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MESMERISM IN DISEASE:

FEW PLAIN FACTS,

SELECTION OF CASES,
PBOVINQ ITS EFFICACY IN

DEAFNESS, TIC DOULOUREUX, ASTHMA,

ST. VITUS'S DANCE, EPILEPSY,
HYSTERIA, SPINAL, AND OTHER AFFECTIONS
OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM.

HENRY STORER, M.D.,

MCr.MTIATE IN MEDICINE AND SUKGEHY, FOR MANY YEAUS ONE
OF THE MEDICAL OFFICERS TO QUEEN ADELAIDE'S
HOSPITAL, LONDON.

LONDON
BALLlEllE, 219, REGENT STREET;
AKD
MISS ^VILLIAMS, MILSOM STREET, BATH.
1845.
.'/"^'r
'r^
V

BATH
PRINTED BY J. HOLLWAY, 10, MILSOM STREET,
JOHN ELLIOTSON, M.D., Cantab., F.R.S.,

whose labours in the cause of

Science and Humanity,

command the respect and admiration

of every unprejudiced individual,

these few pages are

(by permission)

DEDICATED,

BY HIS OBLIGED AND FAITHFUL SERVANT,

HENRY STORKR, M.l).

 CONTENTS.
Introduction.
List of Works for reference.
Address.
Selection of Cases :

Case of Spinal Affection.

Cure of Deafness.
Uterine Disease, with great Nervous Derangement.
Case of long standing Asthma.
Miss Martineau's Case.
Neuralgia of the Heart.
Cases of Hysterical Epilepsy, Spinal Irritation, St. Vitus's Dance.
NeurjT)nology Hypnotism.
Cases of Tetanus, Spasmodic Affections, with various others.
Surgical Operations without pain.
A few Words to Governors of Hospitals.
Appendix On Somnamhuiism, Phreno-Mesmerism, and Clairvoyance.
Case of Alexis.
Adolphe.
Jane Knowles.
Concluding Remarks.
 INTRODUCTION.

The object of the following pages is to present to

the Public a few plain Facts, with a selection of Cases,

by which they may be enabled to form an opinion of

the good already effected through Mesmerism.

When it is considered, that in the majority of cases,

Mesmerism is only resorted to as a last resource,

frequently, without any belief in its powers by the

patient and almost always in direct opposition to the

advice, feelings, and opinions of the ordinary medical

attendants, an attentive observer cannot but be struck

and surprised to find, that so much should have been

already accomplished.

To extend these benefits, should he the desire of all

this will be best accomplished by making known the

subject, and, on all occasions, giving a fair and im-

partial consideration to the enquiry.

 The present work must be considered as simply

introductory; it does not pretend to originality, and

those desirous of more extended information may con-

sult with advantage any of the works referred to on

the opposite page.

As a practical remedy in disease, Mesmerism ought

to be confined to the members of the Profession; but

owing to their present supineness, relief must be sought
in many instances from those whose zeal and assiduity

may have led them to its application.

Mankind are not to be deprived of the blessings of

a potent remedy, because the Professors of the healing

art choose to remain wilfully blind to the truth.

27, Brock Street, Royal Crescent,

Bath; May, 1845.
 Tlic following Works may be consulted as

required:

The Zoist ; a Quarterly Journal of Phrenology and Mesmerism,

and their application to Human Welfare.

Numerous Cases op Surgical Operations, without Pain, in

the Mesmeric State; by JohnElliotson, M.D., Cantab.

Facts in Mesmerism; with Reasons for a dispassionate Enquiry

into it. 2nd edition, revised and enlarged. By the Rev. C.
H. Townshend, Trinity Hall, Cambridge.

Mesmerism and its Opponents, with a History and Cases;

including a Sermon "Mesmerism, the Gift of God"
in Reply to the Rev. Hugh Mc. Neile's charge of Satanic
Agency. By the Rev. Mr. Sandby, Vicar of Flixton, Norfolk.

Vital Magnetism ; a Remedy. By the Rev. Thomas Pync,

Vicar of Hook, Surrey.

Human Magnetism; its Claims to dispassionate Enquiry as a

means for tlie Relief of Human Suffering. By. R. Newn-
ham, Esq., Surgeon.

Letters on Mesmerism, by Miss Harriet Martineau.

Isis Revblata ; an Enquiry into the Origin, Progress, and
present State of Animal Magnetism, ord edition. By J. Col-
quhoun, Esq.

Trials of Animal Magnetism on the Brute Creation. By Dr.

"Wilson, Middlesex Hospital.

Cerebral Physiology; with the Result of the Application of

Animal Magnetism to the Phrenological Organs. By Dr.
Engledue,

Animal MAGNETis>r; with Reports on Clairvoyance. By E.

Lee, Esq..
Teste's Practical Manual of Ajcimal Magnetism; con-
taining an Exposition of the Methods employed in producing

Magnetic Sleep, -with its application to Disease. From the

French, by D. Spillan, M.D.

Deleuze's Practical Instructions on Animal Magnetism.

From the French.

The Critic A talented weekly Paper, and Literary Journal of

Science. This being the only Journal which contains the
proceedings of the Society for the Investigation of Mesmerism,
ought to be encouraged by every friend of the Science.

The Medical Times is the only impartial Medical Journal

connected with this subject.

History, Phenomena, and Practice of Mesmerism. By W.

Lang, Esq., Edinburgh.

Facts against Fallacies. Ey A. Kiste, Esq.

* To those desirous of knowing the extensive nature of these Enquiries on

the Continent, I will mention that in Fresch and Gekmax alone, there are
between 50 and 60 established "Works a list of which, with any particulars,
;

may be obtained at BaUiere's. Foreign Bookseller, Regent Street, London.

 ADDRESS.

Mesmerism, Animal or Vital Magnetism, Vital

Electricity, or by what other name known, has of
late engaged so much of both public and private
attention, as to make it a subject of the deepest
interest, whether considered in relation to the highly
curious phenomena developed, or in its more im-
portant application as a remedy in disease. It is to

this point, that I wdsh to confine myself, and shall

therefore refer only to those topics which are more
immediately connected with this enquiry ; in doing

this, however, it will be necessary briefly to men-

tion those circumstances which have hitherto most
retarded its progress. There cannot be a doubt, but
that the greatest opposition to Mesmerism has arisen
from the Medical Profession; let us therefore en-
quire upon what grounds their judgment has been
formed. In the ordinary pursuits of life, we gene-
B
 6

rally consider individuals most qualified to give

an opinion, in proportion to the time and labour

tliey may have bestowed on any particular sub-
ject. But in regard to Mesmerism, the very re-

verse of this has been allowed ; for it is notorious,

that as a body, medical men have refused to inves-

tigate, they have condemned unheard,some have
declared that they would not believe the evidence
of their own senses, and others have endeavoured
to cast ridicule and contempt on every one who has
had the abihty, honesty, or courage, to carry out
the enquiry for himself.
If proofs were wanting, I could give many but ;

let us take a well known example. What has been

the treatment of Dr. EUiotson by the Profession?
Is he not considered by his most obstinate opponents
to be a man of science in the highest sense ? and are
not medical men more indebted to Dr. EUiotson
than to any other li\ing English physician, for the
most important and practical additions to the philo-

sophy and science of medicine ? Let us refer to a

few. Has not Dr. EUiotson advocated Phrenology,*

in liis lectures on the practice of medicine, his

clinical lectures, and his writings for above 20 years ?

* The London Phrenological Society was established chiefly by
Dr. EUiotson 20 years since. At that time there was hardly more
than one medical man in twenty a believer; now there is scarcely

a well educated medical man who does not admit its general prin-
ciples many its minutise.
 Did 1k' not mainly contrilnite to the general use
of the Stethoscope* in this country? Look at the

many novel and interesting points of Pliysiology,

recorded in his most elaborate work. By whom
were quinine,* prussic acid, carbonate of iron,
creosote, sulphate of copper, and other new remedies,
first properly investigated? all now established
as practical means in their several applications

and though last, not^ least, follows Mesmerism,

which, of all, promises to be the greatest boon to
suffering humanity. Yet in the promotion of this,

how unfairly nay, cruelly has he been treated

though, before very long, he will have the proud
gratification of seeing Mesmerism, like all his pre-

vious labours, acknowledged, if not practised, by the

very men who have hitherto denied and ridiculed.
The Professionf ought to have been doubly
guarded in thus acting ; for the public know full

well, this has been their ordinary way of treating

* When the Stethoscope and quinme were introduced some

years since, a now fashionable Court physician used to say, that
the Stethoscope was just the thing for Elliotson to rave ahout, and
that quinine would not last twelve months. This same individual,
at the present time, never goes to a bed side without tlie one, and
rarely passes a day without prescribing the other.

f In thus speaking of medical men I do not do so disrespect-

am only speaking the truth, which they must admit I
fully; I
have an extensive London acquaintance with gentlemen of tlie

highest standing; amongst whom, arc many of my best friends.

 8

every new discovery, and will ask, whether the same

Profession, did not thus condemn the discoveries of

Harvey, Hunter, and Jemier. Medical men must

however, before long, investigate, or they will

soon find their legitimate province invaded by those

who have less title ; those who believe, must soon
declare themselves, and those who vdll not examine,
camiot justly be entitled to give an opinion.
The public, however, are now so impressed by
the good already accomphshe J by Mesmerism, that

they will be too happy to have its benefits extended

to all those cases which have hitherto baffled medical

skill ; and are there not too many diseases to which
the present state of science is quite unequal ? I

ask the question fearlessly and honestly of medical

men, of what avail or certainty are their remedies

in many cases of Paralysis, Epilepsy, St. Vitus's

Dance, Tic Douloureux, Hysteria, Mental, Spinal,

and other affections of the Nervous System ? Are
they not the very opprobium of the healing art ? and
among the poorer
are they not too often, especially
made the causes of exclusion from some of
classes,

our pubKc hospitals ? If, then, there be a power,

which will reheve and cure many of these extreme
cases, is it not the duty of medical men to investi-
gate that powder, instead of denying its facts and
condemning unheard ?
Observe the example set us by our Continental
brethren. In Frcancc, the late Commission of 1831
composed of men of the highest scientific cliaracter,

declared, that the facts of Mesmerism were unde-

niable, and entitled it to rank among the sciences;
and in Paris, at the present time, every fourth
medical man is a Mesmerist. Throughout the Con-
tinent, its reception has been equally gratifying.
In Germany, it is studied and practised to a consi-
derable extent ; in Prussia, many physicians make
use of it under the authority of government ; in

Berlin, the greatest success has attended its use; in

Stockholm, degrees are granted in the University

by an examination into its laws; in Russia, the

Emperor appointed a Commission of medical men

to enqmre into it: this Commission pronounced it
" a very important agent," and the first physician to
the Emperor, with many others at Petersbm-gh and
Moscow, have employed it successfully for years
in Denmark, physicians practise it under a royal
ordinance, by a decree of the College of Health ; in

Holland, the first men adopt it. Let us hear also

the opinions of two of the greatest of the Conti-

nental philosophers. La Place says, " that the
testimony in favour of the ti'uth of Mesmerism,
coming with such uniformity from enlightened men
of many nations, who had no interest to deceive,

and possessed no possible means of collusion, was

such, that, applying to it, his own principles and
 10

human e\'idence, he could

formulas respecting
NOT WITHHOLD HIS ASSENT FROM WHAT WAS SO
STRONGLY SUPPORTED."
Cuvier also writes, that "it is no longer per-
mitted us to doubt, that the proximity of two
animated bodies in a certain relation, and with the
help of certain motions, do produce a real effect,

wholly independent of the imagination of either."

Let us also see, what has been done in our own
country; though little, still, we have reason to re-
joice, and, uniting the labours of all, we may say,

without fear of contradiction, that Mesmerism can

claLEQ amongst its advocates and behevers, the
highest in rank, science, and literature. As names,
especially in this country, do too frequently influ-
ence us ; to prove my assertion, and to give encou-
ragement to doubters, let us mention a few of those,
who have expressed their belief in Mesmerism, many
of whom practise it. In science, can any names
claim a higher regard than La Place, Cuvier, Juis-

sieu, Hufeland, Georget, Orfila, Cloquet, abroad

amongst ourselves, an Elliotson, Conolly, Aber-
crombie, Engledue, Ashbumer, Mayo, Davey,
Wilson, Sigmond, Amott, Costello, and others the ;

chief of whom are Hospital physicians and sui-geons.

Besides these, in almost every city, town, and village,
will be found private practitioners zealously pui'-

suing the enquiry. In rank and station, we may

liiciilioii i^'iiULL AiijL'it..' j>(;iti" l>i(jui:ncxiii aiiU ^lan-
hope, Lord Adare, the Earl of Westmoreland aiid
the Duke of Marlborough, the Bishop of Norwich,
Colonel Gimvood, Sir Thomas Wiltshire, Captain
James, Sir Wm. Molesworth, Sir Wm. Hamilton,
&c. In the literary world, and arts, will be found
Miss Martineau, Miss Mitford, and ^liss Ann Sa-
vage, Sir Edward Lytton Bulwer, Charles Dickens,
Mr. Macready, Mr. Colquhoim, Mr. Coleridge, &c.
In the legal profession we have barristers of high

standing ; amongt others Basil Montague. In the

Church we have dignitai-ies of the highest order;
and three excellent Works on Mesmerism have been
lately written by Clerg^^nen, of good standing and
attainments: indeed, the Clergy have done much,
and would do more, were it not, that there appears
to be an opinion abroad, that ^Mesmerism has an irre-

ligious or Satanic agency. This behef has originated

chiefly from a Sennon, said to have been preached
by the Rev. Hugh Mc. Neile. He has partly dis-
avowed the production, but not entirely; and so
fiu", renders liimself responsible for those, who
choose only to act and think through tlie prejudices
of others.

