MESMERISM

ITS

OPPONENTS.

GEORGE
VICAR

**

AU

qf God,

OP

marked

things are

the power

Dei

Gratia docet
landem

SUPFOLK.

rMXTON,

and

stamped

with

the differenceo/wa/wre,"

"

Bacon,
"

M.A.

SANDBY,

character; "of
triple

and

the

Advancement

re, et in orani

de omni

et konorem

this

use

qfman"

of Learnings book

scientta utilitatisfructum,

ii.

atque-

quserere."

Thomas

Kempis,

De

Imitatione

Christi,lib. iii.54..

^ttavitiHaitian,
CONSIDERABLY

ENLARGED,

WITH

AN

INTRODUCTORY

CHAPTER.

LONDON:

LONGMAN,

BKOWN,

GREEN,

FATEBNOSTSB-BOW.

1848.

AND

LONGMANS,

London

Shaw,
RTiil

Spottiswoode

New-strefjt-Squnre.

To

CAPTAIN

JOHN

ETC.

than

acquainted
and

treats,
I

am

to

with

to

so

you,

little

through

the

great
kindness

whose

deeply

ETC.

ETC.

this

dedicate

CANNOT

JAMES,

Work

more

priately
appro-

I became

whom

truths

of

and

first

which

cordial

it

pathy
sym-

indebted.

Believe

me

My

to

dear

Yours

GEORGE

remain.

rriencl,

most

sincerely,

SANDBY,

Jun.

PREFACE
TO

In

THE

SECOND

presentinga fresh
Public, perhaps I shall

EDITION.

edition

of my
little work
to the
be pardoned if I submit a few liminary
prefor
observations as to its nature and origin
the
;

part that I take in the promotionof the somewhat

earnest

unpopular subjectof which it treats has probablyexcited

surprise.With many, I appear to be steppingaside from
vocation, in

own

my

failed before

with

me,

little other

losingthe good opinionof

an

amount

unnecessary

others, the

With

far abler

men

prospect than

have
that of

the

and of incurring
judicious,
of ill-willand misrepresentation.
is.regarded as one,
that professionally

wrong, or at least,an unusual direction ;

fore,
the conventionalist and the fastidious give me, therea

pursues

and

move

where

cause

their cold contempt.

all this, and

For

more

am

.prepared.My objectis to do good, great and essential

good to the many and to the miserable ; and a littleodium
And
be easilyoverborne.
and ridicule can
yet (asis the
most
case
commonly in the world)my motives have been
rather of

mixed

nature

neither is the matter

and

of the

unprofessional.To treat of the real

minds ;
and on religious
on
religion
bearingof Mesmerism
disabuse the pious but prejudicedChristian of his
to
*
friends and
to justify
my
; and
scruplesas to its use
volume

the

so

very

letter from

18th

No.

Mr.

of the

delusion, arisingfrom

Street,published in
Symes, surgeon, of Grosvenor
of conscientious
instance
a
Zoist, shows
melancholy

ignorance.^p. 171.
A

VI

PREFACE

myselffor our

to

THE

practice thiswas

own

dentally
themselvesincisubjectpresented
enabled
and opportunity
experience

by the way ;
give information where

thingled

to

design:
original

my

"

other branches of the

me

TO

much

wanted;

was

one

was
at last,
a littletract,that
another,till,

applied
with a miswith the sole purpose of dealing
doctrine of Scripture,
swelled into the present

commenced

table of contents ;
heterogeneous
the question
passedunder review.

and the whole aspector

Providential circumstances had led

ance
reason

in

acquaint*,
stillthe greatest
to

an

with Mesmerism, for which I have

to bless God.
however, has its slaves
Superstition,
I

every spot; and

natured
"

peltedwith pamphlets

soon

was

for grave and evil-"

said to
Satan and his emissaries were

throughthe post,and
have

me

censure.

the mark

made

house

creptinto my

"

unawares

and the anathema"

proof. Some
notice seemed desirable; and I therefore purposed
slight
the melancholybigotry
that promptedthese
to examine
and show how the very same
had
reproaches,
ignorance
in recent times,remedies and discoveries
even
equallyassailed,
the innocency
of which could now
be no longer
It was
Called in question.
to the well-meaning
explained
opponent, that phenomena,which shocked his faith and
of Mr.

M'Neile

were

called arguments in

distracted his devotions,were

the harmless

result of

simpleprocess in nature, and were

merely remarkable
because theywere
new.
I was immediately
met by the very opposite
argument.
"Mesmerism
be neither preternatural
"If,"it was replied,
nor

Satanic,your

faith

as

Christian is

the less

not

similar in
placedin jeopardy
; for wonders and cures
science boasts of, are
degreeto those which your own
and form,in fact,
recordedin the Old and New Testaments,
the basison which allbelief in them is grounded: if the
be onlyof nature, so also must be the other.
one
These
^'

SECOND

views

Vli

EDITION.

than it may be at firstsuspected,

prevalent
and their birthplace
will be found in Germany, Eichter *,
rector of the principal
ducal school at Dessau,when publishing
some
Considerationson Animal Magyears back
netism,"
stated that magnetism "solves those enigmas
which appertain
to Christianity;"
and added,
especially
that all the miracles of the New Testament were performed
The
declared
rector
by this extraordinary
agency.
that St. Paul, Luther, and the Saviour were
further,
all
magnetists.Eichorn and Professor Paulus, with their
rationalisticinterpretations,
be considered as the
may
of a doctrine,
which the deisticalmesmerists of
originators
istic
Germany caughthold of and improved, It is characterof this theory,"
though
says a writer of a congenial
different school (that
of Strauss)
and whose Lectures in
London
obtained recently
some
notoriety, to regard
Christ as a wise man, healing
diseaseby felicitousaccident,
or
by medical skill,
by the natural action of his faith ;
are

more

"

"

"

"

"

and in every narrative of miracle to cast about for some

of fact,out of which the mistake or
supposable
germ

f
exaggeration
mighthave innocently
grown."
of Eichorn, the

Speaking

lecturer observes, While

"

same

men

were

ignorantoj nature and her laws,theymade every thing

and divine. Useful inventions were
deemed
supernatural
special
workingsof the mind of God. Eichorn considers
that there was
fraud in the matter of miracles,
no
onlythe
of the
which fact receives from the opinions
colouring
and that
narrator,"

misunderstood and

"

the miracles

were

Mr.
misreported."f

natural occurrences,

Justice

Coleridge,
Returning

in his Kecollections of his greatkinsman,says,

said the state of their
to the Germans, he (Coleridge)
"

Jean Paul, nor any relation. He was

and
erudition,and a great mathematician and critic,

Not

the famous

in Germany.

He

died about

three years
4

was

of found
prowell known

man

back.

Harwood's Anti-supernatuialism,
p. 2.
"["
A

\ Ibid. p. 7, 8.

PREFACE

Vm

TO

THE

when he was in Grermany,

was
reallyshocking.
religion,
in the universities lecturingagainst
He found professors
in the Gospel.He instanced Paulus, whose
material points
lectures he attended

the

the school which

was
therefore,

miracles,

rationalism,as

German
operations."*

into natural
seen,

to resolve the

objectwas

maybe
the
firstapplied

theory,?
in support of a deistical
It was easy for the rationalistto say, that the miraclesof
but it
"natural
occurrences,"
Divine Master were
our
of Mesmerism

wonders

key by which their hypothesis;

magnetismseemed to ofiera ready:
The suggestion
was
adoptedi
difficulty.

easy to find
could be explained
; and
not

Was

so

solution for the

in all haste

by the

mind, which

German

warm

loves

so

spreadquicklyinto France, and

took deep root in its infidel soil,as is seen
by many of
the subjectf;
crossed over
their publications
and soon
on
the marvellous

the idea

As
into this country with other continental importations.
of Mesmerism
a knowledge
gainedground in England,so
did

this

persuasionadvance also,and, forming in the

Mesmeric
world a distinctschool,
gave serious uneasiness
Of this it is as
piousfriends of the cause.
be to be blind to
to pretend
an
as it would
ignorance,
approachof an enemy, and then hope that that enemy

to many

existence.

no

Neither

would

idle
the

had

it be reasonable to blame

Mesmerism
the

as

God's

for the tenet, and exclaim against

its practice
of such unhallowed opinions.Which
source
of

have
gifts

not

been

turned

the Giver
against

?"

It

Table Talk, vol. ii. p. 346.

Coleridge's
the writings
of MM.
Mialle,and Foissacand Theodore
f See particularly
Bouys.
^ Mr. Cummlng, the eloquentminister of the Scottish Church in Loudon
in a charminglittletract,called
Infant Salvation
says beautifully
"A
"

repugnance

to

turn

any mercy

may
the

be
man

truth may

into

abused,or
who

to

would

means

down

find food from itsleaves,

and

p. 34.

...

rejectitibecauseit may
cut

"

innumerable objections. Evil men

can
of evil.
To
objectto a doctrine because

invent

be

it

is just to imitate
perverted,
beautiful fruit-tree,
because caterpillars

weave
spiders

their webs

amid itsbranches"

SKCOND

EDITION.

IX

far better to meet

the evil at once,

to pointout the
broad line of separation
between the two princithat runs
ples,
was

"

and

to

"

show

with

what

unexamining haste the

theoryhad been adopted.And this I determined,with

God's help,to attempt, and to clear away the cloud of
that hung over
the subject.Thus there were
mysticism
most
adverse antagonists
two
to deal with, those who
elevated a newly-foundphysical
influence into the magic
"

of Satan

and those who

into the

back

succession;and have
have not been

"

strove

to

"

natural."*

some

to

reason

retranslatethe natural
superI combated
both in

hopethat

labours

my

fruitless,
f
altogether

Again was I met from a fresh quarterwith a not unfrethan

also,more
plausible
quent objection,an objection,
real. "Mesmerism
immoral; why, then, incur an
was
odium
from the advocacy
liable to
of a" system that was
painfulresults had actually
grave abuses, and whence
that the
arisen?"
to show
Here, also,it was
requisite
not essential to the practice
; that if
allegedevils were
theyexisted,theydid not counterbalance the far greater
nf the conditions
that theyneed not exist at all,
advantages;
and rules which the leadingMesmerists had established
observed ; and if not
observed, that the
were
carefully
for wrong-doing
were
opportunities
scarcely
greaterthan
those which accompanied
several parts of medical treatment.
The use
of opiates
had its evils; to this might
effects from the inhalation
be added the intoxicating
now
"

See also on this subi

Expressionin Harwood's
Anti-supernaturalism.
and
Salverte's
recent
ject
popular French work,
Philosophyof Apparent
Miracles,"or Les Sciences Oceultes,
f The late
the editress of the " Christian Lady's
Charlotte Elizabeth,"
her
Miss
to
in
Martineau
on
Mesmerism, also places
Magazine,"
Ijetter
J
some
magnetic wonders on a levelwith the miracles,though on different
"

"

to
principles
**

those

mentioned

"
devised by
imitations,"

miracles" of the

Saviour.

between

them.

"

above.

Satan
p. 13.

to

She
throw

Hence

diabolical
as
the
doubts
on
soul-destroying
for distinguishi
the increased necessity
considers them

TO

PKEEACB

THl

I have never
morally,
yet heard even the
hint of an objection,
though every one may see to what
vile purposes it mightbe rendered subservient. But so it
and
is in this world;
evil name,
an
givean adversary
there is no crime of which he will not be deemed capable.
walk
to the proverb,
Opium and ether may, according
and placetheir hands on the neck
within the stable-door,
harm
is feared or
of the animal, and no
suspected
;
while poor Mesmerism
cast a glancewithin
cannot
even
raised by these
the precincts,
but an outcryis straightway
perilled
morals being imto all our
as
purists,
drug-admiring
by a strangeand anomalous remedy!
Thus far,then,the argument of my littlework might
be regarded
defensive. I had to show, in selfas
steictly
from which I had
alone,that a discovery,
justification
neither satanic,nor
immoral, nor
was
largelyprofited,
subversive of Gospelevidence,nor one which a Christian,
need fear to encourage ; and here the demonstration might
have stopped
adventured into the field,
; but, havingonce

of ether,
on
wMch,

"

I felt that it was

tillthe best results of

idle to withdraw

and
practice
my own
service of the sick room.

observation

This, of

were

course,

offered to the
was

to pass the

barrier,and to expose myselfto the usual

professional
and interference. But it was
a
chargeof ignorance
good
and a righteous,
I was
able show to the medical
cause
from my own
sceptic,
only,that most of the
experience
which he groundedhis disbeliefwere
based on
on
reasons
mistaken and hastily
adoptedviews,in direct contradiction
I was anxious, also,to
to the actual workingsof nature,
ment
encourage the relativesof many a sufferer in their employand merciful art, by the relation of
of a healing
what I had myself seen, and done, and studied. For
to
oftentimes,
indeed,has some sad invalid been presented
my notice, the racking
agony of his pains, the wasted
of his form, the despairing
helplessness
miseryof his
"

"

"

SECOND

xi

EDITION.

the fever of his brain have,as the case may have

been, given fearful indications of the past and of the
^ySj

"

or

future; hope and reliefhad

the ordinary
:
appliances
"

in vain been

soughtthrough

"

Soft,gentlest,
friendly
sleep!

"

Sweet
Or

I
holiday

all earth's

Of

good the help,

origin!"*

nightsbeen absent from the chamber !

But at length
the soothing
hand of the Mesmerist is summoned;
is
his gentle,patient,persevering
treatment
adoptedand pursued; and then, after a time, what a
change! what a healthful happy transformation comes
and so fearfully
the whole system of one
so
over
lately

had for hours and

afflicted
!
A

"

life

new

throughhis renovated

Flows

frame ;
and stiff,

His

limbs,that late

Feel

The
For

all the freshness of repose ;

dizzybrain is calm'd ;
heavy achingof his lids is gone ;
Laila,from the bowers of paradise,

Has

borne

His

the

were

sore

healingfruit!"f

the most
wanted,
That, too, which was
courted,the most ardently
prayedfor,and the
the firstto reappear, and
to obtain,is now

the most

"

to

be

secured.

Great

"

nature's second

most

cult
diffi-

the easiest

course,

balm

of

follows readily
hurt minds,chief nourisher in life'sfeast,"
The magnetist
from the composinghand.
and peacefully

returns,and in

a
"

littlemoment
Day

is over,

"

nightis here

the eye and ear

are
in sleep
I
In sleep,
Fain is silent: toil reposes
Closed

Neither
Dreams

moan

nor

and

all the

race

of Fear

and

Barry Cornwall,Fragments,239.
J Barry Cornwall,Fragments,239.

weep

disappear
deepestdeep l"|

Fade away
In the

f Thalaba, book

ii. p. 9,

XU

PREFACE

Thishave

seen

over

TO

and

THE

over

again,and

with all the

of oonvalespence
blessings
; and therefore is it,
thusiastic
so
unwiselyenso
and, perchance,
earnestly,
in pressing
the merits of this marvellous power
and benevolent profession.
notice of a numerous

attendant
that I

am

upon the

presentedition (whichI have endeavoured to make

to our
of Mesmerism, from its replies
littleHandbook
The

"
and from its information
very opposite opponents,"
contains a
tinder various heads for different inquirers,)

largeamount of new matter.

An introductory
on
chapter
and

medical

men

to

the

the

claims

of
opposition
of Mesmerism

scientific
is first

that have been

operations
given,with tables of surgical
Their number
performedduringmesmeric insensibility.
will be found to be greaterthan is generally
supposed.
that have reasserted the
Several recent
paniphlets,
and satanie agency, are
examined ;
chargeof irreligion
from sermons
and tracts,in
and some
curious quotations
inoculation were
accusations against
which the very same
about a century back,are laid before the reader
published
for his instruction and amusement.
The conduct

of the Church of Rome

in

regardto

merism
Mes-

is
givenin the first chapter.The statement
and important.
both interesting
of fresh instances
In the seventh chapter,
a large
variety
will be found.
The
of natural ecstatics and sleepwalkers
of the singular
close relation,
or rather identity,
phenomena
that theyhave manifested with phenomenathat have since
in mesmeric patients,
been developed
prove the truthfulness
and genuinecharacter of the latter. It will be seen,
that the former are not "isolated" cases
(asit
moreover,
is asserted in the British and ForeignMedical Review for
for many
more
April,1845),but extremelynumerous;
than I have givencould be added. The argument, then.
is

SECOND

that

theyfurnish

is

reader's attention.

EDITION.

XIU

the
useful one, and is pressed
on
whieli arise
Facts of this description,
a

in the order

of nature, and agree in the main, and vary

onlywith the accidents of climate,creed,and constitution,
show

the

of Mesmerism
with general
conformity
experience."
the reasoning
that Mr. TownsThey strengthen
hend brings
forward in his third book, to prove that the
insulated phenomenon,'nor
condition is not
an
an
magnetic
link in the
to the universal order, but
interruption
that
eternal chain of things."
(p.184.) And the more
"

"

the

student

of nature

historyof the
recorded by different

shall examine the

and ecstatic
cataleptic
towards
writers,
religious

faiths,the

state, as
the confirmation of their tive
respecwill he perceive
a good groundfor

more

is nothingelse than a
that Mesmerism
understanding
of real phenomena
simplereproduction
by artificialmeans
and facts that
An

are

as

old

as

the creation.

chapterwill

additional

information
practical
in the art of

for the

use

be

also

given,embracing

of the learner.

did
mesmerising

not

tions
Instruc-

fair within the

commenced,
original
purposes with which this work was
omitted in the first edition. But I
and the subject
was
to by letter for guidance
have been so frequently
appealed
at a
in the management of a patient
living
; and parties,
of personal
distance,and deprivedof the opportunity
have so often
observation,(thebest school after all,)
a
the opinion
that information on that head was
expressed
desideratum

in

the

book, that I have

endeavoured

to

which is now
experience,
supplythe omission. My own
will form the basis of the
neither slight
nor
superficial,
But
instruction.
copiousinformation from Deleuze,

EUiotson, Gauthier,Townshend, Teste, and other writers

will be introduced.
subject
in
If the student wishes to pursue the subjectmore
the Instruction Pratiqueof the excellent and soberdetail,

and authorities on

the

2ilV

PREFACE

minded

Deleuze

There

is

know

is the

of the

French

of

Bailli^re

recommend.

I should

of the

merits

Last

which

of

will be

the

indispensable portion
those

valuable

and

observed
pen

of

entertaining
in

courageous

of its

says

poem

commend

medical

the
but

maintaining it,

book

Zoist,

should

taining
con-

form

an

inquirer's reading.
is taken

facts

granted,

facts,

fully
care-

alone, proceed from

of

men

in

he

once

is

first
and

conscientious

most

when

for

but

cautious

the

tion
transla-

shop.
the

appear,

most

prolix.

fact, every

in

sin

certified

reality. For,
''

So

in

principal cases,

well-recorded

opinion,

an

"

fancies

is

published

nothing

nor

who

one

has

Letters

the

papers,

theories

neither

of

and

in his excellent

found

of his

besetting

the

voluminous

too

Manual

EUiotson's

narrative

information

with

it has

Street

Regent

all, Dr.

of

abounds

subject,but

Practical

"

Mesmerism

the

JiuixiujN.

that

treatises, being

of. Teste's

and

first book

Pratique

Traite

knowledge
Mr.

In

SECUHU

nothing.

of many

On

THE

English translation,

an

Gauthier's
and

TO

The

Truth

Nor

Knowledge

And

to

Mr.

the

feeilocjs
to

false,

with

following

never
the

and

error

Bailey, in

of Festus
the

is

to

Wise

truth

Festus,

fool,

strikinglypowerful

appropriate words

whose
to

the

reader.
*

the

to

alike."

his strange but

pages

True,

the

but

p. 41.

consideration

now

of the

PREFACE
TO

The
that

THE

FIRST

EDITION.

followingpages have grown

was
publishedlast summer,

out

of

called

little pampUetj

Mesmerism, the

"

Gift of God."

receptionof that letter by the public,

for a second impression,
have induced the
and the demand
Author, at the suggestionof several friends,to enter more
dictory
fullyinto the subject,and to meet the various and contraobjectionsthat are popularlyadvanced.
not
This work, therefore,professes,
only to treat of the
religiousscruplesthat have been raised in the minds of
Christians, but to discuss with the philosopherthe
some
previousquestionas to the truth of Mesmerism, for a due
inquiry into which, circumstances have greatlyfavoured
The

favourable

the writer.

Chapter is little
originalpamphlet, in answer
The

First

more

to

than

the

reprintof the

charge of

Satanic

agency.
at largeinto the same
Chapter enters more
topic; and showing the tendencyof the human mind to see
the
proves, by example,
mysteriousin the inexplicable,
accusation.
of this absurd
the periodical
re-appearance

The

The

Second

Author

also examines

the unfortunate

mistake, which

are
disposedto commit, be
profession
creed what it may, of thinking that they do
their religious
the parties
his gifts
service by depreciating
; because
God
hold oppositetenets to their own.
that employ them

too

many

of his

own

"

XVI

PREFACE

TO

THJi

out
sometimes from a zeal withis shown to arise,
feeling
knowledge,and often from that love of spiritual
the brightest
pages in the
power, which has disfigured
of the Church.
history
of
The Third and Fourth Chapterscontain an analysis
the common
objections
againstthe truth of Mesmerism.
This

Some remarkable

adduced

are

cases

from the writer's own

accumulation of other facts is givenfrom

An
experience.

is a
standingin society
pledgefor the correctness of what theystate. The curative
power of Mesmerism in disease is provedby induction and
is invited to a
observation. And the medical profession
the

whose
testimonyof parties

reconsiderationof tlieirunfavourable verdict.

rifth

The

Chapterdiscusses a

of Mesmerism
dangers
exposed.
At the requestof

tained,at

some

Mesmerism

on

divine 'nature

"

friend,the Sixth Chapterhas

the bearingof
length,

the miracles of the New

the wonders

Testament.

exa-

of
It is

is gainingground that these

feeling
exhibit an equality
of power ; and that the
of the one is impaired
by the extraordinary

notorious,that
several facts

opinionas to the
isin greatmeasure
and itsfallacy
common

consideration of this part of

led to a detailed analysis
of the
subjectnecessarily

character of the other.

the

events
Scriptural

will deem
;

is an

of

such

The

the unbeliever in the

course
an

inquirypreposterousand

phenomena
able
laugh-

the Christian,
however, who knows that Mesmerism
fact in nature, will not regardthe examina!existing

to the philosopher
such an
; and even
superfluous
oughtto be interesting.
investigation
The concluding
Chaptercompares the phenomena of

tion

as

natural somnambulism

and

of Mesmerism

with

certain

the Wesleyansand the B-oman

miracles among
of the marvellous
Catholics. The latter-factsare stripped

modern

by

narrative of what occurred in the house of

friend.

.CONTENTS.

Preface
Preface

to

the

Secokd

to

the

First

Edition

Edition

IntroductoryChapter

Page

xv

-----

and

Hostility of Scientific

on

Medical

Men

merism
Mes-

to

-....---1

CHAPTER

Progressof
Agency.

Mesmerism.

and

General

Dialogue

"

Mr.

Close

between

"

Mesmerism

on

of

System

Vaccination.

Doctrine
"

Sin

"

of

Evil

Bark

arraigning
Spirits. Chaygp
Mesmerism

Mpsmg"*'"^
XTptlpl'*''^'"'''
'"

"

"

MesmerLsers

"

called

Progress in,Scotland
proved to

"

Imitation.
believe
Medical
Medical
British

"

and

"

you."

Faith.

Mesmerism.

alone,

"

from

by Jesuits.
Bounties.

Inocujatiou..
"

"

What

"

Scripture
-

Remarkable
Experience.
Operations in England.
England.
In France"
In Germany-^
Ir!_UnitgaLStates.
in Pain
anH
DUoagg
he a powerful RpmpHy
119
"

own

of

and

IV.

Mesmerism.

French

"

Cures

Monotony.

"

"
"

Report,

"

Mesmerise
Second

London

"

I^^SUUi''

me,

Mr.

"

Names

among

Believers

"

and

will

Report of
Roval
University.
French

"

Great

Indies.

West

Clergy,and Spiritual

of

"

"

-60

",

Wakley.
and
ChirurgicalSociety. British Association and
British Association
Associations and Phrenology.
Men

"

and

in.

Imagination.

"

First

"

"

"

CHAPTER

against Truth

and
God."

hrni,ightagninst^lVTp^prispr^.
94
Impious

Author's

"

in

'Mesmerism

Arguments

Power

God's

CHAPTER

Cases.

Anecdote

"

"

introduced

of

hearing

On

marvellous.

"

of

Bickersteth

Mr.

"

putation.
Re-

IL

GravitatiflP.

"

Remedies

Witchcraft.

Tyranny

Lines

invisible.
of

word

the

M'Neile's

Mesmerism

"

Agent

New

"

by

Christian,"

CHAPTER
Mesmeric

Rome.

Why

"

Phenomena

of Mr.

unworthy
tested

and

Mesmeric

Why

"

Court

the

Mesmerist

Sermon

"

supernatural.

not

stated.

Mesmerism

"

'

"

"

not

and

Elizabeth.

Charlotte

^ij

Mesmerism

"

Patients.

Mesmerism

"

1V^B."!mprisn1 Charge of Satanic

M'Neile.
Rev. Hugh
Liverpool.

at

Mesmerism

in all

uniform

not

preached
Electricity.

of

Laws

Opposition

"

Sermon

"

Mesmerism

I.

in Mesmerism

"

Mr.

and

Braid.
Ether

-167

XX

CONTENTS.
CHAPTER

V.

the
Dangers of Mesmerism, physicaland moral.
Danger of Mesmerising
for
for
Amusement
Calmness,
Qnalifinatinn
aJVlesmeriser.
?"
Healthy
Objections
Danger from ImperfectWaking. Cross- Mesmerism.
the
Rules fijy
of Moralityanswered.
on
Ground
Mesmerising. Atof Mesmerism.
Horror
What
it is.
tachment to^^aaeriser.
of the
Hint
for Younger Members
of Mesmerism.
Ujtlieulties
Faculty
Page 215
"

.^

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

.......

CHAPTER
to
Opposition

from its presumed Miraculous Aspect.

Rationalism.
New
German
Christian.

Mesmerism

on
Infidelity

American
and

"

Miracles
Cures

and

"

Doctrine

the

the Miracles

Mesmeriser.
Miraculous

Mesmeric

"

Explanationof
Revelations.

"

Martha

of

Kent,

the

and
Ecstatic Dreamers
the
of
Catholics.
Prophetess
"

"

Prophetessof the

the

The

"

VII.

fancied Miracles.

and

Maid

The

of Cret.

Bohemian

the
Brossier,

Wesleyan Prophetess.

Covenanters.
Prophetess. Sister

The

"

herdess
Shep-

Germaine

of
of Paris.
The entranced Female,
of Plymouth
Evans and the Demon
"

Witch

John

"

Dock.

"

234

Marvels

"

Margaret Michelson,

or

Mesmeric
Touch
of the

"

....--.

CHAPTER

"

The

compared.
?
cease
Argument from
Predictions.
Clairvoyancenot

Testament

Why did Miracles,if Mesmeric,

"

Occult Sciences."
and Mr. Close on

"

"

of the New

Archbishop of Dublin.

Brazil.

Salverte's

"

"Charlotte Elizabeth"
Dr. Arnold's Opinion.

"

"

School

"

of Nature.

Revelations."
Mesmerism.

"

Secret

"

Apprehensionof the
of

VI.

"

Lord
Revelations of the
Shrewsbury'sTyrolese Ecstatics.
"Remarkable
Sermons "of
Rachel
Prevorst."
Baker,"
"
Divine
Revelations of Nature," by an
American
Clairvoyant. The
The
Mesmeric
dier.
Prophetess. The SleepingHaymaker.
SleepingSolMesmeric Action contagious. MaxurelLand-Bacon. oiuMsgnetic
267
Sympathy and Virtue

"

"

"

Seeress of

"

"

.^ "

"

"

"

CHAPTER
General

Rules

for

VIII.

Domestic
Mesmerism.
Sleep not
Modes
DifFerenee-oLJEftects.Can any one Mesmerise ?
necessary
of Mesmerising. Patient not to be awakened.
LengthenedSleepnot
dangerous. Methods of Demesmerising. Exertion of the Will.
Warmth.
Benefit from
Experiments. Good Sleep at Night.
Absence of Mesmeriser and Contact of Third Party. Class of Diseases
affected by Mesmerism.
Epilepsy Organic Disease.
Paralysis
Different Stages of Mesmeric
Freedom
of Manner.
Condition.
|
Clairvoyance. Conclusion
.319

Mesmerising.
"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

APPENDIX.
No. I.
No. II.

Instances of

Ecstasyand

unconnected with Mesmerism

Clairvoyance
347
and
to
Sleep-waking, Insensibility
Pain, independenf

of Mesmerism
---...
of Bodyi "c.
III. Lightness

No.
No. IV.

'

35
-

Speakingstrange Languages,"c.

354

sgg

MESMERISM
AKD

ITS

OPPONENTS.

INTEODUCTORY

It

of Fontenelle's

one

was

truth

CHAPTER,

in his

hand,

he would

prudential maxim,

"

with

sayings, that
take good care

indicative

of

if he held every
and not open it ;"

"

that

calculating

"

cotemporariestaxed him ; and

though its adoption in practicemay, doubtless, have
and interests,
contributed to his own
such a feeling,
ease
if generally
acted on, would
be fatal to the well-beingof
reserve

which

kind.*

human
With
such

so

cautious

coward

he

was

the academician

was
spirit

his

in

observed

he

respectinghim, that
for
stranglingdiscussion ;
! yet Fontenelle
a philosopher
"

"

This

indifference
with

health

for

always.found

was

**

disait

caractSre de

favourable

truisms, were

souvent

"

"

La

Motte,

d'user
plaisantant,
was

born

Fontenelle

est

s'iltenait toutes

les verites

Biographie Universelle,^it.
dans
de

in 1657, and

une

lettre

pretextes

la

une

him

calculee.

main, il

sa

died \T5T.-~Ibid.
B

his

of

term

exact

reserve

dans

to

universal

se

garderait

Fontenelle.

Duchesse

du

Maine,

I'accusait,
en

lea diaeussions."
Itrangler

pour

pretext

generation.
this contentment
investigations,

and

que
de I'ouvrir.".

bien

Le

was

wise in his

popularity. Voltaire called

genius; and his life was prolongedto the
centuiy.f
*

that it

strange character this for

onward

admitted

esteem,

own

afflicted,

Fontenelle

MESMERISM

But

AND

as

OPPONBJNTIS.

sorry counsellor; and a

of
author stillis for the charm and variety

like
timidity

favourite

ITS

our

this is

this dread of encountering

this
opposition,
writings,
in large
of inquiry,
slavishsuppression
our
lessens,
measure,

his

respect for his memory

and

minds,what

of all generous

it suffers,
in the estimation

Southeycalls

"

an

abatement

heraldry."*

in

in this reluctance for the

Now

liberation of truth,
expressedin the above often quoted

Fontenelle

which

sentiment,there is

somethingwhich may remind the

in regardto their present
reader of the medical profession
the study of Mesmerism.
on
atj;itude
They too seem
/followersin the same
cautious,unrisking,
uninvestigating
in
usual
school ; theytoo seem
independence
wanting their
and frank-hearted sincerity
seem
unwilling;,
; they too
like the philosophic
centenarian,to unclasptheir hands,
and givetruth its freest circulation: and yet,while they
resemble him in these several points,
there is a distinction
them, which is somewhat
secretary.

between

When

Fontenelle said,that

of truths,he would
motives

no

held

or

not

rather

were

had, in fact,no
he had

turn

in favour of the

though his

hand

demical
aca-

full

were

his
open it for any consideration,
selfish than unphilosophical.
He

for

beinga martyr

in

good cause

wish to be the victim of any fashionable outcry,

forth as the referee for every doctrine under

discussion.

If

truth

could

only be

maintained

under

his

the truth must

championship,
go to the wall. If the
the
publiccould only be benefited at his inconvenience,
publicmust foregothe advantage.Not that he objected
to the knowledgeof truth for himself and his own
private
it was
its escape into the world that he
investigations;
dreaded; he mightstudyit,and examine it in his closet
*

Loid

See

Letter to William Smith, where

Southey's
the
and
Jeffrey
EdinburghEeyiew,
,

he

speaksof

the present

INTRODUCTORY
at

home; only let him

"

CHAPTER.

be

sparedthe dangersof
the responsibility
of letting
too much

and

coverer
dis-

light

mankind.

upon

Now

in all this

and

reserve

there
investigation,

is much,
medical friends

our

all this,
they are, indeed,
and

nelle would

not

but

"

not

but they wiU

society,

on
"

from

the

said,that resembles
Mesmeric question;

more."
something

not

open
risk his ease

free

before

we

Fonte-

his hands" to communicate

open

they will

Fontenelle would

as

holdingback

ledge;
know-

theirs to receive it;

for the instructionof

pass from

routine
professional
for their own.
even
Fontenelle was
selfish,
timid,and
f
rom
shrinking
rather il-^
consequences ; but they are
and retrogressive.
liberal,
unphilosophic,
Truth,even for
its own
sake, or for its benefit on others,seems
to have
neither charm nor
recommendation
with them.
They
close their eyes, they stop their ears, they harden their'
hearts,theydesire not to be informed or set righton this'
be the advantages
the gratification
or
what they
subject,
not

may !
It may

not

be without its use

to

ask, what

be the

can

motives on the part of medical m^n for this

unexpressed
for
Strangedisinclinationfor the study of Mesmerism?

that

some

conduct, is

secret
a

reasons

pointthat

are

at

the

bottom

longeradmits

no

of

of their
a

doubt"

Whilst almost every other educated person is beginning

to
of probability
and reality
allow,that there is much more
in the

of the Inesmerists,
than originally
representations

mesmerist
could bringforward some
Every experienced
story or other,similar to the following
statement
mentioned by Mr. SpencerHall :
It is
feature of the age, that a physicianof fashionable
worth
as
a
recording,
in the town
on
(Halifax),
beinginvited to assistin an investigation,
practice
in
it
protestedagainst altogether the most contemptuous terms, on the
of mesmerism
too apparent to permithim
was
to
ground that the fallacy
entertain the thought that it needed inquiryat all ; in short, that any such
to the profesaion."
See Mr. S.,Hall's very interesting
inquirywould be disgraceful
35.
Mesmeric Experiences,
p.
*

'

"

AND

MESMERISM

ITS

OPPONENTS.

still
preparedto expect, the "profession"
not be so
withholds its adhesion. They may, perhaps,
and ridicule as
loud and offensive in their vituperations
theywere a few years back ; theymay have altered their
as
silentand self-distrusting
; still,
tack,and become more
scepticism
;
a
body,they openlyproclaiman unyielding
if theydo not actually
inquiry
; and
reject,
they dislike,
or with a
seldom voluntarily
good grace, either start or
it is
in conversation.* In stating
this,
pursue the subject
that very many have
remembered with pleasure,
of course
with a most candid and
in our investigations
co-operated
of those that have
honourable spirit
; that the number
openlyjoinedour ranks is increasing
every day, and
forms a highly
minority
respectable
; and that the
already
and more
the students in the
especially
men,
younger
the claims
not undesirous of acknowledging
are
hospitals,
of the science to its placeamong
their physiological
searches
rewere

men

stillit must

with

regret be

confessed that

of experienced
i.e. those
largemajority
practitioners,
in their prohave secured an
who
advanced standing
fession,
do hold aloof from all serious investigations
upon
the question,
and if they do not giveutterance
to their
by an open expressionof contempt, are at
feelings
least mysteriously
dumb
the
evasive on
or
politely
wish,in a temperateand
.topic
; and it is,therefore,
my
what can
he the
to consider closely,
-friendly
spirit,
for so lingular
violation of their
reasons
a
.:vunexpressed
-general
usages.
Of course,
they would themselves say, that the
that the facts alleged,
a
was
Tcason
simple one,
in themselves,and so opposedto
monstrous
so
were
the laws of nature, that no inquiry
needed ; for that
was

the

"

their mere

statement

carriedwith them to the medical mind

utterance
to my own
sayingthis,I am not so much giving
cxpfit
he
observations
of
almost
allmcsmerisers
with whom
rierice, recording
I
have spokenon the pojntin question.
*

In

as

MESMERISM

ITS

AND

of serious earnestness

is

OPPONENTS.

supposedto

be

lurkingat

the

bottom.

