THE ZOIST

No. X L V II.

OCTOBER, 1854.

I. Mesmeric cure of a Lady who had been twelve years in the

horizontal position with extreme suffering. B y th e R ev.
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 olleg e,
C a m b rid ge.
li Harvey*» Cambridge training, however, or his Paduan teaching, or even his
own bright perception, would hare failed to raise him to bis pinnacle o f fame*
had he wanted bis amazing perseverance : he was modest also, and loved truth
for her sake alone. His discoveries bad to bear the test of factious opposition:
claiming erroneously his bright example y many o false end vain discoverer is
ready to attribute each counter-argument to envy—that hanger-on of virtue, and
to appeal to Harvey’$ persecution, as if it proved the truth of their pretensions.
Miserable boasters/ opposition does not prove the truth : the final triumph only
shows where it exists* Were it not so, the most ridiculous absurdities would,
merely because controverted, seem most true. Let not our order yield to
fallacies which, require such vain arguments for their support i and let not
jnesmeristsj table-prophets, hotaoeopathists, mourdebankS) or any of their tribe
pollute the honoured name of Harvey by claiming his example to favour their
presumption. Truth is indestructible, and cannot be extinguished by oppression :
therefore Harvey triumphed finally.” — Harvrian Oration delivered before the
Royal College o f Physicians, London, J u ly l, 1851, by Dc. Alderson, late of
Hull, now of London. Medical Time*, July S j p. 46.*

T h e la d y , w h o in th e fo llo w in g pages is d esig n a ted A , h avin g

b e e n c u r e d b y m esm erism , I w rote to R , G u th rie , E s q ., R .N .,
th e m ed ica l g en tlem a n w h o fo r m a n y y ea rs had th e c h ie f
m a n a g em en t o f th e case, re q u e s tin g h im to fa v o u r m e w ith
h is o p in io n resp ectin g it, a n d a statem en t o f th e particulars.
H e k in d ly o b lig e d m e w ith the fo llo w in g a cco u n t.
" O n C hrist m as-day, 1 8 3 7 , we a n ch o re d in P ly m o u th
S o u n d , in H .M .S . P resid en t, b e a r in g th e fla g o f th e la te
A d m ir a l R o s s , on o u r w a y to th e P a c ifi c ; and a fe w days
a fte r I was req u ested b y th a t officer to v i s i t --------w h o had

* We refer our readers to Dr. EUiotaon’s remarks upon this notable folly at
the end o f the present article,—ZoisL
VOL. XIr. Q
214 Severe Jils and severe mraavres.

co m e Ui ere a sh ort tim e b efore, relatively to th e p ro p rie ty o f

h e r p ro ce e d in g to sea with us fo r th e b en efit o f h er h ealth .
I fo u n d h er m u ch a tten u ated (th ou g h n o t n early to th e state
sh e was in w h en 1 saw h er in 1 8 5 2 ), v ery p a le, and so w eak
as to b e u n a b le to raise h e r s e lf from th e h orizon ta l p ostu re,
or to sit up w h en p la ced in th a t p osition . She com p la in ed
o f h a vin g co n s ta n t h ea d a ch e, and w hile c o n v e rs in g she o n a
su d d en b e ca m e in sen sib le, th e b o d y rigid , th e hands and feet
ex ten d ed , a n d th ere was slig h t n erv ou s tw itch in g o f th e m u s­
cles o f th e fa ce. O n in q u iry I fo u n d this to be o f fre q u e n t
o c cu rre n ce and o f lo n g e r or sh orter d u ration , e n d in g in g e n e ­
ral rela xa tion , a n d after m a k in g tw o or th ree d eep cro w in g
in spiration s she w ou ld ex p ress h e r s e lf as a ga in better, w ith
th e view o f r e lie v in g h e r an xiou s relatives. I am u n a b le to
in form y o u in w h at th e trea tm en t co n siste d at th is tim e, e x ­
cep t th at she was fr e q u e n tly c u p p e d b etw een th e sh ou ld ers
a n d th e n ape o f th e n e c k , had h er h ea d shaved a n d blistered ,
a n d u ltim a te ly had an issue p la ce d at th e ju n c t io n o f th e
fro n ta l a n d parietal h on es. A s it was h op ed th at sea a ir in
aid o f o th e r m eans m ig h t p rov e b en eficia l t o h er, sh e was ca r­
ried o n b oa rd o n th e 4 th o f J a n u a ry , 1 8 3 8 , and we sailed fo r
o u r d estin a tion on th e 8 th o f th e sam e m o n th . W h e th e r
from th e e x cite m e n t o f e m b a rk in g on a n e le m e n t slie had
seen fo r th e first tim e, I k n o w n o t, b u t th e con v u lsiv e attacks
b eca m e very freq u en t, su cceed ed b y e x c r u c ia tin g h eadach e,
deliriu m , a n d a h ig h state o f fever, so th a t it was d eem ed
n ecessa ry, n o tw ith sta n d in g h er w eak and a tten u ated state, t o
use th e la n c e t freely . U n d e r this a n d o th e r d e p letory m ean s
h er co m p la in ts w ere su b d u e d , an d, th ou g h she con tin u e d fo r
a lo n g tim e u n a b le to lea ve h er b e d o r co u c h , sh e g ra d u a lly
im p roved , a n d b y th e tim e w e h a d ro u n d e d C ape H o r n an d
m a d e th e co a st o f C h ili (the passage from P ly m o u th h a v in g
o c cu p ie d 88 days) sh e was able t o w alk u pw ards o f an h o u r
w ith ou t assistan ce. A ft e r g e ttin g in to p ort she e n jo y e d both
p edestrian a n d equ estrian ex ercise, b u t th is fa vou rable state
I r e g re t to say was o n ly o f sh ort d u ra tion , fo r sh e was seized
w ith all h e r fo r m e r co m p la in ts in a m o st a ggravated fo r m ,
a d d ed to w h ich she had great in to le ra n ce o f lig h t, v ery a cu te
and pain fu l h ea rin g , and d istressin g irrita b ility o f s to m a c h .
A lto g e th e r fo r several w eeks slie u n d erw en t an a m ou n t o f
su fferin g I h ave n ev er seen eq u a lled , th e h a lf o f w h ich I
im a g in e d w o u ld have ca rried o f f o n e o f a m o st ro b u s t c o n s ti­
tu tio n . S o so o n as she was able to b ea r th e usual n oise o f
th e ship we started fo r P eru, a n d she g ra d u a lly im p r o v e d ;
b u t it was m a n y m on th s b e fo re sh e was ab le to sit up, an d
n early a y e a r b e fo re she c o u ld w alk. A t th e en d o f this tim e
 Agonizing spasms. 215

(M a y o r J u n e, 1 8 3 9 ), w e re tu rn e d t o V a lp a ra iso, w h en th e
A d m ira l and fa m ily d isem b a rk ed a n d -------- slow ly g ain ed
stren g th , su fferin g o n ly occa sion a l h e a d a c h e ; bu t she was able
t o tak e lo n g w alks and rides a n d freq u en tly to e n jo y th e
dan ces at th e n u m erou s parties g iv e n a t th e A d m ir a l’ s h ouse.
“ W h e n I was a b sen t fr o m V a lp a ra iso in th e m o n th s o f
d u ly and A u g u st, 1 8 1 1 , sh e, after ta k in g a lo n g ra m b le on
th e h ills and g e ttin g heated, was su d d en ly a tta ck e d in a m ost
a g gravated w ay w ith all h e r fo r m e r com p la in ts, and after
su ffe rin g fo r som e w eeks she was fo r th e first tim e seized w ith
spasm s, w h ich caused h er th e m ost ex q u isite tortu re, ea ch last­
in g from o n e to tw o m in u tes and re c u r r in g v ery freq u en tly ,
b u t a fter e ig h t o r ten days g ra d u a lly su b sid in g , and th en on ly
a p p ea rin g after certa in intervals.
" W h e n she was taken o n b oa rd in Ja n u a ry, 1 8 4 3 , she
had n o spasm fo r tw o m on th s, b u t, th o u g h h er co t w as su s­
p e n d e d fr o m a p o le and ca rried c a re fu lly o n m en ’ s sh ou ld ers,
and th o u g h th e distance to th e b o a t w as short, she had th ree
seizu res a n d th e y recu rred a t in tervals d u rin g th e first ten
d a ys, h u t th e v oy a g e she s to o d w ell. A g a in , h ow ever, in re ­
m ov in g h er from th e ship at P o rtsm o u th to lo d g iu g s o n sh ore,
she su ffered severely, and at in tervals fo r th e first te n d a y s ;
b u t after recru itin g th ere fo r a m on th , an in v a lid ca rria g e was
p ro cu re d , a n d we p roceed ed per rail b y L o n d o n and C h e lte n ­
h am in to 'W orcestersh ire. S h e su ffered d rea d fu lly on th e
jo u r n e y w h ich was a ccom p lish ed in o n e day, b u t w e w ere
aw are th at had w e stop p ed o n the ro a d sh e w ou ld have b e e n
u n a b le to resu m e it fo r a con sid e ra b le tim e, and b een o b lig e d
to liv e a m o n g stran gers d ep rived o f all n ecessa ry c o m fo rts ,
a n d have had to u n d e rg o th e sam e ordeal w h en she resu m ed
th e jo u r n e y . D u r in g th e s u c c e e d in g w eek w hile I rem a in ed
w ith her, h er su fferin gs w ere in ten se from th e fre q u e n cy and
sev erity o f t h e sp a sm s; and th e h ea d a ch e, d eliriu m , and oth er
com p la in ts w h ich su cce e d e d w ere severe and p rotra cted .
" P r o m th is p eriod (J u n e 1842) to M a y 1 8 4 9 , I had n ot
seen h er, b u t I b e liev e she was s u b je c t to spasm s at in terv a ls,
and these recu rred often w h e n u n d e r a n y k in d o f ex cite m e n t,
as was m ost p a in fu lly e v in ced on th e dea th o f h e r p aren ts,
a n d w h en sh e h eard o f th at o f her b r o th e r w h o had b e e n w ith
us in th e P a cific. S h e in form ed m e that d u r in g all th at tim e
she had b een u n a b le to allow h e r s e lf to be raised fr o m the
h o riz o n ta l p ostu re, as a n y a ttem p t cau sed a retu rn o f pain
a n d s p a s m ; and I was m u ch stru ck w ith th e a tten u ated state
in w h ich I fou n d h e r. I visited h e r again in 1851 w ith ou t
o b s e r v in g a n y ch a n g e, h u t sh e in fo rm e d roe th at som e o f h er
sy m p tom s w ere im p roved , and that th e spasm s did n o t alw ays
Q 2 "
216 Origin of the disease.

re cu r at th e form er in te r v a ls : th e re was n o im p rovem en t

h ow ever as to p osition o r stren gth , all attem p ts to raise h er
co u ch th re a te n in g or b r in g in g h ack th ose to r tu r in g spasm s.
“ H a v in g h a d n o spasm from A u g u s t, 1 8 5 1 , to M a y ,
1 8 5 2 , and b e in g in o th e r resp ects better, she b e g g e d m e to
visit her to assist in a n oth er attem p t to g et h e r in to a sittin g
p ostu re as a step in advance. W e m ade th ree attem pts fo r a
m in u te each tim e, alw ays p r o d u cin g great p a in ; and o n th e
last occasion it was n early b r in g in g on spasm . A ft e r th is
she suffered m u ch fo r a w eek , and I th en lost all h op e o f an y
a m eliora tion u n til q u ite an a dvan ced p e rio d o f life, a n d I
th o u g h t it m ore th a n d o u b tfu l th a t h er c o n s titu tio n cou ld
so lo n g w ith stan d th e g rea t sh ock it h a d already su stain ed
fr o m h e r n n p a relleled and very p rotra cted su fferin gs, a n d I
was sure th at a n y a ffliction or oth er e x c itin g cause w ou ld
p ro d u ce a ren ew al o f h e r com p la in ts in all th eir severity, an d
term in a te fatally.
“ I n th e fo r e g o in g v ery im p erfect statem en t I have o n ly
spok en o f w h at I m y s e lf w itnessed o r ascertained from h er­
s e lf ; b u t I have n o d o u b t she has in form ed y o u th a t she has
h a d th e advice o f m a n y p rofession a l m en o f th e first e m i­
n e n c e : and I b eliev e all, at least all th o se w ith w h om I have
co m e in c o n ta c t, gave a very u n fa v ou ra b le p ro g n o sis as to h er
r e co v e ry . Y o u w ill c o n c lu d e w h ere so m a n y w ere con su lted
th e rem ed ies w ere e q u a lly n u m erou s. O u r w an t o f su ccess,
th erefore, e x te n d in g o v e r so lo n g a p eriod , o n ly th e m o r e
r e d o u n d s to y o u r c r e d it in e ffe ctin g so h ap py, so co m p le te ,
a n d so u n e x p e cte d a r e c o v e r y .’1

The patient's own statement.

" In 184-1, I c a u g h t a severe co ld at V a lp a ra iso : th e fo l­
lo w in g day I was seized w ith sh iv erin g fits and co n v u lsion s,
w h ich fo r th ree w eek s resisted all th e rem ed ies g iv e n b y O r .
A d d is o n , w h o d u rin g th a t tim e sca rely le ft m e fo r a n h ou r.
“ I th en g ra d u a lly re co v e re d , and co n tin u e d to im p rove
fo r a m o n th , w h en I a ga in b e ca m e su b je ct to con v u lsiv e fits
a n d spasm s o f fr ig h tfu l pain , w h ich ren d ered m e so p rostrate
in brain th at I c o u ld n o t bear th e lig h t. O n c e d u rin g tw e n ty -
fo u r h ou rs 1 had th irteen spasm s m o re or less severe, fo llo w e d
b y p rostra tion and d eliriu m , an d fo r m o n th s c o n tin u e d in a
d a rk en ed r o o m , and s u b je c t to g rea t a g o n y . T h e fr e q u e n c y
o f th e attacks, th eir severity and d an ger, o b lig e d m y frie n d s
to k eep co n s ta n t w atch, d a y and n ig h t. 1 h a d th ree p erson s
in ray ro o m , o n e o f w h o m , a m ed ica l m a n , a d m in istered all
th a t skill c o u ld d icta te fo r m y relief, b u t w ith ou t effect.
 The ay any dreadful. 217

N in e d o cto rs , F ren ch , E n g lis h , and A m e r ic a n , a tten d ed m e

d u r in g tw o m o n th s, and each d ecla red h e had n ever w itn essed
a g o n y s o great.
“ AVhcn all o th e r rem edies had b een exh au sted , m y b ro th e r
c u p p e d m e o n th e back fo r n in e days, th ree o r fo u r tim es
ea ch day. B y this trea tm en t h e su cce e d e d in lessen in g th e
n u m b e r o f spasm s, m y senses retu rn ed , and I co u ld bear a
little lig h t and air in m y room .
" I was th en rem ov ed in a c o t to th e sh ip , w h ich was
rea d y to sail fo r E o g la n d . D u r in g the v oy a g e I partially
recov ered , a n d th e spasm s, w h ich at first had been d a ily or
alm ost h o u rly , o n ly o ccu rred o n c e e v e ry m on th o r five w eeks.
I c o n tin u e d to im p rove till th e ship a n ch o re d at P ortsm ou th ,
w h en , a p p reh en d in g n o in c o n v e n ie n c e from th e rem oval to
a fr ie n d ’ s h ou se, I was at m y ow n re q u e st p la ced in th e c a r ­
r ia g e : b u t, th ou g h still in a re c lin in g p o s itio n , I felt great
pain , and spasm s, th e m o m e n t th e ca rria g e m oved , and in ­
ten se spasm s con tin u e d to o c c u r o n c e o r tw ice each fo u r an d
tw e n ty h ours for te n days, w h en th e ir v io le n ce abated, a n d I
prepared fo r h om e. I was p la ced in an in valid ca rria g e, an d
b o r e th e ra ilroa d jo u r n e y to tow n v ery w e ll; b u t as so o n as
h orses w ere put to th e carriage, th e spasm s retu rn ed , a n d I
I co n tin u e d s crea m in g and h a lf deliriou s n n til I arrived at
th e oth er station , th e m ov em en t in v a ria b ly p r o d u c in g a g o ­
n iz in g pain.
" In terv a ls o f spasm rem a in ed w ith m e fo r tw o years,
d u r in g w h ich tim e I was n o t le ft a lon e fo r a qu arter o f an
h ou r, as fits w ou ld co m e on even w h en I was fe e lin g b etter,
and in g o o d spirits.
“ T h e death o f m y father in crea sed m y su fferin gs ten fold .
M y b ro th e r h im self, a m ed ica l m an , n ev er left m e fo r w eeks,
and e x p e c te d m y d eath each re c u r r in g spasm . H e con su lted
th e first m ed ica l m en in L o n d o n , a n d , b e in g o b lig e d to
a tten d to his p rofession al d u ties, h e p la ced m e u n d er th e im ­
m e d ia te eare o f M r . --------, w h o lived n ea r m e. I c o n tin u e d
to suffer for som e tim e, w h en n o t im p ro v in g , and an xiou s to
b e w ith m y m o th e r, I d eterm in ed to risk th e rem ov a l, a
d ista n ce o f th ree m iles. M y b roth er was again su m m on ed ,
a n d , th o u g h h e believed it m igh t p ro v e fatal, was ob lig e d to
y ie ld to m y solicita tion , and I was p la ced in a r e clin in g
ca rria g e, a ccom p a n ied b y m y b r o th e r and a n oth er m edical
m a n ; b u t as horses w ere p u t to, a n d th e carriage m oved , I
fe lt pain , w h ich fea rfu lly in crea sed . I b eca m e deliriou s, and
th e y c o u ld sca rcely h old m e d ow n , a lth o u g h m y b roth er sat
u p o n m e, and th e oth er h eld m e dow n b y fo r c e ,
" T h r e e w eeks passed, d u rin g w h ich tim e I had con sta n t
218 Mesmerism proposed by medical men.

pain and spasm s d a y and n ig h t, w ith ou t o n e m o m e n t's c o n ­

sciou sn ess, I th en o n c e m o re rev iv ed , o n ly su fferin g a t in ­
tervals as b efore, b u t I cou ld n o t b e raised in th e sligh test
degree w ith ou t b r in g in g on e x cru cia tin g spasm a n d a sense o f
so m e th in g fa llin g in te rn a lly . E m in e n t m ed ica l m en w ere
co n su lte d , a n d n o g o o d d eriv ed e x c e p tin g th e d o u b tfu l on e
o f th eir te s tim o n y — th at m y su fferin gs w ere o f a n u n c o m m o n
and fea rfu l n a tu re, n o n e h a v in g w itn essed p a rox y sm s o f su ch
agony,
“ M e n ta l a ffliction alw ays p r o d u ce d atta cks o f ex trem e
pain and co n se q u e n t prostra tion : th e death o f m y m o th e r,
a n d years afterw ards th at o f m y b roth er, in turn re d u ce d m e
to th e b r in k o f tb e g rave. F o r eleven y ea rs 1 had b e e n
u n a b le to b ea r any m ov em en t, or to be in o th e r th a n a re ­
clin in g p osition , tw o p erson s m o v in g m e from o n e c o u c h to
a n oth er in th e sam e room .
" In 1 8 4 7 , ray sister u rged m e to try m esm erism , b u t I
lo n g resisted h e r w ish es, w h en D r . W ils o n g ra tu itou sly cam e
to visit m e in th e h op e o f re lie v in g m y su fferin gs. H e h ap ­
p en ed to w itn ess o n e o f m y attacks, and a d m in istered a large
d ose o f c h lo ro fo rm , w h ich w as th en m y o n ly m o m e n ta ry
relief, and left m e, b e in g certain m ed ica l aid c o u ld n o t avail
m e . R e tu r n in g w hen th e a ttack was over, h e ex p ressed his
b e lie f (a lth ou g h n o t p ra ctisin g it h im s e lf) th at m esm erism
p ro p e rly p ersevered iu w o u ld cu re m e, and a n oth er ab le M .D .
had p re v io u sly re co m m e n d e d it as lik ely to relieve m e, I
fe lt it a d u ty to y ie ld . A fte r several p rofessed m esm erisers
had in vain a ttem p ted to in flu e n ce m e, a frien d at le n g th
su cceed ed in p u ttin g m e partia lly to s le e p : h e m esm erised
m e o cca sion a lly for tw o m on th s, b u t was u n a b le t o c o n tin u e
th e trea tm en t, and I was fa llin g in to m y o ld state o f u n m iti­
g a ted a n d alm ost con sta n t pain and depression w ith sleepless
n ig h ts, loss o f a p p etite, a n d su ch d e b ility th at I was unable
to read, or e v en to pray fo r m y self. W h e n y o u first b e g a n
to m esm erise m e I had fo r a fo rtn ig h t past b e e n in c o n sta n t
pain , w h ich in five m in u tes y ou rem ov ed . I w rote to m y m e ­
d ical frien d , M r . G u th rie , w h o h a d con sta n tly a tten d ed m e,
and w a tch ed th e trea tm en t o f all w h om I had con su lted . A l ­
th ou g h he had n o faith iu m esm erism , y e t he s a n ctio n e d m y
recou rse to it, sayiDg, i f fro m any ca u se I d eriv ed on e m i­
n u te ’ s refresh in g sleep or fre e d o m fr o m pain , it was a b o o n .
I have co n sta n tly w ritten to h im d u rin g th e p eriod y o u have
m esm erised m e, and h e has fro m tim e to tim e b e g g e d m e to
so lic it y o u r p e rs e v e rin g in the trea tm en t, and at le n g th p r o ­
n o u n ce d y o u to have a ccom p lish ed w hat n o m ed ica l m an
co u ld have d o n e —banished all serious sy m p tom s, and p r o -
 Mesmerism perfectly successful. 219

d u ce d oth ers o f p e rfe ct h ealth , th o u g h h e still d o u b te d th e

p ro p r ie ty o f m y a tte m p tin g to be raised. I am n ow , th ro u g h
y o u r p erseverin g, k in d trea tm en t, q u ite well, never feel pain,
and can w alk fo u r m iles w ith ease in th e d a y .”

History of the mesmeric treatment.

I n J a n u a ry , 1 8 5 2 , 1 was ca llin g u p o n th e la d y above
re fe rre d to , w h en she h a p p en ed to tell m e that sh e h a d been
in co n sid era b le pain fo r a fo r t n ig h t p a s t ; that th e o n ly th in g
th a t relieved h er was m e s m e r is m ; b u t tb e frien d w h o used
to m esm erise h e r was g on e, and she h a d great d ifficu lty in
fin d in g person s w h o c o u ld affect h er, and o f th ose th e in flu ­
en ce was g e n e ra lly d isa g reea b le. I offered to try , and after
I had m esm erised h er for a b o u t five m inu tes th e p a in was
reliev ed , a n d I c o n tin u e d t o m esm erise h er o cca sion a lly for
a b o u t tw o m on th s, g e n e ra lly a b o u t te n m inu tes or qu arter
o f a n h ou r a day, bu t d u rin g part o f th is tim e I was m y s e lf
u n w e ll, and fo r tw o o r th ree w eek s u nable to g o to h e r at all.
A b o u t th e sixth o r seven th day she surprised m e b y say­
in g , “ A h ! 1 w ou ld n o t have let y o u sen d m e to sleep i f 1
c o u ld have h elp ed it.” H e r eyes w ere shut, b u t sh e w as
ta lk in g so ra tion a lly th a t I c o u ld sca rcely believe she was
a s le e p : a t w h ich she was som ew h at offen d ed . F r o m this
p e r io d she alw ays w en t in to m esm eric sleep a fter sh e had
been m esm erised fo r a b o u t te n m in u te s ; an d in th a t state
c o n tin u e d s in g in g and ta lk in g u n t il 1 aw ok e h er, w h ich was
u su a lly in a b ou t a qu arter o f an h o u r. A t th e en d o f tw o
m o n th s all h e r sy m p tom s w ere b e t t e r ; sh e slept m ore sou n d ly ,
h e r a p p etite was im p rov ed , and sh e was alm ost e n tir e ly free
fr o m pain.
B e fo r e I m esm erised h er, she had occa sio n a lly e v in ced a
p o w e r o f se e in g in to th e cau ses o f illn e s s ; h er sister th e r e ­
fo r e su g g e ste d th a t she sh ou ld e n d e a v o u r to lo o k in to m y
b ra in and d iscov er th e cause o f a fa cia l paralysis u n d er w h ich
I had b e e n so m etim e la b o u rin g . S h e p u t her h ands to m y
h e a d , and, a fter m esm erisin g it, w ith som e d ifficu lty d is ­
co v e r e d a d a rk sp o t o n th e side o f tb e b ra in o p p osite to th e
paralysis ; d e scrib e d th e size o f i t ; th e m a rk in d ic a tin g its
fo r m e r e x t e n t ; said th at th e flesh on th e paralyzed side a p ­
p e a re d m u ch w h ite r th an th a t o n th e o th e r sid e o f th e face ;
th a t th e n erves w ere d estitu te o f th eir prop er flu id ; a n d som e
o th e r sy m p tom s, w h ich o f cou rse c a n u o t b e verified. I w ou ld
m e r e ly state th at in p ro p o rtio n as she has seen th e sym p tom s
d ecrea se, I have re cov ered .
X u su ally m esm erised h er b y sim ple dow n w a rd p a s s e s ; in
220 Be came clairvoyant.

a b ou t te n m in u tes sh e used to fe e l great pain in th e b r id g e o f

th e n ose, and d irected m e to place in y th u m b s th ere ; w h en
she in v a ria b ly began to sin g, which, was u su a lly th e first
in d ica tion I had o f h e r b e in g asleep. T h is, as I afterw ards
learn t, was cau sed b y th e o th e r p arts o f m y b a n d re s tin g
ov e r th e org a n s o f T im e a n d T u n e .
I left h er in M a rch , a n d retu rn ed in O cto b e r, 1 8 5 3 , after
an a b sen ce o f abou t six m ou th s.
S h e had e x p erien ced th e g o o d effects o f th e m esm erism
fo r so m e tim e, b u t was th e u g ra d u a lly fa llin g b ack in to h er
form er s ta te ; g r o w in g w eaker, su fferin g m u ch pain , and a p ­
p r e h e n d in g a retu rn o f spasm s.
F rom a b o u t th e m id dle o f O c to b e r , 1 8 5 2 , to N o v e m b e r 19,
I m esm erised h e r at first o n c e , la tterly tw ice, a day, k eep in g
h er asleep ra th er m ore than an h ou r ea ch tim e. U n d e r th e
m esm erism h e r h ealth a n d stre n g th im p ro v e d steadily. A fte r
som e tim e sh e told m e th a t m ed ica l m en h ad th ou g h t th a t
certa in lig a m e n ts w ere b ro k e n , b u t sh e co u ld see p lain ly th e y
w ere n o t b rok en , on ly e lon g a ted , and o n e o f th em sore as i f
it had b een p a rtially t o m ; th at she sh ou ld q u ite re cov er i f
p ro p e rly m esm erised, b u t it w ou ld tak e a lo n g tim e, p rob a b ly
six m o u t h s ; th a t o n e o f th e lig a m e n ts was m ore elon g a ted
th an th e o th e r, and th a t was th e reason w hy h er spasm s w ere
so u n u su a lly pain fu l.
D u r in g a g rea t part o f th e tim e sh e has b een asleep she
has m esm erised m e fo r facial paralysis, an d has alw ays d e­
clared th at she sh ou ld ev en tu a lly c u r e m e.
N o v . 9 , 1 8 5 2 , m o rn in g . A . fe lt w ell, and had b e e n m e s­
m erisin g h e r servant fo r th e h ea d -a ch e, w hich she had re ­
m ov ed . T h e h ea d -a ch e h ow ev er h a d r e tu rn e d , and I offered
to m a k e som e passes m y self. I m esm erised th e girl fo r a b ou t
ten m in u tes— she p rofessed to fe e l n o pain an d I soon left her
apparently asleep, and th eu p ro ce e d e d to m esm erise A . She
had, w h ile I was m a k in g passes o v e r th e servant, seen the
lig h t p la y in g from m y fin g ers, aud was a lread y p artially af­
fe c t e d ; w h en h e r eyes w ere sh u t, p erh aps h alf-m esm erised ,
she h a d seen th is lig h t m ore p la in ly . S h e fe lt very uneasy,
sick aud tre m b lin g , and th o u g h t it was beca u se I had to u ch e d
th e g irl. I w ashed m y h an ds in c o ld w ater and th e passes
ceased to have a disa greea b le effect.
I n a b o u t th ree quarters o f au h o u r I aw ok e A ,, and th en
p ro ce e d e d to dem esm erise th e s e r v a n t; bu t I first m ad e a few
passes, & c,, to qu iet h er, as she was c r y in g aud h ysterical.
T h e head was easy bu t sh e still felt w eak and h ysterica l, and
I th en retu rn ed to A . w h om I had left th o ro u g lily aw ake, b u t,
in con seq u en ce o f th e passes I had again m ad e over her
 Distinct cerebral organs mesmerised. 221

servan t, sh e was h alf-m esm erised , and fe lt th e sam e u neasy

sy m p tom s as before. I w ashed m y h a n d s and th en m esm er­
ised h er, w h en the u npleasan t effect cea sed . I tried o n e pass
w ith ray h ands w e t : she said it d em esm erised her.
N o v . 9 , ev en in g , I k e p t her asleep an h o u r a n d a qu arter.
T h e girl w h om I had m esm erised fo r h ea d -a ch e was w ell. A .
said she had qu ite lost a sw ellin g on h er w rist w hich sh e had
had for th ree years, and w h ich was n o b e tte r w h en I b egan
to m esm erise h e r th ree w eeks ago.
N o v . 1 2., m o rn in g . A . fe lt well : was q u ic k ly m esm erised
and began to sin g. I to ld h er I was tr y in g to w rite dow n
h e r case.
A . “ Y o u sh ou ld sa y — I n 185 2 I b eca m e a cq u a in ted w ith
a la d y w h o fo r 11 years had n o t b een ab le to be raised fro m
h e r co u ch , & c., & c. O n m y re tu rn I fo u n d h e r su fferin g
m ore than usual from sy m p tom s w h ich g en e ra lly p reced ed
severe a t t a c k s ; b u t a ccom p a n ied b y a g o o d deal o f fever
w h ich fo r tw o or th ree w eeks had re n d e re d h er n ig h ts sleep ­
less, and ca u sed days o f la n g o u r and depression o f spirits.
S h e was also u n d er treatm en t fo r a rash on h er ch e st and
stom a ch . T h e ir n am e was leg ion w h en I co m m e n c e d m es­
m e risin g h er. In tw o days th ey had q u ite disappeared. H e r
a p p etite was g o o d , and h e r sleep calm a n d r e fr e s h in g ; I c o n ­
tin u ed m esm erisin g h e r o n e w eek, d u r in g w h ich she had a
re tu r n o f severe pain and every sy m p to m o f retu rn o f a g o n ­
iz in g spasm , w h en I red ou b led m y ex ertion s, a n d ga v e b er
an a d d ition a l h o u r e very m orn in g , & c .; w h en p h ysica l stren g th
was in d isp u ta b ly g iv e n to h er, and sy m p tom s w h ich w ere
w ith h eld from m e m a d e th eir a p p ea ra n ce b y w h ich she was
ab le to gra tify m e b y th e assurance that I had b en efitted her
n o t o n ly b y tem pora ry reliefj bu t b y g iv in g h opes o f p e r ­
m a n en t g o o d . N o w th a t's an en d o f it. I th in k g reat stress
o u g h t to be laid u p o n w a k in g so fresh a fter (m y n ig h ts) sleep
— to in valids th a t m ust b e o f c o n se q u e n ce . I n th e m o r n in g
y o u r m esm erism is so m u c h heavier.-” I n answ er to som e
qu estion s I p u t to h er sh e said, “ I f y o u w en t o n b re a th in g
on m e , I sh ou ld perh aps sleep fo r a m o n th , and m ig h t wake
u p an id i o t ; ju s t b efore I g o to sleep th e fe e lin g is exqu isite,
q u ite lik e E ly s iu m .”
N o v . 1 8 th , m o rn in g . A s soon as A . was m esm erised she
b e g a n t o s in g ; I to u ch e d L a n g u a g e , w h en sh e b e g a n to talk
S p a n is h ; said sh e was fe e lin g m ore in w a n t o f m e sm e rism ;
she saw h er sister n ear L o n d o n , d e scrib e d th e ro o m , person s
in it, & c., Slc' . ; said she saw th e p rocession o f th e D u k e 's
fu n eral w h ich sh e d escrib ed : p resen tly sh e saw a m an fa llin g
(from a w in dow o r som e h e ig h t), w h ich so h orrified h e r that
223 Alleged effect of silk and alpaca.

I was o b lig e d to tak e aw ay th e sigh t. O n th e sam e e v e n ­

in g som e p erson s w h o retu rn ed fr o m th e fu n eral told us
th at a m an h a d b e e n k illed b y a fall,
N o v , 18th , ev e n in g . I k e p t h e r asleep a b o u t tw o h ours,
part o f th e tim e sh e m esm erised m e ; saw a sm all spray o f
so m e n erves in m y fa ce alive, w h ich b e fo r e was d ead, a n d
drew a p ictu re o f it.
W h e n I le ft h er, a b ou t N o v . 2 0 , 1 8 5 2 , she said th a t the
effects o f th e m esm erism w ou ld last som e little tim e, b u t th a t
o n the S a tu rd a y fo rtn ig h t sh e sh ou ld have a spasm at 10 p.tn.,
th a t it w o u ld n o t h e a b a d spasm , she sh o u ld be in b ed all
th e S u n d a y and able to g e t n p o n the M o n d a y ; th a t sh e had
better n o t b e told o f it beforeh a n d th at th ere m ig h t be n o ro o m
fo r fa n cy . T his attack ca m e on e x a ctly as she h a d p re d icte d .
F r o m D e c e m b e r 19 to J a n u a ry 4 , I believe I g e n era lly
m esm erised h e r, reg u la rly k e e p in g h er asleep fr o m o n e ta tw o
h ou rs a day. O n on e o cca sion sh e had on an alpaca dress ;
she said th a t th e m esm erism d id n o t a ffect th e b od y th ro u g h
th e alpaca dress, and sh e d irected m e to tak e h old o f h er
b a u d s th at I m ig h t m esm erise h e r b o d y th rou g h th em , and
to m ake passes ov e r th e head, w h ich she said was co m fo rta b le
b u t n o t e q u a lly so as w h en th e b o d y was m esm erised, an d
th at sh e m ust n o t w ear th e alpaca dress again. S he alw ays
d ecla red th at th e m esm erism d id n o t pass th ro u g h silk o r
alpaca, a n d w h en ever she h a d o n a n y silk dress, she m erely
ob ta in ed th e m esm erism w hich fo u n d its w a y in to th e b o d y
th ro u g h th e hands, th roa t, o r th ose parts w h ich w ere n ot
cov ered w ith silk.
I n e v e ry in sta n ce I fo u n d p h ren o-m esm erism answ ered
she h ow ever d id n o t lik e m e to to u c h L o c a lity as th e first
e ffe ct was to m ak e h er v e ry dark, and th en sh e said sh e ca m e
d o w n w h erev er it m ig h t h appen to b e and c o u ld n ot h elp
se e in g w h atever was ta k in g p la ce, w h eth er th e sigh t w ere
h o rrid o r n o t. O n o n e o cca sion she said, “ I d o n o t k n o w
h ow it is, bu t all m y ideas seem a ch a os u u til y o u place y o u r
th u m b s b etw een m y ey es and th a t seem s to g iv e th em fo r m .”
I t th en o c cu rre d to m e fo r the first tim e th a t m y th u m b s
w ere alw ays p laced ov e r th e o rg a n o f F o rm . W h e n aw ake
sh e k n ew n o th in g a b o u t p h r e n o lo g y a n d had n o faith in it.
D e c . 3 1 st. A frie n d b e in g p resen t w h o w ish ed to w itness
som e o f th e p h en om en a , I m esm erised h er w ith m y hands
ov e r 'Tim e and T u n e, she c o m m e n ce d s in g in g v ig o r o u s ly ; I
p laced th em on V e n e ra tio n , th e s o n g was ch a n g e d in to an
a n th em . I th e n p la ced m y fin g ers o n L o ca lity .
A . t f O h ! I w ish I co u ld h ave o n e o f th ose b ea u tifu l
flow ers,”
 Clairvoyance, 223

I. "W h e r e ? ”
A , " l a th e g a rd en at V a lp a ra iso,”
I . " H o w d o y o n k n o w th e y are th ere ? ”
A . “ I can see th e m .”
X. " H o w ca n y o u see in th e dark. W h a t tim e is it
th ere ?”
A . " It is fu ll m o r n in g ? ”
I . “ H o w can y o u see th ere ?”
A . “ I am th ere, m y spirit h overs ov er, I c o u ld d ro p
a n y th in g in to th a t c a c t u s ; I can see th e y have strip ped th e
grap es off, th ere o u g h t to be n ea rly a to n o f th e m .”
I . “ Y o u are h e r e on th e sofa ta lk in g to m e.”
A . “ M y to n g u e talks to y o u , m y sp irit is h o v e r in g over
V a lp a ra iso .”
I . " H o w is it y o u can see m e w h en y o u r sp irit is at
V a lp a r a is o ? ”
A . " H o w is it th a t th e stars are in th e firm a m en t ? T h e
spirits w h ich h o v e r ov e r m e d o n ’ t m ove, b u t th e y can c o n v e y
th eir m essages. M y spirit h overs a b ov e an d I ca n see y o u o r
th e g a rd e n a t V a lp a ra iso .”
I . “ D o n ’ t y o u th in k th at m y to u c h in g L o c a lity m akes y ou
im a g in e ."
A . " No. I am t h e r e ; i f it w ere im a g in a tion w h y sh o u ld
I tell y o u th a t th e y h a d strip ped th e grapes o f f ? I sh o u ld
h ave e x p e cte d to see th e m o n : o r th a t th e y had ch a n g e d th e
stables in to a p ig sty e ?”
A n o t h e r tim e sh e said, " T h e th in g s y ou see w h en m es­
m erised are n o t im a g in a tio n ; I k n ow what im a g in a tio n is.
T h e o b je c ts are q u ite p a lp a b le ; X see th em q u ite as p la in as
w h en I am a w a k e.”
O n a n o th e r occa sio n I to u c h e d L o c a lity , sh e re q u e ste d
m e n o t to d o so. W h e n I h a d taken aw ay the e ffe ct sh e said,
“ Y o u p laced m e a t S t. L o r e n z o th en , it is w here th e y b r o u g h t
th e first p o ta to e f r o m ; it is up to th e k n ees in d u st th ere,
h u t it m akes m e feel so dark u n til I am th ere.” I to u ch e d
G u sta tiv en ess, she said, " I t is a great p it y th at w h e n --------
has a party she d o e s n o t sen d to W o r c e s te r fo r ic e , it is so
g o o d at su ch a sh op. D o y o n like figs, X have s o m e .”
A t h er requ est I eat on e, and d em esm erised G u sta tiv e­
ness ; she said, " I am n o t q u ite sure th a t 1 lik e figs, d o n ’ t
eat a n y m o r e ,”
F ro m Ja n u a ry 4 to M a r c h 13, 1853, 1 m esm erised h e r
g e n e ra lly o n c e , oftexier tw ice d u rin g th e day, k e e p in g her
asleep on th e average rath er m ore th an an h o u r ea ch tim e,
and sen d in g h e r in to heavy c o m a fo r a few m in u tes o r lo n g e r ;
d u rin g th is tim e, h e r h ealth steadily im p roved , h e r stre n g th
334 Blessed effects of Mesmerism.

in crea sed ; th e m esm erism en a b led h er to sleep well at n ig h t,

w h ich she h a d n o t d o n e fo r years. W h e n I first b eg a n to
m esm erise h e r th e effect was often in som e respects u n pleasan t
and m ade h e r trem b le, feel sick , fain t, a n d u n co m fo rta b le . I
had g ra d u a lly discovered th at all th ese effects w ere o w in g to
cross-m esm erism , and th at, i f 1 c a re fu lly e x clu d e d th e lig h t,
allow ed n o o n e in th e ro o m e x ce p t th o se w h o did n o t c ro ss-
m esm erise h er, and ca refu lly a void ed to u c h in g any o n e b efore
I cam e to h er, n o u n p leasan t effect en su ed, and sh e derived
m u ch m o re b e n e fit fr o m th e sleep. A s I took th e se p r e c a u ­
tion s she g ra d u a lly b eca m e m u ch m ore s e n s itiv e ; and i f a
person ca m e c lo s e to th e ou tsid e o f th e ro o m sh e was in,- i f
after w ashing m y hands I was o b lig e d to sh ak e h an ds w ith
a n y a cq u a in ta n ce I m e t ; i f I had b ro u g h t a n y n ew b a n k
n o te s w ith m e iu m y p o ck e t, she was certain to b e u n w ell
and cross-m e sm e ris e d . B u t, i f all su ch causes w ere ca refu lly
avoided, she alw ays said th a t th e pleasu re o f b e in g m esm er­
ised was ex q u isite , b e y o n d d escrip tion , a n d o n e h ou r o f m e s­
m eric sleep re ste d and refresh ed h er m ore th a n a w h ole n ig lit
o f natural sleep. I had discovered th at b y b r e a th in g o n the
b o d y o r k e e p in g m y h an ds upon h er, th e c o m m o n m esm eric
sleep m ig h t b e d eep en ed in to a heavy co m a in w h ich she a p ­
p ea red to be q u ite in sen sib le, and c o u ld n o t h ear m e. In
this stage I c o u ld allow any person t o see h e r w h om she c o u ld
n o t oth erw ise have b o rn e in th e ro o m , an d any op era tion
m ig h t have b e e n p erform ed w ith ease. I f sh e w ere at all
tired from a n y ov e r e x ertion in the usual stage, she w ou ld ask
m e to sen d h e r in to th e co m a , or as she called it p u t h er to
sleep, and it alw ays seem ed to rest a n d stren g th en h e r ; a l­
th ou g h o n o n e o r tw o o cca sion s w h en I k ep t h er iu it n early
h a lf an h o u r she com p la in ed o f its m a k in g her heavy. D u r in g
th is tim e h e r p ow er o f seein g h e r s e lf and o th e r person s
seem ed to in crease ; she co u ld a ccu ra tely d e scrib e th e s y m p ­
tom s o f a n y o n e on w h om sh e co u ld b ea r to lay h er h and,
w h ich was th e m eans she u sually e m p lo y e d to sec th in g s b y ;
and declared sh e c o u ld see th e sm allest n erve o r vessel in th e
b o d y , and h ow e v ery th in g acted . In. m ore th an o n e case
w here m ed ica l m en have b een c o m p le te ly at fa u lt, she has
g iv e n m o st a ccu ra te d iagn osis, as lias been p roved by th e
resu lt. O n th ese occa sion s sh e alw ays sp ok e with th e greatest
co n fid e n ce , said sh e co u ld see p lain ly, and c o u ld n o t p ossib ly
h e m ista k en .
B e fo r e M a r c h 2 9 , 1853, she told m e at various tim es sh e
was cu red o f h er o rig in a l disease, and th at i f she w ere a llow ed
to rem ain in h e r presen t p osition she sh ou ld have n o m o r e
attacks o f s p a s m ; b u t th at she c o u ld u o t he raised from h e r
 Her directions for her own treatment. 225

r e cu m b e n t p o sitio n , becau se in co n s e q u e n ce o f som e fo rm e r

in fla m m a tion an in tern a l adh esion had ta k en p l a c e ; th at as
soon as she w ere raised th e a d h erin g p arts w ou ld p u ll, cau se
a cu te pain , and th e attem pt to raise h e r w o u ld p ro v e fatal i f
p ersisted i n ; th at over th e a d h e rin g parts th ere was a b ru n ch
o f n erves th en lo o k in g d ead, lik e a p ie ce o f tw isted la s s o ;
b u t th a t it still retain ed th e p ow er o f life, a n d m esm erism
w o u ld g ra d u a lly soften and restore it to a ctivity, and th at it
w ou ld th en o f it s e lf tear asu n der th e a d h e rin g parts : th a t
th is p rocess w ou ld ta k e a fo rtn ig h t, d u rin g w h ich tim e she
sh o u ld b e su b je ct to paroxysm s o f paiu as bad as h e r orig in a l
spasm s, and that, i f she w ere n o t p r o p e r ly m esm erised , she
sh o u ld sink u n d er it, b u t th a t i f sh e w ere m esm erised she
sh ou ld recov er, and after th e parts h a d b een to r n asunder
sh ou ld b e able to b e raised, an d g ra d u a lly recov er. S h e said
th at w h ile she was su fferin g from th e p aroxysm s o f pain I
sh ou ld n o t be ab le to p u t lier to sleep, y e t th at I c o u ld b e fo re
th e y ca m e on , o r as soon as th ey w ere o v e r ; b u t that th ere
was n o w ay for h er to escape th e pain , b eca u se d u rin g m e s­
m e ric sleep th e parts w ere all so tra n q u il th at th e separation
c o u ld n o t g o o n , and th at i f she w ere p u t to sleep ju s t b e fo re
th e a tta ck co m m e n c e d th e pain w o u ld c o m e o n as s o o n as she
a w ok e, a n d th e s h o c k o f w a k in g o u t o f th e m esm eric sleep
in to a cu te pain w o u ld b e v ery b a d : th a t sh e m ust n o t take
c h lo ro fo rm , as it w ou ld b e w orse th an cross-m esm erism , I
tried th e effect o f p u ttin g h er in to m esm eric sleep a n d d e -
m esm erisin g part o f the b o d y , b u t I fo u n d th at sh e cou ld
feel pain in th at part o f th e b o d y w h ich was d em esm erised .
J a n , 2 2 n d . S h e said th at if she h a d n o t b een m esm erised
she sh ou ld th e n b e v ery i l l : th at th ere was a great deal to
d o b e fo r e th e d orm a n t n erv e was b r o u g h t to l i f e ; that the
b lo o d -v e s se ls w ere still v ery w e a k ; th at th e m esm erism h elped
th e b loo d -v e s se ls b y g iv in g h ealth to th e n erves rou n d a b ou t.
J a n . 2 3 rd . S h e had ca u g h t a stiff n e c k from sleep in g
w ith th e w in dow op e n . W h e n m esm erised she said th at th e
ce lls o f th e m u scles lo o k e d stu ffed u p , I kept h e r asleep an
h o u r ; w h en she aw oke, th e n e ck was cu re d .
J a n . 34 tli. I fou n d h er u n w ell. W h e n m esm erised she
asked m e to pu t h er to sleep [c o m a ], th a t she m ig h t n o t see
h erself.
I - “ W h a t can y o u see ? ”
A . " T h e re seem s a stru g g le b etw een m esm erism a n d ill­
n ess ; w hat w o u ld have b een pain p u lls u p all th e n e r v e s ,"
I . " T h a t is qu ite u n in te llig ib le ."
A . " W e l l , n o w , P11 te ll y o u b e tte r : tlie resistan ce w h ich
th e m esm erism offers to an im m en se w eig h t preven ts th e
22G Sees her own interior.

