
burgh Review and in oth er p u b lica tio n s, in w h ich it is d o u b te d
th a t th e bra in has m o re to d o w ith th e m en ta l fu n c tio n s th an
th e lu n g s o r a n y o th e r o rg a n o f th e b o d y . A s to G a ll a ston ish ­
in g E n g la n d and S p u rzh eim G a u l, G a ll p u b lish ed h is g reat
w o rk in P aris an d le ctu re d th e re fo r years after t o crow d ed
a u d ien ces, a n d S p u rzh eim p u b lish ed first, and lectu red fr e ­
q u e n tly , in L o n d o n . I f th is ig n o r a n c e is d isg u stin g , and th e
e ffro n te ry disgra cefu l, so are th e fo l lo w in g :—
“ The absurdity o f phrenology is the dogmatic severity o f its
allotment system, and its division o f the brain into small plots o f
ground, to which the name o f certain undetermined and unclassified

first. None have rendered themselves more absurd in this respect than the me­
dical profession, who, as they rattle along the streets, smile and prescribe for
their patients, write plausible books and talk among each other in consultations
and medical societies, ought to feel sorrow and humility at the imperfection of
what they do for their fees.— Zoisl.
v 2

Hosted by G o o g le
270 More ignorance and effrontery.

feelings are attached. Several o f these plots are still to be let, and
the phrenologists are hesitating about one square inch o f the cere­
bellum, as to whether it is the abode of,— we believe, a love o f home
or a love o f travelling. It is not unlikely a civil war will break out
in consequence o f this uncertainty, and the head o f Priscian be
much contused.”

N o m e n ta l fu n c tio n b u t th e sexu al in stin ct ha§ ever b e e n

a ttrib u ted t o th e cere b e llu m b y p h ren olog ists. T h e org a n o f
L o c a lity , to w h ich w h en la rg e G a ll a scribes the lo v e o f tra v el­
lin g , is situated in th e a n te rio r lo b e s o f th e cerebrum; th e
lo v e o f settled re sid e n ce (In h a b itiv en ess), in th e p osterior
lob e s o f th e cerebrum.
W e have b een le d in to th ese rem a rk s b y n o tic in g a review
o f M r . C o m b e ’ s r e c e n tly p u b lis h e d w ork , on Phrenology
applied to Painting and Sculpture, in th e Athenaeum fo r J u ly
7 th , 1 8 5 5 , th e w riter o f w h ich seem s t o b e lo n g to th e sam e
s ch o o l o f “ k n o w -n o th in g s ,” as th e co n c e ite d crea tu re w h o
p en n ed th a t m iserable a ttem p t at sm artness, on th e R e v .
C h a u n cy H a r e T o w n sh e n d ’ s w o rk , w h ich w e fo u n d it n ecessa ry
t o m ild ly castigate in th e A p r il n u m b e r o f th e p resen t y ea r.
T h e fo r m e r an d th e fo llo w in g sen ten ces are a m o n g th e ch o ic e
in d ica tio n s, th u s afforded b y th is A th e n ia n review er, o f c o m ­
p e te n c y fo r h is ta sk as a litera ry ju d g e , sp ea k in g w ith a u ­
th o r ity on th e fa lla cy o f a scie n ce o f w h ose m ere alp h a b et h e
is o b v io u sly ig n ora n t.
“ M r. Combe and his followers study anatomy and yet are dis­
claimed by anatomists.” “ T hey start from no surer basis o f truth
than physiognomists, and yet insolently disclaim physiognom y.”
“ The phrenologists are hesitating about one square inch o f the cere­
bellum, as to whether it is the abode o f— we believe, a love o f home
or a love o f travelling.”
A s to th e first o f th ese assertion s, w e are n o oth erw ise
d iscla im ed b y an atom ists th an th e y are d iscla im ed b y each
o t h e r ; fo r, as we su p p ose all w e ll-in fo rm e d person s, e x ce p t
th e w riters fo r th e Athenaeum, k n o w r ig h t well, th e fu n ctio n s
o f th e b ra in are still a m o o t p o in t a m o n g an atom ists, w h o
ra n g e in variou s g ra d a tion s o f b elief, fro m an en tire recep tion
to an eq u a lly en tire r e je c tio n o f th e p h re n o lo g ica l th e o ry o n
th is m ost im p o rta n t su b ject. T h e se co n d o f th ese v eritable
a n n u n cia tion s is eq u a lly w ith o u t fou n d a tion . S o far fro m
p h re n o lo g ists re je ctin g p h y s io g n o m y , th e y have co rre cte d its
errors an d con firm ed its tru th s, an d reg u la rly use it as an aid
to cran ial m a n ip u la tion an d adm ea su rem en t in th e d ev elop ­
m e n t o f ch a ra cter. D id th is m o st sa p ien t o f a u th orities o n
th e su b je ct o f p h r e n o lo g y ever h ea r o f temperament, a n d, i f so,
has h e a n y idea o f its c o n n e x io n w ith p h y s io g n o m y ? T h e

Hosted by G o o g le
 Still more ignorance and effrontery. 271

th ird o f th ese vu lga r in a ccu ra cies, alm ost to o c o n te m p tib le

fo r seriou s re fu ta tio n , was p ro b a b ly o n ly in serted as o n e o f
th o se m isera b le a ttem pts at w it b y w h ich th is ra th er h eavy
jo u r n a l o cca s io n a lly en d ea v ou rs to en liv e n its h op elessly du ll
a n d p o n d e r o u s articles, w ith , a la s ! a b o u t th e sam e a m ou n t o f
o f su ccess as an eleph an t m ig h t e x h ib it in th e a ch iev em en t o f
a m in u et.
W e g iv e o n e m ore ex tra ct—

“ T he folly o f the thing lies in supposing that the discovery has

placed the human mind in M r. George Combe’ s hands as a substance
to be manipulated on,— that Hodges can be cultivated into Solons,
or that a man can be taught to restrain his passions by bandaging
his cerebellum and holding up his ‘ Veneration.’ ”

I t is sh eer falseh ood to assert th a t G a ll, S p u rzh eim , o r

a n y k n o w n w riter o n p h r e n o lo g y , ever p re te n d e d th a t th e
fa cu lties and ch ara cter c o u ld b e altered b y m a n ip u la tion o r
a n y m e ch a n ica l m eans. M r . D ilk e sh ou ld blu sh , i f h e ever
d id b lu sh , t o e m p lo y su ch a tru m p e ry p erson to w rite in his
Athenceum as th e m an w h om he p a id f o r th is article. T h e p o o r
crea tu re was o rd ered to w rite a g a in st p h r e n o lo g y , and so at it
h e w en t, h o p in g to have a n oth er j o b s o o n i f he w en t to w ork
lik e th e p o lice m e n in H y d e P a r k o n S u n d a y th e 2 4 th o f
June. B u t M r . D ilk e is a m an n e ith e r o f scie n ce n o r o f lite ­
ratu re, a n d n o m ore qu a lified to h o ld an o p in io n u p o n eith er
p h r e n o lo g y o r m esm erism th a n a T e m p le -p o r te r w h o stan ds
w ith h is w h ite a p ron and b a d g e in F le e t S treet is to giv e
a n o p in io n u p o n th e m atters o f th e H ig h C o u rt o f C h a n cery .
W e r e all th is sim ply o n e o f th o se d esperate en d eavou rs to
“ cu t u p ” th e a ble w ork o f som e litera ry rival, o r th e p o w e rfu l
p r o d u c tio n o f som e p o litic a l a n ta g on ist, fo r w h ich th e Athe-
nceum has so d o u g h ty a rep u ta tion , w e m ig h t perh aps leave th e
resp ecta b le p arties so e n g a g ed to settle th eir differen ces o f
o p in io n b y th e usu al e x h ib itio n o f sch o la rly in s o le n c e and
cu ltiv a te d im p ertin en ce, fo r w h ich au th ors an d review ers h ave
lo n g b e e n celeb ra ted . B u t in th is case a g re a t an d risin g
tru th is a tta ck ed as a p relim in a ry t o th e in te n d e d on sla u g h t
o n o n e o f its veteran le a d e r s ; p r in cip le is sacrificed to p u r ­
pose, a n d v era city is r e n d e re d su b serv ien t t o an u lte rio r
o b je c t . T h a t all this m a y b e c o n s id e re d as p e r fe c tly fa ir in
th e o ffice o f this H e lle n ic p e rio d ica l, w e ca n rea d ily s u p p o s e ;
fo r th e a dm ission o f m ora lity as a n e lem en t in lite ra ry criti­
cism w o u ld p ro b a b ly p ro v e e m in e n tly in c o n v e n ie n t in th e
m a n a g e m e n t o f a sm art jo u r n a l, th e p iq u a n cy o f w h ose articles
is, d ou b tless, in b o th e d itoria l an d p rop rietoria l estim ation , o f
fa r m o re im p o rta n ce th a n th eir ju s t ic e o r th eir tru th fu ln ess.

Hosted by G o o g le
272 The truth of Aerolites rejected for 3000 years.

W e d o n o t p reten d to k n o w th e p recise in tellectu a l status

o f th e su b scrib ers to th e Athenaeum. O f th is its m an agers
m u st o f co u rse b e th e b e s t j u d g e s ; and, as w e giv e th em fu ll
cr e d it fo r th e g reatest p ossib le a m ou n t o f co m m e rcia l a stu te­
n ess in th e c o n d u c t o f th eir jo u r n a l, we h ave n o d o u b t th a t,
as a ru le, th e c o m m u n ica tio n s w h ich appear in its p a g es are
w ell a d apted to th e class o f readers fo r w h ose esp ecia l advan ­
ta g e its p ro fo u n d and e lo q u e n t lu cu b ra tion s are m o re p a rticu ­
la rly p e n n e d . B u t r e a lly th e dense ig n o ra n ce , th e opaque
p re ju d ice (these literateurs m u st ex cu se o u r u sin g scien tific
term s to express th eir m en ta l co n d itio n , fo r ordinary la n ­
g u a g e fails to d efin e it,) ex h ib ited b y th ese G recia n s o n th e
su b jects o f m esm erism and p h r e n o lo g y , are su ch , th at w e
c a n n o t h elp th in k in g th e y m u st b e , in th is d ep a rtm en t, vastly
b e lo w th e le v e l o f th ose w h o, fo r th e sake o f litera ry o r artistic
in form a tion , en d u re, w h ile th e y la u g h at, su ch a rid icu lou s
c o m b in a tio n o f c o n c e it and su p erficia lity as th at w h ich we
have th o u g h t it o u r d u ty to ex p o se in th e p re ce d in g rem arks.
RH AD AM AN TH US.

V II. R e v ie w o f “ The History of Magic by Joseph Ennemosier.

T ra n sla ted from th e G erm a n b y W illia m H o w itt. W it h
an A p p e n d ix b y M a r y H o w itt . T w o V o ls . L ondon :
H e n r y G . B o h n .”
“ * On a supposed Aerolite or Meteorite found in the Trunk of an old Willow
Tree in the Battersea Fields/ By Sir Roderick Impey Murchison, F.R.S., Di­
rector-General o f the Geological Survey of Great Britain. Received June 21,
1855/— In bringing this notice before the Royal Society, it is unnecessary to
recite, however briefly, the history of the fall of aerolites or meteorites, as re­
corded for upwards of three thousand years, though I may be pardoned for
reminding my Associates, that the phenomenon was repudiated by the most
learned academies of Europe up to the close of the last century, The merit of
having first endeavoured to demonstrate the true character of these extraneous
bodies is mainly due to the German Chladni (1794), but his efforts were at first
viewed with incredulity. According to Vauquelin and other men of eminence
who have reasoned on the phenomena, it was in 1802 only that meteorites ob­
tained a due degree of consideration and something like a definite place in science
through the studies of Howard, as shewn in his memoir published in the Philo­
sophical Transactions—Proceedings of the Royal Society, p. 421.

T o th ose w h o have ca refu lly stu d ied th e progress o f p u b lic

o p in io n , it has b e e n lo n g o b v iou s th a t a ch a n g e is im p e n d in g
in re feren ce to w h at m a y b e ca lle d th e o c c u lt scien ces. In
th e m id d le o r dark ages th ere was an en tire an d u n q u e s tio n ­
in g b e lie f in th e su p ern a tu ra l an d th e m arvellou s. S o a ll­
pervasive was th e p o p u la r te n d e n c y to c r e d u lity , th a t even
scien ces th e m ost p ro sa ic au d ex a ct w ere b y th is p re d o m in a n t

Hosted by G o o g le
 Formerly the supernatural greedily received. 273

p r o c liv ity o f th e p u b lic m in d co n v e rte d in to th e su p p osed

arca n a o f fo r b id d e n k n o w le d g e . T h u s th e sim p lest d iagram s
o f th e g e o m e tricia n w ere b e h e ld w ith h o r r o r b y th e “ u n c o
g u id ” o f th a t day as p relim in a ry a rra n g em en ts c o n d u civ e to
th a t d ire a ct o f in iq u ity ,— th e ca stin g a n a tiv ity , w h e r e o f th e
h a rm less tria n g les o f th e in n o c e n t m a th em a ticia n w ere fo o l­
ish ly d eem ed th e te rrib le h o r o s c o p e . S o th e sta r-g a zin g
h a h its o f a n y w o r th y a stron om er w e re in a sim ilar m a n n er
th e sou rce o f n o little scan dal, as an in d ica tio n o f his b e in g
a d d icte d , lik e his b r o th e r stu d en t o f E u c lid , to th e fa scin a tin g
a b o m in a tio n o f a stro lo g y . W h ile th e ch em ist, p o o r m a n !
w ith h is b ottles an d a lem b ics, w as esteem ed as o n e a lto g e th e r
g iv e n u p to th e delu sion s, i f n o t th e a ctu a l w orsh ip , o f S atan ,
t o w h ose p o te n c y th e w o n d e rfu l tra n sform a tion s u n d e rg o n e
b y variou s su bstan ces in th e sim p le e x p erim en ts o f th a t ea rly
d a y w ere o f cou rse a ttrib u ted b y th e r ig id ly o r th o d o x an d
zea lou sly devou t. I n p e r fe c t k e e p in g w ith th is c o n d itio n o f
th e E u ro p e a n m in d on m atters o f s cie n ce was its u n q u e stio n ­
in g b e lie f in ch u r ch m arvels. M ir a c u lo u s cu res w ere c o n ­
tin u a lly w ro u g h t at th e to m b s o r b y th e re lic s o f saints,
v ision s o f a n gels o r d e m o n s w ere fr e q u e n tly b eh eld b y b o th
p riest an d peasant, and th e en tire e c o n o m y o f n atu re was
th u s co n ce iv e d to he re n d e r e d su b serv ien t to th e effective
p r o p a g a tio n o f th e tru e fa ith . W it h su ch o p in io n s p rev a len t
a m o u g th o se w h o w ere th e n th e leaders o f m in d , it is n o
w on d er th a t tales o f w itch cra ft a n d g h o s t-s e e in g , w ith leg en d s
o f fa iry an d o th e r c o g n a te lo re , s h o u ld h ave a b o u n d e d in th e
tra d itio n s o f th e p op u la ce. O f th e laws of the universe, in
o u r m o d e rn a ccep ta tion o f th e term s, m en h ad th e n no idea.
T o th e m , th e p o w e r w h ich c o u ld disturb, an d n o t th a t w h ich
su fficed to sustain, th e p h e n o m e n a o f th e m aterial sph ere in
th e ir su b lim e an d a w e -in sp irin g re g u la rity , seem ed alon e
divine. T o m in d s so co n stitu te d , th e ris in g o f th e m o rn in g
su n an d th e re tu rn o f th e season s at th eir a p p oin ted p e rio d ,
w ere n o recu rren t and e v e r -e x is tin g ev id en ces o f th e G o d lik e
a n d celestia l in crea tion — th e c o m m o n w as to su ch n ev er th e
g r a n d ly m ir a c u lo u s : an eclip se, an a v alan ch e, o r an e a rth ­
qu a k e, was n eed ed fo r th e d e m o n stra tio n o f a presens divus
to in te lle cts so gross and b e n ig h te d , w h o w o u ld have trea ted
w ith u n u ttera b le scorn “ th e m e d ita tio n s o f F ra n cis o f V e -
ru la m ,” an d b eh eld th e e x p erim en ts o f N e w to n as profa n ities
w h ich im p e rille d h is salvation .
T o th is age o f u n q u e s tio n in g an d irra tio n a l b e lie f su c ­
c e e d e d a n oth er o f eq u a lly u n q u e s tio n in g an d irra tion a l d o u b t.
T h is c o m m e n c e d w ith th e d aw n o f th e ex p erim en ta l p h ilo ­
s o p h y , an d c o n tin u e d till th e c lo s e o f th e e ig h te e n th ce n tu ry .

Hosted by G o o g le
274 Then facts of natural forces bluntly rejected.

M e n ’ s k n o w le d g e o f p h y sics n o w en a b led th em to p erceive

th e a b su rd ity o f a ttrib u tin g every rare o c c u r r e n c e to spiritual
a g e n c y aud d iv in e in te rp o s itio n . T h e m u ch -v a u n te d m ira cles
o f mediaeval faith , an d its o n c e -r e s p e c te d b e lie f in a n a ll­
pervasive su p ern atu ralism , w ere e x ch a n g e d fo r scien tific e x p e ­
rim en ts an d a rig id a d h e re n ce to th e law s o f n a tu re in th eir
in stitu tion . T h e B a co n ia n m e th o d o f in d u ctio n d o m in a te d
a lik e ov er th e a priori p h ilosop h y o f th e s ch o o lm e n an d th e
le g e n d a ry cr e d u lity o f th e m u ltitu d es, a n d facts, n o t fiction s,
b e ca m e th e o rd e r o f th e day. T h a t th is e x ch a n g e was m ost
desirable, an d m u st b e co n sid e re d as on e o f th e g ra n d est
steps ever ta k en in th e g rea t m a rch o f h u m a n progress, c a n ­
n o t b e d en ied . T o it w e ow e th e e re ctio n o f th at m a g n ificen t
tem p le o f m o d e rn k n o w le d g e — th e ex p erim en ta l p h ilo so p h y ,
o n th e ed ifica tion o f w h ich e v e ry s u cce e d in g g en era tion m ay
a ssidu ou sly la b o u r in th e c e rta in ty th at it b u ild s o n th e im ­
m ed ia te fo u n d a tio n o f a scertain ed tru th . I n th is d ep a rtm en t
at least, m an , d esp ite his fin ite fa cu lties, has rea ch ed , an d
n ow stands secu rely o n th e ad a m a n tin e fo u n d a tio n o f, rea lity .
B u t , as in th e case o f all g o o d m ov em en ts, th e te n d e n c y h ere
was to ex cess, for in th e in d ig n a n t r e je c tio n o f su p erstition
m e n p ro ce e d e d to th e e x tre m e o f d e n y in g th e fa cts o n w h ich
it rested . T h u s, in r e fu sin g t o a dm it th a t th e to m b o r th e
relics o f a sain t possessed a rem ed ia l p ow er, th e y q u ite fo r g o t
to en q u ire in to th e tru th o r falsity o f th e cu re re p u te d to
have been e ffe cte d b y a visit to th e o n e o r a to u c h from th e
oth er, an d so rem a in ed ig n o ra n t o f th e g rea t fo r c e ex erted
ov e r th e n erv ou s sy stem o f a su scep tib le p a tien t by th e
p o w e rfu l im p ression o f a lo n g p ilg rim a g e o r a r e lig io u s c e r e ­
m on ia l. I n a sim ilar m a n n er, w h ile resolu tely d e n y in g th e
ex isten ce o f apparition s and fairies as o b je c tiv e p h en om en a ,
th e y n e g le cte d to e n q u ire in to th e e v id en ce o f th eir b e in g
su b jectiv e ex p erien ces o f certa in m o r b id ly su scep tib le in d i­
viduals, an d so d ep riv ed th em selv es o f m u c h v alu able k n o w ­
le d g e r e s p e ctin g th e e m a n a tion s o f various su bstan ces an d
th e rela tion sh ip o f th e n erv ou s system th e re to . B y p ersis­
te n tly fo llo w in g o u t th is sy stem o f re je c tin g w h atever d id n o t
u p o n th e fa ce o f it b ea r d ire ct ev id en ce o f b e in g a very p a l­
p a b le and ta n g ib le fa ct, th e u ltim a tu m o f a gross, coa rse,
an d bru tal m aterialism , was e v en tu a lly a ttain ed. F r o m th is
n a d ir o f th e m e re ly m e ch a n ica l an d p on d era b le, o u r in v e sti­
g a tion s in to lig h t, h eat, e le ctricity , m a g n etism , & c., m ark ed
th e p eriod o f a scen sion , at first slow and difficu lt, b u t e v e n ­
tu a lly rapid a n d triu m p h a n t. A s th e close o f th e last c e n tu ry
a p p roa ch ed , m esm erism , o r th e h u m an im p o n d e ra b le , m ad e
its a p p ea ra n ce as th e clim a x o f th ese m o re refin ed p rov in ces

Hosted by G o o g le
 The gross absurdity of spiritual agency has returned. 275

o f scien tific en q u iry . T o th is, as w as u n a v oid a b le from th e

c o n d itio n o f m in d th en prev a len t th r o u g h o u t C h risten d om ,
th e m ost v iru len t a n ta g on ism was m a n ifested . I t was a w ar
o f p rin cip les, a con tro v e rsy o n fu n d a m en ta ls, in w h ich th e
re sp ectiv e b ellig eren ts co n te n d e d , n o t m erely fo r th e rea lity
o r fa lla cy o f in d iv id u a l an d isola ted facts, b u t also fo r th e
e sta b lish m en t o r a b n e g a tio n o f w h o le d ep a rtm en ts o f tru th ,
to g e th e r w ith th e h abits a n d co n d itio n s o f m in d d ep en d en t
o n th eir cu ltu re. M esm erism , a fter a d rea d fu l co n flict, so
far triu m p h ed as to m a in ta in its ex isten ce, sorely im p erilled
b y th e in d ifferen ce o r th e cow a rd ice o f th o se w h o w ere, in
scien tific k in sh ip , b o u n d in h o n o u r to have a fford ed it a m ple
an d a b le assistance : w e allu de to th e ch em ists an d electricia n s
n o w a t le n g th slow ly tu r n in g with all th e ir le g io n s to th e
rescu e.
A s a b e fittin g , an d w e m ay ad d n ecessa ry, a cco m p a n i­
m en t o f th is te n d e n c y to m o re refin ed dep a rtm en ts o f in v es­
tig a tio n in th e ex p erim en ta l sp h ere, th ere has b e e n a retu rn
to , an d a revival of, th ose su pern atu ralism s w h ich so a b ou n d ed
in th e mediaeval p eriod . W it h th e w ise, th is has b e e n lim ite d
to an en q u iry in to th e facts, an d, w h ere th ere is a su fficien cy
o f ev id e n ce to w arran t it, an a d m ission o f th ese, w ith an
e n d e a v o u r to exp la in th em o n a d m itte d p rin cip les. S ta rtin g
w ith th e c o n v ictio n th a t all phenomena are and must be per­
fectly natural, th e tru e p h ilo so p h e r regards th e le g e n d s "o f
su p erstition as a storeh ou se o f m isa p p reh en d ed a n d m isin ter­
p reted facts, its foolish stories b e in g , lik e th e ch a m b ers o f a
la b y rin th , o n e m ass o f h op eless c o n fu s io n and co n tra d ictio n
t o all save h im w h o has th e clu e. W it h th e u n w ise, h ow ever,
w e are sorry to ob serv e th a t th is rea ction has already p r o ­
ce e d e d to su ch an excess, th a t, n o t co n te n te d w ith th e fa cts,
th e y have a lso b e ta k e n th em selves to th e fiction s o f mediaeval
ig n o r a n c e an d su p erstition . O f th is w e have a n o ta b le e x ­
a m p le in th e A m e rica n rappists an d th eir d iscip les in th is
c o u n tr y , w h o, n ot satisfied w ith a d m ittin g th e su b jectiv e o r
o b je c tiv e tru th fu ln ess o f certa in e x p e rie n ce s, have at o n c e
p r o c e e d e d to th e u n w arran table le n g th o f a c c o u n tin g fo r all
se e m in g ly m ysteriou s p h e n o m e n a b y th e d ire ct in terv en tion
o f sp iritu a l a g en cy . D isre g a rd in g th e vast array o f w o n ­
d e rfu l fa cts w ith w h ich m esm erism has ren d ered us fam iliar,
a n d p ra ctica lly ig n o r in g th e d iscov eries o f p h y s io lo g y in r e ­
fe r e n c e to th e p ow ers a n d su scep tib ilities o f th e n ervou s
system , th ese m isled p erson s have at o n c e p lu n g e d in to all
th e follies o f m id d le -a g e cred u lity . I f th ere be a n y th in g
ca lcu la te d to b r in g th ose h ig h e r d ep a rtm en ts o f scien tific
in v e stig a tio n , to w h ich we have b e e n a llu d in g, in to c o n t e m p t ;