They little dream, that their cautious retreat

is rather attributed to a
in the practice
from a participation
of a future loss of income, than to
apprehension
"ZaeV"oyawi
True it
conviction of scientificsuperiority.
a philosophic
is,that the

"

love of money

that medical men,

is the root of aU evil :

like other

mortals,are

not to be

"

and

regarded

independentof its influence ; but the tenor of their

generalconduct makes a chargeof this nature ridiculous
and unmerited.
My own
experience
(and I have had but
of forming an
too many
opinion)^
painfulopportimities
is so
TTOuld lead to the conclusion,that no one profession
motives.- No men
littleunder the bias of mercenary
give
sacrificeso
much of a gratuitous
or
so
unboughtassistance,
as

tauch time and labour without

prospectof remuneration)

they. And to suppose that a liberal and educated

like this would oppose themselves to the progress
profession
of a great scientificdiscovery
from an ungenerous
hension
appreis
of its provingdetrimental to their interest,
in the extreme.*
monstrous
They themselves must feel,
is almost
defence from such an imputation
that a mere
it is unnecessary.
But it is necessary,
as insulting
as
more
necessary than theyimagine. If I have heard the
opiniononce, I have heard it hundreds of times,and not
but gravely
maintained and
uttered casually
or in badinage,
insisted upon, as a matter of certainty.
It is,in fact,the
all but universal inference ; and it would really
sirable
deseem
that the parties
thus misunderstood should be made
do

as

"

aware

of the construction to which

Dr. Elliotson has well observed," Some

that their

pocketswould

suffer :

"

but

many

their reserved dealing

have been hostile from

with abundant means,
and

fancy
more

than they could get through, nay, some

retired from practice,
have
practice
manifested the same
fore,
spirit."Zoist, No. xv. p. .S77. Dr. E. agrees, therewith me
in tracingthe hostility
to a different cause
than the question
"

"

of income.

INTEODUCTOEY

CHAPTEE.

has thus rendered them liable. But, in truth,

the
is itselfalso founded on a mistake.

Mesmerism

opinion

partakemuch more of the miraculous

before the sanguine
of some
ardent
character*,
anticipations
thus be realised. Its effectsare indeed great
can
partisans
and various,and often most unexpected,
triumphingover
of the evils of life in a way
for the
delightful
many
Christian to witness, but yet must
they be regarded
rather as auxiliary
than superseding
his
to the practitioner,
rather as adding a fresh item to the former
attendance,
with his kind and neof his art, than dispensing
cessary
resources
is now
exercised by nonThat Mesmerism
professional
care.
is indeed a fact,but one
rather resulting
parties,
than desirable in
from its presentunfixed position,
It is because theywho ought
to continue.
or
itself,
likely
and
to be its championsand directors stand coldly
aloof,
all aid throughits influence. But let its claims,
as
reject
be
those of an importantbranch of therapeutic
practice,
once
(andthat such a day is steadily
fuUy recognised
proaching
apand
indications give certain proof)j
very many
No longer
would then ensue.
a different state of things
incurable cases, where the despairing
would a few
sician
phymust

"

"

"

had

almost the

sometimes at
taken his leave,be transferred,
of death,to
agonies

acquaintance
mesmerising

try if he could procure relief;but the disease would, be

with
with at the earlierstagesof its development
grappled
No
of success.
certain assurance
longerwould
a
more
to

the /
throughthe fear of offending
patient,
hesitating
admit into the sick room
some
/"
medical friend,
surreptitiously
for all(^
with a distressing
responsibility
amateur
magnetist,
would be adopted,
openlyand
parties
; but the treatment
by the express direction of professional
more
agreeably,
is generally
employedas the
"advice. As it is.Mesmerism
the

See

the

chapter on

Miracles of the New

Comparison between

Testament.
B

Mesmeric

Cures

and the

and

mesmerism:

lastresource, when

its

opponents.

every other

remedy has been tried and

of
failed; it is employedtoo, with an unpleasant
feeling
if without the sanction of a rerisk and uncertainty,
gular
most
to
And this is a jiosition
painful
practitioner.
the sick person, and one from which he would gladly
but little of the real invalid,
who
escape. They know
or
imaginethat he ever desiresto rid himself of the visits,
of the medical man.
The sons of
shake oif the authority,
ber,
as
Esculapius
are, in essentials,
supreme in the sick chamin his confessional,
the Wesas the Belgian
or
priest
leyanminister in a Welsh conventicle. It is onlywhen
that their
failureshave followed the prescription,
repeated
power ceases, or the charm is broken. It is onlywhen the
that the aid
orthodox systems have lost their effect,
of the heterodox mesmerist is called in. But let the

more

themselves
faculty
the legitimate
means

once

include magnetic
treatment

within

and in no very serious case

of relief,
would it be resorted to without their approval.Of course

medical men, with large

would not
or
increasing
practice,
leisure to mesmerise extensively;
themselves enjoysufficient
its
theycould but givedirectionsfor its use, and supervise
the treatment Itselfwould In the main
application
; still,
to theirpleasure,
be subject
here
whilst,most probably,
and there,^
of the younger
some
members, with peculiar
and moral qualifications,
would devote themselves
physical
almost exclusively
to the practice
to suppose that,
: but
when once
Mesmerism
would be widelyemestablished.
ployed
without the sanction of the practitioner,
that it
or
from the sick house. Is an
would banish the physician
view arising
from an ignorance
of human nature,
erroneous
that the patients
themselves would neither
Jt is repeated,
in very serious diseases would
agree to it; nor
the magnetiser
himself be covetous of such anxious responsibility.

wish

nor

The

change
; and

indeed, might suffer from the

druggist,
largeamount of his poisonous
doses might

INTEODUCTOEY

remain unshaken

and,to

ence,

CHAPTEE.

his shelves; but the power, the influ-r

the income,of the real
to the point,

on

come

and physician
would
physiologist
;

Mesmerism

the other

would

be

extended

take its natural

and

proved
im-

placeamidst

"

appliancesof the healingart ; and the

lecturerand ii-responsible
would in great measure
manipulator
disappear.*
almost an impertinence
to vindicate
But, whilst it were
the character of professional
from the above illiberal
men
it cannot be said that a dread of the subject
imputation,
has not in some
measure
guidedtheir conduct. They have
had their fears of Mesmerism, thoughin a different sense
popular.
to that intended by the public.For the science is unaccurate
to say that
Perhapsit would be more
it was unpopular,
since a more
favourable estimation of its
littletime been gaining
value has for some
ground. Still,
it were
has laboured under
idle to deny that Mesmerism
The notion
many an unfortunate and odious appellation.
of its unreality
and falsehood,"the accusation of imposture,
Satanic agency,"
the potentcry of
so captivating
with weak and excitable women,
as
theyare that
ignorant
wherein
the very same
clamour has been raised on points
such an opinionwould be now
scouted, an erroneous
than
of the practice,and, more
idea of the impropriety
all,the noveltyof the thing,and the unpleasantness
"

"

"

"

"

attendant

on

unestablished theories : all these

to render
*

most

the science

and
unpopular,

tributed
con-

causes

to

attach

an

rather seek the countenance

I am
mesmerisers with whom
acquainted
the
One
of
rivals.
than set themselves up as their
of medical men,

Most

often said, that he

refuses to employ it.
the regular
practitioner

and

laborious

benevolent

mesmerists

has

only

The
because
"
uri
comme
is
usual
of
the
Gauthier
most
Je
:
pose toujours
language
ordonne
s'il
n'est
ou
doit
avoir
de
fait acquisqu'ilne
traitemeut,
pointy
Trait"
eonseille par un medecin, dont le magnetiseurest le prepos^,"
the art
practises

"

"

p. 29.
J^atique,

that
p. 697., stating

practice."See
See also

some

languageof Mesmer, quoted by Gauthier,

of puttinghis system into
the physicianis alone capable
medical world, p. 698.
the
Gauthier's
to
own
language

See
also

excellent

also

the

remarks

of Dr.

EUiotson,in Zoist,vol. iv. p.

377.

10

AND

MESMEEISM

OPPONENTS.

ITS

undesirable reputation
to its premature

day is not

have been

as

much

the name
of Mesmerism
to
to name
ill-breeding
of parliato start the topic
ears
as
politeand scientific,
mentary
reform at the table of a boroughmonger,
to
or
insiston the justice
of an increased grant to Maynooth to
Irish Orangeman. Animal magnetismwas, in shorty
an
a

mark

it would

when
distant,

so

advocacy. The

of

"

"

tabooed in fashionable circles. And

this is what

medical

both feltand knew.

true or false,
it
They felt thait,
unwelcome
was
an
topic; and that to inquireinto it
would be as unwise, as to practise
it would be unsafe.
men

Added

the dread of ridicule from

which, there was
of beingsingled
brethren, the apprehension
professional
ever
out, sneered down, and pointedat, if theymeddledjhowunclean thing."Thus, many
with the
disereetly,
to

"

"

concurred

causes

to

render Mesmerism

: a beacon
practitioner

and

on;

That

not

many,

fine and

out
following

distastefulto the

to lead men
avoid, -not a light
the study.
ventured on
therefore,
to

"

which
manly philosophy

shrinks not

from

fact,let it carry you where

it may ; that
love of truth at all price
; that high conscientiousness of
which would be ashamed
the convic'
to disown
principle,
tions of the understanding,
be the consequences howevel?
a

all these qualifications

inconvenient;
belong,apparently,
but to few.
"

To

the world what

show

Requiresnot

courage,

longexperience
gains,
pains;

tho' it calls for

But

at life'soutset

to inform

Is

bold

valiant mind."*

a.

of a
effort

mankind,

These,then,are

the reasons, which sufficiently

explain
the shyness
of medical men
for embarkingin the practice
;
the shyness,
of
those
who
had
we
established
not
mean,
yet
a

so

firm

in
footing

their vocation,and whose risks would be

far greater than any advantage
acquired;and he must
"

Crabbe's

Borough,Letter

VII.

INTEODUCTOKY

frst be well assured of his

CHAPTER.
own

would pronounce

moral

courage

and independence

sweepingcondemnation
such prudential
on
regardto worldlyprospects. All this
and younger
to the rising
however, exclusively
applies,
of the profession.
members
The questionyet remains,
what isit that has hindered the leaders of the body,those
fixed to be damaged by an
whose names
too firmly
are
unpopular
novelty,-what is it that has hindered them
irom giving
to a
an
honest,earnest,impartial
investigation
with such largeclaims to inquiry,
as the science
subject,
who

"

of mesmerism ?

is,that their resistance has arisen,

My own impression
from their beingcommitted to a positive
and adverse
partly
and partlyfrom tha,t prideof intellect which
opinion,
them
to scientificmen,
so remarkably
belongs
indisposing

it does to receive any statements

in
true which are
as
and pre-conceived
contradictionof their own
pre-arranged
as

notions.

theyhave committed themselves is certain. In an

eviland hastyhour they decided with senatorial authority,
that the mesmerical representations
an
were
absurdity,
To pass
and in the nature of thingscould not be true.
and the
the declarations of Continental physicians,
over
That

old storyof the French academies,it is sufficientto say

that the leaders in Englishpractice
at once
pronounced,

study,without
between the
without making a natural comparison
inquiry,
facts which
snagnetic
appearances and certain analogous
in several sickly
had presentedthemselves spontaneously
of their own
fession,
propersons, and, being recorded by men
;
lighton the question
might have thrown some
with onlyhere and there an occasional and supercilious
the most eminent physicians
attendance at an experiment,
splendid
that the metropoliscould produce,with one
adverse
to an
committed themselves at once
exception,
ex

the science.
cathedra,against

Without

12

ITS

AND

MESMERISM

OPPONENTS.

opinion
; and

brethren followed in their

all their provincial

train. This

was

has been

end

unfortunate for Mesmerism

themselves. To

their

retrace

and

unfortunate

still more

in the

; but

awkward

for

groundafter so falsea step,

themselves in the wrong, to admit that if greater

had been bestowed, a modified,if not indeed an
care
would of
have followed,
mightperchance
opposite,
opinion
to

own

course

painfulto

be

men

would be tantamount
the
own

to

It
eminence.
professional
sayingthat they,the anatomists,
of

had been mistaken in their

physiologists
par excellence,
and unprofessional
and that ignorant
parties
vocation,

had conducted them to the truth.

The natural heart kicks

againstsuch condescension. Pride, mortified vanity,a

would all be creating
dread of reproach,
a dread of ridicule,
the retractation,
an
'uproarin the mind, and forbidding
however desirable. A younger
man
might attempt it,
stand
leader. To
but not the advanced and dignified
by his order," however overbearing;to stick by his
however perverse ; to look any way but the way
opinions,
that would placehim in the right
; to appear deaf,blind,
absent,or overthoughtful
; to be too busyand too absorbed
in immediate occupations
to find leisure for the study;
anything,in short,would better suit his views than a
deviation from his
of the subject,
a
or
reconsideration
and primaryassertions. A philosopher
(saysthe
positive
than
sooner
wittyFrenchman)must part with everything
His mind may
his opinions.*
misgivehim as to their
beneath his feetj
truth ; he may feel the ground crumbling
of an approaching
fast
and observe signs
changegathering
around ; no matter for the result ; like an angry politician,
all the louder for
surrender
he must onlycry out
no
"

"

"

"

soutenu

avait toujourshorriblement
Panglosavouait qu'il
une

folsque

tout

allait a

Candide,cap.
rien.".^
croyait
"

30,

souffert ; mais ayant

i
l
le
soutenait
merveille,
toujours,et n'en

The

same

Je suis toujoursde mon

premiersentiment:
convient pas de me dedire."
Cap. 28,

"

"

great authority
says elsewhere,.
il ne me
;
je suis philosoplie
,

car

14

MESMEEISM

have

who

not

AND

studiea

u,

TTS

may

uc

OPPONENTS.
"//

uit,y ,

a.^.-^,

"*-.

San-

sheer,
we
grado's
pupil,
delicately
propose to them, from
to re-examine the subject the appealis idle,,
curiosity,
for-^
they shake their heads with an imposinggravity
all reply,
for,like their prototypein Spain,their
bidding
an
patientsmay suffer,but they cannot abandon
opinion!
It may, however,be asked,how is it that we
speak so
of the
of certain members
to the feelings
as
positively
and to their beinginfluenced by an opinion,
tO;
profession,
is one.
The answer
which they stand thus committed?
which carries its own
proofas soon as it is heard.
Mesmerism
to the
to be a powerful
auxiliary
professes
healingart. It professes,
rightor wrong, to lessen the
of bodilypain,to induce sleepwhere sleepis
amount
"

"

"

disease where disease is

otherwise unattainable,
to cure
often irremediable. Supposing,
for the sake of argument,,

that the

'

and that considerable

erroneous,

for the

altogether

of the clairvoyant
were
pretensions

abatement

must

of over
exaggerated
expectations
"

be made

merists
sanguinemes-

the claims of this

with these deductions,
still,

to
discovery

the

of beneficial

of a large
amount
possession

would yet remain considerable. What

then,
properties
it might be asked,would be the line of conduct, whioh^
from the friends of human
a priori,
we
might anticipate
kind on a question
of this nature ? What
would be the
pected
profession
languagewhich a philanthropic
might be exto employ,
to judgethem by the test of their usual,
should say, that,sceptical
as
theymight,
to the establishment of the fact,their uppermost

demeanour?

be

as

would
feelings
to
presenting

We

be those of

their notice

hope that

it

were

true.

On

of
unexpecteda discovery,
would be not only
hesitation and incredulity
course
if theywere
if no sinister
natural but proper ; still,
men
influences were
their views or warping their
biassing
so

"

INTRODUCTORY

CHAPTER,

hearts, their desire'"would be,

IS

that what

promisedto
humanitymight notconvey so vast a boon to sufFering
Their fears of its failure might be
prove a mistake.*
greaterthan their hopesof its success : they might apprehend
^

"

that the anxious wishes of the discoverer had

been

and bade him arrive too

thoughts,"
at a conclusion ; stiU they would listen with interest,
rapidly
selves
they would examine with care, they would themand do all they could to sift the
experimentalise,
of benefit there might
and establish how much
question,
covery
be obtained from the treatment
; and if the presumeddisinto an error, they would
resolved itselfunhappily
of the suffering
patients,
sympathisein the disappointment

the

and

"

father to his

feel

sincere

regretfor

the sad frustrationof their

boldlyassert,would be the feelings

terested
inif uninfluenced by any counter
of benevolent men,
or
There would be one
motives.
remedy less for
had
life than men's fond expectations
the ills of human
Mesmerism
been led to anticipate!
would, indeed, be
overthrown, but the contemplatedrelief of thousands

hopes. These, do

would
Has

of

our

this,then,

or

thinglike this,been

any

opponents, medical
!

reverse

discover the uses,

to

also !

be overthrown

nature, the very

not

but to

or

scientific? alas for human

Their aim has

been, not to
of the art ;
detect any fallacies,

avail themselves of its resources

of

but
disease,

to

the conduct

ever

towards

gation
the miti-

exercise their inventive faculties

far-fetched solutions for each result ; to fasten

starting
glee/,
unmitigated
each imaginedfailurewith the most
on
into a defeat of the
miscarriage
to magnifythe slightest
quired,
the most importantconditions reto neglect
system itself,
in

and then
moment
*

that these conditions

assume

in the trial: to tax their

their conduct
exemple,
See,j"ar

of itsvaloe

'

'

about

were

of

no

in suggesting
ingenuity

ether,and their instant experiment

16

AND

MESMEEISM

ITS

OPPONENTS.

child could refute ; to assert,and reassert,

and assert over again,
after theirassertionshad been

that
explanations

without number;
this has
by experiments
from the very
or
been, more
less,their line of bearing
guardedway,
beginning
; and to this,though in a more
do they stilladhere. The maintenance
of an
opinion
of
would seem
to be of greatervalue than the lessening
human
ills; and to show that their first conjecture
was
correct,a nobler triumphin the fieldsof science than the
chance of relieving
one
achingthrob ! If reallyanxious
for truth,and not committed to one
notion,
party-sided
venture on a trial?
why is it that theydo not occasionally
contradicted

On
never

"

the contrary,
is it not notorious that numbers
who have
witnessed a single
experiment,

who
never

have
tempted
at-

who know nothingon

manipulation,
than what they have read or heard from
the subject
more
their fellow-opponents,
to their original
pertinaciously
cling
abused
the apparentwish of beingdiswithout even
asseverations,
with
of their error ? While the sounds of victory,
the part
which theyhail an accidental disappointment
on
even

half

of the mesmerists,are littleconsistent with the character

of benevolent men, who, if not blinded by their own
termine
dethat the cause
of
views,would readily
perceive
and
humanityhad encountered a temporary discomfiture,
that what

was

source

of exultation to themselves

might

prove the death-blow to the hopesof myriadsof sufferers!

The above observations applyto one class of opponents ;
with

a
second,and,it is believed,

far

this
larger
portion,

for the inquiry

indisposition
may be rather traced to that
overweeningconfidence in their own attainments,which
often reject
and as
bids men
what they cannot
explain,
often qualifies
for arriving
at
them, in their own judgment,
the labour of a preliminary
a conclusion without incurring
investigation.
that the very
It mightbe presumed,
in the firstinstance,

rNTRODTJCTORY

CHAPTER.

17

last persons to be influenced

conceit would

of intellectual
by this species
scientificmen.
"We might infer that

be

periment,
they whose knowledgeis built upon induction and exwhose every discovery
but onlycarried with it
and that if
of man's circumscribed acquirements,
a proof

much

had

remained behind ;
been learnt,far,far more
that these would be the humblest and most
modest of

mortals,and

the least

thoughtheywere

as

and her secrets.

We

fulminate their dogmata,

to
disposed

the omniscient

of
highpriests

well understand,on

can

the self-sufficient
arrogance of

the

nature

contrary,

one-idea'd student of

some

with allits extensive

theology.This branch of learning,
mind may travel over its
has its limits ; one
departments,
who is half
main pointsin a lifetime;and the polemic,
and has
blind with poringover tomes of patristic
divinity,
from the dawningof Luther to
mastered every controversy
dulging
the defection of Newman,
mightwell be pardonedfor inof some
in a sneer
suspected
unat the presumeddiscovery
But with nature's mysdoctrine in Scripture.
teries
the thingis widelydifierent; here a va,st illimitable
knowledgeis yet
expanse lies before,here the profoundest
closed
and with all that has been dislittlelearning
but a
;
tifully
we
researches,
to the deepest
are, as has been beauobserved, but pickingup a few shells beside the
"

"

of truth.

ocean

No

none
the scientific;

would

few have
yet, in practice,
Experiencehas shown, in
have

carried their

only to
*

The

an

Abbe

alive to this fabt thaii

more

are

men

it;
readily
acknowledge
it.
frequently
forgotten
that they
instances,

more

more
numerous

not
to noveltiesin science,
opposition

intolerance of the fact

but
discovered*,

J. B. L., in his curious work

called, MagnetismedeVant

to

"

la
la Cour de Rome," says truly, Toujours la science ancienne a pers"utfi
dans le monde, et qui
savans
qu'on appelle
"science nouvelk; et jamaisceux
de
fanatisme
d'intoUrance
a'agit
et
lorsqu'il
plaisenta rep^terles mots
se
des opinions
quirie heurtaient pas
n'ont et^ tol^rants que pour
de
"

religion,

avaient adoptees."
p. 47.
cellesqu'ils

AlO)

MESMERISM

18

ITS

OPPONENTS.

of the discoverer. Pride, a

persecution
is,in great measure, the source
angry pride,

bitter
and

but there

other

are

also at work.

causes

with the detailsof

for a
qualify
necessarily

broader

wounded
of this;

Our accurate

quaintance
ac-

does not
department,
into general
nature.
insight
one

full and well stored with matter, and

in the process. As Alfred
yet rendered only narrower
Tennysonremarks,in the finestof his poems,
The mind

be

may

"

Knowledgecomes,

*
lingers."

terrupted
upon the mind in an uninin philosophyflow ; facts from every province
the other ; but
be accumulated without end, one on

Knowledgemay
may

but wisdom

be

pouredin

from the mightywhole,

generalises
where a fact is but partially
veloped,
dewhich can detect a principle
and travel beyond habitual studies into the
analogousand the cognate; this higherwisdom does not
necessarily
belongto the accredited leaders of the most
erudite academy. On the contrary,
theyare often liberal
but in one
direction.
but in one line, and philosophers
Out of their particular
or
or
set,or pursuit,
pale,
theory,
the merest tyro
or
as
as
theycan be as bigoted,
ignorant
in their schools. As our
Arnold most charitably
incomparable
expresses it,speakingof Johnson's fondness for
of a different department
at the expence
in
biography,
literature
We
cannot
:
have never
comprehendwhat
studied; and history
(read,
mesmerism)must be content
of every thinggreat and
to share in the common
portion
good; it must be undervalued by a hastyobserver."\ In n
which

that large
wisdom

"

"

we

*
LocksleyHall. There are parts of this noble poem, that one reads,
as
Johnson said of Dryden's
Ode, " with turbulent delight."
See also a very beautiful sermon
Lecture.
t Arnold's Inaugural
by the
Bishop of Oxford, " Pride a Hindrance to true Knowledge." Amono- other
admirable remarks the Bishopobserves," And as he (theself-satisfied
phiwill not learn from others,so not even
losophist)
will he be
by Nature herself
taught. He thinks he knows so much, that his estimate of what is to he

knowH

is lowered.- *

He

has

theoryto maintain,
"

solutionwhich

INTKODtrCTOET

short,this Is
in

CHAPTER*

19

character :
contradiction in the scientific
branch of

ferior
learning,
theyestimate at an invalue a knowledge
in that of which theyare ignorant
in attaching
an
theypass it over as of minor moment
to theirown
exaggerated
importance
especial
acquirements
;"
and thus it is,that mesmerism has been refused its place

masters

one

" "

"

within

the circle of medical

from the usual

Sciences,"
alliance between ignorance
and pride,
that
an
ignorance
disbelieveswhat it has never
examined,and a pridethat
"willnot stoopto rnake the needful inquiry.*

author of the
Vestigesof the
accomplished
Natural Historyof Creation
remarks, There is a
of incredulity
from our
measure
ignoranceas well as
from our knowledge
distinguished
sopher
philo; and if the most
three hundred years ago had ventured to develop
fact which onlycould harmonise with the
new
any striking
solar system,we cannot doubt
as
yet unknown Copernican
tific
at in the scienthat it would have been universally
scoffed
in
world,such as it then was, or at the best interpreted
with ideas already
a thousand wrong
ways, in conformity
As the

"

"

"

familiar."f
Medical

men

have another

minds

in their own

cause

for

the consciousness that it

this dislike of mesmerism, viz..

-would upseta
"was

of their presentpresumedacquirements

largeamount

that when it
Foissac tells us in his report,
in the academy to pubhsh the result of the

proposed

itwith energy,
Committee's labours,M. Castel opposed

claiming
ex-

true,theywould

that if the facts narrated were

which shall not be disturbed;

generalisation
disproved."a
all the goldenletters
he reads amiss
of this false cipher,
possessed
"

must

not be

and once
around him." p. 19.
said a
*
"
Pride is but a fool,"
persons

are

I have

now

is oftenmere
+
'

"

of

man

wit :

"

* * *
Formerly,I had
incorrigible.
adversaries
the prideoffaith.Let our
10.
p. 192.
Teste,Cap.
ignorance.""

not

of Creation,p.
Vestiges

187.
c

rt^

,.

but," says Teste,

,

^^
all

proud
t\x^ prideof incred,dHy,

.,

recollect that

mcredulitg

MESMERISM

20

destroyone
M.

halfof

Castel's alarms

is the

AND

ITS

knowledge* And
physiological

their

confined

not

are

his

to
peculiar
feeling

OPPONENTS.

At
profession.

own

distaste for the

a
formation,

himself,neither

to

"new

as
learning,"

the Heit

was

of
theology
antiquated
the schoolmen,whose supremacy it threatened to displace,
for their oppowith the priesthood
a powerful
reason
was
sition
At a
to Luther's revived doctrines from Scripture.
to
certain time of life,
have small relishfor returning
men
school,and passing
througha fresh curriculum of elementary

tailed in contradistinctionto the

instruction. And

Hall.

The

is it at the

so

leaders at the bar

any extensive

changein

code,old books

new

presentday in Westminster
the natural enemies of
With a
of jurisprudence.

are

matters

be burnt,and

must

and
practice

precedents
also

And mesmerism
spongedfrom the memory.
would produceso much of a revolution in certain departments
of physiology,
and so many received theories might
have to be overthrown,that the man
who has gaineda position
with his presentstock of knowledgehardlycares
to
noyance,
beginover again. And so, to releasehimself from the anhe pronounces
that mesmerism
authoritatively,
be true, and that practitioners
cannot
and their patients
are
to remain
as theywere."
"

In alliancewith much

"

that
displeasure

that has been stated above,is the

medical

interference. On

this

men

pointthey are

Gauthier tellsus, that it was

time,

one

What

can

common

always sensitive.
remark in Paris at

learn from the

we

not

are

to the author to
suggested
*

non-professional

of
writings

men

"

? f In a notice of the firstedition

physicians
this little,
work in the Medico-Chlrurgical
Review, it is

that
of

"

entertain at

"

"

mind his own

and the
business,"

Mais, dit M. Castel,si la plupartdes faitsmentionriesdans le Rapport

^taient reels,ils detruiraient la moitiS de nos
connaissances physio-

}iegiqueis."-^Foi$sac's
Bapport de V Academic.
t Que peut-on apprendredans les ecrits d'hommfis jai
mSdecins?
Gauthier,Traite Pratique,
j".356.
"

"

ne

eont

pas

22

MESMEEISM

both for forming

an

Now, of

course,

Am)

ITS

and
opinion,

it cannot

be

OPPONENTS.

the
for instructing

denied,that

body of

on

public.

the

great
mainly

facts in any profession,

those who have
devoted themselves to the study,would be far the best

sense
a
judgment. Common
pronounce
sion
teaches it. It is for this that we so highlyvalue the divi-

to
qualified

of labour.

And

for almost allthat is technical,

or

in

be
it is to the student of his particular
detail,
department,
he an artist,
or
a lawyer,
a theologian,
a surgeon, a soldier,
that we should principally
look for information and
sailor,
it may still
this most
guidance.But, in admitting
fully,

how far an indifierentspectator,

trammelled
unor
one
question,
routine,
by a peculiar
may be as well,or even
for taking
the more
better suited,
correct observation of a
new
object.For he mightregarditfrom a fresh
perfectly
and differentpoint. He might be free from conventional
of a particular
He mightnot have the prejudices
usages.
with a
school. He might be less likely
to commence
^'
conclusion." He mighthave a calmer and more
foregone
in connexion
He mightlook at it more
spirit.
philosophic
At any rate we have high authority
with general
nature.
this contemptuous sneer
at our
for disregarding
tency.
incompecan
never
The lamented Arnold, whose opinions
be too often quoted,
says in his Lectures, Consider,that
than
of things
has more
in the common
course
man
one
no
to feel himself
or
one
profession
; is he then to be silent,
of all
the subjects
of passing
a judgment upon
incapable
be

"

that
except that one ? And consider farther,
professions
of
men
disadvantages
professional
may labour under some
from within always,and
at their calling
their own, looking
from without.
then,there is a distinctClearly,
never
there must be a pointup
tion to be drawn somewhere,
ject
subto which an unprofessional
judgmentof a professional
;
may be not onlycompetent,but of high authority
beyondthat pointit cannot venture without prealthough
*

"

INTEODUCTORY

CHAPTER,

23

*
sumptionand folly."
Burke, too, says almost the same
in the
While I revere men
thingin his own forcibleway:
functions that belongto them, I cannot, to flatterthem,
Their very excellence in their pecu-"
givethe lie to nature.
liarfunctions may be far from a qualification
for others.
"

It cannot

that when
escape observation,

men

are

too much

to professional
and faculty
confined
habits,
theyare rather
for whatever dependson
the
disabled,than qualified,
in mixed aflfairs,
on
knowledgeof mankind, on experience
a
to the
view,^''
"c.t Here, then,is our answer
comprehensive
medical sceptic,
who tauntingly
our
as
rejects
testimony
We cannot, to please
him, givethe lieto
non-professional.
his views,suppress our own
We cannot, to serve
nature.
facts and convictions. Nay, with alldeference be it added,
it seems
a
question,
accordingto Burke and Arnold,
whether we, perchance,
as
may not be as well qualified
At any rate, as we have
himself for coming to an opinion.
littlerespect
and he has not, some
studied the subject,
backed as it is by
be feltfor our
experience,
mightsurely
of the
the strong corroborative proofafforded by some

ablest in his

own

vocation.

! The medical
experience
Aproposof non-professional
for thus cheaply
perchance,
sceptic,
may have his excuse
our
judgment; but why does he
estimating
poor untaught
of his well-trained and talented
the testimony
slight
equally
Turn

brethren ?
are

one

to the pages

of the

"

Zoist."

See who

best contributors? Hospital

physicians,
ence,
standard works of referare
whose writings
especially
and

its main

practice,
giving
and surgeons of largeand general
and
with professional,
in detail,
physiological,
their cases
of
scientific commentaries. Now, why is it that none
these

have been

cases

from
any lecture
*

broughtforward

and

chair ? Why
professor's

examined

is it that in

Arnold's Lectures,p. 194.

Burke's Reflectionson French Revolution,
c

in

24

MESMERISM

AND

journalor review,medical

no

has yet been

taken

OPPOIJENTS.

ITS

of any
We
mean

chirur^cal,
any

or

one

of

cure

character ?
striking
some
sentence
sweepingdashing,

notice
and

marked

and with
generally,

not

of contemptuousdiscredit,
each fact and passage analysed

and with
hut in detail,
and discussed in a criticaland candid

the statements

not

? Why
spirit

are

denied,if they can, the symptoms

explainedaway, and the cures contradicted ? Are the

unreal imaginarybeings
? Are the diseases and
patients
pains apocryphalinventions? Are the narrators weak,
uneducated sciolists? Why is it that this silence,so
speakingand significant,
reigns
throughoutthe pages and
;

the lectures of the opponent ? The

Many of. us,

who

are

might indeed
non-professional,

offer a different apology

for
the

thrust
no

Like

arena.

upon

We

have taken up the inquirybecause

We
have been caHed intruders,but

us.

else would.

one

intrusion has been into

our

carpedat
regretat
Our

in
appearance
greatness has been

obnoxious

our

Malvolio, "our

"

is self-evident.*

answer

We

room.
unoccupied

an

are

from
meddling,but our interference arose
continue unexplored.
a secret of nature
observing
for

scientificopponents bear

animal
ungracious

certain resemblance

to

the

neither

investigate
else. But, -again
suffer any one
nor
we
themselves,
say,
the prominencyhas been none
of our own
Most
seeking.
of.us would be willing
of
to retire from the responsibilities
and leave the trained physiologist
to
the superintendence,
and prerogatives.
nistrators
To be admienjoyhis due precedence
not

let the

in the fable.

is what
advisers,

They

we

would

and fallback into his natural and

I

am

at.

and
the studythemselves,
not neglect
faculty

advocate
non-professiorial

rather aim

told that

not

any medical gazetteor

in the Zoist.

notice
single

or

to

cease

more

the

consulted,

consistent position..

examination

cures
journalof the striking

be

Only

has yet appeared in

by Dr. EUiotson

recorded

INTEODXJCTORY

One
in

of the strangestreasons
disbeliefof our Mesmeric
off-hand way

23

CHAPTEE.

in the world for

cures,

professional
givenme

once

was

physician.As he is a
of a certain mark, and seemed to be expressing
the
man
conventional views of his brethren,perhapshis speechmay
an

be worth
the vis

by

You," said hcj are not

medicatrix naturm.
We, however, who
a

notice.