n erve from b e in g p u lle d o u t. D e a r m e, I h op e I am n ot

g o in g to have fa ce -a ch e , I can see m y ja w in fla m ed .”
I m esm erised it. W h e n I w en t in th e ev e n in g she h ad
had bad fa ce -a ch e , w h ich c o n tin u e d a t in tervals fo r a few
d a ys, b u t was alw ays reliev ed b y m esm erism ,
F eb . 7th . W h e n asleep she said, " I can see in m e som e
sm all veins a ctiv e w h ich 1 h ave n ever seen a ctive b e fo re : the
b lo o d runs freely th r o u g h t h e m : it is n ea r th e sore p la ce.
T h e re is a p la ce look s h ard , as th ou g h I co u ld p u ll so m e th in g
o f f from it i f I c o u ld p u t m y nail u n d er. W h e n I am r e g u ­
la rly m esm erised I h ave g rea t d ifficu lty in k e e p in g m y cau stic
issue open .
F eb . 9 th , A p iece o f h a ir h a d b een sent to see i f the
ow n e r c o u ld m esm erise a p erson w h o was w ith h er. She
said th e hair w as lik e a dead th in g , and sh e co u ld te ll n o ­
th in g b y it. I th en gave h e r a p ie ce o f m in e . O n a p p ly in g
it to th e p atien t, sh e said it cu rd led th e p a tie n t's ow n m e s­
m erism . A p ie ce o f th e p a tie n t’ s ow n h air was th en ap p lied.
S h e said th a t it lo o k e d as i f th ere w ere th e sam e con test
g o in g o n b e tw e e n th e tw o m esm erism s w h ich th e re was at
first.
F e b . 1 2 th . S h e said th a t she sh ou ld be ill o n T u esd a y
( 1 5 t h ) ; th at it w o u ld b e a spasm e x c e p t fo r th e m esm erism .
F e b . 15 th , m o r n in g . S he had fe lt ill, had a bad n ig h t,
and n o b reak fast. W h e n asleep th ere w ere som e sp a sm od ic
m o tio n s in side th e stom a ch , w h ich I q u ieted b y p u ttin g m y
h a n d th ere. S h e said it w ou ld b e a spasm e x ce p t fo r the
m esm erism . I t w an ted to pu ll th e liga m en ts, b u t th e y w o u ld
n o t b e p u lle d : th e y w ere n o t stretch ed . W h e n sh e aw ok e
she felt b e tte r .
1 5 th , e v e n in g W h e n asleep sh e said th a t th e m esm erism
h a d d o n e h e r an im m en se deal o f g o o d . S he lo o k e d better.
T h e lig a m e n ts w ere n o t at all e lo n g a te d . S everal th in g s still
w ere n o t h ea lth y . T h e parts w h ich w ou ld b e c o m e h ea lth y
n e x t w ere so m e v ery sm a ll vessels (n ot nerves) w h ich ran
rou n d th e base o f the lig a m en ts. S h e ad d ed , “ W h e n m y
stom a ch sh o o k th is m o r n in g th ere w as a sm all vessel w h ich
had n o lo o p h o le , a n d it had to b rea k it s e lf; and it d id , an d
th e b lo o d flow ed o u t.”
I . rf W a s th at rig h t V'
A . If Y e s j I am as w ell as I can b e.”
F e b . 1 7 th , m o r n in g . S h e felt ill. W h e n asleep she said
sh e sh ou ld h ave had a fit ex cep t fo r th e m esm erism : she saw
s om eth in g stop p ed .
17th , e v e n in g . W h e n sh e was m esm erised I ask ed h e r
w h at she had seen in h e r s e lf in th e m o rn in g . S he said,
 Does not reason : but knows intuitively, 227

“ I saw so m e th in g sh u t up qu ite close, a n d it appeared as

i f it w ou ld n o t allow th e b lood to lea ve th e heart to r a b o u t a
q u a rter o f a m in u t e : it m ad e m e fe e l v ery s ic k . I b eliev e it
to b e th e sa m e th in g w h ich cau sed m y fits. Y o u have cu red
th e ca u se o f th e spasm s I u sed to have. W h e n y o u w ent
aw ay (D e c e m b e r , 1 8 5 2 ) it was n o t c u re d , b u t it is n o w . Y o u
c o u ld n o t p u t m e o n m y fe e t n o w ; it w ou ld b r in g back spasm .
A ll th at n o w is requ ired to be d o n e is to s tre n g th e n that
n e r v e .”
F e b . 2 1 s t. S h e was stro n g ly cross-m esm erised as s o o n as
I b e g a n , w h ich I c o u ld o n ly a ttrib u te to so m e n ew n o te s and
m o n e y I had in m y p o ck e t. I w ashed m y hands, pu t aw ay
so m e o f th e silver, and k ep t h er so m e tim e in co m a . W h e n
sh e b e ca m e sen sible sh e said,
" I have receiv ed a g rea t deal o f m esm erism , and ca n see
m y s e lf v ery p la i n l y ; I ca n see w h a t I c a u g h t c o ld in . I
h a v e n o t d o n e w hat th e y th in k is th e m a tter w ith m e ; that
is n o t w h y I c a n n o t sit u p, fo r I have recov ered from that,
a n d y e t s h o u ld have spasm i f th e y a ttem p ted to raise m e.
I sh o u ld lik e to tr y t o s h o w - o n e spasm w o u ld n o t hurt
m u ch . B e fo r e I g e t w e ll I shall h ave a g rea t deal o f p a in .”
I n th e ev e n in g w h e n asleep she to ld m e th e sam e, and
said, •
“ I see w h en I g e t b e tte r and th e n erv e b e g in s t o m ov e
I sh all h ave a great deal o f pain : I co u ld n o t g e t w ell w ith ­
o u t fe e lin g pain (F eb . 2 2 ). P e o p le say m esm erism has n o t a
san ative p ow er, b u t I see it h a s ; fo r it w ill do f o r m e what
th e y w o u ld w a n t to d o w ith a k n ife i f th e y c o u ld g e t at m e ."
F e b . 2 3 r d . C o u ld see h e rse lf p la in ly : sa id , " A ll appears
h e a lth y e x c e p t th at n e r v e ; th at lies dead lik e a p ie ce o f la s s o :
w h en th a t b e g in s to w ork , all w ill h e ex cited rou n d a b o u t it,
and it w ill b e g in to p u ll. I d id n o t b eliev e M r . --------, b u t I
d o n o w : h e said, i f a m an c u t h is th ro a t b a d ly , h e m ig h t
liv e w h ile th e v ein was cu t, b u t n o t w h en it h e a le d ; I see,
b e ca u se w h en it h ealed it w ou ld stop up th e a p ertu re.1’
F e b . 2 4 th . S h e said, " W h e n I g et w e ll— in a b o u t five
w eek s— I sh all have a cu te paiu at in terva ls fo r a b o u t a fo r t­
n ig h t : I m u st h ave it, or I shall n o t g e t w ell. W h e n the
tim e app roa ch es, I shall b e ab le to te ll y o u m ore clea rly w hen
it w ill c o m e , a n d h ow lo n g it w ill la st.”
I . " H o w ca n y o n t e l l ? d o y o u reason ?”
A . " N o ; I d o n ’ t r e a s o n : b eca u se w h en I am aw ake, i f
I w ere to ld th e facts I c o u ld n o t draw th e in feren ces fro m
t h e m : s o m e th in g tells m e I k n o w , b u t I ca n ’ t say h ow , I
su p p ose it is a k in d o f in stin ct, o r in tu ition
" I n th e e v e n in g she said, “ T h e pain w ill b e so b a d th a t
228 Predicts accurately,

I shall b e d eliriou s p a rt o f th e t i m e ; I shall b e o b lig e d to

scream o u t ; b u t I c a n n o t g e t w ell w ith ou t h a v in g th e p a in .”
M a r c h 1 3 th . U p o n b e in g q u estion ed she said, " I ara n ot
g e ttin g b e tte r n ow b eca u se 1 am g e ttin g n ea rer to tb e tim e
w h en I shall have th a t p a in . I shall p rob a b ly b e g in soon to
have pains. T o -m o r r o w , after b e in g m oved 1 shall have p a in
in tb e b a ck a n d dow n to tb e legs.”
F ro m M a r c h 1 3 th to M a rch 2 9 th I g e n e ra lly m esm erised
h e r tw ice a d a y . D u r in g this tim e sh e appeared t o be g r o w ­
in g w orse, a n d h a d several attacks o f p a in . W h e n asleep
sh e u su ally fo r e to ld w h en th ese atta cks w ou ld c o m e , a n d e x ­
p la in ed th e ca u se o f th e m . W h e n e v e r I fo u n d h er su fferin g,
sh e was alw ays a sleep, and q u ite easy a fter a few m esm eric
passes.
M a r c h 1 5 th . S h e said she sh ou ld have pain a fter eig h t
o 'c lo c k , w h ich w ou ld c o n tin u e all n ig h t u nless sh e w ere m e s­
m erised . 1 w en t at n in e o 'c lo c k and fo u n d h e r in p a in : I
k e p t h er asleep th re e qu arters o f a n h ou r. S h e said th a t th e
p a in w ou ld n o t retu rn , a n d she sh ou ld h ave a g o o d n i g h t :
th e pain sh e was su fferin g from was caused b y th e p a rt w hich
was cu red sy m p a th izin g w itli th e part w h ich w as form erly
d ea d and n ow com iD g to life .”
M a r c h 2 0 th . A . said, " I shall have p a in to -m o r r o w : it
w ill b e v e ry slig h t fo r so m e h ours, a n d th en severe. I f y ou
m esm erise m e in th e m o rn in g , it w ill n ot co m e o n acu tely
u n til 4 p .m . I f I am n o t m esm erised , it w ill d e stro y m y
n ig h t's r e s t ; i f I am m esm erised in th e e v e n in g , th e pain
w ill cease, a n d I sh all h ave a g o o d n ig h t.”
M a rch 2 1 st. “ I m esm erised her in th e m o rn in g . She
to ld m e th e sam e as th e p re ce d in g day. I w en t in th e e v e n ­
in g at a q u a rter b e fo r e six. T b e pain h a d c o m e a t fo u r
o ’ c lo c k , h a d b een v ery in ten se, a n d was th en slig h tly b etter.
I k e p t h e r asleep an h o u r and a h a lf, o n e h ou r in com a .
S h e said th e pain w ou ld n o t retu rn th e n e x t d a y , and she
sh ou ld have a g o o d n ig h t. Cf I f I am m esm erised reg u la rly
th e bad p a in w ill c o m e o n M o n d a y at n in e o 'c lo c k p . m . ; it
w ill in crea se, and a t 11 o ’ c lo c k I shall be p rostra ted and e x ­
h austed fr o m it. U n til th en y o u w ill n o t b e a ble to p u t m e
to sleep. T h e pain n o w is caused b y th e n erv e h a v in g
sw elled,” & c.
M a r c h 2 4 th , ev e n in g . S h e said, “ I shall have p a in t o ­
m orrow b etw een th re e a n d fo u r p . m . ; th e m esm erism w ill
tak e it aw ay. T h e n e x t day I shall have very bad pain as
soon as I am m ov ed . I am g e ttin g o u t o f ord e r a lto g e th e r
n o w ; m y liver look s b a d , n o t th e r ig h t c o lo u r . I shall have
b a d pain in it to -n ig h t .” I m esm erised it fo r so m e m in u tes
 Continues to predict accurately. 329

a c c o r d in g to h er d irection s. S h e said it was m u ch b etter,

a n d she sh ou ld sca rcely have any pain in it.
M a r c h 25th . I w en t at fo u r o 'c lo c k , and fo u n d h er in
great pain , w h ich had c o m e o n a b o u t a qu arter o f an h o u r
before. T h e m esm erism to o k it aw ay. I w en t again in th e
e v e n in g . W h e n asleep she said she sh ou ld have very bad
p a in as so o n as sh e was m oved, a n d it was settled th a t she
sh o u ld n o t b e m oved u ntil I cam e. .
M a r c h 26th . I w en t at 11 a.m . A t 10 o ’ c lo c k she had
felt so well th at sh e had insisted u p on b e in g m oved . A cu te
pain cam e on d irectly , and w h en I arrived sh e was scarcely
ab le to speak. W h e n asleep she said sh e sh ou ld have pain
a ga in a t h alf-past three,
I w en t again at tw e n ty m in u tes past th ree. S he h a d n o
pain, b u t soon b e g a n to feel uneasy, and 1 p u t h e r to sleep.
W h ils t in co m a she had a k in d o f fit. O n various oth er
o cca sio n s sh e had fits w h ilst in c o m a ; th e y appeared to b e
ca u sed b y th e m esm erism c o lle c tin g in o n e p la ce, a n d w ere
q u ieted b y m a k in g passes d ow n to th e fe e t. S h e said, “ I
shall have pain to -m o r r o w i f n ot m esm erised b e fo re six in th e
ev e n in g , b u t it w o n 't be b a d ." T h is I p rev en ted b y m esm er­
isin g h er.
M a r c h 29 th. S h e told m e that i f I did n o t w ant th e b a d
pain t o co m e on , I m ust n o t m esm erise h e r a n y m o r e : that
she m ig h t safely b e left fo r a w eek o r s o , and sh ou ld on ly
h ave a little la n cin a tin g pain , and lo se a d a y or tw o.
I w en t aw ay, a n d re co m m e n ce d m esm erisin g h e r on
A p r il 9 th . S he was asleep in ten passes, b u t c o u ld n o t see
h e rs e lf v ery p lain ly. I m esm erised h e r a ga in in th e e v en in g ,
w h en sh e told m e that it w ou ld req u ire tw o or th ree days
b e fo r e th e b a d pain w ou ld c o m e . B e in g u n certain w h eth er
I c o u ld give h e r th e tim e n ecessary, I again om itte d th e
m e sm erism fo r th ree days. I r e c o m m e n c e d o n A p r il 13 th —
tw o h ours.
A p r il 14th . W h e n asleep she said, “ I f y o u m esm erise
m e w ell tw ice to -m o rro w and on ce on S atu rday, th e b a d p a in
w ill co m e on a b ou t tw o h ou rs after S a tu rd a y 's m esm erisin g .
I settled to b rin g it on S a tu rday in th e d a y -tim e ."
A p r il 15th, I kept h er asleep tw o h ou rs . W h e n in com a
sh e h a d a bad fit, b u t o n c o m in g to h e r senses k n ew n o th in g
a b o u t it. S h e said, “ I f y o u d o n o t w ish m e to have th e bad
pain to -m o rro w , y o u m ust n o t m esm erise m e a ga in to -d a y .
I sh all h ave som e pain . I lo o k very b a d in side. I f y o u m es­
m erise m e again to -d a y I sh all have th e bad pain s o o n after
I am m esm erised to -m o r r o w . I f y o u d o n o t m esm erise m e
u n til S u n d a y , and th en tw ice on M o n d a y , I shall have it after
VOL. XII. 11
230 Sees her internal condition.

b e in g m esm erised o n T u e s d a y ; a t least I w ill tell y o u b o w to

b r in g it o n in th e day tim e on T u e s d a y ,3'
S u n d a y 17tli. I m esm erised h e r on ce .
A p r il 18th . T h re e tim es in th e m o r n in g she said she
sh ou ld h ave so m e pain at fou r p .m . I w en t at five m in u tes
p ast fou r, a n d fo u n d h er in a cu te pain , w h ich had ju s t c o m e
o n . W h e n asleep she d e s crib e d th e appearance o f th e n erves
in side, .and said sh e sh ou ld be in a g o o d deal o f pain i f she
w ere awake.
A p r il 1 9 th , m o rn in g . W h e n in co m a she had a f i t ; w hen
she ca m e o u t o f it, a n d h er a rm s w ere dem esm erised (w h ich
she alw ays m ad e m e d o , oth erw ise she co u ld n ot m ov e th em ),
h e r h a n d was still c o n tr a c te d , as in th e fit. S h e d irected m e
to m esm erise it, and th e n d em esm erise i t ; w hen it op en ed .
S h e said, “ T h e a tta ck o f pain w ill c o m e on a b ou t fo u r
p .m . Y o u had b e tte r b e h ere p a rt o f th e tim e I am ill, as,
alth ou gh y o u w ill n o t be ab le to p u t m e to sleep u n til the
attack is o v er, y o u w ill be p re p a rin g m e to receiv e th e m es­
m erism . It is o f n o u se y o u r b e in g h ere d u rin g th e w hole
o f th e a t t a c k ; w h atever tim e y o u can spare y o u h a d b e tte r
give m e a fterw ards, w h en I shall w ant as m u c h m esm erism
as y o u can g iv e m e. I f y o u co m e at qu arter past five y o u
w ill b e g in to m esm erise m e at q u a rter to sis, and I shall b e
m esm erised at s i x / ’ S h e th en gave su n d ry d irection s a b o u t
w h at we w ere to do. I aw oke h er, and retu rn ed at qu arter
past five p .m , I bear'd h e r scream s b e fo re I g o t t o th e r o o m .
S h e was in b e d w rith in g , screa m in g , and d a sh in g h e rse lf
a b ou t. S o sh e c o n tin u e d , som etim es easier, som etim es d e li­
riou s, u n til q u arter b e fo re six , I m esm erised her all th e tim e.
A t q u arter b e fo r e six sh e a p p ea red alm ost free from pain ; at
six o 'c lo c k sh e was asleep. I k ep t h er in com a o n e h o u r. H e r
sister said th a t ju s t b e fo re fo u r o 'c lo c k she c o m p la in e d o f
th irst, and v e ry s o o n a fter o f p a in , and sh e was p u t in to b e d ;
in a b ou t te n m in u tes a fter th at th ey c o u ld n o t h ave m o v e d
h er. T h e p a in in crea sed , occa sion a lly in term ittin g , u n til I
c a m e : d u rin g p a rt o f th e tim e she had b e e n d eliriou s. W h e n
sh e ca m e o u t o f co m a sh e said th a t she was d is a p p o in te d ; the
p la ce had n o t to r n y e t, b u t o n ly pu lled . S h e th o u g h t she
sh ou ld have six o r seven m o re a tt a c k s ; th a t I h a d sooth ed
h e r w h en I c a m e ; i f I had b een th ere all the tim e th e p a in
w o u ld have b e e n iess b u t lo n g e r . T b e vessels at th e b o tto m
o f th e stom a ch w ere g o r g e d w ith b lo o d alm ost to b u rstin g .
T h e b ra in lo o k e d p ressed d ow n , as sh e su pposed an id iot's
w o u ld b e ; sh ou ld have som e h e a d -a ch e w h en aw ake. I re ­
liev ed th e h ea d b y passes and m a n ip u la tion s, S h e said she
was afraid o f th e g o r g e d v e s s e ls : i f she strained o r cr ie d th e y
 Severe spasm as predicted. 231

w o u ld b u rst. I tried to em p ty th em b y passes, & e., & c. ; iu

a b o u t ten m in u tes sh e said th ey had d isg o rg e d th eir b lo o d ,
b u t w o u ld still lo o k b la ck . I co n tin u e d u n til she said I c o u ld
d o n o m o re g o o d . S h e said she sh ou ld n o t sleep m u c h ;
sh ou ld fe e l v ery w eak w h en sh e aw oke, w ith sligh t h e a d a c h e ;
s h o u ld be b e tte r a fter she was m esm erised t o - m o r r o w ; th o u g h t
th e n e x t a tta ck w ou ld co m e o n to -m o rro w at a b o u t eig h t o r
n in e o’ c lo c k p .m .; th e p iece w ould th en r i p ; th e p a in w ou ld
b e sh arper and last a b ou t an h o u r.— I b a d k e p t h er asleep
ra th e r m ore th a n tw o h ou rs and a h alf, o f w h ich m ore than
o n e was com a .
A p r il 2 0 tb , m o rn in g . I k ep t h er asleep an h o u r and th ree
qu arters. S h e said th e n ext spasm w ou ld co m e o n at eig h t
p .m . and last an h ou r, and be m ore a c u te : th e p la ce w o u ld
rip . T h e d a n g er con sisted in th e p ro b a b ility o f th e b lo o d
vessels o f th e stom a ch ru p tu rin g . S h e d id n o t th in k that
th e y w ou ld, b u t th e y m i g h t ; she d irected u s w hat to d o to
p rev en t it, and also w hat rem edies w e w ere to u se in case
th e y did. S h e said sh e sh ou ld have six. atta cks m o r e and a
b it. S h e co n ld o n ly sec F rid a y n ig h t, and e x p e cte d th e th ird
th en .
A p r il 2 0 th , ev e n in g . 1 w ent a t a few m in u tes pa st eig h t,
and h eard h e r scream s as so o n as X en tered th e h ou se. T h e
a tta ck had o n ly co m m e n c e d a few m inu tes • it appeared m o re
a cu te th a n th e first. I m esm erised h er all th e t i m e ; b y
a b o u t te n m in u tes to six sh e was deliriou s, and soon after
th a t I p u t h e r to sleep . I k ep t h e r in c o m a h a lf an h ou r.
W h e n sen sible sh e said th at th e vessels lo o k e d v ery b a d ;
u n d e r h er d ire ctio n s I a ccu m u la ted th e m esm erism ov e r th em
fo r h a lf an h ou r, and th en m ade occa sion a l passes u n til th ey
w e r e d isg org ed . S h e said, “ Y o u sooth ed m e b y th e m e s­
m erism . I g o t a g rea t d ea l o f it, a n d it p re v e n te d m y b o d y
fr o m b e in g ill w ith th e pain . I f y o u had n o t b e e n here at
a ll th e vessels w o u ld have bu rst, and I sh ou ld b e d ead. T h e
p la ce has ripped a little. T h e n ex t a tta ck w ill b e o n F rid a y
e v e n in g ; it w ill he as a cu te as th is, b u t n o t so lo n g . On
M o n d a y n e x t I shall h ave tw o in th e day. O n F rid a y th e
first part o f th e n erv e w ill b e u p ; th e rest o f th e n erv e is n o t
su fficie n tly alive to rip it u p ; it has trie d to rip u p in th e
m id d le , b u t co u ld n o t. I f I w ere n ow le ft w ith ou t a n y m o re
m esm erism th e th in g w ou ld n ot r ip u p o f itself. W h e n X
am in d eliriu m I fe e l th e pain, b u t d o n o t r e c o lle c t it w h en I
am a w a k e ; n ow I r e c o lle c t w hat I said in d e liriu m .” She
has re p e a te d ly told m e th a t in. her m esm eric state sh e cou ld
r e c o lle c t e v e r y th in g th at passed in d eliriu m years a g o ; th a t
p erson s sh ou ld be ca refu l bow th e y treat d eliriou s person s,
r 2
 232 Benefit from the mesmerise}' eating.

f o r th a t in d eliriu m w e 'k n o w w hat passes a ro u n d us, and feel

p a in as a cu tely as w h en we are in o u r ord in a ry s ta te ; b u t
th a t th e pain d o e s n o t sh o ck th e sy stem as m u ch , and that
th e con scio u sn e ss th at exists in deliriu m is fo r g o t te n a fte r­
w ards, ju s t as th at o f th e m esm eric tra n ce is.
A p r il 2 1 st. I k ep t h e r asleep an h ou r and a q u arter in
th e m o r n in g , a n d th e sam e in th e e v e n in g . S h e said her
th ro a t lo o k e d p a rch ed and fe v e ris h ; at h er req u est I ate s o m e
h la ck cu rra n t paste, w hich sh e said m oiste n e d it. Said she
sh ou ld have an a tta ck on th e m orrow at a b ou t e ig h t p .m ,,
and had b e tte r n o t b e m ov ed all day.
A p r il 2 2 n d , m orn in g . S h e felt pain ov e r th e s t o m a c h ; I
said I w ou ld ask h er a b ou t it w hen asleep. I k e p t h er asleep
an h o u r a n d th ree q u a r te r s ; d u rin g th e tim e 1 ate so m e th in g
fo r h er. S h e said, “ B e fo r e you ate m y stom a ch was c o n ­
tra cted , and h a d a qu eer lo o k in g sort o f m oistu re in i t ; n ow
th e stom a ch is its fu ll size, an d d oes n o t lo o k sh ru n k , and
part o f th e m oistu re is g o n e / ’
I . “ B u t y o u co u ld n o t g e t n ou rish m en t s o / -*
A . “ Y e s ; I c o u ld g et all m y system w an ts.“ *
O n a n oth er occa sion sh e to ld m e th at m y e a tin g fo r h e r
did n o t g iv e h er a n y b lo o d , b u t gave h e r th e n e rv o u s stren g th ,
a n d raised th e stom a ch w h en it had collapsed from em ptin ess,
A . “ T h e n e x t a tta ck w ill co m e at five m in u tes past e ig h t ;
it w ill last m o r e th an h a lf ail h o u r. T h e la tter e n d o f it I
shall b e d eliriou s, b u t y o u wrill n o t be a ble t o p u t m e in to
sou n d sleep t h e n ; th e d eliriu m w ill b e fr o m w eakness. I
o u g h t to be m esm erised fo r tw o h ours a fte rw a rd s; it d oes n o t
m a tter b e in g k e p t in com a . T h e left le g lo o k s p aralyzed ;
th e p la ce th a t is so irrita ted has sto p p e d th e n ervou s fluid
fr o m passin g in to th e leg , and diverted th e b lo o d from g o in g
in . I f I h a d been awake I sh ou ld h ave had n o sen sa tion o r
p ow er o f m o tio n t h e r e /’ I m esm erised it fo r a b o u t ten
m in u te s, w h en she said th e nerves h a d b e c o m e rou sed , and
th e fre e c ir cu la tio n o f b lo o d follow ed .
A p ril 2 2 n d , e v e n in g . I w ent a t five m in u tes past e i g h t :
th e a tta ck had ju s t c o m m e n ce d . I m esm erised h e r all th e
t i m e ; in a b o u t th irty -fiv e m in u tes she was d e lir io u s ; in a b o u t
fo r ty m in u tes she was asleep. T h e a tta ck had been very
s e v e r e ; o cca sio n a lly she had been g a sp in g fo r b rea th , and n ot
ab le even to scream . I k ep t her in co m a so m e little t i m e ;
w h en she b e ca m e sen sible sh e said th at th e pain was w orse
w h en she c o u ld n o t s c r e a m ; she th o u g h t it m ig h t have been
fatal i f I had n o t b een th ere. T h e m esm erism ga v e a pleasan t
sensation th r o u g h th e system , a lth ou g h it d id n o t ease th e
pa in .
 Her account of the nerves and nervous fluid. 233

A . " T h e attack a fter th e tw o w ill b e very b a d ; as bad

as th is. I f I am m esm erised o n S u n d a y I shall have tw o
atta cks on M o n d a y ; th e secon d w ill be the w orse.” A t her
req u est I dran k som e tea fo r h er and ate som e toast, w h ich
sh e relish ed q u ite as m u ch as i f she had ta k en it h erself. I
k e p t h er asleep tw o h ou rs and a h a l f ; a b o u t h a lf an h ou r o f
it in co m a . S h e to ld m e all in flam m ation was g o n e , a n d I
m ig h t g o in safety.
A p r il 2 3 rd , m o rn in g . S h e fe lt w eak, h u t n o t th a t e m p ty
fe e lin g sh e had su ffered fr o m p reviou sly. W h e n m esm erised
sh e said, " I f I had n o t been m esm erised I s h o u ld have had
in flam m ation from pain to p a in : we have m any n erves th in n e r
th a n spiders w ebs, m a n y m ore th an are m a rk ed in th e a n a ­
to m ic a l b ook s, I see th em in m e and in y o u also, th e th in n est
te x tu r e th at y o u can th in k o f but th ey are th e sam e; th e n ervou s
flu id goes in to th em , I ca n see it q u ite p lain ly, th e flu id d o e s
n o t appear as i f it w ou ld w et y o u r fin g er i f you p u t it o n .JJ
O n alt o cca sion s w h en I q u estion ed h e r o n su ch p o in ts
she in v ariably said, th at th e nerves w ere h ollow tu b e s w ith
th eir ow n p ro p e r fluid passin g dow n t h e m ; th is flu id sh e
d e scrib e d in a ppearan ce as a th in g a s ; th at i f m ed ica l m en
ca n n ot d iscern a n y apertu re in th e nerves a fter d ea th , it m ust
b e th at th e y c lo s e u p ; in th e liv in g su b je ct she som etim es
saw n erves closed , b u t alw ays in disease, such as paralysis,
n eu ra lg ia , fa cea ch e, lam eness. T h e size o f th e a p ertu re in
th e n erves was t o th e apertu re iu th e veins iu th e p r o p o r tio n
o f a h ollow b it o f eld er to a quill, bu t th e v ein w ou ld ex p a n d ,
th e n erve w ou ld n ot.
A p r il 2 3 r d , ev e n in g . I k ep t h er m esm erised tw o h ou rs
and a h a lf and a te m y d in n er, w hich sh e relish ed as m u ch as
i f sh e had been aw ake a n d eaten it h erself.
A p r il 2 4 th . S h e had had a p re tty g o o d n ig h t, and fe lt
s t r o n g e r ; had taken som e coffee and on e o r tw o m o u th fu ls o f
cak e. I k ep t h e r asleep tw o hours and th ree qu arters, and
h a d som e tea and toast fo r her. W h e n asleep sh e said th a t
she m ust be m esm erised fo r ten m in u te s on M o n d a y m o r n in g
as sh e sh ou ld have tw o attacks d u rin g th e d a y : th e first w ou ld
c o m e at 3 p .m ., a n d w ou ld n ot last h a lf an h o u r ; th at I was
n o t to co m e u n til it was u ea rly over as she w ou ld req u ire to
be m esm erised for tw o h ou rs after it to stren gth en h er for
th e secon d attack w h ich w ou ld co m e at 7 p .m ,, a n d b e severe
and last n early th ree q u aters o f an h o u r. In a b o u t h a lf an
h o u r she s h o u ld be d eliriou s.
A p r il 2 5 th . I w en t at tw en ty m in u tes past tw o a n d fou n d
h e r iu great p a in , screa m in g and w rith in g . "Whilst th e a ttack
lasted, it seem ed m u ch th e sam e as th e p r e c e d in g o n e s : by
234 Thè mesmcriser dined for her.

h a lf-p a st 2 sh e was asleep. I k e p t h er in co m a a qu arter o f

a n h ou r, w h en she a w ok e sh e said,
A . “ I f a d o c to r c o u ld see m e n ow h e w ou ld say th ere
was n o h o p e .”
I . “ W h y ?”
A . “ B e ca u s e th ere is s o m u ch in fla m m a t io n /’
I n a b o u t th ree qu arters o f an h ou r I h a d r e d u ce d th e in ­
flam m ation b y a ccu m u la tin g the m esm erism over th e inflam ed
parts and th e n m a k in g passes a c c o r d in g to h e r d irection s.
I n answ er t o m y qu estion s, she said, “ T h e in fla m m a tion is
g o n e , bu t I still look very b la ck . T h e a tta ck in th e e v en in g
w ill co m e o n at seven o ’ c lo c k , b e v ery b a d and last h a lf an
h our. B e tw e e n this and F rid ay I see s o m e tliin g , I d o n ’ t
th in k it w ill h e pain, I th in k it w ill b e g r e a t s ic k n e s s ; on
F rid a y w h e n l a m g a sp in g fo r b re a th , i f I a ttem p t to raise
m y s e lf u p y o u m u st u o t let m e, as it w o u ld be fatal. T h e
d a n g er o n F rid a y w ill be from ex h a u stion , as I h ave eaten
n o th in g and m a d e n o b lo o d . I see th a t som e o f th e tu bes
w h ich n ou rish th e b u lb s o f m y h a ir h ave stop p ed . I n a
fo rtn ig h t I sh ou ld be g r e y o r m y hair w o u ld fa ll o ff if th is
w ere to la st.”
I w en t a ga in a little b e fo re seven , and staid in a ro o m
b e lo w ; at seven o ’ clo ck I heard her scream s a n d w en t up. T h e
a tta ck h a d ju s t c o m m e n ce d , at a q u arter b e fo r e seven she
had felt a b u r n in g pain w h ich had m a d e a cold p ersp ira tion
stan d o a h e r hand. T h e attack was so bad, th at fo r som e
tim e she was u n a b le to scream , and w as g a sp in g fo r breath :
at h a lf-p a st seven sh e was d eliriou s, and in a few m inutes
afterw ards asleep. I k e p t h er in c o m a a b o u t te n m inu tes,
w h e n she a w o k e she told m e th at th ere was a g rea t deal o f
in fla m m a tion a n d d irected m e h ow to su b d u e it.
A . “ N o w I see th e m esm erism has lig h te d up th e b on es
in m y l e g : b eca u se the n erves w o u ld n o t tak e it, it has g o n e
d o w n th e b o n e s . T h e g rea ter part o f th e n erve has torn , the
o th e r part w ill b e g in to tear o n F rid a y . I sh all have bad
r e tc h in g o n T h u rsd a y e v e n in g and p a rt o f F rid a y .”
A p r il 2 6 th . S h e felt w eak, and cou ld n o t m ov e th e leg . I
k ep t h er m esm erised tw o hours, o c c a s io n a lly p u ttin g h e r in to
com a , and m esm erisin g th e paralysed le g and side, In a bou t
an h ou r and a h a lf sh e said that m o st o f th e m u scle s w ere
relaxed : in tw o h ou rs she said th at th e n erves o f th e side
w ere b e g in n in g to ta k e th e m esm erism , b u t it w o u ld be m o re
th a n an h ou r b e fo re th e le g w ou ld b e rig h t. I dem esm erised
h e r and retu rn ed a t a qu arter p ast f o u r ; I p u t h e r to sleep
and ate d in n e r fo r h er, w hich sh e d ecla red d id h er m u ch
g o o d i I k ep t h e r asleep fo r an h o u r and a h alf, occa sion a lly
 The mesmeriser dined and took tea for her. 235

p u ttin g h e r in to co m a a n d m esm erisin g th e side a n d leg . A fte r

an h ou r a n d a q u arter she said, “ N o w th e m esm erism goes
in to th e n e r v e s ; i f I a w ok e I co u ld m o v e m y l e g / ' W hen I
d em esm erised h e r th e paralysis had g o n e . I n th e ev e n in g I
k ep t h e r asleep o n e h ou r and t o o k te a fo r her,
A p r il 2 7 th , W e d n e s d a y m o rn in g . I k ep t h er asleep an
h ou r and a h alf. S h e told m e th at th e n e s t a tta ck w ou ld
co m e o u F rid a y at 9 p .m ., aud w ou ld last h a lf an h o u r u n til
sh e was d eliriou s. I n re p ly to m y q u estion s sh e said, “ T h e
d a n g er w ill be w h en I b e g in to p ick th e b e d -c lo t h e s : th en
y o n m u st p u t y o u r h a n d o n m y h eart, n o t press it , b u t keep
it w arm and p rev en t m y ris in g or m o v in g m y sh ou ld er up,
and m oisten m y lips w ith g in g e r w i n e : h e carefu l n o t to have
th e c lo th to o w e t so as to let a d ro p g o in . I was o n c e eq u a lly
ill a t -------- , m y b ro th e r pu t a m u sta rd p o u ltice over m e an d
th e n th e h eart b e g a n to b e a t : th e m esm erism w ill d o m ore,
a n d a ct m o re q u ick ly . W h e n th at is ov e r a n d I b e g in to
scream , a little w in e will d o m e g o o d , I am su re I shall g e t
th r o u g h th e a tta ck , b eca u se I see o th e r pains b e y o n d . If I
c o u ld n o t see o th e r pains b e y o n d , I sh ou ld tell y o u th at y ou
m ig h t call in o th e r p e o p le , and that I was not su re.” I de­
m esm erised h e r and ca m e b a ck in th ree qu arters o f a n h o u r ;
sh e felt w e a k , I p u t h er t o s le e p ; sh e said h e r stom a ch had
sh ru n k . I a te d in n er, w h en she said h e r stom a ch had g o t
up a gain , and she felt m u ch s tron g er. S h e said th e stom a ch
had n o t sh ru n k after th e first tim e u n til to day, a n d th a t was
becau se sh e h a d been m ov ed to h ave th e b e d m ad e. I k ep t
h e r asleep n ea rly tw o h ours.
A p r il 2 7 th , ev en in g . I k e p t h er asleep tw o h ou rs. She
said she h a d sw allow ed a sm a ll b it o f b a rb a ry w h ich irritated
th e stom a ch , aud w ou ld b r in g o n r e tc h in g at n ig h t after b e in g
m o v e d , I m esm erised th e stom ach . T h is b r o u g h t som e ju ic e
over th e b a rb a ry , b u t d id n o t re m ov e it. I had tea fo r h er.
A p r il 2 8 th , T h e r e tch in g h a d c o m e o n th e p r e c e d in g n ig h t
as sh e h a d p re d icte d . I k ep t her asleep tw o h ou rs, a n d had
d in n er fo r h e r : sh e told m e th at I h a d b e tte r c o m e at 6 p .m .
a n d 9 p .m . S h e sh ou ld have very bad re tch in g . I f sh e w ere
k e p t m esm erised u n til F rid a y ev e n in g th e r e tc h in g w ou ld
c o m e d u r in g th e b a d a tta ck , w hich w o u ld b e w orse. On
F rid a y th e d a n g e r w ou ld last a b ou t a m in u t e ; sh e sh ou ld n ot
fe e l th en , and b e past c r y i n g ; it w o u ld b e after th e a ttack
had lasted a b o u t a q u arter o f an h o u r ; afterw ards h e r eyes
w o u ld s q u in t ; at th e en d th e b ra in w o u ld s in k ; th a t I m u st
ta k e ca re n o t to let h er m ov e h e r sh ou lders u p , as in th a t
ca se sh e sh ou ld d ie. S he fe lt certa in she sh ou ld g et over it.
A p r il 2 8 th . I w en t again at six p .m . She had had very
23fJ Leg palsied and cured, as predicted.

bad retch in g . X k ep t h e r asleep tw o h ou rs, and had tea fo r

h er. S h e said th e b a rb a ry was g o n e : sh e sh ou ld have tw o
atta cks o f r e tch in g b e fo r e I ca m e at n in e ; a n d a ga in in th e
m o rn in g , b u t it w ou ld n o t co m e on again after th e m o r n in g 's
m esm erism .
N in e o 'c lo c k . I k ep t h er asleep o n e h o u r ; sh e said the
stom ach lo o k e d w orse th an w hen X left h e r in th e m orn in g .
I su bdu ed th e irrita tion b y passes and b re a th in g , &c. She
said she sh ou ld have r e tch in g in th e m o r n in g at tim es, u n til
m esm erised .
F rid a y , A p r il 2 9 th . T h e retch in g con tin u e d so b a d from
seven a.m . u n til h alf-past tw elve, th a t th ey sent fo r m e . I
fou n d h e r r e tch in g , w ith pain in th e chest a n d a taste o f
b lo o d . S h e h a d had a g o o d deal o f ice, I p u t h e r to sleep.
S h e said th at o n e o f th e small vessels a t th e b o tto m o f th e
th roat was cra ck e d , thnt it w ould n ot m atter; sh e saw in fla m ­
m a tion a b o u t th e ch est, stom ach , and elsew here : a fter a b ou t
an L ou r sh e said, “ I f I w ere aw ake I sh ou ld be sick n ow :
th e tu b e is tr y in g to m a k e the stom a ch s ic k ." I k ep t h er
asleep th ree h ou rs, d u r in g w hich tim e I had som e g ru e l fo r
h er. S h e said th a t th e in fla m m a tion was re d u ce d , th at she
sh ou ld have n o m ore sick n ess, b u t th at th e le ft le g w ou ld b e
a ga in p a ra lysed after th e attack a t n igh t, b u t th at I sh ou ld
tak e it aw ay o n th e fo llo w in g day.
I w en t a g a in in th e ev en in g a n d k ep t h e r asleep an h o u r
and a qu arter, d u r in g w h ich tim e I h a d te a fo r h er. S h e said
th at th e a tta ck w ou ld c o m e at n in e o 'c lo c k , w ith a b u rn in g
feelin g fir s t; th a t tw o -th ird s o f th e nerve w o u ld rip u p. X
w en t again a little b e fo re n in e, b u t did n o t let h e r k n ow I
was in th e h ou se. T h e a tta ck co m m e n ce d at n in e and was,
i f possible, still m o re severe than th e p re ce d in g o n e s. She
h a d com p la in ed o f a b u rn in g pain b e fo r e it earne on . A ft e r I
had been w ith h e r a b o u t a qu arter o f an b o n r, sb e was g a sp ­
in g fo r brea th , u n a b le to scream , and the arm s w ere stiff an d
stretch ed o u t co n v u lsiv e ly . This lasted a sh ort t i m e ; th e on ly
d ifferen ce th en was th a t th e stiffen ed fingers b e g a n to p ic k
con v u lsiv ely at th e b ed cloth es. H e r sister w h o was m o is te n ­
in g h er lips t o ld m e th at th e ton g u e was sw ollen and p r o tr u d ­
in g , and th e ey es sta rtin g from th e sock ets. I fo llo w e d th e
d irection s sh e h a d g iv e n m e an d in a b ou t a m in u te sb e was
ab le to b rea th e and scream again. I n a b ou t h a lf an h o u r
she was d eliriou s and I p u t h er to sleep. A ft e r I b a d m e s­
m erised h er tw o h ou rs a n d a h a lf a c c o r d in g to h er d irection s,
sh e said th e in fla m m a tion cau sed b y tb e attack was r e d u ce d ,
and I aw oke h er. H e r left leg was paralysed.
A p r il 3 0 tb , X kept h e r asleep tw o h ou rs and a q u a rter in
 Sits for the first time for twelve years. 237

.h e m ornings on e h o u r in th e ev en in g , e a tin g fo r h er as u su al.