* Priucc Albert stated before a large party at the Palace, oniy

a month ago, "That the mcilical men of this country were cou-
ducting themselves in a very improper manner, by refusing to in-
vestigate the facts presented to them by the science of Mesmerism."
 12

Yet on this point, can any objection be more irre-

ligious or uncharitable ? We will see. It is the
universal belief of every well regulated mind, and
ought certainly to be that of every Christian, that
whatever has been created, or exists, is for a wise

and benevolent purpose. It is very true, that we

do not always perceive the application, but that
does not destroy the power, and ought not to lessen
the value.
Now, when we find Mesmerism being applied
to the relief of the most hopeless of cases and
sufferers, and when good is effected, this must na-
turally dispose the mind to contemplate in a still

higher degree, the additional blessing received, and,

as a consequence, gratitude from the receiver to

the Giver of all Good. Such benefits rather tend

to convert an unbeliever, and confirm a Christian.
Several objectors will be answered by the record
of cases given; but there are others, who, after

actually seeing certain benefits derived, then assume

the results to be merely the efforts of nature, the
force of imaguiation, or even imposition. Xow,
if the efforts of nature set in, after all other means
have been tried in vain, and the good only appears
to follow, from the time Mesmerism has been com-
menced, why not accord to it this slight credit?

and as regards the imagination, if several of the

most fearful and painful operations such as tlie

 13

amputation of limbs, the removal of large portions

of the jaw, the opening of tumours, and the extrac-
tion of teeth, now, without number; if these, and
many more, can be effected ^s-ithout pain, and even
through the imagination, then, it becomes the
absolute duty of the College of Physicians to admit
this agent at once into the number of their remedies.
On the prejudices of medical men, Miss Marti-
neau has most tritely remarked in her interesting
letters,
" How can the Profession hold its domi-
nion over minds, however backed by law, and the
opinion of the educated, when the vulgar see and
know that limbs are removed \s'ithout pain, in
opposition to the vsill of doctors, and in spite of
their denial of the facts ? What avails the decision

of a whole College of Surgeons, that such a thing

could not be, when a whole town fuU of people
know that it was ; which must succumb, the

learned body or the fact?''

There is no excuse for medical men not making
the enquiry for themselves, inasmuch as the appeal
is simply to nature, and is within the reach of every
one, and when men are found, who will not

investigate, and prefer condemning unheard, let

them, however high their assumed character or

station, consider how just is the following, from
the late ^Ir. Chevenix, who on tliis very subject
was so able an advocate :

Would it disgrace
*'
 14

the greatest man whom England has ever produced,

to attempt an experiment or two upon a doctrine
which Hufeland, Juissieu, Cuvier, Ampere, and
La Place believed? nay, would it not disgrace
him more to condemn, without knowing any
thing about, what such men knew and believed?
Is supercilious ignorance theweapon with which
Bacon would have repelled a new branch of know^-
ledge, however extraordinary it might have ap-
peared to him ? surely, what great men believe,
ORDINARY MEN MAY TRY."
Mr. Chevenix further observes " In the whole
domain of human arguments, no art or science rests
upon experiments more numerous, more positive,

or more easily ascertained; and, to him, and before

long, the opinion must be universal, the most ex-
traordinary event in the whole history ofhuman
science is, that Mesmerism ever could be
DOUBTED."*
Now, let it be clearly understood, that these
opinions are not those of a mere book worm, or
crude theorist; for, on referring to his writings,

many of which appeared in the Philosophical Trans-

actions, it will be seen, that he personally operated
on the large number of 448 individuals, 168 of
these in the short space of a few months. His trials

were made on all ages, sexes, and stations ; and

See Medical and Physical Journal for 1829.
he reports, that positive effects were produced on
the majority, several were cured of very distressing
diseases, and many were much relieved, when, at

last, an acute disease suddenly deprived science and

humanity of one of her brightest ornaments. His
experiments were strictly scientific his object
philanthropic ; and it was to the labours chiefly of

Mr. Chevenix, that the public are mainly indebted,

for his mantle falling on the equally able and ta-

lented Dr. EUiotson.

Surely, with this weight of evidence in our favour,
it is not expecting too much, that, when opponents
to Mesmerism arise, they at least, should bring
facts against facts, well knowing, as they ought, that
one real fact, is worth twenty vague opinions.
As a summary, it may be said, that if opinions,

or judgments, founded on our prejudices, our super-

stitions, or our abuses of things, were once ad-
mitted, what would have become of the greatest

discoveries ever made, or the greatest benefits ever

conferred ?

Vaccination was considered Anti-Christ, iuid as

such, denounced from the pulpit ; the eminent
French sm-geon. Pare, was hooted and hissed, be-
cause he introduced the ligature to arteries, as a
substitute for boiling pitch. In the application of
medicines to disease, we are well aware, that our
most valued remedies in relieving pain, are those,
 16

which, by an over dose, would destroy life. Look

at Chemistry, and one of its applications steam.
We wondered, when the first steam vessel was pro-
posed; and ridiculed, when told we might by the
same power, travel by land 30 miles in the hour
but even this was in its infancy, since, we now double
that speed, and by the electric telegraph, a corres-

pondence is maintained at the distance of hundreds

of miles, in as many seconds of time. If matter
cannot be limited, why should mind community
of thought and feeling ? Phreno-Mesmerism, and
the still higher condition. Clairvoyance, are the
manifestations of the nervous system, proceeding
from that wonderful source, the Brain, a glimmering
of whose functions we are only just begimiing to
perceive.
Newton's humility of mind into enquiries of this

nature affords us another beautiful example. Dr.

Chalmers, in illustrating this point in his character,
says, " that he wanted no other recommendation for
any one article of science than the recommendation
of truth: with this, he would open to it all the ave-
nues of his understanding, though authority might
scowl upon it; and taste be disgusted by it; and
fashion be ashamed of it; and all the beauteous
speculation of former days, cruelly broken up by
the announcement of the better philosophy; and
scattered like the fragments of an aerial vision, over
 17

which the past generations of the world had been

slumbering their profound and pleasing reveries."
To those who will not believe in Mesmerism until
we can explain causes, we refer to a paragi'aph
from the Rev. Mr. Sandby's excellent work, and
with which I shall now conclude :

" Gravitation is perhaps of all powers the most

universal ; and the best understood ; but who can
explain this ? We see the stone fall to the ground,
and the smoke rise above ; the storm rushes by, and
the mountain torrent dashes over the precipice into
the gulf below. But of the causCf of all these
various and apparently opposite effects, we know
nothing but that the power simple and uniform
is

it is a sympathy between bodies,

named attraction
but which is no explanation.
"It is the same with the phenomena of animal
life, which we perceive through the action of Mes-
merism, the results of which are uiiifonn under
similar conditions, but vary with all the changes
observable in the living body; and so far as we
are acquainted with these changes, can we calculate
upon the result of mesmeric action ; and it is the
same with the effects which follow in the course of

every other power by which the living body is

influenced. The laws of action are but the recog-

nised material conditions under w^hich any effects
take place.
 18

" Could we even perceive a medium of commu-

nication between acting bodies, as the wire which
conveys electricity, or the air which communicates
all the exquisite harmonies of sound to the sen-
sitive nerve, or really witness a visible tangible

fluid passing out from one body to another, the

difficulty and the mystery would be the same, for

a medium of commmiication is not the cause of the

influence which it communicates. Who can ex-
plain what is light or heat ?

" On all matters then, on which we are ignorant

we should suspend our judgment ; for experience

alone can lead to knowledge, and the vdsest of men

have ever been the most humble after truth, and
the most careful in giving judgment. * For though
all knowledge,' says Lord Bacon, ' is valuable and
connected, the knowledge of man to man is the
most important, and ought to be the foundation of
every system.' Let us then, with pure hmnihty,
and vdth an earnest spirit, seek to know ourselves,

thanking Providence for what has been made known

to us, and not, in the pride of intellect, presump-
tuously refuse what is presented to us, because we
cannot comprehend it, or through ignorance ascribe

its influence to any but its legitimate source the

Fountain of all Good."
 SELECTION OF CASKS

In recording the following Cases, I have selected

tliose, which appear to have the greatest amount
of importance, in reference to the actual disturbed
conditions, previous to Mesmerism being adopted,
and to the general authentic character of the reports.

I have also preferred those cases to w^hich the names

of parties are affixed, and otherwise well attested.
In the cases taken from the Zoist,* it must be
understood, that I have selected only one or two,
as illustrating the particular diseases treated of,
there are numerous similar cases, reported by a
variety of medical men in difierent parts of the
country. My difficulty has been in the selection
from such a variety, as there are many others

* The Zoist is a quarterly journal devoted to Plireuology and

Mesmerism ; it contains a great number of the worst description
of cases, successfully cured by Mesmerism. This work is indis-
pensable to every medical man, and will be found most interesting
to the general reader.
 20

equally striking, but which cannot be abridged

without destroying their value.
I have purposely omitted any detailed reference
to my own experience, though I will just add, that
I have succeeded beyond my most sanguine ex-
pectations, in curing cases of St. Vitus's Dance,
violent Hysteria, Tic Douloui'eux, and other ner-
vous complaints, after having failed in doing so by
all the ordinary means of routine practice. I have
also been requested by one or two parties not to
report their cases, chiefly owing to the local preju-
dices of the Profession. Time, I hope, will soon

remedy these drawbacks, when I shall be enabled

to give the results of several interesting cases, some

of them still under treatment and progressing
favourably.

Case of Spinal Affection, of long standing.

Captain Anderson, of the Royal Marines, who

has been a most extensive mesmeriser, was the
operator on this occasion. Mrs. Ra}Tnond, a lady
residing at Chehnsford, had suffered for nine years

from a spinal complaint, being coMCned to her sofa.

 21

and unable to be moved day and night; she had

also lost the use of her voice. Her sufferings were
dreadful. Blisters, caustic issues, leeches, setons,

medicines of all descriptions, were tried in succes-

sion, without any substantial good. These are her

own words *' During the nine years I was unable
:

to be moved from my sofa night or day, I was never

free from pain; sometimes the agony was inde-

scribable : the last three years I have been entirely
speechless. I had given up all hope of recover}-,

and almost prayed for death. At the very time

that I had resigned myself to my fate, and begged
that my sufferings might soon be ended, God, in

his great mercy, made me acquainted with Captain

Anderson, who offered to try the effect of mesme-
rism. / laughed at the idea; but from his account
of the cures he had performed, I complied, being
anxious to grasp at anything which would do me
good. Without follo^\'ing out the details, this is

the result. I am now able to walk out daily alone

and unassisted. I am regaining my speech ; and I

am free from pain, sleep soundly, and take no

medicine, andam now seldom mesmerised." Well
may this excellent lady, who is well known and
much respected, when comparing " her past suffer-
ings wiih. her present happiness," say that she
"feels thankful to God and grateful to Captain
Anderson."
 22

Case of Uterine Disease, loith general Nervous

Derangement,

For the following interesting case, I am in-

debted to Mr. Vernon, of the Institute of Mesme-

rism, London; a gentleman, whose lectures and
demonstrations have done much towards diffusing
the knowledge of the science :

" Sir, At Mr. Vernon's request, I send you

some account of the good resulting from the appli-
cation of mesmerism in my own case, after an ill-

ness of 5 years. I have suffered from an internal

complaint of a very painful and aggravated nature,
partly originating from an adverse circumstance at
the birth of an only child. I experienced little or

no relief from surgical aid during the period I have

mentioned. A detailed account of the many years
duiing which my health has slowly but surely de-
chned, would be unnecessary ; I will but briefly
explain my state when forced to apply to mesme-
rism for relief, as my last resource. I unfortu-
nately met with a severe accident in the begiiming
of last March, in consequence of which my com-
plaint was so much aggravated, that in the course
of a few weeks I was entirely confined to the sofa.
I was attended by Mr. R. Tayler, of 27, Old Steine,
 2:3

Brighton, and Dr. G. Hall, H, Old Steinc. Mi'.

Taylor's reputation is too high in Brighton for mc

to doubt that his treatment of nic was otherwise
than judicious. I believe that all was done for me
that surgical skill could do, notwithstanding wliich,
each week, almost each day, saw mc worse, until 1
was unable to walk, or even move, without the
greatest pain. From June last until the end of
November, I was leeched every fourth day, yet I

experienced little or no relief from this, or any other

treatment ; my sufferings were incessant and ago-
nizing. I was only enabled to bear them by
frequent and large doses of morphine and other
sedatives, wliich, together with the pain, produced
an equally distressing effect on the mind. The
events of that period are too indistinct and too
painful for me to recall ;
you will understand the

probable mental condition of one whose physical

strength was exhausted, and nerves rendered weak
and irritable by long continued suffering, and the
remedies taken to relieve them. My mother was
frequently told by Mr. Tayler *
that he knew not
tuhat to do for me; that I must trust to time and
to the advantages which I derived from my age *
(25).
This declaration was repeated only two days before
I was mesmerised y when I was confined to my
bed, and felt my strength fiiiling rapidly, so that I
could not endure much longer. I freely confess
 24

that had I not been so hopeless of relief, I would

not have applied to mesmerism from the fact of
the prejudice and ridicule attending it. I will only
premise that I believed in the poiver, but I did not
beheve the possibility of its efficacy in my case.
" On the evening of the 4th of December, 1844,
Mr. Vernon mesmerised me. When he arrived, I
was in extreme pain, and in a state of excessive
irritability and restlessness, so that I did not believe
it possible for me to lie still to allow Mr. V. to
make the attempt; notwithstanding which, after
what appeared to me to be a very short time, I
felt that the pains moderated, and a sensation of
ease and freedom from restlessness steal over me,
which no opiates could ever induce. I soon lost all
consciousness, and on waking, was ahnost free from
pain. That night I was far calmer than I had been
for many months, although the pains retm'ned.
Mr. Vernon continued to mesmerise me twice a
day, with one or two exceptions ; at the end of a
week I found myself enjoying several hours quiet
and refreshing sleep at nights. After a fortnight's
mesmerising, I discontinued the opiates which T
had regularly taken for many months, and was able
to walk about the room without much inconvenience
and at the end of three weeks I found sleep, appe-

tite, and strength of body and mind restored to a

degree which astonished no one so much as myself.
 25

My mother, by wliose advice and persuasion I first

determined to try mesmerism, removed with me

to London in order to perfect my cure, which object
has been most happily and decidedly accomplished
for I am enabled to employ and exert myself as well
as I did 6 years ago, and can take out-door exercise
without fatigue or inconvenience, as a proof of
which, I walked 3 miles on Friday last, with
perfect comfort to myself. Should you, or any
other medical man, wish for any more detailed
account of my illness and cure, or of my mesmeric
state, I must refer you to Mr. Vernon, who, I am
sure, will be happy to reply to any enquiries.
Anything in my power to further so good and
powerful a cause as mesmerism will be gladly com-
plied with. I trust to see and hear of many who
will seek and obtain relief as I have done; and then,
that they will not be deterred by any consideration
in making similar statements to that of,
"Yours obediently,
" H. M. M.