"

the curtain,and know

we

London

"

how

receive the credit,

are

Nature, have

our

reasons

aware
are

of

behind

cures, for which

generally
owing to the power of
altogether
to the
for being sceptical
as

very

The
reader will,I
of Mesmerism."
presumed efficacy
hope,give me credit for beingtoo well-bred to receive
the gpntleman's
observation with any thingelsebut a polite
smile.
But I thoughthis speechfunnyat the time, and I
think so still. Without commenting,
however, upon what

firstpresentsitselfto the mind

after such

observe to what

ad ahsurdum

arrives.

an

argumentum

Supposingthat
nature

own

cures,

reasoning

had

been the

would he assert that

alone,had been the agent in all ?

good purpose was

for instance,
that
Supposing,

out

his

unassisted nature

sole agent in several of his

nature, and
so, to what

remark, let us

of ten had thrown

his attendance ?
three

or

four

If

Cui Bono

aguishpatients

off their disease without the aid of

would he deny that quininehad been the main

quinine,
remedy with the remainder ? And so is it in fevers,and
of
constitution,
in other diseases ; nature and a vigorous
so
course,

been
doctor

the work, while the doctor had

neither the
the fame and the fee; still,
receiving
nor

thoughour
cause

often done

have

his doses

friends are

of many

are
"

explodedor

expelled. For.

behind the curtain

of their most

successful

"

as

to

the true

results,
theyare

of judicious
alive to the great importance
still actively
remedies in the sick room.
treatment, and of well-applied

2C

MESMERISM

OPPONENTS.

ITS

AND

And

tlievery same
to
applies
reasoning, in like manner,
Mesmerism.
If,indeed,our cause
only rested upon a
handful of cases, the subtle sceptic
cident
mighttalk of the coinof nature, and pause before he gave in his
operation
adhesion to our science. But again
we
say, what has been
said over and over
that our
again,
argument is not built
upon one, or two, or twenty successfulcures, but upon an
accumulation of them, upon cases without number occurring
"

in

England,in France,in Germany,in

and elsewhere ;
States,

the incredulous

to

therefore it is that

Afho
practitioner,

in Mesmerism

success

and

the United

would

to the vis medieatrix

we

reply

refer

our

of Nature's

simultaneous action,
that as neither he would allow,in his
to a
to be placed
own
were
treatment, that all his cures
the
lucky coincidence,
and
Magnetism,
of

that

by such

Doubtless

groundsfor

our

an

our

cures

argument holds good

too

are

in

posed
to be dis-

numerous

off-hand assertion.*
friends have very reasonable
and caution,before they lend an

medical

suspense

over-credulous ear

same

to

the firstmarvels that

are

told them

of Mesmerism.
with

so

much

For, in their own

practice,
they meet
that is counterfeit,so much that can
be
"

or is exaggerated,
or laid to a
imagination,
wrong
not unnaturally,
theyexpectto find in every
cause, that,
but an old acquaintance
under a new
novelty
startling
face. It is but Proteus,theythink,appearing
againwith
form.
And
distrust of this
a varying
a fresh trick and
is alwaysthe
kind is not so irrational. Human
nature
same
case, is not likely
; and he who would delude in one
in another,
and Mesmerism
to be a patternof simpledealing
is,of course, not exempt from itsown temptations

traced to

See Mr.

Kiste'sLetter " Facts

Fallacies" (Bailliere),
aa
against
giving

of the late Hon. Mrs. Hare, where, at p. 43.,

of the interesting
case
the post hoc non
favourite explanation,
propter hoc, as it regards
"
As
Mr.
Kiste
It is not an isolated case
m
et
is
Mesmerism, fully
says,
of
the
is
the
it
not
that proves
publication one or two narrativesthat
power ;
the question
settles
avthority."P. 44,
; itis the number that gives
account

another

"

INTEODTJCTORY

27

CHAPTER.

and its own

deceits. All this isbut self-evident; and we

afford to allow that all our
can
patients
may not be free
from the suspicion
of over-acting,
and that many cases,
true in their commencement,
have had somewhat of the
unreal and of the doubtful superadded
in their progress ;
and therefore can we
grant to the slowly-judging
prac^
titionera

for circumspection
and delay.
largeindulgence
is one
circumspection
thing,and uninquiring
ticism
scep-

But

another;and to confound the natural with the

the simple
well'^
with some
artificial,
untaught
villager*
exercised somnambule, whose objectis gain and not
is equally
and uncharitable.
instruction,
unphilosophical
from our longlistof cases, for the
Enough can be spared,
and
chargeof imposture,
pleasant
enoughfor imagination,
enoughfor nature and its simultaneous action,and a large
residuum of curious phenomenawiU yet remain for the
"

employ the oftenof Coleridge,

after ample deductions for
quotedlanguage
and Delusion,"animal magnetism
Illusion,
Collusion,
for the wisest.
must
yet continue a puzzle
consideration of the student ; or,

to

"

These

are

the

that

reasons

as
suggest,
strange reluctance

venture

we

in some
degreeof that
planatory
of Mesmerism, which
the recognition

medical

exhibit,
f
profession

And

to

to

ex-'

for

the leaidersof the

examine their motives,

be charged
mesmerised,may
frequently
exhibit for the
in their parts: but they who
with havingbeen well practised
without
even
having heard them
firsttime the mesmeric characteristics,
the
of
kind. There is
all
from
stand
aloof
suspicions
described,
previously
be
to
chargedupon them, and*
nor
duplicity
imitation,
neither habit,nor
genuine.
as eminently
the phenomena theydisplay
may be regarded
therefore,
"

But,

have

Persons, who

"

on

the

other

been

hand, it should

be

considered

also humbler

in

that such

degreethan those

phenomena, if
to a
belonging

to be relied on,
waking,l(c." Townshend, p. 92.
advanced stageofsleep
omitted another reason, which is sometimes advanced
t I have purposely
jlesmerismwould occasion,
in explanation,viz. a fearof the trouble that
The same
would
motive
actuate inen.
such
a
that
because I do not believe
are

more

"

more

"

reason

The
many

"

of ether in the hospitals.

is also givenfor the diminished application
trouble thai!
give more
notion is idle. Mesmerism would scarcely
if
it
did,the labour
medical arrangements; but even
of the

would fall on

present
the

nurse

or

the medical
on
the
superintend treatment

assistant,"not

would be simplyto advise and

man,

whose

duty

28

MESMERISM

ITS

AND

OPPONENTS.

has,for the cause

attempted,
pf truth,become expedient.For so small a fractionof the
over,
ever
public
actually
judge for themselves,and it is,moreon
much men's habit to receive their opinions
so
medical subjectsfrom the favourite familyphysician,
whom theyelevate into a species
of Esculapian
Pope,that
with conit is needful to show when he is pronouncing
temptuous
the virtues of Mesmerism, that,his
sneer
against
not so conclusive. The
claims to infallibility
are
own
after all,
the judgemay incur
oracle,
may not be oracular,
of partiality.
the suspicion
This,I say, it had at length
become desirable to pointout, and havingthus explained
in the

that has been

manner

which we suppose to have hitherto biassed the

feelings
heads of the profession,
will now
we
proceedto a more
task, and observe what is the present attitude of
pleasing
the body at large,
that of the younger and
more
especially
members.
rising
the

To

use

fashionable

and

modern

I should
phrase,

say
is no

that

theyare in a state of transition. Their tone

longerwhat it was a short time back. With the exception
of one
or
two
noisywriters,who placedthemselves prominently
and now,
first,
to keep up
compelled

forward
feel
eistency,
guage

at

for the sake of

a

con-

clamour, the lan^

professional
opponents has, in

of scientificand

assumed
altered character. While very many
an
general,
are
(farmore, indeed,than the publicgenerally
suspect,)
active attention to the science,the larger
an
directing
number
but a
are
marking its progress, offering
silently
their
resistance,
or, at the utmost, venting
spiritless
passive
of annoyance with a subdued smile of cautious consideration.
feelings
The loud laugh,
the open, assured,triumphant
of ignorance
and credulity,
the
sneer, the scornful charge
by an overbearing
attempt to put the thingdown at once

system of insolence and

measure,

passedaway;

all this has, in great

ridicule,

and

now

we

are

condescendingl

30

AND

MESMEEISM

OPPONENTS.

ITS

the alteration in the sensibility,

and Tarious
Condition,
other phenomena,which lately
would have been rejected
and
with scornful hardihood,are now
feeblycontradicted,
oftentimes half confessed to be real ; while the whole force
is directed against
of the antagonist
and clair-*
clairvoyance,

alone,as

voyance

if that

were

the sole remaining

point

now

created
Sometimes,too, a restlessfeeling,
hinted by
(aswas lately
pressure from without,"

for discussion!

by
Dr.

the

"

Engledue to

uneasy

learned

will
professor,)

not

allow the

but sends him, like

semi-believer to sit still,

moth,

happy
un-

an

flutter

wantonlyagainstthe light,to
retreat with singed
See,
wingsand a damagedreputation.
about the truth which Mr.
"par
exemple,the flounderings
Kiste,in his pamphlet,lately
broughtbefore the public
notice.* A medical gentlemanat Lymington, in an unquiet
state of mind at an interesting
of relief which
case
occurred in his neighbourhood,
writes,in a hastymoment,
letter to the HampshireAdvertiser,with the earnest
a
desire of turning the science into ridicule. He
there
to

to be an " absurd innovation ; " he

pronounces Mesmerism
is " gratified
to find distinguished
members of the profession

the
entertaining

ideas

his

the

subject."
He
ofiersto wager 500Z. at Tattersal's,
that clairvoyance
and communityof sensation are not proved. Still,
with
all his jestings
and carpings,
anti-mesmerist knows not
our
how to avoid making very important
admissions :
same

as

own

on

"

He

allows that

"

it is true

of beingput into a
capable
the medium

of the

nervous

"

that

some

And

he

that
allows,

"

sleepor stuporthrough
system."
can

in this state,which

hold

can

in certain individuals produced,

persons
*

"

Facts

are

kind of

allows that in this state persons

He

"

persons

be

versation.
con-

sionally
occa-

appear

Fallacies,"
against
by Adolphe Kiste," (BailUere).

to

INTEODUCTORY

CHAPTER.

31

be much less susceptible

and perhaps
of acute pains,
in
instances miffht
without
undergoa surgical
operation
conscious

being

of it."

Here
here

some

brave admissions from

professed
opponent!
curious proofsof the
vation
absurdity of the inno"A man
without
might undergoan operation

are

"

"

are

!"

"

beingconscious of it,"and this,

too, before the late splendid
of the uses of ether ! Think of such a confession
discovery
emanatingfrom a provincial
surgeon, in the year that
Dnpotet concluded his lectures in the metropolis!
Why^
after such a letter,
our
would have been placed
practitioner,
Tinder the ban of the College.His patients
would have
fled,like the thanes from Macbeth ! he would
an

excommunicated

he

the
practised

have been

of the martyrs of science!

the jestand bye-wordof every Hampshireapothecary
!
Mr. Kiste's opponent would have acted more
wiselyhad
man

one

conventional

But

reserve.

prove the progress of the cause, and

are

the purpose

as

of

the
instructing

reader

his admissions

onlyre-statedfor
to the

marked

vanceme
ad-

that has been made.

which
acknowledgments,
againto the undisguised
of medicine and surgery has
the leading
journal
quarterly
The British and
latelyfelt itself compelledto utter.
of
ForeignMedical Review comes forth under the auspices
Look

learned .editoris well known, among

for certain enterprising
other things,
attempts to "put
down"
clairvoyance quite an Alderman Cute in his

Dr. Forbes.*

Our

"

way,
where

one

"

who

is

hastingabout

the town

to

and
fresh somnambulist offers himself,
the resultsof his visitin a small
publishing
a

any

spot

ever

and

pamphlet
of the curious. This uneasy activity^
for the edification
to the
however, is useful in its way, and looks plausibly
incidents.
but is often attended by embarrassing
spectator,
anon

It is

said,whether

the management

trulyor not,that Dr. Forbes is about

of the Review.
,

to retirefrom

32

M!D

MESMBEISM

OPPONENTS.

ITS

will provokingly
Truth, in the placeof falsehood,
present
itself;in the midst of the assumed imposture,
strange

phenomena appear
puzzling
an

and disturb the convictions 5

consciousness creeps in, that all is not

trick. The
bold knight that had armed

uncomfortable

delusion and

wicked sorceress, finds a

in his enemy that he littleexpected,
virtue and strength
and his weapons of attack recoil upon liimself. And to do
himself for certain victory
over

the Doctor

occasion of this kind, he is honest

this world goes."" An honest soul,i'faith,
sir,

on
justice

an

enough as
by my troth he is,as ever broke bread ; as honest as any man
of
that is no honester."
That is,in the pursuits
living,
"

he loves truth after a way of his own, and will not

science,
he encounters
it,but he does not, like a
suppress it when

love it with
genuinephilosopher,
soul.

He

loves truth,much

as

all his heart and all his

a

might love some

in responsibilit

man

who is apt to involve him

poor relation,
he could
and expenee, not as an idolised mistress,
whom
half the globe. He will not
follow with devotion over
disown her when
a

he meets

of the

shake
respectful

the shoulder
house where

giveher
encouraging
pat on

with her, and

hand, and

an

but he will not of his

she is known

can

accord go to the
to the company

own

dwell,nor

to

where he is most

to
likely

be to hunt down

the firstmesmeric

find her.

even

His mission

seems

adventurer,French

to
or

shores
to resolve
German, that may land upon our
for the protection
into a general
of the public,
supervisor
himself,
of each advertising
and then magsomnambule,
nifying
and end-all of the
into the
be-all,
clairvoyance
"

"

"

whole

into a mistaken
unreflecting
estimate of the value of the science,in proportion
to any
blunders he detects,or any failures of the fatigued
and
over-worked performer.But does he make experimentof
the art in his own
? Does he try its uses in private
practice
families? does he watch its effect*among simple,
ignorant
to
inquiry,

lead the

"

INTEODirCTORY

CHAPTEE.

33

patients?Does he study the cases of scientificand professiona

and mark the progress of a cure, and
magnetists,
the phenomena that developthemselves ?
This, it would
appear, he does not do, and therefore he is but a one-sided
and most
inefficientinvestigator.Clairvoyance
is not

Mesmerism,

but

onlya part of it. Stillwhat he does,he

does in good faith. I have myselfmet him at a mesmeric
examination,and can vouch for his candid straightforward
and therefore it is that his admissions are of some
dealing,
value.
that pleadsthe
He is a prosecutor,as it were,
of the defendant,
cause
a witness who
givesevidence against
than all, his statements
himself; and more
prove the
growing influence of our facts upon the risingmedical
if we
and the successive phases,
generation,
may so speak,
and stilladvances in its
in which the science has appeared,
It is to this pointthat the attention of the reader
orbit.
is now
requested.
In 1839, the British and Foreign Medical Review, of
the editor,contained the following
which Dr. Forbes was
in an article intended to put
and expressions
statements
down

Mesmerism

at

once

and for

ever:

"

just passedthroughone
of credulity,
to which,
of those unaccountable paroxysms
to have been subject."
ever
from time to time, it seems
*
*
*
which even
a
Consideringthe high sanction,
temporary belief in the powers of animal magnetism has
"

The

empireof

medicine

has

"

obtained in this country, we

its recent

look upon

rise and

and shameful fall,

calculated
as
progress, and its abrupt

to

lusion,"
We then read of
the great dedegradethe profession."
and melancholy
the last complete
csxplosion,"
and degrading
scenes."
and
diverting
dreamingphysicians,"
"

"

"

"

"

"

And
an

to

crown

comes
all,

this decisive sentence,

of animal
article to the consideration

that the

are
one
Englishpractitioners

"

to

elevate

magnetism,now

and all ashamed

of

34

MESMERISM

its very name,

AND

would

be

ITS

work

OPPONENTS.

of

if the
supererogation,

to be

found in the Review,

"c. "c.
delusion,"
These
and

so

and similar phrases

are

the articlefor the confutation

deemed

triumphantwas

of the science,
that it was

afterwards

in
published

circulated among
cheapand separateform, and extensively
the medical fraternity.
Time
now
bringsus on to the second periodof our
to suppose that,in the interim, aU
are
history
; and we
went
merry as a marriagebell with the anti-mesmerists
and that their ignorant
ridicule carried all
and laughers,
"

"

before it.

1845, however, exactlysix years after the British

In

tinguisher
ForeignMedical Review had placedthis final exthe subject,
the defunct science is seen
on
abroad, and to all appearance in a
walking and stalking

and

healthier and

stouter

condition than

ever

and

what

now

?
languageof the lately
crowingperiodical
In the Aprilnumber
of that year, these are some
:
paragraphs
Animal Magnetism,
however encompassed
with

is the

of the-

"

"

the

abuse

of

truth rather than

an

error,

is

absolute fiction."*

hardlyreceived fair playat the hands of

brethren. * *
Its pretensions
of our professional
many
made up
to justify
an
too well supported
are
opposition
of ridicule and contempt.
almost exclusively
We
think it to be
think it is proved,or to say the least,
we
that ihete is a reality
made in the highest
degreeprobable,
in the simplepAcMomenaof Mesmerism, meaning hereby,
the coma, altered sensibility,
the sleep,
"c., as provoked
in certain constitutions by the manipulations,
"c."t And
after a long and detailed examination of several points,
the article closes with againasserting,that there is a
"

Mesmerism

has

"

"

"

P. 430.

t p.

440.

The

italicsare

so

in the Revieir.

INTRODUCTORY

in
reality

some

dreaded

not

in
full belief

CHAPTER.

35

"
*
*
of the facts,
and that the writer " has
the ridiculeof his brethren,
in declaring
his

the

of the facts,
which have
sheer delusion or imposture."*

reality
of some

been often set down as

Behold a mighty revolution in the editor's
hension
appre"
! What a Avondrous
changehas come o'er the
of
spirit
"

his dream !"

Six years, six littleyears ! and the

in some
of itsfacts,"
great delusion" contains a "reality

and

has

"

brethren !

not

received fair

play at

the hands of

our

"

"

Quantum

mutatus

ab illo

Hectore!"

The

Hector

that in 1839

ready to break a lance

with
and who
dreaming physicians,"
triumphedso
abrupt and shameful fall of the
joyouslyover the
was

"

"

"

"

exploded science!
with its
on ;
again,
Again the magic car moves
wheels,time bringsforward fresh admissions and
revolving
fresh views. In October,1846, after an interval of only
science once
months, the steady
eighteen
progress of our
"

"

"

the notice of the Journal.

demands

more

Dr.

Esdaile's interesting
work,

and

in

are

the

an

articlewritten in

"

In

Mesmerism

fair and

review of
in India,"

impartial
spirit,

following
passages amongst others of

similar

character.
"

In the volume

before us,

we

have

well-informed

us
that,within a periodof eightmonths,
surgeon telling
were
less than 73 surgical
operations
performed
no
by himself,without there being any indications of
on
suffering

the part of the

patients
;

and for

our

that,in the instances adduced,

part we feelconfident,
a basis of facff
at the very lowest estimate,
there exists,
own

"

On
*

every

sound

of,evidence,we

canon

must

admit

P. 485.

f British and

ForeignMedical Review,October,1846, p. 479,

D

se

the existence of
us

in
reality

some

deem

to

be

opponents.

Dr. Esdaile's facts. Let

nothingthat

involve

that the statements

remember

should

its

and

jiesmeeism:

even
impossible,

natural

as

we

rences."
occur-

languagethat Mesmeric writers have always

used.
But formerlywe
our
were
very
laughedat, now
are
adopted.
expressions
this crowning
and atoning
And then comes
passage :
This is the

"

the fact of
conceive,that the evidence attesting
certain abnormal states being induced by Mesmerism, is
"

now

"We

of such

but that
hesitate

character that it

can

no

sophical
longerbe philoof our
profession,

by the members
disregarded
they are bound to meet it. * * * Indeed, we
of so
to assert that the testimonyis now
not

varied and

extensive

kind, so strong,and

in

certain

to
as
seeminglyunexceptionable,
authorise us, nay, in honesty,
to recommend
to compelus
be
and completetrial of the practice
that an immediate
made in surgical
cases." f
Such are the strong and weightyadmissions which the

of
proportion

onward

cases

movement

so

of Mesmerism

has extracted from

"editor in his third notice of the

and
subject,

denouncement.
of his first unqualified
passages
purpose
to

of

are

adduced,

furnish the non-medical

posture of

these

with

the

our

and
science,

tradictory
con-

paltry

the writer,but

world, who
an

in the teeth

And

earninga cheaptriumphover

with
journals,
professional
-

not

our

seldom

as
insight

to

the

procure

present

the threatened divisions in the

As for Dr. Forbes himself,so far from

-.surgical
camp.
taunted with this modification of opinions,
his
tlDeing
change of languageentitles him to the highestcredit.
and ties
Away with the old cuckoo cry about consistency

of party. Honour, all honour

*

P. 480.

be to any and every man,

*

p. 485.

"38

MESMERISM

AND

has
pany'sservice,

ITS

OPPONENTS.

also written certain stricturesagainst

and
called
Mesmerism
pamphlet,
the
considered." With
its Pretensions physiologically
of one or two unimportant
exception
passages, his remarks
and therefore mark that
are
expressedin a liberalspirit,
changein the languageof the opponent, that the reader
He
of the signsof our progress.
should notice as one
admits, for instance,the deep sleepor coma, and only
differswith the magnetist
to the cause
which induces
as
of which, however,
it. He admits the cataleptic
condition,
he would have spoken with greater accuracy had he
lepsy
termed it
rigidityinstead,between which and catathe science,
in

small

"

"

"

there is

essential distinction.And

an

then

he

curative effectsof the

system,"of which he
he says
is inbecause Mesmerism,'*
adequat
appears to doubt,
and a structural
to restore an altered composition
and the consequent loss of power, of which
derangement,
of this reasoning
they are the antecedents." * The fallacy
it is scarcely
necessary to point6ut. It will be noticed in
its proper place. Mr. AUison may, however,be mentioned
little more
honourable opponent, whom
as
an
a
inquiry
and practical
would, in all probability,
soon
experience
to

comes

the

"

"

range

on

With

side.

our

the above

Estlin,a surgeon
Association
some

"

"

an

at

then, and
exceptions,

that of Mr.

who delivered to the Medical

Bristol,

address

on

Mesmerism

"

and

occasionallettersin provincial
newspapers,

that of

pally
princi-

and often vulgar and coarse

in the
anonymous,
extreme
; and with that of the usual tirades of the Lancet

of certain medical

and

whose
chirurgical
journals,
is at stake,it may
character for consistency
be repeated
that the presenttacticsof the profession
have led them to
silence. It is not the silence of ina
differe
wary and general
the silence of contempt, as they might
nor
and

P. so.

INTEODUCTORT

39

CHAPTEB.

in reply,
pretend.
(fortheir anxious,angry manner, -when
the subject
is forced upon their attention,
proves that our
facts have establisheda hold upon their memory,) but the
silence of a discreet and worldlywisdom.
They are, in
what
short,bidingtheir time,and watchingat a distance,
their leaders may take, or what conduct public
course
remark, is
opinionmay compel. This, we need scarcely
not
might
very magnanimous; and the philanthropist
arraignthis want of sympathy for a studythat promises
much
relief to their suffering
while any
so
patients,
lawyer would demonstrate that sufficient evidence had
been adduced to constitute much more
than a "prima facie
still we
concede a largeindulgence
to their
case:
must
nature, and nothingelse.
position. It is poor human
Those who are most hastyin condemning their caution,
should pause, and ask themselves,what might be their
working
hardof many
if placedin the position
a
own
bearing,
with prospects in life altogether
practitioner,
dependenton the measured opinionof a neighbourhood?

It is not

every

that feels himself born

one

with

an

pulse
im-

advocating
great and unpopulartruths,or for
at the shrine'of
the sacrificeof himself and family
risking
what he deems an unwelcome
novelty.Some clever lines
but too faithfully
in DouglasJerrold's admirable magazine
of
of the far greatermajority
feelings
paintthe common
our
species.
for

"

Opinionscurrent in the world

Adopt with deep respect :
and things
at
thoughts
New-fangled
My prudentson, reject."*

onee.

of
applythe languageof Brougham,when speaking
hero, his brave contempt of received
favourite literary

Or to

"

"

"

The

Last

of the little poem

Words

of

is worth

EespectableMan," vol. ii.p.

reading,as a pleasantexpose

wisdom, which regardssuccess

contemptible
exertion.
D

in

life as

S9S.

The

whole

of that wary
but
the first objectof

MESMERISM

40

AND

OPPONENTS.

ITS

habit ofjudging
and his deep-rooted
opinions,
every proposition
is the fortunate characteristicof a
hy its own merits
"

select few.

And

so

of
for the present disposition

much

the greatbulk of the profession.

But a more
statement
gratifying
Human

has its

remains

to

be

told.

brightand

noble aspectson every

thus cling
question.Though the magnates of the College
and perverse assertions,though the
to their original
nature

"

their brethren

major part of

aiFected indifference,
an
from

their ranks every

hold

in

bach

number
increasing
day. Each year,

reserve

or

is passing
over
each month, has

addingfresh converts to our views,and augmented

division. The minoritykeeps swelling,
to our
strength
and advancing and spreading
around ; and let it only
proceedfor a short periodlongerin an equalratio,and it
of forces.
threaten to disturb the presentdisparity
will soon

been

That love of truth,and that fearlessdisinterestedcontempt

Elliotson
of consequences which so proudlydistinguished
and the other first championsof the cause, have not been
is
without their effect,
without their reward.
or
Society

submissive to
hopelessly
corrupt, or so slavishly
established views, that high-minded
examplesare utterly
thrown away.
The same
independenceof action, the
conscientious expression
of opinion,
herence
adthe same
same
to nature, her laws and her developments,
not

so

"

Nature

deep and mysticword

"

MigVitymother

"

stillunknowu,"t

and on divers occaat different localities

sions,
re-appearing
and commanding observation and respect
from those
around.
of several
My mesmeric friends reportthe names
and firm adherents.
Mesmeric
recent
publications
give
are

evidence to the

same

fact. Miss Martineau,in the Preface

"e., p.
Brougham's Men of Science,"
"fBarry Cornwall, p. 194.
"

'"'

63.

INTRODUCTOEY
to her

she

Letters,saj's that she

now

from

knows

medical

of the

"

CHAPTER.

41

not

preparedfor what

was

spreadof Mesmerism."

Letters

from various parts of the country,

each believing
himself almost the only one
who has
ventured upon the practice,"
had pouredin upon her,and
men,

"

givenwhat

she calls" hard work " in the answering.

And
she adds that she is " persuaded
that if these,
and the
many

who

exist,could find some means

of greeting
each other,in order to put theirfacts together,
they are
of highand safe ground,
strongenoughto take possession
and bringthe profession,at least the rising
medical
generation,up to their own standing."
I am
letters from
myself,also, constantly
receiving
and from the most opposite
strangers,
quarters,narrating
more

must

"

"

interesting
case,

some

and

its

effect
satisfactory

on

medical friend. The pages of the Zoist confirm the same

fact ; and it,at length,
said,that an
may be confidently
has been made,
impression
and workinginto the mass

that the leaven is fermenting

"

or, to

homely

illustrationon political
subjects,the straw
expressive

but

"

moving,"and givesevident

is

Cobbett's

use

indication of

"coming

event."

Among

other favourable

signsmay

be mentioned

the

progress of Mesmeric literature.

the increased sale of the
For instance,

recent

Zoist,a Quarterly
evidence. Some
Journal of Mesmerism, gives
indisputable
of the later numbers

have been crowded

with

interesting

matter.

Dr. Esdaile's "Mesmerism

with
sceptic

in

India,"has

down

come

embarrassing
impetus.
which he has given to the world in
experience,
not a
book," says the criticalForbes, "is assuredly
startling."!
upon

the

an

"

The

this
little

Preface,p. viii.

of the Indian Papers,

I observe that it is stated in some
that the government
in India is so impressed
with the value of the new
agent, as to have

42

MESMERISM

AKD

Dr. Storer's"Mesmerism

Disease,"with "its few

in

the table of many a sick-room.

for Miss Martineau's delightful
demand

is found
plainfacts,"
The

OPPONENTS.

ITS

immense

on

"Letters," is in the memory

in the field marked

Mr. Newman's

of every
an

in

era

Her

one.

history.

our

Magnetism,"is another
contribution. As a professional
with
man,
he demands a hearingfrom
practice,
provincial

is

"Human

portant
imtensive
ex-

the

incredulous.

most
"

pearanc
ap-

Vital

Magnetism,a Eemedy," by

little work

that may

Christian and the

be

the Eev. T.

with

read

Pyne,

profitby

the

philosopher.
"

Experiences is full of
this
information.
As
lecturer and
a
philanthropist,
gentlemanhas attained a deserved celebrity.He has,
succeeded in producing
converts
to the science
perhaps,
Mr.

almost
"

SpencerHall's

much

as

Animal.

as

"

Mesmeric

man

any

in existence.

Magnetism,"by

Lee, another

Edwin

Mr.

medical advocate,
furnished additional evidence of progress
among the profession.
Mr. Kiste's

the striking
case
Letter,"containing
the Hon. Mrs. Hare, narrated by herself,
should not

omitted in

our

"

of
be

list.

Mr.

Colquhoun's Isis Kevelata,or Historyof Animal

Facts in Mesmerism,"
and Mr. Townshend's
Magnetism,"
stillretain their deserved pre-eminence.
The former gentleman
has lately
added to his many claims on our respect
bulism,"
by a translation of Wienholt's "Lectures on Somnam"

"

Mr.

book fullof curious matter.

Lang's

"

Mesmerism

in

Scotland,""c. is well

known, and has been before noticed.

issued

an

order, that "all

mesmerism
study practical
in
appointment
any
home

! and

London

what

an

!
University

passedstudents
for two
the

awkward

months

of the
under

publicservice."
contrast

Medical

What

Dr.

Collegeshould

Esdaile

before

ceiving
re-

lesson for those at

with the interdict,
enforced at the
a

INTRODTJCTORT

Some

CHAPTER,

smaller Tracts could be

43

mentioned, such

"Animal

as

"The
Magnetism,"by a surgeon;
Curative
Power of Vital Magnetism,"
by Mrs. Jones,of Salisbury
;
and
several lectures and pamphlets,
all indicating
the
direction in which the wind begins
to blow.
"

Several little pamphlets on

Satanic

the

Satanic and

questionhave also appeared.These

progress of the science.

prove the
Peopledo not cry out about the

diabolic and

supernatural,unless they
of the system.
persuadedof the reality
The

Anti-

German

and

the

subject.They
library.

French
would

are

previously

press teems with volumes on

alone constitute a considerable

The

Researches on
publicationof Reich enbach's
Magnetism and certain allied Subjects,"
by Professor
sequences,
Gregoryof Edinburgh,is so pregnantwith weightycon"

that it is impossible
to foretel the results of his

experiments.

Oration,by Dr. Elliotson,

of Physicians,
in June, 1846, notes
before the College
another epoch. While his nomination to the officereflects
and talented President,
credit on Dr. Paris,the distinguished
the full attendance of Fellows,and the enthusiastic
and as I
of the orator at the close of the speech,
reception
hear also,at the dinner, all foreshadow most significantl
the coming change. It was my good fortune to be present;
the manly and dignified
and I shall not soon forget
way in

dehveryof

The

the Harveian

"

this

which

successor

Harvey, speakingof

of

certain

phenomena,asserted their realitybefore his

Vera esse
brethren.
affirmo"was the
distinguished
proud language of the orator. To hear this uttered on
mesmeric

"

such

an

small

or

occasion,and before such

an

audience, was

no

immaterial advance.

These, then, it may

symptoms

of

be

said with

They
progression.

prove

confidence,are
that

our

facts

44

MESMERISM

have made no
prove tha'ta
enlisted on

our

AJTD

OPPONENTS.

ITS

lodgmentin publicopinion;they
and education is
largearray of intelligence
side. And what, therefore,
be thought
can
small

of those,
who, without

moment's

thus advocated,and
subject
body of evidence with but

turn
a

a
examination,reject

aside from

smile

or

different,
indeed, has been the conduct
remarkable

of

day,in

a
copious

so

sneer?

How

of

most

two

whose

footsteps
every one
for instance,
might,in turn, be proud to tread ! Coleridge,
said in 1830, that his
mind was in a state of philosophica
*
where
doubt as to animal magnetism."
He had declared elsethat
nine years the subjectof Zoo-magnetism
had been before him ; that he had
traced ithistorically,
men

our

"

"

"

"

had "collected

had

"

of documents

mass

forward,"his conclusion

or

"too

"on

the

subject,
"

of questioning
an
opportunity
neglected
eyewitnesse
ward
arid "without
havingmoved an inch back-

never
"

was

"

strong and consentaneous for

of its falsehood
satisfied

or

that the

was,
a

evidence

mind

candid

to

be

supposition

the
its solvibility
on

of

casual coincidence."f These, then, were

or
imposture
this disputed
we
on
Coleridge's
question
opinions
; and are
all alive to the highvalue that attaches itself to the views
and statements
?
of that deep-thinking
man
Southeysays
in a letter to William
that you
Taylor,"I am grieved
I have ever
met
whom
never
: all other
Coleridge
men,
children to him."
known, are mere
Again, It grieves
is gone, nobody
to the heart,that when
he (Coleridge)
me
"

will believe what

giantin

mind

intellect was

goes with him."

occupiedduringnine

which
subject,

a
as
sceptics

many

are

we

does not

seconds to

reminded

take

our

disposeof!

yet this

ploring
years in exsciolistsand

Oh, how

petually
per-

of the presumptuous ignorance

Table Talk, vol. i. p. 106.

t Note in Table Talk, vol. i. p. 108.
Life of W. Taylor,vol. i. pp. 455. 462.
"

And

46

MESMEEISM

are

enjoyinga silentsneer
they but conscious

were

ITS

AND
at

our

whom

OPPONENTS.

might blush,
credulity,
they included in their

ridicule.

indeed, could historyunfold on the

chapters,
Barron
blunders of scepticism.
mentions,in his life of
Dr. Jenner, that "on Monday, the 28th of March, 1808,
discussed at the British Forum,"
the following
was
question
and scientificdebatingsociety,)which has
(a literary
instance of the publiccredulity,
the
proveda more Striking
gasJightsof Mr. Winsor, or the cow-pox inoculation?'
What

'

The result of the discussions was

as

usual

announced, and

handed over
to scorn
were
gas-lights
*
What
and ignominy."
resemblance have we
a pleasant
here to the discussionby the Eoyal Medical and Chithe 22d of Kovember, 1842 !
on
Society,
rurgical
Let the subject,
then,be viewed how it may. Mesmerism
to the philosopher.
presentscertain difficulties
If it be false,
its reception
so
many able,coolamong
is a moral phenomenon,
inquirers,
close-reasoning
judging,
both vaccination

almost

as

and

marvellous

as

the statements

that

are

narrated.

If it be true, its rejection

of the
by so largea proportion
learned and the scientific,
a phenomeno
appears, at first eight,
also.

is,however, one solution to the latter puzzle.

of disbelievershave never
The vast majority
or
personally,
with adequate
perseverance, pursuedthe inquiry.
As men,
will so rarely
for themselves,
therefore,
investigate
There

it is to the evidence of others that

to

appeal.We

the

uses

we

must

in
repeat,then,that testimony

of Mesmerism

continue
favour

of

towards the alleviationof disease is

in importance
increasing
every

Facts

Tacts,
cures
are
upon cures, from all quarters and all classes,
beingreceived and recorded without cessation.!I pass
*

year.