The paralysis was re m o v e d b y th e m esm erism as b efore.
S h e had tw o m ore atta cks after th is, in m ost p oin ts lik e
th e p r e c e d in g on es, e x ce p t th at th e last, w h ich she had ca lled
a b it o f an a tta ck , lasted o n ly a q u arter o f a n h ou r. T h e
e x a c t tim es w h en th e attacks w ou ld co m m e n ce , th eir d u ra tion
and m ain sy m p tom s she p re d icte d as b e fo r e , and was in vari­
a b ly c o rre ct. B efore th e last o n e sh e said th at if, w h en th e
attack had lasted te n or tw elv e m in u tes, she ask ed m e to
raise h er I m ig h t do so with safety, as sh e sh ou ld have an
in stin ctiv e feelin g th at th e p arts had torn asunder, and th e
o b sta cle to h e r s ittin g u p was rem ov ed . T h e a tta ck w h ile it
lasted was as severe as th e p re ce d in g ones. A ft e r a b o u t te n o r
tw elv e m in u tes she w rith ed h e r s e lf up in to an arch su p p orted
as it seem ed to m e o n ly b y h e r head and heels, sh e s o o n fell
b a c k and sp ru n g u p in a sittin g p o sitio n , (the first time for
twelve years,) she su p p orted h e r s e lf b y m e for a sh ort tim e ,
and th en fell b a ck , b eca m e d eliriou s a n d was soon p u t to
sleep. W h e n asleep she said th a t th e p la ce h a d torn and she
m ig h t he raised w ith safety. I c o n tin u e d to m esm erise h er
re g u la rly u n til M a y 2 7 th , gen era lly tw ice a day, k eep in g h er
a sleep th ree or fo u r h ou rs ea ch day, a n d h a vin g m y d in n er
a n d tea b y h er side w hen she was in m esm erie sleep . A fte r
a few days I b eg a n to pu t h er u p in to a s ittin g p osition fo r a
v ery sh ort tim e ea ch d a y . A t first it was a cco m p a n ie d b y
variou s bad effects iu con se q u e n ce b o th o f th e w eak state she
w as in , a n d o f h a v in g b eeu so lo n g in o n e p o s it io n ; after
e a ch attem pt I p u t h e r in to m esm eric sleep, a n d sh e th e n
to ld m e , i f a n y m is c h ie f was d o n e , h ow it was to b e rem ed ied ,
a n d w hat p reca u tion s w ere to b e ta k en . W h e n I left h er,
M a y 2 7 th , sh e said if she w ere n o t m esm erised again she
sh o u ld gradu ally bu t very slow ly r e c o v e r ; she was able to b e
ca rried o u t and laid o n a sofa in th e g ard en , b u t was still
v ery m u ch em a cia ted , b o th b y the su fferin gs she h a d g o n e
th ro u g h , and th e abstin en ce. A w eek p reviou s to th e a ttack
h e r appetite fell off, fo r eigh t days sh e tasted solid fo o d o n ly ,
viz., on e o r tw o m ou th fu ls o f ca k e o n c e ; fo r th irteen days
a fte r th at she tasted n o th in g -solid, o n ly a little co ffe e in th e
m o r n in g a n d h a lf a cu p o f te a at ev en in g , a n d som e ice
d u r in g th e tim e she was s u b je c t to th e retch in g N e t o n ly
w h en asleep h u t w h en aw ake also, she seem ed to derive real
b en efit from m y eatin g b y h e r side w h en she was in m esm eric
sleep , and w h en she a w ok e co u ld alw ays tell b y h e r ow n fe e l­
in g w h eth er I had eaten o r n ot. I n sleep she said it gave
h e r no b lo o d , bu t g a v e h e r all th e n erv ou s stren gth she w ou ld
h a v e derived from re a lly ea tin g .
238 Remarkable clairvoyance as to disease in others.

I w en t aw ay M a y 2 8 , a n d retu rn ed in J u ly .
F rom J u ly 12 to A u g u s t 1 6 in clu siv e, I g en erally m e s­
m erised h e r tw ice a d a y , k e e p in g h e r asleep b etw een on e and
tw o h ours ea ch tim e. S h e had felt w eak fo r so m e d a y s : she
c o u ld n o t see h erself clea rly th e first tim e b eca u se she h ad
n o t m u ch m esm erism in h er. I n th e ev e n in g sh e co u ld see
h erself, and said, " W h e n I am first put u p I shall have a
stin g in g pain in th e s to m a c h ; it w ill n o t m atter— it w o n ’ t b e
in fla m m a tion , bu t w h en I am aw ake I shall b e afraid o f it.
W h e n I first w alk a sort o f cord w ill appear to pu ll m y l e g ;
I m ust d isreg a rd t h a t : it will be ca u sed b y m u scles a c tin g
w h ich have b een so lo n g d orm a n t. I shall b e sure to w alk,”
She sat up each day fo r abou t a m in u te at a tim e, and as
so o n as she fe lt a n y b a d effect, I p u t h er to sleep to sec w hat
it was ca u sed b y : u su ally th e b lo o d had flow ed to o q u ick ly
to som e p a rticu la r vein w h ere she had su ffered b e fo re .
J u ly 2 2 n d . S h e sat u p six m inu tes w ith o u t bad effect.
J u ly 2 3 rd , I put h e r on h er fe e t in h e r w a k in g state.
S h e said she n ever sh ou ld b e ab le to walk : sh e c o u ld u o t
straigh ten h e r l e g s ; it seem ed as i f a c o rd p u lled h er. 1
pu t h er o n h e r feet tw ice. W h e n sh e was m esm erised she
said it had tried h er a g o o d deal, b u t sh e sh ou ld b e ab le to
w alk . I p u t h er on h e r feet each d a y . O n A u g u s t 3 she
w alked in to a n oth er ro o m w ith s u p p o r t; and w h en I left her
o u A u g u s t 16 sh e was ab le to w alk n ea rly tw o h u n d red y a rd s
w ith m y s u p p o r t : n o t so lo n g w ith a n y o n e else, as she said
th a t m y h o ld in g h er g a v e h er a partial m esm erism .
D u rin g th is tim e we d iscov ered th at, i f b e fo re she was
p u t to sleep h e r s e lf sh e m esm erised a p erson in a n oth er r o o m ,
sh e co u ld w h en asleep see th a t person , and d escrib e th e
state o f his n erves, org a n s, & c., w h ich was v e ry co n v e n ie n t,
as sh e was th e re b y en a b led to g iv e d ia gn oses in cases o f
illn ess in w h ich she cou ld n o t have b o r n e th e pa tien t in the
sam e r o o m ; in fa ct a t least n in e p erson s o u t o f ten cross-
m esm erised h er. W h e n she th u s saw a p atien t, it was his
in tern a l n o t his ex tern a l form sh e s a w ; and th e v ision
seem ed ra th er m icro sco p ic. S h e w o u ld ex a m in e o n e o r g a n
at a tim e, a n d n o th in g seem ed t o o m in u te fo r h e r to per­
ceiv e : b u t th at th e p ercep tion was real we o fte n had p r o o f
in d e p e n d e n tly o f th e d ia gn osis sh e g a v e ; as in som e cases
m esm erism was r e co m m e n d e d , a n d she was req u ested to tell
h o w th e m esm erism acted , an d w h ich o u t o f several m es-
m erisers w ou ld su it th e p a tien t. O n th ese o cca sion s she
w ou ld tell e x a ctly h ow th e passes w ere b e in g m ade in the
ro o m b elow , w ith o th e r a ccid en ta l circu m sta n ces. O n e th in g
she alw ays m a in ta in ed , th at in seriou s cases it was o f th e
 Had ewtatic delirium : is perfectly cured. 539

u tm ost co n s e q u e n ce w h a t m esm eriser was e m p lo y e d . S o m e ­

tim es w h en several have b een tried , sh e has d ecla red th a t on e
w o u ld sooth e and cu re, th at all th e oth ers w ou ld d o b a rm •
o r th at th e n ervou s flu id w h ich th e y sent fo rth clo u d e d that
o f th e p a tien t. W h e n I ask ed h er h ow sh e saw, sh e said she
c o u ld n ot explain i t ; I sh ou ld n o t u n d ersta n d h e r : it ap­
p ea red to h er as i f th e w h ole o f w hat was in side h er shell
saw th e o b je c t.
A b o u t th is tim e sh e ex h ib ited a th ird s ta g e o f m esm erism .
O n several occa sion s w h en I h a d k ep t h e r a lo n g tim e in
co m a sh e w ou ld u tte r a slig h t m o a n , u p o n w h ich I u sed to
le t h e r c o m e o u t o f th e co m a in to th e ord in a ry state o f so m ­
n a m b u lism , B u t I fou n d th at, i f I con tin u ed to k eep h er in
co m a a fter th e m oa n in g , she w o u ld pass in to an ecsta tic
sta te, in w h ich she w ou ld sh ou t o u t and tr y to rise up to
so m e vision s sh e saw above. Iu th is state I c o u ld o n ly c o l­
le c t w hat sh e saw from w hat sh e s a id ; fo r sh e d id n o t hear
m e : a n d w h en sh e passed b a ck in to th e usu al m esm eric
sta te she k n e w n o th in g a b o u t i t ; she said it was as g rea t a
m y stery to h er as th e c o m m o n m e s m e r ic state was to h er
w h en aw ake. S h e a ppeared h ow ev er to h e b rig h te r after
b e in g put in to th is stage, and to derive real g o o d fr o m it.
I w en t aw ay and retu rn ed D e c . 2 8 th . D u r in g th is tim e
sh e h a d g ro w n s tron g er, c o u ld w a lk w ith su p p ort a b o u t tw o
h u n d re d y a rd s in th e cou rse o f th e day, b u t com p la in e d o f
p a in in th e back , and had felt slig h t n u m b n ess in th e arm .
S h e was as usual m esm erised in th ree or fou r passes, b u t at
first c o u ld n o t see h erself. T h e th ird tim e she b e g a n to see,
a n d said she had strained th e b a ck b y sittin g up, a n d sh ou ld
h ave had paralysis i f she had g o n e on .
I m esm erised her fo r m ore th a n fou r m o n th s, som etim es
tw ice , u su ally o n c e a day, k e e p in g h er a sleep b e tw e e n on e
and tw o h ours o n th e average each tim e. A ll bad sy m p tom s
a n d loca l d e b ility g ra d u a lly disappeared. B e fo r e fo u r m on th s
w ere over she was q u ite w ell, a n d a b le to w a lk m ore th an a
m ile in th e cou rse o f th e day.
D u r in g th is tim e h e r p ow er o f seein g p erson s in th e m e s­
m e r ic state in crea sed , and she still reta in ed h er p o w e r o f p r e ­
v ision in h e r ow n case.
J a n u a ry 3 1 st, 1 8 5 4 . S h e h ad b e e n u n w ell in th e d a y .
W h e n asleep she c o u ld see w liat had m a d e h er i l l : she said
th e re was in fla m m a tion in a valve o f th e h eart, w h ich had
c o n tr a c te d it, and th e b lo o d w ou ld n o t pass t h r o u g h : th a t
she sh ou ld be ill in th e m o rn in g , and n o t ab le to rise e a r ly :
a b o u t o n e o 'c lo c k she sh ou ld tu m b le d o w n ; sh e co u ld n o t te ll
t h e ex a ct tim e , as i f she w alked a b o u t it w ou ld b r in g it o n
240 Visions of her delirium.

earlier, b u t she th o u g h t it w ould n o t be b e fo r e o n e o ’ c lo c k :

th a t she m ust b e w a tch ed a n d n o t allow ed to w alk o u t : that
it w ou ld k ill a stron g m an , b u t n o t h er : th e m esm erism
w o u ld n o t stop it, as th ere was n o n erve to ca rry th e m e s­
m erism d o w n to th e valve, b u t it w ou ld do h e r g o o d a fte r­
w ards, I a cq u a in ted h e r sister w ith w hat she had said, and
o n the fo llo w in g day w en t a t a bou t forty m in u tes past ou e p.m .
I fou u d h er ly in g o u th e sofa, and was told th at sh e had b e e n
ill all th e m o r n i n g ; s o o n after o n e , sh e rose to sh u t the
d oor, and fell d o w n ; h e r sister, w h o was w a tch in g h er, was
o n ly ju s t in tim e to p reven t h er fr o m h u rtin g h e r s e lf against
th e fen d er. T h e m esm erism speedily reliev ed her.
T w o or th ree tim es w h en she has b een asleep I have r e ­
qu ested h e r to see w h at was the e ffe ct o f a m a g n e to -e le ctric
m a ch in e u p o n m y s e lf and others. S he used to say th at it
was q u ite a gross th in g co m p a re d w ith m e s m e r is m : th at it
d id n o t en ter th e n erves, bu t m erely acted u p o n th e m u scles :
th a t it w ou ld stim u late th em , and give th em b lo o d i f th ey
req u ired it. W h e n applied to th e liv er, she was su rprised at
its m ea n d erin g a b o u t th e liver, and n o t p a ssin g from p oin t
to p o in t in sta n tly as sh e ex p ected ,
I h ave fre q u e n tly trie d th e e ffe ct o f ca u sin g h e r to pass
fr o m co m a in to th e h ig h er state o f m esm erism , to w h ich I
a llu d ed b e f o r e : it g ra d u a lly b ecam e m ore d efin ed, and I
fou n d that i f n o seriou s sy m p tom s cam e ou , sh e aw oke ou t
o f it in to th e c o m m o n sta g e refreshed and b rig h te r. A s in
th e h ig h e r sta g e she ga v e n o sign o f h ea rin g m e, and w h en
sh e ca m e b a ck in to c o m m o n sleep k n ew n o th in g o f what had
passed, I c o u ld o n ly c o lle c t b y w hat she said th at sh e b e ­
liev ed she was h ea rin g b eau tifu l m u sic, seein g vision s, and
ta lk in g w ith o u e or tw o angels w h o seem ed to atten d her,
A ft e r a little tim e sh e w ou ld a ttem p t to rise up to w h at she
saw , h u t I fou n d th a t b y b re a th in g on th e sofa b e h in d I
c o u ld draw h e r b a ck and p rev en t h er risin g. S om etim es,
h ow ever, w h en in th is stage she w o u ld see a person w ho was
con sid ered d y in g , and a b o u t w hom she was in te r e s t e d ; in
w h ich case th e sy m p tom s w ere rath er alarm ing, and she u sed
to pass o ff in to a n oth er state, w ith th e arm s p e r fe c tly rig id ,
th e b re a th in g ap p a ren tly s to p p e d ; fr o m w h ich I had som e
d ifficu lty in rou sin g h er, a n d w h en arou sed sh e w ou ld say
she lo o k e d ill, and requ est to b e p u t to sleep [ i . e.t in to c o m a ] .
F ortu n a tely sh e had b e fo re this b e g u n o cca sion a lly to pass
iu to th is rig id state, and had told rue how to rou se her fro m
it, w hich was to desm esm erise her s tr o n g ly and th en pu t her
in to com a . S h e said th at w hen she was in th at rigid state
h e r spirit c o u ld n o t c o m e back . A t first sh e affirm ed th a t it
 Her view of Ike spleen’s action. 241

did n o t m a tter b e e p in g h e r in it a lo n g tim e, p rov id ed I d id

n o t g o aw ay and u sed th e p rop er m ean s to rou se h er— th e
fe e lin g was e x ce e d in g ly d e lig h t fu l; b u t latterly a fter it had
c o m e o n in co n s e q u e n ce o f som eth in g d istu rb in g h e r d u rin g
th e h ig h e r stage o f m esm erism , she said, “ I d o n ’ t th in k it
w ou ld do k e e p iu g m e t o o lo n g in that sta g e d ’
I, " W h y ? ”
A , ff I th in k perh aps m y spirit w ou ld n o t c o m e b a c k .”
I . " D o y o u m ea n y o u sh ou ld die ?”
A , “ Y o u co u ld n o t call it death : it is so v ery p lea sa n t.”
I . “ B u t y o u w o u ld have to b e b u r ie d ?”
A , “ Y e s ; I sh ou ld have to b e b u rie d .”

A s she had fre q u e n tly seen the spleen diseased in p atien ts,
and did n o t k n o w its use, she requ ested m e to a llow h er to
w atch m in e, w h ich sh e d id fo r n ea rly tw o hours, a fter a m eal.
W h a t she told m e was as follow s :—
“ T h e p osition o f th e spleen in dicates th at it is o f g rea t
con se q u e n ce . I see th e b lo o d is purer w hen it com es o u t
from th e sp leen than when it g oes in to i t : th e b lo o d in pass­
in g th ro u g h th e sp leen ch a n g es its ch aracter. T h e spleen
m in g les a secretion o f its o w n m a k in g w ith th e b lo o d . The
use o f th e org a n is n o t to receiv e th e overplu s o f th e b lo o d
from th e heart, b u t to ch a n g e th e ch a ra cter o f th e b lo o d .
T h e k id n ies and th e gla n d s receiv e secretion s from th e b lo o d ,
bu t th is giv es a secretion o f its ow n w h ich seem s to ch a n g e
th e ch a ra cter o f th e b lo o d . W h e n e v e r I see p e rso n s w ith
th eir b lo o d heavy and loaded, th ey alw ays have b a d spleen s :
th e b lo o d ca n n ot be g o o d w ith ou t th e s ecretion w h ich th e
spleen affords it.”
I n a n sw er to so m e q u estion s I pu t to h e r sh e said, “ T h e
secretion appears to m ix with all e x cep t th e red p a rt o f th e
b lo o d , as crea m m ixes w ith tea, and soften s and co r r e c ts it.
T h e secretion is n o t an a c id ; it corre cts a cid : I d o n ’ t e x a ctly
k n o w w h at an alkali is, b u t i f th e b lo o d w ere to o a cid th e
secretion w ou ld m in g le with th e a cid and n eu tra lize it. A ll
th e h lo o d in th e h eart passes th rou g h th e s p le e n ; I sh ou ld
th in k a b u c k e t fu ll in a little tim e ; b u t it d oes n o t all g o
th ro u g h d ire ctly , as i f y o u p ou red it fr o m o n e vessel in to
a n oth er, b u t it all g o e s th ro u g h b e fo re it com es h a ck to th e
h eart. I c o u ld n ot tell w h at p rop ortion th e sp leen giv es to
th e b lo o d , u n less I saw o th e r s p e c im e n s ; perh aps m ore o r
less a c c o r d in g to th e ch ara cter o f th e b lo o d . I t seem s od d
to m e w h en aw ake th at th o u g h t sh ou ld a c t u p on th e glan ds,
b u t n ow it seem s natural, becau se I see h o w th e n erves press
u p o n th e gla n d s. I f th e spleen acts d u rin g th e n ig h t as
242 Dr. Elüotson’s remarks on lhe motto.

a ctively as it is a ctin g n o w , I should, th in k it w ou ld g iv e a

g a llo n fu ll in th e tw e n ty -fo u r h ou rs : I c a n 't see w h ere it
g ets th e g a llo n fu ll fr o m — it appears to m ak e it j perh aps I
m a y fin d o u t b y w a tch in g it m orej b u t I am tired n o w .”

I n c o n c lu s io n I m a y ad d , that th e cu re e ffe cte d b y the

m esm erism seem s p erm a n en t : th e lad y is n ow w e ll, and has
b een tra v e llin g a bou t.
R , A , F . B a r r e t t , B .D .,
S e n io r F ellow o f K in g ’ s C o lle g e , C a m b rid g e.
A u g u s t 11, 1 8 5 4 ,

NOTE BY DR. E LLIO TS O N TO TUE MOTTO.

I t is la m e n ta b le fo r th e p u b lic to learn th at th e F e llo w o f

th e L o n d o n C o lle g e o f P hysician s, a gradu ate o f the U u i-
sity o f C a m b rid g e , w h o delivered th e H arveia n O ra tion so
late as th e m id d le o f 1854, displayed eith er w ilfu l and u tte r
ig n o ra n ce o f a body of thoroughly established medical truths,
o r u n b o u n d e d e ffron tery in d en y in g w h at h e k n ew to be true-
W h ic h e v e r be th e case, th e p u b lic is n o t u n lik e ly to c o n ­
sider th at, as h e m u st b e con sciou s o f th e wretchedly imper­
fect state of medicine and th e d u ty o f n e g le c tin g n o m ean s o f
im p r o v in g it, h e d isp la yed a c o ld -b lo o d e d d isrega rd o f th e
su fferin gs o f his fellow -crea tu res, w h ich , a risin g w h eth er fro m
th e a g o n isin g n a tu re o f su rgica l m easu res o r from th e ravages
o f u u rem ed ied disease, m esm erism has th e p ow er o f so w o n ­
d e rfu lly p re v e n tin g , assuaging, a n d cu rin g , w ith ou t the
sligh test d a n g e r o r even a n n oy a n ce, n ay, even w ith the m ost
co m fo rta b le fe e lin g s— w h at ca n n o t h e said o f c h lo ro fo rm ,
b listers, sin apism s, issues, seton s, em etics, p u rgatives, n a r ­
co tics, m e r c u r y , a n d th e h ost o f n a u seou s d ru g s.
T h e p u b lic is lik e ly to be am azed n o t o n ly a t a L o n d o n
p h y sicia n o f th e p resen t day a ctin g in th is w a y , h u t at his
c o n c e iv in g th a t th e C olleg e c o u ld b e in su ch a state as to
listen w ith o u t d isg u st to su ch an o u tp o u rin g . T h e p u b lic
p resu m es th a t th e C o lle g e o f P h ysicia n s con sists o f ob serv in g
a n d r e fle ctin g m en , w h o k n ow th at fa cts in scien ce or m art
m u st b e d e te r m in e d b y ob serv a tion and t r i a l; a n d sees that
D r . A ld e r s o n 's bare declamation, w ith ou t a n y a rg u m en t u p o n
th e su b ject, is n n w o r th y o f a m o m e n t’ s rega rd , and in the
case o f ch e m istry , a stron om y , or a n y o th e r s cie n ce o r art,
w o u ld b e estim a ted as id le w ind.
T h e p u b lic n o t o n ly m u st see th is, h u t m ust feel a s to -
 Dr. Alderson’ s foul language. 243

n ish ed th at, in a society su pposed to con sist o f g e n tle m e n ,

coa rse la n g u a g e sh ou ld b e ven tu red u p o n , instead o f a c o u r te ­
ou s exp ression o f d ifferen ce o f o p in io n . F o rm e rly d iscu ssion s
w ere carried on w ith a b u s e : b u t in m o d e rn days su ch a w a n t
o f d e c e n c y is n o t m e t w ith a m o n g sch olars or scien tific m en .
W h y th o se F ellow s o f th e C o lle g e a n d o th e r g e n tle m e n w h o
are k n o w n to b e con v ersa n t w ith th e truths o f m esm erism ,
a n d w h o have a n n ou n ced th eir b e lie f m od estly , th o u g h firm ly ,
a u d g iv e n th eir reason s, sh ou ld b e trea ted d iffe re n tly fr o m
th e in v estig a tors o f all o th e r scien ces, it is h a rd to gu ess,
B u t D r. A ld e r s o n w ith o u t a n y ce re m o n y fo rg e ts h im s e lf so
u n fo rtu n a te ly as to c a ll us, w h o certa in ly are iu n o re sp e ct,
in te lle ctu a l, m ora l or socia l, his in feriors, ‘■‘false and vain
discovei-ers,” " miserable b o a s te r s " mountebanks.” * T h is is
ca lcu la ted to g iv e th e p u b lic a very p o o r o p in io n o f th e in te l­
lig e n c e a n d m a n n ers o f th e C o lle g e o f P h y sicia n s. The
"Bishop o f O x fo rd , w h o was p resen t and is e q u a lly c o n v in c e d
from ex p erim en t o f th e tru th o f m esm erism w ith m y self, m u st
h ave sm iled at D r , A ld e r s o n Js display : so m ust D r , B illin g ,
D r. M a y o , D r . W a ts o n , and oth er F ellow s o f th e C o lle g e ,
a n d M r . G r e e n , fo rm e rly P resid en t o f th e C o lle g e o f Sur~

* In a lecture delivered before the College, and quoted and commented upon,
b y m yself at some length in The Zoist, No„ X X X I X . , Drt A lderson called mes­
merism the "monster delusion of the century/” said it was an "absurdity/'
" with pretensions actually superhuman:” that wc declared it could Ci cause the
spirit to shuffle off its mortal. coil, and endue a creature with a sari of omnipre­
sence and omnipotence,** and that the world u may search in vain fo r one single
well-attested practical benefitfrom the inventors of this system,'* Tolerably c o o l!
but un reproved by the College iu— 1852,
lu the H arveian O ratio n o f 1850, and quoted and com m ented upon b y m yself
in The Zokt, No- X X X I . , D r. Jo h n A rth u r W ilso n said* £J I f this or that duke,
curt, senator, knight, who trust their wives or daughters to these Indecent mes­
meric or obstetric women— of mesmeric bishops, of arch-mesmeric arch-bishops?—
allow me fo r this one dag, while I atn among my brother doctors, to hold my
tongue out of sheer disgust, out of modesty, out of m y r e v e r e n c e t o r r e l i ­
g i o n .*1 “ Get out of the way you modern patrons, you homesopathists, you
hydropathists, you visionaries, you mesmerists.”
In a lectu re p reviously delivered b y him before the College o f Ph ysician s
(see Zoist, N o . X X I I I , ) he had rEridiculed mesmerism ns an im posture som e­
tim es shewn in drawing-Tooros to fashionable dowagers w ith not h a lf the sense o f
laundry-m aids, and talked about b y Roaicrusian parsons and sem i-delirious
butlers/*
In the H arvejan O ratio n of 1848 (sec Zoist, N o , X X I I I . ) , D r. Fra n cis
H aw kins said, “ D o not quacks b unt out the vices o r infirm ities o f m ankind to
tu rn them to p ro fit, some selecting one aud some another for th eir purpose ?
Am ong quacks, the impostors, called mesmerists, are in m y opinion the especial
favourites o f those, both m ale and fem ale, in whom the sexual passions bum
stro ng ly, eith er in secret o r notoriously- D ecency forbids me to be m ore ex­
p lic it/ 1 '* Fro m these and sim ilar artifices, the physician should be carefully
rem oved and guarded : and this can hardly be accom plished except b y a sound
education, w hich w ill teach him to thoroughly abhor a ll deceit and trick/*
244 Harvey’s castigation of his opponents.

g e o n s, w h o are n o less co n v in c e d th an th e B ish o p o f O x fo rd ,

th o u g h th e y d o n o t w ork m u ch fo r th e cau se.
“ H a rv e y was m od est also, a n d lov ed tru th — n o t fo r his
ow n p re fe rm e n t, b u t fo r h er sake alon e. H is discoveries had
to b ea r th e te s t o f factiou s o p p o s it io n /’ W e to o are “ modest/*
aw are th a t th e discoveries are n o t o u r o w n : we t o o are
“ amazingly perseveringf b u t we are in tre p id in th e cause o f
n atu re’ s tru th s,— o f tru th s m ost im p o r ta n t: a n d “ not for
our own preferment” H r. A ld e r s o n w ell k n ow s, “ but for Iter
sake alone:" and we la u g h t o s c o r n all o u r u n in form ed and
u n s cru p u lo u s and self-su fficien t “ factious” o p p o n e n ts . In
m y H a rv eia n O ra tion deftvered in J u n e, 1 8 4 6 , iu ob e d ie n ce
to th e w ill o f th e fo u n d e r o f the ora tion , 1 in tr o d u c e d m es­
m erism in th e se resp ectfu l w o r d s :—

“ Let us never allow authority, conceit, habit, or the fear o f

ridicule, to make us indifferent, much less to make us hostile, to
tru th : and thus, being single-hearted lovers o f truth, and prizing
it above everythiug else, we shall all love one another. Let ns al­
ways linve before our eyes this memorable passage in Harvey’ s
works,” &c., &c.
“ ' Some are clamorous with groundless and fictitious assertions
on the authority of their teachcTS, plausible suppositions, or empty
quibbles: and some rail with a torrent of expressions which are dis­
creditable to them, often spiteful, insolent, and abusive, by which
they only display their own emptiness, absurdity, bad habits, and
want of argument (which results from sense) and show themselves
mad with sophistries opposed to reason.’ ‘ How difficult it is to
teach those who have no experience or knowledge derived from the
senses, and how unfit, to learn true science are the unprepared and
inexperienced, is shown in the opinions of the blind concerning
colours and of the deaf concerning sounds.’
“ Never was it more necessary than at the present moment to
bear all these things in mind. A body o f facts is presented to us
not only wonderfiil iu physiology and pathology, but o f the very
highest importance in the prevention o f suffering under the hands
o f the surgeon aod iu the cure o f disease. The chief phenomena
are indisputable ; authors o f all periods record them, and we all
oiirselves witness them, some rarely, some every day. The point
to be determined is whether they may he produced artificially and sub­
jected to our control: and it can be determined by experience only.
The loss o f common feeling,— anaesthesia, is but a form o f palsy,
and in it wounds give no pain. I f this condition can be induced
temporarily by art, we o f necessity enable persons to undergo sur­
gical operations without suffering. Whether the artificial production
o f those phenomena, or the performance o f the processes which so
often induce them, will mitigate or cure disease, can likewise he
determined by experience only. It is the imperative, the solemn,
duty o f the profession, anxiously and dispassionately to determine
 Dr. Alderson’s two English versions. 245

these points by experiment, each man for himself, I hare done so

for ten years, and fearlessly declare that the phenomena, the preven­
tion o f pain under surgical operations, the production o f repose and
comfort in disease, and the cure o f many diseases, even after the
failure o f all ordinary means, are true. In the name, therefore, o f
the love o f truth, in the name o f the dignity o f oar profession, in
the name o f the good o f all mankind, I implore you carefully to
investigate this important subject,”
A s I have n o t y e t seen D r . A ld e rs o n ’ s O ra tion in p rin t
and was n o t p resen t at its delivery, n ever h a v in g a tten d ed a
C o lle g e m e e tin g sin ce th e vu lgar in su lts o f D r, F . H a w k in s
in liis O ra tion , th at w ere eq u a lly n n re b u k e d w ith th ose su b ­
se q u e n tly u ttered in th e O ra tion o f D r. J. A . W ils o n , I am
o b lig e d to co n te n t m y s e lf w ith a rep ort o f it. T h e re p o rt is
u n q u e stio n a b ly a ccu rate, becau se it is given in b oth th e
Lancet and th e Medical Times, w ith th e g rea ter p a rt o f th e
w ords q u o te d b y m e so n ea rly id en tical and rem ark able th a t
n o tw o person s c o u ld have g iv en such a pair o f tra n sla tion s,
even i f th e m atter tran slated h ad n o t b een u n fa m ilia r L a tin
a n d m e re ly sp ok en . T h e y are b y th e sam e h a n d ; a n d , d i­
rectly or in d ire ctly , th ere ca n be n o q u estion th a t D r .
A ld e rso n sent an E n g lis h version, o f his L a tin to each o f th ese
tw o jo u rn a ls , w ith a few triflin g variations to co n c e a l th e ir
sou rce.
" Harvey’s Cambridge ¿raining, however, or his Paduan
te a ch in g , or even, his own bright perception, would have failed
to raise him to his pinnacle of fame, had h e w an ted Am amazing
perseverance h e w as m od est, also, a n d lov ed tru th fo r h er
sake alon e. His discoveries had to bear the test of factious
opposition: cla im in g erron eou sly h is b r ig h t exa m p le, many
a false and vain discoverer is ready to attribute each counter­
argument to envy— th at hanger-on of virtue, and to appeal to
H a r v e y ’ s p e rse cu tio n , as i f it p rov ed th e tru th o f th eir p re­
ten sion s. Miserable boasters ! opposition d oes n o t p rov e th e
truth : the final triumph only shows where it exists. W e r e it
n o t s o , th e m ost rid icu lou s ab su rd ities w ou ld, m erely b eca u se
co n tro v e rte d , seem m ost tru e. L e t n o t u u a o r d e r * y ie ld
to fallacies w h ich req u ire su ch vain a rg u m en ts for th eir su p ­
p ort : and le t n o t mesmerists, table-prophets, homceopathists,
mountebanks, or a n y o f th e trib e , p ollu te th e h o n o u re d n am e
o f H a rv e y b y cla im in g his ex a m p le to fa v ou r th eir p re su m p ­
tion , T ru th is in d e stru ctib le , an d c a n n o t b e e x tin g u ish ed
b y o p p r e s s io n : th erefore H a r v e y triu m p h ed finally.” — Medical
Times, J u ly 8 , 1 8 5 4 ; p. 4 6 ,

* T h e la le L o rd G rey over again !

VOL, xtr.
246 Dr. Alderson’ s misrepresentations.

(i Harvey’s Cambridge training, or his Paduan studies, or

his own bright perception, would have failed to raise him to
his pinnacle of fame, b u t for his amazing perseverance. L o v in g
tru th and se e k in g h e r m o s t a rd en tly , y e t his discoveries had
to bear the test of factious opposition. Many a false dis­
coverer has sin ce p resu m ed to claim h im as th eir p ro to ty p e ,
a n d attribute every counter-argument to envy— th e hanger-on
of virtue. Miserable boasters l opposition is n o ev id en ce o f
truth. Mesmerists ! table-prophets! homceopatkists! moun­
tebanks ! H a r v e y 's p e rse cu tio n c a n n o t ch a n g e y o u r fallacies
t o facts. The final triumph only shows where tru th ovists.” —
Lancet, J u ly 8 , 1 8 5 4 ; p. 17.
D r. A ld e r s o n rem in ds us, miserable boasters !” t h a t ff op­
position does not prove the truth; the final triumph only shows
where it e x i s t s t h a t tr many a false and vain discoverer,” b e ­
ca u se “ H a r v e y 's discoveries had to bear the test of factious op­
position,” “ claiming erroneously his bright example, is rea d y to
attribute each counter-argument to envy,” ” as if persecution
proved the truth of their pretensions.” N o : w e argu e n o t th u s.
D r . A ld e rso n en tire ly m isrep resen ts us. W e say th a t th e
m o st g e n e ra l op p o sitio n d o e s n o t disprove a discovery ; th a t
a sserted fa cts are n o t th e iess lik ely to b e facts b eca u se th ey
are at first op p o se d and d e n ie d : a n d we refer a m o n g a h ost
o f m ed ica l ex a m p les* to th e exa m p le o f th e lo n g and v iru len t
op p o sitio n t o H a rv e y . W e are n o t a b su rd , as D r . A ld e rso n
a b su rd ly su p p oses. T h e a rg u m en t w h ich h e uses again st u s
w as u rg e d b y th e A ld e r sons, J o h n A r th u r W ils o n s , F ra n cis
H a w k in ses, W a k le y s , B u sh n a n s, S p e n ce r W e lls e s , J o h n
F o rb e se s, a n d every sine nomine b u stler o f th e day again st
H a rv e y th a t op p o sitio n and p e rse cu tio n d id n o t p rov e th e
tru th o f h is preten sion s. N o r , w h ile op p o sitio n and p erse­
cu tio n w en t on , c o u ld H a rv e y p o in t t o final triumph as a
p r o o f o f th eir tru th .
H a p p ily fo r m a n k in d , o u r final triu m p h is n ear at h a n d ,
a n d v ery fe w m o r e Ila rv e ia n o ra to rs w ill ven tu re to c u t th e
sam e figu re as D r. A ld e r s o n , or even to m a k e a d isresp ectfu l
a llu sion to m esm erism : b u t o u r o p p o n e n ts w ill rem a in tra n s­
fixed in The Zoist fo r th e a m u sem en t o f b e h o ld e rs th ro u g h
all g e n e r a tio n s .f

* See my Hantaan Oration, p. 07 o f the E n g lish version,

t In m y Haraeian Ora lion, when speaking o f C ains, I said th a t he 11em ­
ployed his groat influence w ith M a ry to advance G o n viile H a ll to a C ollege,
enlarging this w ith a new square, and endowing it during his lifetim e, and when
old and lik e ly to love m oney, w ith estates fo r the m aintenance o f three fellow s
and tw enty scho lars.”
W ishing to refer to u iy O ratio n , and having but one copy, w hich a friend had
 ( 247 )

II. Mesmer’s Grave at Meersburg in Suabia. B y th e R ev.

C, K egan P a u l , o f E to n C o lle g e .

” A t Florence, under Demetrius Ch&lcondyloa, an Athenian, he (Linacre) learnt

Greek, which was then tioi fought at Ojfordt where it is »ow so prised and was
introduced against the fiercest opposition^ t h e . f a c t io n s o f G r e e k a a n d
Trojans c o m in g fa b h t je n tly to b l o w s . On his return from TLaly to Oxford,
he perpetrated the innovation of teaching Greek before a professorship of that
language was founded by Cardinal Wofiey ; and, after the spirits of those,
whose manners the ingenuous arts had failed to soften and preserve from asperity,
were grown cool, and Greek was taught as a matter of course, an equally furious
opposition was made by a party of the Grecians to the introduction, of a more
correct p ronunciation of their language— the Roman Catholics fighting fo r the old

asked me to lend him , and not know ing where another copy was to be found
except in the lib ra ry o f the College o f Ph ysicians, although I had p rinted a
thousand, 1 borrow ed this copy from the College, and found that some person had
w ritten , not valian tly but anonym ously, in p en cil, th e follow ing rem ark upon th at
passage, in the L a tin version—
**Error ! Halls and Colleges at Cambridge hate always been on a perfect
equality.if
T o this I re p ly , that 1 never spare pains to be accurate eith er in quoting,
observing, o r exp erim enting ; I absolutely fag. I conceived that 1 bad good
au th o rity fo r saying that the H a ll was advanced to a Collage ; I did not say ad ­
vanced in pow er o r au tho rity, b u t cfcfuaneed— the expression found b y me in my
authors and Im p lyin g perhaps io size and revenue o n ly. I f any b alls w ere united
in to one, this was called a college : and it was su rely an advance when after two
hundred years G o n ville H a ll was enlarged and enriched b y G ains, and the title
o f College given to it b y the Q ueen's perm ission.
Speed w ritin g about 1627, about seventy years after Caiue'a foundation, says
o f G o n ville HaU, “ C airo , n ew ly repairing it, obtained leave of K in g P h ilip and
Queen M a ry to be a founder, and named it G o n ville and Cuius College **
T h e w itty D r. Thom as F u lle r, w ritin g about tw en ty .-five years late r (1650),
says, “ Jo h n Cam s, D o cto r o f Ph ysic, improved the ancient Halt of G o n ville in to
a new College of hia own nam e.”
D r. A ik m , in his Biographical Memoirs of Medicine in Great Britain, says,
“ Cains obtained leave to advance G o n ville Halt in to a College, on condition o f
enlarging the in stitu tio n a t his own expense.” — p, 107.
A no ther w rite r:— M H e succeeded in 1557 in obtain in g from bis sovereign
Q ueen M a ry the pow er o f enlarging G o n ville Halt, and o f so far o riginatin g it
b y bis p rop erty as to make it a regular College/* T h e friend a t Cam bridge who
m entioned ib is to m e has forgotten the w rite r's name.
In A ekerm atm 's History of Cambridget vo l. h , p p , 81— 85, there is inform a­
tio n on these points s and it is said, “ In 1557, Jo h n C airo , who was at that
tim e p hysician to Queen M a ry, obtained pet'titission to give to G o n ville Halt the
title o f a C o lle g e & c.
I have every reason to believe that the pencilled rem ark m the College copy
o f m y O ratio n was w ritten b y D r, A ldcrson, fo r be had ju s t before borrow ed m y
O ratio n from the College lib ra ry , he is a Cam bridge m an, and is exactly the
person to do such a thing. O n ly one other Fe llo w has, as fa r as I cau learn ,
bod out m y O ratio n since I presented it to the C o lle g e : for I gave 6 copy
to every Fe lio w in Lo nd on . T h is was D r. Fo rm b y, o f L ive rp o o l, w ho, I
hear, is n early b lin d , and n o t lik e ly to have read the L a tin , and s till less to hare
troub led him self to w rite In a borrow ed w ork,
A tittle cross was placed opposite three o r tour L a tin words. I f this im plied
that the L a tin was not good, the crosam aker displayed a very m oderate nc quoin tr­
ance w ith the language o f Cicero.
248 Greek formerly not allowed in Oxford,
pronunciation, the Protestantsfor the new— Bishop Gardiner, sit the authority of
the king and council, whipping, degrading, and expelling those who refused to con­
tinue the corrupt sound», and declaring that, r a t h e r t h a n a l l o w t h e in n o ­
v a t io n or T H E IM PRO VED , IT W OULD B E BET T ER FO R THE C e B EK TONGUE TO
be b a n is h e d f r o m t h r U n iv e r s it y .” 1j Rabelais, whi> was twenty years
younger than Liuacre, and, though generally known only a* an incorrigible wit,
was a prodigy of learning and science and an eminent physician, published and
lectured upon Hippocrates and Galen, and was hated and abused by all his
French brethren on account of his extraordinary merit, ‘ particularly because he
studied Greek,’ t h e n o v e l t y of that language making them esteem it not only
barbarous but A n t ic h r is t ia n .” *

W e left the boat, the quaint old street.

To climb where frowns the castle hill
A nd drawbridge, o'er the cotton mill,
O ’er noise o f shuttles Jneath their feet.

Though far above us all things told

O f warrior lords and iron knocks,
The torrents cried from quarried rocks,
“ The new age undermines the old.”

Up, past these towers to other halls,

Dismantled home o f princely priest,
W here mingled tones o f prayer and feast
Still seem to lurk on curtained walls;

Up, higher up, we came, where vines

Euclasp the rude-hewn crucifix,
A nd summer suns and showers mix
Their golden glory into wines;

lip, higher up, we saw the wave

Reflect the mountain’s rosy show,
W e found a churchyard haked in glow,
A nd there we stood by Mesmer’ s grave.

* The fforeeiau Oration, delivered before the Royal College of Physician*,

London^ June 27 th, 184G, By John Elliotson, M.D., Cantab* F.R-S-, Fellow
of the College. With an English Version and Notes: pp. 38, 39.
It gives us pleasure to see that thy bitterness of Mr. Wakley towards Dr*
Ellioteoo has declined. For in the Lancet of June 17, 1854 j p, 647, in an
address lately delivered at Nottingham by Dr. Marshall Hall on his return from
America, is a quotation of many lines from Dr* Eiliotsoo’s Orati on, introduced
in these words,— ** Let empiricism, except a very enlightened empiricism, cease.
Above all things, adopt the precepts of the immortal Harvey, as quoted by an
illustrious living physician.” When the language used by Mr. Wakley in bis
Lancet respecting this Oration is remembered (see Z oist, No, XXIV., p. 402),
the insertion of any passage from it, and especially of such complimentary expres­
sions, is a matter of astonishment. Mesmerism now makes giant strides.—-Zoht»
 Canning and Perceval scoffed at Med, Jurisprudence. 249

A pleasant re s t! for him who sought

To lift the veil from Nature’ s face.
A nd bore the laugh of all his race
W h o dread results o f honest thought,

A pleasant r e s t! and we, for whom

The laws he groped for dimly dawn.
The breakings o f a glorious morn,
May learn in standing near his tomb

To toil in patience, till the gold

O f sunrise light the hills o f truth,
For science aye renews her youth,
" The new age undermines the old.”

III. A remarkable case of Cure of Lameness from infancy,

through Ike agency of Clairvoyance. By the Rev. J ames
P eed, A .B ., Trin. Col. Dubl., Rector of the Union o f
Hareiown, County W exford.*
*' Dr. Andrew Duncan, jun., was the first professor of medical jurisprudence
in any British University. His venerable father had for gome years previous
urged its importance on the public, and even delivered, I believe, a course of
private lectures : but it was not until 18G6 that Dr. Duncan, jun., received his
appointment.’* “ It was for this appointment that the Fox. ministry of that day
were so much reviled/4 ** In the House of Commons, June 30r 1807» Mr*
Perceval, in moving for the renewal of the finance committee, took occasion to
attack the abolition ministry, which had just been turned out. Among other
things he said, 4 He should not dwell in detail upon all the acts of the late admi­
nistration, but be confessed himself at a loss to understand what they could mean
by the appointment of a Professor of Medical .Turisprode nee. He acknowledged
that be was ignorant of the daty of that Professor, and could not comprehend
what was meant by the science he professed/ On the same day Mr. Canning
said, fi He could alone account for such a nomination by supposing that alter a
long debate, in the swell of insolence, and to show how far they could go, they
had said, 4W© will shew them what we can do—we will create a Professor of
Medical Jurisprudence/—Stoekdale’a Annual Register, 1807. pp, 206 r 210."
Elem ent# c f M ed ical Juvieprndetice, by T. R. Beck, M,D. Introduction.f

D u b lin , 2 8 t h J u ly , 1 8 5 4 .
M y dear Sir,— I n compliance with your wish, I give you,
somewhat in detail, the facts respecting the remarkable case
o f clairvoyance, o f which I communicated the heads when I
had lately the pleasure o f calling on you in town.

* See Mr. Feed’s interesting account of bis visit to London and the Mesmeric
Infirmary, in No. XXXIX.— Z $ isi.
f Every medical school has now long had such a professor, and every can­
didate for a medical examination been compelled to attend such a course of lec­
turer—Z oisl,
250 Accurately describes what she had never known.