" I should prefer your merely placing my initials

in publishing this statement ; but I willingly autho-

rize you to give my name and address to those who

are really interested in mesmerism, or where you
may think it advisable. " H. M. M."
" To Dr. Storer, Bath."
 26

Case of Nervous Suffering, leaving the patient Dumb,

The following case, from the Zoist, of extreme

bodily and mental suffering, leaving the patient
Dumb, until mesmerism was applied, deserves to be
made known the facts were thus recorded in the
;

"North Devon Journal":

**
Many of our readers will be gratified to know,
that thanks were pubhcly returned in the Parish
Church of Ilfracombe, on Sunday last, for the

signal mercy of God towards the girl, Catherine

Brown, in her restoration of speech by mesmerism,
through the instrumentahty of Mr. Davey, who
was lecturing here. I give now the substance of
the narrative.
" The girl is in her 15th year, her name Catharine
Brown and is the daughter of a mechanic, living
;

at Compass hill, Ilfracombe. Her mother states

that she was taken alarmingly ill in the mouth of
October, 1841; her complaint lying in her head,
side, and stomach. At tliis time, she presented a
most deplorable picture of human wretchedness and
suffering, and her screams, which were terrific, could
be heard at a very considerable distance. She could
never be left for a moment, as, during the absence
of the attendants, she would beat her head against
 27

a wall most iiiiinorcifuUy, so as to leave wounds as

well as bruises ; she was likewise often convulsed,

durinpj which paroxysms, it was as much as two
could do to hold her. Many medical gentlemen of
the town visited her, and gave her medicine; in
fact, she was an object of general charity, and, 1

believe, there was not even an occasional medical

town who did not prescribe for her.
visitor in the
" After a lengthened period of duration and suf-
fering, the violence of her complaint greatly sub-

sided, but left her dumb ! From that period up to

the time of being first mesmerised, she had never

spoken a single syllable, although bribes had been
offered her in order to induce her to try and do so.
She still continued the object of charitable visits

from the town, among whom was Lee, esq., a

magistrate, who offered her money to pronounce

his name ; but even this monosyllable she was
unable to articulate.
" After being mesmerised three times, and as
soon as consciousness was wholly destroyed, she
began to speak ; but at first her speech was slow,
and she dwelt on the first letter of the word just as
those persons do who have an impediment in their
speech, commonly known as stammering: thus, on
pronouncing the word cat, she dwelt on the c, as

c-c-c-at; dog, d-d-d-og, &c. &c. ; and in a similar

manner was her pronunciation of other monosylla-
 2S

bles. She was then asked her name, when, dwelling

on each syllable, she replied Cath-e-rine Brown.
''
From this it was evident that her speech wa^
improving, and after a further trial elicited a quick
reply Catherine Brown.'
* After a short time she
was demesmerised, and those who were present will
not soon forget the countenance of the patient,
when, rising firom her chair, she ran towards a Kttle

girl in the room, crying out in joyous accents * Oh.

Mary Ann, I can speak again now !
' A fear, I

believe was entertained, lest the faculty of speech

would again leave her on being demesmerised ; but
the fear was groundless, and wholly dissipated, on
hearing her thus address her little friend. The de-
light of the mother may be more easily imagined
jhan described, when she found her daughter able
to speak, after heing dumb for the space of two

years and a half''

Cure ofDeafness of long standing.

A case of deafaess, of many years standing, has

been lately cured by the Messrs. Saimders,* of this

* Mr. Saunders, the Barrister, and his brother,, have employe-

Meanerum in serial cases with great success, and deserve thaDk^
for thdr disantereEted zeal in the cause.
 29

city. Ha\'ing seen the case several times, I am

enabled to bear witness to the success ; the young
woman has also been nsited by many residents

in this vicinity.

" Mary Aim Parsons, aged 24, residing at Combo

Down, near Bath, has been afflicted from her early
youth with deafness. Her mother ha^ing been
relieved of rheumatism by Mesmerism, brought her
daughter for the purpose of being mesmerised for her
deafness. In the mesmeric trance, she prescribed
the further process to be adopted for her recover^-,
and requested us to breathe in each ear a certain
number of times. Within the last month we have
mesmerised her fifteen or sixteen times, and her
deafness is entirely removed. She at last became so

susceptible, that two or three passes sufficed to send

her oif into the deepest coma. Before mesmerism,

she could not hear the ticking of a watch when
close to her ears; now, she can hear a loud ticking
clock at the distance of a second room ; and con-
tinues to this period quite well." April, l8^\rO.

Neuralgic Affection, with Epileptic Fits.

The following interesting case is abridged from

the Rev. Mr. Sandby'is work: Mr. Basil Montague
c
 30

was the proposer of mesmerism, and Mr. Atkinson,

of London, was the kind and persevering operator

" Ann Vials is the daughter of Samuel Vials, of

the Abbey parish in St. Albans, who formerly
drove the mail cart from thence to Watford. For
a short time this poor girl gained her Kvehhood by
working in a silk factory: from the scrofulous habit
of her constitution, and being subject to epileptic
fits, she was not always equal to full employment
and, in 1837, when she was only sixteen years of
age, she was compelled to give up work altogether,
to go home and nurse a sick mother, who was also

suffering from a scrofulous affection, under which

she gi'adually sunk. The mother's disease had
taken strong hold of the daughter, for the over-
wTOUght exertions of a twelvemonth had now too
clearly brought out the hereditary taint. Anne
Vials, in fact, required a nurse for herself; for not

only was the general state of her health broken

down, but the left arm, which, for three or four
years had been giving her much pain and uneasi-
ness, became now in so diseased a condition as to-
tally to deprive her of its use. She was placed
under the care of several medical men in succession:
the best attendance in St. Albans was provided for
her ; but the arm every day became more and more
painful. Through the kindness of some charitable
 31

friends, she was now admitted into different hospi-

tals one after the other. She was first removed to

Hemel Hempstead Infirmary; thence to St. Bar-

tholomew's Hospital in London, where she remained
nine months; thence to St. Thomases, in the Bo-
rough; and thence to Hemel Hempstead again,

in none of which places did she obtain any effectual

benefit. The state of her health at length became
so serious, that to save her life, some decisive mea-
sures were necessary; and she was taken up to
London again, to Guy's Hospital, where her arm
was amputated by Mr. Morgan, the 22d of March,
1841. At the end of tliree months, when the
wound was healed, she returned back to St. Albans.
After she had been at home some little time, a
violent convulsive action commenced in the stump.

This movement became rapidly worse and worse in ;

fact, the stump moved up and down, night and day,

unceasingly, and much quicker, to use her own ex-

pression, than she herself could move the other arm.
Her sufferings became intense, and her general
health was affected in proportion. She was now
removed backwards and forwards, as before, to the

different hospitals, but without any

relief. At the
Infinnary Hemel Hempstead, they actually
in

strapped the arm down with the hope of lessening

the movement; but the confinement made it, if
possible, worse, and they were compelled to un-
 32

loose it. She was at length carried to St. George's

Hospital: here she remained three months, her

health gradually getting worse and worse, and the
epileptic fits, from which she had been suffering
for a twelvemonth, increasing in violence and dura-
tion ; when, with the only hope of saving her Kfe,
a proposition was mooted of taking the stump out
of the socket. My readers may judge, by this
simple fact, of the desperate state to which this
poor girl had now arrived ; for vdth her shattered
health, it could hardly be expected that she should
survive, even for a short time, so serious an opera-

tion. At this critical juncture, mesmerism was

suggested by her kind friend Mr. Basil Montague
he mentioned the case to Mr. Atkinson, whose
humane and scientific character can be well attested.
" In spite of the feeling against mesmerism, and
the almost hopeless state of the patient, he at once,
on his own responsibility, undertook the case ; and
seeing that it would require for months the most
unremitting attention, he procured a nurse from St.
George's Hospital, and had the poor girl removed
to his o\vn house. It was in May, 184S, about
fourteen months after the amputation, that Anne
Vials quitted the hospital to make trial of mesme-
rism ; and this is Mr. Atkinson's description of the
state in which he found her :
* She had sometimes
three or four 'fits in a day, of a most violent nature.
 33

which continued for more than an liour; the stunip

moved up and down without cessation, not a

merely nervous twitching, but violently up and
down. She suffered continuous excruciating pain
in the head and back ; and at the end of the stump
too, the pain was most agonising. She had pain
too in all her limbs and joints, particularly in the
elbow of the remaining arm, just as she had before
amputation in the other. Masses of sores were con-
stantly breaking out in different parts of the body
palpitations at the heart, pains in the chest, suspen-
sions of the functions of nature, and a spitting of
large quantities of blood, accompanied by solid

matter, were some of the other symptoms. In

short, a more terrible complication of evils have
seldom been united in one sufferer.' At the first

few sittings the epileptic fits were brought on, as

if by the mesmeric effect ; but this prevented their
recurrence in their ordinary way. At the fourth
or fifth seance the deep sleep, or trance, was super-
induced, when the action of the stump suddenly
stopped, and from that moment it never moved in
that way again; the fits too ceased; the pains in
the back of her head were almost instantly reUeved
and a gradual improvement in her general health
set in. Upon the wonderful results of the mesmeric
treatment in this case, I shall make little comment
my readers can judge for themselves, when they
 34

have examined the actual facts of her case. Her

sufferings, movement of the
the amputation, the
stump, and the other attendant evils are known to

numbers to medical men in St. Alban's, and to
the surgeons and nurses at the hospitals ; and it is

also known, that all the remedies suggested for her

benefit were fruitless : the best surgical advice was
of no avail ; but the fifth day, after the application
of mesmerism, the stump ceased to move, and the
other fearful symptoms of the case began to dis-
appear Mesmerism was perseveringly continued
!

when intermitted at one period, she relapsed.

Mesmerism was renewed, and in her case, shewed
all the higher manifestations of its powers; when

she was finally restored to perfect health a blessing

to herself, and the utmost gratification to those

most interested in her welfare."

Case of Spasmodic Asthma of long standing.

The following case was treated by Mr. Kiste, a

gentleman who has devoted much attention to the
subject, and published an interesting pamphlet
under the title of " Facts against Fallacies." This
case is attested by the Rev. Mr. Holdsworth, who
is one of the Prebends of Exeter, and Vicar of
 35

Brixhaiu in the same diocese; this gentleman, in ;!

published letter, authorises Mr. Kiste to add his

notes.

The patient, Elizabeth Spurdens, is wife of tiie

footman in Mr. Holdsworth's family, a female above

the middle age of life, whose sufferings for many
years have been intense, and by the simple appli-

cation of mesmerism has been restored to perfect

health. Previously, she had been under the care

of several medical men in her locality, who pro-
nounced her case incurable, and of the worst possi-
ble character. The Rev. Mr. Holdsworth thus
writes to Mr. Kiste, the operator:
" According to your wish I send you a copy of
the notes taken at the time when you favoured us
with yoiu' company and mesmerised the wife of my
footman an operation which so far has been of
most essential service to her. The asthma under
which she has so long suffered was of a most dis-

tressing character ; so much so, that her neighbour

who inhabits a part of the house, I am informed,
was afraid to remain wdth her alone in the house,
unless her husband or some friend of her's was
there also, so frightful was her appearance when
under the attack. You know already that for six
weeks after she was put under mesmeric influence
she had no attack; then a slight one, brought on,
she says, by her own imprudence, and from that
 36

time, now six weeks more, she has had no return

of her complaint ; her general health is improved,
and she is gaining more solid flesh. I hope that in

time the beneficial effects arising from mesmerism

willbe better understood and better appreciated.
Nothing can be more unphilosophical than the
manner in which the faculty and others treat this
subject, as well as the prejudices that have been
evinced, instead of the patient investigation, which
such a subject requires.
" If doubt leads us to neglect investigation and

prejudice prevents enquiry, how is knowledge in

any new science or subject to be acquired?
" Brixham Vicarage, Feb. 5, 1841."
" This account is written to shew the bene-
ficial effects arising from mesmerism (whatever
it might be) and to describe some of the pheno-
mena that occurred in the presence of the WTiter
and fourteen members of his family.
" It was in consequence of her distressing state

being told to Mr. Kiste, that he said, he thought she

might be benefitted by mesmerism, and that if she
liked, he would give up some days during his stay
to try its effects."