Jenner's Life,vol. ii. p. Ill,

j- See

tlie Zoist,
passim.

upon

INTRODUCTORY

CHAPTER.

47

by,for

the present, the consideration of

of the

higherphenomena,as pointsthat have

the exigencies
on
of a sick-room.
bearing

and
clairvoyance

less immediate
For the

the strange connexion between

mesmeric
action and the organisation
of the brain,may be referred
to the studies of the cerebral
The part of
physiologist.
same

reason,

the

inquirythat interests myself as a

whose calling
him
often brings
gospel,
so
with the

minister of the
into

acquaintance

illsthat fleshis heir toj is the unquestionably

remedial power of the art.
And viewingit

numerous

vast

in this light
only,I cannot

but

regardmesmeric influence
meetly,as
or, to speakmore

rich

of nature,
provision
a bounteous gift
of the all-merciful Creator,for the relief
and preservation
of suffering
man.
in speaking
of Andrea Vesalio,
that
Tirabosehi,
great
lightof modem anatomy,"who flourished at Padua in the
middle of the sixteenth century,describes him as one who,
like another Columbus, discovered a "new
and till then
in calling
unknown
world in the human
body."* Surely,
to mind the mightyinfluenceson our
nervous
system that
has produced,
and may be made
the magneticdiscovery
should rather say, that
of producing,
stillmore
we
capable
the appellationColumbus of the human
frame,"would,
be appliedto Anthony
with far greater propriety,
as

"

"

Mesmer

In truth,what

blessings
may

not

r^ionsof

this bounteous

destined to disclosefor the

what

fresh health and

boundaryshallwe

succour

narrow

our

giftof

unsuspected

Providence

of the miserable !

hopesabout

its uses

be

By
or

bility
the extinction,
indeed,of sensiin the case of a healthy
subject.
in surgical
operations,
be superseded
Mesmerism
by the more active
probably

their consequences ?

For

may

ed finallora incognito
nuovo
altro Colombo
scoperse un
Vesalio was
torn.
7.
a
Tirabosehi,
umanb."
p. 918.
mondo
corpo
native of Brussels,
though he residedat Padua. ;
"

quasi un
nel

48

AST)

MESMEEISM

ITS

OPPONENTS.

of ether. I say, in the case of a healthy

subject,
properties
liableto affectionsof the heart,of the
because with patients
with a constitution impairedby
or
brain,or of the lungs,
effects
the deleteriousand depressing
illness,
long-continued
less,
hazardous. Doubtof ether render its inhalation extremely
and readily
than Mesmerism
it acts far more
;
rapidly
still the latter,I suspect,will be found, with a large
it
were
number, the safer remedy in the end. And even
the inestimable powers of that science for the cure
and alleviation of disease,
; while
yet remain unapproached
not

so,

for
of insensibility
production
where there is a sickly
lengthened
operations,
especially
and enfeebled frame, the mesmeric treatment will retain
its old pre-eminence.*
Aproposof the inhalation of this potent drug ! there Is
verted,
to which that splendid
use
one
discovery
may also be conthat in the
I stillbelieve,

even

if it be not

so

extensive

boon

as

all san-

we

and unexpected
It supplies
a singular
guinely
anticipated.!
Perhaps
of Mesmerism.
argument towards the confirmation
few readers,
are
studythe subject,
exceptthose that closely
under the
of the extent to which painless
aware
operations

used in some
observed,that ether is not so much
as
hospitals
the
in
well-known
and
able
his
South,
operator,
System of
"
of
the
doubt
proprietyof employing it,
great
Surgery,"
says, that he has
*

it

It is now

Mr.

was.

"

"

and
a

has not

"

made

up

his mind

to

warningagainstits use,

solemn

try it at all." Dr. Pickford has published

that it tends to produce tubercular
stating

and recording
of its fatal efifects
in the Dublin
some
consumption,
hospitals.
that for lithotomy,
of all this,I cannot but believe,
In spite
and
amputations,
of midwifery,
where
the patient
is in other respects sound and
cases
severe,
To my
healthy,etherisation must prove an inestimable boon.
thinking,
will
be
and
ether
but
rather
not clash,
mesmerism
to a
appliedrespectively
and patients.
different class both of operations
f In the Lancet for October 16th,it is now said,in a review of Dr. Snow's

work

the inhalation of ether, when

speakingof its " idtimate success "
"
itself
has 'prospered,
the operation
think it is still questionable
we

on

where
whether

etherisation tends

to induce

when
this;,especially
*'

high hopes,enkindled by

vanished."

"

P. 410.

the

the

favourableterminations J
editor in the

same

"

article

Cautious

guage
lan-

speaks of the

noveltyand brilliancy
of the discovery,
having
"
is not so much
Mesmerism, therefore,
superseded,"
as

provedby etherisation.

INTEODUCTOBY

Influence of Mesmerism
and mesmeric

CHAPTER.

49

have been carried. Mesmerists

record
publications,

about three hundred well-

authenticated instances. Some of these operations

have
been of a most formidable kind, amputations,
removal of

tumours, cancerous

enormous

equal unconsciousness
with those performed
under

of

ing
excisions,
"c.,and allclaimand equalsuccess
suffering,

the

system of inhalation.

newer

The characteristics
of both conditions

the same, and the

Both under mesmerism and under
are

to each.
common
proofs
ether,the patients duringthe operation
show no signof
neither grasp any thing,clench their hands,
resolution,
close their mouths, bite their lips,
hold their breath;
nor
neither talk,laugh,
nor
sing,make no muscular effort or
"

any other kind

to

of effort to prevent themselves from attending

the physiognomyof
their pain,nor
display

but
determination,

lie placidly
arid breathing,
sleeping
fectly
per-

relaxed and motionless

mesmeric
that

"

that
operation

there

was

no

from

head to foot."*

In

the operator said

I have related,

more

movement

in the

than
patient

corpse."In a proces-verhal,
at Cherbourgfor the removal
which records an operation
of the mesmerised patient,
of a tumour, it is said,
speaking
muscular con tractionv
and
"she showed no emotion, no
when the knife penetrated
even
deeplyinto the flesh,she
then, in both
like a statue.^^ The
circumstances,
was
with this importantdistinction:
systems,are identical,
whilst the inhalation of ether,it is said,alters the vital
constituents of the blood, or acts injuriously
upon the
the power of rallying
with the
and impairs
brain and lungs,
is over
serious results,
debilitatedwhen the operation
by a temporarycessation
which are but poorly
compensated
a healthy
actually
produces
from pain; the mesmeric coma
influence, greatly
supportsthe nervous
energy of the
there would

have

been in

"

No. 17.
Zoist,
E

p. 44.

so

AND

MESMERISM

ITS

OPPONENTS.

of
both before and after the operation,
is capable
patient
repetition
again and again when the wound requires
and sleep
when ease
or
are
desirable,and has
dressing,
with causing
a fear
never
death,or raising
yet been charged
throughany dangerous
symptom !
before the new
This,then,was the state of the question
mode
of preventing
painby the inhalation of gases had
gical
been introduced into the hospitals.*
Three hundred surwhen the patient
was
equally
operations,
performed
insensibleunder the influence of Mesmerism, had actually
with
! Three hundred well-authenticated facts,
taken place
! And what, it may
testimony
competent and trustworthy
the notice taken of these startling
be asked in reply,
was
ta
world ? Either,according
occurrences
by the surgical
usage, there

was

notice taken at all,or, if

no

to make

remark,it was said that the patients

meric
their Mesthree hundred impostors,
who, to please
when oftentimes
to feelno suffering,
patrons,pretended

were

have been acute ;

-theirsufferings
must
three hundred

that

or

sensation

pain or
of

to many

but

by

moreover,

the

fallen under

my

the

year 1841

patient.Neither is it much
was
quitediscarded there a

I have
"j-

not

gone back

ation
represent-

childish nonsense,

posing
op-

physiology
; or,

to

givenbirth

dupes!
actual

existence

of

the

operations

and have taken

inquiries,
is herewith appended,
f
own

used
Etherisation is extensively
the
London
I understand not at

least it

our

A list,
of such
therefore,

denied.

placesince the
*

that

small amount

for that the three

delusion,
melancholy

than three hundred

more

was
patients

have

was

or

but had
trickstersdid not stand alone,

Sometimes,
as

the laws of

and

sense

that it was
lastly,
hundred

known

were

condition
painless

common

theywere

under
of constitution,
of peculiarity

cases

of nature, but
which,throughthe vagaries

of

descended
con-

men

at the

and
George's

St. Bartholomew's

unless demanded
University
college,
used in the two Borough Hospitals
; at
or

short time back.

the well-known operation
on

Madame

Plantin,

INTRODUCTORY

CHAPTER.

51

in England,
however,that took place
operation,
The_first
the introduction of

was

Okey, under

into the back of Elizabeth

seton

the direction of Dr.

in
Elliotson,

the

spring

of 1838.
The second

of
operation

the

kind in

England,was
the division of the tendons at the back of the knee-joint
in
a young
of Southladyof the age of 17,by Dr. Engledue,
sea, August,1842.
Then followed the famous Nottinghamshire
amputation,
under the management of Mr. Topham, of the Temple,
that case which wUl be the grandopprobrium
of the B.oyal
Medical and Chirurgical
for some
Society
years to come.
same

the Mesmeric

EightAmputationsin

State.

"Wombell,by Mr. Ward, at Wellow, NettinghamsHre, October,1842.

of Jolin Marrien,by Mr. Dunn, of Wolverhampton,
The finger
The

legof

James

1844.

Leg

of

Mary Ann

at Leicester,
August,
Lakin, by Mr. Tosswill,

1844.

Leg

of Elizabeth

November,
by Mr. Paget,at Leicester,

1844.

of Mrs.

Arm

Northway, at Torquay,by

Mr.

Jolly,
May

15.

1845.

Leg

of Thomas

Dysart,by

Dr.

Fenton, at Alyth,Perthshire,

June, 1845.

Leg

of Mademoiselle

DAlbanet,

at

Cherbourg,France,Oetober^^

1845, by Dr. Loysel.

Leg

of John

at Bridgewater,
by
Pepperal,

Mx.

King, Augustj,

1846.

MiscellaneousOperations.
from

Removal of largeexcrescence

eyebrow,by

Dr.

Arnold,of

Jamaica, August,1842.
for

cancer

in the breast,at Paris,in 1829,

nor
mesmeric publications;

near

the crural

artery,of

to

an

as

it is

operationin the

farmer,which

Physiologigue.
logie
I

in
reported

tipper

so

part of the

many

thigh,

is mentioned in Chardel's Fsyelw

52

Severe operationon
;,

AND

MESMERISM

Charlton,June,

ITS

tliejaw of E.

OPPONENTS.

Gregory,at Chatham, by Dr.

1842.

Opening of largeabscess, by

Mr-

IjTovemCarstairs,
ShefS.eld,

ber, 1842.

by Dr. EUiotson, 1844.

.Venesection,
Venesection,
by Mr. Symes, Grosvenor Street,1844.
Introduction of a seton by Mr. Symes, 1844.
by Mr. Tubbs, of Up well,1844.
Excision of wen, at Upper Alton, U. S.,1843.
of tumour, at Lowell, U. S.,1843.
Eemoval
1844.
Seton introduced,by Mr. CuUedge,of Chatteris,
Incision under a nail,by Mr. Smith, of Portsea,1844.
Incision into an abscess,by Dr. Mason, of Dumfries.
by Mr. TosswUl, Leicester.
Operationfor squinting,
of tumour, at New
Removal
York, by Dr. Bodinier,January,

Establishment

"

of issue

1845.

of tumour,
Cleveland Medical

by Professor Ackley, May, 1844, at the

America.
College,
of breast from Mrs. Clarke,by Dr. Ducas, Professor,
Removal
"c., Georgia,U. S.,January, 1845.
of polypus from nose,
Eemoval
at Boston, U. S., by Dr.
Wheelock, July, 1843.
of tiancer from breast,1845, by Dr. Ducas, Professor,
Removal
Eemoval

"c., Georgia,U. S.
Incision into tendon

bourg,
S., at Cherpresence of M. Delente,

Achillis of Mademoiselle

A.

France, December, 1845, in

"c.
Director of M. Hospital,
of caustic to eye, by Mr. Parker, Exeter, March,
Application
1846.
Dr.

Loysel,at Cherbourg,May,

at New

York, by Dr. Bostwick,May,

Removal, of large tumour,

1846.
Removal

of

largetumour,

1846..
Removal
Removal
at

of tumour, at Bermuda, by Dr. Cotes,March, 1846.

from neck of Mademoiselle Le Marchand,
of tumour

Removal

of

Dr.

Loysel,19th September,1846.
tonsilby Mr. Aston Key, October, 1846.

Cherbourg,by

54

MESMERISM

Mr.

by

94

by

AND

OPPONENTS.

ITS

Bell,December, 1846; and, lastly,

Cavendish

experiencein the
great and unremitting.*

zeal and

Square,whose
of humanity are

good cause

so

state,178.

Total of extractions of teeth in the Mesmeric

To

this

Street,

Purland, surgeon- dentist,of Mortimer

Mr.

be added

must
catalogue

95

operations
formed
per-

India,of which cases Dr. Forbes

has said,that
the evidence is of such a
(asbefore quoted)
that the question
can
no
character,
longerbe disregarded
t
by the profession."
Many more extractions of teeth,and minor operations
had I applied
have been given,
to different
could,doubtless,
Mesmerisers for their returns ; but, with the above facts,
thus stands the question
:

by Dr. Esdaile

in

"

"

by Dr. EUiotson
Operation
Operation
by Dr. Engledue
Amputations
Miscellaneous operations
-

Extractions of teeth
in
Operations

of
Total of

India

most

1
1

8
29

178

principally
by Dr. Esdaile,
-

95

without pain
surgical
operations

Purland,who

Mr.

formidable character

under Mesmeric

has been

influence

so

successful in mesmeric

is
operations,

Etherisation

has also

312:j:.

in

no

one
method,
employed
upwards
without
should
accident.. From his experience
we
teeth-extraction,
would supersedeMesmerism
infer that ether,by its greaterreadiness of application,

but

bigotto

cases

of ISO

of

there no
to dread.
were
secondaryeffects
operations,
recorded by Dr. Esdaile in his
of these operations
are
f Seventy-three
to
work ; the rest are to be found in subsequentreports sent by him
England.
\ Yet it is of a science that has produced all this benefit to man, that a
In the Minutes
uttered the following
Mzaiseric.
London
lately
physician
of Commons
of Evidence takingbefore a select committee of the House
on
in
that
the
Dr. Seymour pronounced,
Medical Registration,
patronising
of the kind reported
above are to take
Mesmeric
Hospital(whereoperations

for minor

"

place),a
"

person

of greatrank in the

state

showed

to the
great disregard

INTRODUCTORY

CHAPTER.

55

collectionof facts,
Here, then,is at leasta respectable
from their number, from their bearing
respectable
on
and from the testimony
of the reporters
physiology,
;
and yet Sir Benjamin Brodie, the great authority
in
"

"

surgery, in

recent

lecture which is givenin the Medical

Gazette,spoke with
for
pathology"
mesmerists

the

had not

about this

sneer

"

new

in
principle

he added

adoptionof which
yet furnished the

that the

data ;"
requisite
and then this experienced
surgeon presumedto tell his
to be in the power of almost any
auditors, that it seems
under the influence
one
of excitement or a strong moral
determination to sustain bodily
without any outward
suffering
of what he suffeis."
expression
If this monstrous
dogma of Sir BenjaminBrodie were
three hundred painless
operations
true, our
might have
data
reached to three thousand,and stillthe
to
requisite
anti-mesmeric mind would have been wanting,
an
satisfy
of the three thousand sufferersmightonly
for every one
under the influence of excitement or a strong
have been
for the sake of giving
moral determination to sustain" pain,
Zoist might thus have
to the magnetist.The
pleasure
like Pelion upon
operation
upon operation,
gone on piling
in pathology
of our
new
principle
Ossa,and yet the proof
and
would have been as far off as ever ! But suddenly
ether startles
the merciful discovery
respecting
happily,
and our loudly-contradicted
the world with a joyfulintelligence,
'"

"

"

"

"

"

"

forth

assertions stand

acouirements of the
P. 115.

thingelse."
"

verified to

to
Collegeof Physicians,

Qua;re,

is here

what

the

letter.

and

to everj/
else?
It
by every thing
the
Bank
Jenny Lind, or to
common

sense,

meant

to
disregard electrictelegraphs,
to humanity? It is to be
not
a
but
disregard
surely
Restriction Act,
of medicine
knows
Doctor
that
more
our
his
patients,
hoped,for the sake of
than of logic.
*
committed himself to an
unfortunately
N. B.
Sir B. Brodie had
in an
articleagainst Animal Magnetism"in the 61st vol. of the
opinion,
Sed revocare
QuarterlyReview, p. 273.,which appearedin the year 1838.

may

mean

to

"

gradum!
E

56

MESMERISM

From

the Land's End

shout of

ITS

AND

O'Groat's House,

John

to

OPPONENTS.

loud

one

the truth,that
is heard,proclaiming
congratulation

is procurable
for the sufferer.
in operations
insensibility
Almost
in the land givessome
proofof the
every hospital
fact. The surgical
world, and certain surgical
periodicals
in a delirium of delight.*Every leading
are
operatorin
sends
and countryfastens on the report with avidity,
town
for the apparatusforthwith,at railway
and reaHzes
speed,
the truthfulness of the representations
within but a few
days after his first notice of the plan. Whether this
of action arose
consentaneous
rapidity
(assome maliciously
from the hope of passingMesmerism
by with a
assert)
side-wind f ; or whether (as others more
slylysuspect)
from an eager anxietyof demonstrating
to the world that
the faculty
can
yielda fair trial to a new system, especially
when that new
system happensto be so accessibleof proof
whether (asit would be far
to the meanest
;^-or
capacity
in
who
had passedover
A writer in the Lancet (March,1847, p. 265.),
the three hundred
that
silentneglect
mesmeric operations,
public
suggests
*

"

of

acts

"

be oflf'ered
up to the
the writer that this

thanksgivingshould

of etherisation. I agree with

call forth

to
deepestgratitude

our

piety?

Was

thanlifulness?

there

other

no

Liston, too,

Mr.

writes a letter (whichappears

for

the

thus

to

and
earlyinformation,"

the

13. of the

letter from

Mr.

as
beginning

been

North

Liston

follows

to

great

the

discovery

should, indeed,

boon

Giver of all

sided
good : but why this onehave
excited
our
might equally

giftwhich

facild
princes

modern

of

surgeons,

in the Lancet, January,1847, p. 8.)"

adding" it is a very great matter to

;^'yet Mr.
destroysensibility

earlier information had

In No.

the

Almighty for

Liston

given,but

had

there
for

British

Review
Professor Miller

of

been

was

present

no

thanking
be

able

when

thankfulness

some

then

May, 1847, there appears a

the University
of Edinburgh,

"

"

Hurrah

have met
with a heavy blow and
Rejoice! Mesinerism and its professors
!"
because
n
ot
Rejoice,
humanityhas received a signal
great discouragement
has
suffered
because
Mesmerism
he
And
a heavy downfall
servioe,^but
!
thine
Can this
concludes with a second
Rejoice and
always,R. L."
letter be really
genuine?
f The editor of the Lancet says, in January,1847, -p. 16., We suppose
"

"

"

we

for

shall

now

hear

no

more

The
surgical
-operations.

quackerywill be

one

not

and its absurdities

of Mesmerism

destruction

of

inconsiderable merit

Unluckily,Ijowever, for

the

one

limb

of this most

Lancet, Etherisation

the truthfulness of the mesmerisers.

preparatives

as

of the

mesmeric
covery."
valuable dis-

has

rather

firmed
con-

INTEODUCTOEY

CHAPTEE,

57

to believe)
from a noble professional
desire
agreeable
of diminishing
the amount
of human misery;what was
the cause
of this electricand quasimasonic movement
in
favour of ether is foreign
to our
argument : the pointto
be noticed is this, that in spiteof the philosophising
of Sir Benjamin Brodie, in spiteof the
explanations
scientificargumentations
of Dr. Marshall Hall*, in spite
of the learned reasonings
and
of one part of the College,

more

"

"

"

the

sneers

in

PAIN

mesmeric

admitted

and

silence of the other, insensibility

to

maintained iy the
as originally
operations,
surgical
is now
a confessed fact in nature, and
minority,
themselves.
and provedby the chirurgical
sceptics

This,then,is the argument

to

which the attention of the

with every deference and

requested
respect. They are entreated to placetheir adverse feelings
in abeyance. They are reminded
for one
littlemoment
but
to painwas
that this asserted condition of insensibility
that it was
themselves with scorn,
latelyflouted _^by|
denied to be possible,or that it was
explained
away by
of
reference to strong mental volition or peculiarities
the
mesmerism
not
or
were
were
physique. Whether
sensibil
the inwith them;
the question
not
medium, was
the fact called in doubt,the point
itself was
to be proved. Now, however, this disputed
previously
through
procured
condition of nature is found to be easily
the vapour of sulphuric
ether,and that
a differentagent,
medical world is now

"

"

"

closed ; may we not, therefore,ask

whether an unexpected
littleconfidence,
argument
with some
of
Mesmerism,
itselfin corroboration
has not presented
of the magnetists
may not be
and whether the assumptions

controversy is at

once

feltto be true?
Be

it remembered, then,that these

students
observing
"

Dr.

of nature, who

now

successful and

thus maintained

"
Operationswithout
See Elliotson's Pamphlet on
Surgical
Proofs against
their Truth,"p. 19.
M. Hall's " Physiological

before

Pain,"and

58

MESMERISM

ITS

AND

OPPONENTS.

are
tliisfact of insensibility
to pain
scoffing
majority
the same
maintain the curative powers
men, who equally
a

"

of mesmeric

its marvellous

treatment, and

in,
efficacy

disease.
These

maintain)from observationand
equally
of
of intro-vision,
the truth of clairvoyance,
experiment,
community of taste and sensation,and of sundryother
same

men

phenomena.
These

same

nexion
equallymaintain the frequentconand
Mesmerism
Phrenology,and the
the focmer on the cerebral organisation.

men

between

strangeaction of

It is contended

amplestcredit and

that their assertions

consideration.

build their conclusions are

and

character to those

in that

on

The

now

the

merit

they
in quality
similar,

data

on

which

the same, or
which they founded their belief

of pathology,"
which, discreditedas
principle
it was by the firstoperatorsof the day,is now
as notorious
and common
as any fact in physicsFor the sake of humanity,
for the sake of a largepro-t
the evils of whose
of their own
suffering
portion
patients,
hand
condition mightpossibly
be lessened by the auxiliary
is once
more
of Mesmerism, the medical profession
urged
to cast behind them their unworthyslanders and suspicions,
and to givenature and nature's votaries the benefit of a
sibility
fresh trial. One of our most startling
phenomena,insenverified by themselves ; why
to pain,has been
If
?*
the remainder be stillregardedas impossible
must
"

new

Dr. RadclyfFe
Hall, in 1 845, wrote a series of elaborate but temperate
to ground his
papers in the Lancet againstMesmerism, in which he seemed
*

disbeliefof the science on

that those
understanding
of the mesmeric

mesmeric writers, not

related
contradictions
to differentstages
apparent

the contradictions between

condition,
"

or

arose

from

the

"

different effects

on

opposite

unbeliever. In March, 1847, he

curious effects on a patient
writes a paper in the Lancet, narrating
some
in character with what I
effects
from the inhalation of ether,
corresponding
constitutions. However, in 1845, he

have

seen

in Mesmerism,
repeatedly

was

such

an

as

freedom of manner,
smartness
in mesmeric
have
patients

"c., which
of repartee,increased intellectuality,
" assumed
from
some
been considered false or

cravingfor effect,"but of

CHAPTER.

INTEODUCTOEY

fact be

one

favour

established,surely a fair inference

of others.

The

remembrance

truth, render

the

disposed

question the

"

The

"

59

to

of

secrets

hidden

good

in himself, and

less

experience

Nature,"

of

brethren.

his

profound Pascal,

the

says

in

of this should, in

humble

scepticmore

is formed

although she be always at work, we do not

from
reveals them
time
always perceive the results:
she is not
age to age, and though always equal in herself,
the
always equally known."*
Emerson,
accomplished
American
the
which
most
essayist, has a passage,
advanced
student
with profit:.
might read and remember
Our life is an
the truth, that around
to
apprenticeship
are

"

circle another

every

nature,
another

but

dawn

is

end

every

be

can

risen

drawn

that there

beginning;

raidnoon, and

on

is

that there
under

end

no

is

every

in

always
deep a

vestment
New
arts destroythe old. See the indeep opens.
useless by hydraulics;
in aqueducts made
of capital
fortifications by gunpowder ; roads and canals by railways;
is not
There
a
sails by steam
by electricity.*
; steam
pieceof science, but itsJlank may be turned to-morrow." f
*

lower

is "perfectly satisfiedthat

Hall

Dr.
"which, in his ether-patient,

nothing

is

I was
The
Doctor
then
in advance.
adds,
feigned." This is 07ie move
of the mesmerists,
the
statements
after
led
to
conclude,
examining
formerly
the
result of influence
the
on
nervous
to pain, as
system,
that insensibility
of
the
The
effects of ether has
not
but
discovery
probable.
possible,
very
was
"

furnished

additional

opponent

second

move

clairvoyant.
*
Quoique
+

connue."

Emerson's

towards
his letter

toujours

"

ment

and

we

are

in acknowledging that
means."
Here
is
artificial
by
this
candid
does
Wliy, then,

warranted

now

for

time

Mesmerism.

incredulity in the sublime

talking of his
shall read of an
etherised
ere
we
Perhaps,
long,
clairvoyance?"

conclude

absurdities of

entirelysuspended

be

sensibility
may
then,

data

"

Pensees

Essays,

with

egale en
de

"

clle-meme,

Pascal, P. Partie,

Circles,53, 54.

elle n'est
art.

1.

pas

toujours egale-

60

MESMERISM

AND

OPPOMINTS.

ITS

I.

^CHAPTER
PKOGRESS

OF

SATANIC

KESMERISM.

MESMERISM

NATtTRAL.
MESMERIC

OF

UNWORTHY
COURT

OF

MESMERIST
ON

M'NEIL's

ROME

OF

MESMERISM
BY

AND

THE

AND
WORD

CHRISTIAN."

GOD."
MR.

SERMON

PATIENTS.

"

THE

AND

MERISM
"MES-

ELIZABETH.

CHARLOTTE

OF

WHY

STATED

MESMERISM

REPUTATION.

SUPER-

NOT

NOT

ALL

IN

HUGH

REV.

LIVERPOOL.

MESMERISM

OF

CHAEOE

"

MESMERISM

UNIFORM

NOT

MR.

TESTED

LAWS

GENERAL

PHENOMENA

AT

ELECTRICITY.

AND

WHY

MESMERISM.

TO

PREACHED

SERMON

AGENCY.

M'NEILE.

OPPOSITION

"

"DIALOGUE

BETWEEN
CLOSE

MB.

AND

BICKEBSTETH

MESMERISM.

The

has made*

decided advance that Mesmerism

in this country

the number
of cautious and practical
years,
eases
and utility,the varietyof disthat maintain its reality

within the last two

men

"

"

applied, all lead the

successfully
friends of truth to hope,that the publicmind has taken a turn
the subject.
In spiteof the discredit under which it is often
on
compelled to labour, through the vanity or ignorance of
is making a steadyand
itinerant lecturers f, the good cause
For it is not by public exhibitions at a
certain progress.
the human
frame can
that delicate experiments
be
on
theatre,
conducted in due compliancewith the conditions,
which
are
to v^hich it has

been

"

Of the knowledge
Miss Martincau, in the prefaceto her Letters,
says,
Letters
these
since
is
written, no part
were
more
gained
strikingto me
and practice
of Mesmerism. "
than that of the great extant of the belief
and excellent lecturersas Mr. Spencer Hall
f Of course, such experienced
"

to
exceptions

form
able

man

as

he

peut

cette

assez

same

En

opinionis,that

with

even

so

is the last place for studyingMesmerism.

to a lecture in an hospital.
Lorsapplies

reason

"

conditions necessaires

s'etonner

occasion.

Still,
my

publicexhibition

is,a

And the
r^flechit
aux
qu'on
ne

this observation.

qu'il

se

tous
effect,

aux

soit rencontr^
les

succes

de

ces

quelqu'unpour

on
experiences,

les tenter

dans

promoteurs de la doctrine recommandent

la confiance,
la patience,
"c. et les salles de I'hopital
I'ordre,
tranquillity,
foule
ici
defiante outre mesure,"
inquiete,
ne
turbulente,
pr^sentaient qu'uoe
See
also
44.
L'
Abb^
"c
J. B. L.,in his
p.
MagneRapport Confidentiel,

la

"

devant la Cour
Mesmerism.
against

tisme

de Rome," p. 286., in his remarks

on

the

attacks

"62

MESMERISM

AND

OPPONENTS.

ITS

the

have shown
themselves,we may
signs of vitality
accelerate the growth. We may then hasten the progress very
has at length
materially.It is my conviction that Mesmerism
that it has obtained a considerable
reached this criticalpoint;
lodgmentamong reasoningpeople; and that from opportunities
with which I have been eminentlyfavoured,it is in my power
once

"

"

promote its establishment

to

of this work

purpose

to

It is
essentially.

very

combat

those

arguments

then

which

the
are

againstMesmerism^ to strip the

generallyadvanced
rounded
subjectof those marvels with which popularignorancehas surit,and to show that animal magnetism is nothing else
"than the employment of a common
and simpleagent, which t)i.e
has providedin mercy
for his creatures,
Supreme Intelligence
and of which nothingbut prejudice
decline
or
can
superstition
most

to make

use.

I shall

beginwith

and

of the

questionto

which

dental
acci-

in the firstinstance,directed
strongly,
the opinionthat Mesmerism
is a mysattention, I mean
terious
and unholypower, from the exercise of which good men
Christians ought to keep aloof. It is needful to make
our

circumstances

my

that view
more

"

commencement

hence

for the class of readers to whom

more

be first assured
that the
address myself,
must
particularly
practiceis neither presumptuous nor sinful,before we can
expect them to study its phenomena, or be witnesses of its

effect as

sanative process.

character of this science

then, of the irreligious
opinion,
has been mainlypromoted by a Sermon, that appeared in one
of the numbers
of the Penny Pulpit,
and has been actively
circulated through the country, entitled
Satanic Agency and
Mesmerism," and which is allegedto have been preached in
Liverpoolby the Rev. Hugh M'Neile.
This sermon, however, was
not publishedwith the sanction
and so far he is not responsible
of the preacher,
inasmuch
: but
its sale is a matter
of notoriety
in the town
as
wherein he
avowal
resides; and as no steps have been taken by him for a disof its contents, though an openingfor that very purpose
.The

"

"

afforded him;
good-naturedly
from whose notes the sermon
writer,
was

"

and
was

as

the

short-hand[

printed,is ready,we

CHARGE

informed,to make

are

SATANIC

OF

AGENCr.

63

affidavit of the accuracy

of his

report,

it may

"

that
was

be inferred,
how incredible soever
it may sound,
fairly
that sermon, with perhapssome
littlevariation of language,
actually
preachedby Mr. M'Neile.

Now

sermon

in this unauthorised

put forth,even

manner,

"with the

of so populara name, certainly

deserves every
prestige
of Mr.
number, moreover,
respectfulconsideration. The
M' Neile's admirers,and the zeal * with which
they distribute
this publication
and the religious,
the thoughtful
give
among
additional importanceto its pages ;
and it havingcome
to my
had been prevented from
that several parties
own
knowledge,
adopting or witnessingthe curative effects of Mesmerism,
I
of conscience raised by this very discourse,
throughscruples
careful perusal
was
prepared to bestow upon it a much more
it requires.
than intrinsically
is a
then, as I do most firmly,that Mesmerism
Believing,
vouchsafed by the beneficent
mighty remedial agent,mercifully
of human
Creator for the mitigation
misery a remedy to be
and
thankfully,
employed,like every other remedy,prayerfully,
with a humble
dependence on the will of Him who sent the
alone remove
and can
it, having daily
chastisement,
reason,
this
of
introduction
the
God
for
bless
too, to
very remedy
it
within the circle of my own
family, is difficultfor me to
the feelings
akin to something
express the amazement, the regret,
like shame, with which I first read this most deplorable
And knowing the delusion under which so many
publication.
this question a delusion which the unfortunate
labour on
has tended so greatlyto strengthen
languageof this sermon
I feel it to be
amongst the ignorantand the superstitious,
nothingshort of a sacred Christian dutylaid upon me to use
"

"

"

"

with which anti-mesmerists and

readers may judge of the activity
when
this
thousand
circulate
emissaries
sermon,
theylearn that some
their
for
for.
It
c
alled
was
and
a
to
instance,
sent,
reprint
copieshave been sold,
*

my

My

own

house

of
the

most

by

some

us
deterring

anonymous

in

our

neighbours,with
at the

course

benefit; and
providential

impertinence,and

to

the

weak

or

it

very

was

wicked

in

the

moment
answer

nonsense

it is preintention,
sumed,
we

to

that

were

receiving

this well-meant
was

elsewhere

minister of the gospelpermittingdiabolical practices

muttered about
a
in self-defence,
to
induced, somewhat
under his roof, that I was
originally
take up the subject.

64

AND

MESMERISM

ITS

OPPONENTS.

And if these pages should

my endeayours to lessen the error.
of but one
of removing the prejudices
be the means
family,or
of

afflicted sufferer,
the painsof but one
through
alleviating
his adoptionof Mesmeric
aid,the knowledgeof it would give
which I would not exchangefor many
of the
me
a gratification
most coveted distinctions of eloquenceand power.
To much, however, of the earlier passages of this sermon
no
reader can
offer any objection.Where
it presents
Scriptural
from the Bible

digestof

the evidence for Satanic agency,

of the condition of the fallen angels,
and of their power
the

of man;

race

where
and

depraved nature

deformity
; to
subscribes.

their fearful

influence
spiritual

deceitful hearts

is laid bare

in

on

and
over
our

all its

tremblingly
to state
alleged

all this the well-instructed Christian

Mr. M'Neile
When, therefore,

is

Satanic agency,
but that it continued to exist after the incarnation of Christ ;
"

not

onlythat

there

did

exist such

thingas

that it continued to exist amongst men

after the resurrection
of Christ ; that it is predicted
to exist until the second coming
of Christ ; "

all these

to

to express

he goes on
Chambers'

to

any
assert

and

dissent.

similar

But

that certain

I am
positions

not

pared
pre-

when, from these premises

peculiarfacts,recorded in

he
of which
Edinburgh Journal,and of the reality
does not appear to doubt,are*, "beyond all questiouj
beyond
and
of nature,"
the
the course
or, in other words, supernatural
miraculous or diabolical agency, what thinking
result of some
and
mind does not see that such a conclusion is most
illogical
other alternative?
Is there no
Is nothing else
absurd?
possible?Is nothingelse probable? Before so strong and
decision were
thus peremptorilypronounced,
a
momentous
should not a fair and candid man
at least stoop to inquire,
to

of the learned critic Isaac,says well in a work

Merio Casaubon, son
"
called A Treatise eoneerning
Enthusiasm,as it is an Effectof Nature, but is
*

mistaken
"

When

by

many

in matter

whether

divine

without

which
of the

diseases."