A ll the facts of the case I can give from my personal

knowledge, and have reason to thank this wondrous faculty
o f clairvoyance, as the means— under the divine blessing— o f
conferring a signal benefit on a member o f my family.
In the beginning o f September last, as nearly as I can
recollect, I was requested by a Mrs. A . to call to see her
daughter, Miss A., who was at the time under the care o f an
eminent Dublin surgeon, Dr. E., and had once been a patient
o f mine, when suffering under a severe attack o f illness by
which she had all but lost the sight o f her left eye, though
this was happily restored by the agency o f mesmerism.
Miss A. had for years been confined to her couch in spinal
disease; and, when I called on her, suffered in addition from
a contraction of the left leg. W ith the permission o f her
medical attendant, a professed unbeliever in mesmerism— I
proposed to mesmerise Miss A. three times a week, for a fort­
night: Dr. E . kindly volunteering to discontinue for that
period his own treatment and watch the result o f m ine—
which he looked upon, at least, as harmless.
Before the expiration of the fortnight, the contraction o f
the leg was removed, and Dr, E. called on me to fix a day to
meet at the residence o f his patient.
Miss A . was readily put into the true mesmeric coma,
and while in that state was extremely lucid, generally o f her
own accord conversing during the entire sitting.
A day or two before Dr. E . called on me, Miss A ., during
her mesmeric sleep, was speaking on indifferent subjects—
when, abruptly turning towards me, she asked, “ W h y does
not Mr. P.” (meaning myself,) “ get something done for his
sister ?”
“ His sister ” I replied, “ is in very good health."
“ Oh, you know what I mean— his sister-in-law.”
“ W hat is the matter with h er?”
“ W h y don't you know she is lame ? her foot when she
rests on it, bends so,” (illustrating the affection on her own
foot— the same foot by the way on which my sister-in-law was
lame,) “ she has not you know a club foot, there is no distor­
tion, Dr. E. cured a lady of 40 years of age the other day, o f
a club fo o t; he can easily cure M r. P's. sister-in-law.”
" W hen did she become lame?”
“ Let me see— she certainly was not b om so— her foot got
an injury when she was a mere child at nurse— Dr. E . can
cure it easily.”
I confess I was much surprised at Miss A .'s minute acquaint­
ance with the ailment o f one of m y sisters-in-1 aw. Miss A . had
never seen her, nor had I mentioned one word about her.
 Her anatomical accuracy astounds. 251

W hen Miss A . was awake, I questioned her about my

sister-in-law, but she was, as I anticipated, in perfect igno­
rance o f h er; and I did not o f course allude to the conversa­
tion that had just passed, o f which she evidently retained no
recollection in her normal state.
On Dr. E.Js calling on me, as I have said above, I told
him the communication Miss A . had made to me, and we
agreed to test her as fully as possible on the subject.
Accordingly Dr, E. and I met a few days after at Miss
A .’ s residence; at his request, and, with Miss A.Js permission,
I put her into the state of sleep-waking. Leaning on my
arm, she was able to walk across the room— a thing which she
could not attempt without vigorous assistance when awake—
and Dr. E., having first tested the completeness o f the removal
o f all contraction o f the leg, proceeded to put some questions
to Miss A . respecting the extent and nature of my sister-in­
law's lameness.
To these Miss A . replied accurately and without hesitation
— tracing on her own foot the tendons, &c., affected— placing
at his request, her finger on the seat o f the malady, and
shewing the sinews secondarily, as well as those primarily,
engaged. After undergoing a searching and minute exami­
nation on the subject, she walked back with me to the sofa—
when I awoke her.
On leaving with Dr. E., I told him that my sister-in-law—
whom he had not yet seen— had for years been under treat­
ment by some o f the most eminent members o f the faculty in
Dublin, and that her case had been for some considerable
time past given up as hopeless. Dr, E . replied that he would
examine the case, and, if it proved one on which he could
pronounce favourably, he would perform the requisite opera­
tion.
M y sister-in-law came, at my request, to Dublin, and met
D r. E. at my house. Dr. E., after examining her foot atten­
tively, declared Miss A . must have seen it when she was
awalte. H e then corrected himself and said it was a foolish
observation, (as indeed it was,) for that no one but an ana­
tomist o f experience could have given the description o f the
foot that Miss A . had given him, and which, with unfeigned
astonishment, he pronounced to be wonderfully correct. Dr.
E. then described the necessary operation, and fixed the day
on which he would perform it.
Meanwhile, I again mesmerised Miss A., and questioned
her on the nature o f the proposed operation and its probable
result.
She told me the operation itself would he a mere trifle—
252 Predicts with equal accuracy.

but that immediately after it my sister-in-law would suffer

much pain all along the le g ; that this could he at once re­
moved by mesmerism; that the after treatment,, in which
some surgical machinery must he used, would he both tedious
and tryin g; that in three weeks my sister-in-law would be
able to walk down stairs without assistance, but that it would
take three mouths before her cure would be complete.
In every one of the above particulars, Miss A .’ s predic­
tions turned out accurately correct— as I can myself testify,
my sister-in-law staying at my house while under Dr. E .’s
kind and skilful treatment. N or had Dr. E. or myself had any
communication on the subject with Miss A. in her normal state,
I must add that subsequently from time to time I mes­
merised Miss A . with a view to ascertain her opinion on the
progress o f my sister-in-law's cure. She always told me how
matters were going on, and generally let me know before
hand of any change of treatment. Indeed, on one occasion,
I had just reached home after having mesmerised Miss A.,
before Dr. E. had concluded his visit, and I said. D r. E., you
are going to prescribe so and so this morning— telling him
what Miss A . had just been telling me. Some members o f
my family who were in the room burst out laughing, and told
me I had repeated almost in Dr. E.’ s own words the direc­
tions he had just been giving.
Some time after my sister-in-law’ s cure had been effected,
I asked Miss A . when in her sleep-waking state, how she
could have known anything about the case, She replied at
once, if It was very easy— the foot with bared nerves, sinews,
veins, &c., came before me on the cloud— I could trace them
all with ease.”
Oddly enough she fancies in the mesmeric state that she
floats on a luminous cloud, far above her body and our earth.
I have now, my dear Sir, given you a brief detail of this
very curious case, and I had hoped that Dr. E. would have drawn
up au account of the case himself, as far at least as the facts
came under his personal knowledge. This he at once, when
I applied to him, agreed to do, though, as still, a disbeliever in
mesmerism. But he put off doing so from time to time, until
at length, as he pleaded fault o f memory and unwillingness to
have any remarks o f his made public, I thought it better to
give the statement as well as I was able in my own words.
You are aware o f Dr. E.’ s address, in case you would wish
to refer to him to procure more minute information on the
subject,
I remain, my dear Sir,
Faithfully yours,
Dr. Elliotson, J a m e s Pised.
 ( 253 )

IV . Case o f Leprosy cured with Mesmerism. B y the Rev.

J effery E kins , Rector o f Sampford, Esses.
“ U m b r e l l a s .— An umbrella is described in early dictionaries, as a “ portable
pent-house to carry in a person*s hand to screen him from violent rain or beat."
Umbrellas are very ancient« It appears by the earrings at Persepolis that um­
brellas were used at very remote periods by the eastern princes. Niebhur, who
visited the southern parts of Arabia, informs us that he saw a great prince of
that country returning from a mosque, preceded by some hundreds of soldiers,
aud that he and each of the princes of his numerous family caused a large um­
brella to be carried by his side« The old china-ware in our pantries and cup­
boards shews the Chinese shaded by an umbrella« It is said, that the first person
who used an umbrella m the streets of London was the benevolent Jonas Hanw&y,
who died itj 1786. For a long while it wag not usual for men to carry them
without Incurring the brand of effeminacy» At first, a single umbrella seems to
have been kept at a coffee-hou&a for extraordinary occa&ious—lent as a coach or
chair in a heavy shower, but not commonly carried by the walkers» The Female
Toiler advertises, *The young gentleman belonging to the custom-bouse who, in
fear of rain, borrowed the umbrella from Wil&ft coffee-house, shall the next time
be welcome to the maid's pattens.’ As late as 1788, one Job a Macdonald, a
footman, who wrote his own life, informs us that he had a hue silk umbrella,
which he brought from Spain ; but he could not with any comfort to himself use
it, the people calling out—1Frenchman i why don't you get a coach?1 The fact
was, the hackney-coachmen and chairmen, joining with the true esprit de corps,
were clamorous against this portentous rival« The footman, in 1788, gives us
some further information. f At this time, there were no umbrellas worn in
London, except ia noblemen's and gentlemen13 houses, where there was a large
one hung in the hal! to hold over a lady, if it rained, between the door and her
carriage/ This man’s sister was compelled to quit his arm one day, from the
abuse he drew down on himself and on his umbrella» But he add? that1he per­
sisted for three mouths, till they took no notice of this novelty. Foreigners
began to use theirs, and then the English. Now it is become a great trade in
London«’ —National Advertiser, Jau. 14, 1854.
“ A correspondent of the Durham Advertiser says, it is reported that the
Rev* Peter Barlow, incumbent of Codcfield, has given so much offence to several
of hie parishonore by wearing his beard, that they have discontinued their attend­
ance at church 11’— Newspaper, 1854.

Sion House, Tunbridge Wells,

August 17tb, 1854.
M y dear Sir,— I beg to forward at your request the notes
I took of a case of severe cutaneous disease. The result is, I
must confess, passing strange to m yself; it Las, moreover,
excited not only the wonder but the interest and confidence
of the neighbourhood in which I live. I have in consequence
o f this one case had many applications, so numerous, and
some indeed from such a distance, that I could not attend to
them.
One thing I wish to observe with respect to Daniel
Andrews. I never saw any one so patient under severe suf­
ferings, so confident o f being cured, and so grateful for any
relief or mitigation o f pain I was instrumental in procuring
for him. I dwell very much on the quality of gratitude be-
254 Mesmeric patients generally grateful.

cause I have found, by experience, that poor people seldom

think o f their benefactors after they have received a benefit,
whereas I have remarked that mesmeric patients at the in­
firmary and elsewhere, retain a lively and thankful remem­
brance o f the mercies vouchsafed to them by Providence
through the medium o f a fellow creature. May not the mys­
terious communication which conveys not only vitality, but
beneficent feelings, from the operator to the afflicted, tend to
enhance the moral as well as physical efficacy of the mesmeric
influence ?
X am, dear sir.
Yours very truly,
Dr. Elliot son. J effery E kinr ,

Daniel Andrews, labourer, will be 69 years o f age next

M ay. H e has the leprosy in the right leg, having caught
cold after working in a ditch ten days, at the beginning o f
Dec. 27th, 1852, The complaint gradually spread all over
his b od y ; he suffered a great deal of pain and had very little
sleep, being tormented with a burning sensation. He lives
in the adjoining parish o f Old Samp ford, and I did not hear
o f his state till some time after he was attacked with this dis­
ease ; but, on being informed by the Vicar o f his parish (who
had visited the Mesmeric Infirmary in London, and was dis­
posed to admit the efficacy o f mesmerism) that the man was
a great sufferer, and that I might possibly be able to relieve
him, I went to see him.
Feb. 2nd. I mesmerised him for half an hour, making
passes (without contact) from the knee to the toes. The leg
was much swelled and inflamed, being o f a reddish purple
colour which was overspread with a scurfy-scaly crust, and
the skin from the ancle downwards was thickly covered with
a white mealy-lookiug powder.— H e suffered much pain,
he told me, after I left him, and he slept badly the three
following nights. On the fourth night he had relief, and a
place in the middle o f the fore part o f his leg which I ob­
served to look more angry than the rest of the leg, broke out
into a sore which discharged freely.
Feb. 6th, I mesmerised his leg again as before. The sore
looked angry and was still discharging more freely (as the
patient said) than when it first broke out. A fter a few passes
the reddish purple colour from the knee to the middle o f the leg
disappeared, and he fe lt “ dashes” — shooting pains, lower down
the leg towards the ancle. The disappearance o f the angry
colour was noticed by the patient and his daughter who lives
with him, o f their own accord.
 The pain brought towel' and lower. 255

Being absent from home I did not see him till March
11th.
March 11th. H e told me he had suffered less during this
interval. 1 mesmerised him for forty minutes. The pain is
still descending and is less violent, and he enjoys better nights.
15th. I mesmerised him as before. He was much re­
lieved ; the swelling o f the leg is greatly reducedj and the
mealy-looking crust which covered his foot is beginning to
disappear. H e suffers less pain, and this is mostly felt at the
ancle. This man, who had never heard o f mesmerism, spon­
taneously affirmed that the passes alone had done him good.
His daughter as well as himself again noticed the change which
had taken place in the colour of the leg during the lime I was
making the passes, which I continued) as at first, from the
knee downwards without contact and without any intention
or endeavour to put him to sleep,
21st, H e told me that on the evening o f the 15th, the
pain enereased, but it was succeeded by relief. To-day the
sensations were as u s u e J . During mesmerisation shooting
and shifting pains were felt towards the toes. The pain seems
to rest in the instep. The leg is less swelled and less dis­
coloured. H e still constautly affirms that the passes arc
doing him good.
M arch 28th. About three hours after he was last mes­
merised he felt heat and pain in the foot, that continued at
intervals during the night. He was better the next day and
continued so till to-day, when I found the leg o f a less angry
colour, the skin not so scurfy, and the foot less covered with
powder. The pain is now advanced tovmrds the toes. Hitherto
he had with difficulty crawled about his cottage with the help
of a crutch and a stick: now he walks about with comparative
ease in his garden and in the adjoining field. I mesmerised
him for half an hour. H e declares he feels himself better,
and is confident o f being cured. The sore which broke out
in the middle of his legs after the first mesmerisation has
been healed some time, and is still skinned over, scarcely pre­
senting the appearance o f a scar. The parish apothecary, who
has no objection to my attendance on his patient, told me
that he had the water brash, and he (the doctor} found that
sulphur had no effect in mitigating the cutaneous affection, and
that he had resorted to arsenic and liquor potasse apparently
with as little success. Andrews for some time has ceased to
be under the apothecary’s treatm ent; and he only occa­
sionally took some opening medicine given by the apothecary
when it was wanted.
April 1st. H e continues to have good nights. The colour
256 Peculiar appearance of mes?nerised water.

o f the leg improves. H e walks about with still greater ease)

but does not lay aside bis crutch and stiek. H e evidently
feels himself better in every way. 1 mesmerised him a quarter
o f an hourj finishing with strong quick passes which he said
caused the " dashes13 to be felt in ¿be ancle on the right side
where the sensation, scarcely amounting to pain, is situated.
5 th. I found him suffering severely from distention and
pain of the stomach arising from acidity. After strong retch­
ings he vomited about half a piut o f brown liquid like rhubarb
in colour. I made passes over the stomach) and he was
somewhat relieved. His leg looks much better and is almost
free from pain. I made passes over it at his request. He
went to his church on the preceding Sunday— a distance o f
nearly a quarter of a mile,— and he thinks this attack was
brought on by fatigue and exposure to the eold, I was with
him three quarters o f an hour
8th. I found him free from paiu in the stomach. It left
him the day after my last visit. The leg still improves iu
appearance; the pain is lessened, and is removed from the
ancle joint towards the Utile toe. I found him walking iu the
field next his cottage with tolerable ease, supported by his
crutch and stick. H e said o f his own accord that he would
walk to my house, a mile and a half distant, in a week's time.
13th, H e sleeps a great deal better at night. His leg is
now reduced to its natural size, and in colour it differs very
little from the other. The sensation o f paiu (still very slight)
is brought down to the instep towards the little toe. H e
feels “ dashings” on that part most when the strong quick
passes are being made. H e is very sanguine and grateful,
still urging his intention o f walking to my house.
15th. H e continues to sleep well. The leg lias nearly re­
gained its natural colour. The powder is almost entirely gone
from the foot. H e drinks (as he did from the first) water
which I mesmerise and put into a bottle before I make the
passes over his leg. H e also bathes the leg and foot with
mesmerised water.
18th. He complained o f heat in the instep. After the
usual passes I put a rag soaked in mesmerised water on the
instep and gave him some to drink. His daughter, on seeing
me mesmerise the water, noticed bubbles rising from the
bottom o f the ju g and bursting near the surface. Some time
after the water was poured into a bottle, we all casually look­
ing at the bottle observed a quantity of bubbles rising to the
top, as if an effervescence was going on*. Andrews in-
v See Mr, E kins’s former observations of the same kind in Nos, X L., X L I.
— Zoat,
 Leprous appearance nearly y one. 257

variably sleeps as muck as five hours a night, whereas before I

saw him, he did m l, as he told me, sleep more than one hour a
night in ike whole course o f the week.
24th. The leg appeared rather more discoloured) but not
inflamed. H e felt “ dashes” as soon as I began the slow
passes. W hen at the beginning of the séance I mesmerised
the water in the jug) his daughter saw only a few small
bubbles. W h en it was poured into the bottle, it wa3 quite
stillj but twenty minutes after, we all (four persons) observed
the appearance o f a slight effervescence. The hubbies were
distinct and followed each other quickly, bursting as they
reached the surface.
M ay 3rd. H alf an hour after my last visit, Andrew’ s son-
in-law on entering the cottage was desired by Andrews to
look at two bottles of water standing in the window, one o f
them being filled with water as it had been drawn from the
well, the other with mesmerised water.* H e immediately
observed that bubbles were quickly rising in the bottle con ­
taining the mesmerised water. During the interval between
the last and present visit, Andrews had suffered a return o f
his pain and had vomited bile.
9th, Andrews is better again. H e insists on walking to
ray house ou Friday the 12th. There was thunder and hail
during this day ; net bubbles were seen in the mesmerised
water.
12th. He did walk to my house, and, on examining his
leg, I found it much less discoloured. I mesmerised him for
a quarter o f au hour. The “ dashings” were less frequent
and less violent whilst I was making the passes.
16th. I found him at his cottage not the worse for his
walk to ray house and back, three miles. X mesmerised him
for twenty minutes, and before I left off his daughter ob­
served that the inflamed appearance on the instep was much
diminished. H e felt twinges as soon as I began the passes.
He says the pain is gradually descending.
19th. H e moves about his cottage with tolerable ease
without stick or crutch. H e felt only one slight twinge in his
ancle during the passes. The leprous appearance o f the
instep is nearly gone. Five minutes after I poured mes­
merised water into two bottles, the bubbles were seen to rise
as before, and continued to rise for tweuty-five minutes. I
have since been told by him that the bubbles continued to
rise more numerously fitter I left till eight o’ clock, when he
went to bed. His daughter and son-in-law also saw the same.

* j\tq suggestion was made as to what was to be seen*

258 Pronounced convalescent by the surgeon.

2 3 r d . He walked again to my house: on th is as w ell as on

the form er o c c a s io n h e w a lk ed w ith th e help o f a stick o n ly .
I m esm erised h im as u su a l. T h e passes b r o u g h t o n the
“ dashes” w h ich w ere d raw n tow ards th e toes.
2 6 th . I m esm erised h im as usual. H e h a d walked to his
church without fatigue. H e declares th at h e feels d e c id e d ly
b etter, and th e parish a p oth eca ry w h o ch a n ced to see him.
p ro n o u n ce d h im to b e convalescent.
J u n e 5 th . H e had n o t been so w ell s in ce m y last visit.
T h e le g lo o k e d in flam ed, a n d the pain had risen to th e m id ­
d le o f th e leg . I had o n a fo rm e r occa sio n g iv e n h im n u x
v om ica fo r th e a cid ity o f stom ach to w h ich h e was su b je ct.
T h e d ose was tw elv e g lob u les dissolved in n in e tea sp oon fills
o f w ater, o n e te a sp o o u fu l to b e ta k e n th rice a d a y .* A fte r
ta k in g this dose, h e said h e felt a heavy sen sa tion in the
lim b s and drow sin ess. A ft e r a q u arter o f an h o u r 's m e sm e -
risation , th e p a in sh ifte d t o th e in step and th e a n g r y c o lo u r
g rea tly a b a ted . D u r in g th e passes h e fe lt tw in g es w h ich
gradu ally w ere draw n d o w n to th e to e s . W a t e r five m in u tes
after it was m esm erised b e g a n to effervesce, a n d c o n tin u e d to
d o so five m in u te s m ore,
10th . H e is d e c id e d ly b etter. H e slept w e ll o n th e n ig h t
o f th e 5th , a n d o n th e 7 th h e observed th at h is le g had lo st its
a n g ry e o lo n r. H e ta k es nux. vom ica on ce {o n e tea sp oon fu l)
at n ig h t, a n d d oes n o t feel th e sam e sen sations as w h e n he
to o k it th rice a d a y . T h e m esm erised w ater b e g a n to e ffe r­
v esce at o n ce , a n d I saw it con tin u e to d o so d u r in g m y visit
o f fo r t y m in u tes. T h is e ffe ct was also n o tic e d b y a little b o y ,
b y A n d re w s, a n d his d a u g h ter.. I m esm erised h im fo r
tw e n ty m in u tes ; lie fe lt th e tw in g e s follow th e d ir e c tio n o f
m y fingers. A b o u t h a lf an h ou r after, I ca lled a ga in a t th e
co tta g e w ith m y w ife w h o clea rly saw th e b u b b le s w h ich w ere
still risin g in th e b o ttle . A n d re w 's d a u g h ter saw th e m im ­
m ed ia tely w h en I b e g a n m esm erisin g th e w a ter in th e ju g .
1 4 th . I n less th e n th ree m in u tes after I b e g a n m es­
m erisin g th e le g , A n d re w s {w ho was lo o k in g a t th e c lo c k )
felt tw in g es m o v in g fr o m th e in step t o th e to e s . V e r y few
and fa in t b u b b le s w ere seen in th e w ater b y h is d a u g h te r.
T h e re is th u n d e r in th e air. O n th e last o c c a s io n th e w ater
was seen b u b b lin g a t seven o ’c lo c k in th e e v e n in g b y tem ­
per sons.
19th . In less th an a m in u te he fe lt th e tw in g es w h ich are
m ore fain t ea ch tim e o f m esm erisation . W h ils t I was m a k in g

* This quantity was recommended by & clergyman in the neighbourhood,

who adopts homoeopathic treatment in his parish with success
 The use of the parson1s passes doubted. 259

th e passes, th e c o lo u r o n th e in step g rew p a ler, a n d th e w h ole

le g is o f a b e tte r c o lo u r sin ce th e last visit. T h e m esm erised
w ater h a d n o t b e g u n to b u b b le w h en I le ft. L a s t tim e it
c o n tin u e d to b u b b le s tro n g ly till sev en o 'c lo c k , a n d w e n t o n
in th e sam e w a y a fte r th e c o r k was ta k en o u t o f t h e b ottle.
2 4 th . H e has im p rov ed g rea tly sin ce th e last visit. T h e
sen sa tion in th e in step sca rcely a m ou n ts t o p a in . H e sleeps
c a lm ly and u n d istu rb ed ly at n ig h t, and is n o t fo r c e d , as h e
was a t first, t o th ru st his le g ou t o f th e b e d c lo th e s in o rd e r
t o c o o l a n d q u iet th e b u rn in g agon ies h e u sed to suffer. T h e
m esm erised w ater b e g a n to send up sm all b u b b le s b e fo re I
le ft. O n m y last v isit th e y b eg a n tw o h ou rs a fter I w en t,
a n d c o n tin u e d to w ork tw o h ours m ore.
J u ly 3 r d . T h o u g h I had n o t seen h im for m o re th an a
w eek , th e le g was m u ch b e tte r in ap p ea ra n ce. H e still sleeps
w ell. W it h in th re e m in u tes after I b eg a n to m esm erise, h e
fe lt fain t tw in g es dow n th e le g .*
8 th . H e fe lt th e sam e tw in g es in th e fo o t in less th a n a
m in u te fr o m th e tim e th e passes b e g a n . H e d o e s n o t n ow
su ffer from a cid ity o f stom ach .
1 5 th . T h e sa m e sen sations as b efore, T h is is m y la st
v i s i t : fr o m first to last, I m esm erised h im b e tw e e n th e h ours
o f fo u r and five. D u r in g the tim e I visited h im , h e saw
m a n y p erson s, w lio w ere m u ch su rprised a t se e in g th e p r o ­
g re ss h e h a d m a d e, fo r it was g e n era lly b e lie v e d th a t h is case
w a s iu c u r a b le as th e " d o c t o r ” c o u ld d o n o th in g m ore fo r
h im . H e was re p e a te d ly asked, esp ecia lly b y th e D issen ters,
i f h e th o u g h t th a t th e “ parson ’ s” passes had d o n e h im a n y
good. H is re p ly in v a ria b ly was, “ I d o n ’ t th in k , b eca u se 1
k n ow it.” O n th e fo llo w in g w eek A n d r e w s was w ell en ou g h
t o g o to to w n to see h is son, and o n W e d n e s d a y 19th , h e
ca lle d b y m y d esire at th e M e s m e ric In firm a ry w h ere h e was
e x a m in ed , a n d th e ca se was p ron ou n ced to b e satisfactory.
JEFFEB.Y E k INS.

V. A few wonts in favour of Mesmerism. B y th e R ev.

C harles B ohun S m yth , V ic a r of Alfriston, near
L ew es.
“ Witness the e f f s e t produced by the well-earned triumph of the yacht
jfm e r ic a . Five years before, some of our leading yacht’a-men and most cele­
brated yacht builders had their attention called to the subject of hollow bows,

* The Vicar o f Old Samp ford in the course of his customary visits called on
him between six and seven on June 24th, and distinctly saw the bubbling of the
mesmerised water.
260 Stupid obstinacy of oar shipbuilders.
with a hint that, if they continued to refuse to adopt them, the result would be,
that; sooner or Inter, their crack craft would get disgracefully beaten« The friendly
warning was received with contempt and derision. One well'known builder
wrote o work on ship building, containing the usual orthodox platitudes on—new
f a n g l e d n a t i o n s , —p r e s u m p t i o n o f t h e s e w h o s e t a s i d e t h e a u t h o r i t y o f a y e s ,— f o l l y
o f a b a n d o n i n g r a l e s s a n c t i o n e d b y e x p e r i e n c e , S fc.t $ f c . The same year which
witnessed the publication of this book witnessed the victory of the A m e r i c a * fur*
uiabiog an appropriate commentary on tbs wisdom of the writer«
“ We are now (1853) busily engaged in building Screw line-of-battle ships,
but, instead of beiug in our proper position—the l e a d e r s of the world —we are
become f o l l o w e r s , in the wake of the Americana and the French« In 1837, Capt.
Ericsson (who subsequently introduced the Screw in the United States) with a
small Screw vessel only 45 ft« long and 8 ft- wide, towed the Admiralty barge,
with their Lordships on board, from Somerset House to Blackwall Wharf, at the
rate of 10 miles an hour. Notwithstanding the highly satisfactory result of the
experiment, Capt. Ericsson was told, in a reply which the subsequent success of
the Screw lias already rendered historical» *fAaf t h e i r L o r d s h i p s d e c l i n e d t o en*
t e r fa in , t h e p r o j e c t V One would have supposed that the vast superiority of the
Screw over the Paddle-wheel, for vessels of war, would have been seized at a
glance, but eotne are afflicted with weak vision; and, as Schiller so forcibly and
happily expresses it, ‘ Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens/
1 Alas! there la no possibility for poor Columbus at any of the Public Offices?
till once he become an Actuality, and say Miere IS the America I was telling
you of.'— Carlyle's Life of Cromwell«” O n E c o n o m y o f F u e l , p a r t i c u l a r l y w i t h
r e fe r e n c e , to J te v e r b e m io r y F u rn a ces f o r th e m a n u fa c tu r e o f Iro n , a n d to S tea m
By T« Symes Prideaux, Esq., author of various papers in
B o ilers. T h e Z o is t*
London, 1853.

TO TUB E D IT O R OP THE Z O IS T ,

V ica ra g e , A lfr is to n , S u ssex,

J u n e 1 4 tb , 1 8 5 4 .
S m ,— E v e r y tilin g p rogresses in scien ce, a rt, am i m e ­
ch an ics, and w h at was o n c e valu able in a stro n o m y , law ,
m ed icin e, and p o lity , is n o t o n ly n o lo n g e r reg a rd ed , b u t
alm ost qu ite fo r g o tte n . A s a h u m b le frie n d to m y afflicted
race, I can t r u ly affirm , Humani nihil a me aKenum pula.
“ Jam jam efficaci do tnanus scientitB.” I particip a te n o t in
th e h u e and c r y raised a gain st th e a ston ish in g pow ers p u t
fo rth b y th e h e a lin g w and. L e t oth ers profess w hat th e y
please, and in sist, " Non permadebis, eiiamsi persuaseris." A s
fo r m y self, I w ill reason lik e th e fa r-s e e in g G a m a liel, an d
a d op t his p ru d en tia l m a x im , an d ca u tion ce rta in p eop le as
th e H e b re w d id , n a m e ly , “ A n d n ow I say u n to y o u , refra in
from these m en , and le t them a lo n e ; fo r i f th is c o u n s e l o r
th is w ork be o f m en , it w ill c o m e to n o u g h t ; b u t i f it be o f
G o d (n o t o f S atan , th e en em y o f m a n ), y e c a n n o t overth row
it .” A c t s v.
Is n ot th is view , som e m ay ask, a m ere a ssu m p tion o n m y
p a rt,— a pclilio principii ? T h e on u s o f p ro v in g m a y b e m in e ,
b u t th e on u s o f d isp rov in g con cern s th e o p p o site th in k ers.
O n e th in g is h ow ev er certain , th at th ere is in fin itely m o re
b eh in d th e cu rtain o f co n ce a lm e n t, and vitally c o n c e r n in g
 Let us huil Mesmerism with gratitude. 261

sou) aud b o d y , than has over been d ream t o f in hum an p h ilo ­

sop h y . Nous verrons, L e t u s hail with rev eren ce w h a t th e
g o o d n e ss o f G o d has in th ese latter days discovered to us in
th e realm s o f le a rn in g , and n o t im ita te th e illitera te fria r
w h o preferred his “ tmimpsimus” to th e 11sumpsimus” in his
B reviary, and le t us p refer t o travel at th e rate o f th e new
line in stead o f m o v in g b y m ean s o f th e slow w a ggon s o f past
tim es. A sta n d -still th ere n eith er is n or eau be in th is w orld ,
a n d th e last c e n tu ry a n d th e p resen t bear am p le w itness th a t
a new era is co m m e n c in g . T h ese rem arks seem ca lled fo r in
th e ease w h ich ex cites such gen era l a tten tion and in q u iry ,— -the
ease o f M e sm e rism , as n ow risin g in to deserved rep u ta tion .
I h ear on all sides qu estion s to th is pu rport, w h at is M e s ­
m erism , and its co -re la tiv e sy stem s ? W e ll, w hat is it ? I aslt
as o n e w ho am n o t a lto g e th e r a cqu ain ted w ith th e arcan a o f
C rea tion , as o n e w h o has lo st th e d o u b le ig n o ra n ce o f the
P la ton ists, fo r I am n o lo n g e r ig n o ra n t o f m y ig n o ra n ce , I
seem to b e tra versin g th e H im a la y a n h igh lan d s o f A s ia n
m y stery . I w ant th e h elp o f oth ers, n o t for m y b o d y , w hich
is n ev er tro u b le d w ith aches or illness, b u t for m y h ea d and
u n d e rsta n d in g , th at I m ay use, and n o t abu se, th e n ew lights
s h o o tin g across th e n ew re g io n s b ro u g h t to view . T h is q u es­
tio n c o n ce rn s all n a tion s. T h e w h ole w o rld p resen ts a sce n e
o f varied su fferin g. W h a t b lessin g s have flow ed in to o th er
lands o f th e sunrise and fa r-w est from e n lig h te n e d E u r o p e , I
m e re ly h in t at, fo r to C h risten d om has p erta in ed th e m ission
o f civ ilizin g , h u m a n izin g , and ev a n g elizin g m an , a n d it is n o t
t o o m u ch to h op e th a t th e A lm ig h t y m a y , in th e a b se n ce o f
positiv e m iracles, e m p o w e r h is tru e w orshippers to w ork e q u a lly
sa lu ta ry w orks, to rou se th e b o d y and th e sou l to g e th e r, as
w hat affects th e o n e m ore o r less affects th e o th e r also.
C on v in ced th at th e results o f th e n ew system o f in v ig o ra tin g
life rests n o t a lon e, o r e v en p red om in a n tly , u p o n e x c ite d
im a g in a tion , a u d k n o w in g that th e p h en om en a c o n n e c te d
w ith ta b le -m o v e m e n t, w h ilst tables have n o sort o f im a g in a ­
tion to b e a cte d on , d ep en d o n an extern al a g e n cy , on the
a ctiv e ra tion a l w ill aud corp orea l fo rce , we m ay a rg u e a for­
tiori and c o n c lu d e th at, i f th e in an im ate m a tter o b e y s th e
a n im a ted , m u ch m o re m ust th e ration al p rin cip le re sp o n d to
th e spiritu al b e tw e e n tw o sim ilar b ein g s, th ro u g h th e v ery
h ig h est e lem en t in m an.
B u t sick ly im a g in a tion is the stro n g h o ld o f a n ti-m e s ­
m erism , and su ch is th e rea son in g w h ich has been b ro u g h t to
bear upon th e d o c tr in e o f d ivin e in flu en ce and grace u p on the
hum an spirit, viz,, th at spiritu al exercises and v isita tion s
V O L. X II. T
362 Sufferers will look beyond Corporations.

sp rin g from m ere fa n cy and d elu sion , a n d so th e d o c tr in e o f

th e H o ly S p irit is q u estion ed , or d e n ie d b y an ti-spiritualists.
B e lie v in g th at th e crea ted fo r c e s , o r h u m a n sou ls, con ta in
a w ill w h ich is operative, and a ffection s w h ich are c o -o p e r a ­
tiv e , th a t o u r th ou g h ts are stim u li from w ith in , as o b je c ts are
from w ith ou t, since th o u g h t w en t fo rth , w h ich w ill sleep n o
m o r e ; it is m o re p rob a b le, th at from th e w e ll-d ire cte d n ew
a g e n cy , from its g erm , th ere w ill flou rish a forest o f ideas,
like the ora cu la r oaks o f old from th e c u p o f an a co ru , as a
gran d m a tern a l idea. F o r ideas, like an irresistib le to rre n t,
ca rry b e fo re th em th e m ost sta g n a n t m u ltitu d es, b u t d o n o t
tu rn to action s, b e fo re sen tim en t giv es th e m life. S u ch is
th e fo rtu n e o f this n ew discov ery .
A t first, th e p h ilosop h ica l a n d r e lig io u s leaders tu rn ed
m esm erism a n d its professors in to r id icu le , as satirists, lib e l­
lers, and scep tics. T o little p u rp ose, fo r a tim e, w ere a p o lo ­
gies aud argu m en ts arrayed ag a in st cla m ou r. S o m e w ere
G allios, w h o had m a d e u p th e ir m in d s, w ith H o ra ce , “ nil
admirari/’ t o see n o th in g b u t n on sen se in w hat w as d eem ed
an ou tla n d ish extravagan ce, w h ich w as t o b e p u t ou t o f th e
pale o f s o cie ty , “ vi el arrnis," as n o t w o rth b e in g argu ed o u t
o f th e w o r l d ; w hilst oth ers w aited in su spense fo r fu lle r in fo r ­
m a tion , or w ere kept in aw e and alarm b y th e fea r o f in fr in g ­
in g o n fo r b id d e n g r o u n d , fo r fear o f e a tin g a fo r b id d e n fru it,
w h ich so m e h ave tried and tasted w ith o u t in ju ry to sou l or b o d y .
I a llu d e to M r . O — n . H a s M r . 0 — n r e ce iv e d n o b e n e ­
fit, d ir e c tly o r in d ire ctly , from th e in fe re n ce s th is th e o ry fu r ­
n ishes o f a fu tu r e state ? H e is n o lo n g e r a d iscip le o f a m ost
desolate cr e e d . D id S atan w o r k this c h a n g e , o r m a n , or th e
O m n ip o te n t b y m an , n o t as a m ira cu lou s a g en t, b u t a secon d
and a n a tu ra l c a u s e ? and m ust we fo llo w su ch as w ou ld b id
us to v iew th e se m atters o f th is h ea lin g a rt u n d e r th e ca te ­
g o ry o f th e “ w orks o f darkness, th e d o ctrin e s o f d em on s, an d
o f th e d eceiv a b len ess o f u n r ig h te o u s n e s s ? “ S u c h w ere the
ju d g m e n ts o f a d a rk er age in r e fe re n ce to th e d iscov eries o f
G a lileo, w h o was h au led over th e coals o f th e In q u is itio n , as
th e m o d e rn m an o f s cie n ce is in th e c ir c le o f critics. "If
ig n o r a n c e is bliss, it is fo lly to be w ise.“ B u t th e ra ck ed
eu fferer w ill n o t th an k y o n fo r y o n r w isd om , w h ic h w ou ld b id
h im b e ch eerfu l in th e m id st o f m is e r y ; h e w ill tr y any arm to
le a n o n ; h e w ill a cce p t a n y w e ll-in te n d e d r e m e d y ; h e w ill n o t
believe in th e m o n o p o ly o f w isd om cla im ed b y c lo s e c o rp o ra ­
tio n s, b u t t r y th e n ew spirits, a u d p rov e all th in g s, and h o ld
fast w hat is g o o d . S u ch is m y in te n tio n in m y h ou rs o f n eed .
I su b scrib e m y self, y o u rs resp ectfu lly ,
C harles B ohun S m y th .
 The late Dr. Mantell's sufferings ami perverseness. 263

P .S . I c a n n o t im a g in e a m ore h ap py even t th an th at a
p ow erfu l m esm eriser, o r several o f th is class, sh ou ld a c c o m ­
p a n y th e ban ds o f sold iers and sailors th rou g h all th e casu al­
ties o f w ar. F o r i f m e d icin e -ch e sts, o r in stru m en ts, & c,, & c.
w ere n o t a t h a n d , th e n , in certain cases, th e su fferers m ig h t
fin d alleviation b y v a riou s aids n ow in use.

V I, A case of Mesmeric Disturbance. B y the Rev. L. L ew is .

C om m u n ica ted b y D r . E llio ts o n .
“ It appears that c o n s i d e r a b l e d o u b t s existed in the m:ndh of Dr, Mantell1a
professional friends as to the start nature o f the aflection, but b y m a n y i t v ia s
s u p p o s e d t o b e a lv.rrU.ar a b s c e s s , connected in all probability with c a r i e s o j s o m e
o f t h e v e r t e b r a ; others, feeling a prominent swelling, partly hard and partly
fluctuating, in the lumbar region, concluded that there was a t u m o r o f d o u b t f u l
ch a ra cter. The patient used to suffer most excruciating agony. After death it
wns ascertained by Mr. Adams that there was n o d i s e a s e e i t h e r o f t h e b o n e s o r t h e
i n t e r v e r t e b r a l s u b s t a n c e s ; that there was n o t r a c e o f a n y a b s c e s s , all the sur­
rounding tissues being quite healthy : but the vertebra were twisted iu such a
way that, with considerable lateral curvature, there existed a backward projection
of the lumbar transverse processes, to an extent sufficient to form a prominence.
The spinous processes were in their proper relation to each other.” — L ancet,
July 8r 1854 : p. 9 *
T o D r , E lliotson .
L in to n V illa , G otham R o a d , B ristol.
D eab S ir,— I sen d y o u the e n clo s e d ca se fo r y o u r peru sal.
S h o u ld y o u w ish to forw a rd it to The Zaist, it w ou ld b e w ell

* The poor medical man who was thus agonized might perhaps have derived
great relief from mesmerism : but ha despised it, and vilified those who knew and
asserted its truth. This instance corroborates what I have always believed, that
the professional opposition to mesmerism arises not from self-interest, but from
stupid and conceited obstinacy, each as is seen in a donkey which suddenly takes
it into bis wise and amiable head not to stir an inch.
The inability of all the numerous and eminent physicians and surgeons who
attended him to lessen his suffering, and their universal blunders as to the nature
of his disease, ought to inspire modesty, and will make the public doubt the
soundness of medical judgment os to mesmerism.
In No. X L ., p. 347, will be found Dr. Mantell's ignorant and opprobrious
language uttered not one month before his death. “ ‘ As the alchemists of old,
who, in their crude and visionary research for the philosopher's stone, instituted
experiments which drew attention to the wonders of chemistry, and laid the foun­
dation of experimental philosophy, in like manner the mesmerists and animal
magnetizers of our times, while practising on the credulity of their patients or
audience, may elicit vital phenomena, which, investigated by men of superior
minds and honest infenfioiw, may shed important light on some of the most my­
sterious law's of vitality and organisation. At present we con only exclaim with
the great philosopher, La Place, ‘ Ce quo nous eounaissons est peu de chose : ce
que none ignorons eat immense.’ ” — G. A. M a n t e l i , LL.D ., F .R .S ,; Address
delivered to the Members of the Western Medical and Surgical Society of London
by him as President, Oct, 15,+ 1852. Med. Times, Oct. 30, 1852.” — J. Elliotson.

f “ After Dr. Mantell had uttered this absurdity and unprovoked insult, he
died on the 10th o f November.— J o n s E t.o q t s o s ,"
T2
264 Mesmerism in fun by the perfectly ignorant.

to a cco m p a n y it w ith rem ark s a m l illu stra tion s o f y o u r ow n .

I kn ow th e la d y , M rs . W , ; I was at h e r h ou s e last w eek, but
d id n o t see th e servan t, as sh e w a s in a state o f con v a lescen ce.
I have ta k en th e w h ole a c c o u n t from M rs . W . ’ s M S ., and
fo r th e m ost p a rt in h er ow n w ords. S h e m a d e am ple n otes
o f th e case every d a y , bu t I have b r o u g h t th e w h ole w ith in
a sh orter com p a ss, w ith ou t, I th in k , lea v in g o u t a n y th in g
m aterial.
I rem ain, y o u rs tru ly ,
M a y 19, 1 8 5 4 . L , L e w is .