Hosted by G o o g le
276 Some recent works portend the flight of scepticism.

i f in d e e d th e r e b e a n y th in g w h ich seriou sly th rea ten s th eir

sta b ility as in c ip ie n t a n d as y e t im p e r fe c tly re c o g n iz e d p r o ­
v in ces o f h u m a n k n o w le d g e , it is th is ex tra v a g a n t c o n d u c t
o n th e part o f th o s e fro m w h om a m o re dig n ified b eh a v iou r
an d a m o re ra tio n a l to n e o f th o u g h t m ig h t have b e e n rea son ­
a b ly e x p e cte d . T o retu rn , h ow ev er, t o th e m o re im m ed ia te
su b je ct m a tter o f th is n o tice .
A m o n g o th e r in d ic a tio n s o f th is p rog ressiv e r e c o v e r y in
th e p u b lic m in d , fr o m its fo r m e r excess o f scep ticism , is th e
appearance ev e r a n d a n o n o f w ork s lik e th e o n e w h ose title
w e have p refix ed to th e p resen t c o m m u n ica tio n . S om e o f
th ese, lik e th e late M r . C o lq u h o u n ’ s Magic, Witchcraft and
Animal Magnetism, are p h ilo s o p h ic a ttem p ts to ex p la in th e
essen tial ch a ra cter o f th ose a d m itted fa cts o n w h ich a n cien t
su p erstition rested as a fo u n d a tio n . O th ers, lik e M r s . C row e's
Night Side of Nature, are m ere n arration s o f th e su pern atu ral
in its cru d e fo r m , as a p op u la r tra d ition , w ith ou t a n y p rofessed
en d ea v ou r t o elu cid a te b y scien tific o r o th e r a n n o ta tio n th e
ex p erien ces d escrib e d . S o m e again h o ld a m ed iu m p la ce b e ­
tw een th ese t w o classes o f th e p u re ly p h ilo so p h ic o r th e sim p ly
tra d ition a l, a n d , w h ile n a rra tin g th e facts, en d ea v ou r t o a c ­
c o u n t fo r th e m o n th e p rin cip les o f an ex a lted m y sticism ,
w h ich , w h ile d is d a in in g th e v u lg a r, evolves fo r it s e lf a fo r m
o f b e lie f m o r e co m p lic a te d a n d in tellectu a l b u t still la rg e ly
tin ctu re d w ith su p erstition . S u ch is o b v io u sly th e u n d e r­
cu rre n t o f th o u g h t a n d fe e lin g p erv a d in g K e r n e r 's a c c o u n t o f
th e S eeress o f P rev orst. T o th is, in d eed , th e G erm a n m in d ,
w h en o f th e litera ry o r d e r , seem s to b e ra th er m o r b id ly p ron e,
listen in g , lik e a ch ild th a t has n o t y e t q u ite em erg ed fr o m th e
in flu e n ce o f th e n u rs e ry , w ith p a lp ita tin g h ea rt an d e x cited
b ra in to s o m e tale o f th e m a rv ellou s, a n d h a rd ly k n o w in g
w h eth er to fe a r it as a rea lity o r a d m ire it as a ro m a n ce .
L e t us n o t, h ow ev er, b e to o severe o n o u r G e rm a n frien d s.
T h e ir c o u n t r y has d o n e g o o d service in th e cause o f b o th lite ­
ra tu re an d scie n ce , a n d ca n b o a st o f n a m es a m o n g h e r g rea t
m en o f w h ich a n y p e o p le m ig h t b e ju s tly p r o u d : a n d o f th ese
n o t a few h a v e n o b ly a n d fearlessly d ev oted th eir tim e and
talen ts to th e in v e stig a tio n an d e x p osition o f m esm eric tru th .
S u ch was W ie n h o ld an d su ch was H u fe la n d , a n d a m o n g th is
b a n d o f m o r a l h eroes E n n e m o s ie r has lo n g b e e n n u m b e re d .
D es e rv e d ly c e le b r a te d a m o n g h is ow n co u n tr y m e n , as a p h ilo ­
sop h er a n d a sch o la r, h e has lo n g b e e n p a rtia lly k n o w n t o an
esp ecial s e c tio n o f th e B ritish p u b lic b y th e occa sion a l n otices
o f his la b o u rs th at h ave a ppeared in variou s E n g lis h w ork s
o n m esm erism , m o re esp ecia lly th o se o f th a t e m in en t w riter to
w h om w e h ave a lready a llu d ed , th e late M r . J . C . C o lq u h o u n .

Hosted by G o o g le
 Ennemosier’s studies have run through forty years. 277

B y th e p resen t w o rk , h ow ev er, h era ld ed as it is b y th e lite ­

ra ry re p u ta tio n o f W illia m H o w itt as tran slator, th e n a m e o f
E n n e m osier c a n n o t fa il to b e c o m e m o re ex ten siv ely k n o w n on
th is side o f th e w a t e r ; a n d, w ith this in creased a cq u a in ta n ce,
a h ig h e r a p p recia tion th an th at h ith e rto en terta in ed o f his
assidu ity an d eru d ition , o f his tru th fu ln ess an d co u ra g e , w ill
u n d o u b te d ly p revail. T o b elievers in m esm erism m o re esp e­
cia lly, a w o rk c o m in g fr o m th e p e n o f o n e w h o has b e e n m ore
th a n fo r t y years a p ersev erin g stu d en t o f th e ir fa v ou rite
s cie n ce , c a n n o t b u t c o m m a n d re sp e ctfu l a tten tion and ca refu l
peru sa l. I n his p refa ce da ted 2 1 st o f O c to b e r , 1 8 4 3 , th e
v etera n speaks o f h im s e lf in th e fo llo w in g t e r m s :—
“ Thus has the author for the last thirty years moved on the still
uncultivated field o f the wonderful phenomena o f magnetism ; and,
after having once ascertained its reality, and been convinced o f the
striking effects voluntarily (spontaneously ?) produced by it, he be­
lieves it his duty, in accordance with the saying ‘ that a grain o f ex­
perience is o f more value in medicine than a book full o f reasoning,’
to persevere with a certain self-sacrificing and constancy, o f which
not all are capable. H e considered his first necessary task to be the
making experiments for the discovery o f a fixed law for these phe­
nomena. A s it soon appeared that such regularity really existed,
the next thing required was to search in history for those similar
mysterious phenomena which shew a greater or less relation to those
o f magnetism.”
S u ch th e n is th e o r ig in o f th e w ork b e fo re u s, from w h ich
its essen tia l ch a ra cter m a y b e rea d ily div in ed . I t is an e n ­
d ea v ou r t o illu stra te th e scien ce o f m esm erism , o r m a g n etism
as E n n e m o s ie r p refers te rm in g it, b y th e c o lle c tio n o f a g rea t
n u m b e r o f fa cts, cu lled fr o m th e m o st varied a n d h e te r o g e -
n io u s sou rces, b u t w h ich serve to th row lig h t o n th e o p e ra tio n
o f n a tu re’ s laws in th is im p orta n t d ep a rtm en t o f h e r e m p ire.
T o th is e n d classical au th ors b o th G r e e k au d R o m a n , H e b r e w
ra b b is an d cabbalists, A ra b ia n , P ersia n , an d S an scrit w riters,
to g e th e r w ith m u ltifo r m data fro m mediaeval an d o th e r tra d i­
tion s, h ave b e e n laid u n d e r c o n trib u tio n . I t is in v e ry tru th
a w o rk w h ich bears u p o n its every p age am p le ev id e n ce o f
b e in g th e la b o u r o f a life, th e p ro d u ct o f lo n g years o f u n ­
w earied to il an d a ssidu ou s in v estig a tion d ev oted to th e e lu c i­
d a tio n o f facts an d illu stra tion o f prin cip les, th e fo r m e r o f
w h ich h ave b e e n gen era lly ov e rlo o k e d b y th e ord in a ry sch ola r,
w h ile th e la tter have b e e n as sy stem a tica lly d esp ised b y th e
co m m o n p la c e p h ilosop h er.
T o e x p e ct th a t su ch a w ork sh o u ld b e in ev ery p o in t satis­
fa c to r y w o u ld b e u n ju s t ; an d t o c o n c lu d e th at, w ith all its
d ep th o f lea rn in g , it has exh au sted th e su b je ct u n d e r en q u iry ,

Hosted by G o o g le
278 Is bewildered in his views, but most rich in facts.

w o u ld b e u n w ise. I t is th e p r o d u c tio n o f a sch ola r ra th er

th an o f a p h ilo so p h e r, an d a b ou n d s w ith vastly m o re ev id en ce
o f th e s tu d e n t th a n o f th e ex p erim en ta list. I t is w ith al so m e ­
w h a t t o o m y s tica l in its to n e and spirit fo r th e p ra ctica l m in d
o f E n g la n d , or fo r m en o f scien ce in a n y part o f th e w orld .
T h e a u th o r has ob v io u sly been som ew h a t in fe ste d b y th e
d u sty tom es o f o ld th eosop h y and m eta p h y sics, ov e r w h ich h e
m u st have so o fte n p o re d b y th e m id n ig h t la m p ere h e c o u ld
have c o lle c te d th e m a n ifold data w h ich h e has h ere b r o u g h t
to g e th e r. W h a t fo r in sta n ce are we to m a k e o f su ch sen ­
te n ce s as th e fo llo w in g d n a w ork p rofessed ly d ev oted to th e
illu stra tion o f scien tific fa cts—
“ I f the first man lost his perfect harmony with God and nature,
and, at the same time also forfeited his active government, then must
these have been restored after the restoration through Christ. H e
would then communicate with God, and the influences o f nature
would produce in him a disinclination to receive any impressions
which could militate against the divine power o f his mind. It was
thus that through Christ the true penetrating vision, and the original
power over nature, were restored,” &c., &c.
T h is a n d m u ch m ore o f th e sam e k in d o ccu rs in th e first
d iv ision o f th e w ork , d ev oted t o th e h is to ry o f m a g ic . T h e
ju d ic io u s re a d e r w ill o f cou rse p a rd on su ch in d ica tio n s o f th e
w o rth y a u th o r n ot h a v in g escap ed a lto g e th e r w h o le and u n ­
scath ed fr o m his th ir ty y ea rs’ p lu n g e in to th at m y s tic lo re
w h e n ce so la r g e a p o r tio n o f his illu stra tion s are d erived . I n
th e se ctio n d e v o te d to th e m a g ic o f th e G erm a n s th e w riter
en ters in to so m e y e t m o re p ro fo u n d an d re c o n d ite disserta­
tio n s on C h ristia n ity a n d G erm a n ity , w ith th e ir sy n ch r o n o u s
appearance o n th e p a g e o f h istory , th eir m u tu a l a daptation ,
an d su n d ry o th e r c o -r e la te d top ics, e m in e n tly adapted fo r th e
d e le cta tio n o f T e u to n ic th e o lo g ia n s an d th e u tte r co n fu sio n
o f th e ir Ita lia n , G a u lic and G recia n rivals.
D e s p ite th ese little d efects, h ow ever, this w ork o f E n n e m o -
sier m u st b e esteem ed a g rea t a d d ition to m esm eric litera tu re.
A s a g ra n d rep ertory o f facts, c o n n e c te d w ith th e su persti­
tio n s o f va riou s ages an d n a tion s, and as a lea rn ed e x p osition
o f o rien ta l th e o so p h y and th e o c c u lt scien ces, b o th o f th e
E a st an d W e s t , it has n o rival in E u ro p e a n litera tu re. Its
c o n te n ts e m b ra ce “ A H is to r y o f M a g ic a n d its b ra n ch es in
g en era l,” in w h ich th e su b je ct is trea ted u n d e r its g ra n d er
heads, a n d w h ere th e read er w ill find, a m o n g o th e r th in g s, a
g o o d a c c o u n t o f ca b b a lism an d secon d sig h t, th e la tter, th o u g h
v ery c o n c is e , b e in g m u ch su p erior to S ir W a lt e r S c o t t ’ s
su perficial n o tio n s o f th e sam e su b je ct in his w ork o n W it c h ­
cra ft an d D e m o n o lo g y . F r o m this it w ou ld seem th a t seer-

Hosted by G o o g le
 Great and numerous defects in the work. 279

d o m is still com p a ra tiv ely c o m m o n in D e n m a rk an d th e

n o r th o f E u r o p e g en era lly . T h is is fo llo w e d b y “ T h e o re tica l
view s o n M a g ic a m o n g th e A n c ie n t s ,” w h ere th e a u th or’ s
classical k n o w le d g e appears to som e advan tage. T h e n w e
h a v e “ M a g n e tis m a m o n g th e A n c ie n t N a t i o n s ; esp ecia lly
th e O rien ta ls, E g y p tia n s and Isra elites,” in .w h ic h , w ith th a t
rea l w an t o f sy stem w h ich pervades th e en tire w o r k despite
a g rea t sh ow o f it in th e h ea d in g s o f th e section s, & c., th e
a u th or o n c e m o re w a n d ers b a c k to his classical favou rites.
I n th a t p o r tio n d e v o te d t o “ M a g ic a m o n g th e Isra e lite s,”
e x te n d in g to n ea rly sev en ty pages, th ere is an im m en se q u a n ­
tity o f m atter, q u ite n eedless, an d in d eed a lto g e th e r m isp la ced
in a w ork w h ose sco p e an d p u rp ose is scien tific. O n c e m ore
th e stro n g “ G e r m a n ity ” o f o u r w o rth y frie n d fin d s fu ll a n d
u n re s tricte d u ttera n ce, to th e sore a n n oy a n ce o f h is w earied
a n d d iscom fited reader.
T h e s e c o n d v o lu m e op en s w ith “ M a g ic in M y t h o lo g y ,”
cla ssica lly p ro fo u n d : b u t, h a d th e a u th or read P o c o c k ’ s Greece
in India, we th in k his ideas o f G re cia n m y th s m ig h t have
b e e n som ew h at d ifferen t. T h e d eficien cy o f th e w o rk , in d e e d ,
i f so g e n e ra lly eru d ite a p ro d u ctio n ca n w ith a n y fairness b e
a ccu sed o f su p erficia lity, is in its orien ta lism , w h ich , w ith th e
e x ce p tio n o f th a t p o r tio n d ev oted to cabbalism , is m ost o b ­
v io u s ly b o r r o w e d at s e co n d h a n d fr o m m o d e rn w riters, n o t
alw ays perh aps th e m o st co r r e c t o r p rofou n d . T h is is m o re
esp ecia lly m a n ifested in h is im p e rfe ct n otices o f B u d h ism ,
th a t a n cien t a n d w idespread phasis o f fa ith , o f w h ose p rev a ­
le n ce , past o r p resen t, u n m ista k a b le tra ces exist “ fr o m B rita in
to J a p a n ,” an d w h ose p riesth ood to th is day retain a w o n d e r­
w o r k in g k n o w le d g e th a t aston ishes even th e m ir a c le -lo v in g
m onks o f R om e. (S ee th e Travels of Hue and Gäbet.) I n
“ T h e M a g ic o f th e G erm a n s,” h ow ever, E n n e m o s ie r is o n c e
m o re at h o m e , an d, after a g o o d ly su pply o f th a t T e u to n ic
m y s tic is m to w h ich w e have a lread y allu ded, p rov id es us w ith
a v ery fair h is to ry o f mediaeval w itch cra ft a n d so rce ry . T h e
o rig in a l w ork co n clu d e s w ith a section o n “ M y s t ic D o c t r in e s ,”
w h ere th e a u th or en d ea vou rs to p rov id e a p h ilosop h ica l
elu cid a tio n o f th e “ M a g ic o f th e M id d le A g e s ,” a n d w e
h a v e an a c c o u n t o f P a ra celsu s, V a n H e lm o n t, C orn eliu s
A g r ip p a , G rea tra k es and C a g lio s t r o ! to g e th e r w ith som e
n eed lessly le n g th y extra cts fro m J a c o b B ö h m e a n d E m a n u e l
S w eden borg. T h e w h ole is c o n c lu d e d b y a ch a p ter, n o t th e
v e ry b est w e have ever read, o n “ A n im a l M a g n e tis m ,” e x ­
te n d in g to twelve pages, w h ile th e extra cts fr o m B ö h m e a lon e
o c c u p y m o re th an th irty . S o m u ch fo r th e taste, ju d g m e n t ,
an d d iscrim in a tion o f a G e rm a n sch ola r !

Hosted by G o o g le
280 Much information in Z o is t since Ennemosier in 1 843.

T h e a p p e n d ix b y M a r y H o w itt is a co m m o n p la c e c o lle c ­
tio n o f th re a d b a re g h o st stories an d sim ilar m atters, n o t to be
co m p a re d t o M rs . C ro w e ’ s Night Side of Nature fo r m a k in g
o n e “ sup fu ll o f h o rro rs.” A s a “ m a k e u p ” it is to o e x te n ­
sive, a n d , i f M r . B o h n c o u ld have m a n a g ed h is tw o re sp e ct­
a b le v o lu m e s w ith ou t such a n eed less a d d ition , w e th in k its
a b sen ce w o u ld have b een an adva n ta ge.
T o th e g en era l p u b lic th is w ork w ill p rov e in te re s tin g as
a lea rn ed a n d la b oriou s co lle c tio n o f th e w o n d e r fu l, q u ite as
e x c itin g as, a n d vastly m o re in stru ctiv e th a n , an o ld -fa sh io n e d
ro m a n c e o f th e M rs . Jtadcliffe sch o o l. T o th e en lig h te n e d
stu d en t o f m esm erism it w ill p rov e o f c o n s id e ra b le valu e as a
w ork o f r e fe re n ce , a storeh ou se o f ap t illu stra tion s. S in ce
its p u b lic a tio n (in 1 8 4 3 ), h ow ev er, m u ch va lu a b le in form a tion
in c o n n e x io n w ith th e su b jects o f w h ich it treats has been
b r o u g h t to lig h t an d e m b o d ie d in m e sm e ric a n d p op u la r lite ­
ratu re, o f w h ich , sh ou ld th e learn ed a u th or fa v ou r us w ith a
n ew e d itio n , it w ou ld b e w ell th at h e sh o u ld avail h im self.
N e e d w e m e n tio n th e m a n y a d m ira b le papers co m m u n ica te d
t o The Zoist ? I n ad d ition to w h ich , th ere are th e valu able
n o tice s o f Waren, or, divine and diabolical possession among
the Hindoos, th at h ave appeared fro m tim e to tim e in th e
Dublin University Magazine ; to g e th e r w ith m a n y o th e r a rti­
cles o n co rre la te d to p ic s th at have o b ta in e d in sertion in th e
sam e jo u r n a l ; som e o n M esm erism in S a n scrit L ite ra tu re ;
an d oth ers o n th e F a iry L o r e an d sim ilar su perstition s, e s p e ­
cia lly c o n n e c te d w ith Ir e la n d . M a n y v ery im p o rta n t facts,
e m in e n tly illu stra tiv e o f m e sm eric su scep tib ility , have also
appeared in various b o o k s o f v oy a g es an d travels w ith in th e
last few y e a rs, th at m ig h t be e x tra cted a n d arra n ged w ith
g rea t a d v a n ta g e in th e pa ges o f a w o rk lik e th e presen t.
S u c h p r o d u c tio n s as th ose o f D r . H e r b e r t M a y o ,* in w h ich he
treats o f va m p y rism , w ou ld a fford m a n y a d d ition a l fa c t s ;
as w ou ld also D r. M a d d e n ’ s Shrines and Sepulchres. I n sh ort,
th e m a teria ls n ow at o u r c o m m a n d , i f w e lo o k to E n g lish
litera tu re o n ly , are so m u ch m o re varied ap d ex ten siv e than
th e y w ere ev en tw elve years sin ce, that E n n e m o s ie r’ s w ork , la ­
b o r io u s ly co m p ile d as it has b e e n , m u st u n d e rg o co n sid era b le
im p ro v e m e n t as rega rd s th e a rra n g em en t o f its top ics, and
y e t m o re co n sid e ra b le ex p a n sion as resp ects th e n u m b e r and
d iversity o f m a g n e tic p h e n o m e n a w h e re o f it treats, i f it is to
co n tin u e as a le a d in g a u th ority o n th e s u b je ct. T h e ch a ra cter
o f th e v en era b le a u th or’ s m in d , h ow ever, as revealed in th is,
h is opus magnum, w ill, we a p p reh en d , d isq u a lify h im fo r th e

* See supra, p. 268.— Zoist.

Hosted by G o o g le
 A better author on the subject must arise. 281

effe ctu a tio n o f w h a t is re a lly w a n ted in th is d ep a rtm en t o f

e n q u iry ,— n a m e ly , th e c o lle c tio n a n d sy stem a tic a rra n g em en t
o f fa cts an d tra d itio n s c o n n e c te d w ith p op u la r su p erstition s
a n d th e o c c u lt s c ie n c e s ; th e co m m u n ic a tio n o f th is rath er
a bstru se a n d re c o n d ite k n o w le d g e in clea r la n g u a g e, u tterly
d ev oid o f th e sen seless ja r g o n o f m y s t ic is m ; and, lastly, th e
p ro v isio n o f a r u n n in g c o m m e n ta r y o f p h ilo s o p h ic exp la n a tion
to a cco m p a n y th e sta tem en t o f ea ch case o f th e se e m in g ly
su p ern a tu ra l, so as to en su re its b e in g p laced b e fo re u n in ­
fo r m e d m in d s in its tru e lig h t,— as a fact in nature, an d not a
m ira cle above and beyond her. F o r th is, h ow ever, an d m u ch
else, m o st d ev ou tly t o b e d esid era ted in m esm eric litera tu re,
w e m u st y e t w ait p a tie n tly in th e h o p e th a t a m in d d u ly
q u a lified fo r so on e ro u s b u t im p o r ta n t a ta sk w ill y e t arise.
W h a t w e w a n t is n ev erth eless n o t a v ery c o m m o n o c c u r r e n c e ,
fo r th e p r o fo u n d ly rea d sch ola r a n d th e d eep ly m ed itative
p h ilosop h er, th e a ccom p lish ed m a n o f letters w ith h is polished
a n d e lo q u e n t style a n d th e ca re fu l ex p erim en ta list d u ly
eq u ip p ed w ith scie n tific k n o w le d g e , are ra rely c o m b in e d in
th e sam e p erson . E n n e m o s ie r m ay b e th e fo rm e r, b u t is
m o s t assu redly n o t th e la tter. W e say th is, n o t in a n y spirit
o f h y p e rcriticism , b u t as th e sim p le sta tem en t o f a fa ct,
w h e r e o f th e w o rk u n d e r c o n s id e ra tio n affords am ple ev id en ce.
L e t u s n o t h ow ev er b e u n d e rs to o d as d e c r y in g th is rea lly
valu a b le p u b lic a tio n , b e ca u se w e th u s com p a re it w ith an
id e a l stan dard o f p e rfe ctio n n o t y e t a ttain ed. I t is th e b est
w o r k o f its k in d y e t p u b lish e d , a n d w e w ou ld advise all w h o
fe e l in terested in th e su b jects o f w h ich it treats t o m a k e
th em selves acq u a in ted w ith its pages.
T h e task o f tra n sla tor has b e e n w ell a ccom p lish ed by M r .
H o w itt. H e has tran sfu sed th e ra th er o b s cu re s u b je c t m a tter
o f his a u th o r in to g o o d id io m a tic E n g lis h , a v oid in g fo r th e
m o s t p a rt th ose G erm a n ism s o f sty le in w h ich T e u t o n ic
sch ola rs are occa sio n a lly w o n t t o in d u lg e . H a d h e prefixed
a b io g ra p h ica l n o tic e o f E n n e m o s ie r, and a p p en d ed som e or
th o s e a d d ition a l data to w h ich w e have a llu d ed , th e w o rk
w o u ld have been m o r e v alu able to m esm erists an d perh aps
m o r e a ccep ta b le to th e p u b lic. H is situ a tion , h ow ever, as a
v o y a g e r o n th e storm y d eep d u r in g th e p e rfo rm a n ce o f h is
la b o rio u s ta sk m ig h t w ell p le a d an ex cu se fo r th ese and m a n y
o th e r m o re w eig h ty sin s, w h eth er o f om ission o r co m m issio n .
J. W . J ackso n .
E d in b u r g h , 11 th A u g u s t, 1 8 5 5 .