"

or

for

either

Divine

or
Inspiration

Diabolical

Possession,"

of

natural causes
we
to supernatural,
diseases,
oppose
do not exclude the generalwill of God,
as
we
diabolical,

vention
be, so neither the generalministerie and interDevil who, for ought I know, may have a hand in all or most

nothingcan

Cap.

3.

reli^ous
opponents

This
p. 61.
of Mesmerism.

whole

Meric

treatise should be read

Casaubon died 1670.

by the

CHAEGE

01"

SATANIC

AGENCY.

whether
to consider calmly,
investigate,
admissible ?

not

were

Should

65

better

some

lover of truth

explanation

should

"

friend

to whatever

might alleviate sufifering

humanity,thus hastily,
cathedra,deliver an adverse opinionupon a science

and, ex
which, to say the least,is at present onlyin its infancy
? If
admire

cannot

we

evinces,can

we

on

the
the

reasoningfacultythat this sermon

other hand, praiseits charity? "In

forming a judgment of this,"says

course,

what

on

I have

read. / have

Mr.
seen

M'lTeile,"I

go,

nothingof it*,nor

of
do

I think it rightto tempt God by goingto see it. I have not faith
to go in the name
of the Lord Jesus,and to command
the Devil
would
depart."Really,any one
reading the ignorant ebullition of

to

suppose that he were

dark monk
in the
some

testant
ages, rather than the sentiments of an educated Proof the nineteenth ceiitury.What is this but a revival
of the same
that called forth a papal anathema
against
spirit
middle

"starry"Galileo? "What, but an imitation of the same

objectionswhich pronounced the doctrine of Antipodes as
with the faith,and maintained that the theory
incompatible
versity
threw discredit on the Bible ? Verilythe Uniof Columbus
of Salamanca,which opposed the dogged resistance of
to the obscure Genoese,and the Inquisition
objections
theological
of Pisa,might
the philosopher
at Rome, that condemned
the

claim

kindred

accordingto

associate in the minister of St. Jude's !

Mr. M'Neile, Mesmerism

must

be

"

For,

nothingbut

something"beyond the power of

to accomplish."Is my
brother-divine,
then,
unassisted man
versed in all the mighty secrets of Nature ? Has
80 intimately

human

he

so

fraud for gain sake,"or

thoroughlyfathomed

her

vast

and

various

recesses,

a
of Elizabeth,there was
strong feelingand prejudice
the use of them
as
againstthe use of forks. One divine preached against
one's
one's
with
meat
to
touch
not
"
Probably
fingers."
insult
Providence,
on
an
laid for
where
a
a fork was
room
the eloquentpreacherwould not enter
" he had
The
one."
Illustrated
seen
of
nothing
dinner in order to'boastthat
*

In

time

the

"

May 24. 1845, from which the anecdote is taken,

was
preached.
does not givethe text, on which this sermon
unfortunately
London

News,"

for

The

for

of the famous

"

So

sore

text

Satan

one

went

boils."

Mr.

forth from

the

sermons

presence

inoculation was
against

Mesmerism
M'Neile's text against

Forty years afterthe

sermon

forks,they were
against

Job, ii.7.

Job with
was, 2 Thess. ii.9, 10.
stilla novelty.

of the Lord, and

smote

66

MESMERISM

that he ventures

AND

ITS

OPPONENTS.

that may be contrary

everything
as the invention
knowledgeand experience,

to pronounce

own
beyond^his
of evil spirits,
the contrivance
or
nothingnew to be discovered ? Are

to,or

lifeexhausted

and

laid bare ?

Have

ultima Thule of art and science ?

one

to bear to be

so

of evil men?
the
we

Is there

regionsof lightand
at

last reached the

"It is not in nature

for any

treated,"
j
says Mr. M'Neile authoritatively

time and in the midst of the same

sentence
at the same
introducing
have
"so far as we
fhis evasive and contradictory
exception,
assumed
the sinfulness
yet learned" And havingpreviously
that he had not
the faith
of Mesmerism, and rather regretted
he againgoes on, and says
there
to bid the Demi to depart,"
in nature
secret operation
some
power
may he some
latent power in nature, which is now
some
being discovered
or like
somethinglike the power of compressed steam
Why, this is the very pointin question. This is
electricity."
fhe very subjectof the controversy. This is the very fact
which the largeand increasing
body of believers in Mesmerism
if there may
be such a power
in
assert. And
confidently
nature,"why does he prematurelydenounce it as diabolical,
and fully
and the act of Satan,before the truth has been fairly
and
established? Why not wait, and examine, and patiently
study the statements, the experiments,and the
prayerfully
results that present themselves,and with a serious thinking
revolve the evidence of the whole matter, and say whether
spirit
iii.13.)
(Eccl.
perchanceit may not be "the giftof God?"
Be not rash with thy mouth (saysthe royal preacher),
and
let not thine heart be hastyto titter any thingbefore God ; for
God is in heaven and thou upon earth ; therefore let thy words
be few." (Eccl.
v.
2.) Surelyit were the part of a wise and
who remembereth
that "nothingis impossible
sober Christian,
with God," to weigh a greatand curious questionlike this in a
humble
to pronounce
of his
postureof mind, and,Tiot rashly
"

"

....

"

"

fellow-men, who, for their faith and their attainments in grace,

with the Saviour as
may, for aughthe knows, be as acceptable

himself,that they are

agentsand instruments of the evil

Washington Irving*tells us,

*

that when

Petro

Life of Columbus, vol.i. book 2.

Gonzales

one.

de

CHAEGE

OF

Mendoza, Archbishopof

AGENCY.

67

Cardinal of Spain,
first acquaintedwith the views of Columbus, he feared

became
that

SATANIC

they were

Toledo and Grand

tainted with

and incompatible
with
heterodoxy,
the form of earth described in sacred Scripture.*
But we read
that
farther explanations
and
he perceived
had their force,"
that there could be nothingirreligious
in attempting
to extend
the bounds of human knowledge,and to ascertain the works of
"

"

"

creation

the great cardinal therefore gave the obscure

Mr.
"courteous
and attentive hearing."Even

and

navigatora
M'Neile, with

attainments,
Scriptural
might find a
wholesome lesson for instruction in the example of this great
Roman
Catholic prelate,
when listening
to the novel theories of
the unknown

all his

Columbus.

For^ with

one

breath

say, that

to

in nature," and with another to

there may " be such a power
describe men,
who
simplymake use of that power, as those
who deal with " familiar spirits,"
does appear the most monstrous

instance of inconsistent condemnation

it is

questionwith a
judgmentwithout appeal; it is a

beggingthe

summary

whole

And
papalinfallibility.
yet

have

nothingof it,nor

seen

by goingto

see

we

ever

met

vengeance
decision

with

it is a

affecting

competent juryman says, " I

do I think it rightto tempt God
this

it."

however, as to the
observations,
criticising
which we
Mesmeric proceedings,
on
character of some
scientific
periment
he refers to the well-known "magneticexwill speakpresently,
in France,which
a
of the operationfor a cancer
certain

After

"

sad
of facts,and
*

same

How

It is thus

to see

placingall the

feelingstill lives.

We

from the exposition

minds shrinking
religious
I The
stress on
a theological
interpretation
all remember
the late explosion
on
must

and the
of York, before the British Association,
Dean
geology by
of the
In
the
memorial
Professor
Sedgwick.
admirable rebuke from Mr.
the
Lord
1
of
May, 845, presentedto
Catholic Bishops of Ireland,
Koman
Bill for Collegesand
Lieutenant upon the subject of the Government
the

to co-operatewith
a willingness
Education, they professed

the

Legislature,

faith of the students were

provided " certain means
"
pupilscould not attend lectures on logic,
secured ; and they state that
without
exposingtheir faith or morals to imminent
or
anatomy,
geology,
be appointedfor each of those
Catholic professor
danger, unless a Roman
seek facU, as conclusions from
do not so much
it is that men
chairs." Thus
to which theyhad arrived by
in
Mesmerism,
as
those facts, conclusions,
the
for protecting

"

notions.
preconceived
F

AND

MESMERISM

68

it as

mentions

feeling
any pain in

without

ladyunderwent
"

recorded

Royal Academy at
at
discover the evil spirit
of the

"

If this be

OPPONENTS.

ITS

in

report made

Paris."

And

its progress, and

the Committee

by

is he to

determined

so

that he says
in the business,
there is somethingalmost supernatural
falsehood,

work

"

to tell the
fact,that we have a whole academy joining
publicthis lie. If it be a truth,if the fact,be so, then here,
is somethingout of the range of nature
beyond all question,
out of the presentpower
of man, unless this is a new science."
In this age of discoveries and marvels,surelya thinkingmind
that some
need not deem it so very incredible*,
largeaddition
a
to scientificknowledge,or
even
new
as he calls it,
science,"
should be broughtto light. We have of late seen
so
many of
the wonders of God's providencemade manifest to our view

in the

"

"

"

wonders,of

existence

whose

forefathershad not the shadow

our

them
while he contemplates
Christian,
all with thankfulness and awe,
might rather be expected to
language,and say, we know but in part,"
adopt the apostolic
"see but through a glassdarkly." "Lo!"
and we
(saidthe
the power of God to
patientJob, while he was acknowledging
be infiniteand unsearchable) lo,these Aie. parts of his ways ;
but how littlea portionis heard of him ? but the thunder of his

of

the

that
suspicion,

"

"

"

can

understand

"

(xxvi.14.) But, says Sir.

M'Neile, on the contrary, "we know what sleepis,and we
Does he,indeed, know
know what pain is !
what sleepis ?
that he is acquainted
a
with aU
Is he so accurate
physiologist
its varietiesf,its appearances, its modifications and actions,
acwho

power

"

This

was

By

of ether.
of the

out

observes,

"

written before the recent

Mr. M'Neile's logicthis

of
discovery
he

must

upon

the

functions and

Barvey, Bell, and others,it is

satanic also,
"

too

of

texture

Letters,p. 2.
itheyshall or shall not be."
for
Mr.
instance,who
M'Neile,
\ Does

the

human

decide that there

to

soon

wonderful, and presumptuous in the

as

the merciful
"

properties
something

of man
I"
As
Miss Martineau
range of nature, or the power
have hardly recovered
while we
from the surpriseof the new

lightsthrown
more

"

"

extreme

to

frame
shall be

by
no

what
predetermine

"

'

well

knows what
sleepis,"
of somnambulism?
and understand the nature
Can he explainits
Yet this is sleepunder one of its variations;
itscauses?
or
Ijeculiarities
i)uthow strange,and with what singular
of effect 1 Stillit is not
diversity
so

"

know

"

CO

uncommon

known

an

but

that

example or

most

two

persons,

of it

at

some

periodof their lives,have

neighbours;and we con-

amongst their

70

AND

MESMERISM

OPPONENTS.

ITS

Who
Volume, and say
inspired
counsel by words without knowledge?
"

the

"

like

Where

is this that darkeneth

Gird up

thy loins

now

thou me.
of thee, and answer
I laid the foundations of the earth ?

for I will demand

man,

when

thou

wast

Have
the gates
Declare,if thou hast understanding
of death been openednnto thee ? or hast thou seen the doors
of the shadow of death ? Hast thou perceivedthe breadth of
where

is the way
is the
for darkness, where

Declare if thou knowest

the earth ?

lightdwelleth?

"placethereof?
thereof,and

That

that thou

and

"

thou

as

Where

it all.

shouldest

shouldest know

take
the

it to

the bound

paths to the house

Almighty Father,

(Job, xxxviii. 3, "c.) The

whose
judgments are unsearchable, and whose ways past
the
findingout, hath hidden from the curious eyes of man
of many
of his gifts,
and left ns to
and explanations
reasons
in the dark upon subjects
the most familiar,
_grope ignorantly
thereof?"

and
-and
-out

of

which

for

are

ever

present around

with
acquaintance
superficial

from
God

our

remembrance

To

condemn

us.

the works

But

is this outside

of nature*

to

shut

the ever-presentagency of the hand

of the
abomination
Mesmerism
an
as

it,is a
devil,because littleor nothing is yet known respecting
line of argument which, if pressedto its absurd conclusion,
would

ascribe half the wonders

of evil.
of the spirit

of creation to the

What,

care

for instance,
is

and

trivance
con-

life

our

"

bodilylifeof man ? In what does it consist ? What is its

immediate
and secondarycause
? What
produces it what
what
and
I
terminates it
continuance?
gives it vitality
believe that the best physiologists
not preparedwith any
are
Some consider (andwith great
.positive
opinionon the matter.
show of probability)
to be analogous
to the principle
Electricity
the

"

"

eloquent author of the

Vestigesof the Natural History of
How
this
does
reflectioncomport with that timid
Creation" says truly,
of
philosophywhich would have us to draw back from the investigation
should make
God's works, lest the knowledge of them
undervalue his
us
Does it not rather appear that our
love ?
greatnessand forgethis paternal
be
the
of
ideas
Deity can only
worthy of him in the ratio in which we
of his works
and ways ; and that the acquisition
advance in a .knowledge
of our
available means
of this knowledge is consequently
an
growing in
*

The

"

"

genuinereverence

for Him

"

p. 233.

MESMERISM

of life. Some
We

are

AND

consider

the

to be
Electricity

that all nature

aware

71

ELECTRICITY,

abounds

with

of life.
principle

electricmatter

it

"

is here and

under God, in it we " live

everywhere; perchance,
and move
and have our
being." "We hear of Galvanism and
and Magnetic-electricity,
and itseflScacy
or
Electro-magnetism,
throughmachines,iipon the human body,in relieving
paralysis
and rheumatism,
and differentneuralgic
disorders. Why inight
not Mesmerism,or Animal-magnetism,
as it would
appeairto be
under
be Electricity
called,
appropriately

differentcharacter ? *

Its results are often the

same, or rather very similar. Why might
not the electricfluid of the operator unite itselfunder various
modifications with the electric fluid of the patient,
and thus
act with

curative influence upon the principle

of lifewithin
It is Mr. M'Neile himself,who in this'very sermon
has

us

referred

and to the shock of the Galvanic battery

Electricity,
;
would, therefore,
just remind him, that in the studyof

and I
la

to

of Mesmerism, and before its facts

l^nowledge
present imperfect
be
it
admitted,
generally
premature to adopta theory:still I cannot
may
that
under some
modification or otiier,
an
opinion
helpexpressing
electricity,
is the immediate
agent to which the Mesmeric action must be referred. The
our

are

'

that they have givento Mesmerism

are
so satisfied of this fact,
of " Electro- Physiology."Kant, it is well
and appropriate
name
that the causes
of
known, in one of his earlier works, gave it as his opinion,
of galvanism,
all the
of heat,"c., were
common
magnetism,of electricity,
modified. To these,of course,
principle,
differently
productof one common
of
immediate
the
thus we
added
And
Mesmerism.
be
cause
might now

Germans

the

new

should

have

nature

in

are

one

several

simpleand single
principle
unitinganimated
and

common

fects which
Here
is

itcommuni
operation,
strong analogybetween

connected
this

show

and

inanimate

vinculo*

There
and
Electricity

electric fluid escapes most

from a
readily
introduces several illustrations
to prove
Dr. Lardncr, in his treatise,

Mesmerism.

point.

one

this fact.

He

says,

"

one:

the

the increase of electricaldensity,

at the

angularedge

of a conductor producesstill more

augmented effects at its corners :
increased
if
this effect is stillfurther
any part of a conductor have the form
.

"
Cabinet Cyc." Electricity,
all
of a point." (Lardner's
p. 329.) Now
that the mesmeric medium
is most
mesmerisers have found by experience
to Lardner's
analogously
powerfullyconducted by the tipsof the fingers,

illustrations. In
mineral

regardto

I have
magnetism,

the resemblance
seen,

followingthe hand
sleeper

and

over

between
over

animal

magnetismand

again,the hand and

head

of

the
as
mesmeriser,in the same
the
way
is
the
in
Rev.
needle follows the loadstone. This subject treated most ably
"
in
in
admirable
Facts
the
Mesmerism,"
Townshend's
work,
Chauncy
"
also
medium.
Isis
See
Revelata."
Mesmeric
the
Colquhoun's
chapteron
See also a clever letter in No. li. p. 169. of " The People's
Phrenological
Journal,"by Mr. F. S. Merryweather.

of the

72

MESMERISM

AND

OPPONENTS.

ITS

this very subject

there is yet much darkness ; that there is yet
much to learn ; that we do not yet know how far its action is
connected with

defyhim

to prove

"

that Mesmerism

or

would
we
certainly
is not
Animal-magnetism
and

system.*

essential portionof the

an

life

of
principle

the

bringsus to Mr. M'Neile's main argument, upon

for he rewhich he appears to plume himself most confidently,
peats
"I would
it over and over
againunder various phases:
of this science should state
wish (says
he) that the professors
the laws ofnature
by the uniformaction of which this thingis
And

this

"

put forward the elements of the science in

Let them

done

It

scientific manner

honest men, and who

the uniform action
hear

nothingof

who
belongsto philosophers,

are

make

of this kind,to state

any discovery
We
hear of these experiments but
"

scientificstatement

have the laws of the science

of the laws

I consider that

Let

us

Christian

no

of

hear any
or
person ought to go near any of these meetings,
shall be made, grounded on
these lectures,
until a statement
scientificassertion of the laws

which

by

this

thing is

*a

said to

passim to the end of the sermon.

it is repeated,
this argument, perseveringly
Now
as
may be
of very easily.
disposed
First,in regardto his demand, that the laws of this science
act." And

on

so

"

be stated "
can

be

"

in
and
clearly
objection.This

no

above-board
not

Who

this there

just and legitimate

challenge.

words, " Science is open and

say in his own
it courts examination;
to all who will examine it
"

long as theykeep it secret,and

But who keeps it a
True, most true.

listen to it,so

of it."

nature

is

To

would

Nay, we
let us

scientific manner."

hides the nature

of it ?

The

hide the
secret

believers in Mesmerism

are

solicitous that the most

free,and full
earnestly
open, public,
and its details should be constantly
examination of the subject
in 12th cap. of " Magn^tisraedevant la Cour de Rome," a good
the two
deal of information collected on the analogybetween
systems,from
and " Etiides Physiques of M. Charpignon. Baron Von
the experiments
*

See

"

Kelchenbach's
the

most

recent

importanttreatise on
researches

magnetism,introduce
Gregory observes,how

us
"

"

of Professor
to

much

new

supposed New

and
Imponderable,"
to electricity
and
Faraday,relating

class of

remains

to be

facts,and
discovered

show,
"

on

as

these

Professor

subjects.

LAWS

WHY

OF

MESMERISM

invite its enemies

takingplace. They
present. They call

73

STATED.

NOT

impugners to be
the most
prejudicedand the most
upon
with their prejudices
and witness
and partialities,
partialto come
the other hand, is an honest and
on
facts. All they require,
candid conclusion out of an
honest and good heart." But are
Mesmerists to be blamed for not stating
the laws and principles
of this system, when theydo not know them themselves ? Does
and

"

Mr. M'Neile

remember,

that Mesmerism

it has been
That, practically,

is yet but in its cradle?

but littleknown

except within

few short years ? In sayingthis,we

of course
are
aware, that
those who have looked farthest into the question,
maintain that
for centuries back, the Egyptians
*,and, perhaps,the Chinese,
have

been

acquaintedwith

always more

less known.

or

it has been
that,at intervals,
the great wonder is,that
me

it ; and
To

everybody,should have remained so

sophical
long a secret : however, the fact is,that publiclyand philothe system has only been recently
studied.t At this
of cautious,observant men
are
noting
very moment, numbers
facts as they arise,
with a view to a safe and surer
down
clusion.
conOn the great Baconian system of induction,
they are
the modifications,
the variations,
as
recordingthe experiments,
tablished,
they present themselves ; and when these shall be well esMr. M'Neile
to the theory. Would
they will come
and the factscollected afterwards
have the theory
firstdeclared,
but hardlyphilosophical.
to prove it ? This might be convenient,
fore
a few years, beOur opponent must be content to wait patiently
tifically
of having the generallaws of the science scienhis demand
is
stated,can be properlycompliedwith. Mesmerism
art within

an

of

the reach

yet in its infancy.We

*

it is said,

Magnetism

"

Egyptian Hierarchy ;
but

in

of the

one

subjects,we
seated in
attendant

find a

waits

not

appears

in
priest

behind

the
to

the act

and

Wienkolt's, who

have
some

state

"

the

been

"

how

pass of the

Cross,"
by the
find recorded,

and the
understood

Crescent
well

of the effects

we

devoted to medical
are
hieroglyphics
is
of mesmerising.* * * The patient
passes, and

operator describes the mesmeric

it has
support the head, when

mysterioussleep."
in this country ;
f Only recently
admirable

to

onlyfrom

chambers, whose

chair,while

yet

work,
interesting

Warburton's

Mr.

In

cannot

works
philosophical
died in 1804.

but in

Germany
publishedsome

there

bowed

have

time

been

for

an

in the

many

example,

74

MESMERISM

*,or

thumb

cannot

we
so

yet

cannot

yet

"

state

state

how

how

"

in the cutaneous

acts
fingers,

it

flesh"-"

human

on

stops the circulation of the blood

it

of the
strengthfulness

to resist the

as

of the

movement

OPPONENTS.

ITS

AND

frame"

human

"

we

prevents the delicate touch being felt

veins."

because

But

yet give

cannot

we

of the matter, are we to forbear its use as a

to the
to ascribe these unknown
properties

scientificstatement

remedial agent, or
"
devices of the devil ? "
of mineral

In the cognate or analogousscience

of union between
magnetism, the peculiarcause

plicable
inexmagneticpyritesand iron had been for years altogether
is
with all our knowledge of electricity,
and perhaps,
"

not

yet satisfactorily
explained.But

even

deny

or

use

of Satan,because the
''

"

wherefore had

not bteen

he could say was, that the

that Divine Being,whose
whose

to

of the compass in the stormy and trackless

trivance
to attribute the influence of the loadstone to the con-

himself the

ocean,

the mariner

was

is the

how," and

"

the

why"

and

the

accounted for ? All

philosophically
needle was
guided by the fingerof
in the great deep, and
ways were
And

unknown.

are
footsteps

Mesmerism

"

good "giftof

God"

all

we

for the

say is,that

can

of his creature

use

at present
are
causes
though its immediate and secondary
the good giftof that merciful and Almighty
inexplicable"
and all in all."
Father,who is always,everywhere,
that the laws of this
as to his expectation
And, secondly,
*' It is
science should act " uniformly''
a part (says
he) of
all nature's laws that they shall act uniformly. .If it be in
nature, it will operate unifoimly,and not capriciously.
If it
man,

"

acts

Of

then
capriciously,

there is

some

mwcAJecoMS

agent at work."

of
want
or
impliedcharge of capriciousness,
he refers to a variation of the sjrmptoms or pheno"^
uniformity,
exhibited respectively
mena
by different patients.And in
in this

course

consequence

hearers

are

of this variation,which

-taughtthat

the "sin

must

be

of witchcraft

"

admitted, his
has

ensnared

the operators,and that some

mocking,jugglingfiend has taken
in regardto nature's laws,we
of the patient. Now
possession
at

once

agree that

they are
*

See the

and unalterable.
fixed,consistent,

Sermon, p.

1 52.

ITS

WHT

PHENOMENA'

The

physicalworld
and
nature
regular,"

abhors

sciences

are

exact."

random,

we

know

where

the

caUed

"

NOT

75

UNIFOEM.

"Comets
capriciousness."
"plain." It is for this reason
"

take

To

instance

an

or

two

are

that
at

that in the process of

certain
crystallization,
bodies invariably
certain specific
forms ; and that in
assume
the mutual attraction or repulsion
of electrified
electro-magnetism,
substances is directly
to the quantityof
proportional
in each of them.
All these facts fall
electricity
conjointly
under the category of generallaws. And
does Mr. M^Neile
imagine that the laws which govern Mesmerism are not equally
and uniform, though phenomena vary when
fixed,consistent,
the accidents differ?Does he imagine that a seeming "capriciousness
is not in reality
unalterable
or
a sure
eccentricity,
result of some
unknown
cause?
We would lay
or inexpUeable
it down
as an
unequivocal
position,
admittingof no exception^

that

accidents

the same,
of the operator and the

circumstances

similar,the effects or

regular as in
is to
difiSculty

phenomena

patientare

would

be

as

precisely

certain and

But
any of those sciences termed exact.
find this preciseundeviating
resemblance"

of all difference,
and

absence

the relative

where

are

hence

the

apparent

want

the
this

o"

delicate,
uniformity. In so sensitive,
varying a frame as the
human
body,so subjectto "skyey influences" so affected by
and climate
so
diet,clothing,
lodging,
changedby a thousand
"

"

incidents,could

minor

as

in inert matter

the
or

same

of
uniformity

mechanical

action be

pected
ex-

substance ? Is it proba"*

and violent
wasted by years of depletion
He, that a patient,
and cuppings, and
blisterings,
medicines, and with whom
leechingshad gone their round, would exhibit the same
toms
sympand

heartysportsman, whose constitution

order ? Would
not a
lad been tried by nothing of the same
diet of port wine or porter produce a very different habit of
biscuits?
body from that created by blue pilland Abernethy's
and oppositeconditions ; but
We
are
taking certain extreme
as

when

we

some

robust

reflect that

the

circumstances

of
of constitution,

varieties as the
custom, of food,of disease,admit of as many
face divine ; that these varietiesform the habit of body ;
human
that Mesmerism acts,
and that it is upon our bodies so modified,

76

MESMERISM

common

must

sense

see

that

OPPONENTS.

ITS

AND

of result
perfectuniformity

is

hardlyprobable.* For instancCjwith one party,the mesmeric

with another,not for
sleepis obtained at the first sitting;
the hand of the
several daysor weeks.
One patient
recognises
operator,and

cannot

endure

another,to be touched

by

the touch

either is

even

of

relative ; with

thing indifferent.

One

of the operator; another,without preference,

answers
patientthe
any speaker. Nay, with the same
in spiteof all this,
Still,
symptoms vary at various sittings.|
or
essential points,the resemblance
we
say, that in main

only hears

the voice

uniformityis very
have an
developed,
able to lay down

remarkable

that the

as
properties,

thus

not
are
affinity
; but if Mesmerisers
of positive
broad generalrules, predictive
the fault is to be found in our
results,
imperfectacquaintance
of the science and the
with a new
study,in the difficulty
of the human
frame,which is its subject.But is there
delicacy
might find something
any thing strange in this? Surelywe
in our favourite illustrationfrom natural philosophy.
very analogous
of electricity,
The
for instance,is not
nature
so
perfectlyknown, that a law could be laid down by general
in which
the manner
so as to foretel of a certainty
reasoning,
in which they
electrifiedbodies would act, in any position,
might be respectively
placed. Do we, therefore,
say that there
is no uniformity
might say, that therelis
; or, as Mr. M'Neile
or
no
rather,that the whole is determined by the
electricity,
of Satan? No : we answer, that the distance
accidental caprices
*

evident

" Zoist"
confirm this observation.
See some
remarks
pages of the
in vol. lii. p. 52. by Dr. Elliotson in a " Cure of HystericalEpilepsy."
The Report of tlie French Commissioners, signedby Bailly,
Lavoisier,and

The

Franklin,says,
etats oil ils se

"

Les malades offrent

trouvent.

un

tableau

Quelques-unssont

tris-variipar

les

differetUs

et n'eproucalmes, tranquilles,

rien ; d'autres toussent, erachent,sentent

quelqueleg^redouleur,une
chaleur universelle et ont des sueurs
locale,ou une
; d'autres sont
des
convulsions."
et tourmentes
(P. 5.)
par
agites,
vent

cbaleur

"fThe

effects of Mesmerism,
various than are the
however, are not more
Lancet says that the latter" varies considerably

effects of etherization. The

in different individuals" (January,1847, p. 75.); and a lengtheneddescriptio

is there givenof the very great difference in the results on different
parties.The passage in questionshould be consulted by those medical men
of " its want
who rejectMesmerism
of uniformity
in its action ou
account
on
the

patient."

78

AND

MESMEKISM

ITS

OPPONENTS.

several additional

in whicli a superstitious
awe
on
instances,
the subject
of Mesmerism, producedexclusively
by this sermon,

had
them

from

them.

employing a

It

incredible

seems

yet such

"

doing some

of Mr.

his power

rather lies in the command

that
strengthof argument
that when he
and, certainly,

were,

"

and

on

of."

was

sail than

ballast;

such words

him

down, as it
the heads of benevolent lecturers,

"necromancy,"and

firefrom heaven

in the

language than

scattered around

the minister of St. Jude's had

he

of

he carries more'

"

witchcraft

facts;truth is

M'Neile,that powerfulas he is,

the admirers

"

the

I resumed

so

to remind

as

were

my pen with an increased

littlegood in abatingthe foUy. I hoped

and
strangerthan fiction;
desire of

and deterred
unhappy sufferers,
remedy peculiarly
adaptedto relieve

of the

seized the minds

called

altogether
forgottenwhat spirit
"

of every
ignoranceand bigotrywith men
creed ; and a few heated fanatics are able by their noise and
and
to raise the seniblance of a serious resistance,
gesticulation
of a numerous
the scruples
thus rouse
following.We have
with the leader of a section in
what occurred at Liverpool,
seen
there

But

the Church

are

of

England.

its alarmists
extremes

As

The

and thus

Church

of Eome

can

show, for the hundredth

also sent
prehow
time,

are
opponents
constantly
uniting.

and

the Heads

of the Romish

Church

have

acted with

much

Mesmerism, and as much miS'

prudenceand reserve
respecting
stUl exists in the minds of many Roman
Catholics
apprehension
the real history
of
to what their duty may forbid or permit,
as
what has occurred shall be briefly
unfolded.
Close of Cheltenham, who
with Mr. M'Neile
is a rival authority
and
whose
same
school,
theological
words, therefore,will obtain a
from
the
admirers and auditors of the other,says in his Lecture on
hearing
in
Miracles," he was certain that there was no interferenceof the evil spirit
Satan had nothing
Mesmerism.
he
had
with
to
more
do
to
Mesmerism, than
do with us in every thing else. Never would he grant this vantage ground
*

Mr.

in thf

to the

princeof darkness,or

True, we

they are
"

could

Lecture,p.
This

and, we

suppose

that he had exercised

mesmeric

power.

the phenomena ; but therefore to conclude that

explain
"c.
diabolical,
appearedto him the most inconclusiveargument,"
not

25.

and manly on the part of Mr. Close,

languageis very straightforward
will
obtain
the
attentionthat his character deserves.
hope,

MESMERISM

AND

Mesmerism, it

COURT

THE

OP

is -wellknown, has taken

diflferentparts of the Continent.

ROME.

79

extensive

hold in

At

it only occasioned
first,
the faculty
and the believer,
as to the truth of

disputesbetween
certain phenomena; but when
those points were,
in great
as
determined,the religiousconsideration,
measure,
usual,
in.
In
different
two over-anxious memone
or
stepped
bers
places,
of the hierarchy
addressed a petition
to the Court of Rome
to learn what their conduct
should be,in the direction of soulsj
in reference to magnetism. It would appear that one
of those
from Belgium,imd another from Piedemanated
mont
applications
is certain is,
; though this is uncertain : but that which
that the

from the General

of the Roman
Congregation
cautious documents, carefully
were
Inquisition
eschewingan
nences,
opinionas to the nature of a remedy, on which their Emilittleor nothing, dealingprincithe Referees, knew
pally
with hypothetical
in one,
conditions,and stating
expressly
that the "simpleact of employing
physicalmeans, provided
that there was
nothingwrong in the intention or in the manner,
"c. were
called in with its influence,
and that no evil spirit,
not morallyprohibited^
was
not generally
Either these two answers
were
known, or, if
for in the course
of a few
known, were not deemed satisfactory,
and as the answer
to that
months a third application
followed,
is supposedto settlethe questiondefinitively,
as far
application
answers

"

"

"

as

Roman

Catholics

are

concerned,it

is

for their
desirable,

the real meaning of the

to explain
satisfaction,

letter.

It appears, then, that in Switzerland a young ecclesiastic

raises the cry of "magic,"or "satanic agency,"in consequence
hood.
of certain mesmeric benefits that had occurred in his neighbourthe Bishop
to his diocesan,
feelings
to learn whether a confessor
and Geneva, desiring
of Lausanne
to
and parishioners
permithis penitents
or curate might safely
exercise the art as supplementaryto medicine. The Bishop,
He

instructed
his

communicates

by

the

cure

as

his

to

all the marvellous

directs
details,

nitentia
Fontana, to applyto the Sacred PeA longmissive,
therefore,
for information.
at Rome
forth from the Episcopal
palaceat Fribourg,on the 19th

Chancellor,M. Xavier

is sent

of May, 1841,in relationto this

"

new

as the
witchcraft,"

Tablet

80

MESMERISM

ITS

AND

OPPONENTS.

contains a lengthenedenumeration of
epistle
mesmeric
effects. And
the Bishop, having given it as his
for doubting,
that he " saw
whether such
valid reasons
opinion,
the cause
effects,
of which is shown to be so littleproportioned
*
to them,could be simplynatural,"
prays to know whether,
he might permitanimal
assuming the truth of his statement,"
magnetism thus characterised (iUiscaracteribus aliisquesiin his diocese ?
milibus prseditam)
to be practised
which the Bishopgroundshis argument
on
Among the facts,
to
the insensibility
that the agency seemed supernatural,
was
violent
their sleepbeing so deep that
a
pain in the patients,
them."
of fire or the knife was
unable to arouse
application
the
This also is a Liverpoolargument :
w:ho has power over
flesh of man's body,to placeit in such a condition as that the
which cause
ordinaryapplications
pain,produce no pain ?
the Catholic
(Sermon,p. 149.) Mr. M'Neile and his coadjutor,
direct their attention to the diablerie of
Bishop, must now
Etherization : but this is by the way.
The Sacred Penitentiary,
assumingMesmerism to be what the
lowing
retur?is the folBishop describes it {"thuscharacterised"),
cautious and brief replythrough his Eminence, the
it. This

terms

"

"

"

"

"

Cardinal Castraeane
"

"

Sacred Penitentiary,
having

The

above statement, considers that the

answers

maturelyweighed

answer

should be

as

it

the
now

of

in casu
forthin the case (prout
is not permissible.f
exponitur),
"Given
at Rome, 1st of July,1841."
Nothing could be more
temperate and guarded than this
no
ignorantvituperation,
response. No violence of language,
The
decision amounts
no
panderingto vicious prejudices.
of Mesmerism
than
simplyto this. " We know nothingmore
and we
such as you describe it,
to no
come
generalconclusion
"

The

use

Magnetism,as

rationes dubitandi an
occasionaliscausa
tarn parum

*J";Validascernens
e"Pectus,
quorum

set

simpUciternaturales sint tales

cum

eis

demonproportionata

stratur."

"

Sacra Poenitentiariamature

:
prout respendet

usum

perpensis
respondendum censet
expositis
in
licere."
non
casu
magnetismi,
prout
exponitur,

MESMEEISM

its merits.

on

AND

But

THE

COURT

ifit be,what

your

OE

ROME.