The detail of each day's mesmerising, though

very interesting, is too long for insertion; it con-
cludes with a letter from the patient herself, ex-
pressing grateful thanks for the relief obtained;
 37

and Mr. Kistc concludes the case with the I'ollow-

ing remarks, in a letter to Dr. Elliotson:

" It should here be mentioned, that about six
weeks after the time of her mesmeric slumbers, she
caught cold and the symptoms of her disease made
their appearance, but her altered constitution evi-
dently did not seem to admit of any intrusion of
her former complaint ; in a letter to me respecting
it she says, ' It came on in the morning, but I did

not get ill until between 1 1 and 12 in the forenoon

in the evening there were preparations made as usual,

and a person sent for, to stop the night, but to my

great surprise and to the utter astonishment of all, I

got better before night, and didnot require any assist-

ance during the night, but slept soundly, and had
but one spasm during the day; before now in that
time, I may have had a dozen.' About three weeks
after this I saw her and mesmerised her for several
days, during which time the faculty of clairvoyance
was often spontaneously developed. A year has
now elapsed, and she has uniformly enjoyed her
health. When seeing her lately, she said to me
in her simplicity, that frequently when sitting by
herself she would look back to former years and
fancy she could not be the same person.
" A fact worthy of being stated for the information
of those opponents who attribute all mesmeric phe-
nomena and the cure of diseases to the influence of
 38

imagination, is, that this patient from beginning to

end manifested a most extraordinary degree of scep-
ticism ; she never would believe that she had been
to sleep ; and when aware of her improved state of
health, she constantly imagined she would have a

return of her illness ; and I strongly beheve that,

even at this monent, she is not free from that appre-
hension. But considering the time, and her having
had some severe colds, which generally brought on
violent attacks, reason and facts combine to decide
in favour of the cure being a perfect one ; and I have
only to add, had this been the only case in which
I have been able to accomphsh a cure, I should
consider myself amply rewarded for the leisure hours
I have bestowed in the cultivation of mesmerism."

Case of Neuralgia f or painful Nervous Affectio??

of the Hearty of many years standing,

" Mr. Kiste has also presented to us the history

of a very interesting case, the Hon. Mrs. Hare.

This lady has related her case in a very clear and
instructive manner, confining herself to a simple
statement of facts, which every body can understand.
For eighteen years she sufiered from neuralgia of
the heart, and was successivelv under the care of
 39

Dr. Warren, Sir C. Bell, Mr. Abernethy, Dr.

Maton, and Dr. Elliotson; but the various reme-
dies which were suggested did not in the least re-

lieve her. At this period, 1834, she was taking

forty grains of opium a day. Her sufferings con-

tinued unalleviated till the end of last year, 1844,

when she was fortunately introduced to Mr. Kiste.
" The Lady writes' On the 16th of Sept. last,
we had some friends to dinner, amongst whom was
Mr. Kiste, who is an amateur mesmerist, and has been
successful in curing diseases which had baffled the

skill of medical men. He expressed a wish to tiy his

power ; but as our friend Mr. B., Mons. Lafontaine,
and Dr. Ashburner had failed to produce the sleep, 1

sat down with the idea that I could not be affected by

mesmerism ; he sat before me earnestly and steadily
gazing in my eyes. In a few minutes I felt a most
unusual tranquillity of mind; the objects in the
room seemed to lose their outline ; and the last

thing I remember having seen were my mesmeriser's

eyes. I was afterwards told, that in eight minuteis

I sank dovm in the arm-chair, and that Mr. K. pro-

nounced me to be in what is called mesmeric som-
nambulism, a peculiar state of the nen'ous system.
After nearly two hours' sleep, Mr. K. awoke me,
and I felt tranquil, but very sleepy.
" That night, for the first time after having had
'

paroxysms every night for three weeks previously,

 40

I was not only free from an attack, but slept

soundly till late in the morning, when I awoke

quite refreshed.
" ^
Since that day, Sept. 17, 1 have been entirely
free from these attacks, with the exception of hav-

ing several times felt the symptoms when I had

taken cold, or when Mr. K. was not with us ; but
it has not come to anything more than a little faint-

ness. I hnow nothing of my former agonies except

hy memory. My general constitution has changed.

I am much thinner; and in the course of three

months I have twice had occasion to have my dresses
much diminished, and I am now able to walk five

or six miles without the least fatigue.

" *
Having been for nearly two months free from
my usual sufierings, Mr. Kiste proposed to me to

diminish my doses. Although I thought this an

impossibility, I made the trial, when I found I did
not as formerly feel the loss. I continued by de-
grees to lessen the quantity, and from having at that
time been in the habit of taking from sixty-six to
upwards of eighty-six grains daily, I have now re-

duced it to considerably less than thirty, and I am

going on to diminish the quantity.
" *
I was a dreadful sufierer for many years. I

now am free from that suffering, and in the enjoy-

ment of health and comfort. Whereas I was ill!

I am now well
 41

" *
In thus coinin{^ forward, 1 am I'ully aware that
1 expose myself to the ridicule of small minds and
the observations of the malevolent ; to ])oth 1 am
perfectly indifferent.'

Case of severe Nervous Disease.

Treated by Mr. Charles Guilds.

" In the early part of August last I was re-

quested to try the effect of mesmeric treatment on

a lady, whose case was described to me by her
mother as most deplorable, and one in which every
other mode of treatment had been tried and found
unavailing.
" She was the daughter of a medical gentleman,
named Larke, residing and practising near Norwich.
I ascertained that he utterly disbelieved in mesme-
rism as a reality ; that the lady and her family knew
nothing more than the common reports on the sub-
ject, and had no particular expectation of benefit
from its employment; but that they proposed to

try the experiment as they would almost any other

harmless remedy where the suffering was so in-
tense, and the resources of the medical art afforded

no relief.

" I was informed that the younj;- lady had for

 42

above two years been entirely out of health,

suffering acute and capricious pains in the head,
teeth and face, after the slightest exposure to cold,
and pains at the pit of the stomach after every meal
that about six months previously she had had an
attack of brain fever : that from defective capillary
circulation she was always shivering from cold, and
her countenance had assumed a perfectly exsangui-
neous aspect : that she suffered so much depression
of spirits as rendered life a burden : and that for
the last fourteen weeks she had been attacked every
night by a pain extending over the right side of the
head down to the shoulder, lasting for about five

hours, and so acute as nearly to deprive her of reason.

" Whatever the best medical skill could suggest
had been perseveringly adopted. Relief had been
sought not merely from change of air, diet, occu-

pation, and topical appKcations, but from altera-

tives : yet up to the day on which I saw her, the

disease had steadily persisted, and even increased in
violence.
" The whole of Miss Larke's knowledge on the
subject amounted to this only, that people were
reported to be sent to sleep, and in some unaccount-
able way to be cured, by mesmerism. In order
therefore to place her mind in a neutral state, I
withheld all information, assuring her I could form
no opinion whether she would derive any benefit.
 43

and it" she did, it was by no means a necessary con-

dition that she should sleep. She was thus, as she
has since assured mc, completely ignorant what
would be the mode of treatment, or what result
might be expected, and the imagination therefore
could have no share in producing the result.
*'
The physical effect w^as most decided, and
ahnost instantaneous. After the first sleep, the
lady experienced a sense of warmth which she had
not felt for months, the first night, the agonising
pain, which had never once intermitted for fourteen
weeks, wholly ceased, or was superseded by only a
slight uneasiness, continuing but five minutes in-

stead of five hours. After two days this disap-

peared and to the present time no sign of it has
ever returned. The general improvement of her
health is manifested by every indication of bodily
and mental vigour at the end of six weeks the
dull heavy languor of long disease had given place
to the natural buoyancy of youth, a colourless,
lack-lustre complexion was replaced by the genuine
hue of health, the hair, which had nearly all fallen

off, not only grew rapidly in length, but sprang up

thickly over the whole head, the appetite became
perfectly good and tlie digestion complete, may I

not say how much the lady gained in weight. The

case presented a complete transformation from
disease to health, and the whole character and ap-
 44

pearance were so entirely changed, that, on return-

ing home, an acquaintance, who had known her for
years, spent several hours in her company, at her
father's house, without recognizing her, but sup-
posing she was a visitor in the family."
The father of the young lady, a medical man,
honourably bears witness to the powers of Mesme-
rism ; the following are his concluding remarks in
a letter to Mr. Childs :

"I am now most happy to state that her recovery

is complete that she enjoys perfect health and
equanimity of spirits, and is everything I could
wish her to be. This blessing I attribute to you,
and 1 think I should be wanting in every proper
feeling, if I hesitated to withhold my testimony to
the case."
" Brooke, Norfolk, March 13, 1845."

Miss Martineau and her Tradiicers.

It was my intention to have noticed several cu*-

cumstances connected with IVIiss Martineau's case,
but I find I have been so ably anticipated by an
article in the last number of the Zoist, that I shall

condense from that, as much as my pages will allow

the medical particidars are in Latin, wliich I do not
 45

thiiik it necessary to insert, as a yt (cicwn- om Ik-

made to the original.

*'
How extraordinary are the changes in the world
of thought! The subject which the critic a few
months since would not condescend to notice, has

been elevated to a commanding position, it is the

topic \vith which the daily papers and the weekly

periodicals are filled; in fact, all classes are moved
as by one common consent, and mesmerism from
the palace to the smallest town in the united king-
dom, is the scientific question absorbing public
attention. Even Mr. Wakley, who impudently
declared that he had exposed the 'humbug' of
mesmerism, is obliged to peld to the pressure from
without, and to enable him '
to wheel about ' in a

becoming manner, has purchased the cerebral pro-

perty of a Dr. Radcliffe Hall. We hope that the
public voice vriW vrring from Mr. Wakle}* some ex-
pression of regret that he should have been so un-
faitliful to Kterature and science, as to have made
his journal the instrument for disseminating such

gross slanders and such unfounded statements.

Dr. RadclifFe Hall will gain great notoriety, for he
stands accused of ha\'ing falsified historical facts,
and of garbling to serve his 0N\'n purpose important

documents, he has hired himself to Mr. Wakley,

and proved to the world that he is not possessed of
 46

sufficient accuracy to cause him to quote fairly the

documents of a past age, or chronicle the facts of

the present.
" The immediate cause of all this activity is the

pubHcation of the case of Miss Martineau, who,

?teTfive years of incessant suffering and confine-
ment to her couch, is now well ; and we, knowing
the particulars from the first day of her illness to

the last day of her continuance of pills and mix-

tures, and from this period onwards day by day,
during the mesmeric treatment, as medical men,
unhesitatingly assert, that this cure has been accom-
plished by the aid of mesmerism alone. But Miss
M. is not the first person cured by this plan of
treatment. Hundreds and thousands have received
health and strength ^have been raised from the
couch of suffering and restored to their friends and
society ^have recognized the power by means of
which they have been healed, and promulgated
again and again their thanks ; but their tale has not
been heeded, or, if Kstened to for a moment, it was
soon forgotten, and they were ranked in the same
category with the nervous, the visionary, or the
insane. It is then in a great measure to the pub-
lication of Miss M.'s case that this sudden change
is to be attributed. From every quarter we hear of
extraordinary cures. We understand that even
medical men, some of them belonging to the Lon-
 47

don phalanx of opponents, are daily requesting from

Dr. Elliotson interviews for themselves or their
friends. Yes, the medical butterflies are again
beginning to be attracted towards that centre, which
on former occasions afforded them light, and con-
tributed in no small degree towards the elevation
they now enjoy. And when they hear that Royalty
has given an opinion regarding the facts they have
so long neglected when they hear that Royalty
recognizes a method of cure which they have for
so long a period sneered at, why then we shall really

dread the consequences; for the sudden change

from a state of wilful ignorance to an ardent desire
for knowledge from the emplo}Tnent of promul-
gating calumnies, falsehoods and misrepresentations,
to the practice of the science they have so long ridi-
culed, must be considered a great revolution. May
they in their new position be guided by the dictates

of conscientiousness, and strive manfully to over-

come the petty promptings of mere animal impiilse.
" If it were possible for us to place before our rea-
dei*s the details of the prolonged sufferings endured
by ^liss Martineau, unalleviated by ordinar^ treat-
ment, we feel convinced that no unprejudiced me-
dical practitioner could entertain a doubt regarding
the result or the means by which it was accom-
plished. We are not about to dress up a case for
the public gaze, we are not about to make any ad
 48

captandum statements, we have to deal with a great

medical fact a physiological phenomenon, and our

duty is to endeavour to place this before our rea-

ders in simple, truthful language, in order to incite

them to the use of that power which they all pos-
sess, and which they are called upon to use, under
judicious authority, for the alleviation and cure of
disease. There are many interesting points for
consideration in the history of this case, and if this
were a medical journal we should not shrink from
a full discussion. On the present occasion, how-
ever, we shall confine ourselves to a simple state-

ment of the following outline. Let it be distinctly

understood, that what we are about to state is

authentic ; we repeat this, because we are now using

the lady's notes, furnished to us by herself, and for
our present purpose.
"Miss M. was in America in 1834, and while
there, suddenly experienced the first symptoms of
her distressing malady. From this period till the
autum of 1838 her health gradually gave way. She
was not only conscious of this herself, but her de-
licate appearance alarmed her relations and friends,
and one in particular, without converse with the
sufierer, suspected the natui'e of her disease. In
April 1839, not knowing the exact nature of her
disease, for her brother-in-law, Mr. Greenhow,
was unable to give a positive opinion, she under-
 49

took to convey an invalid cousin to Lucenic. Dur-

ing tlie journey her travelling companions were
painfully struck by her depression of spirits, and she
became conscious of an increasing inability to enjoy

anything ; in fact, the whole party became so

alarmed, that on their arrival at Venice, Dr. Nardo
was consulted, and a letter was despatched to Mr.
Greenhow containing a full detail of all her s}Tnp-
toms, After the consultation with Dr. Nardo, an
immediate return home was determined on. The
journey was made as easy as possible, and by the
end of July 1839, Miss M. was under the immediate
care of Mr. Greenhow.
" We shall now take the sufferer's own account
of her state from this period, July 1839, till Sept.
1841. Miss M. continued to take daily exercise
till the middle of October 1839, when her sufferings
from sickness, breathlessness and pain in the back,
made it too painful to be worth the cost. In
January 1840, all the symptoms had increased.
It was for some time impossible to raise the right leg
more than sufficient to permit walking, and through-
out the whole period she could bear none but a re-
cumbent posture from the intolerable sinking which
attended every effort to sit upright. She could not
sleep at night till she devised a plan of sleeping
under a basket, for the purpose of keeping the
weight of the bed-clothes from her body, and even
 50