Hosted by G o o g le
 ( 282 )

V III. P h re n o lo g y in c u lc a te d in th e P u lp it, by th e R ev . H en ry

W a r d B eech er.

“ The same opinions have at one time been regarded as dangerous because
they were new, and at another as useful because they were ancient. We must,
therefore, pity mankind, and conclude that the opinions of cotemporaries as to
the truth or error, and dangerous or innocent tendencies, of a doctrine, are very
suspicious, and that the author of a discovery should be anxious only to ascer­
tain whether he has really discovered a truth or not. A truth once discovered
will make its way, and not fail to produce good effects. 1 Reason, says Ancillon
after Bonnet, <knows no useless nor dangerous truths/ ” — Gall, F o n c t i o n s d u
C e r v e a u , t. i., p. 221.

“ I t is v ery h ard fo r a m in iste r o f th e g o sp el, sta n d in g b e fo re

a p rom iscu ou s au d ien ce, to dea l w ith th e facts o f th eir m in d s
an d th e ir in w ard lives. I t is a m e la n ch o ly fa ct, th at m en
k n o w less a b ou t th a t w h ich is th e v ery elem en t o f th eir b e in g
th an a b o u t a n y th in g else in th e w orld . I su ppose th a t i f I w ere
t o g o a m o n g th e in te llig e n t m e n in m y c o n g re g a tio n , I c o u ld
g e t every variety o f in fo rm a tio n o n su b jects c o n n e c te d w ith
th e da ily bu siness affairs o f l i f e — u p o n q u estion s o f p o litica l
e c o n o m y , u p o n various q u estion s o f c o m m e r ce , facts c o n ­
c e r n in g th e stru ctu re o f ships, stea m -en g in es : I c o u ld c o lle c t
a n y a m ou n t o f in fo rm a tio n o n all th ese and a th ou san d
o th e r k in d re d su bjects. B u t w h en I ask th em w h a t i s i n s i d e
o f t h e m s e l v e s , th ey can tell m e o f a g rea t m a n u fa ctory , and

ex p la in to m e th e op era tion an d u se o f all th e m a ch in ery in

i t ; b u t u p o n the q u estion o f th e m a ch in ery o f th eir ow n
m in d s th e y ca n n o t say a w o rd . I n reg a rd to co m m e rcia l
m a tters, th e y k n ow all a b o u t t h e m ; th e y have exam in ed
th e m , th e y have com p a re d th e ir ideas o n th ese su b jects, and
h ave classified th em . T h e y b eliev e th em selv es to b e im m orta l
creatu res, th a t th e y h ave th r o b b in g w ith in th em a sou l that
sh all liv e as lo n g as G o d h im s e lf shall l i v e : y e t, w h en I ask
th e m a n y q u estion s in reg a rd to th eir in w ard n a tu re, th eir
o n ly rep ly is, ‘ I d o n ’ t k n o w , I d o n ’ t k n o w .’ T h e y d o n ot
k n o w w hat th eir r e a s o n i s ; th e y d o n o t k n ow w hat is th e
n a tu re o f th e ir m o r a l p o w e r s ; th e y d o n o t d efin itely u n d e r ­
stand th e n atu re o r o p e r a tio n o f a n y o n e fa cu lty o f th eir
m in d s !
“ T h e y u n d ersta n d th e n a tu re o f th e soil o f th e e a r t h ;
th e y k n o w w h a t it is ca p a b le o f p r o d u c in g ; th ey k n ow the
u se o f th e p lo u g h and all th e im p lem en ts o f a g r ic u lt u r e ;
th e y k n o w w h a t to d o w ith a p la n t th at is n o t th riv in g , th e y
are sk ilfu l t o im p a rt to it a fresh life , an d m ake it flourish.
B u t i f a n y p la n t th at o u g h t to g ro w in th e m in d is stun ted
an d does n o t thrive, th e y ca n n o t te ll h ow to m ake th at g row .
T h e y d o n ’ t k n o w w h a t to d o to b r in g it forth .

Hosted by G o o g le
 G a ll’ s p h ilo s o p h y m o s t u s e fu l to th e p r e a c h e r . 283

“ I t is difficu lt fo r a m in ister o f tlie g o sp e l to set fo rth th e

tru th in te llig ib ly in resp ect t o its re la tio n to th e h u m an

m in d . I th in k it is pa rtly b eca u se m e n h a v e n o t b e e n c u r i o u s
in r e s p e c t to t h e m s e l v e s , and p a rtly o n a cco u n t o f th e m a n y

b e w ild e rin g system s o f m en ta l p h ilo s o p h y th at are in v o g u e

in o u r day. F o r i f th ere w ere n o n e o f th ese sy stem s ex ce p t
th e o ld sch ools o f m eta p h ysica l p h ilo s o p h y , I w ou ld defy any
m a n to o b ta in b y m eans o f th e m an y clea r id ea a b ou t th e
sou l, fo r at best th e y are o f b u t little m ore valu e than so
m a n y co b w e b s . M e n m a y stu d y th e m , h ow ev er, i f th e y
h ave a taste fo r t h e m ; i f a m a n lov es lo g ic an d d iscu ssion ,
le t h im ta k e o n e o f th e old m eta p h y sica l m en ta l p h ilosop h ies,
a n d h e w ill have m eans o f b u sy in g his m in d u n til he g row s
tire d o f su ch business. B u t i f a m an w ish es t o k n o w p r a c ­
tica lly w hat he is m ade up o f ; i f a m an wishes a k n o w le d g e
o f h u m a n n atu re fo r d efin ite p ra ctica l p u rposes, th ere is n o
system w h ich w ill aid him in a cq u irin g th a t k n o w le d g e lik e
th e sy stem o f p h r e n o lo g y ; n o t in te rp re te d t o o n a rrow ly or
te c h n ic a lly , b u t in its rela tion s to p h y s io lo g y an d th e stru c­
tu re o f th e w h ole b o d y . A n d I m a y say h ere w hat I h ave
n e v e r said b e fo re in th e p u lp it, th a t th e view s o f th e h u m an
m in d , as th e y are revea led b y p h r e n o lo g y , are th ose views
w h ich h ave u n d erla id m y w h ole m in is t r y ; and i f I have had
a n y su ccess in b r in g in g th e tru th s o f th e g osp el to bear p r a c ­
tica lly u p o n th e m in d s o f m e n ,— an y su ccess in th e v ig orou s
a p p lica tion o f tru th s to th e w ants o f th e h u m a n sou l, w h ere
th e y are m o s t n eed ed , I ow e it to th e clearn ess w h ich I have
g a in e d fro m th is scien ce. A n d I c o u ld n o t ask fo r th e m e m ­
b e rs o f m y fa m ily , n or o f a ch u rch , a n y b e tte r preparation
fo r r e lig io u s in d o ctrin a tio n , th an to p u t th em in possession
o f su ch a p ra ctica l k n o w le d g e o f th e h u m a n sou l as is g iv e n
b y p h r e n o lo g y .
“ I h ave av oided th e u se o f th e n o m e n cla tu re o f p h r e ­

n o lo g y in th e p u lp it as far as p o ssib le, becau se I d id n o t w ish

to seem to b e a m e re tea ch er o f a p h ilosop h ica l system , w h ile
I w as a m in ister o f th e tr u th as it is in C h r is t ; b u t I h ave
n o w b e e n so lo n g w ith y o u , th at I am ju s tifie d in m a k in g th is
statem en t.
“ I m a y say, in rega rd to the o b je c t io n s som etim es u rg e d
ag a in st p h re n o lo g y , its te n d e n c y to m aterialism and fatalism ,
th a t th e sam e o b je ctio n s m a y b e m ade to an y o th e r system o f
m e n ta l p h ilosop h y . I d o n o t th in k th at su ch o b je ctio n s
b e lo n g to p h re n o lo g y an y m ore th a n to any sy stem o f in te l­
le c tu a l scie n ce w h ich y o u ca n p o s sib ly co n s tru ct. M en’s
m e r e lo g ica l a n d sp ecu lative rea son w ill alw ays strand th em
u p o n th e sands o f fatalism o r m a te r ia lis m ; an d it is th e
VO L. X III. x

Hosted by G o o g le
284 S u g g e stio n ists e x p la in on e w on d er b y a g rea ter.

p ra ctica l sen se, th e con s cio u s n e s s o f actu al lib e rty , th a t r e ­

deem s u s from a b e lie f o f th e o n e o r th e o th er. S u ch d o c ­
trin es d w ell in th e h e a d , h u t n e v e r in th e h a n d s .” *

IX . O n e m o re fa c t f o r S ir H en ry H o lla n d a n d th e Q u a r te r ly

R ev ie w e r s as to th e ir T h eo ry o f S u g g e stio n . B y th e
R ev. G eorge Sandby.
“ A man cannot be fairly required to believe anything very strange and un­
likely, except when there is something s t i l l m o r e s t r a n g e a n d u n l i k e l y o n t h e o p ­
p o s i t e s id e .” — A r c h b is h o p W h a t e ly o n E v id e n c e s .

“ Conscious and confessed ignorance is a better state of mind, than the fancy,
without the reality, of knowledge.” — G r o t e ' s H i s t o r y o f G r e e c e . Preface,
p. 12.

TO THE E D IT O R S OF THE Z O IS T .

F lix to n , A u g u s t 15, 1 8 5 5 .
G e n t l e m e n ,— T h e A r c h b is h o p o f D u b lin ’ s rem ark , w h ich
is qu oted ab ove, ap p lies w ith p ecu lia r p r o p rie ty to th a t d o c ­
tr in e o f s u g g e s tio n w h ich is p u t fo r th b y su n d ry adversaries
o f m esm erism in e x p la n a tion o f its facts. T h ose facts, it is
n o w u n n ecessa ry to rep eat, th e y h ave ceased to d e n y ; b u t
th ey escap e fro m th e d ifficu lty , in w h ich th is ad m ission h as
p la ced th em , b y re s o lv in g th e p h e n o m e n a in to effects w h ich
th e state o f th e m in d h a d in d u ce d u p o n th e b o d y . I n o th e r
w ords, th e y assert th at th e c o n c e n tr a tio n o f th e a tten tion ,
o r th e s u b je ctio n o f th e im a g in a tio n to som e d om in a n t idea ,
is th e clu e t o th e w h o le m a tter. N o w it m u st b e re m e m b e re d
th a t sou n d m esm erisers have n ev er q u estion ed th e in flu en ce
w h ich th e brain fr e q u e n tly ex ercises u p o n th e o th e r b o d ily
orga n s, esp ecia lly w h en th e la tte r are in a w eak o r m o r b id
c o n d it io n ; b u t to ex p la in a l l th e resu lts o f m esm erisin g b y
su ch a th e o r y does ap pear to la n d us in a g rea ter p e rp le x ity
th a n th a t in w h ich w e fo u n d ou rselves b efore. T h e n o tio n
o f som e o c c u lt u n seen p o w e r d oes n o t seem to m y ju d g m e n t
h a lf so m on strou s o r u n n a tu ra l as th is d o ctrin e o f e x p e cta ­
tio n u n iversally ap plied to ev ery case o f m esm erism . In
ord er th a t w e m ig h t n o t b elieve so m e th in g th at is certa in ly
very rem a rk a b le, th e su g g estion ists call u p o n us t o b elieve
so m e th in g th at w o u ld b e ten tim es m o re w on d erfu l. By
th e ir th e o r y w e o n ly escap e a sm a ller difficu lty to r u n in to a
la rg er. T h e ex isten ce o f an in v isib le im p o n d e ra b le a g en t,
w h ich is ca p a b le o f b e in g tra n sm itted fro m o n e h u m a n b o d y
to an oth er, on som e q u a s i e le c tr ic p rin cip le, o r after th e

* From the A m e r i c a n P h r e n o lo g ic a l J o u r n a l. A r e p o s ito r y o f S c ie n c e , L i t e ­

r a tu r e , a n d G e n e r a l In te llig e n c e . New York: June, 1855.

Hosted by G o o g le
 A b lin d w o m a n u n c o n s c io u s ly m e sm e r ise d . 285

m a n n er in w h ich c a lo r ic is rad ia ted , m a y b e an aston ish in g

fa c t o r ev en in c r e d ib le ; b u t ce rta in ly is fa r less aston ish in g
o r in cr e d ib le th an th e n otion th a t e x p e cta n t atten tion is th e
in va ria b le cause. A t least, I am sp e a k in g fo r m y self, and
fo r m y o w n view o f th e m a tter. D iffe re n t m in d s are o f
c o u i’se d iffe re n tly co n s titu te d , an d ob serv e th e very sam e
fa cts after a d ifferen t fash ion . W h a t lo o k s pla u sib le to on e
m a n , appears p rep osterou s to a n o t h e r ; an d su ch is th e case
w ith th is th e o r y o f su g gestion . W e are aw are th a t it is th e
fa sh ion a b le, an d in d e e d th e c o n v e n ie n t d o c tr in e , in a n ti­
m e s m e ric circles : to m y u n fa sh ion a b le ear it sou n d s n o t
m e r e ly rid icu lo u s b u t im p ossib le. I n th e la n g u a g e o f A r c h ­
b ish o p W h a t e ly we rep ly , th a t n o m an ca n b e fa irly requ ired
t o b eliev e a n y th in g v ery stra n g e, ex ce p t w h en th ere is so m e ­
th in g still m ore strange on th e op p o s ite sid e. N o w u p o n this
p r in cip le le t us ex a m in e th e case o f th o s e cu rative and r e ­
m e d ia l effects w h ich are b e in g p r o d u c e d co n s ta n tly and in
su cce ssio n , and w ith fresh p a tien ts, at o u r In firm a ry in
W e y m o u t h S treet. W h ic h is th e m ore u n lik e ly th in g , that a l l
th ose d e lig h tfu l resu lts sh ou ld b e b r o u g h t a b ou t b y th e im a ­
g in a tio n alon e, o r th a t som e u n s e e n an d u n d isco v e re d pow er
sh o u ld b e ex erted in th e w o r k ? I s m esm erism , a c co rd in g
t o S ir H e n r y H o lla n d , n o th in g b u t th e fa n c y o f th e b r a in ?
o r is th e re , as w e c o n te n d , a real p o w e r in th e op era tion ?
W e w ill n o lo n g e r arg u e, b u t ex a m in e th e fo llo w in g alleged
fa ct.
T h e S co ttish C u rative M e s m e r ic A s so c ia tio n fu rn ish es th e
ca se w h ich I p u rp ose to in vestig ate. T h is S o cie ty has been
r e c e n tly established at E d in b u r g h , an d is c o m p o s e d o f a
b o d y o f e n e rg e tic an d b e n e v o le n t p erson s, w ho d ev ote th e m ­
selves to th e g ra tu itou s cu re o f disease. M u c h su ccess has
a lrea d y a tten d ed th eir la bou rs. U p w a rd s o f o n e h u n d red
an d fo r ty cu res have b e e n e ffected . A n d in th eir first m ost
in te r e s tin g r e p o rt th e fo llo w in g case is r e co rd e d :—

“ Ann Donaldson, Burn’ s Land, Greenside, a b l i n d w o m a n , about

fifty-five years o f age, had stumbled over a stool, and fallen with
great force against the projecting arm o f a chair, by which her left
breast was severely bruised. This caused her great pain and diffi­
culty in breathing, and when she had occasion to cough her suffer­
ings were very great. It was also with difficulty she could lie in
bed. ‘ Having called to pay her a visit,’ says the operator, ‘ 1
found her seated in her chair narrating the accident and its effects
to a young lady who had called to read to her. It was to her a
matter o f much concern, more especially as her neighbours had
persuaded her that all such blows ended in cancer. During the
time she was talking to the lady, I began (without her knowledge)

Hosted by G o o g le
286 T h e e ffe c ts w ere m o st strik in g .

to make passes over the seat o f the pain. In a few moments she
exclaimed, “ Eh, bairn, what can be the matter with me ? I ani
all prickling to the points o f m y toes.” A little after she said, “ I
am getting all very warm— eh, but I can draw my breath better :
O, but the pain is away,— O, but I am getting sick; what can this
be ?” The lady now asked her i f she knew she was being mes­
merised. “ Eh, no,” she said, “ I knew nothing about i t : what is
th at?” She never again felt any more o f the pain.’
“ This case proves that mesmerism is not a thing o f mere ima­
gination, but, on the contrary, that there is a positive radiation
which passes from the operator to the subject.” — p. 5.

T h e rea d er w ill d ou b tless agree w ith m e in th in k in g th a t

th is is a v ery strik in g an d n o tice a b le case. H e r e is a p o o r
w om an , p e r f e c t l y b l i n d , su fferin g in ten se pain a n d difficu lty
o f b rea th in g , m ost ra p id ly reliev ed an d cu red w ith ou t b e in g
m a d e aw are th at a n y th in g rem ed ia l w as b e in g a ttem p ted .
H e r m in d is so a b so r b e d b y p resen t a g o n y , an d b y th e a p p re­
h en sion o f so m e th in g y e t w orse, th at she ca n d o n o th in g b u t
ta lk o f th e a c c id e n t an d o f its effects. I n th e m id st o f h er
ta le, sh e su d d e n ly feels a p r ic k lin g all ov er h e r d ow n to h e r
t o e s ; th e n she feels g e ttin g v ery w arm ; th en she draw s h er
b rea th b e t t e r ; th e n th e pain leaves h e r ; th en sh e has a se n ­
sation o f sick n ess, an d she expresses w o n d e r as to w hat it
c a n all m ea n . H e r b lin d n e s s preven ts h er fro m h a v in g an y
k n o w le d g e o f w hat was ta k in g p la ce. H e r m in d was n o t
e n g a g e d in th e b u s in e s s ; it w as, in fact, stron g ly p re o ccu p ie d
b y so m e th in g else. In s te a d o f e x p e ctin g relief, she was
lo o k in g forw a rd to s o m e th in g still m o r e fo r m id a b le ; an d in
a few m o m e n ts a m a rk ed ch a n g e c o m e s over h er system .
A s s u m in g th a t th e fa cts are c o r r e c t ly stated, w e ca n n o t w ish
fo r a m ore c o n clu siv e case.
I t w ill b e ob serv ed , h ow ev er, that n o n am e, e x ce p tin g
th at o f th e p a tien t, is g iv e n in the r e p o r t ; and this w as a
s h o r tc o m in g w h ich it was essential to su pply. T h ro u g h th e
o b lig in g assistance o f M r.' N e ils o n , th e active a n d in te llig e n t
co rr e s p o n d in g S ecreta ry o f th e A s so cia tio n , I h ave ob ta in ed
th e requ isite in fo rm a tio n , and several a d d ition a l p a rticu la rs
w h ich c o n s id e ra b ly stre n g th e n th e case. I have lea rn t, to o ,
fr o m h im th a t th e p arties, w h ose n am es he m en tion s, are
m ost tru stw orth y an d c o n s c ie n t io u s ; th at th eir statem en ts
ca n be d ep en d ed u p o n ; an d th at h a v in g had m u ch c o m m u ­
n ica tion w ith M r . P lo w m a n , th e op erator, he believes h im to
b e p a r t i c u l a r l y c a r e f u l in sta tin g th e details o f his cases.
T h is was a p oin t u p o n w h ich I was an x iou s to press fo r
i n q u i r y : a m esm eriser m ay b e a co n s cie n tio u s n arra tor, and
y e t n ot a clo s e or r e lia b le observer.

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 T h e fa c ts p la c e d b eyon d a ll d o u b t. 28 7

I t appears, th en , th a t M r. P lo w m a n k n ew n o th in g b e fo r e ­
h an d o f th e a ccid e n t o r o f th e su fferin g s o f th e p o o r w om an .
H is visit w as o f a r e lig iou s ch a ra cter. H e w en t to h er h ou se
in th e ca p a city o f a c ity m ission a ry. H e th ere finds a la dy,
w h ose n a m e h appen s to be th e sam e as th e p a tien t’ s (D o ­
n a ld s o n ), an d w ho also w en t to th e h ou se fo r a C h ristian
p u rpose, lis te n in g to th e b lin d su fferer’ s d istressin g narrative.
W ith o u t s a y in g a w o rd o n th e su b je ct, M r . P lo w m a n p r o ­
ce e d e d t o m esm erise h er, an d th e resu lt was th a t w h ich is
g iv en in th e rep ort. B u t M iss D o n a ld s o n was so stru ck b y
w hat she w itn essed, th at she im m e d ia te ly req u ested M r .
P lo w m a n to atten d an d m esm erise h er fath er, w h o was su f­
fe r in g fr o m som e a ilm en t at th e tim e. A n d she h as m oreov er
a cted w ith a h ig h -m in d e d cou ra g e w h ich reflects th e g rea test
c re d it u p o n h er, in o p e n ly a v ow in g her co n v ic tio n s o f th e
tru th an d in p e r m ittin g h er n am e to b e g iv en .
T h e fo llo w in g n otes h ave arisen o u t o f m y en q u iries, and
co rr o b o r a te the ab ove rem arks
“ 25, "West Nicolson Street,
“ July 31, 1855.
“ Dear Sir,— The accompanying note I received from Miss
Donaldson last night. There is nothing beyond the report that I
require to mention. Y ou are fully aware o f all the facts connected
with the case. The poor woman did not know that there was such
a thing in existence as mesmerism at the time the cure was effected.
“ Yours, &c.,
“ W m . Neilson, E sq.” “ G. P l o w m a n .
“ M iss Donaldson begs to state to M r. Neilson that the passes
on Ann Donaldson were n o t b y c o n t a c t , but could not state the exact
distance. She has read the case in the annual report, and, as far
as her memory serves her, believes it is quite correct.
“ 2, East Broughton Place, Edinburgh,
“ July 30, 1855.”

M r . N e ils o n has also o b lig in g ly fa v ou red m e w ith th e f o l ­

lo w in g a d d ition a l p a rticu lars w h ich arose o u t o f a visit o f
h is o w n :—
“ I called last week on the blind woman, who resides in Burn’ s
Land, Greenside Row. She appears to be a highly respectable old
woman. On asking her if she enjoyed good health, she told me
that she had very bad rheumatism in her knees, and an unpleasant
heat in her head. During this introductory conversation, I made
the rapid tractive passes over her feet, that gave a sensation o f cool
fanning in the head ; and she said, in speaking o f her head, ‘ But
it is fine and cool just now.’ A s we continued our conversation, I
made the common down passes, at the distance o f three feet, for
upwards o f ten m inutes; when o f her own accord she said, ‘ I feel

Hosted by G o o g le
 288 T h e ca se sh ew s th e f o lly o f M essrs. B ra id a n d H o lla n d

a fine glow all over me, especially in the knees, most in this one,’
pointing to the chief offender. A t this time I had not alluded to
the cure effected by M r. Plowman. On my mentioning it, she said
it was true. I asked how he cured her. She said, ‘ It was with—
I forget the word.’ ' W as it mesmerism ?’ ‘ Y es,’ she said, ‘ that’ s
what he called it.’ ‘ Had you heard o f it before that time ?’ ‘ N o.’
‘ D id you know that he was going to cure y o u ?’ ‘ N o.’
“ I again made the tractive passes, and asked how she felt.
She said she felt ‘ a grand f l a m i n g about her head.’
“ These sensations, as you know, are not experienced by every
subject, and that they were in her case, confirmed me in opinion that
M r. Plowman’ s statements are correct. It was gratifying to find
that I could influence her without her knowledge, for I left her
in ig n o r a n c e o f m y h a v in g m e s m e r is e d h e r . As she is completely
blind, she could have no idea o f what I was a b o u t: she and I were
the only persons in the room, and we were talking on various sub­
jects all the time.”
T h is, th en , is th e te s tim o n y w h ich is b r o u g h t forw a rd in
fa v ou r o f th is c a s e t e s t i m o n y w h ich at least is ad equ ate
e n o u g h to fo rm a p r i m a f a c i e g ro u n d fo r fu rth er in v estig a tion
in to th e su b ject.
1st. T h e re is th e p o o r b lin d p a tien t h erself, w h o asserts
p ositiv ely th a t th e pain left h er at th e tim e she was b e in g
m esm erised , and th at sh e k n ew n o th in g at th e tim e o f a n y ­
th in g b e in g don e.
2 n d ly . T h e re is M r . P lo w m a n , th e m esm eriser, w h o e n ­
tered th e h ou se o n m ission a ry m otiv es, and c o m m e n c e d m a k ­
in g th e passes w ith ou t sa y in g on e w ord o n th e su b je ct.
3 r d ly . T h e re is M iss D o n a ld s o n , an im p artia l d isin terested
w itn ess, w h o has read th e rep ort, and believes it to be qu ite
corre ct.
A n d 4 th ly . W e h ave th e su pplem en tary ev id en ce o f M r .
N e ilso n , w h o on a su bsequ en t occa sio n p r o d u c e d an effect
w ith ou t c o m m u n ica tin g his in te n tio n . B y m esm erisin g th e
f e e t , at th e d ista n ce o f th ree feet, h e ca u sed a sen sa tion o f

cooln ess in th e h e a d .
N o w in w hat m a n n er w ill o u r op p on en ts exp lain aw ay th e
ab ov e facts ? W h a t is th e ir r a t i o n a l e ? P low does th eir h y ­
p oth esis a p p ly ? W h a t is th e g ra n d p h y s io lo g ic a l p rin cip le
w h ich is to solve a n d settle th is case ?
F o r in stan ce, w ill M r . B ra id , w ho c o n te n d s th a t th e so -
ca lle d m e s m e ric effects are p r o d u c e d b y th e p a tien t b e in g
m a d e to c o n c e n tra te h is v ision fix ed ly o n som e o b je c t fo r a
certa in tim e, assert that th e s t a r i n g p r o c e s s w as th e secret o f
M r . P low m a n ’ s su ccess ? D id th e g aze o f th e b l i n d w om an
e x c ite h e r n erv ou s tem p era m en t, and in flu e n ce h er sy stem so
p o te n tia lly as to b r in g a b o u t th e r e lie f in q u estion ?