81

exposition
representsit,

i. e., ifthe apparent cause

be not proportioned
and
to the effect,
that somethingout of nature be at work in the action, why,
"

then, in that

case, the

In
permissible."

not

it is a
preternatural,
is forbidden

of the

nse

other

which

if it be

"

is
characterized,'

so

words,ifMesmerism

treatment

employ:

to

'

remedy,

action in nature, the court offersno

every

be Satanic and

Catholic Christian

simplya newly-discovered
opinionwhatever as to its

use.

The

Roman

misled

by

elsewhere
on

Catholic reader,therefore,
who

certain statements

fvin

reference

examination

to

in the Tablet
this decision from

that the

may

have been

newspaper

*, and

Eoine,may

ceive
per-

generalquestionof Mesmerism

is stillleft open, and that the

Holy See has onlypronounced

and as to a particular
case.
hypotheticaUy,
for the guidanceof the obedient
But there is much
more
spondence
Catholic,than the negativeevidence which the above correoffers. In July, 1842, the Archbishopof Eheims
several explanatory
also consulted the Holy See, forwarding
her " Letters
was
the time that Miss Majtineau
publishing
on
"
otit with two
articleson the
came
newspaper
Mesmerism," the " Tablet
the other.
and upsetting
Gn December
14*
subject,the one contradicting
*

About

of Mesmerism
said that " so much
as
1844, the " Tablet" hastily
excited
is
of
a
nd
work
the
an
deceit
imagination,
or
really
positive

is

not

trulyoi

"
not
No
was
mad, would have anV
diabolical nature."
person, who
* * * "
is
the
this
But
not
it."
all;
with
Archbishopof Lausanne
connexion
whether
Mesmerisni
allowable ujider
information
was
appliedto Rome for
"
most
a
emphatid
negative. As'
circumstances, and received for answer,
any
the circumspect
rather a strong way of interpreting
replyof the
this was
the
w
eek,
on
the editor
following
Grand
Penitentiary(prout exponitur),
"
there
That
is
informed.
himself better
showed
any thingdiabolic in

what it is,or what itis not, we are very far from

is an
not
do
positively
say that this Mesmerism
affirming."
this
of
the
Sacred
that
as
Penitentiary
response
unholy act; we do not say
not
are
competent to speak on these
actuallv bindingin England; we
for December
21. is as
In fact,the retractationin the number
"c.
points,"
the
of
the
after
assertion
week
be
expected
startling
fairly
complete as could
"
of
"
Rome
down
dwindles
to a re^
emphaticnegative
and the
before
director before the
from the editor to consult a spiritual
commendation

Mesmerism,

that

we

know

"We

"

remedy be adopted.

'
_

added to the misconception,

for
unintentionally
t Mfes Martineau
and
t
he
of
study
practice
she says, " the Pope has issued an edict against
that the Pope has
It will be seen
in his dominions,"p. 59.
Mesmerism
T
done nothingof the kind.
has

"J

82

MESMERISM

AND

ITS

OPPONENTS.

to know
documents,and desiring.
whether,without reference to
any abuses with which it might be charged,the use of the
?
system itselfwas a thingpermissible

Archbishop: but
the Cardinal Castracane answered by letterin 1844,sayingthat
it
the generalquestionhad not been decided yet, if ever
had only been given as to parwould be : that an opinion"
ticular
that a pre: and
cases
(a quelquescas particuliers)
mature
decision on the whole bearingof such a subjectcould
onlycompromisethe honour of the Holy See."
The Archbishopplacedthis letter in the hands of the Vicar
General of the diocese,that those interested in ^e question
might know how to proceed.
Here, then,is a completerefutation of the erroneous
opinion
Church
entertained by many members
of the
of Rome, that the
has been forbidden by the Supreme
practiceof Mesmerism
of its satanic character. The Pope has not
account
on
Pontiff,
of any such absurdity.He has been too wise to fulf
been guilty
minate oracular sentences on a physicalquestionof which he
No

officialjudgment was

returned

to the

"

knew

but little; and

too

charitable to

censure

his fellow-men

studyof an art,which they exercise in the humble hope

All that has occurred
of beingserviceable to their brethren.
comes
simply to this: certain questionsare raised by young
warded
and officious zealots ; and an imperfectrepresentation
is forin thp
to Eome, and the very point at issue assumed
On that statement and those representations
statement.
a conditional
neither
judgmentis given; but beyondthat,the answers
advance nor decide. Abuses in this,as in every other science,
are
forbidden,^butthe use itselfremains free for the
naturally
conscience of the individual. Satan is to be expelledin any
shape that he presentshimself;but that Mesmerism is satanie
is a pointnot yet concluded.
who feels anxious to introduce the
The Catholic,
therefore,
healingpowers of Mesmerism within his household,
may venture
with an assured conscience.
the practice
For if such were
on

for the

"

the

wise

and

benevolent

decisions of his Church

under

the

of the late Pope, who can doubt what judgments

presidency
and admirable successor?
would be givenby his enlightened

MESMERISM

AND

CHAKLOTTE

ELIZABETH.

for Italy
the air of life and
is,indeed,breatliing
and

and
science,

more, in

truth,and freedom

83

regeneration
;

hoping to meet once

harmonious strength,
soil!*
on itsclassic and delightful
are

But the

Bishop of Lausanne and the eloquentpreacherat

Liverpoolare not the onlypartieswho have seen something
in this useful science. A lady has mingled in
preternatural
the

melee,and

better known

added

the confusion.

to

The

late Mrs.

Tonna,
Charlotte Elizabeth,"

of
appellation
the authoress of some
works, and the
religious
Christian Lady'sMagazine,"steppedforth as
under

the

"

editress of the

"

1845, and

addressed

letter to

Miss

an

opponent in

Martineau.

Several

topichave appearedfrom her hand in the

carried
Magazine. And her opinionshave, unfortunately,
section in the religious
considerable weightwith a numerous
timid and excitable sex.
with her own
world,especially
This letter has been so completelyanswered, in a cheap
that it is scarcely
pamphlet,by a gentlemanresident at Brighton,
It is assertion and assumpneedful to analyse
its contents.']"
tion
from beginningto end,without a pretence at an argument
her business" is
or a proof. She says, in the firstpage, that
but
with the supernatural
with the medicinal effects,"
not

papers,

also,on

the

"

"

"

"

manifestations." And
because
any

"

adds, that she caEs

she

the effectsproducedare

them

"

supernatural,"
beyond the scope of

in nature, unless operatedupon by

agencies
existing

some

superhuman." For this assertion she offers

altogether
evidence why such
she gives no
:
reason
not the remotest
all this is taken for
agencies cannot exist in nature
granted; and havingthus settledthe very pointat issue to her
this assumptionas a convenient
she uses
heart's satisfaction,
ations.
her observpeg,'whereon she may hang up the remainder of
power

"

"

"

"
Le MagneMost of the above facts are derived from a recent wort,
L.
J.
B.
L'Abb^
de Rome," "c., by
Copious
tisme
devant la Cour
the book.
in
As
found
also
be
to
is
mesmeric
other
points
information on
of irreligion,
the French works on this subjectcontain too often a substratum
its
for
recommend
this
volume
pietyand right
it is pleasantto be able to

feeling.
"f

"

Mesmerism,

"

Replyto

Letter addressed

(Sampson Low.)
G

by Charlotte Elizabeth."

MESMERISM

84

There

AND

is,however, such
in the

ITS

OPPONENTS,

strange and

following
passage,

sistency
inconself-refuting

that it merits consideration

ready to admit,that so far as the simplephenomenon is

concerned, of alleviating
bodUy pain, and of so lullinginto
the nervous
system as to induce a torpidstate,there may
^,repose
discovered by
be nothingsupernatural
; influences not yet fully
and be communicable
of philgsophy
the investigations
may exist,
individual to another, operatingperhaps by electricity,
from one
"

am

to

hitherto

extent

an

conformation, the

unsuspected.

surprisingpower,

in the electric eel,confirm this

-volition,
to mark

marvellous

The

acting by
theory; but

deliberate
I beseech

the limit of my admission, it is strictly

confined
within the boundaries of physical
and mental operation."
(p.8.)
you

And

this admission?

why

and

"

farther "i It is a

no

will and
What
and not

And

why stop here, and

drawn
merelyarbitrary
line,

fancy, wiihovt rule or reason.

ground has she for termingone
another?

What

does she know

about the remainder?

If the writer

phenomenon
more

about

admits

"

ikr,

go thus
by her

"

the

own

"

simple
one

than'

that influences

yet fullydiscovered by philosophy

may

municable
exist,and be comfrom one individual to another,"it is no more
than
what the staunchest Mesmerist advances.
Her admissions,she

not

"confined
within
says, are
mental operation."Good :

what

those boundaries

the
"

of

boundaries

but Mrs. Tonna

physicaland

to
forgets

tellus

she

that this is the point

forgets
"under discussion ; she forgets
that the
simplephenomenon of
lullingpain was regarded as supernaturaland beyond the
that
boundary but a year or two back ; and she forgets
the
unsuspectedinfluences of which she here speaksmay also be,
in the most natural way, the causes
of those
superhuman and
diabolical manifestations which frighten
her readers now.
No
boundary line can be drawn by her on the subject.For, to
the whole action of Mesmerism
applyher own language,
is,at
one
inexplicable,"
present, utterly
part as much as another.
that it would be a waste of time to
Phrenologytellsus truly,
with a brain that could be influenced by the
attempt to reason
unproved and unsupportedassertions of this letter. The hapless
man
be so organizedas to sufferfrom a cerebral
or woman
must
are

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

86

MESMERISM

AND

ITS

raises
judgingenthusiasts,

monster, and

up
then demolishes

this creation of its own

OPPONENTS.

imaginaryand unscriptural
by a copiouscollection of texts
an

brain,or of the brain of

some

wild and

advocates.
unrecognised
For

longest
argument istaken to prove
that-Mesmerism
does not bring man
to a knowledgeof God,
restore him to that image of his Maker, which he had lost
nor
practitioners
by sin,as it would appear, that some ardent
pretendthat it does.
I would first say, that
the high standing
In answer
to this,
here assumed,and the exalted placethus givento Mesmerism"
that I have never
(p.4.)is a position
yet heard advanced,nor
remember
to have seen
put forth in any mesmeric publication
its main
instance,

and

"

"

"

whatsoever.

The

doctrine is

chimera,and

one

not

generally,

if at all entertained.
the passage which is quoted in proof(p.4.)does
Secondly,
assert the above doctrine very clearly.
not, to my apprehension,
"
God in his goodnesshas givenman
Mesmerism, to help him
the better to discern himself (God)."At the best,this sentence
is very vaguelyexpressed
is not intended to
: and, perhaps,
than that the Almighty Being has purposed by
mean
more
this gift,
in common
with his other gifts,
to bring man
to a
fuller knowledgeof his goodnessand love. But if it do go the
lengthof upholdingan anti-scriptural
knowledgeof the great
Creator,who is the writer ? "Where is the context ? Is the
writer or lecturer a fair saniple
of the mesmeric public,
that
such serious importanceshould attach itselfto his notions,
and
that a page or two of arguments and quotations
from Scripture
should be drawn together
to refute them ?

That

the
common

some

Mesmerists

believe in the doctrine of man's advancing

and that Mesmerism

perfectibility,
signsof its approach,is probable;

with

the

other

marvellous

is considered
but

one

of

this it shares in

discoveries of the

day.

electric telegraphs,
and other
Steam, railways,etherisation,
modern wonders in nature and art are all named by a particular
the part of man
on
school as evidences of progression
towards
some
Utopianexistence of completeknowledge and power ; bvit
of those other gifts
who rejects
the assistance and application
from disbeliefin the day-dreamsof a
to the purposes of life,

"mesmerism

tested

by

handful of visionaries? And

any

why

woed

god."

of

is Mesmerism

87

to be reprobated

than those other discoveries on

more

idle fancies of

the

account

few

of the

"

?
"practitioners
imaginative
If,then,it be said,
this writer assumes, that any number
as
of Mesmerists entertain the opinion
that their science is capable
of superseding
the
one
world may
onlyway,"whereby a guilty
be broughtto a
knowledge of the great God and Father of
all (p.5.),
it can
that the thingis not
onlybe stated in reply,
true,that such an opinionis not generally
held,and that a long
with an unreal ideal
array of texts to controvert it,is a fighting
a

"

"

"

enemy,

and

uncandid

an

attempt to load Mesmerism

with

an

obloquythat oughtnot to belongto it.

The more
serious charge,therefore,
of this pamphlet,that
the science is
directly
contraryto the Word of God" (p.1.),
fallsto the ground: the science has not been elevated on the
which this writer imagines.
unchristian pinnacle
Of a similar character is the charge,that it must
be by
"
i. e, supernatural
and diabolical,
some
superiorintelligence,"
in his sleep,
that the "mesmerised
person becomes so gifted
and promptness he answ6rs
learned and,'
that with precision
that
scientificquestions
:
plain
untaughtpersons in the trance exand volcanoes
of earthquakes
tricity
the causes
say what electravel in
is, and its efiects on the sun and planets,"
and Aldethought many billionsof miles to the stars Sirius,
with confidence what God did in this globe
baran,"and state
(pp.1, 2. and 11.)
many thousands of years ago."
of Mesmerism
? Supposingthat
Is this a fair description
of the improvementand efiects
to be published
a narrative were
Warner's
of modem
Long Eange
gunnery, could Captain
instance of what has been
set forth as a leading
be correctly
? Could the historian build up his taleof artillery
accomplished
achievements from the promisedresult of that invention ? And
led on by a growing
in Mesmerism
; that certain patients
so
wonder have, in their excited state,pretended
love of creating
is
to "dream
mighty dreams, and see marvellous visions,"
sense,
true, and much to be lamented : but are their nonperfectly
of the
or hysteric
justspecimens
or
credulity
impostures,
efiectsof magneticinfluence ?
"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

88

MESMERISM

Would

the

of this

writer

and
Svvedenbqrg

OPPONENTS.

deem

Pamphlet

"actual

his

in Heaven

ITS

AND

visions of

the

observation^ of what

curring
oc-

was

"

that pure
any argument against
walks "by.faith and not by sight?"

and

Hell

creed of the

which
Gospel^
that the monstrous
or
worship of the bones of dead men
militated againsta worship in spiritand in truth
of the
Father of lightand love ?
The real pointis,how does Mesmerism
appear, as delineated
by the best authorities and its sober-minded advocates, ^not
"

"

"

jvhat is its character^if estimated from

?
isolatedcases

and

extreme

some

That

there

a
is,in certain peculiarconstitutioas,
very

to his

vsiaxkabli transference
of thoughtfrom the Mesmeriser

(out of
'patient,

narrated
the extravagant pretensions,
their birth,)
is true, and is also one of the

which

above, have taken

strikingthingsin

most

this action.

But

the science.

That which

is in the mind

there is

of the

brain,is communicated by
sympatheticmedium, most probablyof

be latent in his

may

and

to the mind,

limit to

Mesmeriser,or

connecting

some

electric character*,

an

itselfby out-:
of the sleeper,
and developes

more
manifestations,

ward

re-^

less

or

perfect. Sometimes

thi^

commjunicated
knowledgemingleswith some older information
out
that is lyingdormg^ntin the mesmerized brain,and Jirings
result that partakesstillmore
of the seemingly
a
miraculous,
belief in the electric theory, or in that of some
expressing
my
I am
that I am
i
somewhat
aware
imponderable,"
cognate
contradicting
previousobservation as to the imprudence of a premature hypothesis.But
theoristsin
Dr. Jenner says trulyin one of his letters, If there werp
no
*

In

"

"

the world,how
nature

of the

")fmatA,which

slow would

animal
can

be the advance of science

economy,

never

that

there

are

"

Such

is the

thousand

be stared full in the face ; but

going
processes
there is no harm
in

The
most
guess." Baron's life of Jenner, vol. ii. p. 369.
plausible
when
learned Bishop of St. David's says kindly,
speakingof the earliest
in language that may applyto mesmerisingtheorists ;
It is
philosophers,
refrain
from
boldness
at
with
which
to
the
these
possible
smiling
scarcely
unconscious of the scantiness of
firstadventurers in the field of speculation,
of the difficulty
of the enterprise,
their resources,
rushed at once
to the
or
solution of the highestproblems of philosophy. But, to temper any
which their temerity
disdainful feeling,
it should he remembered
may excite,
which prompted this hardihood, philosophy/
would prothat without the spirit
its
have
risen
cradled*
Thirlwall's
vol. ii.
never
Greece,
hably
Historyof
from
a

"

"

p. 133.

"

MESMERISM

Stillnature

TESTED

WOBD

THE

BY

is at

work, and nothingmore.

wonder-lovingsomnambule
superadds

GOD."

OE"

Not

89

rarelytoo, the
marvellous

certain
,

creations of his

own
to the former reflected images,and thus
exhibits in the end a sad mixture
of falsehood and reality.
But there is a line to be drawn, to which the actual power
extends,though that line is established with difficulty:but
it is confined,
ledge,
in
judgment,to the active or latent know"

my

that is possessedby the Mesmeriser, or

partiespresent

some

enough,and
"on

the chambers

between

the

of the brain;" but there is

of this rare
possession

to what

as

is now

But, argues
sudden

some

our

"

he

"

in

opponent next, " Now

conclude otherwise.

We

"c.
retrogradetendency,

may
But

be
as

actiojiand

earthquakes,

Jupiterand

so

suppose, that by
into a
is thrown

learned
:

the sun."

let us

ignorantman

becomes
instantly
must

wide difference

volcanoes and

takingplace

leavTied. This

and circumscribed

about

an
transition,

where
position,

fluid

strange influence of the mesmeric

intuitive discernment

"an
and

the

proves

or
patient,

All this is wonderful

in connexion.

or

the

he is ever

it would

well assert

this is not

be

absurd

that nature

the

case

wards
after-

with

to

has a,

those

undergonethe mesmeric influence : alltheir wonderful

knowledge departswith all their wonderful sleep; therefore/
ac-~
the learningcannot
be the unlettered individual's own
intelligen
but the whisperingsof some
superior
quired learning,"
who

have

"

ledge
(p.3.). The argument is,that because the knowexhibited by the sleeperin his sleepis forgotten
by him
ing
accordwhen he wakes up, the knowledge so conveyedis not
cannot be supported
to nature,"and
by sound philosophy,"
extra-natural agent,
be communicated
but must
by some
^-or,.
is
the sleep over, he
in other words,by an evilspirit. When
What
he once
the same
knows,
man
as before."
iflprecisely
it so happensthat our friend is wrong
loses." Now
he never
and in his knowledge.
soundness of his philosophy,"
to the
as
aside.
and Mesmerisers altogether
Mesmerism
of nature, setting
"

"

"

"

"

"

To

show

by Mesmerists
that it is

that

the

above

is the confined and

this power,
in general,
respecting

view entertained
practical
it may

and by the
commonly called thought-reading,"

delapensee.

"

be

as

French

well to

add,

penetration

90

MESMERISM

OPPONENTS.

ITS

AND

Analogy and observation lead to a very opposite

opinion.The
in his trance has been performing
natural Sleep-walker,
who
and frightening
or
marvellous feats,
some
amusing his relatives
and friends,
knows nothingof all that he has said or done on
and
He had passedinto a new
to his waking state.
returning
different world,and is oblivious of all that had occurred whilst
he

was

under

there.

etherisation.

restoration

on

This

from

ether,have^often

Medical
the

shown

place under

had taken
is

is invariable

abnormal

an

into which

also very constantly

report,that their patients,
and

men

so

or
intoxicating
benumbing
themselves utterly
unconscious

its influence.

Now

one, the

or

effect of
of what

the mesmeric

dition
con-

very similar to that,

falls. And
spontaneously

same,

the natural somnambulist

in the magnetic
ignoranceof what occurs
is precisely
of thingswhich
should be led to
a state
we
sleep,
and so
expect from comparing it with its kindred condition,
influence of a
far from being a proof of the extraordinary
is rather a satisfactory
and conclusive argument
diabolic spirit,

oblivion
therefore,

to the natural

as

The

or

action of the whole

proceeding.

as it is termed,
condition,
indeed,oi.double consciousness,

with instances of which medical and

completerefutation

works abound,
physiological

of this writer's

is

of

Aberdeen,has detailed

remarkable

Transactions.
Philosophical

argument. Dr. Dyce,

case

in the

Edinburgh

Abercrombie, in one of his

where
admirable works, mentions a similar instance,
a young
in a state of somnambulism,
showed
acutegirl,
astonishing
when awake, a dull awkward
ness;"but was,
girl,and did
Dr.

"

"

appear to have any recollection of what had passedduring

*
had nothingto do in producingthese
her sleep."
Mesmerism
not

cases.

And

of this

the author

pamphlet,if

he

will find that his views

deeplyinto the inquiry,
based

are

on

an

error,

reflective faculties

and agreeable
to
nature,"

on

this

for that this cessation of "the

"

"

or

enter

"

sound

is

more

point
ceptive
per-

"

strictly according to
and good common
philosophy

sense." f
Abercrombie " On the IntellectualPowers," p. 296.
"fDr. Moore, in his " Power of the Soul over the Body," mentions a Dr.
of medicine in Oxford,who would give out a text, and
professor
HajcoclE,

"

MESMERISM

AKD

91

CHEISTIANITY,

The

onlyother argument in the Tract requiringnotice,is

the assumptionof the satanio character of Mesmerism
from
the perversionof its use
(p.9.). When the writer,shall have
which of God's gifts
specified
not pervertedto evil purare
poses
evil
by
agents of some kind,we will enter on the objection.
Our health,
the best facultiesof our understanding
our
strength,
often so employed,that
are
the result is only evil (p.10.)
:
_

"

"

would

the

writer

have

therefore

us

infer,to

his

use

own

language,that it must be evil to practise or employ them ?

(p.11.) In a certain sense, indeed,Satan may be said to be
the
of much
that exists in the world,by
secondarycause
his permitteduse
of divinely-created
materials to his own
malicious ends : and Mesmerism, of course, forms no exception
;
for I agree with a writer in the British Magazine,that
whether
this power originally
be satanic or not, Satan has often learned
men." *
to turn it against
of God,"
tested by the Word
The writer of
Mesmerism
has not written in an unfair or illiberal spirit
; and with very
but he has not
concur:
many of his observations I cordially
which he
that this power, against
shaken me in my firm faith,
and in spiteof the earnest and
contends,is yet "of God:"
importantnature of his arguments, his Pamphlet will be found,
"

"

"

"

"

"

"

close examination,to be in the words

on

"

Like

specimenof

"

tale of littlemeaning

Though
Another

of the poet,

the words

these

are

strong."^

"paper bullets of the brain,"

"
under the charitable titleof A Dialoguebetween
"
and a Christian %, has also been forwarded to

opponent.
anonymous
writer of this diatribe,
The
"foundedon
has taken

care

to have

the lion's share

Mesmerist

me

actual

by

some

tion"
conversa-

of the argument,

and to put his adversaryat all convenient disadvantage.

which
The tirade is founded on the old unproven affirmation,
deliver

good sermon

on

but
it,in his sleep,

was

of
incapable

awake."
See a short but sensibleLetter on Mesmerism, in
for September 1844, p. 301.
t Tennyson," Lotos Eaters,"vol. i. p. 184.
\ Published by Nisbet and Co., Berner Street.

such discourse

when
"

"

British

"

Magazine

92

MESMEEISM

is here affirmed over

and

over

OPPONENTS.

ITS

AKD

that
again,

is supernatural

Mesmerism

"
"

a short and easy way

supernatural
;
of disposing
of a question.
It is penned in such an
style,and proceedsso
illogical
that
the assumption
on
impliedin the title-page,
benevolently

because it must

be

Mesmerist

cannot

be

that
Christian,

examination

an

of such

bigotrywould be an abuse of reason.

melancholy
of offence,
what
For instance,to apply his own
weapons
would the writer say of a
Dialoguebetween a Vaccinator aad
of Scripture
A Dialoguebetween
a Student
a Christian ?
"A
a
and a Student of Astronomy?"
Dialogue between
Discipleof the Lord Jesus and a Practiser of the Devilish Art
of .'Inoculation?
as if the two
thingswere incompatible.Tet
know what feelings
these different
have once existed against
we
subjects.
I have a pamphletby me, publishedin 1754, of 195 pages
in length, which speaksof inoculation as a
sistent
practiceinconwith
audacious
the duty to the Creator," as "an
attemptto take ourselves out of the hands of the Almighty,"
"an unnatural practice,""insulting
our
"as
Maker," and
"a human
as
invention," "throwing" the party inoculated
"into a State fullofpresumptionand rebellion againstGod." *
The language
of this ignorantpamphlet againstinoculation
so
completelythe languageof this present writer against
Mesmerism
sideration),
being taken into con(thedate of its publication
that, mutatis mutandis, its arguments might be
borrowed by our very original
opponent for the next edition of
his "Dialogue."
"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

the
Mr, Bickersteth,

trulyadmirable and pious Rector of

of the opponents. In his
as
one
W^atton,has been represented
observed,
Signsof the Times from the East he. had hastily
that he was
"compelledto view it as possiblethat a supernatural,
and therefore diabolical,
power
may be engaged in
of the wonders
of Mesmerism, and that he
producingsome
would not for any supposedbenefit have any thing to do with
"

"

"

Vindication of

"c.'
Practice,

"

by

Sermon, entitled

the Rector

Inoculation an
of St. Mildred's,
Canterbury.
'

Indefensible

94'

MESMEEISM

AND

ITS

II.

CHAP.

INDIES.

JESUITS.

TYRANNY.

WHAT

BOUNTIES.

SCRIPTURE

BARK
BIN

"

OF

OF

EVIL

"ON

LINES

WEST

FROM

POWER
"

DOCTRINE

MESMERISERS

AGAINST

BROUGHT

MARVELLOUS.

VACCINATION.

"

ANECDOTE

"

WITCHCRAFT.

"

INOCULATION.

"

REMEDIES

OF

SYSTEM

NEW
SPIRITUAL

AND

ORATITATION.

INVISIBLE

AGENT

MESMEBIC

OPPONENTS.

OF

CLERGT,
BY

INTRODUCED

GOD's

ARRAIGNING
SPIRITS

CHARGE

MESMERISM

HEARING

IMPIOUS."

CALLED

which the last chapterexamined,

rhapsodies
in the state of feeling,
of which
there is nothingnew
they are but the index. There is a tendency in the human
fluence
mind to refer every thing that cannot be explainedto the inhas
of Satan ; and though this idea of the supernatural
and over
been refuted over
again by subsequentdiscoveries,

Deplorable

as

are

the

with

stillcontinue haunted

men

the

same

restless fears of the

of science to have signeda conand suppose the man

tract
mysterious,
of evil. But the one
with the spirit
thing in Mesmerism
that so especially
disturbs the imaginationof the timid,and
is the fact,
that the immediate
producesso much of painfulfeeling,

agent is invisible. It is this that throws

so

mysticala

then comes
to the aid
subject. Superstition
it
of ignorance; for when men
cannot
perceiveall that exists,
is an easy way of solvingthe difficulty,
by assuming that the
whole transaction is beyond the boundary of nature.
If I
all this,"said a fair disciple
could but see what causes
of
character

the

over

"

M'Neile's

day,

one

the sermon,
*

treatise
"

how

men

because

Boni
%quum

De
can

"

I should be easier.'*" The

works

here unseen."

These

serves
devil,"obreasoners

of Mesmer, in his
Scotchman, and the famous predecessor
Medidna
Magnetica,"publishedin 1679 at Frankfort,asks,

Maxwell,
"

"

refer the best

the secret nature

of
gifts

of them

God

is not

to

the worst

perceived?"

"

of creaturfts,the devil,
Anne
maxima
Summi

referre
diabolum, tanquam auctorem
dona, in pessimuracreaturarum
hoc humani
errantis ingenii
Verum
?
proprium est,ut laputatis

tentis naturee secreta ntm

treatisewill be noticed

perspectacondemnet."

again:

Preface. This remarkable

it is in the British Museum.])
"

GRAVITATION.

95

requirea visiblepatent fluid to pass before their eyes to clear

the practiceof its sinfulness. In demanding this,
they forget
that there

are

must
spirit
by which

our

other agents in nature which

are
percept
outwardlyimFor in accordance with this argument the evil
be at work in the air we
breathe,and in the wind

that
effects

navies

wafted,for

are

discern them;

we

should refuse to embark

on

"

any

and

it is

only through their

the

Christian passenger
vessel but a steam-ship
; and

solemn protestto the captain,

if he presume
his compass as a guideto the destined haven.
enter

to consult

But

the power

magneticneedle
in nature.

that thus directs

to the

north,is

of the extremities of the

one

not the

We

"

onlyinvisible influence
able French writer *,

may suspect,"
says an
that there are in the world several subtle fluids,
and certain
concealed properties,
of which we have yet no notion ; and this
"

is the
I

find many phenomena inexplicable."

But
do better than give the words of a friend on this subject,

why

reason

cannot

in

we

of his

one

written
powerfully

of
(sayshe) is the objection
of

that
and

as

cause,
ever

was

the

course

know

though there
or

nothing.

the storm

one

were

be

demand

fall to the

into
precipice

by, and

the

ground,and

the mountain

gulfbelow

"

but

of

all powers

understood,but who

the best

rushes

perhapsof

torrent

cause

we

the most

explainthis ?
rise up aloft,

can

smoke

of the

senseless

explanation
any description
effects,
register

of

power

How

the

explained.We

Gravitation is

the stone

see

can

those who

"
"

of these effects; of the nature

universal and
We

ever

letters:

dashes

cause

the

over

of all these

know nothing but

we
effects,
opposite
apparently
that the power is simpleand uniform ; it is attraction,
a sympathy
between
bodies,but which is no explanation.We cannot
see
it,for power is an action beyond the sphere of our perceptions
various and

"

know

; we

trace

the

"

effect is made
cause

animal

on

matter, and

can

of these effectsthroughall material nature,but

course

nothing more

it in the effectof matter

we

observe

the conditions under

which

e^ch

but beyond which all is mystery ; of the

manifest,

nothing. It is the same with the phenomena of

lifewhich we perceive
throughthe action of Mesmerism,

we

know

"

M.

Virey,in

"

L'Art de

rHomrae."
perfectionner

96

AND

MESMERISM

the results of which

are

ITS

uniform

OPPONENTS.

under

similar conditions,but

body ; and so
vary with all the changesobservable in the living
far as we are acquaintedwith these changes,can
calculate
we
action ; and it isthe same
upon the result of Mesmeric
of every other power
effectswhich follow in the course

with the

by which

livingbody is influenced ; the laws of action are but the

recognisedmaterial conditions under which any effects take
Could we even
of
and nothingmore.
perceivea medium
place,
between
communication
veys
actingbodies,as the wire which conall the exquisite
the air which communicates
or
electricity,
harmonies of sound to the sensitive nerve, or reallywitness a
fluid passingout from one
Visible tangible
body into another,
and the mystery would be the same
the'difficulty
; for a fluid is
the

of communication
of the
a medium
a cause
power, nor
but the different
influence which it communicates
; these are

not

chains in the links of material

we

they are

but

call causation
means

to

an

which

appearances,
but which in truth

end, the

Gunpowder explodesby

venience
con-

explainnothing;

filling
up of the

links in the

approachof flame,
but which the circumstance of the slightest
damp will prevent.
Now, who can the least explainthese phenomena ; or tell us
of this repulsive
or heat,or the nature
what is light,
power,
which we are igon
which is the explosion? In all matters
norant
should
for
alone
we
suspendour judgment;
experience
have ever
lead to knowledge,and the wisest of men
been
can
chain.

the

for

near

"

"

the most

humble

before truth,and

the most

careful in

giving

judgment; for their experiencehas shown the follyof human

wisdom in givingjudgment without knowledge; that knowledge
which is power : for the ignoranceof the indolent is not bUss :
for though all knowledge,'
says Lord Bacon, is valuable and
is the most important,
to man
connected;the knowledge of man
and ought to be the foundation of every system of education.'
seek to
Let us then,with pure humilityand an earnest spirit,
that we may be wise unto salvation, praising
know ours'elves,
God for all that he may reveal to us, and not in the pride of
the light
without inquiry,
which
presumptuouslyreject
intellect,
'

'

"

is from Heaven, and ascribe the ways

Satan."

of God

to the

agency of

ANECDOTE

After

97

INDIES.

WEST

all,this dread of the mysterious

depends altogether

the accident of

upon

EEOM

experience.Habit

our

reconciles

to

us

every thing.*What is as a miracle in one

century,is a matter
of course
in another.
And if our eyes be but accustomed to a
particular
result,
though the cause may transcend our senses,
it

enters

never

to ask whether

is
"

curious

Six Months

Ealph

When

largemajorityof
or

took

illustrates
strikingly

tripof pleasurein

into the main

little vrork,

first started at

was

"

ocean.

men

visible. There

amusing

which
Indies,"

steamer

Woodford

of the Bocas

some

the

the actual agent be unseen

story mentioned in that
in the West

this remark.

Sir

thoughtsof

into the

When

the middle of the

was
passage, a small privateer
all sail for the shore of the island. Her course

Trinidad,

her

through
in
theywere
seen
making
seemed

accountable
un-

when
surprise
they observed
on
that,on nearingthe coast, she ran herself directly
shore,
her crew
time leapingout over
the sides of the
at the same
and scampering
so
vessel,
strange
up the mountains ! This was
a sight,
that,to discover the cause, Sir Ealph went on board of
and found only one
there with a broken
the privateer,
man
limb, in a posture of supplication. He was pale as ashes,
;

but what

their

was

"

"

and his hair stood on end,and Misericordia,

chattered,
his only reply." The explanation
at last
was
llisericordia,'
'

his teeth

that

was,

"they

saw

vessel

steeringwithout

singlesail,
tide ; that they
a

in the teeth of the wind, current, and

directly
in such a course
knew no shipcould move
by human means;
that they concluded it to be a supernatural
appearance," and
he verily
he himself heard Sir Ealph'sfootsteps,
that when
"

"

and indeed believed that he

Here, now, was

spirit."
result of noveltyalone.

evil
the
*

Meric

Casaobon,

whose

"

was
a

fallen into the hands

state of

This

terror,as in Mesmerism,

had
Spaniard

been accustomed

Enthusiasm
Treatise conoerninf];
"

of the

Credulityand

"

has

been

On
Incredulity"
already quoted,says in another work,
the power
of use and custom, which
is
of
cause
wondering
Another
great
have
been
they,who by the reportof others,or by their own experience, not
and
needs
ascribe
to
causes
magic
supernatural
many
acquainted with, must
about
This was
written
two
natural."
14.
turies
cenwhich
p.
are
merely
things
should have yet advanced
we
discoveries,
back ; strange,that with all our
"

"

so

!
little
H

98"

MESMEEISM

all Hs

ITS

AND

OPPONENTS.

lifeto steer hia littlevessel throughthe aid of

an

unsieen

magneticpower, and by the invisible action of the wind ; and

there was nothingwonderful to him in these ordinaryproperties
of
but when
of nature;
a
ship was
propelledby the means
human
machinery, by paddles,and boilers,and steam that
filled the poor
were
open to the eye, this unusual spectacle
sailors with a dread of approaching
evil, they concluded it
to be a supernatural
appearance," while the real, objectof
mystery remained unheeded in the cabin throughthe simple
effect of dailyhabit.*
The turn, however, which the fears of the superstitious
so
take,is in an uneasiness on the subjectof medical
frequently
of some
and unwonted
new
treatment, and at the application
remedy. This fact can be corroborated by writers without
"

"

"

"

number.
cure

that

affright
; on

It is not

the

it.

subdues

this that

their wisdom.