then only in a prone position. She was scared by

horrors all night, and reduced by increasing sickness
during the day. This sickness increased to such a
degree, that for two years she was extremely low
for want of food. A very small breakfast and tea

were nearly all she could take, and these only

through the operation of opiates to prevent the
vomiting. At the earnest desire of ]\Ir. G. and
her family, she repeatedly (four times) attempted
to take gentle exercise, but the pain, sinking, and
especially the vomiting that ensued, were such as

clearly to shew that the cost was too great for any
advantage gained.
" From this period the patient was placed under
the influence of iodide of iron, and this remedy
was continued for three years. The general
health improved, but the disease remained. In
January 1844, Mr. G. expressed his regret at being
compelled after so long a use of iodine, to give up
all hopes of its affecting the complaint, or of any-
thing beyond alleviation being henceforth practi-
cable. This opinion he again expressed in April
and also in June, 1844.
*'
About this period, the beginning of June 1844,
the period be it remembered of Miss M.*s greatest
suffering, several friends wrote to her to suggest a
trial of mesmerism; and while her thoughts were
engaged on tliis subject, lo! Mr. Greenhow himself
made his appearance on the 20th of the same month
a fact, by the bye, which he most carefully avoids
stating in his pamphlet. They conversed on the
subject of mesmerism, and he promised to bring
Mr. Spencer Hall, who was then lecturing at New-
castle. On the 22nd of June, Messrs. Greenhow
and S. Hall visited Miss M. At this interview such
phenomena were produced, that Mr. Hall's \-isit

was repeated on the following day. On Monday,

the 24th of June, Mr. H. was prevented from keep-
ing his appointment, and Miss M. had recourse to
passes made by her own maid. We refer our

readers to her letters, for the detail of the future

progress.
" We must here remark that our intelligent and
benevolent friend, Mr. Atkinson, from hencefoi*ward,
directed the course to be pursued, and after a few
weeks, fortmiately enlisted the s}inpathy of his
friend, Mrs. Montagu Wynyard, jun., who imme-
diately proceeded to Miss M.'s residence. Miss M.
says, *
In pure zeal and benevolence this lady came
to me, and has been with me ever since. ^Vlien 1

found myself able to repose on the knowledge and

power (mental and moral) of my mesmerist, the last
impediments to my progress were cleared away, and
I improved accordingly.' We really want words to
express our admiration of tliis lady's benevolence.
We know from abundant experience the amount of
 52

labour, the fatigue and anxiety, which such a case

as Miss M.'s must have caused; and when we say
that this lady travelled to a distant part of the
country, to devote her health, her time, and her
energy, for the purpose of mesmerising an individual
she did not know, but solely influenced by a desire
to alleviate human suffering, we are sure that we
shall be more discreet if we do not attempt the use
of laudatory language, but simply leave the act to
be judged of by those who are capable of appreciating
what is so truly grand and benevolent. The lan-

guage of panegyric is offensive to the intelligent

and good, and prolonged allusion to this topic can-

not strengthen our admiration. We say to the

medical scoffers, and to Mr. Greenhow in particular
*go and do likewise.'
" As
we have just said, the entire course pursued
by Mrs. Wynyard was indicated by Mr. Atkinson.
He received notes describing the progress made and
then gave directions accordingly, w^hich were im-
plicitly followed. On September 4th, just ten weeks
commencement of the mesmeric treatment,
after the

Mr. G. says to liis patient, I think we may ascribe

*

this beneficial change to the iodine.' A conclusion

from which Miss M. very properly dissented. In-

nocent and weak Mr. Greenhow ! Your patient

had taken iodine of iron for three years, without the
least beneficial effect upon the disease, on the
 53

22nd of June, 1844, you refp-ctted tliat the remedy

had failed, ou the 4th of September, 1814, after
the mesmeric treatment had been pursued for ten
weeks, and your iodine pills discontinued ^ox four
weeks, you find your patient very nccirly well, and
you disingenuously attribute the improvement to
the iodine pills ! ! We say that this is most disre-

putable conduct. If on the 22nd day of June,

1844, your "patient had commenced the use of a
new medicine given by yourself, and a like improve-
ment had been observed in the following September*
would you have attributed the change to the iodine
pills or to the new medicine ? We are ashamed of
you. There is a want of honesty here there is a

glaring defecation from the dictates of conscien-

tiousness a low attempt to exalt your manifestly
useless remedy, and to make the public believe that
mesmerism was of no avail. We much doubt
whether the doses you exhibited were calculated to
have any other eiFect than that of a very weak tonic.
We think that there was a lack of medical skill in

permitting a patient to continue such a medicine for

three years and in such minute doses. If we wish
to attempt the removal of a tumour, we are in the
habit of exliibiting a more energetic preparation
of iodine, and then increasing the dose till some
specific effect is produced. We fearlessly appeal
to your unprejudiced medical brethren, and ask
 54

them, if it is fair, honest, or just, to attribute the

improvement and ultimate restoration to perfect

health in this case, to the effect of a medicine which

had been taken for three years without any result,

and which had been discontinued for four weeks,

before you could positively say that there was im-
provement ?
" On this date (Dec. 6th) Miss M. states, that

there was no pain in her back, that she had nights

of unbroken sleep, walked several miles daily and
led a busy life without fatigue, had gained flesh and
spirits, and believed herself in better health than at

any part of her previous life. In a letter to Dr,

Elliotson, dated Dec. 6th, 1844, she says, *I am
quite well, feeling no traces of my long disease. I

never have the slightest or most transient pain, and

my strength seems inexhaustible ;' in fact, the
sufferer for five years was cured by mesmerism in
five months
" With this, our deliberate opinion, we w^ould
leave the subject, if we had not noticed the members
of our profession conducting the periodical litera-
ture, instead of rallying round a defenceless female
and protesting against the course adopted by Mr. G.,
have caught at his vulgar production, and held it up
as affording proof, and most convincing proof, that
mesmerism had nothing to do with curing, what their
own high authority pronounced to be *
an incurable
 55

disease i and that as regards tlie long train of dis-

tressing symptoms we have enumerated, and wliich

their medicines could not alleviate, *
that the time
had arrived when a new und powerful stimulus only
was required, to enable the enthusiastic mind of the
patient to shake them off.' We, however, predict
that in less than two years, the case of Miss M.
will be quoted by medical men to their patients as

affording a most convincing proof of the power of

Mesmerism over a disease considered liitherto most
intractable. April, 1845."

Hysterical Epilepsy, with Spinal Affection.

" In December, 1839, 1 was requested by Mr. Hal-

lion, surgeon, of Warren Street, to see a young lady,
named Spong, residing at 31, High-street, Camden
Town. She was sixteen years old, and lying on her
back upon a machine, on account of a curvature of
her spine, and had severe epileptic fits, with some
symptoms of Hysteria.
" She had enjoyed good health till her thirteenth
year, when, in the spring of 1836, she frequently
fainted, and had a pain in the left side, and her
spine became curved. In November of the same
year, the faintings changed to epileptic fits. She
D 2
 56

was placed upon her back on an apparatus, under

the care of Mr. Thornber. But the epileptic fits

were so violent that the cure was prevented, and

Mr. Thornber wished to give up the case. She re-

required five people to hold her, and in spite of

them all, would turn round on her face. Mr. Carter,

now of Readmg, and then Mr. HaUion, mesmerised

her twice a week for six months.
" Her fits continued as frequent as before, but
were less violent, so that she did not require hold-
ing, and was not exhausted, as previously, on com-
ing out of them. She fell asleep when mesmerised
for a quarter of an hour.
" I mesmerised her in December, 1839, and she
w^ent to sleep the first time. I spoke to her and
she answered me, and proved to be in the deeper
sleep-waking, for she knew me and knew she was
asleep. I asked whether I should be able to cure
her: ^Yes.' I enquired, when ? * In four months.'
" Her attacks were numerous and in rapid suc-
cession when they came upon her. Originally they
came every other day for six months ; then once a
w eek, and for six months on a Tuesday, at the same
hour ; then once a fortnight for the last two years.

She had taken medicine all along, but in vain. Her

face w^as always so swollen and red the next day
that she could not be seen.
" She predicted to me not only the period of their
 57

cessation, but the day and hour of each attack. She

said the next would be on the Tliursday, and the
mother could scarcely believe her senses when she
saw them come on that day. They returned about
once a fortnight, on no regular day or hour; but
always as she foretold to me in the mesmeric sleep-
waking. She opened her eyes at my bidding ; ])ut

no attempt at tractive or other experiments suc-

ceeded; and no other powers were developed.
" I mesmerised her twice a week for a month
and then only once a fortnight, when the attack
was expected, during the attack, and after it was
over. Mr. Hallion also, however, mesmerised her
always twice a week. She had nine fits every
attack, except the last, and then she had only one.
exactly as she had predicted.
" Trusting to her prediction, I discontinued the
mesmerism when the four months were expired,
and the disease has never returned.
" I received the following note from Mr. Hallion
at the beginning of this year :

" *
My dear Sir, I feel confident you will derive
great pleasure in seeing an old patient of our's from
Camden Town, Miss Spong, who you may recollect
was perfectly cured of epilepsy by mesmerism. Her
spinal complaint is now perfectly well also. I send
her to you merely to shew herself, as another proof
of the efficacy of an agent which has been so much
 58

calumniated. I hope you are quite well ; and re-

main ever,
*
My dear Sir, yours faithfully,
* John H. Hallion.'
*
64, Warren St., Fitzroy Sq.,
Feb. 14th, 1843.'
" I saw her to-day (Dec. 2S) in perfect health,
I must bestow the same praise upon Mr.,HaUion
and Mr. Carter that I did upon Mr. White.
" She was always much stronger after mesmeri-
sation ; and when I did it, she went to sleep sooner,
and was quiet in the fits, the convulsions working
only and not moving any part of her from its situa-

tion. She lay on her back for the spinal complaint

no longer than the following September.

" Her gratitude, like that of nearly all the patients
who have been cured, knows no bounds."

Epilepsy,

" A friend in Upper Harley Street requested me

to see the nephew of her housekeeper, as he was
was troubled vdth fits ; and the youth, William
Hodges, aged 19, a tailor, of 10, South Molton-
street, came to me May 19th, 1841.
" Three months previously he fell upon his left
 59

side on the ice, and, thougli liis licad was not struck,
it was so shaken that he docs not know liow he got
home, remembering nothing between the fall and
his finding himself at home. As soon as he found
himself at home, he had repeated fits, decidedly
epileptic, so that many men could scarcely restrain
him ; and in four hours he was bled, and had no
more fits for a day or two. But afterwards the least

noise startled him, and caused a fit, even the sud-

den cough of a child. They were very frequent,
and each left him weak for an hour.
" That I might judge of their present frequency,
I enquired how many had occurred tliis month, and
found that there had been one on the 2nd, the 8th,
the 14th, and two on the 15th. I requested Mr.
Wood to mesmerise him for me, and he was mesme-
rised for half an hour daily, except on Sundays,
" He had no fit for a fortnight after mesme-
rism was begun. He then was frightened by a per-
son behind him saying he would be run over ; felt

ill,
' felt the fits in him,' but had no fit till even-
ing, when, going up stairs in the dark, a cat jumped
out and he was instantly seized with a paroxysm.
It was very severe stronger and longer than usual,
and he tried to bite in it, felt ill and stupid all

all night, and did not sleep.

" He had no fit again till the second Sundaii after
this; and had another on i\\Q following Sunday. As
 60

they probably occurred from the omission of mes-

merism on Sundays, he was afterwards mesmerised
every day till the middle of August, and he has
never had a return to this hour, though very often
frightened enough to occasion them, had any predis-
position been left. He got married in August, 1842,
and I saw him in good health to-day (Dec. 24th).
" The only sensible effect was an occasional drow-
siness during the process, and invariably after it.

Mr. Symes mesmerised him for Mr. Wood during

a fortnight in the middle of the time, and he felt
always very much more drowsy when Mr. Symes
mesmerised him."

Epileptic Hysteria, with Loch-jaw and Contraction

of one Leg.

" Maria Pearsey, twenty -five years old, a stout

and strong-looking person, was admitted under my

care into University College Hospital, June 25th,
1838, on account of very frequent and violent fits,

of an epileptic and hysterical character. They oc-

curred daily, and often, many times in the day:
seized her suddenly, and produced perfect insensi-
bility, and very violent convulsions, so that many
could scarcely restrain her.
 61

"Her right leg was firmly bent up nearly to the

body, and no force could bring it down. Her jaw
was firmly locked; and wc observed that/o//r of her
front teeth had been draivriy and, iis we learnt, /or the

purpose of passing food into her month and p revolt-

ing her from being starved.
" This lamentable disease had begun nine years
before, when she was sixteen years of age ; up to

which time she had enjoyed perfect health. She

was then frightened by a young gentleman in the

house where she was servant, jumping suddenly up

before her, covered with a sheet, while she was
opening the cellar door. She fell insensible, and
remained so for three days; and from that time had
very violent fits, at first purely hysterical, but at
length more of an epileptic character.
" Not only had private practitioners fLiikd to be
of any service to her, but she had been in vain, four
months in St. George's Hospital; four montJis in
St. Thomas's Hospital; four months in Guy's Hos-
pital; and ten months in the Westminster Hospital,
where Mr. Guthrie gave her a very large quantitg
of mercury and salivated her severely y and where
Mr. White was anxious to cut off her bent-up leg.

" I determined to trust the treatment entirely to

mesmerism, and requested one of my clinical clerks

to make longitudinal passes before her foce for half

an hoiu' daily. In less than a fortnight her jaw
began to open; it opened now daily, and on July 12,

rather more than a fortnight, it opened widely.

" I have had two similar cases of lock-jaw of

some continuance, in young women, since I cul-

tivated mesmerism; and in both I succeeded

perfectly. Had mesmerism been employed by
those who treated her previously, the poor girl
might have still been in possession of her upper
and lower front teeth. Not only, however, had the

jaw opened widely enough on the 25th, for her to

eat her dinner like the other patients, but her leg
had relaxed so much that the toes touched the ground.