O n th e 2 8 th o f S ep tem b er, 1 8 5 3 . M r . W . from h o m e ;

M rs , W . and five eld est ch ild ren o u t to t e a : a t h om e, sis
little ch ild ren in b ed ; S ew ard th e c o o k (age 2 7 , dark c o m ­
p le x io n , b row n eyes, firm ch ara cter, s u p erior in te lle ct, stron g ,
e n e rg e tic w ill, violen t t e m p e r ); A n n , h ou sem aid (a ge 20, fa ir,
reg u la r featu res, b lu e eyes, soft, g e n tle m a n n ers, ap p aren tly
an easy tem p er, m ed iocre u n d ersta n d in g — n o c u lt iv a t io n );
E liza b eth M ille r (age 16, brisk a n d in te llig e n t, am iable and
se n sib le— above th e average).
T h ese th ree servants w ere to g e th e r in th e k itch e n a b ou t
seven o ’ c lo c k . A n n com p la in ed o f h ea d -a ch e, w h ich sh e had
had som e h ou rs, S ew ard p ro p o se d to m esm erise her, as it
m ig h t d o h er g o o d .
S ew a rd declares th at she n e v e r saw m esm eric p h e n o m e n a :
disb eliev ed th e ex iste n ce o f such a p ow er as m e s m e ris in g ;
had heard o f it, b u t co n sid e re d it a su p erstitiou s h u m b u g ;
and was n o t aw are th a t th e sleep it was ex p ected to p ro d u ce
differed from ord in a ry slu m b er.
H e r p rop osa l was m ad e in fu n : A n n a g reed to it. Sew ard
to o k A n n 's hands a n d laid hers ag a in st th e m , palm to p a lm ,
a n d lo o k e d fixedly at A n n . I n a b o u t a m in u te th e d o o r -b e ll
ra n g , and S ew ard w en t to an sw er it. O n re tu r n in g to th e
k itch e n , th e servants sat a n d con v ersed , and had tea to ­
g e th e r, S ew ard n o tice d A n n y a w n in g a g rea t deal and a d ­
vised h er t o g o to b ed , c a lliu g h e r stu pid and la zy . A n n
said at last, “ I w ish y o u w ou ld finish a th in g w h en y o n b e g in
it, and n o t lea v e it h a lf d o n e . "W hy d o n ’ t y o u m ake m e g o
to sleep d o w n rig h t ? ” S ew ard th en said, “ W e ll, co m e th en ,
and I ’ ll finish it i f y o u lik e .” S h e th en to o k h er hands
a g a in as b efore. A ft e r a b o u t tw o m in u tes lo o k in g at h er,
th e girl su d d en ly fell back in h er seat, in a co m p le te stu p or
and, as it appeared, sou n d sleep.
T h u s sh e rem ain ed w h en M r . W . ca m e h om e, and, g o in g
th rou g h th e k itch e n , saw A n n asleep. S ew ard sp ok e to h er
in o rd e r to rou se h er, and su cceed ed p a rtia lly , and th en ad -
 Sleep-waking and Mesmeric Attachment, 265

vised h er to g o to b e d . A s s is te d b y S ew ard and E . M ille r ,

sh e was g o t upstairs, and u n dressed and p u t to b ed . T h e
sleep was n o t shaken off, b u t sh e o cca sion a lly tossed h e r arm s,
r o lle d h er h ead , and sigh ed . A b o u t h a lf-p a st 10 M rs . W .
and fa m ily ca m e h o m e . A t 11 A n n b eg a n la u g h in g im m o ­
dera tely, b u t a lth o u g h she fre q u e n tly said, “ H o w d r o l l !
w h at fu n ! I n ever had such a spree !” sh e a n sw ered n o q u es­
tion s, and t o o k n o h eed o f h er fellow -servan ts. S h e seem ed
q u ite u n con sciou s o f a n y th in g a rou n d h er, and a ppeared fast
asleep. T h is la u g h ter c o n tin u e d at in tervals till on e o ’ c lo c k :
she th e n b eca m e qu ite still, and slep t till a b ou t seven in the
m orn in g . Sew ard did n o t s le e p : she felt uneasy at w h at she
h a d d o n e , a n d p erp lex ed at th e resu lt. A b o u t seven she
trie d to aw ake A n n , h u t had co n sid era b le d ifficu lty in d o in g
so. W h e n d ressed, A n n w en t a b o u t h e r d a ily w ork w ith
h a lf closed eyes, n ever sp ea k in g e x c e p t w h en q u estion ed , an d
th e n a n sw erin g re lu cta n tly , and com p la in in g o f pain in h er
ey es and head. S h e folin w ed S ew ard lik e h er sh adow , a n d
y e t at th e sam e tim e b e g g e d S ew ard n o t to lo o k at h er.
B e in g u n fit to fo llo w h e r w ork, sh e was again ad v ised to g o
to b ed , and in sta n tly fell in to a state o f le th a rg ic sleep.
S ew ard stood n ear h er, an xiou s and p e rp le x e d , bu t it was
w ith g rea t d ifficu lty th a t sh e o b ta iu e d a n y answ er from her,
a n d A n n b ecam e c o ld and restless, Sew ard b e in g o b lig e d to
be a bsen t fo r several hours, d u rin g w h ich tim e A n n slept
so u n d ly a n d q u ie tly a n d b eca m e eq u a b ly w a r m ; and at th e
e n d o f th at tim e sh e an sw ered b y n ods and sh ak es o f the
h ea d q u estion s put to h e r b y M rs, W .
(i S h all y o u r m istress w ake y o u ? ” — “ N o .”
" Shall S e w a r d ? ” — “ Y e s ."
“ S h all sh e aw ake y o u n ow ?” — “ N o .”
“ B y and b y e in th e e v e n in g ? ” — “ Y e s .”
W h e n th e ev e n in g cam e, she p a rtia lly a w ok e. H e r first
w ord s o n a w a k in g w ere, “ D o n ’ t y o u d o it a g a in ,” T o this
S ew ard e n e rg e tica lly rep lied , “ N o , I never w ill, I p rom ise y o u .”
A ft e r th is sh e had so m e fo o d , w h ich sh e w ou ld n o t ta k e
w ith ou t m u ch p ressin g and then v ery la n g u id ly , s ig h iu g very
fr e q u e n tly . T o som e qu estion s p u t to h er sh e said, “ I have
b e e n all d a y w ith S ew a rd , and I have b e e n to all sorts o f
p laces, 1 have b een so torm en ted , I have been o u t o f th e
w orld , b u t S ew ard has b een w ith m e every w h ere.” S h e also
said th at “ h e r ey es ach ed an d th a t sig h in g d id h e r g o o d .”
S ew a rd , w h o was a larm ed and a g ita ted , and re p ro a ch in g h er­
s e lf w ith im p ru d e n ce , failed to b r in g A n n back to h e r usual
sta te o f h e a lth y con sciou sn ess. A m ed ica l m an th erefore was
sen t for,— M r . P ., w h o p rofessed h im s e lf u n a cq u a in ted with
266 Absurd and ignorant medical treatment,

m esm erism . A ft e r h a v in g heard an a c c o u n t o f th e w h ole

m atter, h e ex a m in ed th e patien t’ s pulse, a n d to n g u e , & c., be
ord ered h er a h o t fo o t b a th , fo o d , w in e, a n ti-sp a sm o d ic m e d i­
cin e, a n d a b lister on th e n a p e o f th e n eck . H e had tested
h er in se n sib ility b y p in c h in g h er arm v io le n t ly a n d ru n n in g
a p in b en eath th e s k in ; b u t she d id n o t appear in th e least
sen sible t o p a in .
A cu riou s circu m s ta n c e th en o c c u r r e d , s h e w in g th e s y m ­
p a th y ex istin g b etw een A n n an d S ew a rd . T h e la tter, o v e r ­
co m e at th e id ea o f h a v in g o cca sion ed all th is tro u b le , ran up
stairs, and iu h er o w n r o o m gave w a y to a fit of agitated
weeping. T h is was unknown to th e p a rty in th e k itch e n , hut,
to th eir su rprise, A n n , at th e sam e tim e, burst out into hyste­
rical crying. U p o n th is, M rs . W . g o in g to fin d S ew ard, and
se e in g th at sh e also was so b b in g v io le n tly , to ld h e r d ecid e d ly
th at, fo r th e sa k e o f th e patient, sh e m u st t r y to c o n tr o l h er
fe e lin g s . This she did b y a great effort a n d fo llo w e d h er
m istress d o w n stairs, w h ere th ey fo u n d th a t A n n also had
ceased crying and fallen sou n d asleep. A ft e r a w h ile M r . P .
left, A n n was taken to b e d , and th e p rescrip tion s w ere fo l­
low ed . W h e n e v e r sh e was rou sed, w h ich c o u ld b e d o n e o n ly
b y S ew ard, sh e com p la in ed o f d istressin g pain in th e ch est
and b a c k a n d n u m b n ess in h er lim b s. W h e n S ew ard ca lled
h er n e x t m o r n in g , sh e was still in a state o f stu p or, and M rs.
W ., fin d in g h e r u n fit to g o a b ou t h e r w ork , cau sed th e blister
to be applied a n d castor o il to be g iv en h er. S h e suffered
S ew a rd to dress h er and w en t d ow n , b u t c o u ld n o t o p e n h er
eyes. A ft e r a n h ou r sh e was sick arid v o m ite d b ile . W h e n
M r . P . ca lled h e fou n d h er in a n oth er fit o f h y sterica l cry in g ,
S ew a rd h a v in g been sen t aw ay fo r th e d a y . M rs , W . n o w
a d o p te d a d e cid e d ton e w ith her, b y w h ich m eans sh e was
in d u c e d to allow M r. P . to ta k e o f f th e b lister. S h e th e n
an sw ered his qu estion s b e tte r th a n b e fo r e a n d p a rtia lly
op e n e d h e r ey es. H e ord ered her to tak e a w a lk a n d advised
th at sh e s h o u ld be req u ired to d o h e r w ork a n d n o t b e n o tic e d ,
or p itie d o r ta lk e d to a b o u t h er sen sations.
T h ese d ir e c tio n s w ere follow ed , b u t w h atever sh e did, th e
p a tien t seem ed still h eavy a n d a b sorb ed in h erself. S he in ­
q u ire d fo r S ew a rd , sa y in g th a t she h a d b e e n w ith h e r all the
p rev iou s d a y , p ersistin g th a t she had b een o u t o f th e w orld
a n d h o p in g th a t, i f sh e w en t again, it w o u ld b e fo r g o o d .
S o m e d a y s h ow ever she would fe e l b e tte r , b u t g en era lly
tow ards e v e n in g she w o u ld relapse in to th e d u ll sta te, ta k in g
n o n o tic e o f a n y on e. O n e day M rs . W . w en t to m eet S e ­
w ard in th e g a r d e n ; she had co m e to m a k e in q u iries a b ou t
A n n , w h om sh e was not allowed to see. N o tw ith s ta n d in g
 Delirium in her Sleep-ioaking. 267

th is, A n n said that she knew Seward had called. Sew ard
ca m e b a c k and w en t a b o u t h er w ork n e x t d a y , b u t, w h en ever
sh e ca m e in A n n 's p resen ce, th e la tter y a w n e d , th o u g h by
d e g re e s she b eca m e a little b etter. T h e m ed ica l m an 's
o p in io n was, th at, h ow ever cau sed , th e p a tie n t’ s sy m p tom s
a n d state w ere identical w ith th o se p resen ted b y hysteria;
a n d as su ch h e trea ted th is ex tra ord in a ry case, th o u g h the
g irl w h ile u n d er th e in flu e n c e assured us th a t she n ever had
d ro w sy fits b efore, n ever had b e e n in th a t sta te and n ever
h a d h ysterics.
Subsequent circumstances.
A b o u t a fo r tn ig h t after w hat has b e e n rela ted , Sew ard
h e r s e lf sh ew ed m a n y sy m p tom s o f w e a k n e s s ; h e r appetite
fa iled , h er p u lse was feeb le. S h e lost h e r rest a t n ig h t, and
h e r s tre n g th was p rostra ted , so th a t it b e ca m e n ecessa ry to
sen d h e r h o m e fo r rest and a ch a n g e o f air. A ft e r th is, A n n
b e c a m e m u c h m ore liv e ly th o u g h sh e o cca sio n a lly sig h ed as
i f u n ea sy at h er absen ce. W h e n e v e r q u estion ed a b ou t b ein g
m esm erised , sh e alw ays sp ok e o f it as s o m e th in g m ysteriou s
a n d n o t to be spok en o f. S he o n c e said th at sh e had seen
b ea u tifu l p laces and lots o f p eop le, m ore ch ild re n th an g row n
p e o p le , that th e y w ou ld n o t let h er b e aw aken ed till she h ad
p ro m ise d n o t to te ll w hat she had seen and heard th ere.
S h e also said, " W h e n Sew ard dies, I shall d ie ," a n d th a t
S ew a rd was w ith h e r all th e tim e in that b e a u tifu l p la ce an d
w o u ld g o th ere w ith h e r again som e day. S h e was a lo n g
w h ile g o in g th ere, h u t ca m e b a ck in a m om en t.
I n a b o u t a w eek S ew ard cam e to M r s . W ., b u t A n n was
seized w ith y a w n in g a n d stu p or as s o o n as sh e saw h er. A
fe w d a y s after, th e sam e th in g h a p p en ed w h en S ew ard c a m e ;
and A n n said sh e c o u ld n o t bear to lo o k at h er, it h u rt her
ey es a n d head and ga v e h e r d rea d fu l n u m b n es s in h er arm s,
and m ad e her eyes m ore o r less in fla m ed . T h e n e x t tim e,
a b o u t a w eek later, that S ew ard ca m e, h u t b e fo re sh e arrived
a t th e h ou se, A n n su d d en ly e x cla im ed as i f in fear, " O h , I
k n o w she is c o m i n g ."
I t was n ow e v id en t th a t th ese tw o servants co u ld n o t live
t o g e t h e r ; so S ew a rd left h e r p lace. T h o u g h A n n cried m u ch
a n d h y sterica lly after she was g on e, she rev iv ed w on d erfu lly
in a few days a n d seem ed q u ite to th ro w o ff th e in flu e n ce
w h ich b eg a n b e fo r e C h ristm as. B u t S ew a rd , h a v in g o cca sion
to sp eak to M r s . TV., w en t to th e h o u s e . Before she knocked
at the door, however, Ann shuddered and yawned, and said,
“ I ’m sure she is comingf and her eyes became inflamed and
she was much agitated. S h e ran up stairs bu t said th at S e ­
w ard’ s eyes w ere lik e tw o g rea t flam es o f fire and that th ey
208 An eminent Medical Man as ignorant as the first.

w en t rig h t b e fo re h e r in th e dark all u p th e stairs- S h e

w ou ld n o t c o m e dow n till S ew ard was g on e,
S iu ce th is tim e, th e tw o servants have n o t (net. Wednes­
days have passed w ith m erely a tew ya w n s, A n n is in b etter
spirits a n d b e tte r h ealth , th ou g h n o t in all respects as w ell as
sh e was b efore. T his is now th e l l t l i o f Ja n u a ry, 1 8 5 4 , and
a W e d n e s d a y ev en in g , a n d A n n is n o t m u ch m ore sleep y
th an on o th e r days, b u t has r e fe rre d w ith sigh s t o S ew ard
as usual.

T o later in q u iries m a d e o f M r s . W ., th e fo llo w in g letters

w ere r e c e iv e d :—
" L y m e , 2 7 th M a y , 1 854.
" D e a r S ir ,— I h a rd ly k n o w h ow to g iv e y o u an a cco u n t o f
th e sta te o f A n n ’ s h ea lth a t p resen t, w ith ou t r e fe rrin g in som e
detail to certa in sy m p tom s w h ich have varied th ro u g h o u t an d
appeal1 to have b een m ore o r less d ep en d a n t o n the im a g in a ­
tio n . F o r in sta n ce, th e v ery d ecid ed and im m ed ia te effect o f
n in e d rop s o f tin ctu re o f steel g iv en o n ly twice in o n e d a y,
(abou t six w eeks ago,) a t th e su g g estion o f an em in en t m e d i­
cal m a n (to w h om I rela ted th e case, bu t w ho la u g h s at
m esm erism , and, b e lie v m g it all to b e th e effect o f im a g in a ­
tio n , d esired m e to " i n v e s t the b o ttle o f drops w ith som e
m y stery, as b e iu g a rare m ed icin e sp ecia lly useful in cases
lik e h er ow n , and o rd e re d b y som e learn ed o ld g re y b e a r d ),”
A n n ’ s im a g in a tion so h elp ed the steel, th at it seem ed to m e
u n fit to p u rsu e it a fter tw o doses. T h e lik e resu lt o cc u r r e d
at a su b seq u en t p eriod w h en 1 th o u g h t it b est to try th e effect
o f th e d rop s a gain . S in c e th en , a b ou t a fo rtn ig h t ago, sh e
fe ll su d d en ly ill, b e iu g low , n ervous, du ll and sick fo r several
days. I a ttrib u te d it to th e sm ell o f new pain t in th e h o u s e ;
b u t h e r fe llow -serv a n t to ld m e th at, w hile w a lk in g with her,
(th e day b e fo r e she w as ta k en ill, and w hilst in e x ce lle n t
spirits,) th e y had m e t S ew a rd (the raesm eriser), and A n n h ad
in sta n tly tu rn e d ash y pale, and trem b led v io le n tly , a n d c o u ld
h ardly w alk h o m e ; and th at she had n o t r e co v e re d h e rse lf
th ro u g h o u t th e day. T h is in fo rm a n t believ ed th at it was this
upset o f th e nerves w h ich was th e tr u e cause o f h er illn ess o n
th e follo w in g d a y , A n n lo o k e d so w ea k and pale and d e je cte d
th a t I sent h e r h o m e s ix m iles o ff fo r ch a n g e o f air, and I
have n o t s in ce h eard o f h er. S h ou ld she b e co m e q u ite s tr o n g
in a few days, she w ill r e t u r n ; oth erw ise, it is u n d erstood
b etw een us th a t sh e w ill n o t resu m e h er service w ith m e.
S h e has b e e n a v ery in efficien t servan t from th e variableness
o f her states, and fr e q u e n t fits o f du lln ess, apath y, and w ant o f
h ead and m e m o ry , b u t she a ttrib u tes all to th e m esm erisin g .
 Medicine was of course useless. 269

S h e has lo o k e d pale a n d m ore d elica te and fra g ile, in stead o f

b rig h ter and s t r o n g e r ever sin ce sh e was m e s m e r is e d ; a n d I
d o n o t see th a t th e steel has im p ro v e d h er in th e se resp ects.
" I am , S ir, y o u rs o b e d ie n tly ,
“ C . M . W — .”

“ L y m e , 2 0 th J u n e.
" D e a r S ir,— M y servan t A n n re tu rn e d to m e after a
w e e k Js a b sen ce. S h e had d u rin g th at tim e b een u n d e r m e d i­
ca l ca re fo r sy m p tom s con sid ered b y h e r d o c to r to b e p ro ­
d u ce d b y th e paint in th is h ou se. S h e has, sin ce h e r retu rn ,
b een very m u ch b e tte r in all re s p e cts ; h e r sp irits liv elier an d
h er h ea d d e a r e r . S h e d oes h er w ork b e tte r , a n d th ere a p ­
pears to be n ow n o co n s titu tio n a l d e ra n g e m e n t. M ea n tim e ,
h er m esm eriser has ob ta in ed a situ a tion s is ty or sev en ty m iles
a w a y ; and th e co m m u n ica tio n o f th is fa ct to A n n was
a tte n d e d b y a m ark ed r e lie f to h er m in d .
" I am , dear S ir, y ou rs tru ly ,
" C . M . W — .”

NOTE BY DR. E L1 IO T S O N .

T liis was an in sta u ce o f m e sm e ric d is tu rb a n ce , w h ich

sh ew s, 1st, th at n o p erson sh ou ld m esm erise w h o is p e rfe ctly
ig n o r a n t o f th e s u b je c t ; S a d ly , th a t n o m ed ica l m an sh o u ld
p resu m e t o p rescrib e fo r a m esm eric ca se w hose a b su rd c o n ­
c e it has p rev en ted h im from b e c o m in g a cq u a in ted w ith m es­
m erism .
W h a t is n ecessary to he k n o w n m ay b e soon le a r n t : b u t
m esm erism is n o t to be p la yed w ith b y th e p e rfe ctly ig n o ra n t.
T h e tim e w ill c o m e w hen every m ed ica l m an w ill b e as
rnueh ash am ed o f a ck n o w le d g in g h is ig n o r a n c e o f m esm erism
as h e w ou ld b e at presen t o f a c k n o w le d g in g his ig n o r a n c e o f
th e u se o f th e steth oscop e. P rofession al m en at p resen t feel
n o scru p les, in tru th th e y g lo ry , in t e llin g th eir patien ts th a t
th e y k n o w n o th in g o f m esm erism . I r e c o lle c t th e tim e—
fr o m five and tw e n ty to th irty y ea rs a g o — w h en few in
E n g la n d besides m y s e lf k n ew a n y th in g o f th e u se o f th e
s te th o sco p e , and it was ridicu led in lectu res b e fo re th e C o lle g e
o f P h y sicia n s and in speech es at L o n d o n m ed ica l societies,
a n d h a b itu a lly in con v ersa tion b etw een m ed ica l m en and in
th e rem a rk s o f m ed ica l m en to th eir patients, w h o o f co u rse
b eliev ed th em to b e ora cles, and c o n s id e r e d th at th e y “ must
know,” and b e " quite competent to judge " — from D r. C h a m ­
bers, th e n th e fa sh ion a b le p h y sicia n , to th e h u m b lest d r u g -
270 Forme)- general contempt of the Stethoscope.

g is t-a p o th e c a r y .* A t p resen t alm ost every m e d ica l m an

co n sid e rs B tetboscop ic k n o w le d g e a n ecessa ry and esta b lish ed
p a rt o f his p rofession , and, h ow ev er d eficien t in it, w ou ld b e
v e x e d at b e in g th o u g h t at all d eficien t, carries a ste th o sco p e
in his p o ck e t, a n d has o n e o r m ore visib le in his co n s u ltin g
ro o m . A sim ilar tim e w ill co m e fo r m e s m e r is m : a n d no

* In my P h y s i o l o g y I thus wrote seventeen yearg ago:—<4"VFhen Laennec first

published his great work, I procured a stethoscope and investigated his statements.
Although the facts of percussion, as detailed by Avent»rugger about half a century
ago, must of physical necessity exist, I had always been taught, by the drat teacher
of medicine in London, at Guy1a Hospital, Dr. James Curry, that they were falla­
cies, and they were dismissed in three minutes as unworthy of the slighest atten­
tion. Education, therefore, tended to make me sceptical. But I soon found that
Avenhrugger bad been disgracefully neglected in this country \ and that Luennec,
like Avenbrugger, had opened to us a new and extensive scene in disease, to
which, though it had always existed, we were blind—that we had eyes and saw
not—or really, to drop metaphor, that we had ears and beard not. For a length
of time I found some at St, Thomas's treat percussion and auscultation with
ridicule; some with absolute indignation; and others, for years, treated it with
silent contempt; who all, I am happy to say, now practise both. I was there­
fore in the habit of shadying them in the wards alone, and at hours when I
expected to he unobserved. When 1 at length advocated and taught them in the
school, oue of toy colleagues, 1 beard, pronounced it nonsense or worse in his
lecture; and at the College of Physicians I heard a senior fellow, in a Croonian
lecture, denounce the folly of carryiog a piece of wood (some called the stethos­
cope i n u t i l e l ig n u m ) into sick chambers and making observatioos to the destruc­
tion of all philosophical and dignified viewu, such as become men whose minda
have been enlarged by the education which Oxford and Cambridge afford. When
another fellow of the College (Dr. Chambers) was asked his opinion of ausculta­
tion, iu the wards of his hospital, he at once, as I was informed by the gentleman
who asked the question, condemned it as nonsense ; and when told i that Elliotson
assured ids friends that he had a high opinion of it and made his diagnosis of
affections of the chest with Infinitely more accuracy by its means,1 he replied,—
4Oh ! it*s just the thing for Elliotson to rave about 1* Ycl good sense and trnth
have prevailed. This physician bas now a work on auscultation dedicated to
bim, as to oue who hud the cundour to examine auscultation at an early period,
when othere despised it, and who materially assisted to spread its adoption l
Even Dr, Spurzbeiro was as unphilosophical on this point, os others were in
regard to phrenology. On seeing a stethoscope one day (iu 1324) upon my table,
ho said,“ *Ah ! do you use that hocus pocusl* Aud ou my replying that it was
highly important to employ the ear, he added, *You learn nothing by it ; and if you
do, you cannot treat diseases the better.* Both which remarks were incorrect,
and shewed an unhappy state of mintl. An old physician, on seeing me use the
stethoscope, began our consultation by informing the practitioner, whom he bad
never seen before, and myself, that ho ‘ never made use of these French fooleries/
Yet ignorance of percussion and auscultation is now considered a sufficient proof
that a man knows but half his profession, and L&enncc’ s name has become
¡mpcmhable.” — P A y e w t o g y , pp. 358-9.
The first court physician of his day—the late Sir Hoary Halford—who bad
been physician to 1 know not bow many of our taonarebs, and other members of
the Royal Family without number, as well as to nearly all our aristocracy, died
in entire ignorance of the use of the stethoscope, though President of the Royal
College of Physicians. Whether the present President, Dr. Paris, in whose
presidency and in whose presence the four successive discreditable outpourings of
Dra. Hawkins, Wilson, and AJderson (the latter in lecture and oration), wore ven­
tured upon, knows anything about it, I am not prepared to any : but 1 know that
for very many years be spoke incessantly and restlessly against it as an absurdity.
 Conduct of the President of the College of Physicians. 271

p ra ctitio n e r w ill ven tu re to express a d o u b t o f its tru th or

u tility , o r to appear ig n o ra n t o f i t : no H arveian o r a to r w ill
v e n tu re to v ilify its su p p orters, n or w ill a n y occa sio n b e given
fo r a su p p orter o f it to p o in t o u t th e gross anti m esm eric
la n g u a g e o f an ora tor, as I d id in th e m ild e st m a n n e r t o th e
P re sid e n t, D r. P a ris, w h en D r . H a w k in s ca lled u s quacks,
impostors, the favourites of males and females whose sexual
passions burn strongly, either in secret or notoriously, decency
forbidding him, h e said, to be more explicit. T h e P resid en t,
D r . P aris, to o k n o n o tic e o f m y le tte r fo r th ree m o n t h s : I
th e n in th e m ild est m a n n er w rote a gain , re q u estin g to k n ow
w h e th e r m y letter h a d b een receiv ed : and h e rep lied th at he
had receiv ed it, b u t d eclin ed to ta k e part in a n y controversy
o n m esm erism . H e refu sed all r e d r e s s : D rs. W ils o n and
A ld e r s o n k n ew co n seq u en tly that th e y m ig h t fo llo w D r ,
H a w k in s 's exa m p le w ith im p u n ity . T h e fo llo w in g is th e ac­
c o u n t o f th e w h ole affair p u blish ed in N o . X X I V , , p p . 4 0 1 ,
405 : —
<fI im m ed ia tely w rote th e fo llo w in g letter to tlie P r e s i­
den t :
D r. EUiotson, as a Fellow o f the R oyal College o f Physicians,
presents his compliments and begs to direct the attention o f the
President to the following portion o f the Harveian Oration just re­
ceived by him from Dr. Francis Hankins.
“ ‘ Quin etintn vitia, sive itifirmitates hominum, uonne aucu-
pantur, et quaestui habeut, alii alia, Circum foranei? De gencre
hoc, pries tig ¡at ores, quos vocant, Mesmerici, ni fallor, iis prmripue
arrident, quos, utriusque sexes. Mater smva Cupidinum aut ceeris
urit ignibus, aut palam exagitat, Sed ex quibus hoc subintelligi
potest, ea pudoris ergo, sunt reticenda. A b his, et talibus artificiis,
segregandns est M edicos et sepiendus scdnlo. Quod vix pra?atari
potest, nisi recta et bona instltutione, ita informetur, ut a dolis et
fatlaciis prorsus abhorrent.*
“ D r. EUiotson is universally known to have asserted the truth o f
the greater part o f the mesmeric phenomena and o f their production
by artificial means, as well as the inestimable advantage o f mes­
merism in the alleviation and core o f diseases and the prevention o f
pain in surgical operations, and to have done this in his Harveian
Oration, and continually to prescribe, and sometimes, though always
gratuitously, to practise, mesmerism.
“ August 9, 1848.”

“ I received n o answ er fo r th ree m o n th s, a n d th en th ou g h t

it tim e to address th e fo llo w in g n ote to th e P resid en t
“ Dr. EUiotson presents his compliments and takes the liberty of
requesting to be informed whether the President o f the Royal College
o f Physicians received a note from him in August last, pointing out
 272 The word Hysteria covers Medical Ignorance.

some passages in the last Harveian Oration relating to mesmerists,

o f whom he is universally known to be one.
“ Nov. 15.*’
“ I receiv ed th is r e p ly :—
“ Dover Street, N o. 16, 1848.
“ Dr. Paris presents his compliments and informs Dr. Elliotson
that he did receive from him, in August last, a note in which he
directed his attention to some passages relating to mesmerism in Dr.
Hawkins’ s Harveian Oration, but as D r. Paris must decline becoming
a party to any controversy upon the subject, whatever opinion he
may entertain privately, it is his determination to act with that im ­
partiality which led to D r. Elliotson’ s appointment to the oration.”
“ T o th is I w rote th e fo llo w in g rep ly :—-
“ D r. Elliotson preseots his compliments to the PresideDt o f the
Royal College o f Physicians o f London, and begs to remark that lie
did not request the President’ s attention to passages o f Dr. Francis
Hawkins’ s Oration relating to mesmerism, or o f a controversial cha­
racter, for there are none such ; but to passages relating to mes­
merists, o f whom he, a Fellow o f the College, 1ms for ten years
openly been one— passages stigmatizing mesmerists as quacks and
impostors and the especial favourites o f both males and females whose
sexual passions are secretly or notoriously violent, respecting which
point Dr. Hawkins declared that decency forbad him to say more.
“ Conduit Street, Nov. 17, 1848.”
“ T o th is I have r e ce iv e d n o rep ly . T h e m a tter is n o w
fo r p o ste rity .
“ J ohn E l l io t s o n .
“ D e c , 3 0 , 1 8 4 8 .“

H a d th e m ed ica l m an w ho was called in b y th e m istress

o f th e serv a n t-m a id n o t been d iscred ita b ly ig n o r a n t o f m es­
m erism , h e w ou ld n o t h ave blistered and p h y sick ed th e p o o r
g irl. I n su ch cases, blisters, cu p p in g -g la sses, pu rgatives
and oth er d ru g s, are th e rid icu lou s ro u tin e w h ich su g g ests
it s e lf to th e d o c to r . H e cou ld see n o th in g m o re th an h y ­
steria. B u t is he fu lly a cq u a in ted with all th e form s o f
h ysteria ? In h ysteria th ere are som etim es m ore w on d erfu l
th in g s th a n a re su sp ected b y p ra ctition ers,* In states in d u c e d
b y m esm eric p rocesses th ese w on ders are usual. C o m m o n
h ysteria a n d th e m esm eric states are v ery d ifferen t th in g s.
T h e p resen t p a tien t sh ou ld at th e first have b een stea d ily
m esm erised iu to a d eep sleep, allow ed to rem ain in it till it
ceased sp on ta n eo u sly , aud again and again b e e n sen t to sleep

* See the cases, for esumpie, recorded by Hr. Pntutm of Lyons, in nliieh
the higher ph =nomcDa. of mesmerism took place. I extracted LhemiiHc No. XL.,
Art. 2.
 Proper treatment of mesmeric disturbance. 273

till sh e w ok e in a calm state o f h er ow n a c c o r d . S h e in s tin c­

tiv ely b e g g e d for sleep —-b og g ed to " h a v e th e sleep fin ish ed .”
I t requ ires im m en se perseveran ce som etim es to p r o d u c e m e s­
m eric effects in these states. In. an a rticle u p on m esm eric
d istu rb a n ces p u b lish ed b y m e in 1 8 4 9 , in N o . X X V I I . , in
w h ich I c o lle c te d m a n y m ost io te r e s tiu g fa cts, I ga v e d ir e c ­
tion s fo r th e tre a tm e n t o f su ch cases at p. 2-16 : —
“ The proper way to remove disturbances from the absence o f
the mesmeriser or the proximity o f others is for all but the mes­
meriser to withdraw, nud the mesmeriser to approach the patient,
take his hand, and continue to hold it and soothe him by every mark
o f kindness. I f attempts to mesmerise do not irritate, they may
be made : but frequently whether the state he marked by delirium,
violent or not, or merry, or by fatuity or stupor, the patient is for a
time apparently quite insusceptible o f true mesmeric influence.
From time to time attempts to mesmerise him may be made by his
mesmeriser. I f sleep is induced, and maintained b y the mes-
tneriser’ s contact or continued gazing, passing, &c., the patient
may wake np in his natural state : but frequently relapses occur for
a time. The deeper the sleep the better: and any mean3 known to
deepen it in the particular patient should be employed. I have seen
some o f these mishaps, and they have all been soon removed, though
I can conceive that i f a person is strongly predisposed to insanity, or
idiotcy, or fits, terror thus induced may give rise to any o f them
more or less permanently, just a3 terror from other causes is known
to produce them. There is occasionally so much depression, pale­
ness, faintness, and feebleness o f pulse in these cases, that, during
the occurrence and afterwards, wine is required and borne in quanti­
ties which could not be borne at other times. It iu general aggra­
vates the symptoms if another person attempt to assist, unless he
has mesmerised the patient on other occasions, or is liked by the
patient in the natural state: and it often aggravates even then.
Decidedly nothing can be worse in a case o f mesmeric dislike than
for others to go up to the patient and try to soothe h im : and yet all
generally surround the patient and try all sorts o f mentis ; and pro­
bably a medical man, ignorant of mesmerism, proposes bleeding,
cupping, purging, &c., when the mesmeriser has only to keep all at
a distance, take the patient’ s hand, and above all to breathe (not
blow) very softly upon the patient, especially on his face and bosom,
to speak kindly, and he will at last see all come right. Public ex­
hibitions must in many cases derange mesmeric phenomena, especially
if strangers approach and behave ill.” -
"W hen ob serv a tion a n d ca u tiou s tria l shew that oth ers, o r
o n e o th e r person , are b o rn e b y h im , th eir p resen ce sh ou ld be
g ra d u a lly e n jo in e d , and th e op era tor sh ou ld b e separated
from h im as s o o n as this ca n b e b o r n e w ith ou t irrita tio n , so
th a t th e a tta ch m e n t m a y gra d u a lly d ie aw ay.
T h e p resen t case was o n e o f m esm eric a tta ch m en t, as
274 Mesmeric attachment perfectly pure.

shew n b y th e pa tien t fo llo w in g th e m esm eriser a b ou t, and o f

a d istu rb a n ce o f th e n e rv o u s sy stem p ro d u ce d b y th e op erator
lea v in g th e patien t w h e n in th e m esm eric sleep -w a k in g
and m e sm e ric atta ch m en t, and a ggravated b y th e m ean s
em p loy ed to rou se a n d b en efit h er. S h e th u s was s tr o n g ly
attra cted b u t at th e sam e tim e d rea d ed h er m esm eriser, fa n ­
c y in g h er eyes lik e balls o f fire, and n o t d a rin g to g o dow n
stairs till she was g on e. T h e coe x iste n ce o f su ch feelin g s is
p ossib le. E v e n lo v e a n d h atred o f th e sam e p erson , en d ea r­
m e n t a u d c r u e lty , are com p a tib le.
T h e p resen t case corro b o ra te s w hat X lo n g a g o felt satis­
fied o f fr o m ob serv a tion — th a t th e m e sm eric a tta ch m en t is
sim ply a tta ch m en t. I t o c cu rre d here in a fem ale tow a rd s a
fem ale. I n th e in te re stin g m esm eric case a t B rig h to n re ­
co rd e d b y M r . P a rso n s,* it o c cu rre d in a y o u th tow a rd s that
g en tlem en . I n M a ste r S a lm on it o c c u r r e d to w a rd s m e : h u t
i f a n y o th e r p erson , m ale o r fem a le, m esm erised h im , it
o c cu rre d tow a rd s th a t in d iv id u a l, and h e rep e lle d m e stro n g ly .
N a y , i f o n e person m esm erised h a lf o f h im , a n d a n oth er
person th e o th e r half, b o th p erson s m ales o r b o th fem ales,
or o n e a m a le and th e o th e r a fem a le, o n e h a lf o f h im was
a tta ch ed to th e m esm eriser o f th at side an d o f th at side
o n ly , and rep e lle d th e o th e r p e r s o n .! I n th e se cases th ere
m ay b e th e g reatest d isp a rity o f years b etw een th e p a tien t
a n d th e m esm eriser— th e p a tien t m a y b e a ch ild . I n all
th ese cases, th ere is a h o r r o r o f all o r m o st o th e r person s,
m ale a n d fem ale. I n on e o f m y patients, a y o u n g la d y ,
"W h o s e attachment in the mesmeric state was so violent and so
exclusive, that she always insisted on holding my hand; was dis­
pleased, when even apparently in a very deep sleep, i f I spoke to
others; appeared to hear nothing said by others, though what was
said might be calculated to render her unable to restrain herself
from shewing that she heard i t ; appeared not to hear any noise,
however loud, sudden, or disagreeable, made by others, unless she
mistook it for a noise made by me ; would allow nobody but m yself to
be at a Bhort distance from her, nor m ore than two, sometimes not
more than one, besides myself, to be in the room , nor allow any other
animal, even a bird, to be near her; nor allow me to mention any other
person, nor even a living brute. She was angry i f I mentioned her
father or sister, both whom she dearly loved when awake ; i f I men­
tioned a dog, bird, fish, a fly, or even the mites o f cheese, as alive: but
i f I spoke o f birds or fishes as dishes, and therefore no longer alive,
she experienced no annoyance. Jealousy could not be carried to a
higher p itc h ."— N o. IX ., p. 53.
* No. XXIV., pp. 349—352.
f This beautiful case is detailed in No. XXXIV., Sec,, p. 178. References to
many such will be found there.
 Attachment most inordinate sometimes. 275

T h e ir p ro x im ity , i f k n o w n , creates u n e a s in e s s : th e c o n ­
ta c t o f th e ir h ands a b so lu te ly distresses. T h e m o m e n t M a s te r
J a m es S a lm o n was th row n in to th e m esm eric state b y m e, he
c o u ld n o t e n d u re th e to u c h o f a n oth er personas hand b y his
o w n , th ou g h h e cou ld b ea r a n oth er person to to u c h his arm
th ro u g h his cloth es ; h e im p lored a n y o n e w h o to u c h e d h im
to desist. I n M a ster H e n r y A d la rd , this p e cu lia rity ex te n d e d
to th in g s to u c h e d b y oth ers : n a y , it o c cu rre d in r e fe re n ce to
th in g s to u c h e d b y th e h a lf o f the m esm eriser n o t co rre sp o n d ­
in g w ith h is ow n .
" I have one, who, though always in a silent sleep without speak­
ing, becomes uncomfortable ami wakes i f I tease to hold his hand ;
and will not bear the touch o f a stranger, aor the contact o f metals
previously touched by another; and, though he often grasps my
hand, he lets it go i f I converse with or touch others: nay, each half
o f his brain experiences affection distinctly ; for he often grasps one
o f m y hands with one o f his while the other continues perfectly indif­
ferent. W hen both halves o f his brain are experiencing affection,
his right half has an affection for only my right half and his left for
m y left, as shewn by his grasping my right with his right and taking
no notice o f it with his left, and m y left with his left, but taking no
notice o f it with his right; nay, by his withdrawing his right angrily
from my left if I touch it with my left, and his left from my right if
I touch it with m y right; and, what is more wonderful, his right
hand will not endure the contact o f gold first held in my left hand or
his left hand, nor his left endure the contact o f gold first held in my
right haod or his right hand. If, while his hands are grasping each
o f my corresponding hands, another person touches me anywhere, or
i f I bring m y two hands in contact at the smallest point, the end o f
a fiuger for example, he lets go my hands with angry indifference.
A ll this I may remark happens equally when such care is taken as to
render his seeing or hearing by any o f the five ordinary senses what
is done absolutely im possible.''— N o. IX ,, p. 53.
T h e pleasu re in th e p ro x im ity o r c o n ta c t o f th e m e s­
m eriser is c le a rly n o t sexual fe e lin g at all. I saw th is fa ct
v ery m a n y y ea rs a g o , a n d ail 1 have w itn essed sin ce has c o n ­
tin u e d to p ro v e it. I am m ore th an ever an x iou s t o in sist
u p o n thus b eca u se a n elem en ta ry m esm eric b o o k has b e e n
p u b lis h e d in w h ich an in c o r r e c t v iew is ta u g h t. A t th e
sa m e tim e, i f a lo o s e in d iv id u a l is m esm erised , im p ro p e r fe e l­
in g s m a y p resen t th e m s e lv e s ; b u t th e y are n o t m esm eric,
a n d th e y arise from th e in d iv id u a l's ch a ra cter and th e o p p o r ­
tu n ity a fford ed fo r it to co m e o u t ; ju s t as m ay a n d som etim es
d o e s ta k e p la ce in th e c o n fid e n ce o f m e d ica l or o f relig iou s
a tte n d a n ce . I have stea d ily refu sed t o m esm erise any fem a le
o f th e sou n d n ess o f w h ose p rin cip le s and h a b its I was n o t p e r­
fe c t ly satisfied. T h is is a d u ty w h ich e v e ry m esm eriser ow es
276 C/aivoyants may speak of imasci-rtamable things.

to the holy cause o f mesmerism. A ga in ; an honourable

sexual attachment may spring np from mesmerism, as it may
from any other professional attendance or any d ose and fre­
quent intercourse with oue of the other s e x : and a happy mar­
riage has taken place between a mesmeriser and his patient.
A ll th is is a d ifferen t m atter from th a t p ecu lia r su scep ­
tib ility o f satisfa ction fr o m th e m esm eriser, and o f m isery fro m
oth er p erson s, th at I h ave portra yed .

I n m y a rticle, alrea d y q u oted , u p o n m e sm e ric d istu rb ­

ances, I g a v e m y ob servation s u pon c la ir v o y a n c e : a n d , le st an y
o n e sh ou ld im a g in e th at, becau se a p a tien t b eliev es lie seea or
hears sp iritu a l b ein g s, and perhaps receives his cla irv oy a n t
in fo r m a tio n fr o m th em , this is any p r o o f o f such b ein g s m a ­
n ifestin g th em selves to him , o r a p r o o f o f a n y o p in io n s w hich
h e m a y ex p ress on su pernatural m a tters, I w ill tak e th e
lib e r ty o f q u o tin g i t ;—
“ The existence o f a mesmeric fluid is pure hypothesis. The
phenomena may depend upon a peculiar matter, or upon a peculiar
state o f some matter which is the source o f other phenomena o f
nature. I think it best always to speak o f phenomena only, and to
say power, property, or force, which gives rise to them. W e have no
proof of a nervous fluid, an electric fluid, a soul, &c. The respective
phenomena o f mesmerism, electricity, heat, life comm on to vege­
tables and animals, and the mental phenomena o f iotellect, feeling,
and will o f the animal kingdom, may result from properties o f ordi-
dary matter peculiarly circumstanced, and, in the case o f living be­
ings, peculiarly composed, organized, and circumstanced in regard
to external circumstances, or may depend upon a peculiar matter in
ordinary matter; bat we see them only as phenomena o f ordinary
mutter, and the peculiar matter is imaginary only. A s to what
clairvoyants say, they may say what they like on matters where
there is no means o f ascertaining whether they are right or wrong.
The phenomena o f light seem to depend upon the vibrations o f some
matter: but what this is, and whether the same holds good o f the
other phenomena o f heat, electricity, gravitation, life, mind, in vari­
ous circumstances, we know not. W e have no right to speak o f
these but as the result o f conditions o f common matter.”
“ The declarations o f mesmerised patients thought to he clair­
voyant upon these matters is not worth a moment’ s consideration.
1 am satisfied, o f the truth o f clairvoyance— o f au occult power o f
foreknowing changes in the patient’ s own health that are not cog­
nizable to others; o f knowing things distant and things past; and
sometimes, though rarely, events to come. But I am sure that most
clairvoyants imagine much, speak the impressions o f their natural
state or o f those about them, and may be led to any fancy. Some
talk Swedenborgianism: some Roman Catholicism: some Calvinism:
some D eism : some A th eism : some prescribe homoeopathy, some
 Clairvoyance often accompanied by illusion. 277

allopathy. Cerebral sympathy— a fact totally unknown to the

medical world, Is continually mistaken for clairvoyance, and the
opinions o f patients tnay thus be sympathetically those o f their mes-
merisers. They will deceive from vanity or love o f money or even o f
fun. Many patients pretend to the power who have it not at all,
and those really possessed o f it in some degree or other pretend to it
when it is not in action. I first noticed this in 1838, and have seen
it every month from that to the present time.”
In a n o te u p on cla irv oy a n t dream s in N o . X L ! . , p. 8 0 : —
"C erta in excitement o f various portions o f the brain, if not o f
other divisions o f the nervous system, gives the appearance o f un­
existing dt absent beings and inanimate objects, gives the impression
o f unreal sounds, tastes, smells, and feelings,— to use the term feel­
ings in the significatioo o f all sensations included in the generic word
touch. A ny o f these phenomena may occur singly, or in com bina­
tion with one or more o f the others, or with different diseases o f the
nervous system. A madman may believe their reality, as he does
the reality o f all his fancies; and so may a person not mad but ig­
norant— unacquainted with their true nature, which is diseased
nervous action. The ignorant suppose such appearances o f beings
to he supernatural beings or real souls o f terrestrial men separated
from the body for the moment. However, the appearance o f their
clothes, o f books, and o f all the other inanimate objects, is not to
be so explained,— not by supernatural clothes, books, trees, &c., &c.,
nor by separated souls o f clothes, o f hooks, trees, & c .: and these
appearances may be. produced by narcotic poisons, blows on the head,
indigestible food, &c., &c,, and be dispelled by emetics, bleeding,
&c., &e. Clairvoyance is sometimes, but not necessarily, attended
by this sort o f hallucination— by an appearance or impression o f some
unreal being or inanimate object, which seems to make the commu­
nication, In the highest form of the sleep-waking o f the elder
Okey, when she bad a degree o f clairvoyance and presented such an
extatic appearance as no one could assume, she fancied her comm u­
nications, whether true clairvoyance or illusion is not the present
question, were made by a beautiful negro. I f a question was asked
her, she was observed to whisper as i f to some one with her— then
to pause, as if receiving an answer,— and then to answer the ques­
tion, This idea I traced to her having seen a handsome young New
Zealand Chief, brought to the hospital by M r. Gibbon "Wakefield to
witness her phenomena. Her sister Jane at one time fell into an
analogous state without any true clairvovanee, and she fancied she
saw a gentleman. Subsequent reading informed me that these deli­
rious ideas were often recorded by authors who have described the
eases o f clairvoyants that fell under tlieir own observation. A t the
very time the twn Okeys were in University College Hospital, a young
lady was in an analogous condition at Neufchátel tinder Ur. Castell,
and subsequently at A is in Savoy under the care o f Dr, Despine,
senior, who has detailed her most interesting rase.”
" T h e peculiar modes o f detection mentioned in No. X X I V ., pp.
VOL, i n , u
278 Supernatural things require supernatural evidence,

3 3 8 — 40, as employed by Mr. Parson's youth, appear to me to be

the result, o f an insane condition: and his mode o f telling the time
by an imaginary dial, p. 338, to be the result o f at least eccentricity.
I conceive that Frank, had an extraordinary faculty o f judging o f
time, but went through certain unnecessary processes, which, how­
ever, he sometimes made necessary, and yet not always, for he
sometimes judged accurately without them (N o. X X I V ., p. 355 and
perhaps 3,53).”