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 a n d o f D r. C a rp en te r th e Q u a rterly R ev iew er. 289

O r w ill S ir H e n r y H o lla n d tea ch us, th a t th e p r in cip le o f

e x p e c ta n t a tten tio n w as th e “ n a t u r a l s o u r c e ” o f th is resu lt,
w h en th e b lin d w om an w as e x p e ctin g n o th in g , o r ra th er w as
ta k en b y surprise, a n d a tte n d in g o n ly to her o w n story an d
h er o w n fears ?
O r perhaps th e Q u a rte rly R ev iew ers w ill tell us, th at
“ th e stu d y o f h u m an n atu re has b een so n e g le c te d b y us
p o o r m esm erisers in o u r ed u ca tion a l arran gem en ts,” th a t w e
d o n o t p erceiv e th at “ d o m i n a n t i d e a s ” p red isp osed th e m in d
o f A n n D o n a ld s o n to draw h e r breath b etter, to lose th e pain
in h e r breast, a n d to fe e l a sen sation o f sickn ess an d o f p r ic k ­
lin g c o m e su d d e n ly ov er h e r ?
N o ; th ese g e n tle m e n w ill tell us n o th in g o f t h is : th ey
w ill sim p ly say th at w e are m ista k en in o u r f a c t s ; th a t th e
ev id en ce o f a b lin d w om a n is valueless, becau se sh e is a
h u m a n b e i n g : th at h a d p o o r A n n D o n a ld s o n b een an o x y d
o f p la tin u m o r an y in flam m a ble gas, th e y w ou ld h ave listen ed
to h er sta tem en t w ith th e g rea test p le a s u r e ; b u t to su ppose
th a t tw o o r th ree “ ig n o r a n t m en an d silly w o m e n ,” “ w ith
cred u lou s an d e x cita b le m in d s,” (for thus it is th a t th e
p oten ta tes o f scie n ce com p a ssion a tely speak o f us) w ere c o m ­
p e te n t to v e rify a statem en t, w h ich , i f p roved , w o u ld u pset
a lea rn ed h y p oth esis, an d c o m p e l p h ysician s o f e m in e n c e to
g o b a ck to c o lle g e ,— th is w o u ld be to o p rep osterou s a p r o p o s i­
t i o n ; and th a t, th erefore, as on e sw allow does n o t m ake a
su m m er, so th e ev id en ce o f o n e b lin d patien t d oes n o t su p er­
sede th e g rea t d o c tr in e o f m en ta l con sciou sn ess in re fe re n ce
to h ealth an d disease.
T h is, o r so m e th in g lik e it, w o u ld be w hat th e se p h ilo ­
sop h ica l g e n tle m e n w o u ld g iv e in rep ly to o u r n arra tive,
p r o v id e d th a t th ey w ere d riven in to a c o rn e r an d n o t allow ed
to m a k e th e ir escap e w ith ou t an a n sw e r; oth e rw is e th e y
w ou ld use ev ery p reca u tion to bestow n o a tte n tio n u p o n us.
T o su ppose th at th is p o o r pa p er o f m in e sh ou ld p en etra te in to
th e ir p resen ce, o r th at th ese g rea t stu d en ts o f n a tu re w ou ld ,
o f th e ir o w n a cco rd , e x a m in e a tra n sa ction w h ich m a kes
a gain st th e ir scien tific d ecisio n , w ou ld be a vain p re su m p tio n .
S e lf-im p o s e d ig n o r a n c e is th e m ain p rop o f th eir h y p o t h e s is ;
a n d th e y w ou ld ow e n o th a n k s to an y m a n w h o w o u ld fo r c e
th e m to o p e n th e ir ey es. T o ju d g e fr o m th e ii past d em ea n ou r,
th e re is b u t o n e w ay b y w h ich w e c o u ld ever su c ce e d in c o n ­
stra in in g a n y o f th ese p r o fo u n d w riters on p h y s io lo g y to listen
to o u r s t o r y ; an d th a t w o u ld be b y im ita tin g an in cid e n t
in an o ld c o m e d y ,— seizin g th e p rofessor b o d ily , t y in g him
in to his ch a ir, an d n o t p e r m ittin g h im t o lea ve th e ro o m
till h e had h ea rd o u r fa cts a n d g iv en his answ er. A n d w hat

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290' A n o th er su ch b lin d c a s e p u b lis h e d b y D r . E s d a ile .

w ou ld th a t answ er “ on c o m p u ls io n ” b e ? S im p ly th at w h ich
I have su p p osed a b o v e ; viz., th a t a sin g le sta tem en t lik e this
m u st n o t b e p roferred fo r th eir b elief, u n til m o re sa tisfactory
ev id en ce a n d m ore repeated in stan ces sh all b e ad d u ced in its
su pport.
E x a c tly s o ; to that p rop osition w e offer n o o b je c t io n : in
tru th , w e d o n ot call u pon th ese w riters to b eliev e o u r facts,
b u t to e x a m in e th em . W e in vite th ese w riters to an alyze
and sift th e m ca refu lly , and th e n to d ecla re w hat is th e
in ev ita b le c o n c lu s io n i f th ey be tru e. A t th e sam e tim e w e
are w ell aw are o f the disadvan tage u n d e r w h ich we m es-
m erisers la b o u r fr o m th e n atu re o f ou r stu d ies. M esm e ris m
is n o t lik e ch em istry , and does n o t deal w ith th e sam e class
o f su b jects. W h a t I stated in m y review o f D r . H o lla n d 's
w ork a b o u t tw o years b a ck , I m u st rep ea t in th is little su p­
p le m e n ta ry l e t t e r :—

“ Our author will please to remember that in cases o f mesmerism

the large majority o f patients are necessarily prepared for the treat­
ment that is to be pursued; and our difficulty is, to present an
instance in which the party mesmerised was quite unconscious o f the
act, and quite uninstructed as to the results that might follow :
because, i f it could be shewn that the slightest hint had been given
to the patient o f what was about to take place, the adversary would
assert that imagination or expectant attention had wrought its work,
and it would be impossible for us to prove a negative.” *

I n sh ort, a m esm eric patien t in a state o f b lin d n ess or

u n co n s cio u s n e s s is n o t lik e a p ie ce o f su lph ate o f iro n , w h ich
w e ca n fin d an y m o m e n t in o u r la b o r a to r y , an d h eat up in
th e r e to r t at w i l l : it is a m aterial o f a far m o r e d elica te and
sen sitive n a t u r e : w e m u st seize o u r m o m e n t, w h en w e have
i t ; i f th e m o m e n t be lost, p erh a ps an o c ca s io n m a y n ot
p re sen t it s e lf fo r som e tim e. B lin d pa tien ts, in an im p re s­
sib le c o n d itio n , an d rea d y fo r a rapid r e ce p tio n o f m esm eric
a ctio n , d o n o t g row , lik e b la ck b erries, o n ev ery h e d g e . S till,
th o u g h th e y b e n o t so p len tifu l as w e c o u ld d esire fo r th e
p ro se cu tio n o f o u r studies, th ere is m o re th a n o n e in stan ce
on re co r d w e ll w orth y o f ex am in a tion . A n n D o n a ld s o n ’ s is
n o t th e sin g le isolated case u p o n w h ich w e b u ild o u r position .
T h e re are tw o o r th ree oth ers o f m u ch i m p o r t a n c e : th e y h ave
b e e n o fte n referred to b e f o r e ; b u t o n th is occa sio n th e y w ill
b ea r a re p ro d u ctio n .
D r . E sd a ile, th e w e ll-k n o w n m ed ica l officer at C a lcu tta ,—
a m a n o f scien ce, an d o f ca refu l c o rr e ct ob serv a tion , gives

* Z o istj Vol. X ., p. 397. From review of Sir Henry Holland’s C h a p ters on

M e n ta l P h y sio lo g y .

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 ■ A n o th er s u c h b lin d c a s e p u b lis h e d b y D r. G reg o ry . 291

us th e fo llo w in g strik in g fa cts in o n e o f his m ost in terestin g

w o r k s :—
“ I had been looking out for a b l i n d m a n upon whom to test the
imagination theory, and one at last presented himself.
“ I placed him on a stool without saying a word to him, and
entranced him in ten minutes without touching him. . . . M y f i r s t
a t t e m p t to influence the blind man, was made by gazing at him
silently over a wall, while he was engaged in the act o f eating his
solitary dinner, at the d i s t a n c e o f t w e n t y y a r d s . He gradually
ceased to eat, and in a quarter o f an hour was profoundly entranced
and cataleptic. T h i s w a s r e p e a t e d at the most untimely hours, when
he could not possibly know o f my being in his neighbourhood ; and
a lw a y s w ith lik e r e s u lts .” *

I t w ill b e ob served h ere, th at D r . E sd a ile m en tion s th at

h e r e p e a t e d his ex p erim en t w ith th is b lin d m a n ,— h ow o ften
h e d oes n o t sa y,— b u t his la n g u a g e leads us to in fer on s e v e r a l
occa sion s. H e says th a t th e m a n b e ca m e so su scep tib le, th at,
b y m a k in g h im th e o b je c t o f his a tten tion , h e cou ld en tra n ce
h im in w h atever o ccu p a tio n h e w as en g a g ed , an d at an y
d i s t a n c e w ith in th e h ospital en clo s u re . A n d h e p a rticu la rly
m e n tio n s th e fa ct o f distance, le s t th e su ggestion ists sh ou ld
c o n te n d th a t th is b lin d m a n b e c a m e aw are o f his p resen ce
a n d in te n tio n s b y sm ell or h ea rin g , o r b y his fix ed p osition ,
o r b y his a ltered b re a th in g , & c. T h e d ista n ce was th e first
tim e tw e n ty y a rd s. O u r scep tics w ill h ere p erceiv e th a t D r.
E sd a ile p u rsu ed his ex p erim en ts w ith p h ilosop h ica l care an d
p re cisio n .
P r o fe sso r G r e g o r y , a n o th e r m an o f scien ce, an d on e, fro m
h is h ig h p osition , w ell a cq u a in ted w ith th e im p o rta n ce o f
ca re fu l ob serv a tion an d stu d y , g ives u s a n oth er in s t a n c e :—
“ W e have ourselves seen a blind patient strongly affected, nay,
put to sleep by our silent gaze, while he was engaged in conversation
with another person. The same patient, while conversing, has also
been put to sleep by another operator, who was trying a t s o m e
d i s t a n c e , u n k n o w n t o t h e b l i n d m a n , to put another to sleep.

I u th e F ifth V o lu m e o f T h e Z o i s t (p. 5 ), th ere is a d es crip ­

tio n o f th e ex tra ord in a ry effects o f m esm erism o n a g en tlem a n
w h o h ad b e e n p e r fe ctly b lin d fo r elev en years. I n th is case,
D r . E llio ts o n , w h o is a m ost ca u tiou s ex p erim en ter a n d m o s t
ca re fu l in his observ ation s, says—
“ On my second visit, I was anxious that the mesmerism might
be begun when there was n o p o s s i b i l i t y o f t h e p a t i e n t b e i n g a w a r e o f

* See Dr. Esdaile’s N a t u r a l a n d M e s m e r i c C l a i r v o y a n c e , pp. 227, 228.

f See letter from Professor Gregory on the Theory of Imagination, Z o i s t ,
Vol. X ., p. II.

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292 A n o th er su ch b lin d ca se reco rd ed b y D r . E llio ts o n .

it. Accordingly, while we were all in conversation, M r. Holland

began to fix his eyes upon the patient, our conversation continuing
equally as before. Presently the captain’ s eyelids tw inkled; he
exclaimed, a r e y o u n o t m e s m e r i s i n g m e ? A drop o f fluid appeared
at the corner o f one eye, and he was soon in sleep-waking.”
H e r e , th en , are th e in sta n ces o f f o u r b l i n d person s b e in g
p la ced u n d e r th e in flu en ce o f m esm erism w ith ou t th eir c o g ­
n iza n ce ; a n d I sh ou ld lik e to ask w hat is th e d e fe c t in th e
te s tim o n y ? Sir H e n r y H o lla n d , w h o has w ritten a ch a p ter
o n M e d ic a l E v id e n ce , in w h ich his ob v iou s p u rpose is to tea ch
th at believ ers in m esm eric a g e n cy are sca rcely co m p e te n t to
arrive at a c o rr e ct c o n c lu s io n , speaks th erein o f certa in
p h y s io lo g ic a l ex p erim en ts b e in g “ e n tirely w a n tin g in all that
gives e x a c t n e s s o r t r u t h to scien tific r e s e a r c h /’ W il l he
assert th a t th e fo u r cases n a rra ted ab ove fall u n d e r this
c a te g o r y ? a n d w ill h e in fo rm u s w hat are th e tests w h ich
w ere n e g le c te d in th e e x p e rim e n ts ? L e t h im , fo r exam ple,
ta k e th e ca se n arrated b y D r . E sd a ile. T h is g en tlem a n is
o n e w h o is qu ite as ca p a b le o f c o n d u c tin g a scien tific ex a m i­
n a tio n as S ir H e n r y H o lla n d h im self. H e does n o t co n fin e
h im s e lf to o n e ex p e rim e n t, b u t repeats th e trial several tim es,
a n d w ith ev ery p re ca u tio n , an d w ith du e reg a rd to th e r e ­
q u ired co n d itio n s. H is o b je c t , h e tells us, was esp ecia lly to
te s t th e im a g in a tio n th e o r y . I ask, th erefore, w hat is th ere
in this case w h ich is w a n tin g in ex a ctn ess o r scien tific en q u iry ?
O r again in th e tw o cases rela ted b y P rofessor G r e g o r y and
D r . E llio t s o n ? A r e th ese tw o g e n tle m e n u n fit to observ e
fa cts w h ich are p a ssin g b e fo r e th eir eyes, o r to fo rm a righ t
estim a te o f th e v ariou s circu m sta n ces, p rim a ry o r secon d ary,
d irect o r in d ire ct, a tten d a n t o n th e ir ex p erim en ts ? O r even
in th e case o f A n n D o n a ld s o n ? W h a t is th e d e fe ct h e r e ?
T h e w itn esses are n o t scien tific ce leb rities, b u t th e y m a y be
ju s t as h on est, ju s t as u n p re ju d ice d , ju s t as capa ble o f n o tic in g
a sim p le fact.
E ith e r th e w itnesses in th ese fo u r cases are w ilfu lly
d e ce iv in g u s, or th eir m in d s are so im p u lsiv e and co n tra cte d ,
th a t th e y are n o t ca p a b le o f c o r r e c t ob serv a tion , a n d o f a t­
te n d in g to th e n ecessa ry t e s t s ; o r S ir H e n r y H o lla n d ’ s th e o ry
o f m en ta l a tte n tio n is u pset. I t is u n fo rtu n a te fo r h im , fo r
h e has ta k en g rea t pain s to w rite a d o g m a tic b o o k , w h ich
sh ou ld cru sh th e “ m esm eric t h e o r y ” fo r e v e r ; b u t lik e a
g rea t n u m b e r o f in g e n io u s p erson s, sim ilarly eag er to d estroy
an en em y , h e has e n d ea v ou red to p r o v e t o o m u c h . H a d he
c o n te n te d h im s e lf w ith te a ch in g th at th e in flu e n ce o f th e
m in d o n th e b o d ily o rg a n s is v e ry co n s id e ra b le ,— th at it often
e x te n d s to cases w h ere it had h ith e rto b e e n little su sp ected ,

Hosted by G o o g le
 M e sm e r ism in s le e p , b a b ie s , fy c ., p r o v e s as m u ch . 293

a n d th a t th e effects o f various ex tern a l ex citem en ts o n th e

sen soriu m or n ervou s system o f p erson s o f a p ecu lia r te m p e ­
ra m en t o u g h t alw ays to b e ta k e n in to ca lcu la tio n , th ere is
n o t a m esm eriser o f an y e x p erien ce w ho w ou ld n o t have g o n e
th e fu ll le n g th w ith h im . B u t, w h en h e and th e Q u a rterly
R ev iew ers assert th at all th e “ su p p osed cu ra tive pow ers o f
m esm erism ,” and all th e p h e n o m e n a w h ich arise ou t o f it
are referrib le to th e “ c o n c e n tra tio n o f th e en tire m in d on
w h a tever m a y b e fo r a tim e th e o b je c t o f its a tten tion , and
to its passive resig n a tion to a n y n o tio n th a t m a y b e su g g ested
t o it ,” th e y overstate th eir case an d e x h ib it m ore zea l than
ju d g m e n t. I d o n o t see w hy a m e d ica l im p a tie n ce t o p u t
d ow n m esm erism sh o u ld n o t fo rm as d isq u a lify in g an in g r e ­
d ie n t fo r th e office o f ju d g e , as t o o pa ssion a te an a rd ou r fo r
its su p p ort. P r e j u d i c e a g a i n s t , n o less t h a n p r e p o s s e s s i o n f o r ,
d estroys o u r ju s t p e r ce p tio n o f w hat rea lly con stitu tes scie n ­
tific in q u iry . T h e o n e is as u n p h ilo s o p h ica l as th e oth er.
O n th ese g rou n d s S ir H e n r y H o lla n d m u st b e pu t ou t o f
c o u r t. H e m a y, in d e e d , b e u sed as a te x t-b o o k by Q u a r ­
te r ly R ev iew ers w h o h a v e a n o b j e c t i n v i e w , an d h e m a y be
q u o te d as an a u th ority at R o y a l S ocieties an d R o y a l I n s t itu ­
tio n s , an d b e la u d ed b y th e toa d ies an d u n derstra ppers o f
s c ie n c e ; b u t m en o f ca lm reflectiv e m in d s, w h o have n o t
c o m m itte d th em selv es to a c o n c lu s io n , an d c a n l o o k a t b o t h
s i d e s o f a con trov ersy , w ill a d m it th at, w ith all his lea rn in g

a n d all his able an d in te r e stin g researches, th e w riter has

ov erla id his arg u m en t, an d m u st w rite his C h a p t e r s ov er
again , c o r r e c tin g m a n y o f h is assertion s, and q u a lify in g his
t o o sw eep in g gen eralization s. A n n D o n a ld s o n w ith all h e r
b lin d n ess is n o t m ore b lin d th an th e s o i - d i s a n t p h y s io lo g ist
w h o refuses to see th e w h o l e o f a c a s e .
W h e n w e say th a t th ese fo u r b lin d p a tien ts, b y th e m ­
selves alon e, u pset th e th e o ry o f m en ta l a tten tion , it m u st
b e b o rn e in m in d that o u r case is fa r fr o m re stin g u p o n b lin d
p a tien ts o n ly . In fa n ts , s le e p in g person s, and bru tes h ave
b e e n p ow erfu lly in flu en ced b y passes w ith ou t co n ta ct, an d b y
th e sim p le g a zin g o f th e eyes. A s m y a ccom p lish ed frien d ,
th e R e v . C h a u n cy T ow n sh en d , observes in th at p h ilosop h ica l
w o rk o f h is, in w h ich he has r e v i e w e d th e Q u a rterly R e ­
v iew ers so ir r e fr a g a b ly :—
“ A ll that we desire is, that every body should conduct for him­
self a series o f experiments in mesmerism. Let a doubter try his
passes where suggestion cannot be an ingredient in the case. Let
him mesmerise babies, if he will. I have seen an i d i o t b o y , who
otherwise never slept, thrown in five minutes into a sound mesmeric
sleep. Let any one make experiments on brutes, above all, on birds.

Hosted by G o o g le
294 M essrs. B . H . a n d C . p u t to p e r p e tu a l sh a m e.

I hare had in two instances birds which were so easily affected by

mesmerism that the head followed the finger, e v e n w h e n h e l d o u t o f
s ig h t. Fish are easily affected by mesmerism, &c., &c.” *

A n d , as P ro fe sso r G r e g o r y rem arks, th e d is tin g u is h in g o f

w ater o r a n y o th e r o b je ct, w h ich has b e e n m esm erised , fro m
su ch as has n o t, is ’ a stro n g a rg u m e n t against th e d o c tr in e o f
su g g estion . H ow e v e r, w e w ill n o t o n th is occa sion press
th ese d ifferen t a n d colla tera l facts in to o u r a rg u m e n t. W e
n ow co n fin e ou r r e p ly to th e case o f th ese fo u r b lin d p a tie n ts ;
an d w e ca ll u p o n th e ad h eren ts o f th e su g g estion th e o r y , first
t o ex a m in e ou r e v id e n ce re sp e ctin g th e facts as r ig id ly as
th e y w ish, a n d th e n to g ive in th eir v erd ict, an d t h e i r r e a s o n s
th e re o f.
I repeat it, th e n , in c o n c lu s io n , th a t A n n D o n a ld s o n , th e
p o o r b lin d S co tc h w o m a n o f G reen sid e, has ov erth row n th e
a n ti-m e sm e ric th e o r y o f th e Q u a rte rly R ev iew ers. I do not
say that sh e proves, o n th e o th e r h an d, th a t th ere is a n y
ex tern a l tra n sm itted a g e n t, fo r on th a t p o in t at p resen t w e
m u st a d m it th at w e are im p e rfe c tly in fo r m e d ; th o u g h w h a t
o th e r in fe re n ce c a n be draw n from h er case, an d fro m th e
o n e r e co r d e d b y D r. E sd aile, it w o u ld b e difficu lt to c o n ­
je c tu r e . B u t let us b e satisfied w ith o w n in g o u r ow n ig n o r ­
a n ce, and d is p ro v in g th e p re te n tio u s w isd om o f oth ers. “ C o n ­
sciou s and con fe ssed ig n o r a n c e ,” as I h ave alrea dy q u o te d
fro m M r . G r o te , “ is a b e tte r state o f m in d , th an th e fa n c y
w ith o u t th e rea lity o f k n o w le d g e •” at a n y rate it is fa r
b e tte r th a n th e o v e r-w e e n in g p resu m p tion o f th ese w riters
w h o, u p on a su b je ct o f so m e d ifficu lty , aim at la y in g d ow n
positiv e law s fo r u n iv ersal a p p lica tion , an d y e t o m it in th eir
ca lcu la tion an essen tia l pa rt o f the a rg u m e n t an d all th e
m ost im p o rta n t fa cts w h ich m ilita te against th eir c o n c lu sio n .
I rem ain , G e n tle m e n ,
Y o u r h u m b le servant,
G eoege S a n d b y .

* M e s m e r i s m P r o v e d T r u e . By the Rev. C. H. Townshend. p. 102. This

is a book which every mesmeriser ought to possess, and to study. See also a
paper by Auti-Glorioso in the Twelfth Volume of T h e Z o i s t , p. 278, which reviews
Mr. Townshend’s book, with every word of which I concur.