Still she had no power to move it, and it was in

some degree contracted.
"July 28th. Her leg came quite down in the

night. The fits gradually lessened, and she went

out well in October ; and never had a return of any
of her complaints.
" Here was another exquisite case: inexpensive,
for she had only aperient medicine when requisite,

^nd tending to elevate the reputation of the hospi-

tal, where she was easily and permanently cured,

after the failure of St. George's, St. Thomas's,
Guy's, and the Westminster, through two years of
ample opportunity. But this easy and inexpensive
mode of cure was forbidden, and is now unknown

in that place.
 63

" No other sensible effect was induced but drow-

siness, and sometimes a little sleep.
**
If the passes were made quickly, she was dis-
tressed, and a fit brought on.
" Being very nervous and having suffered much,
she was agitated and rendered hysterical and con-
vulsed by any roughness of behaviour ; to which I

regret she was often exposed.

**
As the leg came down, splints and rollers were
applied, to secure the ground gained ; and, in one
of the other cases of lock-jaw to which I have
alluded, I put a cork between the teeth as the jaw
opened more and more, for the same purpose."

Case of St. Vdus's Dance of nine years duration.

Dr. EUiotson mentions the case of a patient whom

he found labouring under a very severe fomi of St.

Vitus's dance of niiie years duration. Dr. Marshall

Hall prescribed ^^
mustard cataplasms to the spine,

cupping on the hack of the neck every fifth day,

and mercury to such an extent that not one sound tooth

is left in the patient's head." He treated the case for

three months, and wished to continue his plan for a

twelvemonth. The friends, however, interfered, and

Sir Benjamin Brodie was consulted, " who con-
 64

demned the treatment in the most unqualified man-

ner, declined to prescribe medicines, or to see the

patient again, and stated that nothing more could

be done than to endeavour, by every means, to
strengthen the debilitated frame." Dr. Hall, hov^^-

ever, wrote a letter, still in the possession of the

family, maintaining his opinion, and treating Sir
Benjamin Brodie's opinion most contemptuously.
On being consulted, Dr. EUiotson advised that, " as
mesmerism had been begun, it should be continued
rather than the case be abandoned ; though he en-
treated them not be disappointed, if no good re-
to

sulted." And he adds, " For the last four months,

mesmerism has been daily persevered with ; and the
gradual but steady improvement in the strength, the
sleep, and looks of the patient, and the decline of
the disease, astonishes every one. Now that Dr.
Hall has learned the improvement by mesmerism,
he says that he all along (while cupping every five

days, and giving mercury freely, and proposing to

do all this for twelve months!) suspected, and is

noiv (mesmerism having done great good) perfectly

certain that the case was feigned ! I should like to

observe his countenance when he says so."

In the Zoist for July 1843, Dr. EUiotson give
reports of cures of the same complaint in the practice
of Dr. Simpson of York, Mr. Prideaux of South-
ampton, and in other cases of his own. The case of
 6d

Master Linncll of Northampton, nine years of age,

had baflled a j^rcat number of medical men, when
at length application was made to Dr. Elliotson.
" On January 4th, 1843," says the Doctor, " he
was bi ought in a coach to me, and obliged to be
carried into the house. Supported by his motlier,
lie walked with great difficulty from my dining-
room into my library.
" His debility was such, that he could not stand
a moment unsupported; his head hung on one side;
his tongue out of his mouth, which constantly slob-
bered ; his look was quite fatuitous ; he could not
articulate, making only inarticulate noises, and these
with extreme difficulty; even *Yes' and *No' were
said in the strangest manner, so as hardly to be un-
derstood. He often fell into a passion at not being
able to articulate; he ground his teeth and sighed
greatly, continually blew bubbles of saliva from his
mouth, and moved his tongue. The movements of
the disease had lessened, so as not to be in propor-
tion to his extreme muscular debility. He could
use neither hand for any purpose, and scarcely ever
raised the right. He was low-spirited and fretful,

and often cried almost without cause.

" His tongue was clean and moist, his appetite

good, and his bowels in the most healthy condition

his pulse was 74.
" He cried sadly at being brought to me, thinking
that I should give him loads of physic to swallow,
and blister him, as others had done.
" I mesmerised him by vertical passes before his
face for half an hour. He sat well supported in an
easy chair, his head on his breast; but he sat so
quietly in comparison with his usual state, that his

mother noticed it. He was mesmerised daily for the

same time in the same way."
Dr. Elliotson proceeds to narrate the progress of
the cure until the 15th of February, when the pa-
tient was mesmerised for the last time and thus
concludes
" Nothing could be more decisive of the power of
mesmerism than this case. The disease was getting
worse and worse at the time I began. An effect

was visible in a few days ; the benefit steadily in-

creased and from being a slobbering, idiot-looking
child, his head hanging on one side, miable to speak
or stand unsupported, in three weeks he could stand
easily, and walk five miles. Not a particle of me-
dicine was given after the first day.
" The true gratitude of the boy and his mother
was delightful. But my medical reward was, that
the surgeon who attended him, and whose very name
I had never before heard of, gave way to such bad
feeling as publicly to attack me, by reiterating a
silly and ignorant string of sentences from a very
dull and feeble medical periodical, but took care
to omit all mention of the case which led to his

hostility."

The work of Mr. Braid, entitled Neurypnology,

contains accounts of a great number of highly in-
teresting cases. The phenomena induced by this
mode of producing sleep, and that of the Mesme-
risers, Mr. Braid, for a considerable time, conceived

to be identical, and he still believes " the condition

of the nervous system induced by both modes to be
at least analagous;" but he has latterly been led to
think that the agencies are distinct, because the
Mesmerisers assert that they can produce certain
effects which he has never been able to accomplish
by his mode. Pehaps, therefore, medical gentle-
men who had formed a determined resolution to
have nothing to do with Mesmerism, maybe tempted
to bestow a few minutes consideration upon the
merits of Neurypnology. They will meet in Mr.
Braid's volume with none of the ugly words which
used to form such stumbhng-blocks in their path.
The name of Mesmerism is rejected, but tlien they
have H}q3notism, which means nervous sleep. In-
stead of to mesmerise, they have to hj'pnotise, which
means to induce nervous sleep ; and instead of mes-
 68

merised they have hypnotised, meaning one who

has been put into the state of nervous sleep. These
changes will, we hope, please our medical friends,
and induce them to turn a favourable eye to the
cases which Mr. Braid has laid before tbem.

Hypnotism has been applied by Mr. Braid to

numerous diseases, and seemingly with great suc-

cess. He has tested its efficacy in cases where the
senses of hearing, sight, and smell were affected.
In tic-doloureux, spinal complaints, paralysis, rheu-

matism both chronic and acute, nervous head-ache,

epilepsy, and several other diseases, he bas also

found it highly beneficial. Several cases of spas-

modic affection are referred to as affording " strong
grounds to bope that tetanus, hydrophobia, and
other analagous affections, may be arrested and
cured by this agency." We extract the following
account of a

Case of Tetanus, or severe Spasmodic Affection.

" Master J. B., thirteen years of age, was suddenly

attacked with chilliness and pain all over his body, on
the evening of the 30th of last March. I was called
to attend him the following day, when I considered
he had got a febrile attack from cold, and prescribed
accordingly. Next day, however, it had assumed a
very different aspect. I now found I had got a
severe case of opisthotonos* to deal with. The
head and pelvis were rigidly drawn back, the body
forming an arch, and the greatest force could not
succeed in straightening it, or bringing the head
forward. Whilst the spasm never relaxed entirely,
it frequently became much aggravated, when, the
head was so much drawn back as to seriously im-
pede respiration. The legs were also sometimes
flexed spasmodically. The effect of the spasm in
obstructing the respiration, and hurrying the circu-
lation, was very great, and seemed to place the
patient in great jeopardy. The pulse was never
less than 150, but during the paroxysm was consi-
derably increased. It was e^'ident I had got a most
formidable case to contend with, and that no time
ought to be lost. I therefore determined to trj- the
power of h^-pnotism, well knowing how generally
such cases end fatally under ordinary treatment.
He was quite sensible, and the only difficulty in

getting him to comply with my instructions arose

from the recurrence of the severe spasmodic attacks.

In a very few minutes, however, I succeeded in re-

ducing the spasm, so that his head could be carried
fonvard to the perpendicular, his breathing was re-
lieved, his pulse considerably diminished, and I left

* The state when the muscles of the back are most affected,
rendering the body sometimes as stiff as a board.
 70

him in a state of comparative comfort. In about

two and a half hours after I visited him again, ac-
companied by my friend Dr. Cochrane. The spasms
had recurred, but by no means with the same vio-
lence. Dr. Cochrane had no difficulty in recog-
nising the disease ; but did not believe any means
could save such a case. He had never seen a pa-
tient hypnotised till that afternoon, and watched my
experiment with much interest and attention. He
seemed much and agreeably surprised by the extra-
ordinary influence which an agency so apparently
simple exerted over such a case. The pupil was
speedily dilated, as if under the influence of bella-
donna ; the muscular spasm relaxed, and in a few
minutes he was calmly asleep. Having ordered
three calomel powders to be given at intervals, we
left him comfortably asleep. Next day there was
still spasm of the muscles, but by no means so severe.
Whilst I determined to follow up the hypnotic treat-
ment, which had been so far successful, I considered
it would be highly imprudent to trust wholly to that,

in the treatment of such a case. As I consider such

cases are generally attended with inflammation of

the medulla oblongata, and upper part of the spinal
cord, I bled him, and ordered the calomel to be
continued. The same plan was persevered in, hyp-
notising him occasionally for some days, administer-
ing calomel till the gums were slightly affected, cold
 71

lotion to the head, and the antiphlogistic regimen,

till I considered all risk of inflammatory action past,

when he was treated more generously, and I am

gratified to say he is now quite well."
In conclusion, Mr. Braid remarks
" I feel quite

confident that without the aid of hypnotism, this

patient would have died. I sincerely wish it may
prove equally successful in other cases of the kind,
and also in that hitherto fatal disease hydrophobia.

My anxiety to see it fairly tried in the latter disease,

induces me to offer my gratuitous services in any
case of that disease occurring within a few hours'
journey of Manchester."

Another case of Spasmodic Affection of that

Miss Collins of Newark which led Mr. Braid to

think that his mode of treatment might prove suc-

cessful as in the case just quoted, is thus recorded

by the father of the patient:

" My daughter, sixteen years of age, had been
afflicted for six months with a rigid contraction of

the muscles on the left side of the neck to so great a

degree, that it would have been impossible to insert

an ordinary card between the ear and shoulders, so

close was their contact; and consequently she was
rapidly becoming malformed. She had had the best
 72

advice to be procured in the country, and I had

taken her to London with a ^vritten statement of the
treatment previously employed, and had the opinion
of Sir Benjamin Brodie, who approved of what had
been done, but gave no hope of speedy relief.
" In consequence of seeing a report of a lecture
given on the subject by Mr. Braid, sm-geon, St.
Peter's Square, Manchester, and a letter written to
that gentlemen by Mr. Mayo of London, I went
with her, by the advice of Dr. Chawner, who, in-
deed, accompanied us, and placed her under the care
of Mr. Braid, on Thursday evening, the 24th March
last, (1842.) In less than a minute after that gen-
tleman began to fix her attention she was in a
mesmeric (neurohypnotic) slumber, and in another
minute was partially cataleptic. Mr. Braid, then,
vdthout awaking her, and consequently without
giving her any pain, placed her head upright, which
I firmly beheve could not, by any possibility, have
been done five minutes before, without disruption
of the muscles, or the infliction of some serious
injury ; and, I am thankful to say, it not only con-
tinues straight, but she has the perfect control over
the muscles of the neck. A nervous motion of the
head, to which she had been subject after her return
from Manchester, has entirely ceased, and she is at
present in excellent health. It is necessary to re-
mark, that at Dr. Chawner's recommendation she
 73

was frequently watched while asleep, but not the

slightest relaxation was observed in the contracted

muscles.
" Many respectable friends can bear testimony
to the statements here made.
(Signed) " James Collins.
" Newark, 11th May, 1842."
Mr. Braid subsequently adds: "After the lapse

of a year, Mr. Collins was so kind as to write to in-

form me his daughter continued in perfect health,
with complete control over the muscles of the
neck."

Mr. Braid gives reports of cases, amounting to

between sixty and seventy, in the various branches

of disease which w^e have enumerated, and which

we hope the Profession will have the candour to
receive, in the manner they merit, as coming from an
intelligent member of their own profession. It is

really time that the disgraceful, and, in some in-

stances, unprincipled opposition, offered by medical

men to mesmerism should cease. What, for ex-

ample, is to be said regarding such conduct as the

following ?
" I consider it necessary," says Mr. Braid, in his

preface, " to explain that my reason for having

inserted some cases attested by the patients, and
 74

others, is, that most unwarrantable interferences

have been resorted to bv several medical men, in

order to misrepresent some of them. In one in-

stance, in order to obtain an attested erroneous do-

cument, the case was read to the patient, and
others presejit, the very reverse of what was
WRITTEN. However extraordinary such conduct
mav appear, the fact of its occurrence was publicly
proved and borne testimojiy to by the patient and
other parties present on the occasion when the docu-
ment was obtained."
Strange as such conduct may appear, yet it is

not unconunon. Every experienced Mesmeric

practitioner could bring forward many various il-

lustrations; thus some, as soon as mesmerism is

proposed or commenced, take every opportunity of

trying to weaken the &ith of the patient, though
no more confidence is really required, than what the
ordinarv attendant knows is necessary for any thing
he may himself prescribe ; others, will ridicule the

idea of any agency whatever, but should the least

thing unfavourable occur during the treatment,
then they change about, and unwittingly ascribe
the accidental occurrences to the injurious effects
of a power which they had previously denied.
Common prudence, if no higher motive, should
point out to medical men, that in all such in-
stances thev must sooner or later forfeit the good
 75

opinion and confidence of their patients and th*

family.
Surely it is for the honour of the profession that
such atrocious proceedings should be universally
scouted, and that the vilest of calumnies should no
longer be propagated in order to damage the cause
of mesmerism.