T o sh ew tlm t n o read er n eed b e a la rm ed at m y assertion

th a t w e h ave n o p r o o f o f a n erv ou s flu id , an ele ctric, o r a
sou l, I refer to m y n o te in N o . X X X I X . , pp. 3 1 3 -4 0 : and
to N o . X L . , p. 4 3 0 :—
“ W e have always contended that man is a material body, en­
dowed with certain properties or powers, existing from a certain com ­
position in certain circumstances : and that, when he dies, he by
nature ends for ever; but that the Christian doctrine declares he will
enjoy immortality,— will live again, not in virtue o f his nature, but
by a miracle, (see Nos. III., p. 2 8 8 ; X II., pp. 42I-G ; X X L , p.
112; X X I X ., pp. G8-9; X X X I V ., pp. I25-G; X X X I X ., pp, 313­
5 ) ; and Bishop Law, it will bo seen at p. 314, says, ‘ But neither
do these words, nur any other, so far aa I can find, ever stand for a
purely immaterial principle io man, or a substance, whatever some
imagine they mean by that word, wholly separable from, and inde­
pendent of, the body,’ W hen he lives again, the Scripture declares
that his condition will be different. T o us it is incomprehensible :
we have not faculties to comprehend it: hut it is termed spiritual.
W hat is natural must be learnt from experience and reasoning on
experience: what is supernatural, as a future state, must be believed
on supernatural authority,”

V II. A few supplementary remarks upon t f Mesmerism proved

true, and the Quarterly Reviewer Reviewed, by the Rev.
Chauncy H . Towushend.” By A n t i -G-lorioso .
“ L a Jeunesse.
1‘ ‘ Mais, pardi, quand, une chose est vraie "
lt B û n B a r i h o î o ,
%i * Quand une chose est vraie 1 Si je ne veux pas qu'elle soit vraie» j e p r f-
t e n d s b ie n q iC c ile n e s o i t p a s v r a i e * * * — B e a u m a r c h a i s ,
voL i., p, 45ti.
TO THE E D IT O R S OP THE Z Ü ÏS T .

J u ly , 1854,
G e n t l e m e n , — The more I look into M r. Townshend's

* " L a J e u n e s ¿te*
“ ' But» whatj when a thing U true ? ' >y
“ D û t i B a r t h o îa ,
" 1 When a thing is true ! If I don't wish a thing to he true, / a tw a p x
p r e t & i d i t is n o t t n te.1,T *
 Mr. TownshemVa book deserves a second notice. 2 /9

b o o k , the m ore d o I a g ree with v o u r o p in ion resp ectin g it.

T h e ability w ith w h ich it is w ritten , th e ta c t and k n o w le d g e
o f th e s u b je c t d isp la yed, th e sou n dn ess o f th e lo g ic, and the
g e n tle m a n ly pleasan try in tersp ersed th ro u g h o u t, all co m b in e
to re n d e r it a m ost in stru ctiv e, a n d at th e sam e tim e a m ost
agreea b le w ork I feel som ew h at c o m p e te n t to offer this
ju d g m e n t re s p e c tin g it, h a v in g m y s e lf travelled ov e r the
sa m e road th at th e a u th or has, a n d w ith th e sam e o b je c t in
v ie w } in o th e r w ords, h a v in g ex a m in ed th e a rticle in The
Quarterly Review on M esm erism , w ith th e in te n tio n o f d is­
s e c tin g it critica lly , In d e e d , c o u ld I h a v e k n o w n th at so
a ccom p lish ed a w riter as M r. T ow n slien d was addressin g h im ­
s e l f to th e task, I sh ou ld have hesitated b e fo re I p resen ted
m y cru d e rem ark s to th e co n sid era tion o f y o u r readers.*
H o w e v e r, th e Q u a rterly R eview ers, b o th th ro u g h im p u d e n ce
and ig n o ra n ce , exposed so la rg e a su rface fo r flagellation , that
th e re was am p le space a fforded fo r tw o g o o d scou rg in g s.
I t is a satisfaction to ob serv e, th a t th e parts w hich I selected
fo r th e task, w ere n ot so m u ch th o s e u p o n w hich m y c o a d ­
ju t o r in th e g o o d w ork ap p lied th e w h ip . T h e ca stig a ­
tio n , w h ich h e has in flicted , is o f n o c o m m o n ord er. A n d so
d esira b le d o I deem it t o keep h is a ble co m m e n ts b e fo re th e
p u b lic , th at cop iou s as was th e review o f th e b o o k in The
Zoist, 1 ven tu re to draw a tten tion to su n d ry m o st in te re stin g
passages, w h ich th e le n g th o f y o u r paper ev id en tly did n ot
allow y o u to in tro d u ce . M r . T o w n sh e u d , in short, w rites so
a b ly and so p leasan tly, th at his b o o k w e ll m erits a s e co n d
n o tic e .
I was g la n c in g th e o th e r d a y ov e r th ose tw o liv e ly c o m e ­
d ies, w h ich w ere w ritte n b y B eau m arch ais a sh ort tim e p r e ­
viou s to th e g reat F re n ch rev olu tion , a n d fr o m o n e o f w hich
th e m o tto affixed to th is p a p er is taken . 1 w auted to find
o u t, what it was w h ich crea ted su ch in te n s e sen sa tion u pon
th eir rep resen ta tion . F o r to ju d g e from th e d escrip tion , that
is g iv en b y som e F re n ch h istorian s, o f th e ir effect u p o n the
fe e lin g s o f th e P arisian s, th ese com ed ies m ust have som ew h at
a ccelera ted th e ad ven t o f th a t tre m e n d o u s con v u lsion w h ich
sh o o k all E u ro p e to its fo u n d a tio n ; and I was th erefore p r e ­
pared to m eet w ith op in ion s, b oth social and p o litic a l, o f a
m o st p orte n to u s te n d e n c y j h ut I d iscov ered n o th in g o f th e
k in d . T h e com ed ies, in d eed , are v e ry an im ated p ro d u ctio n s,
co n ta in in g a g rea t d ea l o f sm art d ia lo g u e and a m u sin g r e ­
p artee ; b u t sca rcely a n y th in g appears in th e m o f w hat in

* S e e S t r a y N a t e s u p o n t h e a r t i c l e a u M e n t t e r is m in t h e Q u a r t e r ly l i c ' . ’ t v : .—
Z o is t , V o l. XI,, p, 39!>.
U2
 280 What a convenient iking it is to ignore.

o u r days w o u ld b e ca lled p o litica l. T h e ir p op u la rity evid en tly

arose in g rea t m easure from the op p o sitio n w h ich th e c o u r t o f
L o u is X V I . offered to th eir rep resen ta tion . H a d th ose m
p ow er possessed th e w isdom o f b e in g silen t or n eutral, th ese
re v olu tion a ry dram as w ou ld soon have fou n d th eir level, and
b een m erely re m a rk a b le fo r th e con tra st w h ich th e y preseu ted
to th e fo rm a l and d ig n ified sty le th a t th en p revailed o n th e
stage. A s it was, th eir rep resen tation set all Paris in a n u p ­
roar. B u t th o u g h I did n o t ex a ctly find w h at was ex p ected ,
th ere was, en revanche, a g o o d deal o f spa rk lin g w it, scattered
here and th ere, w h ich to a d eg ree rep aid m e fo r m y lost tim e.
T h e w riter was a m an k e e n ly alive to th e pom p osities an d
pedantries o f his day. H e appreciated at its fu ll value the
se lf-im p o rta n ce o f th e w o u ld -b e dictator in science, — o f th e
m an , for example, w ho beca u se h e k n ow s som e th in gs w ell,
d eem s h im s e lf th erefore e n title d to p ro n o u n ce a u th orita tiv ely
u p o n th in gs resp ectin g w h ich h e k n o w s little o r n oth in g .
H ow a d m irably w ou ld B ea u m a rch a is have sh ew n up a g rea t
p rofessor and lectu rer, ra ilin g at th e ig n o r a n c e a n d im p erfect
ed u ca tion o f his fellow s, beca u se th e y dissen t from his p r e c i­
pitate c o n clu s io n s on a s u b je c t o f in q u ir y that is d ifficu lt o f
e x p la n a tion . H ow th o ro u g h ly w ou ld he have u n d e rsto o d th e
m aterials o f w h ich Q u a rte rly R eview ers are occa sion a lly c o n ­
stitu ted : and h ow h e w ou ld have p ie rce d th ro u g h th e anti­
mesmeric innocence o f S ir H e n ry H o lla n d and D r. C a rpen ter.
O u r m o tto at th e head o f this letter h its o ff these p h ilosop h ers
to a n icety , in regard to th eir recen t p h y siolog ica l research es.
" B u t , pardi, quand une chose esl vraie, w h en a th in g is tr u e ,”
The Zoist m a y be su pposed to say to o n e o f th e se h o n e s ty ­
lo v in g w r ite r s ; fo r in sta n ce, " w h en a b lin d m an o r an in fa n t,
o r a pa tien t b y m a n ip u lation s b e h in d his b a ck , are p u t to
sleep, h ow d o y o u ex p la in th ese fa cts b y y o u r h y p oth esis o f
su g g estion ? ” " O h , w h en we d o n 't w ish a th in g to be tr u e ,”
th e y rep ly , " w e p reten d ig n o ra n ce o f its e x is t e n c e ; w h en w e
m eet w ith fa cts in m esm erism th a t in c o n v e n ie n tly upset ou r
th eories, we tak e n o n o tic e o f th e tr a n s a c tio n ; and th at is
th e m a n n er b y w in ch we co n triv e to w rite b o o k s a n d a rticles
o n p h y s io lo g y /’ N o w th at is the v ery la n g u a g e w h ich B e a u ­
m arch ais p u ts in to th e m o u th o f o n e o f his ch aracters. D r .
B a rth olo n ev er k n ow s a n y th in g o f w h ich it is c o n v e n ie n t fo r
h im to a ffect an ig n o ra n ce . D r. B a r th o lo can assum e the
m o st a cco m m o d a tin g b lin d n e ss w h eu th e occa sio n suits h im .
D r. B a rth o lo can p u t o n th e m ost b la n d and virtuou s in n o ­
ce n ce , a n d p en a b o o k and p rop ou n d a th e o r y , w ith th e use
o f o n ly th o se m aterials w h ich a cco rd w ith his ow n c o n clu s io n s .
A n d it is b eca u se M r . T o w n sh e n d ’ s r e c e n t b o o k so adm irably
 Suggestion is mostly indirect. 281

u nm asks th is literary h y p ocrisy , and ex p oses th e sh allow n ess

o f a rg u m en t b y w h ich su n d ry m ed ica l w riters sustain th eir
d ish on est view s, th at we a g a in ven tu re to re co m m e n d its
p eru sal to all believers in m esm erism .
In rega rd to th is term " S u g g e s t io n /1 w h ich has n ow b e ­
c o m e th e fa vou rite phrase o f th e a n ti-m esm erists, M r. T o w n -
sh en d w rites w ith a real p h ilosop h y . T h e re is a depth and
sea rch in g correctn ess in his ob serv a tion s, w h ich prove that
he has c lo s e ly exam in ed o u r n atu re a n d tlie w ork in g s o f ou r
b ra in , l i e shews w h at th e tru e ch a ra cte r o f S u g g e stio n is,
o r rath er w hat is n o t S u g g e s tio n . H e shew s th at it acts
gen era lly in d ir e c tly . A n d h e shews th a t th e R eview ers have
m isa p p lied th e term , and fra m ed a sp ecies o f im a g in a ry s u g ­
g e s tio n to su it th e ir ow n view s a n d a rg u m en t. T h e w hole
passage is well d eserv in g o f ca re fu l stu d y , fo r it goes to the
r o o t o f th e s u b je c t : a few ex tracts o n ly can be g iv e n —

" But view Suggestion in a wider range, we come to a veiled god­

dess,— a mystery, which resumes the whole question o f man’ s exist­
ence,— a secret which is to be approached with awe, and scrutinized
with reverence. Before her impenetrable shrine, genius and philo­
sophy have bowed their heads. T o define exactly what she is, has
tasked the powers o f metaphysicians. Even the name o f this Isi3
has been matter o f deep deliberation. Sometimes as suggestion, at
others, as association, she meets the ear.
" But Reviewers
‘ Rush in where angels dare not tread.’

“ In what an easy, dashing, off-hand maimer, does the writer o f

the article on Biology and Mesmerism, pounce upon and dispose o f
the mystery o f our being. Fearlessly he flounders on, no matter
whether in his depth, or out o f his depth, seizes on poor Suggestion
in her most vulgar form, bottles her, as Sir Astley Cooper would
have bottled an anatomical preparation, mi spvitv, vini, and trium­
phantly holds her up to view in her post mortem glory,
“ Aud I will tell you why.
“ The Mesmerists,’ and still more, the Biologists’ commands to
his patient, look like direct suggestion ; and with this superficial
resemblance the Reviewer {faute de m iens) is fain to take up.
“ For he wants direct suggestion, and why should he demur about
such a trifle as that Suggestion mostly acts in an indirect way ? E e
first makes it, and then takes i t ; a compendious mode o f dealing,
peculiarly his owu. H e d ip s and frames his axioms to the occasion,
— ‘ pro re nata' — as the doctors say. But, unluckily, Suggestion
o f any kind, direct or indirect, will not stand at the head o f a theory,
for this plain reason. It is not a principle, but a law o f action. It
does not originate, it guides. How Suggestion is suggested, is a pro­
blem in itself which resumes the whole o f our being. It is properly
a vital phenom enon; the very breath of the rational soul, . . . But
282 The Quarterly Reviewer a slippery fellow.

the Reviewer applies the word Suggestion indiscriminately to any

power o f impulsion, or state o f sensation, at one and the same time,
both cause and effect. How much is there on this subject to explain
and to guard, to state clearly, and define logically, which the Reviewer
chooses to ignore.
“ How carefully should we distinguish between internal and ex­
ternal Suggestion; terms which the Reviewer mentions indeed, but
which he woefully confounds.
“ Yet, more cautiously should we draw the line between normal
and abnormal Suggestion; and again, between normal and abnormal
methods o f inducing a suggestive state,
“ Gliding away, like the scuttle-fish, in a cloud o f his own ink,
the Reviewer does not touch the true t|uestion at all, which is, how
Suggestion, that subtle thing, is abnormally suggested, and held
down, directed, and controlled by alien will.
" T h e fact is, that to an honest view the Suggestion o f common
life, and the abnormal suggestion o f mesmerism and biology, have
very little ¡n common. It is a dictated suggestion that is the mar­
vel : and on this the Reviewer has thrown no light. , . . But when
we come to the notion o f suggesting sleep, the absurdity deepens.
Neither at other’ s bidding, nor our own, comes the capricious god.
In spite o f placing before our fancy, biologically,
‘ A flock of sheep that leisurely pass by
One after one,’
in spite o f counting to a thousand, we arc a thousand miles away
from the manageable state in which we may suggest ourselves into
slumber.
“ A ll this is so palpable, that our Reviewer does, in fact, betray
a latent sense o f weakness in his theory, by the man tier in which be
tries to patch it up with other thiugs. He gives us dissertations on
Suggestion, Abstraction and Reverie, but not one word as to the
wonder bow these states are prompted, guided and governed by
extraneous human command,” — pp, 13— 17.
T h e a b ov e m u st su rely b e reg a rd ed as very sou n d and
p h ilosop h ica l w r itin g I t shew s th a t M r , T o w n sh e n d has
d iv ed in to th e very h eart o f th e su b ject. H is rea son in g is
n o t o f th at su perficial, ad captandum n atu re, w h ich su its a
p op u la r review , th at we tak e u p fo r a h a lf-h o u r ’ s d esu ltory
rea d in g and th en th row aside for e v e r ; b u t is m a d e o f that
stern stuff, w h ich w ill ad m it o f repea ted exa m in a tion .
T h e fo llo w in g passage, to o , is v ery clea r and satisfactory.
“ The Reviewer founds much on the assertion, that recent events,
(such ns Electro-Biology, Hypnotism, ike.,) have greatly facilitated
the examination o f mesmerism. The course o f his argument is this.
A large number o f the same phenomena which appear under mes­
merism may be developed under Hypnotism, Biology, &e. Now
Hypnotism and Biology do not claim to make use o f a bidden agency.
Therefore in Mesmerism there is no hidden agency.
 Dr. John Wilson’s mesmeric experiments on brutes. 283

” There is immense fallacy in all this. The reasoning is wrongly

based. It proceeds upon two assumptions, namely, that like things
are identical, and that similar things hare identical causes. But did
the Reviewer forget the poet’s philosophic line,
‘ Like, tut oh ! how different,’
Apparently he did, both in theory and practice— for all he adduces
is " like, but o h ! how different,” to what it should be. B ut super­
ficial resemblances mislead superficial observers. Y on cannot, in
matters o f sensation, carry out the mathematical axiom, “ things that
are equal to the same are equal to one a n o t h e r f o r this reason, vital
phenomena are not straight lines, and are never utterly similar,
though, like the leaves on trees, they may appear so. Indeed, if the
lemma were once admitted that ‘ similarity constitutes identity,’ what
confusion would ensue in every art, in every science. Little has the
Reviewer perceived how far every one o f the bases, which he lias used
to coo found mesmerism, would go to make a muddle o f the whole o f
human life.*1-— p. 36,
A m o n g th e fa cts, w h ich an ti-m esm erists have co n v e n ie n tly
ch osen to ig n o re , are th ose c o n n e c te d w ith th e m esm erisa tion
o f th e low er anim als, In th eir case Im a g in a tio n or S u g g e s ­
tio n c o u ld p lay n o part. S o far b a c k as 1 8 3 9 , D r. J o h n
W ils o n , p h y sicia n at th a t tim e to th e M id d le s e x H osp ita l,
p u b lish ed a sm all pa m p h let, ca lled . Trials of Animal Magnet-
ism on the Brute Creation. T hese trials rela ted to so m e ex­
p e rim e n ts w h ich h e h im s e lf m ade w ith several o f th e w ildest
an im als at th e Z o o lo g ic a l gard en s. T h e resu lts w ere m ost
d e c is iv e ; and it is stran ge, h ow w riters o p p o s e d to m esm erism ,
h ave con tin u e d to place on o n e sid e th e fa cts co n ta in e d in D r .
W ils o n 's p a m p h let. N o allusion, as fa r as I am aw are, has
ever b e e n m ade to th ose e x p e r im e n ts ; at least, n o t b y a n y o f
th e r e c e n t con trov ersia lists. S ir H . H o lla n d , fo r in sta n ce,
passes th e m ov e r w ith h is usual soft and a rcadian sim p licity .
S u ch fa cts w o u ld d am age m ost im p e rtin e n tly th e o n e g ra n d
id ea th at form s th e basis o f “ H u m a n P h y s io lo g y .” O th e r
w riters have im ita ted th eir p ro to ty p e 's p ru d e n t ta citu rn ity .
S u g g e s tio n is w e k n o w th eir r u lin g n o t io n ; a n d S ir H e n r y
has " s u g g e s te d ” to th e m th e w isdom o f b e in g silen t, o n p oin ts
w h ere la n g u a g e c o u ld n o t su ccessfu lly con cea l th eir secret
in ev ita b le con v iction s. A n d y et, s in ce D r. W ils o n p u b lish ed
his pa m p h let, o th e r facts o f a sim ilar n atu re have taken p la c e ;
th e narrative o f w h ich has appeared in The Zoisl. S till a
p o litic silen ce has y e t prevailed. A n d th e re fo re it is th at, in
r e p ly to th e S u ggestion ists, M r , T o w n sh e n d p ro d u ce s som e
cu riou s fa cts w h ich have co m e u n d er his o w n co g n iz a n c e .
“ T o obtain proper evidence o f the existence o f a peculiar medium,
let a doubter begin by trying the passes where suggestion cannot be
 281 A mesmeric medium necessary.

an ingredient in the case. Let him mesmerise babies, if he will, I

have seen even an idiot infant, who never otherwise slept, thrown in
fire minutes, into a mesmeric sleep so sound, that it was tost about
and thrown on a bed without the possibility o f waking it. Or, let
any oue make experiments on brutes, above all on birds. 1 have
had, in two instances, birds which were so easily affected by mes­
merism that the head followed the finger, even when held out of siyht,
as iron follows the magnet. One o f the birds, when once put to
sleep, as it was thoroughly by mesmeric action, could he tost into
the air, and caught again in the hand like a hall. This was a species
o f tom-tit. The other, a nightingale, was still more susceptible. It
could be mesmerised by the eye o f any person with whom it was
familiar; and would, i f fixedly looked at, even from across a room,
stretch out its wings level with the table on which it might he perch­
ing, d ose its eyes, and so, in that state, manifest attraction o f the
head to the human hand, from side to side.
“ That every bird should be so sensitive to the liumau influence
is indeed not to be expected. Every tyro, whether he try to mes­
merise birds or men, must make up his mind to many failures, but
in this he will only be like any other neophyte on any other subject,
“ Dogs are difficult to mesmerise because o f their natural watch­
fulness ; but fish are easily affected. Fisb kept in glass bowls will
recognize the hands o f particular persons, and seem to have pleasure
in being taken out o f the water by th em ; while on the contrary
no amount o f habit reconciles them to being touched or even ap­
proached by certain other hands, I once restored to animation hy
mesmeric passes several fish that had been apparently killed by
shocks from an immense horse-shoe magnet, which was used in a
lecture on terrestrial magnetism ; and these fish, the lecturer assured
me, would have never revived in ordinary circumstances.” — p, 102.

S u ch facts as these, w h ich are m e n tio n e d o n M r . T o w n -

ah en d's ow n a u th o rity , are so c o n v in c in g , th a t n o m os m e riser
d o u b ts th e e x is te n c e o f som e extern a l a g e n t : th is is th e p o in t,
how ever, o n w h ich fr o m th e b e g iu n io g th e Quarterly R eview er
tries to th row discred it. A n d th erefore I ask, w hy are these
a lleg ed facts n o t e x a m in e d ? I f th e y b e tru e, th e y p rove
som eth in g : i f th e y b e n o t true, w h at con stitu tes th eir false­
h o o d ? T h e iu c o m p e te u c y o f th e w itn esses? U p o n th is p oin t,
w e should be g la d o f an answ er. B u t i f o u r w itnesses ca n n o t
be ta x ed e ith e r w ith in co m p e te n cy o r w ith fa lseh ood , h ow will
th e ex p la n a tory th e o ry o f th e Q u arterly R eview ers apply in
this m a tter o f th e lo w e r a n im a ls? F o r on r o p p o n e n ts , it will
be rem em b ered , have th eorized.; th e y a d m it o u r facts, b u t
offer a th e o ry in e x p la n a tion . N o w (as M r. T ow n slie n d o b ­
serves in his p refa ce,) th is is a fact o f great sign ifica n ce. It
is ev id en t th at o u r p h en om en a are so im p orta n t and rem a rk ­
a ble, as to drive th e A n ti-M e sm e rists to T h e o r y ; it is also
ev id en t th at, by r e je c tin g ou r T h eory , they are driven o u t o f
 An agency exists which is not suggestion, 285

th e ir e n tre n ch m e n ts iu to a v ery w eak and ex p osed p osition .

W e h ave th e th in g in b la ck and w h ite ; and as th e The Quar­
terly Review m a y be co n sid e re d a resume o f all th at can be
m ost su b tly u rg e d again st M esm erism , and is n o d o u b t the
b e s t th a t can be said o n th e sid e o f o u r o p p o n e n ts , w e b e h o ld
th e u tm o s t o f w h ich p re ju d ice is cap able. A n d th is fact, ou r
a u th or well rem ark s, “ is an era in th e h istory o f that w o r ld ­
w id e th in g , M e s m e r is m ."
O n th e su b je ct o f T h e o ry , it strikes m e th a t th ere is a
fresh n ess and orig in a lity in tiie fo llo w in g o b serv a tion s o f M r .
T o w n sh e n d .

“ There is a cant o f the day about Theories,— a cant which our

practice contradicts. A ll are crying out, ‘ Give us facts— no theo­
ries!’ Y et every body really does theorize for himself. T o reason,
to deduce is the prerogative o f man ; and we, iu truth, take every
fact, however mysterious, in connexion with a presumed cause. A
visible phenomenon forces on us the conviction that there is behind
it an adequate agency, even though that agency be occult. Every
fact is a theory, if we did but know it. The fall o f an apple includes
the system o f the universe. Now, in Mesmerism, every fair judge
has before his eyes.phenomena induced upon one human being by
the action o f another, while at the same time this action takes effect
in such a way as to render a medium o f communication between the
two beings as much a thing o f certainty as terrestrial magnetism is
when established by the motion o f a needle near a magnet. Some
wise heads indeed recur mustily to the old dictum that we must not
call in a new agency, when what are called (and how foolishly called !)
known causes suffice. But, iu the case o f Mesmerism, these said
known causes will not suffice. T o prove this, I will relate what has
just occurred at a séance at my house near Lausanne.” — p. 140.

M r . T o w n sh e n d th en d escrib es a series o f m esm eric ex p e ­

rim e n ts o f a m ost in te re stin g n a tu re, w h ich w ere c o n d u c te d
u n d e r th e d ire ctio n o f M r , R ega za on i, a m esm eriser from
B e r g a m o in Ita ly . T h es e ex p erim en ts p ro d u ce d o n a ll w h o
w itn essed th em th e m o st th o ro u g h co n v ic tio n that th e re exista
in m esm erism , a n o c c u lt a g e n cy , in d e p e n d e u t o f S u g g e s t io n ;
h ow ev er, th e d escrip tion is to o lo n g fo r in sertion , b u t every
o n e , w h o feels an in terest in this q u estion , w ill be w ell repaid
b y a p eru sal. M r . T o w n sh e n d recu rs to th e s u b je c t o f a
“ T h e o r y ” tow ards th e c lo s e o f his b o o k ,

“ "We have phenomena before us, and the human mind (even os
the attempt in the Quarterly proves) seeks for a solution o f those
phenomena. But an inadequate Theory is as inadmissible as medio­
crity in poetry. It is not natural, for nature deals out her powers
with a lavish hand, . . . Now the Mesmeric Theory, which briefly is,
't h e human influence acting through a medium,’ is amply adequate
3S6 Mr. Townshend is an honour to the great cause,

to our exigencies, with this beautiful peculiarity : it is never hurtful.

It suffices, but it does not harm. Let us remark too that the M es­
meric Theory is but an expression o f facts. "What proves remark­
ably how little we have had to do with Theory as mere Theory is,
that since Mesmer’ s time we have said very little about any Theory
at all. Each Mesmerist has worked for himself in the vast field of
nature. Since Mesmer’ s discovery, the methods o f tnesmerisation
have been changed, improved, rendered more safe and certain ¡ and
this in itself shews that we are not authority-mo tigers, who go by
precedent (another name for want of principle). But the time is
now come to re-take up Theory. Nay, we are forced to arm s; for
our opponents themselves begin to theorize. Hitherto in their igno­
rance and arrogance,— which they call common sense— they have had
matters pretty much their owu way; hut it is time that we assume
our proper position,” — pp. 212, 213.
I c o u ld w ith ease have selected m an y m o re th o u g h tfu l and
in stru ctiv e p a s s a g e s ; b u t I w ou ld ra th er u rg e o n r readers to
refer to th e b o o k itself. T h ere is m atter e n o u g h iu it to
fu rn ish th e su b sta n ce fo r tw en ty v olu m es, su ch as volu m es
are in th ese su perficial days. In d e e d , th e m ore I exa m in e
M r . T o w n s h e n d ’ s w ritin g s, the m ore am I im p ressed w ith
th eir d eep p h ilosop h y , a n d with th eir str ik in g ly su ggestive
ch a ra cter. H is m in d is ev id en tly o f th a t reflective class w hich
ca n lo o k b e fo r e and after. T r u ly , w e m a y w ell say that
a ccid en ts sh ape ou t for us th e v ery b e n t o f ou r stu dies. I f
th e fates, fo r in stan ce, had p la ced o u r au th or in less fo rtu n a te
circu m sta n ces o f b irth and station, a n d had co m p e lle d h im to
e x ercise his b ra in fo r the m u ltip lica tion o f his b read , we m ig h t
have seen M r . T ow n sh en d o c c u p y in g th e ch a ir o f M o r a l P h i­
losop h y in so m e N o r th e r n U n iversity , d e liv e rin g p rofou n d
lectu res on M eta p h y sics, o r p u ttin g fo rth v olu m es w h ich
m ig h t h ave rivalled th ose o f D r. B r o w n , D u g a ld S tew art, and
M a cin to s h , fo r th e b rea d th and d ep th o f th eir v ie w s : Diis
atiter visum; and, instead o f that, th e m an o f refin em en t and
o f diversified rea d in g and a ccom p lish m en ts shiues o u t iu every
p a g e ; p h ilo s o p h y and h u m o r are h a p p ily b len d ed , each a c tin g
as th e h a n d m a id to th e oth er, a u d ea ch k e e p in g its p rop er
p la c e ; and a b o o k is p ro d u c e d , from w h ich th e w isest m ay
b o rro w m a n y a th o u g h t and h in t, and w h ich th e less in ­
stru cted m a y rea d w ith ease and pleasu re. E v e r y m esm erist
has rea son t o b e p rou d o f su ch an a lly as M r . T ow n sh en d ,
aud sh ou ld k e e p h is tw o w ork s in a p r o m in e n t p o sitio n b efore
h im ,
I am , g e n tle m e n , y o u rs, & c.,
Á N T I-G LORI o so .
 ( 287 )

V III. A case of Spirit-rapping above three hundred years old,

equal to any of the newest, sagaciously viewed, skilfully
cured, and recorded by the Abbé Lenglet. T ro u slated b y
D r, E llio t son . With the testimony and opinions of the
Rev. Dr. Gumming on Rapping and Table-moving.
ri * There was a Negro*1 said he* ‘ who had a pretty wife* to whom another
Negro was rather attentive when he had an opportunity. One day the husband
went out to bunt* and the other party thought it a good opportunity to pay a visit
to the lady* The husband, however* returned rather unexpectedly, and the visitor
climbed up do the rafters to be nut of sight among the old boards and baskets that
were stowed away there. The husband put bis guti by in a corner* and called to
his wife to get his supper* and then sat down in bis bammock. Casting his eyes
up to the rafters* he sow a leg protruding from among the baskets, and* thinking
it somethiog supernatural* crossed himself* and said* *Lord* deliver ns from the
legs appearing overhead i* The other* bearing this* attempted to draw up his legs
out of sight, but, losing his balance, came down suddenly on the floor in front of
the astonished husband, who* half frightened, asked ( "Where do you come from !’
11 have just come from heaven/ said the other, *and have brought you news of
your little daughter Maria/ 1Oh ! wife, wife ! come and see a man who has
brought us news of our little daughter Maria/ then* turning to the visitor* con­
tinued: rAnd what was my little daughter doing when yon left?1 * Oh 1 she was
sitting at the feet of the Virgin, with a golden crown on her head* and smoking a
golden pipe a yard long/ f And did she not send ary message to us ?J ‘ Oh yes,
she sent many remembrances, and begged you to send her two pounds of your
tobacco from the little rhosss : they have not got any half so good up there/
‘ Oh Î wife, wife ! bring two pounds of our tobacco from the little rhossit, for our
daughter Mario Îb lu heaven, and she says they have not any half so good up
there/ So the tobacco was brought, and the visitor was departing* when he was
asked, ■Are there many white men up there?J *Very few/ he replied; * they
are all down below with the d i a l o g 11 thought so/ the other replied* apparently
quite satisfied ï ‘ good night !* N a r r a fiv e o f T r a v els on t h e A m a z o n a n d
Eo N eg ro , w ith an a c c o u n t- o f t h e n a t i v e t r i é e s , a n d o b s e r v a t io n # on th e c li­
m a t e , g e o l o g y %a n d n a t u r a l h i s t o r y q f t h e A m a z o n Fa Jtey. By Alfred ft. Wallace.*

" T h e illu striou s h ou se o f S t. M es m in had b estow ed a g rea t

deal o f p ro p e rty u p on th e co n v e n t o f th e C ord eliers, and its
b u ria l-p la ce was in th eir c h u r c h . T h e w ife o f a lord o f S t.
M e s m in , p ro v o st o f Orleans,, h a v in g d ied, h er h u sban d , th in k in g
h is an cestors had im p overish ed th em selves en ou g h b y g iv in g
to th e m on k s, m a d e th e fra te rn ity a p resen t w h ich d id n o t
c o n te n t th e m . T h ese g o o d F ra n cisca n s resolved to d isin ter
th e d ecea sed iu o rd e r to m ake th e w id ow er r c in te r h er in
th eir h o ly g ro u n d , and p a y th em b etter. T h e p la n was n o t
w ise, becau se th e lo rd o f S t. M e sm in w o u ld have b u ried h e r
elsew h ere. B u t im p ru d e n ce o ft e n a tten d s r o g u e r y .
" A t first th e spirit o f th e la d y o f S t. M e s m in appeared
to tw o o n ly o f th e m on k s. I t said t o th e m , ' I am d a m n ed ,
lik e Judas, becau se m y h u sb a n d lias n o t given e n o u g h .3
T h e tw o little ro g u es w h o re p o rte d these w ords d id n o t p e r-

* Are the .t/riVH-table-movers and s p irit .rappers wiser than the negro hus­
band : — Z o i s l .
288 Raps given at pleasure by the monks.

ce iv e th at th e y w ou ld d o m ore h arm thaw g o o d to th e co n v e n t.

T h e o b je c t o f th e co n v e n t was to e x to rt m o n e y fr o m the lord
o f S t. M e s m in fo r th e repose o f his w ife’ s sou l. B lit, i f
M a d a m e de S t. M esm in was d a m n ed , all th e m o n e y in th e
w orld c o u ld n o t save h e r : n o th in g w ou ld have to be g iv en :
th e C o rd e lie rs m ust lose th eir pay.
" A t th a t p eriod th ere was very little g o o d sense in F ran ce.
T h e n a tion h a d been bru talized b y th e in vasion o f th e F raucs,
a n d su b se q u e n tly b y th e invasion o f sch ola stic t h e o lo g y : still
th e re w ere so m e p erson s in O rlean s w h o reason ed . T h e y
d ou b ted w h e th e r, i f th e G rea t B e in g had p erm itted the spirit
o f M a d a m e S t. M e sm in to appear to tw o F ran ciscan s, it was
n atu ral fo r th is spirit to declare its e lf d a m n ed like Ju d as.
T h e co m p a riso u seem ed o u t o f place. T h e lady had n ot sold
o u r L o r d Jesu s C hrist fo r th irty p ieces o f s ilv e r ; sh e had n o t
h a n g ed h e r s e lf; h er bow els had n o t b u rst from h er b o d y :
th ere was n o g ro u n d fo r com p a rin g h er to Ju d as.
i r T h is crea ted su s p ic io n ; and th ere was th e m ore talk in
O rlea n s b e ca u se som e h eretics did n o t b eliev e certa in visions,
and, th o u g h th e y a d m itted absurd p rin ciples, d id n ot fail to
draw sou n d c o n c lu s io n s fr o m th em . T h e C ord eliers th erefore
ch a n g e d th eir m o d e o f attack, and p u t th e lad y in pu rga tory.
“ S o she appeared again ; and declared th a t she was in
p u r g a t o r y : b u t b e g g e d to be d isin terred . I t was n o t the
cu sto m to d isin ter p e o p le w h o w ere in p u rg a tory , b u t the
m on k s h o p e d th at M . de S t. M e sm in w otdd pay th em som e
m o n e y to p rev en t th e p ossibility o f th is ex tra ord in a ry affron t.
T h e req u est to be rem ov ed from th e c h u r ch in crea sed th e
su sp iciou s. P e o p le k n ew very w ell th at sou ls h ave often a p ­
p ea red , b u t th at th e y n ev er b e g to be d isin terred.
" The spirit from this time never s p o k e b u t it plagu ed
e v e ry p erson in th e co n v e n t a n d in th e ch u r ch . T h e C or­
deliers e x o rcis e d it. B roth er P e te r o f A rra s, in o rd e r to
c o n ju r e it, a d o p te d a m eth od w h ich was a n y th in g b u t w ise.
H e said to it, 1I f you are the spirit of Madame de St.
Mesmin, s a p four times d and the four r a t s were heard.
' I f you are damned, r a p six t i m e s a n d the six r a p s were
heard. ' I f you are the more tormented in hell because your
body is buried in holy ground, k a p six times more and these
six r a ps were heard still more distinctly. ' I f we disinter
your body, and leave off praying to God fo r you, will you be
less damned ? r a p five times to certify this and the spirit
certified by five r a p s .
" T h is in te r r o g a tio n o f the spirit b y P e te r o f A rra s w as
sig n e d b y tw o and tw e n ty C ordeliers, at th e head o f w h om
was th e re v eren d provincial father. T h is p ro v in cia l pu t th e
 Dr. Gumming attended a table-turning party, 289

sam e qu estion s th e n ext day h im self, and received th e sam e

answ ers.
“ I t m a y b e said th at, th e sp irit h a v in g d ecla red it s e lf to
be in p u rg a to ry , th e C ord eliers had n o rig h t to su ppose it
was in h e ll ; b u t I am n o t to blam e i f som e th eolog ia n s
con tra d ict th em selves.
“ T h e lord o f S t. M e s m in p resen ted a p etition to th e
k in g again st th e C ord eliers. T h e y p resen ted a n oth er. T h e
k in g a p p oin ted ju d g e s , at th e head o f w h om was A d r ie n
F u m é e , m aster o f th e requ ests.
“ T h e procureur-général o f th e com m ission req u ested that
th e said C ord eliers m ig h t be b u rn t : b u t th e se n ten ce ord e re d
all o f th em to m ak e th e amende honourable o n ly w ith a torch
in th e ir hands, and b y b e in g ban ish ed . T his se n ten ce was
passed on th e 18th o f F eb ru a ry , 1 534.
“ A fte r such a sjnritnal manifestation, n o oth ers can b e
re q u ire d : they all belong to the class of knavery or madness.
T h o s e o f th e first class co m e u n d er th e h an ds o f th e law :
th o se o f th e se co n d are eith er th e visions o f madmen in d is ­
ease, or o f madmen in good health. T h e first req u ires m e d i­
cin e s : th e se co n d th e m a d h o u s e ."

T h e p r e c e d in g case is r e co rd e d , it appears, b y th e A b b é
L e n g le t in his Histoire des Apparitions et Visions. B u t, as I
h ave b e e n u n a b le to p ro cu re this w ork , I was co m p e lle d to
b a v e recou rse to V o lta ir e ’ s Dictionnaire Philosophiquet a rticle
V i s i o n s .— J ohn E l l io t s o n .

T h e R e v , D r. C u m m in g bas p u b lish e d his e x p e rie n ce in

ta b le -m o v in g a n d ta b le-rev ela tion , and his view s o f th e su b je ct
in th e fo llo w in g passages so a cco rd w ith m y ow n e x p e rie n ce
and th e view s p u b lish ed in The Zoisl (N o s. X L I . , X L I I . ,
X L I I L , X L I V . , X L V „ X L V I . } , that I ap p en d th e m to th is
c o m m u n ic a t io n .— J . E ,

" I was ask ed to g o and visit tw o o f th e m o st a ble an d

effectiv e p erform ers u p on tables in th e h ou se o f a d ea r and
valued frien d , a m e m b e r o f m y c o n g re g a tio n . Ï w a tch ed ,
su sp iciou sly, th e w h ole from b e g in n in g to end. I t Î3 im ­
p o rta n t, h ow ev er, t o d iscrim in a te tw o th in g s co n fo u n d e d .
T h e r e is ta b le -m o v in g , w h ich is o n e t h in g ; th ere is t a b le ­
sp e a k in g , or d isem b od ied spirits sp ea k in g th rou g h ta b le s (as
it is a lle g e d ), w h ich is a to ta lly d ifferen t th in g . T h e o n e
m a y be a scien tific p h e n o m e n o n ; th e o th e r I shall tr y to
d escrib e as I th in k it deserves. It m ay seem p resu m p tu ou s
390 Table-turning is a natural fact.

to say, even with d eep est d eferen ce, th at I am satisfied that

F araday in h is le tter d oes n o t ex p la in th e p h en om en on . T h is
m a y h e m y error, b u t it is m y im p ression . W h e th e r it he
b y e le c tr ic ity , or galvanism , or m esm erism , or a n y oth er y e t
u n d e te c te d m otiv e a n d su btle elem en t, it is a fa c t, that th e
fingers o f a lad y laid lig h tly o n a h eavy table, m ad e it, in m y
p resen ce, spin rou n d , lift its legs, stam p th e floor, and throw'
its e lf in to m o st ex tra ord in a ry a n d u n b e c o m in g co n v u lsion s.
T a b le -t u r n in g is an am u sem en t fo r ch ild ren . T a b le -ta lk in g
is n o t so. T h e o n e is ch ild 's -p la y , th e o th e r is eith er d o w n ­
r ig h t n o n s e n se o r w orse. I t is im p o rta n t th a t we sh ou ld
u n d ersta n d , i f possible, w h at p reteu d s to h e a b o v e h u m an ;
for w hile e x p e c tin g m iracles, and sig n s su pernatural, or
ra th er in fra-n atu ral, in th e last days, we m u st h e o n ou r gu ard
again st im p ostu re, and p repare to d ecid e w hat are, and what
are n o t so, M y frien d s asserted in th eir d r a w in g -m o m , n ot
on ly th at th is n ew m otiv e pow er was tru e (w h ich m a y o r m ay
n o t h e ), b u t that th e re was s o m e th in g above a n d b e y o n d
ta b le -m o v in g , or th e su pernatural. It m a y be e le ctricity , it
m a y b e galvan ism , it m ay he n e it h e r ; o r it m a y be som e
o th e r n a tu ra l in flu en ce w h ich we do n o t, at presen t, k n ow o f ;
o r it m a y be wlmt F araday su ggests. I am aw are th ere are
difficu lties in su p p osin g the ex isten ce in h u m an fingers o f an
u n d etected p ow er, fo r how does it h a p p en th a t w h en p eop le
sit dow n to din e, a n d lay th eir fingers o n th e table, it does
n o t b e g in to d a n c e ? B u t it is a fa ct th at I saw a tab le,
to u c h e d lig h t ly b y th e fingers o f a la d y , w h ose m u scu la r
pow ers, I am sure, w ere n ot very form id a b le, rise, leap, and
m o v e from side to sid e in th e m ost e x tra ord in a ry m an n er.
F araday I th in k does n ot, and I c a n n o t ex p la in th is. B u t it
is n o t th e re fo re supernatural. M y tw o frieu d s, h ow ever, said
th a t it was su pernatural. T h e y se t th e ta b le in m o tio n , an d
th e n asked m e to p u t qu estion s to th e su p p osed spirit, w h ich
had ju s t ta k e n possession o f th e ta b le, I said, f N o , I d e clin e
to d o s o ; I am here sim p ly as a sp ecta tor, a n d have reasons
fo r d e clin in g , w hich I need n o t state, I am h ere sim ply as
a n in q u ir e r : y o u b e g in , a n d I w ill lo o k o n ,' T h e qu estion
was asked, ‘ D o y o u k n ow th e R e v . M r . R e e v e ? ' T h e ta b le
ga v e th ree g en tle taps, w h ich m ean s in th e ta b le vern acular,
‘ Y e s .’ * D o y o u k n ow th e R ev. M r , F isk ?’ T h e ta b le gave
th ree g en tle raps, in precisely th e sam e m an n er. A fte r a sk ­
in g tw o o r th ree qu estion s a b o u t variou s p erson s, p resen t o r
absen t, a n d re ce iv in g sim ilar p o lite and co u r te o u s replies,
m y frie n d ask ed th e su pposed spirit, ‘ D o y o u k n ow D r .
C u m m in g ? ' T h e table p ositiv ely fo r g o t all th e resp ect d u e
t o a la d y ’ s d ra w in g -ro o m , a n d th rew itself in to a state o f
 The rapper rapped very blunderingly. 291

con v u lsiv e k ic k in g , w h ich m ad e m e an xiou s, n o t a b o u t m y

creed , b u t a b o u t th e ta b le 's safety. M y friends th e n asked
h ow m a n y sh illin g s w ere in m y p o ck e t. I t g u essed eleven ,
and th ere w ere on ly five. T h e y th en ask ed h ow m a y sove­
reig n s I had. I t gu essed five, and 1 had on ly o n e . I t was
th en asked, ' W i l l y o u a n sw er D r . C u m m in g at a l l ? ' The
answ er, a c c o r d in g to th eir in te rp re ta tio n , was, ‘ N o , ' in th e
m ost d e cid e d m an n er. 'W h y n o t ? ' A n alph abet was th en
laid o n th e ta b le, and, certa in ly , th e p r o c e e d in g was very
cu riou s. W e b e g a n : A , th e table s to o d still ; B , it gave
th ree taps. T h a t was set d o w n as th e first le tte r o f the
answ er. W e th en b e g a n a g a in : A , th e ta b le was s ile n t ; B ,
still silen t. W e w en t on till w e ca m e to E , then th ere were
th re e tap s. T h is was p r o c e e d e d w ith till the w ords w ere
m ad e o u t,— ‘ B eca u se h e la u g h s.' W h e n I heard th is, I su b ­
m itte d th at m y la u g h in g and in cre d u lity o u g h t to b e a reason
fo r c o n v in c in g m e, and n o t te a rin g m e a scep tic. B u t th e
ta b le , o r i f n o t th e ta b le its m a n ip u la tor, seem ed to dislik e
m e excessively. I co n fe ss I saw m u ch th a t was c u r io u s ; a
g r e a t deal in g e n io u sly d o n e : bu t I have also seen v ery re­
m a rk a b le th in g s in th e feats o f tu m b lers in th e streets o f
L o n d o n , in th e trick s o f card-sh u fflers in a room , and in th e
con v ersa zion es o f ven triloq u ists in a ch im n e y -n o o k . But I
have seen n o th in g n ecessa rily su pern atu ral a b ou t i t ; an d
m a rk , i f th ere b e a d o u b t th a t a th in g is a m iracle, it is n o
m ira cle. I n th e days o f o u r L o r d th e re was n o d o u b t e x ­
p ressed b y b itter en em ies th a t w h at h e d id was m ir a c u lo u s ;
th e p u zzle w as, ‘ Is it from th e dev il below , o r is it from
G od above?’ B u t ta b le -ta lk in g is so equ ivoca l, th at th e
p arties p resen t w itn essin g th e so -ca lle d m ira cu lou s respon ses
are pu zzled to d eterm in e w h eth er it b e su pernatural, or on ly
v ery clev er and ta len ted . N o w , in th e last days, I lo o k n o t
for e q u iv oca l feats a n d d u b iou s m ira cles, b u t fo r terrib le
sta rtlin g m an ifesta tion s o f su p erh u m a n pow er, w h ich shall
d eceiv e, i f p ossib le, th e very_ elect,
“ B u t a w o rd m o re o n th is su b ject, I have rea d o n on e
side th e R e v . M r , C lo se a n d th e R e v . D . W ils o n , w h o have
w ritte n v e r y a b ly and a d m ir a b ly ; th o u g h I d o n o t a g ree w ith
eith er as to th e g ro u n d s o f th eir d e c is io n , yet I a g ree w ith
th eir con clu sion s. I have rea d e v e ry p am ph let I c o u ld find
on. th e o th e r side, fr o m M r . D ib d in , o n e o f th e best an d
m o s t p iou s m en in L o u d o n , to M r . G o d fre y , M r . G illson ,
a n d oth ers w h o have w ritten in fa v ou r o f th eir v ie w s ; and in
r e a d in g th o se variou s in te re stin g w ork s, I n o tic e d th at each
in q u ire r o f th e table g o t all his an sw ers very m u ch in the
d ir e c tio n o f h is ow n w ishes a n d p red ilection s, L e t u s m a rk
392 Satan too busy to make tables talk.

well th a t fact, F o r in s ta n c e : a cco rd in g to th e R ev. R . W .