Old

disease

that

It is hence

much

so

that the

preacherspreach,and
Burton,

in

his

alarms,as the

populace takes

the learned bestow

well-known

work, the

has a whole chapteron the

Anatomy of Melancholy,"
rejec'
He gives us a catalogueof writers,
Hon ofunlawfulcures."
afiirm that cures
who
are
perfectedby diabolical agency.
Many doubt, saith Nicholas Taurellus,whether the divell can
"

"

"

cure

such diseases he hath not made, and

some

flatly
deny it,

experienceconfirms to our astonishment,

worke
such feats,and that the divell
that magicianscan
without impediment can
penetrate through all parts of our
such maladies by meanes
to us
unknown.''
bodies, and cure
of such
to hear
as
Nothing so familiar,"adds Burton,
howsoever

common

"

"

"
in one of his charming " Discourses,"
It is
Sir Joshua Reynolds,
says,
who
the
with
for
of
are
natural
those,
unacquainted
cause
traordinary,
any thingexvery
and to consider it as a kind of
to he astonished at the effect,
habitant
magic. * * * The travellers in the East tell us, that when the ignorantinthe ruins of stately
of those countries are asked concerning
edifices

them, the

of their former
melancholymonuments
that they were
built by
science,they alwaysanswer,
grandeurand long-lost
finds a vast gulph between
mind
its
The
own
untaught
powers;
magicians.
unable to fathom,and it
art, which it is vtterlg
and those works of complicated
be passed only by supernatural
that such a void can
powers."
supposes
this applies
How
to Mesmerism, which
the uncompletely
Disc. 6., p. 147.
taught

yet remainingamongst

"

finds itself unable to fathom," and

mind, in its routine practice,
in
one
and, in the next, preternatural!
calls
impossible,
therefore
moment,
it,
"

SYSTEM

NEW

cures:"
them

"

:"

"we
"

"

OF

see

the

sorcerers

are

REMEDIES

effects

MAKVELLOUS.

only, but

too common,

not

the

99
causes

of

in every village
wiU
Many famous cures are

who

help almost all infirmitiesof body."

dailydone in this kind,"he adds again,
"

"

and

the divell is an

pert
ex-

physiHan."And after a littlefarther discussion of the question,

he decides,
that it is
better to die than be so cured." *
Galen,who has been termed the Prince of physicians,
and
whose name
is as a proverb in the profession,
accused of
was
in reward
for his unequalled
sorcery by his cotemporaries
the credit of his
success.
"They turned againsthim even
cures, by the chargeof havingprocuredthem throughmagical
means." ^ Paracelsus,
his distinguished
subject
successor, was
the
A
n
amed
to
same
Sennert,born at
imputation. physician
Breslaw in 1572, suspectedthat Paracelsus,had tampered in
the black art, and seriously
asserts that extraordinary
cures
can
onlybe performedby a compact with Satan. For he says,
but as aU
that
the devil has a competent knowledge of physic,
his favours and promisesare deceitful and destructive to souj
evil was
but much
to be expected." He
and body,no benefit,
rather to acquiesce
with resignation
then admonishes physicians
than preserve them by impious
in the death of their patients,
means." J And the part that
enlightened"
Europe has acted
in regardto witchcraft is only too notorious ; thousands of unhappy
"

"

"

wretches

have

suffered at the stake

on

this

accusation,

or to gratify
alwaysas a punishmentfor a presumed injury,
but in consequence of cures
effected
by the
feelings,
revengeful
herbs and through the aid of nature, after repeated
simplest
failures of the faculty.
to those
AU this is melancholy
enough ; and a sad answer
But bad as it is,
of human
nature.
who talk of the dignity
that the clergy" of aU
remains behind,viz.,
somethingworse

not

Burton,

"

Anatomy Mel.,"part ii. p.

"

"

Quanquam

"

centre

lui I'eclat de certaines cures,

at the

expence of my

en

"

"

peritum."
Historyof Small Pox," p. 184.
" In making this statement, I

esse

edit. 1632.

I'accusant
magiques." BiographicUniver.,art. Galien."
satis
medicarum
vero
negarinon possitDiabolum rerum
See
Moore's
De
Paracelso.
i.
Sennert, torn.
p. 234.

meme
lis toumerent
des
fe"
obtenir
de
moyens
par

220.

"

rality
seek not the worthless distinctionof libeBut there are
brethren.
wiser and far superior
H

AND

MESMERISM

100

have
persuasions
persecutions.

Eeligionhas

too

OPPONENTS.

ITS

led
generally

the

well termed,

been

by

in these abomihahle

van

one

of

living

best

our

"it is,"he says, " the

remedy for the evilsof our nature ;"*
designedand appropriate

writers,"the medicine of

the soul

medicine, unhappilyis

;"
"

by
onlyeasily
polluted
the poisonof superstition
passionand
; but the dregsof human
human
vanitytoo readilyand too often mingle with the cup.
which the ministers of the gospelhave in view, is
The object,
of so momentous
a
nature, of an importance so above and
that it may seem, to zealous
beyond every other consideration,
the adoptionof any means
towards its
minds, almost to justify
this

but

"

attainment.

not

If the soul be but saved,what

the process,

matter

of the sophist.But, happily,

are
we
-says the carnal reasoning"
"forbidden by the highestauthority
to " do evil that good may
the salvation of sinners is not to be accomand even
:
tXiome
"

this golden rule of ScripStill,

frequently
forgotten
by the young and by the ardent.

-plished
by unrighteous
ways.
'"ture is too

Anxious

to

carry

on

the

great work

that is before

him,

eager
enthusiastic teacher
"

our
enlargethe number of his proselytes,
of the argucareful as to the quality
is not always sufficiently
ment
he adoptsin his persuasions.A little "pious fraud" he
Not content with denouncingin
trusts may be very excusable.
the ungodly and the vicious, not
words of gravest censure
and temperance,
satisfied with "reasoning on
righteousness,
and judgment to come," he must needs travel a little aside into
And
if he be
the regionof the doubtful and the imaginative.

to

"

man

of talent

as

well

as

of energy,

he

the
perceives

soon

Truth,
pointson which a well-known proverb must be broughtto memory.
And when
truth,ought to be dearer than factitiousclaims.
gospel
especially
is exposed to the scoffs of the unbeliever,through the injudicious
religion
advocacyof its own supporters,it is necessary to show that the conduct which
dees the mischief is no part of the system, but the reprobated
superaddings
scientificage ; and the more
a
of a mistaken friend. This is essentially
that there is no
other hostility
between
needful is it to be understood
ligion
reworks
*

and science than what arises

and words speak but the same
"

ArchbishopWhately,

out

of the

grossestignorance.God's

language.

Errors of Romanism

that feels
cap. i.p. 75., a book which every one
should read,not once, but
his brother-religionist,

traced

to

disposedto
once

Nature,"

Human

year.

cast

stone at

102

peculiar
way,

own

AND

MESMERISM

power

; no

men

shown

have

ITS

OPPONENTS.

for this
predilections

the warmest
domineered

more

over

the weak

and

ignorantthan have they; and the ministers of dissenting

to the contrary,
in spite
of their loud professions
congregations,
have,where the occasion has been offered them, been as little
thus have
hateful practice.And
free as any from the same
of the Gospel
fhey all succeeded in spoilingthe simplicity
through "vain deceit after the rudiments of the world,and not
of none
after Christ,"
and rendered its pure and blessed morality
But the strangestthingin the
effect throughtheir additions.
is the fondness of the peoplefor wearing the yoke. Be
matter
what it may, the laity
the doctrine or discipline
seem
always
statements, and to uphold
ready to receive the most monstrous
the pretensions
of the most ambitious,if the teachers themselves
"

but in earnest.

would almost
priestcraft
in the human
inherent principle
heart. Populusvult
an
seem
the peoplelove to have
as the Prophet said of old,
: or
deeipi
it so, and the priests
bear rule by these means."
Moderation
and never
will be popular. Bitterness,bigotry,
was
never
and extravagant opinions,
these are the thingsthat are
extreme
with the vulgar. And hence it has been that in all
palatable
those who by their education and position
ages of Christianity,
ought to have taken the lead in promotingthe claims of science,
the very parties
that soughta reputation
for sanctity
were
by
headingthe outcry againstit : and hence it is,that in the case
of Mesmerism, in other towns of England besides that of Liverpool,
of the clergyhave succeeded in tightening
the
some
chains with which theyhave enthralled the weakest members
of
their flock,
by second-hand denunciations on the wickedness of
of the most
the system,and by mourning over
virtuous
some
of the art as the hopeless
victims of satanic cruelty!*
practisers
appear

'

Affection for

"

This is not asserted from a loose assumption. Those who

Mesmerism, and have not given attention to its claims, have
*

disbelievein

"

no

conception

of the strong languageused on the subject,for the sanction of which appeal

of Mr. M'Neile.
Not many months
is made
to the authority
since,I was
of
midland
in
and
our
few
one
on
counties,
days
spendingan
Stayinga
I afterwards discovered
eveningwith a friend,part of the familyremained absent.
their appearance,
that they refused to make
a mesmeriser
as
in
was
the practice.A short time
and the conversation might turn
the room,
on
"

103

"WITCHCRAFT.

These

thingsare

of

be a useful,
history
; and it may
though humblinglesson to bring forward, a few instances in
proof. It may encourage a spiritof caution in those who
teach ; it may check the leaningtowards credulity
in those who
hear. And without alluding
to the well-known
examplesin the
study of astronomy,of geology,and other branches of natural
matter

I shall confine myselfto a few remarkable

cases
philosophy,
taken from the practice
of medicine,as bearingan affinity
to

the curative power of the mesmerist.

I begin,therefore,
for the
with witchcraft,

charge of

craft,as

arose

medical

was

success

before stated,too commonly

of the offender;and on this

of horror has the conduct

The

for
persecutions

tUl towards
what

of the

clergyto

witchcraft did not

witch*
of the

out

what
point,

tale

call up.
in

commence

Europe

close of the fifteenth century ; that is,when

called the dark or middle ages were
rapidlypassing

are

the

In 1484, at the time of our

Eichard the Third, Pope
away.
Innocent "VlU..,
in hia conclave of cardinals,denounced
deatl},
to all who

should be con's'ietedof witchcraft.

The

succeeding
'and
VI., and even
Pope Leo X., the polished
popes, Alexander
About
Leo, lent their aid in this fearful persecution.
enlightened
his career, 500 witches
1515, justbefore Luther commenced
executed

were

of Como.

in, Geneva

1000

In Lorraine 900

of executions

burnt.

were

is called

executed in the Diocese

were

In France

incredible."

"

In

Germany,after

of the Pope'sbull,the number of

publication
is so portentous,as to lead to the hope that there
the

xnistake in the calculation

; and

we

are

tude
the multi-

victims stated
must

told that the

be

some

clergywent

Witch Sermons," and

called
preachingwhat were
the peoplewith a fanatic ardour in the pursuit*
"

about

spiring
in-

parishhad collected the ino*t

them
in
congregation
together,and, addressing

the clergymanof
to this visit,
previously

their

of his
obedient members
lost brethren and sisters.
awful language, entreated their prayers for some
and
Christian
benevolent
peoplewho had been
brethren
some
were
These lost
of
their
the
relief
suffering
neighbours.
devotingtheir days and nightsto

And
*

work

this in the 19th century 1

abridgedthe above

I have
on

the

"

facts and

Constitutionof Man," and

H

admirable
from Combe's
figures
for
his
theircorrectness.
on
accuracy
rely

104

MESMERISM

In

Englandthe
at the

were
clergy

executions

the

period when

But it was

OPPONENTS.

frightfully
numerous,
cially
espePresbyterianand Independent

were

During the puritanic

supremacy

in the ascendant.

of the famous

victims suffered.

Long Parliament,3000

in Scotland,after the Reformation,and

after the

Kirk, that
General

ITS

AND

some

triumphantestablishment
of the darkest

Assembly passed an

scenes

of the

act

Presbyterian
The

enacted.

were

for aU

pecially
es-

more

ministers

take

to

of witches and charms, and over

and over
again pressed
In following
a consideration of the subject.
upon parliament
up
the accusations,
the clergyexhibited the most
rancorous
zeal,
note

and

themselves

were

cruelties. We
but it may

may

often the

who
parties

the
practised

worst

rail againstTorquemada and his Dominicans,

of Spain inflicted
questionwhether the Inquisition
real domestic miserythan was
endured under the
more
galling
bondage of John Knox and his platform.True, there

was

and

no

be

; but, in
auto-da-fe

stead,there was
of informations and visitations,
which
its

system of

pionage,
es-

carried

dismay
fact,the spiritual

In
every household hearth.
often intolerable.
tyranny of the Kirk of Scotland was
Documents
show that no habits of privatelife were
left untouched

unhappinessto

by

there

those in the

the recent Free Church

abetting
consider what they are bringingupon

day,who
well

its meddlingjurisdiction.
And

can

are

present
should

measures,

themselves

be littledoubt,that the leaders of the

for

in
secession,

popular character of their proceedings,

spiteof the apparently
are
and
aimingat a return to the old ecclesiasticaldomination,
of the purses and persons of their people,
to the prostration
under the iron rule of an ambitious presbytery.
Some curious books have been lately
publishedwhich throw
the old conduct of the Kirk.
I allude to the
on
a valuable light
Miscellanies of the SpaldingClub.
They ought to be well
studied by the presentadmirers of spiritual
In the
discipline.
firstvolume, there is a document
called
Trials for
published,
"

Witchcraft,"which contains

no

less than

to
fifty
papers relating

different trialsbefore the kirk sessions for that offence.

volume

is called

in which
Strathbogie,"

"

Extracts
we

may

from

the

PresbyteryBook

read how the

clergytook

cond
se-

of

fearful

WITCHCRAFT.

cognizanceof
the

"

each action of
"

suspected

for

and accused and punprivatelife,

ished
their magical skill. A few samples

be instructive. There

may

105

convicted before the

is

trialof poor Helen

Fraser,who

"

of Foverne,"among other
presbeterie
for promising
Johne Ramsay, who was
charges,
sick of a
one
to do quhat in hir layfor the recoverie of his
consumingdisease,
health ;
but it was
world was
to be kept secret,for the
evil,
and spake na gude of sic medicines."
Janet Ingram had also
was

"

"

"

for Helen

sent

There

to

cure

her.

is a narrative of

meeting held at the kirk of Caldstane, and a poor victim is brought forward,who was accused
of calling
on
George Rychie'smother,and promisingto take off
a

Lis sickness.
Mr.

John

Ross, the minister

of

Kincardine,O'Neil, send
accusingof witchcraft nine or

at

in

Lumphanon,
documents

and

the parson

the

to

sessions,

ten persons.

At

and
Belhelvie,one Janet Ross is accused of witchcraft,
denies it,but she confesses to prescribing
sick of
to a patient,

fever,an
the

same

One

and pepper
egg with a littleaqua-vitse
for herself in her own
disease.

she had

used

is summoned
before the kirk,and rebuked
George Seifright
for consulting
about
his wife's sickness,
and bringing

her.
to cure
poor woman
is accused of
Issobel Malcolme

some

charmingand curinga

child's

sore

eye.
Isabel Haldone, of Perth,confesses upon

givendrinks
Three
;

who
In

and
had

poor

to

cure

women

accusation to

having

bairns.
are

executed in 1623

kirk session called up

soughtcures at their hands.
the

and

at Perth

censured

for doctoring
the

parties

these chargeswere
short,as the editor says in the preface,

wrought or attemptedfor some

disease." The ignorantprosecutors could not explain
severe
a paradox to
what they saw : it was
them, how an old woman
which had
by the administration of simplescould cure diseases,
resisted the wisdom of the professor
so
cuttingthe knot,
; and
which theycould not untie,they trumped up a chargeof sorcery
"

as

connected
generally

salvo and

excuse

with

cures

for their

own

folly.

106

MESMERISM

AND

OPPONENTS.

ITS

of Marton, in
Warwickshire,who died in 1602, wrote, amongst a number of
other works, a "Discourseof the Damned
Art of Witchcraft; "in

"William Perkins,a learned and

which

he says, that the

of the two."
"

Of witches there

and the good witch.

in

only.

and

leaguewith

This

howsoever

The

good

witch is the

he adds,
sorts,"

two

good witch

the devil,doth

use

is he

"

she that

or

helpfor

his

sent
by condoinggood

hurt, but only-heal and cure.

both these be evil,yet of the two, the most
is the

him, the good witch hath done

the former.

For

the

one

good

witch.

him

thousand

did

onlyhurt

worser

the had witch,

cannot

detestable monster

than

"

healingor

are
.

pious divine

For

times
the

Nowj

horrible

in
more

healing
harm

body,but

the

devil

of the other,hath laid fast of the soul,and by

by means
*
curingthe body,hath killed the spirit."
If the learned Mr. Perkins had been livingin these days,
he might have put forth against
what powerful Discourses
Ether and Mesmerism
under a horror of their healingand pain"

"

subduingvirtues
Let

"

When, in 1649, the Jesuits

importedinto Europe the Peruvian bark, and for this act and
us

to another instance.

come

exertions in Paraguay made atonement

philanthropic
has rendered their
for much of that conduct which
to society
wonderful effects were
the most
a proverb,
name
produced in
in his Materia Medica, states,that
Rome
Geoffrey,
by its use.
Cardinal de Lugo and his brethren distributed gratis a great
the "religious,"
and the poor
of the city.
quantityamong
cured as if by enchantment.
Agnes and intermittent fevers were
were
thought too rapid (trop
Geoffroysays that the cures
prompt). And hence,as we learn elsewhere,not only did physicians
ecclesiasticsprohibited
but
sick persons from
interfere,
that it possessed
virtue but what it derived
no
usingit,alleging
from a compact made
by the Indians with the devil."\ And
this invaluable drug was, on its first introduction,
thus this useful,
for their

"

treated

as

Mesmerism

of the father of all evil.

*

is now,

And

and ascribed to the invention

of

course

the

Perkins, W., Fol. vol.iii.p.

See

spiritual
guides of

637.

Colquhoun's Isis Revelata."

"

INOGULATION.

107
.

those
the

days thought,with ol* Burton, that it was

patient to die," than be cured of his ague

"

better for
such

hj

remedy !
When, in 1718, inoculation
country, the greatest uproar

for

small-poxwas

adoptedin

this

againstit. Not
the whole medical world opposed to it,but farther,
only was
as
Moore tells us in his amusing work on Inoculation, some
zealous churchmen, conceivingthat it was
ligion,
repugnant to re*
*
*
thought it their duty to interfere.
They wrote
and preached that Inoculation was
a daring attempt to interrupt
the infernal decrees of Providence." (p.237.) Lord Wharncliffe,
in his life of Lady Wortley Montagu,
clergy
says, that the
descanted from their pulpitson its impiety." Oh ! if Mr. Paul
and
his Penny-Pulpitreporters had but been livingin those
days,what gems of reasoning and rhetoric might have been
preserved to us ! Fortunatelya few Folia SybiUina are yet
extant.
A
Mr. Massey preached in 1722 in St. Andrew's
Church, Holborn, that all who infused the variolous ferment
was

stirred up

"'

"

"

hellish sorcerers,
invention of Satan." *
were

the Reverend

Theodore

and

that inoculation

was

of the rectors

diabolical

the

of

And

one

de la

Fayef, perhapsexceeded

Canterbury,
this in

tion
preached in 1751,for he denounced with horror inoculaof atheism,and drew a touchingparallel
tween
beas the offspring
the virtue of resignation
to the Divine will and its practice.
Similar roinds see similar objects under a similar view. And it is
sermon,

hardlynecessary
between
the

at

the

strong resemblance

that exists

and Canterbxuy
the arguments delivered in Holborn
so
beginning of the last century to the expressidns

uttered
recently
But

to observe

the

zeal

pulpitof St. Jude's at Liverpool.

content with one
of Mr. De la Faye was
not
1753, two years only after his first discourse,
in the

explosion. In
he published a second
Practice,"
"

sermon,
in

called, " Inoculation

an

defensib
In-

which, if possible,he out-Heroded

See a sermon
by the Kev. Mr. Massey, againstthe sinful practiceof
Inoculation.
July 8th, 1722.
the Scripture
"fA Discourse againstInoculating
; with a Parallel between
of
Notion of Divine Resignation
Inoculation.
the
1751.
and
Practice
*

108

MESMEEISM

A^X"

OPPONENTS.

ITS

Herod, leavingall
The

effect on

the

former

publicmind | was

the

completelyin

declamations

mischievously
great,
answered
was
by Mr.
short and judicious
a

so

that,to counteract the evil,the sermon

Bolaine,a surgeon at Canterbury,in
"Letter."
This

summoned

hero for

our

third time into the field; and

Vindication of the Sermon,"

long Pamphlet, called A

(whichI have alreadyreferred to
ransacked the regions of follyand
in

"

arguments

melancholyinvective
page in the

The

Chapter,)he
of

search

consideration of this

useful,that

is thus far
of
history

last

intolerance in

his doctrine.

maintain

to

in the

it unfolds

structi
in-

an

mind, by the curious

the former horror of inoculation,

it presents between
parallel

the human

Mesmerism.
of the present notions respecting
It is
the
not to smile at the strangecoincidence between
impossible
and, many

respective
reasonings.A few instances shall be given.
described as a quackery.
Mesmerism, we know, is constantly
Inoculation

is here

"

termed

made
irregular
practice,

to

unsocial

an

quackery," an
than it can perform."

promise more

"

"

(Pamphlet,
p. 5.)
Mesmerism

is called immoral.

Inoculation

is here

sented
repre-

"

complicated
exposingthe soul to more
immorality,
importantperilthan' what men dread from the disease,"
(p.85.);
as

device

"a

"

the

duty we

so
owe

Mesmerism
called
"

"

our

who

Inoculation

Parish
on

Churches

the 3d and

Mr.

as

be

"

ridiculous.
in

an

means

physicalview,"

"

24th

for the benefit of their health.

Indefensible Practice,
Sermon
a

of St. Mildred's

and

of June, 1753.

Cradock, in his

All

Saints,in

Second

preached at
the

the

of all

said

The
United

Cityof Canterbury,

Edition.

gossipingMemoirs," says,
"

with

Inoculation is here

(p.81.),and directly
contrary to the nature
(192.).
as a remedial
employMesmerism
agent,are

to exercise unlawful
*

to

practiceextremelyabsurd

means
physical

fellow

utterly inconsistent
creatures." (p.61.)

is laughedat

irrational"

Those

immoral," as

At a very earlyage I
such
ran
so strong against
prejudice
an
that my father could scarce
it was
innovation (^presumption
in safety
called)
venture from his house forfearof the mob."
p. 6.

was

inoculated.

At

that time the

"

"

no

Turks,"
"

that

"

"of

men

learned

some

from

comes

divines

assaults of the evil

of

are

(p.37.); and
spirit
upon Job

the

others consider the

that
as

(p.37.);
practice

ourselves

opinionthat

"

devil

the

to
religion"

different

OPPONENTS.

ITS

AND

MESMERISM

of sataniC

instance

an

inoculation!
Mr. Some answers
takinghigh
successively,
objections
the
of
in
defence
practice.*
religious
ground

These
and

Again

iarose.

clergydiscovered

with

vaccination

the

profession
up

the medical

was

pulpitsresound

the

did

its appearance,

made

vaccination

When

in

denunciations.
to

hubbub

same
arms

Some

be antichrist.

again

of the

Moore,

in his

to vaccination
Historyof Vaccination,says, that " the opposition
violent in England than in other countries,"
much
more
was
of many females
(p.1 15.). He says again," the imaginations
disturbed with tales of horror concerningit,that
were
so much
they could not even listen to any proofs of their falsehood"
and Practice
(p.122.). The learned author of the "Principles
"

vaccination was
introduced," it
says, that when
said,that it was takingthe power out of God's hand ; that

of Medicine
was

God

"

the

and
small-pox,

that it was

impiousto interrupt
I was
it by the cow-pock. When
a boy, I heard peoplesay that
and that it was
it was
an
practice,
takingthe power
irreligious
that it is merelyusingthat power
out of God's hand, forgetting
Sermotis were
which God has given us.
preached againstit ;
gave

us

and handbills
it stated in

stuck about the

were

that
handbill,

These

years
and when

mother

"

it will be

to have

relate,
among

as

much

natural
This

an

her infant

satanic the
as

cure,

as

for

neuralgic

it is

that
subject,

for

now

two

sermons

Sunday in Liverpool,
denouncingas

practiceof

so

simple,so

the exercise of the mesmeric

pamphlet is now

Institution,
Literary

course

the future historian will

vaccinated,

the curiosities of the

act

of

matter

its influence for

preachedone
actually

impiousand
*

inoculated for the

was

horns

patientto apply to

so

person who

of it,"(p.479.).
growing in consequence
the annals of small-pox
thus in a few
: and
now
are
Mesmerism
shall be firmlyestablished,
hence, when

cow-pock had

were

I recollect seeing

streets.

scarce, I found

it in the

common,

and

manipulations.

of
library

the

Norwich

SIN

OF

Trulythis satanic agency

the

are

world's

stage ;

"

and

and

one

BOUNTIES.

Ill

is a clever actor of allwork !

difficultiesthat

in its time
many

are

the

removed
same

by

it.

"

berless
NumAll the
"

interpretation
plays

parts." For,

Satanic agency firstcomes

woman,

GOD's

ABEAIGNING

curingthe

sore

forward in the character of

eyes of

boy by an

an

old

infusion of dock-

weed.

Satanic agency

appears in the character of a Jesuit,

ruvian
scowlingdarklyaround,and curinga tertian ague by the Penext

cinchona.
Satanic agency

againappears in the character of Lady Wortley Montagu,importinginoculation from Turkey,and arresting

the fearful ravages of small-pox!
Satanic agency again appears in the character of Doctor
with his novelties,
the Collegeof Physicians
Jenner, convulsing
and savingmyriadsof infants by the process of vaccination !
Satanic agency lastly
appears in the character of a modern
of the most
Mesmerizer,healing,
by his soothingpower, some
diseases,and expellinga whole train of neuralgic
distressing
!
pains,which had defied the skillof the faculty
think that they are
And they,who utter these denunciations,
doing God service !
Bather do they throw a serious discredit on religion
; rather
do theyinflicton it material disservice.
They make the infidel
and barren
spectator laugh, and the judiciousand thinking
Christian grieve. They overload the Gospelwith a weightthat
does not belongto it. They affect the mind in the same
way
in
false miracles of the church of Rome,
as the legendsand
superstition,
througha grovelling
leadingcaptive the silliestof women
of sense
and
men
but disgusting
"by their absurdity,
into half an infidel. Enjoined to
convertingthe philosopher
*
In
end in believing
none.
believe all these statements, men
this respect,
then,these piousfrauds are a mistake,if we may
the objectaimed at. They
BO speak. They do not accomplish
"

"

do

not

the amount
increase, but rather lessen,
But

See

they

are

not

merely

the Life "c. of Mr. Blanco

observation.

of real Christianity.

mistake, they
"

are

far

confirms this
White, which strikingly

112

MESMERISM

OPPONENTS.

ITS

immoral
theyare positively
far from singling
out Mr.
are

worse,"

this,we
cur

remarks.

are

afloat. He

see

His views
is but

but

are

out

one

an

absurdities.

is

He

M'Neile

In

as

indication of

of many.
of

person

asserting
the objectof
that
opinions

sinful.

and

of his abilities lendingthe

man

such

AND

We

rather regret to
sanction of his name
to

weight in

religious

the

appealto him, and ask, if,in

giving currency to these dogmata,he has well considered his
teacher.
To speak of the bounties of
a
as
responsibilities
the temptings of the evil one,
Providence
to treat
as
a
benefit before it
to condemn
a curse,
a
as if it were
blessing
of the religious
is the wont
be examined,
as
opponents of
the conduct of a thoughtless
ful
unthankto me
seems
Mesmerism,
spirit.* If the Lord would make windows in heaven,
Lord
might this thingbe ? was the speechof the unbelieving
at the promisedplenty to Samaria.
(2 Kings,vii. 2.) He
doeth these wonders throughBeelzebub,the chief of the devils,"
therefore do

world; and

we

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

the

^was

"

Divine

of the hardened

answer

Master

and what

to the works

Jews

the marvels

are

of

of Mesmerism,

"

oiu:

but

equallythe works of God, equallyflowingfrom the same

heavenlyfount as the miracles of the blessed Jesus, the one
the other through
at His word,
indeed effected immediately
those secondaryagents of which He is the first and onlysource.
"

"

"

therefore say, that it is our

Christians to see
ddty
as
God in the work, that it is our dutyto recogHand
op
nise

We
THE

"

as
a
good,so merciful,so healingan influence,
proof of
the Almighty'scare for his people. To do less than this argues
of faith,
and a loweringand an undervaluingof the Divine
a want

so

and
a

mystery is no

told us, that

is God "who
"

God

who

Our

bodilyframe
movements
mysterious

attributes.

"

mystery
we

hath

are

plicated
may indeed be fuU of comis that to faith ?
; but what

to the eye of faith.

The

Psalmist hath
"

and wonderfully
made
fearfully

fashioned

laid his hand

upon

us

behind

us,"
"

that it

and before," that it is

and that

"

"

in his book

all

emanations of fiilse
notions are mere
pride and ignorantprejudice.
little
wlio
that
conceives them,
reflects
He
involve
they,in reality,
of a contempt for the works and ways of God."
the principle
of
Vestiges
235.
Natural Historyof Creation,
p.
*

"

Such

"

CHARGE
members

our

of man's

AGAINST

written."

are

body cannot
that the Lord

sure

and

not

we

To

show

"

ourselves ;

are

we

"

Mesmeric

another to dishonour

physical,to
"

whom

He

others

vessel to

one

he

some

of the

us

"

He

our

others

"

us,

honour,and

to each of
severally
to
givesspiritual
gifts,'

of both

B6

"

the hands

he divides

"

union

state,except by

clayin

but

Creator forms

"

the flesh

that hath made

it is He

potter. The Divine

to
separate qualities,

"

of God.
forgetfulness

is God

He

113

that
therefore,

say

placedin

be

supernaturalmeans,"is to
ye

MESMEEISERS.

will have mercy oa

will He hardeneth,"

He
mercy, and whom
but whether they be gifts
of grace, or giftsof nature, they
"
all flow from Him,
for
of Him, and through Him, and to
will have

"

"

Him

are

Let

all things,"
and

"

by

Him

do all thingsconsist."

not, then, the Christian misunderstand

opposingthe

main

In

me.

thus

of these anti-mesmeric

do
pamphlets,
I make void the doctrine of satanic influence ? Do I deny its
truth ? Grod forbid ! yea, rather would I establish it. My own
we
warfare,
painfulexperiencetells me, that in our religious
tenets

wrestle not with flesh and

blood,but with the unseen

powers
of hell,with spiritual
wickedness in high
and principalities
that th^
places.Firmly do I believe,with Holy Scripture,
he may
devil goethabout like a roaringlion,seekingwhom
is seduction or wickedness,
there is Satan
devour."
Wherever
is falsehood,
wherever
in the midst of us ;
imposture,and
wherever
his kingdom reaches also ;
are
unjustand
deceit,
"

"

"

the brethren, wherever are

accusations against
lying
railing
wonders,"and claims to a false and pretendedpower, his presence
be known ; and my
dailyprayer is,after the
may
teachingof pur blessed Master,to be delivered not onlyfrom
"

"

evU,
"

but also from

all the wisdom

"the Evil One."

of this world will

never

This is
make

me

creed of which
ashamed

"

and
only anxious to placethis doctrine on a scriptural
Heber, I believe that
footing.With the apostolic
legitimate
follow from these
no
can
slavish fears,
trifling
superstition
no
and by Scripture."And
^by reason
views, when regulated
notions
while,with that lamented Bishop,I think that the
are
which God's word has taughtus to entertain of evil spirits,
tales of witchcraft,"
with
sufficient to discredit the ordinary
am

"

"

AND

114

MESMERISM

him

also do I believe,that

numerous,"and
"Legion."*

and

But

if

maintenance

that the

abandoned

as

any cost ; and

thingitselfmust be wrong,
is dangerousand unsound.
secured

of the

name

after all,
be advanced in

can,

place,to
The

themselves.

men

mighty
great adversaryi8
"

are

satanic agency, and if that

fanatical opponents shift
our
forlorn,

"theirground,in the next

againstthe

OPPONENTS.

tempters to sin

our

reason
satisfactory
of this charge of

no

be
position

ITS

at

uncharitable

an

the world

so

because

imputation

slaveryof mind

be

must

is instructed,
that the

the creed of its supporters

The

leadingMesmerists,they say,
materialists ; and what
are
deists,sceptics,
good fruit,it is
demanded, can grow or be gatheredfrom such a stock ? And
who
are
they that thus join in the accusation againstthe
of the Mesmeric
school ? Many, who in
persons and principles
habits of domestic life are visited by practitioners,
their daily
and avowing the very same
views on religion
to
entertaining
which theyobject. And to be consistent,
therefore,
they who
the charge should be careful that the rule appliedto
make
noveltyand invention in surgery. But
every other therapeutic
that their sweeping denunciation be correct,it were
granted,

surelya new ordeal,wherewith

discovery.For, after all,the
chargeaffectthe truth of the
were

the fact would

atheists,

of certain fossilsin certain

to test the merits of

real

questionis,how

science itself?

or
feeling,

strata

stillremain,that

of conduct does act

the

character.

fact would

formed

man

And

such

still remain, that the imbedment

does determine

an

throughthe
so

brain

on

lighton

the

materialists,

thought,of

the external

faithful manifestation of

if all Mesmerisers

still remain, that that

out of the dust of the

the relative

habitual train of

and furnish
conformation of the skull,
the moral

can

medical

If all geologists

and throw considerable

succession of the latter,
structure of our
were
globe. If all phrenologists

the fact would

deists,
Supreme Being, who
were

earth,and breathed into his

did impart in his

soul the breath of life,

a
organization
sym-

*
the Existence and Influence of Evil Spirits
See Heber's Sermon
on
;
Hurd
James iv. 7. : " Resist the devil,
and a Sermon
on
and he
by Bishop
will fleefrom you.
"

CHAEGE

MESMEEISEES.