Hosted by G o o g le
 ( 295 )

X. V is it to S a ra h A n n B a rtle , th e c a ta lep tic p a tie n t n ea r E ly .

B y an o ld M esm erist.

“ Science takes cognizance of a phenomenon, and endeavours to discover its

law.” — J . S t u a r t M i l l o n P o l i t i c a l E c o n o m y .

TO THE E D IT O R OF THE Z O IS T .

A u g u s t 10, 18 5 5 .
S ir ,— H a v in g h eard a g o o d deal la tely r e sp e c tin g th e
p e cu lia r c o n d itio n in to w h ich a y o u n g g irl had la tely fallen
sp on ta n eou sly, and several o f th e p h e n o m e n a o f w h ich p u b lic
ru m o u r h ad o f cou rse m a gn ified in to su pern a tu ra l m a n ifes­
ta tion s, I was d esirou s o f visitin g th e case fo r th e p u rp ose
o f sep aratin g th e tru e fr o m th e false, an d o f u n d e rsta n d in g
th e real state o f th e pa tien t. I h ad th e g o o d fo r tu n e to be
a c co m p a n ie d b y tw o frien d s o f m u ch ex p erien ce a n d in fo rm a ­
tio n , w h o r en d ered con sid era b le assistance in th e ob serv a tion
an d ex a m in a tion o f th e sy m p to m s . I t m a y b e as w ell to
ad d th at o u r v isit was n o t ex p ected .
S arah A n n B a rtle is th e d a u g h ter o f a sm all fa rm er w h o
cu ltiv ates his o w n la n d at P r ick w illo w , n ear E l y : a n d she
c o m p le te d h er fo u rte e n th y e a r on th e 7th o f A u g u s t, th e d a y
u p o n w h ich w e p a id o u r visit to th e h ou se. W e fo u n d M r .
B a rtle and his w ife, th e m o th e r -in -la w o f th e g irl, v ery o b lig ­
in g a n d rea d y to an sw er an y qu estion s p u t to th em : an d
th e ir w h ole m a n n er was sim ple a n d stra ig h tforw ard , an d free
fr o m ev ery ap p earan ce o f tr ic k o r co llu siv e c o n d u c t.
W e fo u n d th e y o u n g g irl ly in g in b ed in a d eep ly c o m a ­
tose c o n d i t io n ; w h eth er it m ay be called a tra n ce o r a fit, I
w ill n o t e x a ctly say, b u t I sh ou ld m y s e lf c o n s id e r th a t she
w as asleep. H e r h an ds w ere clasped firm ly to g e th e r , and
pressed tig h tly ov e r th e p it o f the s t o m a c h : h er ey e lid s an d
to n g u e k ep t at a co n tin u e d flick erin g m o t io n ; h er c o u n te ­
n a n ce h ad a p lea sin g ex pression , an d the face lo o k e d fu ll and
fresh. E x c e p tin g th is d a rtin g m o v e m e n t o f th e to n g u e and
th e co n s ta n t flu tte rin g o f th e eyelid s, she re m a in e d p e r fe ctly
still all th e tim e o f o u r visit, w h ich lasted a b o u t an h o u r an d
a h alf.
W h e n I o p e n e d th e ey elid s, I fo u n d th at th e eyeballs
w ere tu rn e d u pw a rd , as is th e usual state in cases o f th is
ch a ra cter. H e r form w as p e r fe ctly stiff a n d r ig id : w h en I
lifte d h e r u p , h er lim b s an d w h o le fra m e w ere as firm and
u n p lia n t as a p iece o f w ood . I t w as a case o f r ig id ity , n o t
o f cata lepsy. W h e n th e fin g er was lifted u p ,— to d o w h ich
so m e little e ffo rt w as req u ired ,— th e fin g e r fell b a ck w ith a
sharp sp rin g . H a d th e p a tien t b e e n ca ta lep tic, th e fin g er

Hosted by G o o g le
296 V a rio u s p h en o m en a su ch a s th o se o f M esm erism .

w o u ld h ave rem ain ed stationary in th e p o s itio n in w h ich it

w as le ft. .R ig id ity and catalepsy are c o n s ta n tly c o n fo u n d e d .
R e a l cata lep sy I im a g in e to be a co n d itio n m u ch m ore rare
an d cu riou s.
I m esm erised h er fro m te n to tw e n ty m in u tes, b u t n o
ap paren t e ffe ct w as in d u ced . But w h e n o u r h a n d s r e m a in e d
f o r so m e tim e c lo s e ly p r e s s e d upon h ers, th e th u m b a n d fin g e r s

b eca m e s o ft a n d fla c c id , and, w h en lifte d u p , did n o t fly b a ck

w ith m u ch fo r ce .
I u n d e r sto o d fro m th e m o th e r-in -la w , th a t Sarah h ad
b e e n v e ry ill fo r a b ou t ten w e e k s ; th a t she h ad b e e n v ery
depressed in h er spirits, an d had ta k en b u t a sm all a m ou n t
o f fo o d , a n d th at h er bow els h ad b e e n v ery costiv e. T h e
m en ses m a d e th e ir first ap pearan ce w h en sh e w as 11 years
o ld , a n d c o n t in u e d very re g u la rly till she fe ll in t o h e r first
tra n ce, an d fr o m th at tim e to th e p resen t (a p e r io d o f sixteen
w eeks) th e y h ave b een q u ite suppressed.
S h e w as fo r a lo n g tim e a tten d ed b y a m e d ica l m a n , b u t
n o b en efit resu lted fro m his t r e a t m e n t : I fa n c y th a t at p r e ­
sen t all m e d icin e s an d rem ed ies are d is co n tin u e d .
S h e first fell in to “ th ese fits,” as th e m o th e r calls th em ,
a b o u t six teen w eek s b a ck : she rem a in ed p e r fe c tly co m p o s e d
an d still, b o t h b e fo r e an d after. T h e fits g e n e ra lly lasted
several h ou rs : fre q u e n tly tw o o r th ree days : o n c e th ey c o n ­
tin u e d fo r th e sp ace o f five days. W e fo u n d h e r in o n e o f
th ese fits. T h e o n e b e fo r e h ad lasted fo r fifteen h ou rs : she
h a d a w a k en ed u p at 9 o ’ c lo c k , and g o n e o f f again at 1 0 ; so
th at as w e arrived a b ou t h a lf-p a st 11 w e h a d n o h op e th at
she w o u ld aw a ke u p d u rin g o u r visit. S h e n e v e r speaks in
th is state, a n d hears n o th in g th a t is said to h er.
W h e n sh e w akes up, she ta lk s a little, an d m e n tio n s h er
dream s (or v ision s, as th e y are ca lled ) to th o se o n ly w h o are
d isp osed to listen t o th em , an d g e n e r a l l y t e l l s t h e t i m e w h e n
sh e w ill n e x t g o o ff.

S h e alw ays c o n tin u e s in b ed : an d takes v ery little fo o d ,

d r in k in g n o th in g b u t w ater, an d ea tin g sca rcely a n y th in g b u t
fru it. W h e n sh e a w ok e up after th e five d a y s’ sleep, sh e
d ran k o ff a b o u t five tu m b lers o f w ater. I t sh ou ld b e m e n ­
tio n e d th at n e ith e r h e r b la d d e r n o r h e r b ow els a ct w h en she
is asleep, let h e r c o n tin u e in th at state ev en fo r th ree days.
I n g en era l sh e w akes up q u ite q u ie t ly ; b u t o cca sio n a lly
o f late she h as c o m e t o h e rs e lf a fter m u c h sig h in g a n d
ag itation .
T o ju d g e fr o m th e statem en ts o f h er p a ren ts, S arah is
occa sio n a lly a n atu ral cla irv oy a n t. F o r sh e has fo r e to ld
m o re th an o n c e th e c o m in g o f som e p eop le w h o w ere q u ite

Hosted by G o o g le
 A n o th er la m en ta b le e x h ib itio n in th e C o ll, o f P h y s ic ia n s . 297

strangers, and w hat th ey w ou ld d o , an d th e so rt o f dress

w h ich th e y w ou ld w ear. S h e has also, a c c o r d in g to th eir
a cco u n t, p re d icte d th e e x a ct tim e and h o u r in w h ich som e o f
th e n eig h b o u rs w o u ld die.
T h e paren ts also m e n tio n e d th a t th ere u sed to h e lo u d
n oises in h er r o o m w hen she was asleep,— n oises w h ich lasted
all th e n i g h t : b u t th at fo r som e tim e th ese h ave ceased .
T h e y seem ed very relu cta n t to en ter u p o n th is p a rt o f th eir
story , e v id e n tly fr o m som e su perstitiou s fe e lin g s o n th e
su b ject. I c o u ld th e re fo re u n d ersta n d little o r n o th in g u p o n
th is p o in t.
Y o u r readers w ill h ave th e g o o d n e s s to separate th at
w h ich T a ctu a lly saw fro m th a t w h ich I w as m e re ly t o ld .
T h e case ap peared to m e t o be g en u in e, an d I saw n o reason
to ca ll in q u estion th e v era city o r co n s cie n tio u s n e s s o f th e
paren ts.
I f th is p o o r g ir l c o u ld b e p la ced u n d e r re g u la r m esm eric
trea tm en t, I have little d o u b t bu t th a t sh e w o u ld so o n b e
c u r e d : b u t h er re sid e n ce is in su ch an u n a p p roa ch a b le
c o u n tr y th a t a n y a rra n g em en t seem s im p ra ctica b le, a n d h er
fa th e r w ill n o t allow h er to b e rem ov ed to a m o r e c o n v e n ie n t
n e ig h b o u r h o o d .
I am , y o u rs tru ly ,
' G . S.

* * * W e shall b e g la d to h ear fu rth er p a rticu la rs o f th is

case fr o m a n y frien d s n ear E ly .— Z o i s t .

X I. A fe w rem a rk s in fa v o u r o f th e a p p lic a tio n o f M esm erism

in ca ses o f D y sen tery a n d In s a n ity : a ca se o f th e la tte r

m a la d y s u c c e s s fu lly tr ea te d b y it, C o n tr a c tio n o f F in g ers

fr o m F ra ctu re o f U ln a , fy c ., s u c c e s s fu lly tr ea te d b y th e

sa m e m ean s, w ith fiv e ca ses o f A fte r-p a in s . By J ohn

B a t t i s h i l l P a r k e r , E sq ., S u r g e o n , E x eter.
“ H a r v e ia n O r a t i o n . — On Saturday, the 30th ultimo, the annual oration
in memory of the discoverer of the circulation of the blood, was delivered at the
College of Physicians, by Dr. Steward. In the absence of Dr. Paris, who was
prevented by a domestic affliction from presiding, the chair was occupied by Dr.
Hawkins. The orator began, as is usual on these occasions, by a brief intro­
ductory notice of the birth, education, labours, and services of Harvey, whose
fortune it was, not only to have discovered the great fact of the circulation of the
blood, but to have outlived the envy with which all true discoverers are assailed.
Having referred to the other distinguished benefactors of the College, Mead,
Sydenham, Halford, &c., he compared the scientific and inductive process, by
which Harvey proceeded in his discovery, with the hasty generalizations of the
■ m es m e ris ts, the hydropathists, and the homoeopathists of the day, for, if

Hosted by G o o g le
298 A F e llo w o f th e C o lle g e n o t o v e r p a r tic u la r .

N a t u r e e f f e c t e d a c u r e , t h e y a s c r i b e d i t t o t h e i r o w n n o s t r u m s ; if, on the other

hand, Nature did not help the curative process, they contented themselves with a
m o r ie n d u m e s t ! The learned doctor next adverted to the principle of blood­
letting, which had of late been much discontinued ; hut he seemed to maintain
that in certain classes of disease it was indispensable, and, indeed, a necessary
consequence of the circulation of the blood. The oration concluded with a
tempered but just tribute to the memory of Harvey, which met with the applause
of the audience.” —L a n c e t , July 7, 1855.*

M esm erism , in D y sen tery a n d In sa n ity .

T h e im p o rta n ce o f a dia gn osis is o fte n m ost a p precia ted

w h ere th ere has b e e n th e greatest difficu lty in fo r m in g it,
an d a c o r r e c t o p in io n con stitu tes on e o f th e g rea test triu m ph s
o f th e p a th o lo g ist. B u t it freq u en tly h appen s th a t th e fatal
term in a tion o f a m a lad y, h ow ev er sad, is m o re in stru ctiv e
th an r e co v e ry fr o m it in sp ite o f all o u r p ro g n o stica tio n s ,
n eith er su ccess n o r failu re b e in g alw ays in a c c o rd a n c e w ith ou r
o p in io n s ; a n d , h ow ev er erron eou s th e la tter m a y h ave b een ,
th e recovery- o f a p a tien t d oes n o t alw a ys solve th e cau se o f
o u r error. I t m a y som etim es appear th at an a ttem p t has
b een m a de to e x a g g e ra te th e d a n g er o f a p a tien t’ s su fferin gs
in ord e r to en h a n ce th e value o f the rem ed ies an d trea tm en t
em p lo y e d . I am in d u ce d to m a k e th e ab ov e rem a rk s b y
r eflectin g o n th e case o f E . M e rs o n , w h o was su fferin g fro m
diarrhoea a n d d y se n te ry , and rep orted in th e A p r il n u m b e r
of T h e Z o is t. A t th e tim e I forw a rd ed m y r e p o rt fo r p u b li­
ca tion , th e p a tien t w as qu ite w ell, and c o n tin u e d so u n til th e
la tte r en d o f D e c e m b e r , w h en she w as again seized w ith
sy m p tom s sim ilar to th o se d escrib ed . S h e was th e n re sid in g
tw en ty m iles fr o m E x e te r , w here she w as atten d ed b y a n oth er
m ed ica l m a n , an d trea ted w ith oth er rem ed ies th a n m e s­
m erism ; an d on th e tw elfth d a y she died . T h a t an attack
o f d y se n te ry m ig h t p r o v e fatal, th e p u b lic e v e n m u st be to o
p a in fu lly aw are, fr o m th e fact o f so m a n y o f o u r brav e fe llo w -
co u n tr y m e n d y in g fr o m this disease d u rin g th e p resen t w ar
in th e E a st. T h is clea rly p roves th at n o sp ecific has y e t
b e e n fo u n d in th e m ateria m ed ica fo r th at te rrib le sc o u rg e
an y m ore th a n fo r ch olera . I fu lly a ttrib u te th e su ccessfu l
term in a tion o f E . M e r s o n ’ s fo r m e r attack to th e restorativ e
pow ers o f m e s m e r is m : an d I w ou ld m o s t stro n g ly u rg e its
a p p lication in sim ilar cases on all p h ila n th rop ists, an d o n
th ose w h o are n o t fe tte re d b y stu p id b ig o try o r b lin d rou tin e.
T h e au th or o f A M o n t h i n t h e C a m p b e f o r e S e b a s t o p o l , p er­
haps k n o w in g ly , p erh a p s u n co n s cio u s ly , g ives a stro n g a rg u -

* Who Dr. Steward is we know not. But this we know, that, if he lives a
few years, he will live to be ashamed of his folly, and to see the College ashamed
of having allowed such a display of ignorance and want of feeling for the suf­
ferings of their fellow-creatures within their walls pass unrebuked.— Z o i s t .

Hosted by G o o g le
 C u res o f In s a n ity ra re ; ex p en se en orm ou s. 299

m e n t in fa v ou r o f th e trea tm en t I ad vocate. H e says (p. 6 1 ) :

“ M o r e th a n o n e officer h as t o ld m e w ith h is ow n lip s, th at

h e a scrib ed his r e co v e ry fro m ch olera to th e u n tirin g efforts

o f som e fr ie n d w h o r u b b e d a n d ru b b e d aw ay fo r h ou rs at
th e b lo o d le s s sk in till c irc u la tio n was restored .”
W h ils t every e x p e rie n ce d m e d ica l m an m u st a ck n o w le d g e
th e d ifficu lty o f fo r m in g a c o r r e c t d ia g n osis in so m e cases,
in oth ers h e is as m u c h p u zzled to fin d a su itab le re m e d y ,
ev en w h en th e n atu re o f th e m a la d y is m ost p a lp a b le an d
c o n s p ic u o u s. S u ch has b e e n th e o ft-t o ld and p r in te d e x p e ­
r ie n c e o f o u r p red ecessors, a n d w ill b e readily a d m itted b y
ev ery o n e w h o peru ses th e fo llo w in g ob serv a tion s. A l l agree
th a t th e h e a lth y e n jo y m e n t o f th e in tellectu a l facu lties c o n ­
stitu tes m a n ’ s g rea test p riv ileg e, an d th at in sa n ity in ev ery
fo r m is th e m o s t te rrib le an d m ela n ch oly p riv a tion to w h ich
th e h u m a n race c a n b e r e d u ce d . A n d , h ow ev er m u ch th e
p resen t g en era tion has im p rov ed in th e m a n a g em en t o f th e
in sa n e, th e p u b lish ed rep orts o f th eir d ifferen t asylu m s in
G re a t B rita in are in a cco rd a n ce w ith th a t o f th e W o r c e s te r
C ity an d C o u n ty L u n a tic A s y lu m p u b lish ed in th e T i m e s o f
A u g u s t 1 8 th , 1 8 5 5 , b y w h ich it w ill b e seen th at a b ou t te n
o n ly p er c e n t, are a n n u a lly d isch a rg ed cu red . T h e C en su s
o f 1851 r e co rd s 2 1 ,0 0 0 lu n a tics o u t o f a p o p u la tio n o f
2 0 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 in G re a t B rita in , w h ilst th e S tatistical J o u r n a l
ag rees w ith th e rep ort o f th e D e v o n C o u n ty L u n a tic A s y lu m ,
th at fr o m eleven to fifteen sh illin gs a w eek are paid fo r ea ch
o f th e 2 1 ,0 0 0 lu n a tics in th e d ifferen t asylum s, m a k in g a
tota l o f m o r e th a n seven h u n d re d th ou sa n d a y e a r w ith o n ly
te n p er c e n t, cures. T h e frien d s o f m esm erism sh ou ld ta k e
ev ery o p p o r tu n ity o f p ro m u lg a tin g th ese facts, and en d ea v ou r
t o en list th e frien d s o f h u m a n ity w ith th e a d vocates o f e c o ­
n o m y in o r d e r to test th e cu ra tive pow ers o f m esm erism o n
th e in sa n e : th e su ccess o f it has b e e n fu lly p r o v e d b y D rs .
S tro n g an d K e a n in In d ia , an d also b y n u m erou s o th e r c o r ­
re sp o n d e n ts o f T h e Z o i s t . I h ave m u ch pleasu re in sta tin g
th at th e s u b je ct o f th e very rem a rk a b le case o f th is k in d ,
pu blish ed in o n e o f m y reports, has e n jo y e d p e r fe ct h ealth
ever sin ce. I am q u ite satisfied th at b y h a v in g recou rse to
m esm erism at th e c o m m e n c e m e n t o f m en ta l a b erra tion s w e
sh ou ld cu re at least 4 0 per cen t, o f ou r p a tien ts. U n fo r t u ­
n a te ly m esm erism is t o o fr e q u e n tly resorted to w h en ev ery
o th e r tre a tm e n t has failed, and even th en u n d er su ch very
u n fa v ou ra b le au sp ices th a t I h ave b e e n qu ite a ston ish ed to
see m y p a tien ts re cov er, sin ce I c o u ld n o t h o ld o u t th e
slig h test p ro sp e ct o f su ccess. T h e fo llo w in g case w ill clea rly
illu strate th e c orrectn ess o f o u r p rin cip les.
VO L. X III. y

Hosted by G o o g le
300 P h ren z y ra p id ly cu red w ith M esm erism .

A b o u t tw o m on th s sin ce, ju s t as I was g o in g t o b e d , th e

m o th e r o f a n in sa n e patien t ca m e to m y h ou se in g rea t d is­
tress, as h e r on ly so n was in a state o f p h ren zy , an d h ad b e e n
m ost m e r c ifu lly p rev en ted fr o m c o m m ittin g su icid e. G rea t
a n x ie ty a b o u t his bu sin ess h ad cau sed h im to pass m a n y re st­
less i f n o t sleepless n ig h t s ; h is fa ce w as m u c h flu sh ed, and,
th o u g h q u ite sob er, he ta lk ed in c o h e r e n tly an d c o n fu se d ly .
H e d id n o t k n o w m e , th o u g h I h ad a tten d ed his fam ily fo r
years. W h e n I en d eav ou red to ta k e o f f his c o a t prep aratory
to b le e d in g h im , h e w o u ld p a ce a b ou t h is r o o m ; after n ea rly
sixteen o u n c e s o f b lo o d h ad been ta k en fr o m h im , h e b eca m e
ra th er fa in t. T h is, h ow ever, p r o d u c e d b u t slig h t r e lie f to his
d isord ered in tellects, so th at I lo s t n o tim e in sen d in g fo r
M r . J o h n s, m y m esm eriser. H e soon q u ieted th e p a tien t,
w h o, •a lth o u g h m esm eric sleep was n o t p r o d u c e d , soon after­
w ards slep t n atu rally, an d w h en h e aw ok e th e in tellectu a l
facu lties h a d resu m ed th e ir n atu ral a n d h e a lth y c o n d itio n .
T h e s e c o n d e v e n in g he was p u t in to m es m e ric sleep, fro m
w h ich h e r o se p erfectly w ell, a n d free fr o m h e a d -a ch e fo r th e
first tim e sin ce th e co m m e n c e m e n t o f th e a tta ck . A l l this
d is tu rb a n ce o c cu rr e d w ith ou t lea v in g th e least trace o n his
m e m o r y ,— h e had n o t th e sligh test r e c o lle c tio n o f w hat had
tran sp ired d u rin g h is illn ess. A t th e en d o f th e fo u rth d a y
h e w as q u ite restored , an d a b le to resu m e h is w ork , to the
g rea t j o y o f his fa m ily , w h o h ad b e e n stro n g ly im pressed
w ith th e n ecessity o f se n d in g h im to an asylu m i f th e aberra­
tio n o f th e in tellects c o n tin u e d and h e w as n o t sp eedily
cu red . H e is bu t 25 years o f age.

F ra ctu re o f U ln a , a n d u n d ete c te d D is lo c a tio n o f R a d iu s , fo l­

lo w ed b y C o n tr a c tio n o f th e F in g e r s a n d T hum b.