D ib d in , d em on s e n te r in to the table a n d tell lies, and declare
th a t th e w orsh ip o f th e V ir g in M a r y is r ig h t ; th a t iss th e y
are J esu its, o r P op ish d em on s. A c c o r d in g to M r . G o d fre y ,
it is th e spirits o f d ep a rted sin n ers th at em erg e fr o m h ell and
con firm every d o c tr in e o f the B ib le ; th at is, P rotesta n t
spirits. A c c o r d in g to O w en , th e in fid el and S ocia list, "Vol­
taire, and D id e r o t, and D ’ A le m b e r t, and P ain e, all co m e d ow n
from etern a l h appin ess, and tell h im how p e rfe ctly h appy
th e y are, a n d have b een , and e x p e ct to be ! A c c o r d in g to
the R e v , M r . G illso n , spirits speak again st P o p e r y ; while,
a cco rd in g to M r. D ib d in , th ey praise it, as i f th e y had b e e n
th e priests o f D r , W is e m a n . N o w , I c a n n o t believe th at an
evil spirit w ou ld sp eak th e tru th , or attest th e in spiration o f
th e B ib le ; fo r i f a k in g d o m be d ivided again st itself, h ow can
it stand ? I ca n n ot, in th e n e x t place, b eliev e that an evil
spirit w ou ld be so stupid a b lu n d erer as to p rea ch th e w orsh ip
o f the V ir g in M a r y to so sou n d and p iou s a P rotesta n t as
M r , D ib d iu . A n d I can never believe th at g o d ly , pious, an d
ev a n g elica l m in isters, are th e media b y w h om devils c o m e
from hell, to tell lies or tru th s to m a n k in d . N o r ca n I
believe th a t ‘ A lfr e d B r o w n / th e n a m e given b y on e sp irit,
co u ld d e scrib e h is to rm e n t, as record ed in th e b ook o f M r.
G o d fre y ; o r th at any o th e r lost spirit ever can b e , or is, s u f­
fered to c o m e up to th is w orld and tell th e tran sactions o f its
aw fu l p rison -h ou se, as lo n g as I read th e p etition o f th e rich
m an and th e decisive an sw er th at was given h im . ‘ I p ra y
th ee, father, th at th ou w ould est sen d L azaru s u n to m y
fa th er’ s h ou se, fo r I have five b reth ren , that h e m ay testily
u n to th em , lest th ey also co m e in to this place o f torm en t,
A n d A b ra h a m said u n to h im , T h e y have M o s e s and th e
p rop h ets : i f th e y h ea r n o t th em , n eith er w o u ld th e y b e p e r ­
su aded th o u g h o n e rose fr o m th e d e a d / N o w , m ark y o u , i f
th e O ld T esta m en t a lon e was su fficien t eig h teen h u n d re d
years a g o to ren d er u n n ecessary and im p ossib le an apparition
from the d ead to attest its tru th , th e O ld and N e w T esta m en t
to g e th e r are, a fortiori, m o re th a n su fficien t to ren d er u n n e ­
cessary, u n ex p ected , im p ossib le, u n tru e, an ap p a rition o f a
spirit from th e realm s o f the lo st fo r th e sam e o b je c t and
m ission . I e x p e ct su pernatural d eed s b e fo re th is dispen sa­
tion closes ; b u t ta b le -ta lk in g is n o t such p r o o f o f the m a n i­
festa tion o f S atan as we are to lo o k for. B esid es, Satan has
h ig h e r g a m e to fly a t ; h e is at presen t to o b u sy in spreadin g
G erm a n R a tion a lism , T ra cta ria n ism , P o p e ry , and various
k in d s o f m oral evil, to h ave any d isposable fo r c e and tim e to
spare for such b u n g lin g m an ifesta tion as ta b le -ta lk in g , 1
 Superstitious resistance to improvements, 293

a d m it th at th ere is m u ch in it as a ph ysical p h e n o m e n o n that

is cu riou s, m u ch th at I ca u n ot e x p la in ; h u t I p rotest against
th e c o n clu sio n th a t, b eca u se I c a n n o t ex p la in a p h en om en on ,
I am b ou n d to attrib u te it to su pern atu ral and m ira cu lou s
a g e n cy . T h e o n ly tra ce o f th e s e r p e n ts p resen ce, i f su ch it
he at all, th at I can d iscov er in th e m atter, is, X con fess, to
m e a v ery sad on e. I t is this : th at th e absu rd ex cite m e n t
it has p rod u ced sh ou ld m ake lu n a tics in A m e r ic a — th at th e
m on strou s th iu g sh ou ld be o rg a n ized in to a ch u rch , as th e y
call it, in P h ila d elp h ia — th at a c le rg y m a n sh ou ld advertise a
le ctu re on th e th e o lo g y o f table-talk in th e m etrop olis o f th e
w o rld ; and th a t C hristian m inisters, o f u n d o u b te d p iety an d
ta len t, p u rity o f life, and clearn ess o f m in d , sh ou ld waste
th e ir in flu en ce and w eaken th eir p ow er, b y p u b lish in g m e ­
diaeval fan cies, m on k ish n on sen se, p rofa n e a n d an ile fa b les.”

IX . A farther account of the lad George Walker, a sufferer

from Electro-Biology, whose case was described in Vol. X.
with the recent untrue statements of the L a n c e t, B y a
C le rg y m a u o f th e C h u rch o f E n g la n d .
lf When fanners were first introduced to assist in winnowing com from the
chaff by producing artificial currents of air, it was argued that 1winds wore
raised by God alonet and it was irreligious in roan to attempt to raise wind for
himself and by efforts o f his ow n/ One Scottish clergyman actually refused the
holy communion to those of his parishioners who tbus irreverently raised the
1Devil’s wind/ Few of the readers of Old Mortality will forget honest Mause
Headrigg's indignation when it was proposed that her *son Cuddie should work
in the barn wi1 a new-fangled machine for dighting the corn frae the chaff, thus
impiously thwarting the will of Divine Providence, by raising wind for your
leddyship’s ain particular use by human artj instead of soliciting it by prayerr or
waiting patiently for whatever dispensation of wind Providence was pleased to
send upon the wheeling hill/ A route has just been successfully opened by
Panama between the Atlantic and Pacific* lu 1586 a priest named Acosta wrote
respecting a proposal then made for this very undertaking* that it was bis opinion
that * human power should not be allowed to Cut through the strong and impene­
trable bounds which God has put between the two oceans, of mountains and iron
rocks, which can stand the fury of the raging seas. And* if it were possible, it
would appear to me very just, that we should fear the vengeance of heaven for
attempting to improve that which the Creator in bis almighty will aod providence
has ordained from the creation of the world/ When forks were first introduced
into England some preachers denounced their use 1as an insult on providence*
not to touch o\ir meat with our fingers/ Many worthy people had great scruples
about the emancipation of the negroes, because they were the descendants of Harat
on whom the curse of perpetual slavery had been pronounced* Many others
plead against the measure fo r ’the emancipation of the Jews* that the bill is a
direct attempt to contravert the will end word of God, and to revoke bis sentence
opon the chosen but rebellious people/*— Scottish Heview, Jan., 1854.

I t is a co m m o n th in g fo r th ose w h o are co n scio u s o f an y

radical fau lt o r error in th em selves to ta k e th e greatest
v o l . s it . x
291- The Lancet ignores all mesmeric truths,

pleasure in sea rch in g o u t and exp osin g th e d efects o f oth ers.

W h a te v e r is g o o d th e y h ate, sim ply b eca u se it reflects u pon
th e m s e lv e s ; and th e m o re it is esteem ed, b y oth ers, th e m o re
d ilig e n tly th e y la b o u r to Sud som e fa u lt or d eficie n cy b y
w h ich th e y m ay b r in g it in to d isrep u te. T o com p a re su ch
persons w ith p h ilosop h ers seek in g spots in th e su n 's d isc,
w ou ld be p a y in g th em t o o h ig h a com p lim e n t. T h e vu ltu re,
h o v e rin g a b ov e th e n atu ral beau ties o f th e earth and p o u n c ­
in g dow n u p o n th e ca rrion , regardless o f ev ery th in g else, is
a m ore c o r r e c t illu stra tion o f th eir state o f m i n d ; or it m ay
be seen p ortra y ed in th e G erm a n fable o f th e to a d , sp ittin g
ven om at th e g lo w -w o rm in pure h atred and en v y at its lig h t.
T h e Lancet, w in ch ch ooses rather to b e co n siste n t in
error th an h old and in d e p e n d e n t in th e tru th , b eg a n itB
abuse o f m esm erism th rou g h m ere ig n o r a n c e ; and n ow th e
sure and steady a d van ce o f th at scien ce, and th e h ig h esti­
m a tion it lias g a in e d a m o n g m en o f th e greatest lea rn in g and
ability b y its h ig h ly cu ra tiv e p ow ers a n d its sp len d id p h y s io ­
lo g ica l effects, stirs u p th e Lancet, a n g ry at its ow u hasty
b lu n d er, to m ore d eterm in ed h atred a n d m ore u n scru p u lou s
a n d eager search fo r accu sa tion s against it.
T h e th ou sa n ds o f cu res o f diseases (p ro n o u n ce d b y or­
thodox- a u th ority " in c u r a b le ” ) ; th e op era tion s p erform ed
n o t o n ly w ith o u t p a in , b u t w ith ou t su b seq u en t ill effects,
u n d er its in flu e n c e ; th e in n u m era b le cases o f r e lie f w h ere all
m ed ica l ap p lia n ces have failed,— these, th o u g h reco rd e d in
The Zoist d u rin g th e last eleven y ea rs, are all ig n o re d b y
th e Lancet, I t lias u o eyes for such effects as th ese, n o ears
for rep orts s o e x ce lle n t a n d tru e, n o t o n g u e to tell oth ers o f
th e p ow er b y w h ich su ch seem in g m iracles are w r o u g h t : b u t,
i f at a n y tim e th e re is a ru m ou r o f som e m iscarriage, o f
so m e in ju r y b y careless m esm erisers, o r o f so m e u n h ap p y
a n d u n foreseen resu lt, no matter whether it be true or false,
th e Lancet grasps a t it w ith th e greatest d e lig h t, a n d giv es it
as m u ch p u b licity as its o w n circu la tio n w ill allow . A strik ­
in g p r o o f o f th e in n o c e n c e o f m esm erism , w h en p rop erly
a pplied, is p resen ted in th e fact th at th e Lancet ca n fin d
n o th in g w orse to say against it than is co n ta in e d in th e fo l­
low in g false a n d g a rb le d statem en t, c o p ie d from its n u m b er
fo r J u n e 16, 1 8 5 4 :—

“ Alleged Insanity ’produced by Electro-Biology.

“
It appears that about two years ago, when the mesmeric mania
was attacking so many people, a boy named George Walker, o f
Northampton, had been operated upon by a Mr. Reynolds, a lec­
turer, and by the R ev. Thomas Millington. Some time ago he
 The boy went mad through Electro-Biology. 295

began to indicate that all was not right with him. D r, Elliotson
was consulted, and recommended the dm esm erising process, assur­
ing a recovery. The lad did not recover, and about sis weeks since
he became so violent that it was necessary to place him under
restraint. The mother subsequently made a a application to the
magistrates for his admission into a Iona tic asylum, which was im ­
mediately granted, as he appeared to have become a confirmed
lunatic.”

I f o u r readers w ill tak e th e tro u b le to re fe r to th e T h ir ty -

n in th N u m b e r o f The Zoist, Y o l . X ., p. 3 2 1 , th e y w ill find
a fu ll a c c o u n t o f th e circu m sta n ces w h ich to o k place at
N o r th a m p to n a t th e tim e here a llu ded to. T h e y w ill see
th a t N o rth a m p to n was th en visited b y several le ctu re rs on
e le c t r o -b io lo g y , a v iolen t a n d in ju riou s perv ersion o f m e s­
m e r is m ; w h ich , b e in g p ractised b y itin era n t and illitera te
m en fo r th e sake o f th eir ow n e m o lu m e n t and th e a m u sem en t
o f oth ers, bears a b o u t th e sam e relation to trim m esm erism
as th e m ed ica l trea tm en t o f th e " w i s e w o m e n ’’ in som e o f
o u r c o u n try villages bears to th e scien tific p ra ctice o f o u r
L o n d o n physicianB. E le c tr o -b io lo g y , w hen th u s p ractised,
is a n ig n o r a n t ta m p e rin g w ith th e m o st p o w e rfu l o f all a g e n ­
cies ; a n d m esm erists, w h o d o all in th e ir p ow er to repress
it, are n o m o re re sp on sib le for its effects th a n is th e R o y a l
C o lle g e o f S u rg e o n s fo r th e in ju ry d o n e b y q u a c k d o cto rs
a n d m o u n te b a n k m e d icin e v en d ors.
A b o y n am ed W a lk e r , 1 6 years o f age, was op era ted
u p o n rep ea ted ly b y o n e o f these " b io lo g is ts ,” and it appears
th a t b e was su ffered to leave th e le c tu r e -r o o m w ith ou t h a v in g
b e e n released from th e im p ression s o f w h ich h e had b e e n
m a d e th e s u b je ct. I n cou rse o f a sh ort tim e an a la rm in g
d e g re e o f e x cite m e n t and irrita b ility m an ifested itself, an d
s o o n afterw ards sy m p tom s o f in sa n ity appeared : th e b o y
b e c a m e v iolen t, h e had n o rest b y n igh t o r day, a n d k ep t o n
in ce ssa n tly sh ou tin g , lea p in g , ru n n in g to and fr o and cre a t­
in g th e g re a te st n o is e a n d con fu sion . D r. E llio tso n was
a p p lied to b y M r . M illin g t o n , th e C urate o f th e parish , for
a d v ice ; and b y h is d ire ctio n M r . M illin g t o n en d ea v ou red to
p r o c u r e th e assistan ce o f a m e s m e r is e r ; b u t, n o t su cce e d in g
in th is, after th e pa tien t had b een ten days in th is c o n d itio n ,
h e u n d e r to o k th e case h im s e lf and co m m e n c e d th e m es­
m e ris in g , O n th e se co n d day th e im p rovem en t was s o m a ­
n ife s t, th a t th e m agistrates, b e fo re w h om th e h o y was th e n
b r o u g h t fo r th e se co n d tim e at P e tty S ession s, and w h o had
seen him b e fo r e in his v iolen t state, expressed th e ir surprise
a n d satisfa ction and re co m m e n d e d th a t h e sh ou ld be le ft in
th e m esm eriser’ s h a n d s ; w hile th e m oth er ea rn estly d eclared
x 2
2% The boy was cured by Mesmerism.

th a t “ M r . M illin g t o n was th e best frien d th e b o y h a d .” On

th e fou rth day th e lad was p erfectly w ell a n d a b le to resu m e
his w ork as usual.
C om p a re th is a ccou n t with th e a b ov e e x tra ct fr o m th e
Lancet, T h e Lancet says, th e b o y was op era ted u p o n b y
M r . R e y n o ld s and M r . M illin g to n , a scrib in g th is to the
m esm eric m an ia, and leavin g it to b e in fe rre d th a t h e was
mesmerised. T h e fa ct is that b e was n ever m esm erised at all
till after h is in sa n ity : M r , R e y n o ld s d id n o t p rofess to mes­
merise, a n d M r , M . n ev er saw th e b o y o r had a n y th in g t o d o
w ith h im till, at th e request o f Ins paren ts, h e u n d e r to o k th e
cure.
" D r . E l l i o t s o n /' th e Lancet asserts, " r e c o m m e n d e d th e
d em esm erisin g p rocess,” D r, E llio tso n re co m m e n d e d n o th in g
o f th e k in d , as th e fo llo w in g e x tra ct fr o m his letter (p rin ted
in The Zoist, Y o l . X ., p. 3 3 1 ) w ill shew ¡— “ P ra y let som e
h ea lth y p e rso n m esm erise th e y o u th tw ice a day, v ery slow ly ,
very c a lm ly , a n d v ery k in d ly , . . . m a k in g very slow passes
fr o m o p p o site th e foreh ea d to op p osite th e sto m a ch .” E very
b o d y , e v en th e Lancet, m ust k n ow w ell th at rfem esm erism
is th e v ery c o n tr a r y o f this.
T h e Lancet says, “ D r. E llio tso n assured a r e c o v e r y ; b u t
the lad did n o t reco v e r.” T h e lad did recover co m p le te ly .
T h o u g h h e had b een su fferin g from th e d isord er m ore than
five w eeks, and had b e e n in a state o f v iolen t in sa n ity fo r ten
d a y s ; y e t, o n th e fo u rth day o f his b e in g m esm erised, h e was
p erfectly restored a n d as sou n d in m ind and b o d y as h e had
ever b een in his life.
T h e seq u e l is th e o n ly part that has a n y tru th in it j and
w hat d oes th is a m o u n t to ? T h e b o y w hose case w as d ecla red
hopeless b y th e N orth a m p ton d o cto rs tw o y ea rs ago, w h o
w ou ld h ave b een co m m itted to th e lu n a tic a sy lu m th en b u t
for th e k in d in te r fe r e n c e o f D r . E llio tso n a n d M r , M illin g t o n ,
and w h o is in d e b te d to m esm erism fo r tw o y e a rs o f h ea lth
and san ity, has n ow b e e n sen t th ith e r w ith ou t, as it appears,
any trial o f th a t rem ed y w h ich a lon e was fo u n d to b e effectu a l
th en . W h o can say w hat causes m ay have c o n cu rre d to p r o ­
d u ce d isord er in th e p o o r la d 's b ra in at this t im e ? W h o ca n
say th at h e m ig h t n o t have been restored as b e fo r e to p e r fe c t
health i f h e had b e e n a ga in su b jected to m e sm eric tre a tm e n t ?
W h a t b a rb a rou s c r u e lty , to h a n d h im over to th e lu n a tic
asylu m w ith ou t first a ttem p tin g every m eans for h is r e c o v e r y !
D r. E llio ts o n g a v e his advice b e fo r e m ost k in d ly a n d w illin g ly
and w o u ld n o t ta k e a fa rth in g fo r it from a n y b o d y : th e
bottles o f p h y s ic (w hich w ere sent b y th e N o r th a m p to n
d octors, and not taken) cost m on ey , b u t th e m esm erism co st
 After two years mad again and not mesmerised, 297

n o t h i n g ; th erefore th ere c o u ld be n o excu se fo r n o t a p p ly in g

to th e sam e a d v ice and to th e sam e rem ed y again. B u t th e
pa ren ts w ere p o o r illitera te p eople, and this co u rse w o u ld n ot
have suited th e p u rp ose o f th o se w h o ca ter fo r th e Lancet
a n d its a n ti-m e sm e ric readers : th e o p p o rtu n ity o f fa th e rin g
a ca ta strop h e u p on m esm erism had b een lo st on ce , a n d m u st
n o t a ga in escape th e m . L e t th e p o o r lad s u ffe r ; let h im live
and d ie a lu n a tic ra th e r th an be cu red a secon d tim e b y
m eans w h ich t h e y a bh or.
M r . M illin g t o n was a b sen t fr o m N o rth a m p to n w hen
W a lk e r ’ s in san ity retu rn ed . H e had been com p e lle d b y th e
c o n d u c t o f D r. R o b e r ts o n a n d o th e r m ed ica l m en to resign
his cu ra cy , or to h o ld it u n d er con d ition s to w h ich n o c o n ­
scien tiou s m an c o u ld a g re e .* B u t fo r 'this, he m ig h t have
in terfered again in th e la d ’ s b e h a lf; b u t h e k n ew n o th in g o f
th e circu m s ta n c e u n t il h e rea d in th e N o rth a m p to n p a p e r o f
his c o m m itta l to th e lu n a tic asylum . H e th en w rote to th e
Northampton Herald, g iv in g th e tru e v ersion o f th e m a tter
— d e n y in g , fo r his ow n part, th a t he had been in a n y w ay
c o n c e r n e d in it, e x c e p t in a d m in isterin g r e lie f a c c o r d in g to
D r. E llio ts o n ’ s a d v ice, and rem on stra tin g on th e cr u e lty o f
su fferin g th e y o u n g m an to b e in ca rcera ted w ith ou t ta k in g
p ro p e r steps fo r th e re cov ery by m esm erism , th o u g h , as h e
ju s tly rem a rk ed , th ere was bu t sm all en co u r a g e m e n t fo r an y
o n e to in te rfe re a se co n d tim e in th is beh a lf, s e e in g with
w hat gross m isrep resen ta tion and cru el p ersecu tion his ow n
efforts had b e e n rew ard ed b y th ose w h o o u g h t to h ave b e e n
fo re m o s t in th e a ttem p t to alleviate a case o f b o d ily disease
a n d su fferin g .
I f th e Lancet drew its in fo rm a tio n from th e rep ort in th e
N o r th a m p to n paper, it m ig h t h ave n oticed th e co n tr a d ic tio n
w h ich appeared in it the fo llo w in g w eek . I n a n y ca se it
o u g h t n o t to h ave b een ig n o ra n t o f th e real circu m sta n ces
detailed a t fu ll len g th in N o . X X X I X . o f The Zoist at th e
tim e th e y o c cu rre d .

X. Further particulars of the case of Elizabeth Squirrell,

reviewed in our last Number,
ci John Fitchr a native of Connecticut, was probably the earliest inventor of
the steamboat. In the year 1786, on the Delaware River, was made his first
successful experiment \ but, from lack of sufficient patronage, he was unable to
carry out the discovery* His life was ooe of hardship and penury, and ended in

* See note at the end of the article above mentioned, Zoist, Vol, X „ p. 324.
298 The inventor of the steamboat died of disappointment.
grief and disappointment. He was confident, however, to the lost, in the ultimate
success o f his invention, and predicted all its future vastness and advantages.
His dying request was, * that he might be buried on the hanks of the Ohio,
where the nong t f the boatmen might enliven the stilbusss q f his resiing-pUico^ and
the music of the sfcmn*&tgine soothe his spiritJ— the ruling passion strong in
death, and it was gratified.1J— Preface to a Poem called The Dying Machinist, iu
an American Magazine, 1813.

W e have received the two following letters upon this inte­

resting ea se:—
Ip sw ich , J u ly 14, 1 854.
" S ir ,— A s th e ed ito r o f th e w ork on E liz a b e th S q u irrell,
I felt m u ch gra tified in rea d in g y o u r im p artial, m a u ly , arid
u o b le rev iew in The Zoist o f th is m o n th , a n d a t th e co n si­
d e ra tio n w h ich y o u have b estow ed o n a case w h ich th e w orld
at la rge, a n d th e litera ry w orld n o t e x c e p tin g , h ave n o tic e d ,
o n ly to r e je c t , to tra m p le on , a n d persecu te.
“ I read to h e r (in h e r m esm eric state) y o u r rem ark s on
h er s p irit-se e in g , and I w ish ed y o u h a d b een p resen t to hear
h er o b serv a tion s o n th e su bjeet. S h e also w ish ed y o u cou ld
visit h e r ; a n d in d eed i f y ou c o u ld spare tim e to c o m e to
Ip s w ich I am sure y o u w ou ld be g rea tly In terested in seein g
h er. S h e is a m ost rem a rk a b le s u b je c t in every respect.
H e r case is to m e in crea sin g ly in te re stin g and w o n d e r fu l;
all th e re m a rk a b le p h en om en a th a t have ch a ra cterized it still
o cca sio n a lly o c c u r , w h ile new phases also a r is e : she fasted
th re e w eek s in Ja n u a ry last (ta k in g o n ly a little w a ter), and
a w eek in M a y (ta k in g n eith er atom n or d r o p ), and was as
well in both cases the last day as the first, and fe lt very little
m ore th a n occa sion a l la n g u o r (fo r a fe w m in u te s or h a lf an
h o u r p erh aps) u n til th e state passed off, w h atever it m ig h t b e,
th a t o cca s io n e d fa stin g , and w h ich she d escrib es as ic y c o ld ­
ness at th e s t o m a c h ; a fter that th e sense o f h u n g e r and e x ­
h au stion fo llo w e d .
Cf S h e is n o w u n d e r g o in g a n oth er ch a n g e, w h ich I am satis­
fied w ill re su lt iu h e r partial recov ery o f s ig h t and h ea rin g.
“ I sh all feel h ig h ly gratified i f y o u w ill p a y m e a visit.
" I h a v e ta k e n co p io u s n otes o f all I h ave seen rem arkable
in h e r fo r a lo n g tim e. I am m o re th a n ever c o n v in ce d o f
th e tru th o f all th e statem en ts m ad e b y h e r s e lf a n d p aren ts.
“ I am , S ir, y o u rs o b e d ie n tly ,
“ J. M . B u r to n .
“ T o th e E d it o r o f The Zoist”

if 2 , J o h n 's P la ce , W o o d b r id g e R o a d , Ip s w ic h ,
“ J u ly 12, 1 8 5 4 .
it M r. E d ito r ,
" D ea r S ir ,— I t was w ith great pleasu re I p eru sed th e able
 Elisabeth Squirrel crmtimm full of interest 399

a n d satisfa ctory review in The Zoist fo r th is m o u th o f the

Autobiography o f th at m ost u n ju stly a n d m a lig n a n tly p erse-
secn ted d a u g h ter o f affliction — M . E . S q m r r e ll; a n d p erceiv­
in g th erefrom th at n o t h a v in g h eard o f h er c o n d itio n sin ce
F e b ru a ry y o u w ou ld b e glad to k n o w , p erm it m e to say, th a t
I d e e m it an h o n o u r to b e en a b led to in fo rm y o u som ew h at
re sp e ctin g th e case, and sh ou ld I , b y so d o in g , assist in th e
slig h te st d e g re e to m itig a te th e u n deserved o b lo q u y w h ich
lias so co p io u sly b e e n sh ow ered u p o n th is u n fortu n a te y o u n g
p e rso n a n d h er fa m ily , it w ill b e a n a ct o f w h ich I shall have
reason to r e jo ic e u n til tim e w ith m e shall b e n o m ore.
ir It is som e six m ou th s b a ck th at 1 first b eca m e p e r­
son a lly a cq u a in ted w ith E lizabeth , a u d sin ce th at tim e I have
h a d fre q u e n t and in te re stin g in terview s w ith her, co n v e rsin g
b y m eans o f th e ' d u m b a lp h a b e t / S h e is m ost d e cid ed ly a
v e ry clever, in g e n u o u s, a n d , I believe, p io u s y o u n g c r e a t u r e :
o n e w h om I sh ou ld su ppose u tte rly in ca p a b le o f d eu y in g
th e tru th in th e sm allest resp ect, m u ch m o re o f u tterin g , o r
partieip a tiu g iu u tte rin g , such a tissue o f fa lseh ood s, and
c o n c o c t in g such v ile d e ce p tio n s as th o se w ith w h ich she has
b e e u ch a rg e d , m ore esp ecia lly b y on e, w h o, p rofessin g to he
a C h ristia n and tea ch er o f oth ers, has th u s so u u g u a rd ed ly
in fr in g e d th e g o ld e n ru le o f lov e. I a llu d e to th e m in ister
o f th e c h u r ch from w h ich E liza b eth ’ s p a ren ts w ere so hastily
and u n ch a rita b ly ex p elled.
,c S he has con tin u e d in a b ou t th e sam e state as usu al sin ce
F eb ru a ry , a lth ou g h we fa n cy rath er improving th an oth erw ise.
I t has, h ow ever, b een h er w ont la te ly in th e m e sm eric (w hen
she is in w h at sh e term s th e ‘ d e e p ’ ) state to foretell th e
variou s changes o f n o te w h ich are to o c c u r ¡n h e r disease,
a n d w h ich p red iction s h ave in v a ria b ly b een fu lfilled to th e
le tte r ( o f co u rse , as is th e case w ith patients gen era lly u n d er
th e in flu en ce o f th is p ow er, she is to ta lly u n c o n s c io u s o f h er
d o in g s and sayin gs, n o r d oes she g e n e ra lly lik e to b e told o f
th e m a fte r w a r d s ); a n d a b o u t a m o n th b a ck she p red icted
th at at th e latter en d o f th is m o n th or b e g in n in g o f n e x t sh e
w ou ld b o th hear a n d see, to a certain e x te n t, fo r a tim e, after
w h ich sh e w ou ld relapse in to h e r fo r m e r state o f deafness
a n d b lin d n ess fo r tw o o r th ree m on th s, and th en u ltim a tely
re cov er th e use o f h er lo st senses permanently. I t n ow re ­
m a in s to b e p roved h ow th is p r o p h e c y w ill have its a c c o m ­
p lish m en t. I t is a rem a rk a b le fa ct th a t, sin ce its a n n ou n ce­
m e n t, h e r ey es and ears have ca u sed h e r e x c e e d in g pain,
in so m u ch th at sh e is n ow c o m p e lle d to have h e r ro o m very
co n s id e r a b ly d a rk en ed , th e sm allest ra y o f lig h t p a in fu lly
 A late instance of her Clairvoyance.

a ffectin g h e r orga n s o f vision , w hereas p rev iou sly sh e c o u ld

su p p ort th e glare o f a ca n d le p la ced im m ed ia tely b e fo re
th em .
“ T h e fo llo w in g circu m s ta n c e , w ith o th e r in sta n ces w h ich
h ave c o m e t o m y k n o w le d g e , m ost c le a rly , to m y m in d , e sta ­
b lish es th e truth o f clairvoyance, a n d its existen ce in h er
case. O n e n te rin g h er r o o m a few ev en in g s sin ce, I fo u n d
h er in th e m e sm eric state, in to w h ich she had g on e volun­
tarily, or spontaneously rath er, and in w h ich c o n d itio n , I
sh ou ld p rem ise, she has (but n o t u n til w ithin the last fo r t ­
n ig h t or so) the use o f b o th h e a rin g a n d s ig h t ; and I was
very m u c h in terested at seein g h e r c o p y in g a le tte r (w hich a
frie n d was d icta tin g ) w ith th e g rea test facility . D u r in g th e
tim e she was thus en g a g ed , h er m o th e r was in a r o o m n ext b u t
o n e to E liza b e th ’ s : th e latter, b e in g in a p osition from w h ich
it was im p ossib le to look in to the said r o o m , cried ou t, ‘ D o u ’ t
y o u burn y ou rself, w a k in g ’ s m oth er,’ I im m ed ia tely tu rn ed
m y head, a n d , b e in g seated in a c o n v e n ie n t p la ce, saw h er
m oth er (w h ose hack was tu r n e d to m e) a t th e fire-p la ce, y e t
c o u ld n o t ob serv e w hat she was d o in g ; b u t p resen tly o n h er
c o m in g in to the room w here w e w ere, I m e n tio n e d th e c ir ­
cu m sta n ce, and she in form ed m e th at she h a d ju s t b e e n
p u ttin g a r e d -h o t h ea ter in to a s m o o th in g iron , a n d th at her
d a u g h ter was often in th e h a b it o f ex cla im in g u n d er sim ilar
circu m sta n ces. I sh ou ld rem ark , th at, w h en sp ea k in g o f h er
m esm eric and natural states, th e o n e she calls h er 1 sleeping
th e o th e r h e r ‘ waking’ s e lf ; th is a ccou n ts fo r th e ex p ression ,
* making1s mother.’ I t is also a sin g u la r fact that iu the
fo rm e r state she n ev er v olu n ta rily uses th e n a m e ‘ G o d ,’ b u t
alw ays speaks o f him as f the great G o d .’ I rem ain ed w ith
h e r th at ev en in g u n til sh e b eca m e dem esm erised , w h en sh e
appeared lik e a p erson aw a k in g from n a tu ra l sleep, an d
seem ed v ery m u ch refresh ed , b u t to ta lly u n con sciou s o f a n y
th in g th at had o ccu rre d . U p o n v e n tu rin g to tell her th a t
sh e had finish ed h er letter, her aston ish m en t and pleasu re
w ere m ost u n feig n ed : it was a v ery lo n g ep istle, and o n e
w h ich she h a d p rop osed to c o p y w h en in h er n atu ral w a k in g
state.
" I n th e fo r e g o in g sta tem en ts I h ave en d ea v ou red to giv e
y o u a plain, u n varn ish ed recita l o f E liza b e th ’ s presen t c o n ­
d itio n a n d h e r h op es fo r th e fu tu re, with a desire that it m a y
p rov e u sefu l to th e fu rth era n ce o f tru th and d e fe n ce o f in n o ­
ce n ce , and fo r w h ich p u rp ose y o u h ave, M r . E d itor, fu ll
lib e r ty to m ake use o f th e w h ole o r a n y part o f m y in te lli­
g e n c e in w h atever w ay y o u m a y ch oose. I w ill also add, that
 Lieut. Maury at first disregarded by practical men. 301

such a d dition al in form a tion w h ich m a y fr o m tim e to tim e b e

in m y p ow er to afford,, I shall be m ost h ap py to r e n d e r y o n
i f req u ired , a n d in th e m ea n tim e b e g to su b scrib e m yself,
" D e a r S ir, v ery re sp e ctfu lly y ou rs,
"C harles M oody.
" T o th e E d ito r o f The Zoist.

“ P .S . S in ce w r itin g th e above, I h ave again visited M iss

S q u irrel!, w h o is su fferin g in ten se pain in h e r eye, w hich was
m u ch d iscolou red and had been d isch a rg in g a h in d o f matter.
S h e d escrib es h er feelin g s to be as th ou g h th e ey e was b e in g
p ressed in to th e head, and ascribes all to th e ben eficial results
o f mesmerism, w h ich , sh e thiulcs, has revived th e nerves. (It
w ill b e seen fr o m h er Autobiography th a t she has always b e e n
d ep riv ed o f th e u se o f h er right e y e b y cataract. T h is w ill
n o t h e re sto re d , and causes n o p a i n /1)

X I. Lancinating Pains in the Chest, instantly relieved by

Mesmerism. C o in m u n icat ed b y D r . H astings, M . R . C . S .,
L .S .A ., C h elten h a m ,
*f It was long before the captains of American vessels could be induced to
keep their log-books in an improved fashion. Practical men shook their heads at
the idea. Ho wished them to record the set of currents, the depths of the ocean
bed, the heat of the water. They did not nee bis purpose, and for a long time
they gave him little assistance. Materials nevertheless slowly grew in bulk Qnder
bis eye \ he compared the information which be obtained with older logs :—-and
at the cud of six years be announced his first practical discovery—a. new route to
Rio.
iJ Practical men still shook their heads. They who had crossed the line a
hundred tiroes were not to be taught navigation by a person who spent his days
in star-gazing or poring over old logs. It was not easy therefore to get a sailor
bold enough to venture on the new route; for seamen, more strongly wedded to
tradition than perhaps any other body of professionals, were afraid of the Great
Belt of Calms near the equator, and of a bugbear of a current setting on Capo
St, Roche in South America. At length a bolder than the rest proposed to sail
under Lieut. Maury's directions; and the consequence was, that he reached the
line in twenty-four days instead of forty-one. He had sailed nearly as the crow
flies, instead of running seven or eight hundred miles out of the direct course to
avoid Imaginary dangers.
** After this great discovery Lieut. Maury had little trouble with the seamen.
To use his own words, *navigators now for the first time appeared to comprehend
what it was 1 wanted them to do—and 1ohyf* It was this “ w h y" that had
made them indifferent* They could see no advantage in recording the minute
details asked for by the astronomer, and they failed in many oases to giro them­
selves the ironble. Lieut* Maury's next service was—shortening at various
points the route to California. He succeeded in reducing the entire sea voyage
from 180 to 100 days. It is with such practical recommendations in his baud,
that the American astronomer has now come to offer to Europe a share in the
glory and the benefits of a larger, more systematic, and more minute ocean,
purvey than has ever before been made."—-sithen&Mn., Oct. 1* 1853*
302 Disease caused by unjust severity.

T h e s u b je c t o f th e follow in g rem ark s is th e y o u n g la d y

w h ose case is cu rsorily stated at p. 1 6 a n d 17 o f th e p am p h let
w h ich I h erew ith forw ard y o u , o n Medicina Mentis. H er
a g e is 2 4 years, te m p e ra m e n t n erv ou s ly m p h a tic, very th in
m ak e, h e ig h t m od era te, fu ll o f spirits a n d a n im a tion w h en
free from p a in , h ig h ly su sce p tib le to p h ysica l and m e n ta l
im pression s. P a ren ts o f a scrofu lou s h a b i t ; m o th e r, aged
a b o u t 40, fa th e r 7 0 .
S h e e n jo y e d to le ra b le h ealth u n til a b o u t five years a g o,
w hen h e r fa th er sc o ld e d h er very severely fo r so m e little faux
pas, a fter w h ich sh e san k in to a d e sp o n d in g state, and b e ­
ca m e v ery ill, a n d k ep t h er bed fo r so m e co n sid era b le tim e.
S in ce th en she n e v e r has recov ered h er form er h ealth , an d
has b een co n sta n tly su b je ct to atta cks sim ilar to th at w hich I
relate in m y pa m p h let, to g e th e r w ith th e severe la n cin a tin g
p a in s at th e ch est o f w h ich I am a b o u t to speak.
. I n h e r first a tta ck she h ad th ese pains, and h er m ed ica l
a tten dan ts co n s id e r e d th a t she was con su m p tiv e. S he was
b le d and b listered , a n d p h y sick ed ad nauseam, fo r th e m , b u t to
n o avail, and th e c o n s e q u e n c e was th a t sh e w asted m u ch , an d
b e ca m e d isgu sted w ith m ed icin e, a n d w ou ld ta k e n o m ore.
R e m a in in g , h ow ev er, in a p in in g , su ffe rin g , a n d d esp on d in g
co n d itio n , h e r pa ren ts b e ca m e v ery uneasy a b ou t her state,
and as sh e c o u ld n o t be persu aded to tak e a n y m ore dru gs,
sh e con sen ted to t r y h om oeopath y, a n d fo r th is p u rp ose w as
p la ced u n d e r m y care.
H e r b ow els are g en e ra lly loose, and ca ta m en ia to o c o p i­
ou s and f r e q u e n t : ch a g rin , t o o m u ch exercise, any irreg u la rity
in diet, w ill b rin g o n the p a in s in ch est. S h e d escribes th em
to be ju s t lik e <f b a y on ets r u n n in g th ro u g h h e r,” from th e
m id d le o f th e stern u m to th e b a c k -b o n e , a ccom p a n ied w ith
in tolera b le h e a d -a ch e .
W h e n su fferin g fr o m th e m , she ca n o n ly speak in a
w h is p e r ; c a n n o t ta k e o n e p a rticle o f fo o d , n o r a n y d r i n k :
sh e g e n e ra lly lies w ith h e r h ead tu c k e d in a sofa -cu sh ion ,
ey es shut, and b re a th in g sca rcely p e r c e p t ib le ; pulse q u ick
a n d w eak ; s k in c o ld and o f a b row n ish h u e : th e least n oise
m akes h e r start, a n d b r in g s o n a sp a sm od ic a tta ck in h er
th roa t and le ft side a t th e d ia p h ra g m : sw a llow in g is tota lly
im p e d e d , as th e lea st a ttem p t to ta k e a n y th in g b rin g s o u
th ese spasm s in th ro a t a n d side— th e lim b s a lso fre q u e n tly
b e co m e r ig id and cra m p ed .
W h e n I a tte n d e d h er a t first fo r these attacks, I e n ­
d ea v ou red t o reliev e h e r b y a d m in isterin g w h at I con sid ered
th e h om oeop a th ic m e d icin e b y o lfa ctio n , th at is, b y sm ellin g,
and I fo u n d b e lla d o n n a to g e n era lly g iv e relief, in rem ov in g
 Homoeopathic treatment failed. 303

th e sp a sm od ic state o f th e lim b s, b u t d id n o t effect a n y am e­

lio ra tio n o f th e pains in th e c h e s t : th ese I su cce e d e d in re ­
m o v i n g b y o th e r m ed icin es, b u t n o t im m e d ia t e ly ; it req u ired
so m e tim e .
B e in g c o n v in c e d th a t m esm erism w o u ld b e generally
b e n e ficia l in h e r case, I b eg a n to m esm erise b e r reg n la rly ,
a n d to k e e p h e r at th e sam e tim e ta k in g h om oeop a th ic
m e d i c in e : th e resu lt o f w h ich w as th a t th e se atta cks b eca m e
less freq u en t, and she told m e th a t " th e m esm erism alw ays
re m o v e d th e p a in s o f h er ch est lik e m a g ic.” A few d a y s a g o
sh e had a v ery severe a tta ck o f th e se pains, p ro d u ce d e n tirely
b y chagrin. I trie d several h om oeop ath ic m ed icin es, and,
b e in g a n x iou s to see i f th e y w ou ld avail a n y th in g 1 k ep t h er
ta k in g th e m fo r tw o days and n ig h ts : b u t to n o p u rp ose, as at
th e en d o f th is tim e h e r su fferin gs w ere ju s t as g rea t as ever,
sh e h a v in g b a d d u r in g thtB tim e n e ith e r a n y sleep n o r food .
I n ow m esm erised h er, and aw ay flew all h e r p ain s a n d ach es,
h e r a p p etite retu rn ed a n d she a te a h e a rty m ea l a n d w ith
g rea t g u sto in m y p resen ce, c h a ttin g and ta lk in g w ith th e
g re a te st a n im ation , p erfectly fo rg e tfu l o f all h er su fferin g
an h ou r ago.
Y o n and y o u r readers w ill perh aps say, W h y d id I n ot
m esm erise h e r s o o n e r ? ” I c o u ld n ot, as m y tim e w o u ld n ot
perm it m e , n o r is th ere a n y on e h e r e th at I c o u ld recom m en d .
She is q u ite in raptu res with m esm erism , a n d th e very
id e a o f b e in g m esm erised infuses e n e r g y a n d life in to h er.
N o w , S ir, h e r e is a case, w hich has a lik e resisted a llop a th ic
a n d h om oeop ath ic trea tm en t, at o n c e reliev ed b y sim p le m es­
m erism ; and, alth ou g h th is has n o t as y e t c u r e d h e r , it is
su rely n o tw ith sta n d in g a blessed th in g to k n o w th at o n e has
th e p ow er o f r e lie v in g a fe llo w -cre a tu re fr o m a g o n iz in g pains,
hi an hour’s time, w h ich day 3 c a n n o t a cco m p lish u n d e r an y
o th e r m ea n s.
W o u ld to G o d th a t m edical m en w ou ld stu d y seriou sly ,
a n d as th e y are morally b o u n d to d o , th is e x ce lle n t Medicina
Mentis, i. e., M esm erism .
W o u ld y o u . S ir, a llo w m e to o b se rv e th a t I c o n s id e r th ere
Is a g rea t om ission in all th e cases o f m esm eric cu res, n a r­
ra te d in The Zoist. I m ea n th e om ission o f th e m a n n e r in
w h ich th e passes have b e e n m ad e, th e len g th o f tim e em ­
p lo y e d , and n u m b e r o f m esm erism s. I m a y b e w ro n g , b u t I
co n s id e r th is a m ost im p o rta n t om ission . T o m e re ly say, “ I
m esm erised h im or h er on th e 9 th ,” w ith ou t sa y in g how or
how lo n g , seem s to m e e x c e e d in g ly in d efin ite, and sounds
so m e th in g lik e sayin g, “ I gave h im m e d icin e ,” w ith ou t say­
in g w h at it was, o r h ow it was a d m in istered .
304 D r. Camming calls Mesmerism a crotchet.