SURGICAL OPERATIONS,
WITHOUT PAIN.

It was my intention, had space allowed, to have

given insertion to many other cases treated by
different medical gentlemen ; however, the sources
of this information are open in so accessible a fonn,
by the publication of the Zoist, that I shall now
conclude the selection with a few, intended chiefly
to shew the efiicacy of Mesmerism, in Surgical
Operations without pain. Already tliese cases are
very numerous, and even if mesmerism never ac-
complished any thing more, tliis alone would en-
title it to the kindly consideration of every well
wisher to our species. How many operations have
been postponed until too late, in consequence of
 76

the dreaded pain ! and how many actually operated

upon, have sunk from the consequent irritation,

produced hy pain and fear ? Should this little work

fall under the eye of any Governors of Hospitals,
and other Charities, it is sincerely to he hoped,
that they will at once see the propriety of allowing
mesmerism a fair trial. They may be opposed most
probably by the medical officers but it is now time,
;

that the independent Governors should think and

act for themselves, on matters in which all are so
deeply interested, and in which every one who
takes the trouble, can form a competent opinion.
Independent of Surgical operations without pain,
there are also many other affections which can be
relieved, and oftentimes cured, by mesmerism. In
every Hospital there should be a Mesmeric Ward,
and then we should not find about our streets so

many distressed objects, suffering from fits and

other complaints, which have been discharged as
incurable. I have seen several of these cases, here
and elsewhere, and I do not hesitate to affirm, that

mesmerism would succeed in curing many. My re-

gret is, from want of time, and the necessary accom-
modation which those cases require, that I am pre-
vented undertaking but a very limited number,
though I should be happy, in any w^ay, to give my
services in the carrying out of these recommen-
dations.
 Case of Amputation of the Thigh without Pain.
On the 22d of November, 1842, the Royal Medi-
cal and Chirurgical Society of London were presented

with an " account of a case of successful amputation

of the thigh, during the mesmeric state, \Wthout the
knowledge of the patient," in the District Hospital

of Wellow, Nottinghamshire. The mesmeriser was

W. Topham, Esq., Barrister of the Middle Temple;
the operator, W. Squire Ward, Esq., surgeon, of
Wellow Hall. The patient was a labourer, six feet
high, and forty-two years of age, named James
Wombell. The details appeared in many of the
journals at the time, and it is therefore unnecessar}-
to repeat them. Those who are desirous of further
infonnation may consult a pamplilet by Dr. Elliotson,
entitled " Numerous Cases of Surgical Operations,
witliout Pain, in the Mesmeric State."
As usual, a report was soon circulated, that this

poor man had confessed he had been deceiving all

present, and had really suffered great pain ; tliis,

however, was flatly contradicted by the attestation

of the poor man himself, signed in the presence of
a clergpnan and Mr. Wai'd.

Amputation of the Leg above the knee.

Two operations have within a few months been
performed at Leicester during the mesmeric state:
the last case, that of Mary Aim Lakin, has excited
E
 78

mucli interest. She had been suffering from exten-

sive disease of the knee-joint, which became so

alarming as to render amputation necessary, even to

prolong her existence. The operation was per-
formed by ^Ir. Tosswell, surgeon ; the mesmeriser
was Mr. J. Collins. An eye-witness affirms, that
'
she remained during the operation almost motion-
less, so that there was no occasion to support her
on the table, as is usual on these occasions." On
being put to bed and demesmerised, she was asked
what she had felt ? She said, " she had been dream-
ing that a person had tied something tightly round
her sound leg, and that she felt angry, and gave him
a kick to make him desist." Her features did not

change from the calmness first noted ; and the wit-

ness, a surgeon, concludes by saying, that " he be-
lieves and feels assured, that the girl by mesmerism,
has evaded the horrors of the operation."
A report here also, was raised by some medical
men, that the poor girl She was
was an impostor.
ably vindicated by the Editor of the " Leicester
Chronicle," who had witnessed the case throughout,
and who concludes an interesting article by saying,
'
K any confirmation were wanting to the beneficial
operation of mesmerism in the case of Mary Ann
Lakin, we could add our own humble testimony to
it ; and we would also profier our full conviction of
the honesty of the whole proceedings."
 79

Extraction of Teeth,
Mr. Gardiner of Portsmouth, in a communication
to the Hampshire Telegraph, dated the 9th of De-
cember 1S4-1, gives the case of a yoimg lady who
had a couple of teeth extracted while in the mes-
meric sleep. He says, " Mr. Martin (a dentist of the
town) seized the tooth (a molar or jaw tooth) with
the forceps, purposely prolonged the wrench, (as
agreed upon by Dr. Engledue, prior to his visit, in

order to test thoroughly the insensibility of the

patient,) and drew forth the tooth. Xot a pang or
symp.om of suffering ! In a short time I restored
the patient to her natural state, in the usual manner.
Upon being told that the tooth had been extracted,
she e-^cliimed, '
Did I feel it
!
'
a singular greeting
to a den ist's ears ! Mr. Martin then proceeded to
e-amino her mouth, and suggested the removal of
other looth. The patient laughingly consented,
and sat again. In one minute and a half I again
entranced her, and she became, of course, insensible
as before. The tooth being in an advanced stage of
deca} , was crushed under the instrument, and the
remr ..nts were, with much trouble extracted. Dur-
ing the whole of this trying operation not a groan
or ccmr laint escaped the patient,'*

!Mr. Prideaux, a surgeon of Southampton, in a

letter addressed to Dr. EUiotson, describes the case
of a patient who had a great number of decayed
 80

teeth and stumps, from which she suffered severely,

but who still could not summon resolution to un-
dergo their extraction. While in the mesmeric
sleep, and at various sittings, Mr. Prideaux ex-
tracted, in all, from the mouth of this patient,
eleven teeth and eleven stumps, the last being re-
moved preparatory to her being supplied with a set
of artificial teeth. During the sitting at w^hich two
of the most troublesome teeth were extracted, Mr.
Prideaux says, " The patient sat with the hands
quietly folded in the lap the countenance was
placid and serene, and the whole attitude that of
repose." The other sittings were attended with
equally satisfactory results.
Mr. Prideaux mentions several other cases, and
he states, regarding one of these, " A fifth patient,

on w^hom I have operated during the mesmeric

state, is a young lady who required to have several
of her molares separated with a file, on accomit of
the commencement of decay, and one stopped. I

found her a most troublesome and restless patient,

in her natural state, shrinking when the cavity of

her tooth was touched, and complaining greatly of
the unpleasantness of the sensation of filing. I

succeeded in entrancing her at the first trial, in

about five minutes, and, in this state, she allowed

me to operate for two hours with the most passive
indifference, assuring me she felt nothing, except
 81

a slight sensation of heat, when the file was used

rapidly and continuously for sometime together."
Mr. Carstairs of Sheffield, besides extracting
teeth, in the *'
case of a lad about twelve years of
age, opened a large abscess behind the ear, inserted

a dossil of lint, and dressed the wound, without the

patient being sensible of pain." With like success,

he has " cut a large wart from the back of a female's

hand;" and, in another case, inserted a seton, with-
out the slightest pain.
Dr. Ashburner of the Middlesex Hospital, with
several pupils, witnessed the extraction of two teeth
from Jane Knowles, and 8 molar teeth from another
patient. The nurse of the ward said, that it was nearly
two hours before the last patient could be convinced
that she had lost her teeth while she was asleep.*

Division of Tendons at the back of the Knee-joint.

Dr. Engledue of Southsea, gives the following case
in a letter to Dr. EUiotson, dated Dec. 1st, 184^2:

* The Times of the 24th of March last, contains the following

well attested case of the extraction of a tooth, without pain, during
the mesmeric sleep ; it March 19th, 1845
bears date :

"We, the undersigned members and visitors of the Mesmeric

Society, witnessed the extraction of a tooth from the mouth of Anne
Wakeland, by Mr. Purland, surgeon dentist, 50, Mortimer Street,
Cavendish Square, she being in a mesmeric trance produced by
Mr. W. J. Vernon ; and we hereby certify and believe, that the

patient did not exhibit or feel pain."

[Here follow the signatures of nearly 20 respectable individuals.]
 82

" Miss K., aet. 17, Lad suffered for two years
from a variety of symptoms, the result of spinal
irritation. The right knee was slightly contracted

from the commencement of her illness, hut, for

twelve months preceding the operation, the con-

traction was so complete, that it was quite impossible
to separate the heel from the hack part of the thigh.
" For nearly three months she was regularly
mesmerised by Mr. Gardiner; all the symptoms
were very much relieved, and some altogether re-

moved, by this treatment. The knee-joint, how-

ever, continued firmly contracted. I shall not
now enter into a description of the reasons which
prompted me to perform the operation of division
of the tendons at the back of the knee-joint; my
only object is to report that the operation was
performed during the mesmeric trance, and without
any manifestation of feeling. Some hours after the
operation, the patient was demesmerised there was ;

no expression of astonishment, and no remark made,

till some spots of blood on the sheet of the bed

attracted her attention. The proceedings were then

explained to her, and the effect can be more easily
imagined than described."

Removal of diseased Bone from the Jaw.

Dr. Charlton, assistant-surgeon, Royal Marines,

hi a statement, dated Melville Hospital, Chatham,
 83

June 9th, 1842, wherein he says that lie had pre-

viously disbelieved mesmerism, gives the case of
Mrs. Gregory, nursery woman to Mrs. Valiant, the
lady of Captain Valiant, 40th Regiment. The pa-
tient, Dr. Charlton states, who had been " for a long
time suffering from decayed teeth, which caused
much constitutional irritation, applied to me early
inMay, complaining of headache, and pain in the
upper jaw of the most excruciating kind. On ex-
amination, the gums were found ulcerated, the
alveolar processes carious on the right side, and
presenting numerous spicula of bone projecting
through the gums, which were exquisitely painful
on the slightest pressure with the finger. Filing
off the spicula of bone was advised, and consented
to. The performance of the operation having been
proposed while she was under the influence of
mesmeric sleep, was undertaken on the 25th of
May, in the presence of Sir Thomas Willshire and
Captain Valiant of this gai'rison. Sleep was speedily
induced by Sir Thomas, and she was pronounced
in a fit state to bear the operation in half an hour.
" An incision was made on both sides of the
alveolar processes, extending from the incisor to the
molar teeth, dividing the gums, which were turned
back so as to expose the diseased bone. The spicula,
being considered the principal source of amioyance,
were filed oft* smooth with the jaw, the gums ap-
proximated, and creosote applied to the carious
 84

points. The filing occupied fully five minutes.

The patient, Jiowever, to my great astonishment
evinced not the slightest feeling from the operation,
and continued undisturbed in the enjoyment of
profound sleep for one hour, at the expiration of
which time she was awoke by Sir Thomas, ap-
pearing as if aroused from a dream. Some minutes
elapsed before perfect consciousness became re-
stored, when she expressed herself incredulous that
any operation had been performed on her jaw, be-
ing quite free from all pain."

Ainputation of the Breast,

The case of the lady whose breast was amputated
for cancer, while in the mesmeric sleep, by M.
Jules Cloquet, is recorded in the report of the
second French Commission, and has been frequently
republished in this country. Attempts have of late

been made to call the truth of the narrative in

question,* but they have merely brought disgrace
upon the journals which gave currency to the un-
founded statements. An analogous case, reported
by the Doctors Hamard and Oudet, was noticed
about the year 1837, in the "Journal de Medecine
et de Chirurgie."

* A report was spread that the patient died in an hospital, and

confessed that she had deceived. Tliis M. Colquet avers is alto-
who was the wife of a wealthy person,
gether untrue ; the patient,
never having been in an hospital, or made any such confession.
 APrENDiX.

PHRENO- MESMERISM, SOMNAMBULISM, AND

CLAIRVOYANCE.

It was not my intention to have referred to these interesting

topics ; but I find them so intimately connected with the present
subject, that a few remarks may prove acceptable to my readers.

Phreno- Mesmerism, and the still higher condition. Clairvoyance,

present themselves in some form or other during the mesmeric
treatment of many patients; indeed, those who have been much
engaged in enquiries of this nature, must have seen so many in-
stances of these higher manifestations, as to place beyond all doubt
the actual conditions. Phreno-Mesmcrism appears to be the re-
sult,of certain portions of the brain being excited during the mes-
meric state, and shewing manifestations corresponding to the
phrenological organs. Similar results have occurred in number-
less individuals ; in some, who have been perfectly ignorant of

phrenology, and in others, who were not aware of the experi-

ments being made, and the manifestations exhibited have been so

far superior to any thing that could be sunulated in the natural

state, that to deny the existence of the phenomena is to doubt the

evidence of our own senses; in truth, supposing it were collusion,

the imposition would be far more surprismg than the reality. To
Mesmerisers they are connnon results; to those who have only
seen an occasional case or two, they arc staggering; and to those
who have not witnessed anything, they are considered too wonder-
ful to be true. On this subject, ]\Ir. Chevenix says
" Wonderful, indeed, it may appear, but what makes anything
wonderful to us, if not our ignorance ? In my recollection they

have wondered at hydrogen and oxygen, at a dead frog jumping

between two plates of metal, at gas-lights and steam-boats, and
^low they wonder at any one who wonders at these familiar things.
Everything in creation is wonderful or nothing is so, but the last
 86

known truth always appears the most miraculous to imreflecting

minds. Since the world began, men have been wondering at every-
thing, till habit tamed their minds upon it."