J o n a th a n M ille r , a g ed 13, w as th row n fr o m a d o n k e y o n

J u n e 6th, 1 8 5 4 . H e w as im m e d ia te ly ta k en to th e E x e te r
H o s p ita l, w h ere a fra ctu re o f th e u ln a o f th e r ig h t arm w as
r e co g n iz e d , a b o u t th e p o in t o f ju n c t io n o f th e u p p er w ith the
m id d le th ir d o f th a t b o n e . S p lin ts a n d b a n d a g e s w ere a p ­
p lied , an d th e b o y was m ade an o u t-p a tie n t. D u r in g th e
fo llo w in g 4 8 h ours h e su ffered v ery sev erely, an d w h en he
p resen ted h im s e lf at th e h osp ita l fo r in sp e ctio n it was fo u n d
n ecessa ry to m a k e h im an in -p a tie n t. T h e pressure o f the
sp lin ts h ad p r o d u c e d su ch m is c h ie f th a t, at th e en d o f a
fo r tn ig h t, s lo u g h in g had ca u sed five separate s o r e s ; o n e 4
in ch es lo n g a n d 2 b roa d o n th e in n e r p a rt o f th e fore-a rm ,
tw o sm aller o n es ju s t below th e e lb o w , an d t w o o f a sim ilar
size o n th e b a c k o f th e w rist. T h e five cica trices m a y still
b e seen . T h e s e sores w ere o f su ch a c h a ra cte r as to re n d e r

Hosted by G o o g le
 M esm erism p rev en ts a s u r g ic a l o p e r a tio n . 301

a n y fu rth e r restra in t in a d m issib le, an d th e b o y was d etain ed

fo r five m on th s in th e h osp ita l to allow th em to heal. The
sore o n th e in n e r p a rt o f th e arm h a d ex ten d ed to a g rea t
d ep th , an d h a d in flu e n ce d th e fle x o r m u scles to so g rea t an
e x te n t as to p r o d u c e a p e r m a n e n t c o n tra ctio n o f th e fin gers
a n d th u m b o n th e p a lm o f th e h an d, and th ere was a p e r fe ct
in a b ility to stra ig h ten th em . F o r several m on th s after he
h ad a g a in b e e n m a d e an o u t-p a tie n t, he c o n tin u e d t o pay
o c ca sio n a l visits to th e h osp ita l to have his arm in sp ected .
A t le n g th a c o n s u lta tio n w as h e ld , an d it w as p ro p o se d to
d iv id e th e flex or ten d on s, a n d th e h o y w as to b e re ce iv e d in to
th e h osp ita l on th e fo llo w in g T h u rsd a y to u n d e r g o th e op e ra ­
tio n . D u r in g th e in terva l, th e fa th er b r o u g h t th e b o y to m e,
w h en I c o lle c te d th e ab ov e h istory and ex am in ed th e five
cica trices. I t was q u ite im p ossib le to stra ig h ten eith er fin gers
o r th u m b , and m y first im p ression was th at a d iv ision o f th e
te n d o n s b y a k n ife w ou ld be a b solu tely n e c e s s a r y : th e case
w as so ex tre m e th a t I sca rcely da red h o p e th a t a n y oth er
m ea n s w ou ld avail. H o w e v e r , I d e term in ed to try th e effects
o f m e s m e r ism ; an d, a t t h e e n d o f t w e n t y - f o u r h o u r s , th e
fin gers w ere p a rtia lly stra ig h ten ed ; b u t th e th u m b still r e ­
m a in ed fir m ly b e n t in to th e p a lm o f th e h a n d . S p lin ts w ere
n o w ap p lied to aid in k e e p in g th e fin gers stra igh t, an d after
stea d ily p ersev erin g w ith m esm erism fo r a fe w days som e
e ffe ct o n th e th u m b was also p ro d u ce d . T h is tre a tm e n t was
c o n tin u e d fo r th ree m on th s, w h en th e fin gers an d th u m b h ad
reg a in ed th eir n atu ral use, w ith su ch loss o n ly as w as o c c a ­
sio n e d b y th e u n r e d u c e d d isloca tion o f th e radiu s. H is
h an d a n d fin gers are n o w n e a r l y as u sefu l as ever, an d I am
h a p p y t o th in k th a t all this has b e e n a ccom p lish ed b y th e
pa in less p ow er o f m esm erism , an d n o t b y th e e x cr u c ia tin g
k n ife.
A fte r-p a in s .

H a v in g r e co r d e d in th e pa ges o f T h e Z o i s t m a n y in sta n ces

w h ere m u ch su fferin g fr o m a fter-p a in s had b e e n alleviated,
an d ev en p rev en ted b y m esm erism , I th in k a peru sal o f th e
five fo llo w in g cases m a y in terest its r e a d e r s ; th e m o re so, as
th ere is seld om a m o re u rg e n t d em an d o n o u r sy m p a th y th a n
th a t w h ich th e p a rtu rien t state in d u ces. O fte n in d e e d the
j o y o f a ch ild b e in g b o r n in t o th e w orld is b u t th e p recu rsor
o f th e m o s t cru el su fferin g s to its m oth er.
1. M r s . L e a r , in th e early p a rt o f h er th ird p r e g n a n c y ,
stra in ed h e r side in a v io le n t m a n n er. C on sta n t pa in en su ed ,
and b e c a m e so severe d u rin g th e last six w eeks previou s to
h er co n fin e m e n t th a t she c o u ld sca rcely w alk across th e
room . T h e d eliv ery w as sh ort a n d natu ral, an d ev ery th in g

Hosted by G o o g le
302 P o w er o f M e sm e r ism in ca ses o f A fte r-p a in s .

p r o ce e d e d m ost fa v ou ra b ly u n til fo r ty -e ig h t h ou rs h ad passed.

T h e n th e p a in in th e side b e c a m e e x cr u c ia tin g , an d e x ten d ed
t o th e w o m b . A s th ere w as n o cessa tion fo r several h ou rs,
sh e sen t fo r me. I fou n d h e r q u ite u n a b le to m ov e fro m its
e ffe c t s ; so I began to m esm erise h er, and in l e s s t h a n t e n
m i n u t e s she was su rprised t o fin d th a t h e r pa in s h ad alm ost

gone. B e f o r e t w e n t y m i n u t e s b a d ela psed, she was q u i t e f r e e

fro m su fferin g , and at m y su b seq u en t v isit ex pressed n o little

d e lig h t a n d g ra titu d e at w h a t m esm erism h ad d o n e fo r her.
2. M r s . Y ic a r y was d elivered o f h er fou rth ch ild F e b ru a ry
3 rd , 1 8 5 5 , a fter a very sh ort a n d n atu ral la b ou r. E v e ry th in g
w en t o n w ell w ith h er u n til fo r ty -s ix h ou rs after, w hen she
was seized w ith v iolen t pain s o f th e w o m b . T h ese w ere m u ch
ag g ra va ted b y th e least m o v e m e n t o f th e lo w e r extrem ities.
B e in g o f a v ery sen sitive tem p era m en t, h e r h ead soon sy m ­
pa th ized w ith h er oth er s u ffe r in g s ; at first th ere was v iolen t
th r o b b in g , th e n h e r sigh t w as m u ch a ffected, an d ev e ry th in g
in th e r o o m appeared o f a reddish h ue. A s th e pa in in th e
w o m b in crea sed , e v ery th in g ap peared to b e o n fire. The
ab ove su fferin g s h ad c o n tin u e d n ea rly five h ou rs b e fo r e I was
su m m o n e d t o h er b e d s id e ; th en h er sigh t h a d alm ost le ft h er,
a n d e v e ry th in g appeared b la ck . I th in k I n ev er saw a patien t
in g rea ter a g on ies, and th is w as a case w h ich en tirely in te r ­
d ic te d th e u se o f opia tes o r sedatives o f a n y d escrip tion . I n
a few m in u te s I b eg a n to m esm erise h er, an d v ery sh ortly
afterw ards sh e asked i f sh e m ig h t m o v e h er le g s a little, as
th e y w ere q u ite s tiff fr o m h a v in g b e e n in th e sam e p osition
fo r fo u r h ou rs. I c o n s e n t e d ; a n d she fo u n d th at she co u ld
d o so w ith o u t e x citin g an y o f th e su fferin g s w h ich h a d n ow
n ea rly le ft h er. L o n g and slow passes s o o n m ade h er qu ite
com p osed an d com forta b le.
3. M rs. F ------- was d elivered o f h e r sixth c h ild after a few
h ou rs’ illn ess o n ly . I was p rep a rin g to lea ve th e h ou se w h en
she c o m p la in e d o f m ost v io le n t pain s in th e b o w e ls ; th en
v o m ite d and im m ed ia tely fa in ted . A t th e first ex am in a tion
I th o u g h t th ere m ust b e a n o th e r c h ild , b u t was s o o n c o n ­
v in ce d th e re was in te rn a l h e m o r r h a g e ; a n d w hilst I pressed
th e u terus firm ly w ith m y rig h t h a n d , I b r e a th e d v ig o ro u sly
ov e r th e h ea rt. S o o n th e p a tien t fe lt th e restorative p ow er
o f m e s m e r is m ; th e u teru s c o n tra cte d firm ly , and e x p elled
so m e v ery la rg e clots, an d th ere w as n o retu rn o f th e h e m o r ­
rh a ge. T h e fav ou ra ble te r m in a tio n o f th is case is th e m ore
rem a rk a b le w h en c o m p a re d w ith th e resu lts o f a n oth er ex a ctly
sim ilar, in w h ich o n e o f h er n e ig h b o u r s d ie d in th ree o r fo u r
h ou rs fro m a p recisely sim ilar cau se. T h e w o n d e rfu l effects
o f m esm erism are in d eed m ost varied on th e fem a le co n s titu -

Hosted by G o o g le
 L o r d J e ffr e y m a d e h im s e lf r id ic u lo u s f o r ever. 303

tio n , as b y its pow ers an u n d u e h em o rrh a g e can b e so sp eed ily

restrain ed an d con fin ed w ith in salutary lim it s ; and on th e
o th e r h an d th ese so o fte n a id in p r o d u c in g th at p e r io d ic a l
fu n c tio n w h ich is so essen tia l to w o m e a ’ s h ealth an d w ell­
b ein g .
4 . M rs . R eev es, th e w ife o f a b u ild er o f N e w to w n , ceased
to be a p a tien t o f m in e fo r several y ears becau se I h ad
esp ou sed th e cau se o f m esm erism . I had p rev iou sly atten d ed
h er in th ree con fin em en ts, an d th ree c h ild re n h ad b e e n b o r n
in th e in terva l. A ft e r th e b irth o f each she su ffered sev erely
fr o m a fter-pa in s fo r a w eek at least. H a v in g h eard th a t su ch
su fferin g s c o u ld b e p rev en ted b y m esm erism , she again r e ­
qu ested m e to a tten d h er. S h e was co n fin e d w ith a v ery fin e
b o y , an d, as soon as th e d eliv ery was c o m p le te d , h ad an in t i­
m a tion o f th e retu rn o f h er fo r m e r pains. S h e th e re fo re
re m in d e d m e o f th e r ep u ted p o w e rs o f m esm erism , an d b e g g e d
th at she m ig h t te s t th e ir efficien cy . B e f o r e h a l f a d o z e n
p a sses h a d been m a d e, sh e e x c la im e d w ith d e lig h t th a t I h a d

sto p p ed th e p a in . I c o n tin u e d to m a k e lo n g a n d slow passes

fo r te n m in u tes. S h e ex p erien ced n o m o r e su fferin g , an d
h e r co n v a le s ce n ce w as m o r e ra p id th an o n an y fo rm e r o cca sio n .
5. M rs. C u rry , w h ose cu r e o f a fter-pa in s in m o r e th an
o n e in stan ce, and p r e v e n tio n o f th em in a n oth er, are re co r d e d
in T h e Z o i s t , w as d elivered o f h e r ten th ch ild th is su m m er.
A s soon as th e d elivery was c o m p le te , I b eg a n to m ake lo n g
an d slow p a sses; an d at m y su b seq u en t visits I fo u n d she had
b e e n spared th e c ru e l su fferin g s w h ich sh e h a d e n d u red on
fo r m e r o c c a s io n s ; an d h er co n v a le s ce n ce p ro ce e d e d m o s t
fa v ou ra b ly .

X II. P h re n o lo g ic a l E x a m in a tio n o f M a rsh a l R a d e iz k y :

m a k in g p a r t (b y h is p e r m is s io n ) o f th e P h re n o lo g ic a l

G a lle r y o f E m in en t P e r s o n s . B y M . A . C a s t l e , M .D .*
“ Every one, of course, has heard of Dr. Gall's c r a n i o l o g y , and seen his
plaster heads, mapped out into the territories of some thirty or forty independent
faculties. Long before this time, we confess, we expected to have seen them
turned into toys for children: and this folly consigned to that great limbo of
vanity, to which the dreams of alchemy, sympathetic medicine, and a n i m a l
m a g n e t i s m had gone before it. ” — E d i n b u r g h R e v i e w , September, 1826.f

* The length of the original examination (published in French) obliges us to

omit some details, but only such as are of secondary interest.— Z o i s t .
- "f When Lord Jeffrey penned this ridiculous article in 1826, he little thought
that Sir Benjamin Brodie would have to renew the attack upon p h r e n o l o g y at the
end of almost thirty years in the form of a book called P s y c h o l o g i c a l R e s e a r c h e s

Hosted by G o o g le
804 W h a t C u rio s ity is.

§1-

T h e a c c o m p a n y in g o r g a n o g ra p h y in d ica tes th e e x isten ce o f

stro n g ly -d e v e lo p e d facu lties, a m o n g w h ich th ose w h ich ten d
to eg o ism o r p erson alism p red om in a te o v e r th e d o m e stic an d
socia l a ffection s. A m o n g th e in te lle ctu a l fa cu lties th e r e ­
flectiv e are th e least d e v e lo p e d — a circu m sta n ce w h ich leaves
com p a ra tiv ely u n restra in ed th e a ctiv ity o f th e in stin cts, th at
is, o f th e p e r ce p tiv o -m e m o r a tiv e fa cu ltie s a n d th e a ffection s
in g en era l. T h is fa ct leads u s to a n ticip a te less m a rk ed d is­
tin ctn ess b etw een th e phases o f a d o le sce n ce , m a tu rity , an d
d e c lin e o f life, th an is observ ed w h ere th e r e f l e c t i v e facu lties
p re d o m in a te . M o d ific a tio n s m a y h ave ta k en pla ce, it is tru e,
b u t n o t so grea t as ev er to effa ce th e ch a ra cteristic sign s o f
e a rlier life , a m o n g w h ich th e m ost strik in g w ere rem a rk a b le
p h y s ic a l e n e rg y , grea t viva city , a q u ic k sp irit o f ob serv a tion ,
an d a m e m o ry fo r details, n o less reiterative th an p ro m p t
an d a p p ly in g alike to p h y sica l o b je c ts an d to ev ery k in d o f
ev en t.
T h e a c c u m u l a t i v e a ctio n o f all th ese traits p rod u ces a
restless c u r io s ity * a n d a c o n s ta n t desire fo r ch a n g e , b o th in
th e e x ercise o f th e in te lle ct and in th e em o tio n s arisin g
fr o m th e feelin gs.
T h u s a ll that c o u ld b e le a rn e d b y observ a tion , b y ora l
c o m m u n ica tio n , o r b y in cita tio n , w as a cq u ire d w ith ou t effort ;
w hereas th e ex u b era n ce o f h is p h y s ica l e n e rg y , an d his im ­
p a tie n ce o f all con stra in t, w ill h ave re n d e re d his m in d little
apt fo r stu d ies req u irin g seriou s reflex ion .

on account of it flourishing far more vigorously than ever: and that a n i m a l

m a g n e t is m in 1855 would hold a high and proud position and be acknowledged
to be a source of benefit to mankind such as physicians and surgeons could not
hope to see established from their art.— Z o i s t .
* Three faculties more than others give rise to what is generally understood
as Curiosity; viz., I n d i v i d u a l i t y , E v e n t u a l i t y , and C a u s a li t y ; but Curiosity is in
fact a property common alike to the feelings and to the intellectual faculties, and
is modified according to their various combinations. Thus the simple Curiosity
of E v e n t u a l i t y takes special directions according as it is associated with different
instincts; for instance, when combined with C o m b a t i v e n e s s and D e s t r u c t i v e n e s s , it
produces interest in warlike events; with S e c r e t i v e n e s s , the kind of Curiosity more
specially understood as inquisitiveness; with I n d i v i d u a l i t y , C o n s t r u c t i v e n e s s , and
D e s t r u c t i v e n e s s , it produces a Curiosity, very characteristic of some persons, con­
cerning arms and instruments of torture; with C a u s a li t y and the reflective facul­
ties generally, it gives rise (according to farther combinations with the perceptions
and feelings) to taste for special sciences, and generally to what may be called
scientific curiosity. Taken in its widest sense, Curiosity is but the first and
strong expression of our primitive faculties, and is therefore as varied as the in­
numerable combinations of these faculties.

Hosted by G o o g le
 M a rsh a l R a d e tz k y ’s c r a n ia l d e v e lo p m en ts . 305

C R A N IA L D E V E L O P M E N T S O F M A R S H A L R A D E T Z K Y .
F ir s t G r o u p .

I n d iv id u a l a ffe c tio n s , lim ite d t o th e d o m e s tic c ir c le (minor).

A m a tiv e n e s s ........... Generative instinct, bissexual attach­
ment, erotic appetite.....................large
P h i l o p r o g e n i t i v e n e s s . . Parental instinct, attraction to chil­
dren ................................................. small
A d h e s i v e n e s s ................ Instinct o f attachment, o f individual
friendship, o f a ffe c tio n ................ rather large
Sec o n d G r o u p .

G e n e r a l a ffe c tio n s , e x p a n s iv e o r s o c ia l (major).

A p p r o b a tiv e n e s s . . . . Desire o f another’ s approval, ho­
nour, or glory .............................. rather large
V e n e r a t i o n ................ Sentiment o f deference, respect,
piety, d e v o tio n .............................. ditto
B e n e v o l e n c e .................Sentiment o f general philanthropy,
charity, g o o d n e s s ......................... ditto
T h ir d G r o u p .

I n s t in c t s o r im p u ls e s , g iv in g p h y s i c a l a n d m o r a l e n e r g y , m ilita r y s p irit.

C o m b a t i v e n e s s ............Instinct o f resistance, o f animal

courage (defensive) .....................large
D e s tr u c tiv e n e s s . . . . Instinct o f physical energy, o f attack
(offen siv e)........................................ rather large
F i r m n e s s .....................Instinct o f will, o f perseverance, o f
inflexibility........................................ large
F o u r t h G r o u p .

P r o p e n s i t ie s e m in e n tly s e lfish .

S e lf-e s te e m ................ Sentiment o f one’ s own worth, dig­

nity, self-respect ..........................rather large
A c q u is itiv e n e s s . . . . Instinct o f appropriation, o f accu­
mulation ....................................... small
F if t h G r o u p .

I n c lin a tio n s g iv in g in s tin c tiv e r e s e r v e , o r a r e te n tiv e e ffe c t.

C o n ce n tr a tiv en es s . . . . Faculty o f attention, o f continued

concentration, instinct o f con­
stancy................................................. rather large
S ec r e tiv e n e s s ............Instinct o f revelation, o f reserve . . moderate
C i r c u m s p e c t i o n ........... Instinct o f prudence, o f precaution,
o f apprehension ........................... rather large
S ix t h G r o u p .

S e n tim e n ts e m in e n tly m o r a l.

C o n s c ie n tio u s n e s s . . . . Sentiment o f equity and o f justice,

instinct o f d u ty .............................. rather large
H ope ( ? ) .....................Sentiment o f joyous anticipation . . large

Hosted by G o o g le
306 M a r s h a l R a d e tz k y ’ s c r a n ia l d e v e lo p m en ts .

Se v e n t h G r o u p .

Im a g in a tiv e fa c u lt ie s , p r o d u c in g th e s e n tim e n t o f th e b e a u tifu l, gran d ,

a n d s u b lim e .

Id e a lity ..................... Appreciation o f the perfect ............. rather large

M a r v e l l o u s n e s s ...........Instinct o f belief, o f admiration .. ditto

E ig h t h G r o u p .

P e r c e p t iv e f a c u lt i e s , g iv in g g e n e r a l m a n u a l d e x t e r it y , e m in e n tly a u x ilia r y .

C o n s tr u c tiv e n e s s . . . . Mechanical instinct, tendency and

aptitude to construct..................... rather large
I m i t a t i o n .....................Instinct to imitate, faculty o f general
interpretation................................... ditto
O r d e r ......................... Disposition to symmetrical co-ordi­
nation, to methodical, systema­
tical distribution ......................... large

N in t h G r o u p .

P e r c e p t iv e f a c u l t i e s o f o b s e r v a tio n , p r o d u c in g g e n e r a l m e m o r y ,

In d iv id u a lity ............Perception o f entities, memory o f

individualities, sense o f things . . large
L o c a l i t y .....................Perception o f the relations o f situa­
tion in space, memory o f places . . ditto
E v e n t u a l i t y ................ Direct memory o f events, o f fa cts.. ditto

T e n t h G r o u p .

P e r c e p tiv e fa c u ltie s , g iv in g s p e c ia l a p titu d e s a n d m em o ries.

C o n fig u r a tio n ........... Perception and memory o f outlines,

o f form s............................................ rather large
E x t e n t ......................... Appreciation o f distances, o f the di­
mensions o f sp a ce .......................... ditto
W e ig h t ..................... Instinct o f gravitation, equilibrium,
appreciation o f the pressure and
resistance o f a m a s s ..................... large
C o lo u r s ..................... Perception o f the shades o f colour., rather large
N u m b e r s ..................... Appreciation o f numerical relations,
arithmetical instinct, memory o f
cyphers, disposition to calculation. .moderate
Perception o f the relation o f articu­
late sounds, memory o f words,
facility o f elocution .....................rather large

E l e v e n t h G r o u p .

P e r c e p t iv e f a c u l t i e s w h ic h a r e th e fo u n d a t i o n o f m u s ic a l ta le n t.

T o n es ..........................Appreciation o f the musical rela­

I moderate or
tions o f sounds, instinctive me­
I rather large
mory o f melodies .....................

Hosted by G o o g le
 H is F r ie n d s h ip a n d L o v e. 307

T im e ......................... Appreciation o f the relations o f suc­

cession in time, instinctive per­
ception o f measure, o f durations,
o f rhythmical intervals, o f ca­
dences .............................................large

T w e l f t h G r o u p .

S u p e rio r in tellec tu a l fa c u ltie s , o r r e fle c tiv e p o w e r s .

W i t .............................. Perception o f contrast, faculty o f dis­

crimination,o f d e fin itio n ............. rather large
C o m p a r i s o n ................ Faculty o f approximating analogies
and resem blan ces..........................large
C a u s a l i t y .....................Faculty o f connecting causes and
effects, o f reasoning analytically
and synthetically ........................... rather large

Temperament, sanguine, now a little lymphatic.

Age, 84 years.

M e a s u r e m e n t s o f t h e H e a d .

Circumference, passing over Individuality, Destructive­

ness, and Philoprogenitiveness .................................. 20-g-inches
-----------------------passing over Comparison and Concern-
trativeness .......................................................................... 1 9 f „
From centre o f Individuality to centre o f Philoprogeni­
tiveness, passing over Comparison and Self-esteem 13 „
From centre o f Firmness to centre o f Destructiveness,
passing over Cautiousness ................................... . . . 9f „

§2.

T h e sen tim en ts o f F r i e n d s h i p a n d L o v e , a lth o u g h ever

r e a d y t o b e su perficially aw a ken ed in R a d e tz k y , an d even to
a s s u m e th e ap pearan ce o f s tro n g fe e lin g , h ave n ev er been
fe lt b y h im as n e e d s . I n h im frien d sh ip shew s it s e lf ch iefly
as a fra n k an d jo y o u s c a m a r a d e r i e . H e is g en erou s in m o n e y
affairs a n d ever rea d y t o loosen th e strin g s o f h is o w n p u r s e ;
b u t h e w ill have b e e n n o less disp osed , a c c o r d in g to c irc u m ­
stan ces, t o c o u n t o n th e pu rse o f his com ra d es.
I n his ex p e rie n ce o f lo v e s e n t i m e n t h as p la y ed b u t a sm all
p a r t ; a lth o u g h a certa in g en tlen ess, arisin g fr o m th e deg ree
o f A p p r o b a t i v e n e s s , V e n e r a t i o n , an d B e n e v o l e n c e h e possesses,
m a y occa sion a lly h a v e w o rn th e a p p e a r a n c e o f sen tim en t. I t
fo llo w s , th e n , th a t his w arm th o f fe e lin g and protestation s
o f affection , h ow ev er sin cere at th e tim e, w ill h ave b e e n s u b ­
je c t , th e first to van ish q u ic k ly , th e last to b e so o n fo r g o tte n .
T h e g en era l p r o g r a m m e o f an a f f a i r e d u c c e u r in his case

Hosted by G o o g le
308 N o t m a d e fo r d o m e s tic life .

w ill h ave b e e n an im p a tien t b u t n o t easily d iscou ra g ed e n e rg y

o f co n q u e s t, an d a n o less fa cile a b a n d on m en t o f a satisfied
a ffection fo r a n ew cap rice.
H is affective ch a ra cte r is th e ex a ct co u n te rp a rt o f h is
in t e lle c t :— stron g cu riosity , g rea t n eed o f v a riety. In a
w ord , h e h as n e v e r fe lt o r im a g in e d lo v e as a s e r i o u s s e n t i ­
m en t. T h e r e is a n o th e r fe e lin g w h ich freq u en tly allies it s e lf
w ith th e n e e d o f lo v e (n ow e lic itin g it, n o w ca lled fo r th b y
it ), viz., th e lov e o f c h ild re n . I n v ery m a n y m in d s th e
im a g e o f a lo v e d c o m p a n io n an d a little sm ilin g fa c e sp rin g s
u p alm ost as an in n a te p ictu re. O th ers, w ho h ave n e v e r
k n o w n su ch a n ticip a tion s, are y e t, w h en o n ce th e y h ave
fo r m e d d o m e stic ties, s tr o n g ly alive to a sense o f d u ty a n d
r e sp o n sib ility .
T o a n oth er class o f m in d s all th is is an u n k n o w n w orld ,
— th e la n g u a g e th a t w o u ld d escrib e d o m e stic h appin ess, i n ­
com p reh en sib le. T o th is la tter class, far m o r e at least th a n
t o th e tw o p r e ce d in g , d o e s R a d e tz k y b e lo n g . T h e fa ct o f his
h a v in g m a rried in n o w a y in va lida tes th is statem en t, a n d
m ig h t b e a c c o u n te d fo r in various w ays. T h is is at lea st b u t
o n e ex a m p le m ore to a d d to th e in n u m era b le in stan ces o f
th o s e w ho in co n s id e ra te ly m a rry , th o u g h in ap t eith er to fin d
h appin ess at th e firesid e o r to c o n fe r it.
T h ese re fle x io n s w ill in n o w ay sh ock R a d e tz k y , as th e
d eficien cy o f th e qu alities in q u estion w ill u n d o u b te d ly ap pear
t o h im o f n o m o m e n t. H e ca n n o t b e ch a rg ed w ith th e m ore
v u lg a r effects w h ich fr e q u e n tly a cco m p a n y in d iffe re n ce to
d o m e stic ties, an d w ill n ev er h ave b een lia b le to re p ro a ch o n
th e score o f th ose m e a n e r details w h ich so o ften d a rk en m a r­
ried life. F o r h im m a rria ge, as a n y o th e r l i a i s o n , w ill so o n
h ave b e c o m e a q u e stio n n o t seriou s e n o u g h to v a n q u ish his
in s o u c ia n c e .