Severe Hiccup removed by Mesmerism.

A t six o 'c lo c k in th e ev en in g o f th e d a y , 17th J u ly , o n
w hich I w rote th e a b ov e, I receiv ed a n ote from th e m o th e r
o f th e above y o u n g lad y req u estin g m e “ to c o m e a n d see h er
p o o r M a r y A n n w h o has b e e n su fferin g fr o m an attack o f
violen t h ic c u p fo r th e last fou r hours, a n d as it d o e s n ot
appear to g o aw ay, bu t g e t w orse, t am g e ttin g q u ite alarm ed
a b o u t it .” I w en t d ir e c t ly and fo u n d m y p a tien t ly in g on
th e sofa Mccuping aw ay m ost fu riou sly . I raised h e r up, an d
b eg a n m a k in g tran sverse passes across h e r th roa t, and in
tw e n ty m in u tes th e h ic c u p was co m p letely s u b d u e d . T h is
attack was b r o u g h t on b y th e clo se state o f th e a tm osph ere,
a n d b y frig h t, cau sed b y a clap or tw o o f th u n d er, a b ou t
th ree o 'c lo c k th is a ftern oon ,
IS th J u ly . M y p a tien t is q u ite w ell to -d a y , o n ly c o m ­
p la in in g o f a g rea t ten d ern ess over th e a n terior part o f th e
th roa t, w h en to u ch e d ,
C h elten h a m , 18th J u ly , 1 8 5 4 .

X II. Cure of so-called Erysipelas .* of Vomiting by upward

passes in two cases with s u c c e s s o f an Inflamed and
Wounded Finger: Immediate Removal of the Pain of a
Burn: ditto of Tooth-ache; Speedy Cure of Violent Pal­
pitation. B y S . D . S a u n d e r s , E sq ., o f C lifton ,
11 I f you look at medicine, one day hydropathy carries all before it os au
irresistible wave*, the next day homceopathy, with its infinitesimal doses, cures
all diseases; the a mesmerism displaces both, and everybody rushes to be mes­
merised: allopathy returns again, and continues till some new crotchet takes its
place.**— Signs o f the 7Vmei; the Moslem and his Greed: the Christian end his
Hope. By the Rev, John Camming, D .D M F.tt.S/E. London, 1854, p. 6Q-*

P e n r o s e C otta g e, C lifto n , M a y 2 9 th , 1 8 5 4 .
D ear S ir ,—
S h o u ld y o u deem th e a cco m p a n y in g cases o f
su fficien t im p o r ta n c e fo r The Zoist, perh aps y o u w ill o b lig e m e
b y forw a rd in g th e m . I g iv e y ou th e nam es o f all th e parties
co n n e c te d w ith th e case o f erysipelas, b u t do not wish them to

* So Dr. Camming takes upon himself to pronounce mesmerism to be a

crotchet%in spite of it preventing the agony of surgical operations, and of it coring
cases of all kinds o f disease that resist all other treatment E Consider, Sir, the
mischief you may do, the misery you may cause to he unrelieved, by this loose
and ignorant scribbling. We are not aware that hydropathy ever drove out all
other treatment, or was beaten by homceopatby, or that both were ever dis­
placed by mesmerism : or that all people ever rushed to be mesmerised : or that
allopathy ever disappeared and. returned and is now only awaiting the coming
of a new crotchet in its room,— ‘ 'n or foolish talking** *ays the apostle, “ nor
jesting, which are not convenient : but rather ¡¡icing of thanks.*1— Zoist.
 Immediate great benefit from Mesmerism. 305

be made public, th o u g h I am qu ite ce rta in the p a tie n t w ou ld

b e h ap py to answ er a n y in q u iries from p arties su ffe rin g fro m
th e sam e disease.
I rem ain, d ea r Sir,
Y o u r s o b e d ie n tly ,
J . E llio ts o n , E sq ., M .D . S. D . S au n d ers.

X. Cure of Erysipelas (so called).

I n th e m o n th o f Ja n u a ry last, a la d y r e sid in g in B ath
sen t fo r m e, to ask i f m esm erisin g w o u ld be o f a n y u se in
a case o f so -ca lle d erysipelas o f th e n e c k . I fo u n d th e left
sid e o f h e r n e c k v ery m u ch in flam ed, o f a red o r p u rp le
h u e. T h e r e was slig h t sw e llin g w ith g r e a t h ea t a n d p ain .
T h e o th e r side o f h e r n eck was also a ffected , b u t to a less
d eg ree. S h e to ld m e sh e had su ffered from th e sam e disease.
erysipelas phlegmunades, d u r iu g th e whole of the last winter,
a n d , th o u g h she h a d b een a tten d ed b y o n e o f th e le a d in g
ph y sicia n s in L o n d o n , it did n o t leave h e r till th e middle of
the summer. F in d in g it again retu rn th is w in te r, h er sister
w r o te to th e sam e p ra ctitio n e r in L o n d o n , w h o sen t h e r dow n
a p rescrip tion , te llin g h er at th e sam e tim e th a t she w ou ld
h ave it all the winter: th a t she m u st ta k e h is prescrip tion
a n d m ost lik ely it w o u ld g o aw ay in th e s p r in g : th at she
sh ou ld b e ca refu l n o t to g o o u t t ill th e w arm w ea th er a rrived.
I told h er th at I th o u g h t m esm erism w ou ld be o f service an d
v e ry lik ely cu re th e co m p la in t, and th is p erh aps iu a few
w e e k s : th at she n eed n o t co n fin e h erself en tirely t o th e h ouse,
b u t m erely tie a n e c k e r c h ie f r o u n d h e r n e c k w h en she w en t
ou t, so as to p rev en t th e c o ld and dam p fr o m strik in g it. I
th e n m esm erised h e r n e c k b y v ery s tr o n g passes fo r a b ou t
h a lf an h o u r ; a n d , seein g a te n d e n cy to lig h t-h ea d ed ness, I
d ire cte d a nurse, w h o was a tten d in g a u oth er o f m y patien ts in
th e sam e b ou se, to m esm erise h e r from th e head to th e feet
w h en she was in h e r b ed . J u st b e fo re re tirin g t o b ed she
fe lt th e p a in in h er n eck v ery m u ch in crea sed , w ith c o n s id e r ­
ab le fu ln ess in h er h e a d : sh e beca m e a little frig h te n e d an d
w ro te to a su rg eon w h o resid ed n ea r h er re q u estin g h im to
e a ll o n h e r th e fo llo w in g m o rn in g . S h e th en w e n t to b e d
and th e n u rse m esm erised h er as I had d ire cte d fo r n ea rly
two hours; a n d , th o u g h she was at first lig h t-h e a d e d , sh e
soon b e ca m e m u ch m o re calm , and at th e e n d o f th e tw o
h ou rs, fe e lin g d row sy , sh e req u ested th e n u rse t o leave h er,
a n d she slep t w ell th e w h ole n ig h t. W h e n I saw h e r th e
next morning her head was well and th e disease was con fin ed
to th e th roa t. I p o in te d m y fingers to it fo r som e tim e and
306 The cure effected decidedly by Mesmerism.

b ro u g h t o u t a great q u a n tity o f w ater b u b b les, w h ich ran

d o w n th e n e c k in little stream s. I th erefore ap p lied b lo t tin g -
paper. As long as 1 did net point over the disease no water
appeared; but the re-pointing for a few minutes always caused
the bubbles to make their appearance. A h o t p o u ltice had
b een applied w h ich caused a slig h t e x c o r ia t io n : th is I ord e re d
to b e d iscon tin u ed , and a p ie ce o f lin e n satu rated w ith m e s­
m erised w a ter to be applied in its stead, w ith o f cou rse an
oil-siIk c o v e r in g . T h e su rgeon w h o h a d b e e n requ ested to
ca ll in th e m o r n in g ca m e, a n d , u p o n b e in g sh ew n th e n e ck ,
said it was a v ery b a d d escrip tion o f erysipelas, a n d a sk ed
w h at was b e in g d o n e fo r it. S h e said, “ I am t r y in g m e s ­
m erism ,” “ O h ,” h e rep lied , " n o th in g b u t p le n ty o f patien ce,
tim e , a u d m y m e d ic in e w ill cu re y o u : it will take a very long
time to cure and y o u m u st have p a tie n ce .1' H e a c c o r d in g ly
sen t som e m e d ic in e ; b u t th e patient, fin d in g h e rs e lf g e ttin g
b e tte r b y m esm erism , p u t his m ed icin e in to th e fire and sen t
h im a n o te sa y in g , th a t, as h e th o u g h t it w ou ld ta k e a lo n g
tim e to cu re h e r b y his trea tm en t, and as she already fe lt c o n ­
siderable r e lie f from th e m esm eric trea tm en t, she w ou ld n ot
req u ire his a tten d a n ce a n y m o r e : and had m a d e u p h e r m in d
to tru st to m e sm erism alon e. T his sh e did fo r a b o u t a fo r t ­
n ig h t o r three weeks, w h en the disease miirely left her: an d,
th ou g h th e re had b e e n m a n y "b u lla e ” or b la d d ers, w h ich
bu rst, th e n eck s o o n b e ca m e p erfectly sm ooth a ga in w ith ou t
a n y p e e lin g o f th e s k i n : and all th is t o o w ith ou t r u b b in g the
n e c k w ith ca u stic, a p p ly in g leech es, o r ta k in g a n y m ed icin e.
I fou n d th at p o in tin g th e fingers d rew o u t first o f all w ater
a n d th e n t h ic k seru m . I n th is case I w as m o st m a teria lly
assisted b y th e n u rse w h o was an e x ce e d in g ly in te llig e n t
w om a n , w ith n o n e o f th e usual p re ju d ice s so p rev a len t
a m o n g st nurses. S h e was a scep tic at first, h ut, u p o n p erceiv ­
in g th e b e n e fit d eriv ed b y th e p atien t, she soon b e ca m e a
b eliev er a n d u n d er m y in stru ction s m esm erised e x c e e d in g ly
w ell. S h e a lso b e c a m e very su sceptible h erself, s o th a t, i f sh e
h a d a pain in a n y p a rt o f h e r b o d y , I c o u ld cu re it b y a v ery
few passes. A pass d o w n h e r b a ck w ou ld close h e r eyes and
m ak e h er sp in e as s tiff as ir o n . I f I p la ced m y fin g er u p o n
th e org a n o f F irm n ess o f m y patient, th e n u rse, h a v in g h o ld
o f m y p a tie n t's h a n d , w ou ld, th ou g h asleep and h er eyes clo se d ,
im m ed ia tely rise up from h e r ch air. B u t I w ill e n te r m o re
fu lly in to h er case u p o n a fu tu re occa sio n , w h en I h op e a lso
to give a cu re o f to ta l paralysis o f th e sy stem o f a la d y w ho
o u g h t to have d ie d (so th e d octors p red icted ) v e ry m an y
m on th s a g o.
 Vomiting by upward passes cures pain. 307

II. Vomiiijtg by upward passes cures a Pain in the Side

at once.
I n th e A p r il n u m b e r o f The Zoist fo r 1 8 5 3 , I sp ok e o f the
effect o f th e upw ard passes fo r th e p u rp ose o f p ro d u c in g sick ­
n ess. I h ave u p o n several occa sion s sin ce th en h a d o p p o r tu ­
n ities o f te s t in g th e efficacy o f th a t p la n . A lm o s t a m o n th
a g o M rs . S a u n d ers fe lt very ill w ith pain in h e r sid e. I sen t
h e r in to th e sleep a n d sh e said, " T h e r e is a n oth er o f th ose
halls fo r m in g in m y side and y o u m u st m a k e m e s ick as y o u
d id b e f o r e / ’ I a c co rd in g ly m a d e th e u p w a rd passes fr o m th e
stom a ch to th e m ou th , and she s o o n v o m ite d as b e fo r e a little
g r itty y e llo w m a tter w ith som e p h leg m . T h is w as repeated
several tim es d u r in g th e day, aDd th e n e x t day sh e was qu ite
w e ll w ith th e e x ce p tio n o f w eakness ca u sed b y an a tta ck o f
d y se n te ry , fr o m w h ich she soon recov ered b y b e in g w ell
m esm erised .

III. Vomiting by upward passes cures a severe sick head­

ache.
M y sta b le b o y fe e lin g v ery u n w ell w ith a s ick h ea d -a ch e
and pain in th e stom a ch , I advised h im to tak e so m e w arm
w a ter to m ake h im s e lf sick . T h is h e d id w ith ou t th e desired
e f f e c t : b u t, after so m e tim e b y m y m a k in g so m e upw ard
passes h e b e g a n to v om it a n d fe lt m u ch relieved. H e w eu t
to b ed and g o t u p th e n e x t m o rn in g q u ite w ell.

I V . Cure of an Inflamed Finger from a wound.

M r . B o u r n o f B risto l ca lle d u p o n m e o n e ev e n in g with
h is fo re fin g e r in a b read p ou ltice. H e said h e had cu t a
p ie ce o u t o f th e u pper side o f it w ith a ch issel, a n d th a t i t had
p a in ed h im ex ce e d in g ly for several days a n d w as g e ttin g
m u c h w orse. I to o k o ff th e p ou ltice a u d fo u n d th e fin g e r
v ery m u ch in fla m ed and con sid era b ly sw ollen , a n d in th e
w o u n d was p rou d flesh. H e said it lo o k e d w orse th a n it had
d o n e a t all, I b eg a n to m esm erise it b y p o in tin g fo r a b ou t
tw e n ty m in u tes, d u r in g w h ich tim e h e fe lt a g o o d d ea l o f heat
p a ssin g o u t o f h is fin g er. I th e n m ad e passes, a n d th e fin g e r
b e ca m e c o o l and c o m fo r t a b le : we th en tie d it u p in lin en
satu rated w ith m esm erised water. I ga v e h im som e m e s ­
m erised w ater and to ld h im to dip his fin ger, w ith o u t rem ov ­
in g th e lin en , in th e w ater v ery freq u en tly . T his h e d id , au d
a t th e en d o f th ree days u p on ta k in g o ff th e lin en h e fo u n d
his fin g er q u ite w ell,

V , Another instance of vomiting from upward passes.

T h e n u rs e a llu ded to in th e ca se o f erysipelas lias ju st
308 Immediate cures of pains and palpitation.

in fo rm e d m e th at, fin d in g th e lad y w h o m I am a tten d in g fo r

p aralysis re q u ire d an em etic, sh e m ad e th e passes, as I had
in stru cte d h er, fr o m th e p it o f th e stom ach t o th e m ou th , and
in a few m in u tes th e stom a ch was relieved o f its co n te n ts
w ith o u t p ro d u c in g th e severe h ea d -a ch e w h ich g e n era lly
results from an em etic.

V I . Immediate removal of pain from a burn.

A fe w d a y s a go th e c o o k o f th e fa m ily b u rn t h e r fin g er
v ery b a d ly , sh e (th e nurse) m esm erised it b y p o in tin g ov er
th e b u rn , a n d in a v ery sh ort tim e th e pain w ent away.

V I I . Immediate removal of Tooth-ache.

A ls o y esterd a y o n e o f th e ladies in th e h ouse w as tro u b le d
w ith severe to o th -a c b e and slig h t sw e llin g o f th e face. S h e
ca m e d o w n stairs to ask m e to m esm erise i t : b u t, as I had
ju s t left m y p a tie n t, th e n u rse m a d e passes ov e r th e c h e e k
and in a v ery few m in u tes all was q u ite w ell.

V I I I . Cure of Heart Disease (so called).

M is s B a r k e r su m m on ed m e , in con seq u en ce o f su fferin g,
a cco rd in g to th e statem en ts o f h er m edical ad viser, from
disease o f th e h ea rt. T h e pa lp ita tion s w ere v ery severe and
she was o f a h ig h ly ex cita b le tem pera m en t. S h e lo o k e d the
p ictu re o f h ea lth , b u t was neverth eless v ery w eak. S h e was
ex trem ely fo n d o f h o rse exercise, b u t had been co m p e lle d to
relin qu ish it fo r som e tim e past in con seq u en ce o f its p ro ­
d u c in g ex trem e pa lp ita tion . S h e su ffered also fr o m bad
h ea d -a ch es, th e to p o f h e r head b e in g very h ot. S om etim es
h e r face w o u ld be excessively red, a n d at oth ers very pale.
I m esm erised h er fo r a b ou t th re e quarters o f an h o u r, d u r in g
w h ich tim e h e r ey es closed , a n d , th o u g h she rem a in ed p e r ­
fe ctly co n scio u s, sh e was q u ite u nable to op en th e m or speak
o r m ov e o u t o f h e r ch air.
A ft e r I le ft h er, sh e rem a in ed q u iet for a b o u t an h ou r,
w h en she ca m e p e rfe ctly to h erself, q u ite refresh ed , aud w ith ­
o u t a n y p a lp ita tion o f th e h eart, and th e head w as fre e from
pain.
I con tin u e d to m esm erise h er d a ily fo r a w eek , bu t she
co n sid e re d h e rs e lf q u ite cu red after th e first sitting, as she
had n o re tu rn o f th e palpitation s a n d to o k h o rse ex ercise,
{h er h orse b e in g a frisk y trou b lesom e an im a l), w ith ou t its iu
th e slig h test d e g r e e in co n v e n ie n cin g h er heart.
F in d in g th a t sh e was so easily cu red b y m esm erism , she
ask ed h er m ed ica l adviser w h o p reten ds to favour m esm erism
i f h e w ou ld a llow h e r b roth er w h o was u n d e r him a n d su ffered
 Franklin had no hope o f a Literary Fund, 309

te rrib ly fr o m e p ilep tic fits w ith ou t d eriv in g a n y b e n e fit from

b is p rescrip tion s, w h e th e r h e w ou ld allow' h im to h e m e s­
m erised . B u t h e said, “ N o , I w ish h im to be kept very quiet
in o r d e r th a t m y m ed icin es m a y p ro d u ce th eir p rop er
e f f e c t /1*
S. D , Sa u n d e r s .

XT 11. Cure of a severe case of Debility and Pain, after the

failure of common means: and of a case of Neuralgia,
B y M r , S q u i r e s , o f E xeter, C o m m u n ica te d b y H . U ,
J a n so n , E sq .

MAs early as 1773, Mr. David Williams proposed the formation of aLiterary
Fund to a small club of literary men which met at the Prince of Wales1 Tavern,
in Conduit-street, Han over-square, and which allowed its members to vary the
proceedings of their meetings by introducing short papers on ¿objects of science
and Learning, in one of these papers, Mr. Williams proposed the Institution of
a Literary Fund, ‘ as an object deserving the attention of the members, who, if
they should not obtain the power of justly assigning the equivalents o f scientific
and literary benefits,, would hold out to genius— to every man having the faculty
o f rendering public service-^the hind and generous promise that his studies, hie
time, bis efforts, his privations, should not leave him in misery/
The Chairman on this occasion was the celebrated Benjamin Franklin* who,
in discussing the merits of Mr, Williaras'a proposal, expressed great regret ia
declaring his opinion, that a Fund of any considerable amount, for a purpose he
acknowledged to be truly noble, could not be obtained, because the impression
to be made by an appeal to the public must be very feeble. 1An Institution for
the relief of misery/ said Franklin, ' which is so far from being intrusive and
obvious— so far from pressing on the senses that it withdraws from observation^
is an institution whose object will be ever lost to the common classes of subscribers
to public charities/ * I perceive/ said Dr. Franklin* at a later period, 4that our
friend does not acquiesce in our opinions, and that he will undertake this Institu­
tion, The event, be it what it may, will be honourable to him : but it will
require so much time, perseverance, and patience, that the anvil may wear ou,t
the hammer/ n—jfddress o f ¿he Committee o f the Literary Fundynote SOwealthy a
charity, 1854.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE ZOIST.

P en sy]v a n ia P a rk , E x e te r, M a y 1st, 1 8 5 4 .
S ir ,— I
h ave b e e n req u ested b y M r, S qu ires, o f H ill’ s
C ou rt, E x e te r , (th e zeal on s and su ccessful m e sm eric op e ra to r
m e n tio n e d in p a g e 3 5 4 , V o l. X I . , o f The Zoist,) to send
y o u th e e n clo s e d cases, in h op e th a t y o u m a y n o t c o n s id e r
th em u n w o rth y o f a p la ce in y o u r J u ly n u m b e r. T h e y are

* This was wickedness. It is incumbent upon ns to speak plainly. Medical

men play this game doily. When they cannot cure a case and their consent
to mesmeric treatment is requested, they, rather than the patient should be cured
by it, say-— N o ; your’s is not a case for it; or, it will drive the blood to your
head* or, it will excite you: or, it will produce fits: or, it will cause insanity.
How loffg will this wickedness last? The public must p it an end to it before
long.— Zoist,
VOL. X II, Y
310 Mr. Squirts, of Exeter, a good mesmeriser.

v ery briefly d e t a ile d ; h a v in g been fu rn ish ed, a t th e requ est

o f M r . S ., b y th e patients th em selves, a n d , I m a y ad d , that,
h a vin g am p le k n o w le d g e o f b o th parties, 1 ca n fu lly c o r r o b o ­
rate sta tem en ts. I t n eed n o t h o w e v e r e x c ite a n y surprise
th a t th e p a tien ts, b e in g ladies o f resp e cta b ility , sh ou ld be
desirou s o f w ith h old in g th eir n am es and addresses, w h en w e
c o n s id e r th at, e v en y e t, a great m a jo r ity o f “ T h e F a c u lty ”
c o n tin u e to p ro m u lg a te th e im p ression th at a n y o n e w h o p r o ­
fesses to h ave b e e n cu red b y m esm erism must b e eith er a fool
o r a “ h u m b u g !” It is m oreov er to b e k ep t in. m in d that
o u r cauBe has m et w ith m o re v iru len t o p p o s itio n d o w n here
th an perh aps iu a n y o th e r provincial to w n in th e k in g d o m :
a n d we h ave even had th e a b om in a b le (a n d I believe unique)
ease o f o n e m ed ica l m an a tta ck in g th e ch a ra cter o f a n oth er
m ed ica l m a n ’ s private p a tien t in th e p u b lic n ew spapers !
I t th e re fo re ca n n ot be a m atter o f su rprise th a t in c o g n ito
sh ou ld be co n sid e re d desirable.
I n c o n c lu s io n , I c a n n o t help ex p re ssin g m y re g re t, in the
first p la ce, th a t far m ore in dividu als d o n o t tu rn th eir a tten ­
tion to w h at I d en om in a te “ M esm erism P r o p e r .” I f all th e
tim e a n d a tte n tio n th a t have b e e n w asted u p on “ ta b le­
tu r n in g ” a n d “ sp irit-ra p p in g ,” & c,, had b e e n d ev oted to the
r e lie f o f th e sick , b y m eans o f m e sm eric passes, w h at an
a m ou n t o f b e n e fit m ig h t have b e e n c o n fe r r e d ! A n d se co n d ly ,
it is a g r e a t p ity th at so m a n y o f th ose cases, w h ich , lik e
th ese e n clo se d , are a tten d ed b y d elig h tfu l su ccess, sh ou ld
n everth eless rem a in u n p u b lis h e d ; a n d th u s b e u n k n ow n
b e y o n d th e ir o w n im m ed ia te loca lity .
H o p in g th a t m y rem ark s m a y b e k in d ly re ce iv e d , and
p ra ctica lly a d o p te d b y th e readers o f The Zoist,
I rem ain , Sir,
Y o u r s m o st resp ectfu lly ,
H en ry U. J anson.

P .S , M r . S qu ires is a capital fe llo w : a w o rth y , h on est,

g o o d m an . H e is b y tra d e a n orn a m en ta l ga rd en er.

I . Cure o f Intense Debility and Pain.

A y o u n g la d y b a d been su fferin g many months from n erv ­
ou s d e b ility . S h e tried ch a n g e o f air, a n d m ed ica l advice,
without any alleviation; a n d b e ca m e so w eak th a t w a lk in g a
sh o rt d is ta n ce gave h e r in ten se p a in o n th e to p o f h e r head,
as i f ca u sed b y a v iolen t b low . H e r eyes w ere s o w eak that
she c o u ld n o t bear ex p osu re to lig h t, and rea d in g o r w o rk in g
b ro u g h t o n severe b ea d -a ch e. S h e was r e c o m m e n d e d ' to try
m esm erism .
 The picture of Harvey and Charles I, 311

H a v in g h eard M r . S q u ires h ig h ly sp ok en o f, sh e sen t fo r

h im . H e w en t to h er fo r th ree w eeks, and m esm erised h er
fo r lia lf-a n -h o u r e v e ry ev en in g . D u r in g this tim e sh e g ra ­
d u a lly im p r o v e d ; and a t th e en d o f th at tim e felt h o tte r th an
sh e h a d b een fo r y ea rs, and has n o t had a n y retu rn o f th e
com p la in t.
I I . Cure of Neuralgia.
M iss S ., h a vin g tic d ou lou reu x sev erely iu h e r fa ce and
head, was recom m en d ed to try m e sm e rism ; a n d , h a v in g
k n o w n M r . S qu ires m a n y years, sent fo r h im — w h en su ffer­
in g such in ten se p a in th at she c o u ld n o t to u ch th e p art
a ffected . A fte r a few " passes ” sh e was ab le to b ea r M r . S .
t o press h a rd on h er tem p les and head, a n d even fe lt r e lie f
fr o m it. H e con tin u e d h is visits fo r so m e w eeks, a n d sh e
a scrib es h e r u ltim a te re co v e ry to his ex ertion s.
E x e te r , 1 8 5 4 .

X IV . Cures of Neuralgia, and of Stiff Necks, í¡-c.

B y M r. C a f e r n .
The courtier behind id one of that class of gentlemen who, in reference to
the advancement of ¿odal and philosophical conditions, r cares for tione of these
t h i n g s h e is permitting himself to be entertained by some of Harvey's oppo­
nents- These are incarnations o f pedantic bigotry and stolid imbecility— the two
great opponents of scientific progress’ —-who, hy insult and obloquy, shew their
hatred of him who dares, by asserting truth, unsettle their long’ Cherished ab­
surdities. lie who would make mankind wiser and happier must in his lifetime
endure * moral tribulation and few men felt this truth more keenly than the
immortal Harvey*” — A De&ci'iptive Key to the etigroniny o f Harvey demonstrat­
ing to Charles /. Ats theory q f the circulation of the blood) p, 9.*

Speedy cure of intense Neuralgia of the Leg.

“ I n 1 8 4 8 I was a ttacked w ith n eu ralgia, w h ich ex te n d e d
from m y h ip to m y h e e l. I at tim es su ffered so m u eh th a t I
c o u ld n o t sit u p o n m y ch air, b u t was ob lig e d to lie o n a sofa
and have s o ft p illow s u n d er m e w h en I to o k m y m eals. X
ca lle d in m y ow n p h y sicia n a n d a n a p o th e ca ry o f so m e n o te .
T h e y re co m m e n d e d all sorts o f m ed icin es, and I was con fin ed
to m y h ou s e fo r six w eek s. T h e n I was advised to tr y m e d i­
ca ted b a th s, w h ich I d id b u t w ith ou t any ben efit. I had a
d rea d fu l a tta ck last M a y , a n d was co n fin e d to m y b e d fo r te n
days. A s it w as im p o ssib le fo r m e eith er to g et in or o u t o f
it, fo r m y le ft le g w as p e r fe c tly useless, I tried a n ew m ed ica l
m a n : h e ga v e m e a q u a n tity o f m e d icin e s, and w ou ld allow

* The picture it painted by Mr, R. Hannah and engraved hy Mr. H. Leman,

and it is the property of Mr, J. Hodgson, of Westbourno Terrace, Hyde Park,
who sexiles at mesmerism,— Zoist.
312 Rapid cures.

m e to d rin k n o th in g bu t seltzer w ater a n d sh erry. I o c c a ­

sion ally su ffered m u ch p a in . T h e last a tta ck I h a d was a b ou t
a few days b e fo r e C h ristm as, w h en I c o u ld n o t w alk ex cep t
lik e a p aralyzed m a n : in fa ct, m y frien d s th o u g h t m e para­
lyzed . I was again ob lig e d to lie u p fo r so m e days. A lth o u g h
I w en t t o bu sin ess I was in a d rea d fu l sta te o f p a in . H ow ­
ever, b y th e advice o f M r . B eed ell, I w e n t to M r . C apern to
tr y w h at m esm erism w ou ld d o. I saw h im fo r th e first tim e
o n th e s e c o n d o f Ja n u a ry : an d I can s o le m n ly sw ear that
a fte r th e se co n d visit I ju m p e d over a la rg e ch a ir in m y
d in in g -r o o m , and th at after th e sixth tim e o f b e in g m es­
m e rise d I h ave had n o retu rn o f th e p a in . I can n ow walk
from m y h ou s e to th e C u stom s, th re e m iles, a n d b a c k h o m e
in th e a fte r n o o n : w hereas b e fo re seein g M r . C a p ern I cou ld
n o t w alk five yard s. M r . C apern m ade n o restriction as to
e a tin g o r d rin k in g .
“ A u b r e y W a ls h .
“ H a r r in g to n Square, H a m pstea d R o a d /1*

T h e fo llo w in g th ree cases w ere a tten d ed to o n th ree c o n ­

secu tive days.
Instantaneous cure of Rigidity.
J o h n T h om a s B e ttin so n , aged o n e y e a r te n m o n th s, son
o f M r . J . G . B e ttin so n , 2 1 , C harles S tre e t, S t. J o h n ’ s W o o d .
O n th e m o r n in g o f th e 2 5 th A p r il th e paren ts o f this little
child, w ere a la rm ed b y o b serv in g an u n u su al a n d e x tra ord in a ry
stiffn ess in his n eck , h a v in g n o p o w e r o f m o tio n . H is
m oth er a p p reh en d ed th at th ere was a fo rm a tio n o f w ater on
th e brain , as h is h ea d rested w h o lly o n th e sh ou ld ers ■ w h ilst
h is g r a n d m o th e r b eliev ed it t o b e p aralysis, a n d feared the
resu lt. M r . C a p ern ca lled at the h ou se, a n d , ob se rv in g th e
c o n d itio n o f this fin e ch ild , said th at h e cam e op p o rtu n e ly ,
a n d p rep a red to m esm erise h im : and, h a v in g m ade th e m a ­
n ip u la tion s fo r three or four minutes, th e stiffn ess en tirely
disappeared, a n d th e head reg a in ed its o rig in a l p o sitio n , an d
sh ortly a fter h e was en g a g ed in p la y in g w ith o th e r ch ildren ,
u n co n s cio u s o f th e g rea t ben efit d erived fr o m m esm erism .

Very speedy cure of pain and difficulty of swallowing from cold.

S ta tem en t o f E liza b eth R o d w e ll, 8 , W e llin g t o n T erra ce, St.
Joh n ’s W ood .
A p r il 2 6 th . E liza b eth R o d w e ll states th at, o n S u n d a y the
2 3 rd A p r il, she to o k a c o ld , w h ich o cca s io n e d a stiffness in

* In consequence of Ml'. Capern making no charge, Mr, Aubrey Walsh be­

came a subscriber to the Mesmeric Infirmary,
 Medical and Catholic-Apostolic opposition, 313

th e n e c k , a n d an in a b ility to sw a llow a n y solid fo o d , an d

even to tak e liq u id s was v ery d ifficu lt and hurt h er. T h is
c o n tin u e d from S u n d a y u n t il W e d n e sd a y m o rn in g , w h en M r .
C apern a tten d ed at h e r re sid e n ce to v isit a p a tien t w h o h ad
b e e n b en e fitted b y m esm erism , and, ob se rv in g th at she m ov ed
h e r h ea d w ith d ifficu lty , offered to relieve her ; a n d a fter a
few minutes m esm erisin g sh e was reliev ed from h e r stiffness
and p a in , a n d was ab le t o sw allow h er fo o d w ith ou t d iffic u lt y ;
and has e x p erien ced n o in co n v e n ie n ce fr o m it sin ce . S h e
h a d also pains in h er ch e st and lim b s, w hich w ere en tirely
dissipated b y th ree sittin gs, o f a b o u t te n m in u tes ea ch t im e .*

Cure of Pains of the Chest.

E x tr a c t fr o m a letter receiv ed fr o m M r . M u s k e tt, M a lv e rn
W e lls , M a y 2 8 .
' ‘ I am tr u ly o b lig e d b y y o u r n o te , en closin g som e m o r e
p ackets o f m esm erised su gar. T w o o f th o se fo r m e r ly sen t
I have ta k en , a n d fou n d th e y im m e d ia te ly reliev ed slig h t
spasm s in th e stom a ch , p r o d u c in g at th e sam e tim e th e cu s ­
to m a r y m esm erised lu ll in th e h ea d and g e n era lly th ro u g h
th e fram e.
“ I have m u ch pleasu re in co m p ly in g with y o u r requ est,
and te s tify in g to th e cu re op era ted u p o n m y c o o k , E liza b e th
S m y th , w h o, a fter su fferin g fo r a w eek o r m ore from pains in
th e ch est, w as c o m p le te ly reliev ed after tw o o r th ree sittin g s.”
T h e sittin g s d id n o t o c c u p y a b ov e tw elv e m inu tes each .
M r . M u s k e tt ca lled at th e In firm a ry n early tw o y ears
sin ce, a n d m a d e a d o n a tio n t o th e in stitu tion .

* We have beard that the mistress of this patient was greatly relieved by
Mr. Caperti* She had been operated upon fruitlessly by an oculist on account
of blindness i and the failure of the operation caused palpitation, irregular action
o f the heart, and universal neuralgic pain« She expressed her wish tg be mes­
merised to her oculist, who instantly requested her not to allow any one to mes­
merise her, as she was ioo weak/ However, she did request Mr. Capern to
mesmerise her t and her ordinary medical attendant, no less than her friends,
was astonished at the benefit. Soon afterwards she called on her physician, who
allowed the marked improvement, but declared that these mesmerists would take
their practice from them; adding that her surgeon had informed him o f it, and.
had done the same to her brother, a physician, in America.
We have beard too that a friend of the lady, witnessing the benefit of mes­
merism, wished to be also mesmerised, but, being an Irvingite, dared not till she
bad asked the permission of the elders of the Catholic-Apostolic Cburcb in
Gordon Square. These holy and sympathizing Christians instantly forbad it,
preferring that she should go on suiTcring rather than avail herself of “ the gift
of G od," to Q^e Mr. Saodby's words. Talk of English education! of English
common sensei of English Christianity! of the bigotry and intolerance of
Roman Catholics !—ZttisL
 ( 314 )

XV. A case of Compulsions cared by Mesmerism.

B y M r , B a r t o n , o f W o o lw ic h .

73, M in e r v a P la ce , K in g S treet, W o o lw ic h ,
S e p te m b e r 2 1 st, 1 853.
S ir ,— I beg leave to acquaint you with a very remarkable
instance o f the successful application o f mesmerism that
has happened here within the last few days.
A little b o y , aged on e y ea r a n d n in e m on th s, w hose p a ­
ren ts are la b o u r in g p eop le, n a m ed S lad e, liv in g o n P lu m stca d
C o m m o n , was seized on S atu rday n ig h t last w ith con vu lsive
fits o f sn ch a violen t ch ara cter as to th rea ten im m ed ia te
d eath . T h e m oth er in great alarm and a n x iety , after seek in g
th e aid o f six d ifferen t d o cto rs in W o o lw ic h , w h o w ere eith er
a b sen t or u n a b le to a tten d, at le n g th ob ta in e d th e assistance
o f D r . B o sse y , w h o u p on seein g th e c o n d itio n o f the ch ild
said h e had b e e n su m m on ed too l a t e : som e p ow d ers, how ever,
w ere g iv en b y th e D o c t o r ’ s d irection . T h e sy m p tom s c o n ­
tin u ed u n a b a ted d u r in g th e n ig h t, and, w h en D r . B . visited
th e ch ild o n th e S u n d a y m o r n in g , h e ex p ressed h is surprise
a t fin d in g it still alive.
A t th e req u est o f M r. M e B rid e (w h ose in fa n t son I had
radically c u r e d o f ep ilep tic fits o f th e m o st d a n g erou s ch a ­
ra cter by m esm erism , after D r. B ossey had g iv e n u p th e ease
as h op eless, and h om oeopath ic trea tm en t had fa iled u n d er
D r . E p p s), I saw th is little b o y o n S u n d a y m o r n in g im m e d i­
a te ly after th e D o c t o r had ca lled . T h e ch ild was th en in a
k in d o f le th a rg y , b u t presen tly a severe fit ca m e o n ; an d,
w hile th o s e a rou n d w ere bu sied in a p p ly in g v in eg a r to its
head and h ands, I desired th em to stand aside, a n d , la y in g
m y h an ds u p o n its foreh ea d , th e sy m p tom s seem ed to b e
arrested, fo r th e ch ild at o n c e b e ca m e q u iet a n d fell asleep.
I co n tin u e d to m esm erise it fo r h a lf a n h ou r, p la c in g o n e
b a u d to th e b a ck o f its h ead and m a k in g dow n w ard passes
w ith th e oth e r. 1 th en left it in a d eep a n d tra n q u il sleep,
U p o n ca llin g a ga in th e sam e e v e n in g , I was su rprised to
find th e ch ild s ittin g up, feed in g it s e lf w ith arrow root, and
a sk in g re p e a te d ly fo r m ore. I fou n d th a t th e sleep had c o n ­
tin u e d fo r five h ou rs after I had left, a n d no more fits had
occurred. T h e fa m ily w ere astonished at th e ch a n g e w h ich
h a d ta k en p la ce. I again m esm erised it fo r h a lf an h ou r as
b e fo r e , p ro d u c in g a d eep sleep, w h ich la sted fo r eig h t h ours.
U p o n m y ca llin g o n th e M o n d a y m o rn in g , th e ch ild was
up and d ressed a n d appeared p e rfe ctly well : it had eaten a
very h ea rty b reakfast, a n d n o fu rth er sy m p tom s o f th e d is­
ord e r had appeared. I n fa ct, the re co v e ry was com p lete. I
 The blessings of Mesmerism incalculable. 315

th o u g h t th ere w o u ld be n o h arm in m esm erisin g it a g a in ; b u t

th is tim e sleep was n o t p rod u ced , p rob a b ly becau se th e sy stem
did n o t req u ire it.
T h e m o th e rj w h o has lost sev en ch ild re n b y th e sam e
d iso rd e r, w h ich ca rried th em o f f at a b ou t the sam e a g e as
th is little b o y , loa d ed m e w ith th an k s and con g ra tu la tion s ,
for sh e was su re th a t m esm erism h a d saved th e ch ild , th o u g h
su ch is th e stu pid p re ju d ice ex istin g o n the su b je ct th a t it
was n o t w ith ou t h esita tion a n d re lu cta n ce th a t sh e co n se n te d
to have it tried a t a tim e w h en th e c h ild 's death w as lo o k e d
fo r as certain.
I th in k th at a n y o n e w h o h a d w itn essed this case w ou ld
p r o n o u n c e it o n e o f th e m o st u n d en ia b le p roofs ever a d d u ced
o f th e efficacy o f m esm erism .
I h ave g iv en these b r ie f particulars, h o p in g th e n atu re o f
th e case w ill su fficien tly excu se m y trespassing u p on y o u r
a tte n tion .
I am , S ir, y o u r m o st ob e d ie n t servant,
G. B arto n .
T o D r . E llio ts o n , fo r th e E d ito r o f The Zoist.

NOTE B Y DK. ELUOTSON.

I co n s id e r th is a very im p orta n t, th ou g h a sm all and m o ­

d estly rela ted , fa ct. I n su ch cases m esm eric trea tm en t is
in valu able. T h e co m m o n ro u tin e is to p u t th e ch ild in a
w arm h ath ,— w h ich is all v ery w ell 3 to p u t leech es o n th e
h ea d o r tak e b lo o d in som e o th e r w ay,— a m ea su re b u t
t o o o fte n u u sa tisfa ctory , u seless, a n d som etim es in ju r io u s ;
and to g iv e p u rgatives, w h ich m a y b e m o re or less b en eficia l,
b u t t o o o fte n fa il, a n d m ay be rea d ily carried in ju rio u sly
f a r : tb e h orrid a p p lica tiou o f b listers and oth er irrita n ts, an d
heaps o f filth y d ru gs gen era lly g iv en in addition , d o n o m o re
in m ost cases th a n distress th e p o o r little th in g , and p o s s ib ly
agg ra v a te m atters. A d o se o f a p erien t w ith ou t taste, su ch as
a few g ra in s o f c a lo m e l, e n o u g h to operate o f itself, m ix ed
w ith su gar, and th e a p p lica tion o f c o ld , i f possib le iced , w ater
to th e head, are v e ry p ro p e r. B u t th e ch ild sh ou ld be stea d ily
m esm erised b y v e ry slow passes fr o m h ea d to fo o t, o r b y
p o in tin g at its ey es, o r at. th eir r e g io n i f th e y are c lo s e d , o r b y
k e e p in g th e b a re hand u p o n th e h e a d h o u r after h ou r, o r b y
all. B u t in d e fa tig a b le persev era n ce m a y b e req u ired . If
m esm erism w ere habitually u sed b y paren ts in all the diseases
o f ch ild r e n , acute and chronic, th e b en efit w ould h e incalcu­
lable. I repeat th e w o rd , incalculable. I ca n n ot refer to all
316 Books received, Notices to Correspondents, if c.

th e p roofs o f th e u tility o f m esm erism in th e diseases o f

c h ild h o o d r e c o r d e d in The Zoist, b u t m ay b e g a tten tion to
th e v ery in terestin g cases o f M r . W , S n ew itig ’ s c h ild b y h im ­
s e lf in N o , X I X , , p. 2 5 2 , and o f M r . C o lb o u r n e ’ s ch ild b y
h im s e lf in N o . X X X I V . , p. 6 .
A retired m ed ica l g en tlem a n , w h o a y e a r o r tw o a go saw
clea rly th a t m esm erism was a reality, had a ch ild seized with
fever. H e en q u ired w h eth er I th o u g h t m esm erism w ou ld b e
o f service, and I assu red h im it w ou ld . T h e ch ild recov ered ,
and th is is h is l e t t e r ;— -
“ 7, Claremont, Hastings, Sussex, O ct. 30, 1853.
" Dear Sir,— I write to tender you my sincere thanks for your
kindness in recommending mesmerism for my little girl, who had
fever at Hampstead : I believe it was the only thing which saved her
life under the blessing of God.
" Believe me, yours very truly,
“ Dr. Elliotson.” " J ohn W. W ebb,
I f th e p rofession d id n o t h o u rly a n d in d efa tig a b ly ex ert
it s e lf to p rev en t m a n k in d from p ossessin g o n e o f th e greatest
blessin gs ever b estow ed u p on o u r ra ce, a n d m an k in d w ou ld
rise ahove th e in flu en ce o f th e profession , o h h o w g rea tly w ould
th e su fferin gs o f in n o c e n t ch ild h o o d b e lessen ed !

BO O KS R E C E IV E D .
Afedicitia Mentis, e r, Sjnrilua!‘snt / commonly called Animoi Magnetism, or
Mesmerism, consideretl entirely as a curative agent. By Hugh Hastings, M.D.
Cheltenham : 1854.
The British Journal of Homoeopathy, Ju ly . L a n d e n : 1354.
Mognitismc et Magndlotherapie. P a r le Com te de Stzapary. Deuxiem e
E d itio n . P a ris : 1854.
Great Truths in Lit lie Stories : or, drops of wisdomfo r childhood. 1854.
Tales of a large Family or, records of the hive, the nest, and the tower.
1854,
Poems from my Fireside : tai affectionate offering fo r the young, 1854.
A il by M iss G oodluck, N o . 6 , Orm ond Street, Q ueen Square.

N O T IC E S T O C O R R E S P O N D E N T S .
W e return thanks to M r. A ndrew Beater, o f 4, A lderm onbury, for his kind ­
ness in tw ice advertising our la st N um ber in the Critic.- and to M r . Jan so u , o f
Ex ete r, fo r sending copies o f it to different papers a t his own expense.
In our next w e hope to p ublish D r. C o stell’s p hrenological account o f
M . Alexander D um as, and m esm eric com m unications from D r. M o therw ell of
A u stralia, M i1. Tubbs, M r. M itch e ll, M r. R iea rd , and D r. E llio tso n .

E rra ta .
p. 210, 1, 15, fo r 11w as,” read uere.
p. 243,1. 31, for “ D r. Jo h n A rth u r W ils o n ,” read Dr. James Arthur Wilson.
p. 246, 1. 27, ditto.