"In receiving facts upon testimony," Dr. Abercrombie, in his

work on the Intellectual Powers, says, " that although it should
lead us to examine carefully the evidence upon which we receive
facts, "".ve should beware of allowing it to engender scepticism.For
while an unbounded credulity is the part of a weak mind which
never thinks or reasons at all, an unlimited scepticism is the part
of a contracted mind which reasons upon imperfect data, or makes
its own knowledge and extent of observation the standard and test
of probability. An ignorant peasant may reject the testimony of a

pliiiosopher in regard to the size of the moon, because he thinks he

has the evidence of his senses that it is only a foot in diameter ;

and a person holding a respectable rank in society is said to have

received with contempt the doctrine of the revolution of the earth
on its axis, because he was perfectly satisfied that his house was
never known to turn with its front to the north. When the King
of Siam was told by a Dutch traveller, that in Holland at certain
seasons of the year water becomes so solid that an elephant might
walk over it, he replied, I have believed many extraordinary
'

things which you have told me, because I took you for a man of
truth and veracity, but nov7 I am convinced that you lie.' Had
the King of Siam once seen water in a frozen state, he would not
only have been put right in regard to this fact, but his confidence
would have been shaken in his own experiience as the test of pro-

bability in other things, and he would have been more disposed for

the farther reception of truth upon the evidence of testimony."

T subjoin the following well attested cases, verified by many
respectable witnesses :

[From Times newspaper of Tuesday y June 25, 1844.]

the
" Somnambulism and Clairvoyance young gentleman, A
known as Alexis the Somnambulist, has just arrived from Paris
under the care of M. Marcillet, and was exhibited yesterday, for the

first time (we believe) in London, at the residence of Dr. EUiotson.

Alexis has for some period excited much interest in Paris by the
wonderful powers of clairvoyance which he manifests whilst in a state
of magnetic sleep. Through the kindness of Dr. EUiotson, a large
namber of ladies, andscientific and distinguished persons, had an
 87

opportunity yesterday of witnessing M. Marcillet's experiments. It

is but just to Dr. Elliotson to observe, that previously to the com-
mencement of the experiments, he stated that he did not hold himself
at all responsible for what M. Marcillet had advanced. Knowing
M. Marcillet to be a gentleman of undoubted respectability, Dr.
Elliotson permitted him to hold his first levee in Conduit-street,
taking no part whatever in the proceedings. Without admitting
that we have become believers in the possibility of producing such
a condition as that known by the name of clairvoyance, we must
nevertheless honestly confess that we have been much staggered by
what we saw after M. Marcillet had thrown his patient into the
magnetic state, and exhibited the tetanic spasm or rigidity of the
muscles of the arms and legs which usually accompanies this con-
dition of the nervous system. Preparatory to the phenomena of
clairvoijance being shewn, the patient's eyes were bandaged. We
pledge ourselves that we did this effectually. To see, in the ordi-
nary sense of the word, a ray of light was physically impossible.
Two large pieces of wool were placed over each eye, and above this
were bound with great care two linen handkerchiefs folded several
times. Thus blindfolded, he was placed at a table and commenced
playing ecarte with a strange gentleman in the room. It was, in-
deed, wonderful to see with what accuracy he played, not only
knowing every suit he had in his own hands, but, by a species of
divination, being able to detect the condition of his opponent's hand.
Several persons played with him, and among others Mr. Jerdan,
who, however, was fortunate enough to beat the Somnambulist. To
exhibit the youth's extraordinary powers, a large book of plates,
nearly two inches in thickness, was placed between Alexis and liis

opponent, and, notwithstanding this physical impediment, the Som-

nambulist was able to tell the person with whom he was playing
the cards he held in his hand. It may be said there was collusion.
We know such was not the case. Alexis then had a letter placed
in his hands by Colonel Gurwood, with the view of ascertaining
whether he was competent to make out the name of the party who
had written the letter. It appears that Colonel Gurwood had
placed himself in communication with Alexis, some time back in
Paris, in order to discover whether he had it in his power to give
him any hint by which to enable him to discover the residence of
a French soldier, whose life Colonel Gurwood had saved during the
 88

siege of Badajos. Alexis, during the magnetic state, gave Colonel

Gurwood some valuable information on the subject of his enquiry;
and, acting upon this, he was fortunate enough to find not only
the name of the person, but his place of abode. Colonel Gurwood
wrote to the soldier, and the letter which he had placed folded in
Alexis' hands was the answer which he had received. Alexis, after
a little examination, wrote down the person's name, and told Col.
Gurwood the purport of the letter wliich he held in his hand. He
made certainly one mistake, in the final letter of the person's name;
but this did not in the slightest degree detract from his ordinary
penetration. Another gentleman who had not seen Alexis pre-
viously, (Colonel Gardener we believe,) asked the Somnambulist
to describe his residence. This he did with great accuracy, telling
him the number of pictures he had in his drawing-room, their pe-

culiar position, and the subjects of the pictures. "Watches were then
placed in his hand, and, by merely feeling on the back of the case
for a few minutes, he pointed out, with one exception, the exact
position of the hour and minute hands. A large book of plates
was subsequently held to the back of his head, and to the amaze-
ment of every person in the room Alexis was able to describe the
various prints to which his attention was directed.
" We have thus endeavoiu-ed faithfully to record the facts which
we witnessed this day. It is our belief that the experiments were
performed fairly, and that in no single instance did anything like
collusion exist. We do not pretend to account for the strange,

the wonderful phenomena which the youth certainly manifested.

Of course there were many present who refused to admit the pos-
sibility of any person seeing under such circumstances. One gen-
tleman, more incredulous that the rest, declared most emphatically

that Alexis was able to see down his nose an hypothesis, we must
confess, at variance with all our anatomical and physiological
knowledge. With was able
his eyes almost hermetically sealed he
to read a book taken from among a munber of works on the table.
Independently of this, a handkerchief t^\dce folded was placed over
the printed page of a large volume, and through this the Somnam-
bulist was able to read with faciHty. We have thus endeavoured
faithfully to record the experiments performed this day. We draw
no conclusions from the facts we confess they are mysterious and
:

inexplicable beyond our comprehension. Let those who are dis-
 81)

posed to be sceptical examine the matter for themselves; they will,

we understand, have frequent opportunities of doing o."

In the Zoist will bo found other reports of Alexis on difierent
occasions. In the month of July last, another demonstration i>f

his powers was shewn at Dr. Elliotson's. The followin<; jrenth -

men having witnessed, some having tested, the above experiments,

voluntarily subscribed their names to a paper, expressive of tlicir
conviction of the integrity of these wonderful phenomena :

The Viscount Adare, 76, Eaton-square.

John Elliotson, M.D., Conduit-street.
.lohnAshbumcr, M.D., Wimpole-street.
James George Davey, M.D., Hanwell Asylum.
W. C. Engledue, M.D., Southsea.
M. Castle, M.D , Milan.
E. Ritterbandt, M.D.
Edward Sheppard Symes, 38, Hill-street, Berkeley-.s(iuare.
Captain John James, Dover.
Daniel Thomas Evans, Temple.
Henry U. Janson, President of the Exeter Literary and
Philosophical Society.
Edward Wise, Temple.
F. C. Margaiy, Hampstead.
H. G. Atkinson, F.G.S., 18, Upper Gloucester-place.
Nathaniel Ogle.
W. Topham, Temple.
H. Balliere, Regent-street.
John Hulme, Exeter.
H. S. Thompson, Fairfield.

H. Storer, M.D., Grenville-street (now of Bath).

Adolphe, the brother of Alexis, possesses the power of Clair-
voyance to nearly an equal degree. The Critic for the 1 5th of April
last, contains a very interesting account of the trials before the
Society for the Investigation of Mesmerism.
Adolphe was also exhibited at Bath and Clifton, at which meet-

ings were some of the most respectable and influential parties, all
of whom expressed their satisfaction at the fairness and results of
the experiments. Adolphe is now in Loudon, and will well r^pay
a visit from the curious or scientific.
 90

I avail myself of this opportunity to refer to the conduct of a

few medical men here in reference to Mesmerism, and more parti-
cularly to Clairvoyance and the case of Jane Knowles. If the
subject had been confined to Bath, I should not have taken any
further notice, as the matter was fully discussed in the local papers
but these gentlemen have been circulating even to this period a one-
sided report in different journals, that I do not exaggerate, I will
mention that I have seen very lately accounts in three separate
pamphlets. In justice, therefore, to Dr. Owens, myself, and the
patient, I will give a condensed account of what actually occurred,
and on which they ground a charge of fraud. A certain set of ex-
periments took place at the Photographic Institution in this city.
The patient on being mesmerised read distinctly /owr times through
opaque substances, such as the covers of books when and
firmly
skilfully secured by string. The proprietor was so struck with the
results, as voluntarily and emphatically to declare, that he should
feel it his duty to go to every medical man he knew and thus state
his convictions. After the experiments, four medical men called
at the Institution ; one of them, Mr. Thomas Barrett, retires into

a separate room with one of the books, and presently returns, say-
ing he had discovered the way in which the reading was efiTected:

on now looking at the book. Dr. Owens and myself find one of the
strings broken and the cover much creased. Mr. Barrett admits this,
but says it makes no difference ! as it was done in his attempt to
shew how the reading was accomplished; and at a subsequent
meeting, said he was so confused he did not know what he did. On
this meagre evidence a letter appeared, headed ''Fraud Detected,'*
signed hy four medical men, not one of whom had witnessed a single
one of the experiments ; and the only collateral proof appears to
have been this, that because Mr. Barrett, with the full use of his
sight (the patient was in the mesmeric state), and by breaking one
of the knots, was able to make out a portion of reading similar to
the patient's, that therefore the must have been an im-
little girl

postor. Our reply was and judging from what she

is still, that,

had previously done many times when rigidly tested what she
had accomplished that very afternoon four times and what she
has repeatedly done since (see Bristol and Cheltenham papers), that
there was not the slightest occasion for the presumed fraud and ;

further, we both being present, and having paid much attention to

 91

the subject, and having only truth for our object, are as ful!\

able to form an opinion as those who were absent ; and we further

believe, that the presumed fraud could not have been committed
without immediate detection, as was shewn by us in Mr. Barrett's
own attempt.
To judge dispassionately on matters we have never seen, require:*
the mind to be free from all prejudice; let us then, on this subject,
hear the expressed and written opinions of those who had consti-
tuted themselves judges of mesmeric phenomena. Dr. Ferguson,
at a meeting in the City Rooms, though he ackowledged Dr. Elliot-
son's claims on the Profession, considered him a lost man, because
he believed in Clairvoyance; and from conviction, in the evidence
of his own senses. Mr. Barrett declared it as his opinion, that any
one who believed in such nonsence must be devoid of common
sense; and Dr. Cardew has twice written, that he "always had,
and ever should consider the subject the grossest humbug."
I conclude these remarks with a short account of Jane Knowles

at Cheltenham, after leaving Bath, and attested by the editors of

two newspapers there, with many others :

\_From the Cheltenhavi Examiner.^

" Yesterday morning, we had an opportunity of witnessing Jane
Knowles for the first time. She is a slightly made, intelligent girl,

about twelve years of age. On being placed in the mesmeric state

by Dr. Owens, she tried her strength on a gentleman present,
weighing, as he stated, 14 stone, or 200 lbs. He was lifted with
ease from the ground. The patient was then put through a series
of phrenological experiments, which proved successful; and at last
exhibited that peculiar condition of clairvoyance, wherein the patient
is supposed to read and see what passes with the eyes firmly closed.
In this state, a lady and gentleman of the audience, one holding

the hands firmly over the eyes, and the other placing a printed
paper in the patient's hand, the characters were deciphered with
ease. Several things were read in this manner, such as passages
selected at random from books, address cards, and hand-bills, and
all with the same result.
Yesterday evening the patient was put
under a more searching examination: on that occasion, determined
to test the reality of the exhibition to the utmost, ]\Ir. A. Harper,
of the Free Press, provided liimself with a new book, a copy of which
the patient had never seen ; and Mr. Norman, of the Examiner, ap-
 92

plied his hands to the patient's eyes. The utmost care was taken
that no trick could be played: the eyes were closely held down, and
the experiment watched throughout, yet the patient read not only
the title-page of the book, hut one or two other portions of print
which were presented to her. Similar experiments were made by
others of the audience with the like success. Itwas the general
opinion among the spectators, that the exhibition was perfectly ge-
nuine; it certainly was of those who applied the different tests. It

is the more necessary to make this admission, if only as an act of

justice to Dr. Owens and the little girl, who have been lately de-
nounced as impostors, and on the authority, it is said, of individuals
who never themselves witnessed any of the experiments.
" Dr. Owens then alluded to the wager between himself and Dr.
Cardew of Bath, who had offered to lay 1000 to 100, that a case
could not be produced of reading a word enclosed in a box. Df.
Cardew most unhandsomely evaded his challenge, by stipulating,
amongst other things, that he should be allowed to hold a string
attached to the box, during the experiments ; whilst that Dr. Owens
should not come within so many feet of his patient ; that the expe-
riments should be confined to three or four of his own friends ; and,
although Dr. Cardew professed to allow an hour daily for a month,
he afterwards inserted a clause making one failure final. These
conditions he termed fair and honorable but such peculiar illus-
;

trations induced Dr. Owens to withdraw from such an unequal

contest." [See also Bristol papers for December, 1844.]
As Dr. Cardew has repeated his challenge in one of the papers
referred to, I am deputed on the part of a gentleman to say, that,
subject to fair and honourable conditions, he is quite ready to accept
the challenge. Dr. Cardew offered, if he won, to give 100 to the
Bath Hospital: my friend makes the same offer; therefore, if Dr.
Cardew is "always sincere in his professions," the Hospital is sure
of 100 from one of the parties, with which sirni the Governors
may lay the foundation of a Mesmeric Ward, and then mesmerism
can be applied to many cases, which have hitherto been discharged
as incurable. If Dr. Cardew now declines, we must consider his

professions Vox etpretarea nihil.

PRINTED BY J. HOLLWAV, MILSOM 8TKEET, BATH.

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