I n a b se n ce , c o m p la in ts an d prayers w ou ld affect h im b u t
little , and b e q u ic k ly fo r g o t t e n ; w hereas th e sam e r e p re s e n ­
ta tion s m a de d e v i v e v o i x w ou ld certa in ly elicit fr o m h im k in d
a n d a ffection a te p rom ises an d protestation s, sin cere at th e
tim e , b u t so o n , th e m also, to fa d e fro m his m e m o ry .
T h is versatile d isp osition w ill certa in ly n o t h ave sh ew n
its e lf in his a ffection s a lon e. M a n y an a ct o r p rom ise o f
kin d n ess, p ro m p te d in th e first in sta n ce b y a passing m o m e n t
o f g o o d n atu re, w ill h ave b e e n le ft u n fin ish ed o r fo r g o tt e n ,
and, w h en re ca lled t o his m e m o ry , v ery u n c e re m o n io u s ly d is­
m issed fo r ever.
T h e an alysis o f su ch traits w o u ld shew h o w tr iflin g are
th e causes o f ch a n g e in a n u n sta b le m in d . O fte n R a d e tz k y
w ill b e in d u ce d to lis te n t o th e a p p lica tion s o f ev ery d e s crip -

Hosted by G o o g le
 Im p a tie n t o f in ter fe re n c e , m o r a lly in d iffe r e n t. 309

tio n w ith w h ich in his p o s itio n h e is assailed, p a rtly it is tru e

fr o m a c e rta in im p u lse o f g oo d n e s s, b u t ch iefly fr o m cu riosity ,
— th a t to n e o f n o v e lty w h ich is p ecu lia r t o h im . T h is c u ­
rio s ity satisfied o r d isa p p oin ted as th e case m a y b e, his
g ra ciou sn ess w ill g iv e p la ce to th e m o s t u n e q u iv o ca l sign s o f
in a tte n tio n an d even o f im p a tien ce.
A m o n g h is frien d s an d th ose u n ite d to h im b y still closer
ties h e w ill n o t alw ays care to d istin g u ish b e tw e e n th e sin ­
c e rity a n d h o n e s ty o f som e an d th e ob seq u iou sn ess, fr o m
in te re ste d m otiv es, o f oth ers. I say, em p h a tica lly , th a t h e
d oes n ot ca re to distin g u ish , fo r it w ill sca rce ly ever h a p p en
th a t h e d oes n o t u n d ersta n d p e rfe ctly , th e m o tiv e s o f th ose
a rou n d h i m ; b u t so g rea t is h is aversion to a n y th in g a p ­
p r o a c h in g t o restrain t, o r in te rfe re n ce w ith his m o m e n ta r y
a n d c h a n g in g im pu lses, th at c o m p l i a n c e w i t h h i s w i l l b y all
arou n d h im is th e first n ecessity fo r his c o m fo r t a n d tra n ­
q u illity . H e d oes n o t atta ch h im s e lf to h is flatterers, n o r is
h e, I rep ea t, im p o s e d u p o n b y ad u la tion , b u t h e tolera tes it
as a less evil th a n op p osition .
T h is i n d o l e n t m o r a l s t a t e , fo r su ch it strictly is, w ill p er­
p le x m a n y o f R a d e tz k y ’ s ad m irers b y th e c o n tra s t it offers
w ith th a t cou ra g e, e n e rg y , an d w ill, and th a t s tr o n g sense
o f d u ty (su ch as h e co n ce iv e s it) m a n ifested b y h im o n im ­
p o rta n t occa sion s.
T h is in c o n s is te n c y leads to th e con s id e ra tio n o f th e d e ­
p e n d e n ce o f w hat is g en era lly u n d e rsto o d as th e sen se o f d u ty
o r c o n s cie n c e n o t o n ly u p on th e sp ecia l fa c u lty o f C o n s c i e n ­
t i o u s n e s s , b u t u p o n th e g en era l ch a ra cter a n d circu m sta n ces

o f th e in d iv id u a l. T h e la tter fo r m in d e e d a c o m b in a tio n o f
in flu en ces w h ich w ou ld appear at first sig h t t o r e n d e r c o n ­
s cie n ce ,— th e n o b le s t o f o u r p ow ers,— lik e an ev e r-s h iftin g
h o riz o n o f w h ich each in d iv id u al sp ecta tor fo r m s th e c en tre.
I w o u ld n o t b e u n d e r sto o d to m ea n th a t c o n s c ie n c e has n e c e s ­
s a r i l y so u n d e te rm in e d a scop e. O n th e c o n tra ry , I b eliev e
th a t th e eq u ita b le law s w h ich sh ou ld e n lig h te n a n d d ire ct its
a p p lica tion c o n s titu te a b ra n ch o f positiv e sc ie n ce , a n d o n e
t o o m u c h n e g le c te d alik e b y m oralists an d b y leg isla tors.
A s c o n s cie n c e ca n n o t act in d e p e n d e n tly o f k n o w le d g e , it
m u st v ary in in d iv id u a ls n o t o n ly in u n im p o rta n t details, b u t
ev en w ith reg a rd t o th e m ost sacred p rin cip les, a c c o rd in g to
th e p re ju d ice s o f e d u c a tio n ; an d so lo n g as arb itra ry ju s t ic e
ta k es th e p la ce o f eq u ity , or, in o th e r w ord s, so lo n g as
e q u ity is n o t r e d u c e d to p ositive rules, d em on stra b le b y
scie n ce a n d ta u g h t as an art.
S c ie n c e is t r u t h : w h en m e n th in k tr u ly o r scien tifica lly ,
th e y w ill th in k alike, fo r tru th is on e.

Hosted by G o o g le
310 C o n sc ie n c e a n d r e lig io u s fe e lin g n o t a c tiv e in h im .

I n R a d e tz k y , c o n s c i e n c e is n o t su fficien tly active u n d er

o rd in a ry circu m sta n ce s to restrain th at in co n s ta n c y , th a t
in d iffe re n ce to socia l ties, a b ov e a llu ded t o ; it n eed s th e e x i­
g e n cie s o f m ilita ry life to ca ll fo r th th e u tm ost a ctiv ity o f
w h ich it is cap a ble. B u t th is m ilita ry c o n s cie n c e m a y b e
m o r e s p e cio u s th a n real, its c h ie f sou rce b e in g a lo n g h a b it
o f d is cip lin a ry ro u tin e. I t has an id o l, w h ich m a y b e m is­
ta k en fo r d u ty , b u t w h ich is fr e q u e n tly o n ly u n co n te ste d
a u th o r ity .*
S u c h is n o t th e p rov id en tia l scope o f c o n s cie n c e , w h ich , as
I have said elsew h ere, is th e m o ra l cou n terp a rt o f ju d g m e n t,
a n d is in te n d e d t o in sp ire th e fe e lin g o f u n iv ersa l eq u ity .
W h o e v e r w ill a p p ly th e p r e ce d in g ob serv a tion s to th e list
o f cereb ra l d ev elop m en ts fr o m w h ich th is an alysis is d erived,
w ill at o n c e be a b le to explain m a n y sin g u la r traits in R a -
d e tz k y ’ s c h a r a c t e r ; fo r in sta n ce, his en tire in d iffe r e n c e to
ord er in h is ex p en d itu re, n otw ith sta n d in g th e d isa g reea b le
em b arra ssm en ts w h ich m u st u n d o u b te d ly h ave o fte n fo llo w e d
su ch n e g lig e n c e .

§3.

A lth o u g h several o f th e elem en ts te n d in g t o relig iou s

fe e lin g are w e ll d e v e lo p e d in th is o rg a n iza tion , it is n e v e r­
th eless h ig h ly p r o b a b le th at th e y w ill h ave b e e n en tirely
su b ord in a te, in fa c t, t o o th e r feelin g s m ore in stin ctiv e and
m ore easily e x cite d b y th e k n o w n c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f R a d e tz k y ’ s
life. A t m o s t th e relig iou s th o u g h ts w hich w ill occa sio n a lly
h ave b e e n aw a ken ed in his m in d w ill sca rcely h ave p reva iled
m ore th an th o se rare m o m e n ts o f g en tlen ess an d g o o d nature
a lrea d y sp ok en of.
E a ch fa c u lty , it is tru e, te n d s to m a n ifest it s e lf in d irect
p r o p o rtio n t o its o r g a n ic d e v e lo p m e n t: b u t it m u st be b o r n e
in m in d th a t it is also su b je ct to m o d ifica tion a c c o r d in g to
its a ssocia tion w ith o th e r facu lties, an d th at it m a y ev en be
g rea tly in flu en ced b y a n y o n e o th e r fa cu lty eq u a l o r su perior
in activity t o itself.
V e n e r a t i o n , fo r in sta n ce, w h ich is th e te n d e n c y to re sp e ct

in g en era l (n o t d ire cte d , as is o fte n th ou g h t, t o a F irst

C ause e x clu siv e ly ), g ives rise, a c c o rd in g to its c o m b in a tio n
w ith o th e r fa cu lties, t o th e v ariou s m a n ifesta tion s o f esteem ,
a d m ira tion , a d o ra tio n , and p iety .

* To this blind veneration for authority, to this substitution of an idol of the

mind for the idea of right and equity, must be attributed many of the acts of
injustice and oppression, of which those in authority, and Radetzky among the
number, often render themselves guilty.

Hosted by G o o g le
 A p r a c tic a l, n o t a d eep th in k in g , m an. 311

I n th e sam e m a n n er th e sp ecia l fu n c tio n o f M a r v e l l o u s n e s s

is to c o n fe r a lo v e o f th e u n k n o w n in g e n e r a l.* I n certa in
co m b in a tio n s o n ly does it p r o d u c e b lin d re lig io u s faith a n d
su p erstition o f ev ery k in d . A n d , o n th e oth er h a n d , m a n y
p erson s su perstitiou s an d d o g m a tic in re lig io n are th e last
ev en t o co n c e iv e a n ew d isco v e ry in s c ie n c e .f
A g a in , H o p e , w h ich is fre q u e n tly an e m in e n tly r e lig iou s
fe e lin g , m a y som etim es co n fin e its jo y o u s a n ticip a tion s to
th is w o r l d a l o n e , in cases w h ere th e im a g in a tion is d eficien t

in p ow er to c o n ce iv e a fu tu re life, o r w here th e p resen t so

en th ra lls ev ery desire th a t th e id ea o f fu tu re ex isten ce, i f
ever it b e fo r c e d on th e m in d , is m o re in tru sive th a n w elcom e.
T o re tu rn to R a d e t z k y : it w ill th en b e easily c o n ce iv e d
th at, th o u g h h e is d eficien t in n o n e o f th e facu lties ju s t
a llu d ed to , th e y w ill h ave p r o d u c e d in h im (livin g, as h e does,
essen tia lly in th e presen t) b u t little fe e lin g o f relig io n .

§4.

S o far, th e r e is little in th e p resen t e x a m in a tion th at

w ou ld appear to ap ply sp ecia lly to a m a n rep u ted g rea t in
m ilita ry art an d scien ce. I t m u st be b o rn e in m in d th a t
w ith reg a rd t o th ese, as to arts and scien ces g e n e r a lly , th e
a p titu d e fo r o n e o r th e o th e r sp rin g s fr o m tw o d ifferen t
sou rces. S c ie n c e an d art stan d in th e sam e rela tion to ea ch
oth er as th e o r y an d p ra ctice, an d an in d iv id u a l m a y be d if­
fe re n tly g ifte d as r eg a rd s each in an y g iven pursuit.
R a d e tz k y 's in te llig e n c e b e lo n g s m ore p a rticu la rly to th e
pra ctica l or artistic c la s s : for, n o t on ly d o his p ercep tiv e p r e ­
d o m in a te ov er his reflectiv e facu lties, b u t th e v ersatility an d
im p a tie n ce o f his ch a ra cter r e n d e r ardu ou s stu d y in g en era l
. d ista stefu l to h im , th e o n ly e x ce p tio n b e in g in fa v ou r o f th e
stu d y req u isite fo r th e m ilita ry career, w h ich is h ig h ly a ttra c­
tiv e to h im , n o t o n ly as e x e rcisin g certa in a rtistic fa cu lties
h e possesses, b u t as a ffo r d in g scop e fo r m a n y plea su ra ble
e m o tio n s. F o r in sta n ce, his in stin ctive fo r e sig h t an d his
te n d e n c y to an ticip ate th e fu tu re m a y a g r e e a b l y e x c ite h is
reflectiv e facu lties to sp ecu la tion s on all p ossib le c o n tin g e n c ie s
in w arlike affairs, th u s le a d in g him to prepare b e fo re h a n d
pla n s o f a ctio n su fficien tly ela stic to em b ra ce th e m all.

* In a forthcoming work the analysis, association, and providential intention

of these and most of the phrenological faculties will be given.
f A person whose phrenological examination I made recently had the organ
of M a r v e l l o u s n e s s large, with S e l f - e s t e e m and C a u s a li t y also well developed.
This person was a firm believer in the miracle of Rimini, but found it incon­
ceivable that I believed in mesmerism.

Hosted by G o o g le
312 H is in tellec t s y n th e tic r a th e r th a n a n a ly tic .

W h ile , h ow ev er, R a d e tz k y w ill r e c o g n iz e th e exactn ess

o f th is fa c t, h e w ill a d m it also th at in m o m e n ts o f a ctio n ,
th o u g h h e profits to som e d e g re e b y p r e co n ce iv e d th eories,
y e t th a t h is pra ctica l a b ility n ev er shew s it s e lf m o re p r e ­
e m in e n tly th a n w h en h e fo llo w s th e in tu itio n s , so to speak,
w h ich are su g gested t o h im b y circu m sta n ces. S trictly an a­
ly z e d , th e se in tu ition s w ill b e fo u n d , it is tru e, to sp rin g in
som e d e g re e fro m his h a b it o f fo r e th o u g h t o n m ilita ry c o n ­
tin g e n c ie s ; b u t still th e y d e p e n d m ore im m e d ia te ly on th e
rap id c o u p d ’ c e i l w h ich th e p ecu lia r n a tu re o f h is m in d allow s
h im to ta k e in im m in e n t an d u n foreseen difficu lties.
I n h is in te llig e n c e th e p e r ce p tio n o f a n a lo g y pred om in a tes
ov er th e p o w e r o f a n a ly s is ; he has, in c o n s e q u e n c e , m ore
p e r ce p tio n an d c o n c e p tio n o f th e s y n t h e t i c a l th an o f th e
a n a l y t i c a l rela tion s o f th in g s. S u ch e lem en ts o f character,
th o u g h n o t em b ra cin g a l l th e p ow ers req u isite fo r th e stra­
te g ic art, are y et su fficien t, as th e p resen t ex a m p le shew s, to
b r in g a b o u t g rea t practical resu lts and co n s e q u e n t m ilita ry
re p u ta tio n .
M ilita r y ta len t, o f th e p e cu lia r k in d tra ced ab ove, is ev i­
d e n tly m o r e artistic th a n scien tific, a n d th e co n c e p tio n s to
w h ich it g iv e s rise w ill th erefore b e m o r e im m e d ia te ly a p p li­
ca b le b y th e ir au th or th an easily tran sm issib le to oth ers.
I t is p ossib le th a t th e th eories th u s fo r m e d , n otw ith sta n d ­
in g th eir occa sio n a l h eterog en eou sn ess, w ill fre q u e n tly fu r ­
n ish o r ig in a l an d u sefu l ideas, w h ich w ou ld o n ly n eed m ore
ca refu l e la b o ra tio n in ord e r t o assu m e a scien tific form an d
b e c o m e g e n e ra lly ap p licab le.

§5.

I n ev ery ch a ra cter, b u t m o r e ob s e rv a b ly in som e th an in

oth ers, c e rta in pecu liarities e x ist w h ich are m o r e o r less in ­
d iscrim in a tely ta xed as od d ities, follies, even vices. W h e n
th ese p ecu lia rities are fou n d associa ted w ith o th e r traits
w h ich are re co g n iz e d as u sefu l o r g rea t, th e y are classed
u n d er th e m ore g e n tle n a m e o f e cce n tricitie s .
N o t th e v u lg ar a lon e b u t even p h ilo s o p h ica l th in k ers are
ra rely d isp osed to im a g in e th a t su ch traits o f ch a ra cter m a y
fre q u e n tly b e in sepa ra ble fr o m q u alities a llow ed to b e ad­
m ira b le, th a t is, th at th e y are b u t m o d ifie d effects o f th e
sam e fa cu ltie s fr o m w h ich th e la tter sp rin g ; a fa ct w h ich
m u st b e b o r n e in m in d b y th e reader, as so m e su ch e c c e n ­
tr ic itie s w ill have t o b e sig n a lized in th e p resen t ch a ra cter.
I h ave rem a rk ed a b ove, th a t his in te lle ct is m ore apt
to see th in g s in th e ir sy n th e tic fo rm th a n to an alyze. A

Hosted by G o o g le
 H is O rd er, T im e , a n d C o n s tr u c tiv e n e s s la rg e. 313

co n s e q u e n c e o f th is p e cu lia rity m a y h ave ex p o se d R a d e tz k y

m o r e th a n o n c e to cen su re fo r in d iife re n ce to certa in details
in d isp en sa b le to m ilita ry art, an d, unless it sh ou ld h ave b e e n
c o r r e c te d b y m e th o d , it w ill easily, as h e ad va n ced in a ge,
h a v e d egen erated in to a p ositiv e h a b it o f in te lle ctu a l c o n ­
fu s io n * in on e so im p a tie n t an d im p u lsiv e as h e is. T h is
c o n fu s io n o n ly applies, h ow ev er, t o th e c o -o r d in a tio n o f
i d e a s , n o t to th in g s re la tin g to m a terial ord er, an d still less

to th o se in w h ich th e p e r ce p tio n o f t i m e is c o n c e rn e d . In
th is p a rticu la r h e w ill m a n ifest ev en ex a g g era ted p recision .
A m o n g R a d c t z k y ’ s p ercep tiv e facu lties, O r d e r an d T i m e
are th e m ost la rg e ly d ev elop ed . I f in a d d itio n to th e ir a c­
tiv it y w e co n s id e r his im p a tie n c e o f p r o lo n g e d rep ose, it w ill
b e co n c e iv e d h ow , d u rin g o n e o c cu p a tio n , his m in d is already
fix ed u p o n th e e m p lo y m e n t o f th e h o u r w h ich w ill su cceed ,
so th at n o leisu re o r loss o f tim e m a y ever o ccu r.
I n o c c u p a tio n cau ses h im a v ery fe v e r o f im p a tie n ce , an d
as, in ad va n cin g a g e, th e tastes o f earlier life g ra d u a lly b e ­
c o m e less v ig orou s a n d th e c h o ic e o f o c cu p a tio n c o n s e q u e n tly
less varied, su ch causes o f im p a tie n ce m u st u n a v o id a b ly o c c u r
m o r e fre q u e n tly th a n fo r m e rly . T h e re are, h ow ev er, certa in
te n d e n cie s w hich o b ta in m ore as oth ers d im in ish , an d a m o n g
th ese is in stin ctiv e fo re sig h t, w h ich in d ir e ctly te n d s in th e
p resen t in sta n ce t o th e lo v e o f a rra n g em en t, b o th in s y m ­
m e try an d in tim e. T h is ta ste w ill g ra d u a lly h ave b e c o m e
m o r e an d m o re d e e p ly r o o te d , so th a t ord e r a n d p recision in
c o n s ta n t o c c u p a tio n w ill h ave b e c o m e an a b solu te n ecessity.
T h e ro u tin e , in sep a ra b le fr o m th e business o f lla d c t z k y ’ s
actu al p osition , w ill in n o w ay b e d isa g reea b le to him , an d he
w ill observ e in it th e m ost c lo c k -lik e p re cisio n , n ev er overpa ss­
in g th e p e rio d a llo tte d to each o c c u p a t io n ; and, w h en fo r ce d
b y circu m sta n ces to su ch ir re g u la rity , g iv in g th e m o s t u n e ­
q u iv o ca l sign s o f th e displea su re o c ca sio n e d h im b y su ch an
in fra ctio n o f his p rev iou sly a rra n ged p la n s. T h e tru th o f th e
o b s e rv a tio n w ill c e rta in ly b e a d m itte d b y all w ho h ave k n o w n
R a d e tz k y in tim a t e ly ; an d th e re are o th e r tastes an d a p ti­
tu d es tra cea b le to th e sam e fa cu lties in c o m b in a tio n w ith
oth ers n o t y e t sp o k e n of, w h ich m u st e q u a lly b e b o r n e o u t
b y fa c t s ob serv a b le in his p a st and p resen t h a b its.
T h e lo v e o f m a terial a rra n g e m e n t alrea d y m e n tio n e d is
b u t a sim p le and d ire ct m a n ifesta tion o f th e p ercep tiv e fa ­
c u lt y (la rg ely d ev elop ed in R a d e tz k y ) o f O r d e r . T h is sam e
fa c u lty , c o m b in e d w ith C o n s t r u c t i v e n e s s (also la rg e ), gives
rise to so m e th in g m o r e th a n m ere m a teria l o r d e r ; to th e

* A confusion which might have fatal results were the staff not there.

Hosted by G o o g le
314 H is T im e , L o c a lity , a n d E x te n t la rg e.

c o n c e p tio n o f m e c h a n i c a l s y m m e t r y ; an d, fu rth e r associa ted

w ith t h e o rg a n o f T i m e (la rg e), it d ev elop es th e still h ig h e r
ta le n t fo r c o m b in e d m ech a n ica l m ov em en ts.
C a refu lly d ev elop ed and d ire cte d b y a sp ecia l e d u ca tion ,
th ese ten d en cies m ig h t h ave h ad im p o rta n t p ra ctica l results
in several bran ch es o f scien ce (d y n a m ics). L e ft to th eir ow n
sp on ta n eou s a ctivity, th e y w ill still h ave g re a tly in flu en ced
h is g en era l in te llig e n ce , an d ab ove all have g iv e n rise to
tastes so u n e x p e c te d in o n e o f R a d e tz k y ’ s p o s itio n as to b e
classed as ecce n tricitie s . O n e o f th ese is a s tro n g p re d ile c­
tio n fo r c h ro n o m e te rs, w atch es, a n d c lo c k s * o f all k in d s and
shapes, w h ich he w ill fin d g rea t d e lig h t in c o lle c tin g — observ ­
in g and c o m p a rin g th e m w ith cu riou s in terest. H e has also
a stro n g ta ste for m a ch in ery (d e p e n d in g p a rtly on th e fa cility
it p ro cu re s fo r rapid lo c o m o t io n ), an d a co rr e sp o n d in g passion
an d ta len t fo r d ir e c tin g its use. T h ese sam e fa cu lties are
again m a n ifested in th e plea su re h e fin ds in o b s e rv in g stra­
te g ic m anoeuvres e x ecu ted b y la rg e b o d ie s o f troop s. A n d in
th e ir fa rth er associa tion w ith L o c a l i t y (large) and D i s t a n c e
(la rg e), th e y p rod u ce a to p o g ra p h ica l c o u p d ’ œ i l in valu able
o n th e field o f battle a n d in all m ilita ry su rveys.

§6.

E a ch fa cu lty has v ery v a ried m a n ifesta tion s a c c o rd in g to

th e p ecu lia r co m b in a tio n s u n d e r w h ich its a ction is elicited b y
circu m sta n ce s . T h u s in th e p resen t case, L o c a l i t y , fav ou red
b y th e n e e d o f m o v e m e n t a n d th e g en era l te n d e n c y to vary
o c cu p a tio n , w ill p r o d u c e , n ot o n ly th e lo v e o f scen ery , b u t o f
co n s ta n t ch a n g e fro m o n e p la ce to a n oth er. T h e in d u lg e n c e
o f th is te n d e n cy , w h ile a fford in g g rea t pleasu re to R a d e tz k y
h im self, m a y b e c o m e a sou rce o f a n n o y a n c e to th o se w hose
d u ty it is t o a tten d h im : a n d it m a y b e c o n c e iv e d even as
g iv in g rise to ex p en sive h abits w ith r e g a rd to th e rem ov a l o f
tro o p s ; fo r R a d e tz k y , lik e m o s t m en , w ill b e in clin e d to c o n ­
sider as u se fu l in g en eral p ra ctice , w hat is b u t a person al
taste.
T h e re is y et a n o th e r p e cu lia rity to sign alize in th is ch a ­
ra cter, a risin g fr o m a p rop en sity e a g e rly to a n ticip a te -the
o rd in a ry co u r se o f ev en ts, a te n d e n c y w h ich , b esid es its u se­
fu l a p p lica tion s, m a y g iv e rise, it is ev id en t, t o m a n y a ccessory
p h en om en a . A m o n g th ese is a lo v e o f r e fo rm , b r o u g h t a b ou t
b y sheer lo v e o f ch a n g e . A n ex a g g e ra te d a ctio n o f C i r c u m -

* Even in his campaigns Radetzky is known to have had with him a collec­
tion of watches and clocks.

Hosted by Google
 C a re le s s o f ex p en se, fo n d o f h orse ex erc is e , d a n cin g , ty c. 315

s p e c tio n is elicite d , and R a d e tz k y sees d a n g er ev eryw h ere, o r

ra th er sees m otiv es fo r p r u d e n c e — n e ce s sity fo r p rep a ra tion
again st sc a r c e ly p ro b a b le c o n tin g e n cie s , and, his m in d b e in g
possessed b y th ese ideas, h e w ill, c o û t e g u i c o û t e , attem p t th e
im m ed ia te e x e cu tio n o f plan s in c o n s e q u e n c e .
I f it b e fu rth e r co n s id e r e d th a t R a d e tz k y is, as w e have
b e fo r e ob serv ed , b u t little in clin e d t o o c c u p y h im s e lf w ith
p e cu n ia ry details, and feels little th e sp ecific valu e o f m o n e y ,
it m a y b e c o n ce iv e d th at, w h en b eset o n th e rea liza tion o f his
p rofession a l p rojects, in th e w ay o f re fo rm s a n d ch a n g es o f
all k in d s, h e w ill n o t m u ch c a lc u la te th e d iffe re n ce b etw een
th ou sa n d s and m illion s ; o r , w h en h e n eed s it, easily a d m i t th e
im p o ss ib ility o f o b ta in in g a n y su m h e desires. I t is th e re ­
fo r e b e y o n d d o u b t th a t, in a s m u ch as e c o n o m y is a virtu e
essen tia l to a m ilita ry ch ie f, R a d e tz k y w ill b e g rea tly d eficien t
in th is resp ect. S o c o m p le te a d isreg a rd o f e c o n o m y m a y
g iv e a sin g u la r air o f e c c e n tr ic ity to m a n y o f th e p ru d en tia l
a cts o f his foresig h t, b u t b y n o m ea n s d etra cts fr o m th e value
o f th e la tte r qu ality , w h ich m u st ce rta in ly have b e e n p r o ­
d u ctiv e o f m a n y an d sign a l ad vantages.
A n o th e r trait m a y b e m e n tio n e d d e p e n d in g o n a p ecu lia r
c o m b in a tio n o f fa cu lties w ith th e lo v e o f p h y s ica l a ctivity,
v iz., a taste, a n d fo rm e rly a sp ecia l ta len t, fo r a th letic, a cro ­
b a tic , an d equ estrian ex ercises, as w ell as th e m ore refined
arts o f ch o r e g r a p h y an d th e d a n ce.
T o d ecla re a g rea t an d re n o w n e d ca p ta in t o possess som e
o f th ese tastes a n d a p titu des m a y at first sig h t appear fu tile,
b u t o n reflection it w ill b e p erceiv ed th a t th e ten d en cies p r e ­
v io u s ly n a m ed as co n s titu tin g th e g rea ter p a rt o f R a d e tz k y ’ s
taste an d ca p a city fo r th e m ilita ry art, v iz., his p e r ce p tio n o f
e n s e m b l e an d o f sy m m etry , h is r e co n n o ite r in g ta len t, h is taste

fo r m e ch a n ica l a n d m ea su red m ov em en ts, are based o n th e

v e ry fa cu ltie s w h ich also fin d g ra tifica tion in th e b rillia n t
sp e cta cle o f th e g r a n d b a l l e t . I d o n o t h esita te to declare
th a t, a fter th e sp e cta cle o f a review , n o th in g w ill a ttra ct and
fix h is a tte n tio n so m u ch as th e sp ecta cle o f a b a l l e t .

§7.
T h e m ilita ry ten d en cies a n d ta le n t o f R a d e tz k y are th e n
a n a tu ra l resu lt o f th e s y n e r g y o f th e p rin cip a l elem en ts o f
his ch a ra cter. B u t it w ou ld b e an error to su ppose th at n a ­
tu re im p la n ts in a n y m a n a p titu d es w h ich lea d fatally and
ex clu siv ely to th e ca reer o f w ar. T h is w ou ld b e ta n ta m ou n t
t o b e l ie f in th e a b solu te n e ce s sity o f w arfare in h u m a n society ,
w hereas, tru ly con sid ered , it is b u t a te m p o ra ry and su b v er-
VOL. X III. z

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 316 W a r n o t in e v ita b le in m an’s n a tu re.

sive d ire ctio n o f certa in fo r ce s in m a n ’ s ch a ra cter. I t is

im p ossib le in d eed to a d m it th at, in th e plan o f crea tion , m en
are d estin ed to use th eir forces against each oth er. T o assu m e
th at war— an a ccu m u la tio n o f every k in d o f a trocity — is in ­
separable fr o m h u m an affairs, th a t it is w hat is term ed “ a
n ecessary e v il,” is to fa ll in to th e g lo o m ie s t k in d o f fa t a lis m ;
fo r it is sim p ly to re n o u n c e a ll h o p e o f th e esta b lish m en t o f
fr a te r n ity a m o n g m en .
T h e fu tu re is to be ju d g e d , n o t w h o lly b y th e past an d th e
presen t, b u t also b y k n o w le d g e o f th e real ten d en cies o f
m a n ’ s in n a te pow ers. B e ca u se a c h ild is th ou g h tless an d u n ­
g ov ern a b le, it does n o t fo llo w th a t tim e an d ch a n g e o f c ir ­
cu m sta n ces w ill b r in g a b ou t n o m od ifica tion o f his early
ch a ra cter. N e ith e r does it fo llo w that b ecau se, in th e in fa n cy
o f h u m a n ity , ig n o ra n ce , c o n te n d in g in terests and su fferin g o f
every k in d , have cau sed d iscord an d w ar to prevail, w e m u st
fo r ever rev olv e in th is lim ited c ircle.
E v e ry e p o c h has h ad its fo o lis h an d ba rb arou s cu stom s,
and at ev ery ep och , as n ow , th e m ass o f m a n k in d has r e ­
g ard ed th em as in e v ita b le , an d c on sid ered as u top ia n all p r o g ­
n o stica tio n o f ch a n g e.
W h e n re lig io u s h atred a n d p ersecu tion w ere at th eir
h eig h t, b u t few w o u ld h ave d a red to co n c e iv e th e ad ven t o f
th a t u n iversal relig ion s—tale ran ce to w h ich th e w o rld is n ow
ra p id ly te n d in g . I n lik e m a n n er few ca n at th e p resen t day
co n c e iv e th e Tuture c o n s o lid a tio n o f the in terests an d creed s
o f all in to o n e p o lity a n d on e th e o cra cy .
W e lo o k b a ck w ith h o rr o r u p o n th e cru elties o f th e in ­
q u isition an d o f ju d ic ia l tortu re, b u t e x p la in th e m to a c e r ­
tain d eg ree b y th e m adn ess o f su p erstition and fa n a ticism .
T h ese passions, so e n e rg e tic at o n e tim e, fin d b u t little e c h o
a m o n g u s n o w ; th ey are n ea rly e x tin ct, and w e believe fo r
ever.
B u t p osterity w ill fin d still g rea ter cau se fo r w o n d e r in
th e ba ttle field s o f o u r ow n a ge, as w ell as in th e rem a in s o f
th e p rin cip le o f rev en g e in o u r le g is la tio n .* I t w ill b e n o te d
w ith a ston ish m en t th at, at o u r ad va n ced e p och , w e have n o t
y e t fo u n d m o r e effectu a l m ea n s to p reven t c rim e, w h eth er in
th o se form s w h ich ap p ea r b e fo r e le g a l trib u n als, o r in th ose,
m ore a m b itiou s, w h ich d a rk en th e pa ge o f h istory .
N o t h in g w ou ld so m u ch te n d to h asten socia l progress
as a tru e k n o w le d g e o f h u m a n n atu re, an d th e c o n v ic tio n
w h ich w ou ld resu lt th e re fro m th a t th ere are n o n e o f m a n ’ s

* A subject treated most ably by Mr. George Combe in his essay on C r i m in a l

one of the most practical and philanthropic works of our time.
J u r is p r u d e n c e ,

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p rim itiv e fa cu lties w h ich are n o t e s s e n t i a l l y g o o d , th a t is, c o n ­

d u civ e t o th e rea liza tion o f th e o n ly happiness w h ich h e can
d esire o r attain, n a m e ly , socia l h appiness.
L o o k in g o n m an an d his d estin y in th is lig h t, it w ill be
u n d e rsto o d th at his n a tu re in clu d es in fact certa in im p u lsion s
w h ich , u n d e r su bversive circu m sta n ces, m a y p r o d u c e m u rd er,
ca rn a ge, h atred an d d is c o r d ; b u t th a t th ese sam e im p u lsion s
have qu ite a n oth er p r o v i d e n t i a l en d.
C o m b a tiv e n e s s and D e s t r u c t i v e n e s s , fo r in sta n ce , d o n o t
in e v ita b ly ten d to war, an y m ore th an I m i t a t i o n n ecessarily
p r o d u c e s b u ffo o n e ry , o r M a r v e l l o u s n e s s , su perstition .
G a ll, in d efin in g C o m b a t i v e n e s s and D e s t r u c t i v e n e s s as
“ p h y s ica l co u ra g e ” a n d th e “ h om icid a l te n d e n c y ,” fatally
a ssocia ted w ith th em th e n o tio n o f w ar an d so cia l d isord er.
B u t m o d e rn p h ren olog ists are w ell aw are th at th e y have, even
n ow , o th e r m a n ifesta tion s b esid es th o se , o f w h ich , b y in d u c ­
tio n , w e m a y declare th e m to b e su scep tible in th e fu tu re.
I n fact, fa r fr o m a cq u ie scin g in th e b e lie f th a t th ese p e r ­
v erse effects are th e final exp ression o f th ese fa cu lties, sh ou ld
w e n o t rath er seek w hat m a y b e th eir m ost u sefu l e m p lo y ­
m ent ? I t appears, in d eed , ev id en t th at, at a m o re ad vanced
p e r io d o f socia l h a rm on y , th e m in d o f e n e rg y a n d cou ra g e
sp rin g in g fr o m C o m b a t i v e n e s s a n d D e s t r u c t i v e n e s s w ill very
little r esem b le th e p h ysica l co u ra g e o f th e p resen t d a y ; th e
p rov id en tia l in te n tio n o f th ese fa cu lties b e in g to en d ow m an
w ith th a t e n e r g y an d p o w e r o f resistan ce w h ich w ill ever be
n eed ed to su b d u e th e m aterial d ifficu lties a tten d a n t o n th e
p u rsu it o f th e in d u stria l arts, t a k i n g t h a t t e r m i n i t s w i d e s t
sen se, a s s ig n ify in g m an’s d o m in a tio n ov er a ll n a tu re.

C o m b in e d w ith th e h ig h e r socia l fe e lin g s (th ose called

m ora l a n d r e lig io u s ), th e sam e forces w ill g ive rise to p ea cefu l
m ilita n t (n o t m ilitary) en th u siasm in th e a cco m p lish m e n t o f
d ifficu lt a n d u sefu l tasks fro m w h ich all h u m a n ity w ill profit.
T h is resu lt is t o o sp len d id to b e easily c o n c e iv e d b y m a n y
w h o d e cry h u m an p a s s io n ; n o t k n o w in g h ow to distin g u ish
b e tw e e n its d eriv ed o r su bversive m a n ifesta tion s, an d th o se
w h ich ch a ra cterize its tru e an d p erm a n en t n a tu re. I ca n n o t
fu rth e r en la rge o n this su b je ct, b u t w ill o n ly call a tte n tio n to
th e fa c t th a t h u m a n ity , alw ays asp irin g tow ard s a b e tte r
e m p lo y m e n t o f th e forces in q u estion , (w h ich to o o fte n in ju re
in stea d o f serv in g ) has alrea dy m a d e an im m en se step tow ards
th e ir u tiliza tion . W e see alrea dy, in th e w o n d erfu l in du stria l
a ctiv ity w h ich has d ev elop ed its e lf in th is age, a p r o o f that
th e te n d e n cie s t o c o m b a t an d d estroy m a y have quite oth er
e m p lo y m e n t th an in war, du els, o r an id le spirit o f a d ven tu re.
A n e n o rm o u s su m o f e n e rg y w h ich w o u ld h ave b e e n in form er

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318 F a cts fir s t d esp ised , a n d th en tr ite .

tim es sq u a n d ered in th e pu rsu it o f false g lory is n o w a b sorb ed

in in d u stria l efforts, w h ich in th eir resu lt ca n n o t fail t o a u g ­
m en t th e g en era l w e ll-b e in g . T h is c ircu m sta n ce affords a
strik in g ex a m p le o f th e in flu en ce o f th e g en era l ad va n cem en t
o f k n o w le d g e u p o n th e d ire ctio n o f o u r facu lties, and shew s
th at, in p r o p o rtio n as in te llig e n c e is d ev eloped, th e te n d e n cy
o f o u r in stin cts is to q u it th e ir b ru ta l fo r m , and, so to speak,
to i n t e l l e c t u a l i z e th em selv es.

X III. A d e c id e d in s ta n c e o f th e cu re o f D eliriu m T rem en s

w ith o u t O p iu m . B y D r. E l l io t s o n .

“ The T i m e s observes that the disparaging comment upon the disclosures (of
the mismanagement of the present war) now is, ‘ This is not new/ But it is to
be remembered that the previous strictures on the newspaper accounts had been,
‘ This is not true/ So t o - d a y t h e f a c t s a r e t r e a t e d a s t r i t e a n d h a c k n i e d w h i c h
y e s te r d a y w e r e d e n ie d a s f a ls e , o r c h a r g e d w ith e n o rm o u s e x a g g e r a tio n . Thus it
is that any stick is good enough to beat a dog, and w h a t w a s b r a n d e d a s a l i e a t
o n e t i m e is a s t a l e t r u t h w h e n e s t a b l i s h e d . The evidence loses none of its interest
and force as it advances, and it brings before us the acts of men, to call whom
mad would be to dignify their aberrations, but more correctly to be described by
the Scotch word fatuous.” — E x a m i n e r , March 7, 1855.

I n th e N u m b e r o f T h e Z o i s t fo r O cto b e r , 1 8 53 (N o . X L I I I . ) ,
I d etailed a severe case o f d eliriu m trem en s w h ich o ccu rre d
in a y o u n g m a n , a n d was ra p id ly cu red w ith m esm erism .
V e r y la rg e q u a n tities o f op iu m had b e e n g iven in vain. H is
d eliriu m w as m ost v io le n t. T h e disease h ad ex isted five
w h ole da ys. I w as ca lle d in u p on th e m o r n in g o f th e fifth
d a y o f th e disease, a n d im m ed ia tely p rescrib ed th ree gra in s
o f op iu m t o be ta k en ev ery fou r h ours till th e e v e n in g : and
fr o m th is tim e to th e n e x t m o r n in g I p rescrib ed th ree grain s
to b e ta k en every th ree h ou rs. O n th e m orn in g o f th e sixth
day, I p re scrib e d fo u r gra in s to b e taken every th ree h ou rs :
and in th e e v e n in g fo u r g ra in s ev ery tw o h ou rs. T h e m e d i­
cin e was ta k en reg u la rly . O n th at e v e n in g m esm erism was
p e rfo rm e d fo r an h ou r, and w ith th e effect o f q u iet, d ro w s i­
n ess, and m o m e n ta r y sn atch es o f sleep, b u t o n ly w h ile th e
p rocess w as g o in g on . T h e op iu m was t o be g iv en in doses
o f five g ra in s ev ery tw o h ou rs. M esm e ris m w as n o t p er­
fo r m e d th e n e x t d a y (th e seventh) till th e e v e n in g ; b u t from
th is tim e it was p u t p r o p e rly in to p ra ctice. A l l th is seven th
d a y I gave five g ra in s o f op iu m ev ery tw o h ou rs in v a in ;
an d five gra in s all th e n ig h t, and till th e e v e n in g o f th e
eig h th d a y — from w h ich tim e he to o k n o m ore. A ft e r th e
secon d m esm erisa tion , w h ich t o o k p la ce o n th e e v e n in g o f

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th e seven th da y, I d is ce rn e d an im p ro v e m e n t o n th e m o r n in g
o f th e e ig h th , a n d o n th e n in th h e was p e r fe ctly w ell, h a v in g
w ith ou t a n o th e r d ose o f o p iu m c o n tin u e d to sleep tw elve
h ou rs after I h a d sen t h im in to so u n d sleep o n th e e v e n in g
o f th e eig h th .
I n th e b e g in n in g o f last D e ce m b e r , th r o u g h a w an t o f
virtu ou s resolu tion , h e fe ll in to d eliriu m tre m e n s again , after
e x p e rie n c in g severe pains in th e b a ck a n d h ips, n au sea, w an t
o f ap p etite, & c., fo r a w eek. H is te m p e r b e ca m e irritab le
on th e 5 th o f D e c e m b e r ; h e h ad fears o f a p p ro a ch in g m is­
fo rtu n e s , scra tch ed an d p r ic k e d h im self, w as restless, sp ok e
s h o r tly an d q u ic k ly , a n d lo s t all in clin a tio n t o sleep.
H e g rew steadily w orse, an d o n th e fo u rth d a y o f th e
disease b e g a n ta lk in g to h im s e lf in co h e r e n tly .
O n th e fifth h e w as still m o r e u n m a n a g ea b le, a n d had
ex tra ord in a ry d e lu s io n s : a n d h ad n o t y e t slep t. H e was
m esm erised at 10 o 'c lo c k a t n ig h t b y C h a rles F ish er, w h o
has n o w su cce e d e d h is b roth er W illia m at th e M e s m e r ic
I n fir m a r y : b u t w ith ou t effect.
O n th e sixth , at h alf-p a st o n e in th e m o r n in g , C . F is h e r
su cceed ed in se n d in g h im to sleep : a n d b y a lm ost co n tin u a l
passes p re v e n te d h im fr o m w a k in g b e fo r e h a lf-p a st eig h t.
T o a s t and c h o c o la te w ere ta k en fo r b reak fa st, a n d a g o o d
d in n er ea ten in th e e v e n in g : an d at e ig h t o 'c lo c k C . F ish er
m esm erised h im in to a sou n d sleep, w h ich lasted all n ig h t.
H e aw ok e m u c h m ore ca lm an d ration a l at e ig h t o n th e
m o r n in g o f th e seven th o f th e disease, a n d was again m e s ­
m erised to sleep, an d again at n ig h t.
O n th e e ig h th , th e im p ro v e m e n t w as g rea t, a n d h e had
ex tre m e d row sin ess. T h e m esm erism w as c o n tin u e d .
O n th e n in th , he shaved h im s e lf an d co n v e rs e d w ith his
frien d s ju s t as w h en in h ealth.
O n th e te n th , h e a tten d ed a m id w ifery case a n d visited
his p a tien ts.
N o t a p a r ticle o f o p iu m o r a n y o th e r m e d ic in e w a s ta k en

a ll th e tim e : n or d id I a llo w h im a d rop o f a lc o h o lic flu id .

H e is n o w in g o o d h e a lt h ; an d, k e e p in g to his g o o d
re so lu tio n o f p e rfe ct a b stin en ce, is o n e o f th e h appiest m en
alive.
J o h n E l l io t s o n .

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 ( 320 )

BOOKS RECEIVED.
O n H u m a n L o n g e v i t y a n d t h e A m o u n t o f L i f e u p o n t h e G lo b e . By P. Flourens,
Perpetual Secretary to the Academy of Sciences, Paris. Translated by Charles
Martel. Bailiiere : London, 1855.
B r i t is h J o u r n a l o f H o m o e o p a th y . July, 1855.
B u lle tin M a g n é tiq u e d e L y o n , J o u r n a l d es S cien ces P s y c h o -P h y s iq u e s . No.
15. Avril, 1855.
Edinburgh: 1854. 12mo. pp. 96.
H a n d b o o k o f C u r a tiv e M e sm e r ism .
We regret that this little book was not sent to us before. Till now we were
ignorant of its existence. The author mentions the harm which mesmerism
formerly sustained from its being regarded as supernatural, and not, as at present,
as a portion of natural knowledge. We have laboured from our first number to
shew that it is altogether a set of natural phenomena and processes, and pointed
out the gross ignorance, childishness, and absurdity of those who ascribe the
former to the interference of what they call spirits, to which word we inves­
tigators of nature, and not dreamers, can attach no other meaning than power,
influence, property, or cause. Unfortunately many meddle with mesmerism in
the present day who know no better, and would be hissed in any society esta­
blished for the cultivation of any other science if they presumed to introduce
such nonsense. In the stream of mankind which is moving onwards to the
temple of truth, some are near, some are distant—some at an immense distance
behind others, and of the latter some will remain stationary, and, without ever
approaching those who are before them, will die in the odour of absurdity.
There are many good and unquestionable pieces of information in the book,
but at the same time statements and directions of the soundness of which we
have great doubts : and many absolute errors. What can be thought of this
sentence ?
“ That strange unfathomable thing called m i n d which belongs exclusively to
man, enables him to exercise and receive a greater amount of that essential
which forms so valuable an agent in the human organization.”
We recommend the portion from p. 58 to p. 64, inclusive, to the perusal of
those who ignorantly suppose that materialists cannot believe in the Bible and a
future state.
We should hardly suppose the author to have very great practice in mes­
merising.

POSTSCRIPT TO MR. JACKSON’ S ARTICLE ON JOAN OF ARC.

In the A th en a eu m of Sept. 15th is the notice of two historical works ; one,
Joan o f A r c , her M is s io n a n d M a r t y r d o m , by M. A. Kenzi, and the other,
H i s t o r i c a l D o u b t> by C. Delepierre, in which an endeavour is made to demon­
strate that the real Joan was not burnt, but long survived the period of her
supposed martyrdom, living at Metz with her husband, and even visiting Orleans,
the scene of her former triumphs, and being entertained there at the expense of
the city, her brothers joining with many others in giving recognition to her as
their long-lost sister. These works are spoken of by the reviewer as if the doubts
which they suggest were altogether new, but this is a mistake, for the data to
which they refer (some documents in the archives of Metz and Orleans) are
spoken of by Lord Mahon in his admirable paper on the Maid of Orleans, pub­
lished in his H i s t o r i c a l E s s a y s , and are familiar to most students of that period of
French history. His Lordship, and we agree with him, considers this second
maid to have been an impostor, who availed herself of considerable personal
resemblance to pass for the heroine, whose brothers aided the fraud, in hopes of
sharing the profit. Granting however that the English burnt the wrong woman,
this should cast no discredit on the previous acts of Joan’s life, which indeed are
written, not on parchment archives, but in the more enduring facts of history,
with which she is indissolubly connected, and of which she forms an enduring
feature.—J. W. J.

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