AGAINST

115

to magnetic action,and that through

patheticsusceptibility

this process a curative influence may be evolved of the highest

value to suffering
humanity.And is it,then,the fact,that this
this merciful power- is alone exercised or adoptedby
healing,
the scriptural
unbeliever?
Shame, then, on Christians who
who can thus arraign
can
it! Shame, then,on men
so neglect
the bounties of Providence,and extract from the very gifts
of
creation the poisoned materials for their own
uncharitable
of Mesmer
! But that the disciples
belong so
assumptions
if we
to the school of materialism,
must not call it
exclusively
of facts. That there
a libel,
is at least a strange exaggeration
them, is probable; for in what department
among
may be some
of knowledge,
where a consciousness of intellectualpower leads
of revelation been too often overlooked
men
on, has not the light
and forgotten
ment
? "Whether it be, as Bacon says in his Advanceof philosophy,
when
of Learning,
in the entrance
that
"

the second
themselves
may

which

causes,

of man,
oblivion of the

the mind

to

induce

some

this be correct, I know

they,who
more

the senses, do offer

if it dwell and stay there,it

not ; but

the habitual

by

accustomed

unto

next

are

course

than other

Highest Cause;"

whether

remark,that
of their studies,
have been

it is

to

men

common

look into the immediate

found amongst the

have been too generally
things,
but I have yet to learn,
of Pyrrho and Epicurus;
with greaterforce to the students
observation applies

causation of
followers
that the

"

than to those of any other science. Many there

Christian community need blush
no
are
amongst them, whom
adorn the doctrine
who by their faith and practice
to own
; many,
I have walked to the
;
some, with whom
they profess
of Mesmerism

"

in company

house of God

all of them

and

with whom

am

excellent giftof
less deficient in that most
are
acquainted,
than those of
the very bond of peace and of all virtues,
charity,
fidelit
the wanton
their impugners,by whom
cry is raised of inand materialism.

"What,then,is the
and Christian
I

men

would
*

state of mind

should meet
not

have

See M'Neile's

"

wise,prudent,

the present state of the question?"*

from
a
them,
disgustat the
towards the close.

sermon
I

with which

ITS

AND

MESMEMSM

116

OPPONENTS.

and
of this sermon,
join the ranks of the infidel,
laughto scorn the doctrine of Satanic agency, as the invention of
*
firms
conteaches it ; experimentalreligion
men
holyScripture

tendencies

"

it : but I would

them

have

the ways of Providence f with

remember
them
have
would
wonders

are

yet laid bare

be

cautious not to confound

of the Evil One ; I

the works
"

how

little

to his creatures

part

"

of God's

I would have

them

anxious for truth,

subjectwith a devotional spirit,
lest
not rashlycondemning that of which
they are ignorant,
haply,in their presumption, they be found to be fighting
need not fear to be present
againstGod." :f Christian men
if theygo in a
at scientificlectures or physiological
experiments,

look into the

"

"

"

spirit.Hard words are no argument. Accusations

devilish
foolish novelties,"and
and
of morbid curiosity,"
devices,"carry no proofsof their truth to the thinkingpious
Christian

"

"

"

he goes with the

If he goes, he goes with prayer
Bible,if not in his hand, yet in his heart ; he goes to study the
book of God's works by the book of God's word ; he goes with
that " no
science can
a
soul,"no
save
the full reroembrance

believer.

natural

"

knowledge bring

us

nearer

to

God.

But

if,on

the

bodilypain that hath entered into

and that his knowledge of the healing
the Christian's dwelling,
of Mesmerism
should lead him to make experiment
properties
with which he would comof its power, what are the feelings
mence
and unseen
a trialof this unknown
remedy ? He would
other hand, it be sickness

or

to reduce divers ecstaciesto natural

"Whilst we endeavour
causes, the
show
the
of many
shall
have
been
which
to
of
causes,
we
cause
ignorance
be
the
truth
and
o
not
t
o
suspected question
realityf things
evils,we would
*

"

for which havingthe authority

of
supernatural,

the

no
Holy Scriptures,

man

of these as divine."
can
deny them, except he firstdeny the. truth and reality
Treatise
3.
on
60.
Casaubon,
Meric
Enthusiasm,cap.
p.
"fSince the above was written,I have met with a clever paper, full 'of
Witchcraft
and Mesmerism," in the London
curious matter, called
technic
PolyThe
Dr.
T.
stated
No.
facts
therein
Stone.
are
2,
by
Magazine,
very
"

instructive.
fillsthe soul with
" " Science,it is said,

uneasiness and

and
curiosity,

moves
re-

As if there were
God.
any science without him, as if the
in
reflected
had not a serene
science,
virtue,a power
divine effulgence,
human
and
the
that
in
heart,
imparting
peace of eternal
tranquillity
diffusing
which
will
exist
in
all
their
laws,
puritywhen worlds
"truths and imperishable
Michelet, Priests,Wbmen,iand Families,p. 19.^
will be no more."
us

from

"

118

Hath

Nature,

Can

man,

places'

That

gives

Oh

And

with

with

the

call

The

what

God

"

with

gladness

in

mercy

shewed

bath

lines

authoress,

doth

God

X.

give,

that

me

and

call

"

should

not

to

hath

been

unclean

any

rest

blest.

is

power

call

hour

weary
brain

and

thou

not

?"^

grass

dower,

aching

this

the

its

blessing

where'er

plan

to

many

the

scan

pass

for

sorrow

pang

brings

praise

cannot

"glory

soothe

may

which

re-echoes

soul

the

to

unerring
it

the

hath

gleams

what

that

trace

flower,

the

vain

the

bounds

the

dwell

heart

impious

not

Acts,
These

fitful

wrung

gladden'd

And

its

all

to

in

seek

we

God,

sea

OPPONENTS.

ITS

law

of

restless

the

fragrance

the

then,

mystic

no

master-piece
o^er

Life

Hail,
And

then,

the

Th"t

same

AND

MESMERISM

man

"

;
*

common

or

clean."
un-

28.

have

called

since

appeared

Angels'

Visits,

in

volume

pleasing

(Longman

"

Co.)

of

poems

by

the

UNBELIEVERS

IN

in.

CHAP.
nNBEUEVERS

IN
CASES

IN

ENGLAND

IN

UNITED

IN

PAIN

But
to

AtTTHOIl's

MESMERISM
MESMERISERS

IN

PROGRESS
STATES
AND

IN

OWN

EXPERIENCE.

ENGLAND

SCOTLAND

MESMERISM

CURES
IN

"

PROVED

AND

GERMANY

TO

BE

"

ABLE
REMARK-

OPERATIONS
IN

"

POWERFUL

PRANCE
BEMEDT

DISEASE.

allthis train of argument appears childish in the extreme

second class of opponents. It seems
like fighting
with the

wind.

medical

for his

friend,who

in science stands

by

profession,
says in a letter, It
grave clergymenmaking a serious
"

Mesmerism."

The

and
ability
consent

common

of his
two

119

MESMERISM.

amuses

debate

various attainment

among the heads

much
me
to see
the

on

subjectof

editor of the Lancet

the same
says much
but smile at each theologian
for seriously

thing; We cannot
the practice."
And a religious
and seriously
defending
attacking
has made a few observations on the subject
which require
periodical
"

some

The

littlenotice.

Mr. M'Neile

nor

says, that they agree neither with

with his opponent, for theybelieve Mesmerism

Christian Observer

the result of

But
or imposture.
credulity
will put the charge in their own
language. We believe
we
human,
that the work is strictly
being in part imposturefor
action
morbid vanityor sordid gain,and in part the irregular
"c."
Dr. EUiotson was
of an excited imagination,
duped by
who pretendedto respondto his magical
some
patients,
artful
exhibited his deluded
control. We calmlysay, duped." He
*
*
*
*
to suffer."
or
suffering
affecting
or deludingpatients,
and exhibitors may be confederates
instances the patients
"In
some
deceive the exhibitor ; but that
; in others they may
there is deception
upon the part of one or of both,we make no

to be

nothingelse than

"

"

"

"

question."Hard

words

Christian Observer for

giftof God."
*

these, if
"

not

September,1843,
I

somewhat

in notice of

"

coarse

and

Mesmerism,

the

120

MESJ/LEEISM

AND

ITS

OPPONENTS.

unbecoming! It might have been expectedthat the editor of

of that evanwould have known
a religious
more
publication
virtue,which "believeth all things,and hopeth all
\gelical
/thingsfavourably. Charitynever faileth." Charityalways
Such words as "dupe" and
adoptsthe best interpretation.
nately
f imposture are easily
written,and save the writers unfortumuch laborious investigation.
My original
purpose was
to treat of the religious
aspect of Mesmerism," or rather to
the timid
as
not so unhallowed
show, that its practicewas
in which I have
But in the position
Christian might deem.
of which I
been placed, and with the facts in my possession
have been a witness,such a narrow
view of the subject
appears
of such deserved
when
to be inconsistent. And
a
periodical
reputationas the Christian Observer can thus encourage its
the
readers in their error
; when
by the most unjustaspersions
leaders of the medical profession
(forthe largerpart of the
members
can
are
obstinately
happilyan exception)
severe
perjunior
surdity
in termingthis valuable discovery
an- aba delusion and
duty towards God, if I did
; I should be wanting in my
that which I have experienced
not thankfully
announce
; nay,
low-men,
I should be even
character among
wantingto my own
my felif I did not show that in thus advocatingMesmerism
and spo"ebut the
I had reasonable groundsfor my conviction,
"

"

"

"

of truth and soberness.

words

It may

be then desirable to state that I

perhapsit would be more

thoughton the subject.A few
scarcely

Mesmerism

the Mesmeric
and
Street,

correct

years

an

unbeliever

in

say, that I
back I went
to
to

exhibitions of the Baron

returned from

from conversations that I

I

was

Dupotet in Wigmore
them disgusted
and incredulous ; and
held with medical men,
subs,equently

led to resolve the whole

monotony,
appearances into
nervousness."
All this is stated,
to show

was

"

"

and ''
imagination,''
The change,
state of mind.
then,that was wrought
my previous
in me,
the change from scepticism
indifference to earnest
or
but the
sudden hastyimpulse,
was
no
conscientious conviction,
result of cautious observation,and slow and gradualin its
that in my own
growth. I was placedin such circumstances,
I was
compelledto be present and witness facts. I
despite,
"

"

author's

own

121

experience.

watched

them, however, with the most anxious jealousy.I

trusted to my own
alone,and took nothingfor granted.
eye-sight
I have gone from case to
patientto another,
case, and from one
and

them

all under

different states of mind

and

body,and
studied all the effects with the most
for
unwearied
diligence
months.*
And
if plaincommon
by the
sense, untrammelled
jargonof science,may be allowed to give an opinion,
clusion
conmy
seen

from the whole

is

is,that there

unquestionable,than
unascertained,of the human
producinga powerful action
more

one

no

in certain

that

fact in

nature

hitherto
conditions,

body, one person is capableof

on
the physical
system of another,
and that through some
medium
independentof the
perfectly
this positionI propose to
imaginationof the recipient
: and
statements.
prove in the following
The patient,
to whom
I shall first

years in

state

few of the

the benefits of the

the

though

and

been

headaches,had been

continuous

urgent symptoms

more

for many
of the heart,
Palpitation

refer,had

of health.

neuralgicpains,intense

severe
a

anxious

an

she had

joyed
en-

and

both in London

very first advice

country, and often with advantage,

yet stillthe constitution

had at

lengthbecome

so

enfeebled

as

to be littleequalto meet

an

additional shock upon the system. Let it be sufiicient to state,

that the worst symptoms of her case were
at lengthfearfully
asperated.
ex-

agonizingpainssucceeded. For seven long

when
often the last to come
which is
and tedious weeks, sleep,
not at all. Opiatesnot onlyfailed
wanted
came
most,"literally
The

most

"

to ease,

crisis was

but

even

tended

to

rapidlyapproaching;

at
family were almost gone;
their prayers
expected,were
"

obtained

; a

system of

new

Till

aggravate.

hopesof

the

when

that moment,
heard

treatment

at

when

last,when
the
it

patient's
was

and

but

few

"

"

least

happily

change was
was
adopted;
leadingthem on

from

to health
they saw the hand of G-od
a
ment
improveand to hope ; they saw
gradual steadyprogressive
which
of relief,
settingin, attended by circumstances
no
languagecan express.

that hour

Mesmerism

that

was

I may

fresh treatment

now

add,"for years."

as

facts

122

MESMERISM

AND

ITS

OPPONENTS.

will thro-w stronger lightupon the action of this newlj-discovered power, we will proceedto relate certain incidents in
the

case.

First let it he stated that this

where

or

its

faith in

amounted

but too much

the medical friend,

few minutes'

of confidence,

case

oppositewas

The

very
in
disbelief
Mesmerism
patient's
when

remedy brings about

fresh

wishes.

own

not

was

sleepafter such

realization of

the

The

fact.

to dislike : and

even

alive to the

of
necessity

fearful duration of wakefulness,

caught at the idea of the Mesmeric action,and suggestedits

the proposition
met with a peremptory repulse. And
adoption,
of
it was
explanations
onlythroughthe firmness and intelligent
the

excellent friend that

strongreluctance
At

the first seance,

the treatment, that this

last overborne.

at

was

undertook

which

lasted

an

hour, small apparent

going to rest,the patientwho had

the nightly
been in the habit of requiring
aid of fomentations
of her sufierings,
to lull the intolerable severity
layperfectly
and said that "the pain had been endurable."
still,
Sleep,
indeed,did not visit the pillow: but much was thus far gained.
At the few next sittings
sleepwas obtained, deepertoo on
effect was

produced;

but

on

"

each

the effect of which

occasion, and
"

after the

continued

though this sleepwas very short

stillthere was
which for
and much
disturbed,
sleep; an effect,
had failed to
weeks
all the drowsy syrups of the world
The patientsoon
declared that she had passed a
procure.
night. All this was very encouraging,and called
refreshing
of gratitude
forth many expressions
; stillnothinghad hitherto
retired to
patient

And

bed.

"

"

occurred to convince
the

not

producingcause,

unusual

or

that the

me

nothing,that is,of an extraordinary

of pain
sleepwith a gradualmitigation

courage," and onlytrusted

"

not

lose its efiect,

as

we

was

"

character ;
the blessed results; and

were

monotony of the passes

went

"thanked

that this

God

and

simpletreatment

took
would

on.

at a distant
evening,as I was sitting
watchingthe patientin her slumbers,
part of the room, silently
attention was
that my
suddenlyarrested,by observing_her
the hand of the Mesmeriser,as by the force of
hand following

It

was

about

the fourth

we

REMARKABLE
*

attraction.

123

CASES.

I
with which
forgetthe feeling
started from my chair,ejaculating
"there is then
to myself,
Here
A new
somethingin Mesmerism."
lightburst upon me.
a fact which
was
no
imaginationcould explain; here was a
where
case
collusion was
no
marked,
possible.The act was

Never

shall I

"

clear,decisive. In

what

way,

the unbeliever

account

can

for

this sympathetic movement,

be
into what solution it may
or
that here
tortured,I know not. Common
sense
simplyreplies,
is a plain evident action,in which
ceived.
the eye could not be deThis

effect too, it may

be

as

well

to

add,was

not

The
produceddailyfor weeks and weeks.
hand
and the head invariably
with the hand of the
moved
this magneticaction,
in witnessing
Mesmeriser; and certainly
could not
we
avoid adopting the conclusion,that the term
"Animal
Magnetism" was not so inappropriate.
1 It is unnecessary to enter further into this case, though other
phenomena might be mentioned, except to add, that the most
essential benefits continued to be obtained ; and that although
with a patientof such an
a
complete
impairedconstitution,

temporary,but

was

expected,the action of
her
Mesmerism
has never
on
any occasion been employed on
of twelve months)
behalf (and this is said after the experience
such as medicine
without producinga relief and salutary
effect,
fails in any measure
to accomplish.
But my experiencecan
give attestation to a very affecting
restoration

case,

"

to

some

health

not

was

of the events

to

be

of which

under

occurred

my

own

roof.
Anne

Vials

parish in
thence

to

livelihood

daughterof

is the

St. Alban's,who
Watford.

For

by workingin

of her constitution she

but, in 1837, when

a
a

Vials,of

Abbey

the mail cart from

formerlydrove
short time

the

this poor

girlgainedher

habit
silk factory
; from the scrofulous

alwaysequalto full employment ;

only sixteen years of age, she was
altogether.For her mother fell

not

was

she

Samuel

was

compelledto give up work

under which, after much
sick,with a long and piningillness,
confined
sank ; and duringwhich she was
she finally
suffering,
"

See how

this fact is confirmed in Keichenbach's

"

Researches,"
p.

12.

124

MESMERISM

AM"

OPPONENTS.

ITS

her

bed, and requiredthe constant presence of a nurse.

Poor Anne, therefore,
left her calling
at the factory, took
her placeby her mother's couch,and was her unwearied attendant
that she
nightand day. So feeble indeed was the patient,
could scarcely
be quittedfor a moment
; and for a long year,
did this anxious and affectionate child sit by her
therefore,
death at length
parent'sbed the whole nightthrough. When
made.
released the sufferer,
The mother's
a fatal discovery
was
for the overdisease had taken strong hold of the daughter,
wrought
had
exertions of a twelvemonth
now
too
clearly
Anne Vials in fact required
taint.
broughtout the hereditary
the generalstate of her
a
nurse
herself;for not only was
to

"

health broken

in

been

so

She

use.

succession
for her

for three

which

or

four

the

arm

the kindness

Through

much

givingher

the best attendance

but

but the left arm,

became
pain and uneasiness,
diseased a condition,
to depriveher of its
as
totally
in
was
placedunder the care of several medical men

years had
now

down,

every
of some

in St. Alban's

day grew

charitable

more

she
friends,

after the other.

admitted into different hospitals

one
first removed

and

more

provided
painful.

was

was

now

She

was

Hempstead Infirmary, thence to St.

Bartholomew's
Hospitalin London, where she remained nine
months, ^thence to St. Thomas's in the Borough, and thence
to Hemel
Hempstead again,in none of which placesdid she
obtain any effectualbenefit. The state of her health at length
Hemel

to

"

"

became
were

so

that
serious,

necessary;

and

where
Guy'sHospital,

to save

she

was

her

arm

her life some

taken
was

the 22d of March, 1841.

At the end of three months, when
returned
some

back

to

St. Alban's.

up

to

measures

London

again to

amputatedby
the wound

After she

littletime, a violent convulsive

decisive

had

was

Mr.

Morgan

healed,she

been

action commenced

at

home
in the

and worse.
In
rapidlyworse
the stump moved up and down, nightand day,unceasingly,
fact,
than she herto use her own
self
and much quicker,
expression,
Her sufferings
the other arm.
became intense,
could_|move
affected in proportion.She was
and her generalhealth was
removed backwards and forwards,as before,to the ^ifnow

stump.

"

This

movement

grew

126

MESMERISM

ITS

AND

OPPONENTS.

He is
his power ia equally
excitement,
strange and wondrous.*
and yet so firm,that it is a perfectstudyto
so calm, so
gentle,
watch him in the management of a case.
unwearied
I seen
him with the most

Hour

"

after hour have

patience,devotingthe

energiesof his powerfulmind to the amelioration of

watching the various symptoms as they arose, and
suffering,
Never were
losophy
phiundisturbed by any change that might occur.
united.
in the
And
and humanity more
beautifully
have the happinessof being
instance before us, those who
his friends,requirenot to be told his answer
to
ranked among
Mr. Montagu's suggestion.In spiteof the feelingagainst
he at
Mesmerism, and the almost hopelessstate of the patient,
undertook the case ; and seeing
his own
once
on
responsibility
for months the most unremitting
that itwould require
attention,
from St. George's
and had the
he procureda nurse
Hospital,
whole

girlremoved to his own house.

fourteen months
after the
It was
in May, 1842, about
trial
that Anne Vials quitted
the hospital
to make
amputation,
of the
this is Mr. Atkinson's description
of Mesmerism
; and

poor

state

four fitsin
more

he found her.

in which

than

day,of
hour

an

"

She

had

sometimes

three

or

violent nature, which continued for

the stump moved
up and down without
most

twitching; but violently

up
and down ; she suffered continuous excruciating
painin the head
and back, and at the end of the stump too the pain was
most
she had pain too in all her limbs and joints,
excruciating
;
in the elbow of the remaining arm, just as she
particularly
had before amputationin the other.
Masses of sores were
stantly
conbreakingout in different parts of the body ; palpitations
of the functions of
at the heart,painsin the chest,suspensions
of largequantities
of blood accompanied
nature, and a spitting
by solidmatter, were some of the other symptoms." In short,
not
cessation,

merely nervous

"

"

"

for the practice,

Mr.
A. possesses
Among his other qualifications
a
he
which
of
detects
the
existence and locality
by
feeling,
of
peculiarsense
the case with Mesmerisers.
pain in the patient.This is occasionally
M.
de Bruno, one of the earliestFrench Magnetizers,
of
himself
speaks
ing
possess*

The
susceptibility.
Pratique,"
p. 235.
this

passage will be found in Gauthler,

"

Traite

EEMAEKABLE
a

12?'

terrible complication
of evils have

more

in

CASES.

seldom been

united

sufferer.

one

I shall leave it to jVIrAtkinson

to the

at

future

some

periodto give

details of his
publicthe interesting

Let it be
success.
sufficientto state,
that the process was
most painfully
laborious,
and occupyinga largeportionof his time, and that she remained
in his house

than

more

twelve

months.

At

the first

few

the epileptic
fits were
sittings
brought on, as if by the
Mesmeric effect*; but this preventedtheir recurrence
in her
ordinarystate. At the fourth or fifthseance, the deepsleepor
trance
was
superinduced,when the action of the stump
it never
moved
suddenlystopped, and from that moment
in that
again; the fits too ceased; the pains in the
way
back of her head were
almost immediatelyrelieved ;
and
a gradualimprovement^in her
generalhealth set in. Upon
"

"

"

"

"

the wonderful
I shall make

results of the Mesmeric

littlecomment

my

in this case,
think for themselves

treatment

readers

can

carried to and fro from

they will see here a poor girl,
to hospital,
hospital
torture, and
enduringthe most exquisite
that the onlyhope
her lifeplacedin such a state of jeopardy,
of preserving
it was
and horrible operato a second
recourse
tion.
;

"

The

arm

to be taken out of the socket ! an

was

effectual

! But from
preventionof its movement
she sparedby the action of Mesmerism
this operation
was
; and
was
a relapse
by its continued and regularapplication
vented,
prein
and an
her
health
obtained.
Who
improvement
in vouchsafing
such an
does not see the goodnessof Providence
the precious
to her was
agent ? Wha can deny that Mesmerism

mode, in truth,for

giftof

God?

The

facts of her case,

"

of her

of
sufferings,
"

for epileptic
it is considered
fits,
patientis treated by Mesmerism
if
the
on
a
sign,
manipulations
bring
; and,
paroxysm
I
have
the
I
of
that
But
to
am
inexperienced
from what
seen,
opinion.
the very
it has a formidable effect; he appears to be inducing
magnetizer,
in point;
The case of Anne Vials is one
disease which he wishes to cure.
remarkable
of
described
his
cure
in
a
treatise,
practical
and Teste,
having
mode
of
action
the
this
of
characterises
case
ordinary
says,
epilepsy,
and
of
the
fits
severity
magnetismin epilepsy.An increase in the number
But these crises
constitutesalmost alwaysthe firsteffectof the treatment.
and
and
in
diminish
disappear
altogether."
soon
frequency severity, ultimately
*

When
a

favourable

"

p.
SpiBan'sTranslation of Teste,
the last chapter.
"

We

267.
_

shall recur

to

this subject
in

128

the

AND

MESMERISM

amputation,
"

of the movement

other attendant evils,

are
in St.

known

OPPONENTS.

of the stump, and of the

to numbers,
to medical men
"

surgeons and nurses

and it is also known, that all the remedies
"

her benefit

to the

and

Alban's,

ITS

fruitless;

were

the best

"

but the fifth day,after the

avail :"

these

not

are

pitals
the hos-

for
suggested

advice
surgical

of

was

marvels

all the

no

of Mesmerism,
application

the other fearful symptoms

and
the stump ceased to move,
!
the case began to disappear

But

at

the

of

that accompanied the

of her- health the most

improvement
beautiful phenomena step by step developedthemselves, so
beautiful indeed as to attract the admiration of a largenumber
of inquiring
to watch and study the case.
spectators,who came
With

treatment.

"

She

is called

what

became

Her

ecstatic dreamer.

an

nervous

peculiarand extremely excited a

that the
state,from the effectsof this long and painfuldisease,
action broughtout an exaltation,
and a great spiritual
Mesmeric
of the higherorgans of the brain. And allthese effects
activity
and unlooked for. Not only did she
appeared spontaneously
the common
become
a
somnambulist, i.e. not only were
state produced, but an
results of the sZeep-waAiwg'
ecstasy,"
devotional
s
uch
a rapt
as
a spirituality,
feeling,
appeared to
fallen into

system had

so

"

"

"

draw

veil

make

To

on.*

they
throw

held

the

over

occurred

scenes

myselfunderstood,I
on

my

first visit.

her into the trance

by

the head without

over

action

slightnervous

of this lower world, regularly

came

of

the

few minutes

sufficed to

of
simpleapplication

contact.

the

will describe the effects as

First,would

stump, which

the hand

there

come

suddenly
of the eyelids
movement
arrested, a peculiar
followed, the
this
eyes closed, and she fellback in a deep stupor. From
state she could not be aroused by any application
whatsoever ;
insensible to pain,and to the action of ammonia,
she appeared
After the lapse
or of lucifermatches
burning under her nose.
of some
minutes,she began to move
uneasily,when, on being
was

"

"

"

"

"

"

Not

mesmerised

only have

of which
perspicuity

they

were

persons

grace and freedom of gesture wholly

habitual deportment." Townshehd's
"

been

shown

incapableat other
different from

Facts,p.

208.

to

reason

times,but
the

to

with

a
display

constraint of their
edit.

second

REMARKABLE

CASES.

129

addressed by her Mesmeriser,she answered,and sat

up in
sort of sleep-waking
state, conversingfreely,
though unaware
of the
into

of strangers. Suddenly she fell back

stupor. In this she remained a short time ;

presence

the

"

again
when

from the recumbent position,

slowlyrising
and gradually
lifting
up her arm, and pointing
it
to heaven, she opened her
as
were
eyes, lookingupwards with the most
intense expressionof
adoration. The effect was
trulysublime. It approachedthe
character of what
of the

we

of the devotional rapture

veneration, an admiration of the
conceive

may

seraph. Prayer,
of the
world, a contemplation
"

"

divine and the

celestial,
seemed
to absorb every faculty
of her soul. Her features,
which in her natural state are most
homely, were
lightedup
with a spirituality
almost angelic. Though she is nothingbut
an
ignorantfactorygirl,and accustomed to the most menial
her gestures in this state were
beautiful in the
occupations,
In short,so striking, so extraordinary
extreme.
was
the
whole appearance
of this poor one-armed
girlin her dream,
such a combination
it of the graceful
and of the sublime,
was
that even
made her attitudes a study
a Siddons might have
for the Drama, and Kaphael himself not disdained to borrow
of his pencil.
Domenichino's
a hint for the highest
flights
many
in the Palazzo Borghese at Eome
idea
give some
Sybille
may
of the elevated beauty of her devotions. In fact,I cannot
of the
describe the effect better than by adding,that one
unseen

"

"

"

spectators,whose

name

on

matters

is of the very
walked from the

of taste

after witnessing
the scene
highestauthority,
several streets preservingthe most
house down
profound
of what
silence; and upon his companion at lengthinquiring
he answered, of what could
he was
thinking,
Thinking,"
creatures we
I be thinking,than of what
are,
grovelling
while that poor girlseemed a being of another world !
Of certain importantconclusions *, to which this case gives
confirmation,I shall speak by and by : at present my readers
"

"

"

"

"

"

may

doubt

entitle me
*

See

how

far two

to the

Seventh

or

character of

Chapter, with

presumedmiraculous

three visits to Mr.

appearances.

Atkinson's house

competent witness

as

to

the

historyof several ecstatic cases, and of

MESMERISM

130

of
reality

what

AND

saw

OPPONENTS.

to describe
proceed,therefore,
this history,
in which I myself

I shall

future circumstances

some

ITS

in

took part.

After

an
patience,

and

such

Atkinson

Mr.

as

expense, and a
would
few men

brought this

labour of

no

ration,
small du-

willingto bestow,
suffering
girlto a state of combe

parativehealth and comfort ; all the formidable symptoms had

of the arm
movement
completelydisappeared
; the nervous
at times a good deal of
cured ; and there only remained
was
pain at the end of the stump, the effect probablyof something
Vials therefore
that took placeduring the amputation.Anne
returned home
to her native town
might have
; and here we
It so happened,however, thait I
lost sightof her altogether.
the
in Hertfordshire.*
And
vivid was
so
passedlast summer
I had witnessed left upon
impressionthat the touchingscene
mind, that

my

in

one

of

determined to find out

our

were
we
"

our

earliest drives into St. Alban's

we

ecstatic dreamer.

our

on
feelings
beingdirected

to her

What, however,
dwelling! When last

she was the observed of allobservers

poor Anne,
surrounded by the scientific and the curious,there she was
had

seen

"

and

from want

secure

her ideal world !

in

with

dailycommunion

health' in

her

toil ; and

miserable

What

with the

contrast

lodgingin

all the freshness of

met

back

stored
re-

seraphicbeings of

found
eyes ! We
lane,with all the usual
our

of poverty. Distress was

marked on her countenance.
accompaniments
She was
dressed, but everything
neatlyand cleanly
"

else looked bare and miserable.

Toil had

done its usual work.

few weeks' necessary

iiad brought back some

employmentin seekingher dailyfood

old and forgottensymptoms.
The
at the extremity
particularly
stump was causingher great suffering,
was
above
: the rightarm
againbeginningto be painful
the elbow ; her health was
givingway ; and the expressionof
!herfeatures was indicative either of bodilyor mental anxiety.
and was
unable to conFor her father had lost his situation,
tribute
to her support; her Union, which piquesitself
upon the

refused any out-door relief;and desirous

strictness of its rules,
*

This

was

written in

January,1844.

CASES.

EBMAEKABLE

of

doing all that

she

131

could,and of keepingout of the workhouse,

she strained her powers

allow.
With
but one

beyondwhat nature would

arm, her choice of employmentwas
limited ; and so she carried about the town a basket with goods
for sale,
the weight of which pressedtoo heavily
her nerves,
on
and was
back her painsin the diseased parts. Had it
bringing
not been for the assistance of some
charitable friends,
her case
would have been pitiable
in the extreme.
We took her at once
to the house I was
occupying;for I determined to try how far
would be
Mesmerism, with my inferior powers and experience,
able to check the relapsewith which she was
threatened.
My
all the usual phenomena
then,was great on perceiving
pleasure,
successively
presentingthemselves. There was the fluttering
of the eyelids,the stupor,the insensibility
to pain,the strangethe manifestations of the phrenological
and fanciful colloquy,
the ecstatic dream, with all its varyingorganism,and, lastly,
the rapture, the prayer, the uplifted
eye, the
appearances,
extended arm, the bended knee, and aU the usual signsof theadoration. The difference that existed between
profoundest
the effectsproducedby Mr. Atkinson and myselfwas
this,that
of exertion

"

"

with him

the

dream

of

was

far

elevated and

more

beatific-

myselfthe cerebral responses to the touch

more
were
pronouncedand striking.However, the main thing
to be noticed is,that the health of the patient
improved under
toilwas of
our
management ; of course her freedom from daily
no
slightassistance ; stillshe was benefited by her Mesmeric
removed, and those in the
sleep; the painsin the head were
of health and sereand a countenance
nity
lessened,
stump greatly
reappeared.She stayedwith us, backwards and forwards^
of judging her
had the best opportunity
we
several weeks
rightcharacter ; and we found her an honest,well-conducted,
girl; and this opinionwas confirmed by many in
principled
her long. But we did more
who had known
the neighbourhood
character; -with

"

than this :

"

we

determined

determined to find out how

phenomena.
startling

to siftthe

case

to the bottom

of truth there

much

Undeniable

as

was

the

was

in these

benefit to her

bodilyhealth by the action of Mesmerism, there were

thoughtthat the subsequentmanifestations of the
K

; we

many
dream

who
were

132

MESMERISM

all assumed

from

that
mind.

know

I will not

and

ceal
con-

did occasionally
lurk in my own
suspicions
Bacon says in one of his undyingEssays, There

such

some

"

But

as

therefore
more,

OPPONENTS.

interested motive

some

is nothingmakes
and

ITS

AND

little
;

than to hnow

more

remedy suspicionby procuringto

We
in smother."
keep their suspicions
probe the matter thoroughly. "We had

should

men

and

suspect much,

man

not

to

resolved,therefore,to

not
for the work ; leisure and retirement were
facility
in the decision one
moreover,
wanting ; and we had no interest,
circle had been joined by a
other. Fortunatelyour
or
way
friend whose varied talents and acquirementsrendered him a
question. Mr. Mitford's*
competent judge on any philosophic
determined to be satisfiedas to the truth of
mind was
inquiring
so-called science. He assisted us, therefore,
dailyat each
our
junction
In fact,he often took the principal
part. In conseance.

every

with my

in
he tested the case
myself,
Experiments of the most oppositekinds

wife and

possible
way.
adoptedby him. It would be tedious
enough to say, that we repeatedthem over
were

satisfiedat the conclusion

oifa

what

And

drawn.

even
suspicion

was

for

moment

and truthfulness of what

honest

that result ?

then
a

we

unpretendingperson

beyond her

to the

as

relate them

to

and

that

that

the

saw

the

as

it is

onlyinference

could remain

were

again,and

over

That

every

not

to the

to be

shadow

reality

girlwas an
phenomena produced
poor

of

or
to
actingeither to assume
could not explainthem ;
.sustain; that the force of imagination
of hysteriaor nervousness
was
.that the supposition
only
by another; and that, in short, the
.solvingone diflSculty

"were

far

powers

"

"

-whole scene,

strange and

pregnant

with

mighty truths as it
simple effect of this

nothing else than the

^appeared,was
newly discovered agent,the effect of the nervous
system of one
It is impossible
to say how
thuman being actingon another.
;"trongwas

the .satisfaction
we

all felt at the close of

our

in-

friena,the Rev. John Mitford,the learned editor of

My accomplished
of
and popular works, is the last man
author
the
and
delightful
many
"5ray,
of
love
the
and startling
to
a
his
new
to sacrifice
judgment
theory. Let it
a
he sufficientto say, that,originally
scepticin Mesmerism, he is now a
'*

firm believer.

134

MESMERISM

ITS

AND

OPPONENTS.

by his master's son, and remained in

that state for so long a period,
that one
party collected round
the house with fearful apprehensions
at the dangerouscondition
into which
he was
while a surgeon, from his
plunged;
of physiology,
deems the thing impossible,
apparent ignorance
and writes a letter to the newspapers, pronouncingthe whole a
have
since learnt from the best
"delusion. The sleep,as we
able to
neither assumed nor alarming; and I am
was
authority,
from the almost similar
of the narrative,
confirm the probability
household.
A maidservant
circumstances that took placein my own
of the age of eighteen,
of a pallidcomplexion,and in
into the mesmeric

trance

"

delicate health,came
effect on

her constitution.

she remained

she

live with

and

weak

But

no

in Hertfordshire,her

us

beingin hopes that country

mother

One

to

air

might

such

result

have
was

and unequal to
languid,

bracing
produced:
a

any exertion.

day Anne Vials mesmerised her ; and the next morning

duced
expressedherself as much benefited by its effect. This inwho was
with us, to repeat the experia friend,
ment.
staying
and
And
the result was
so
deep
prolongeda sleep*,

that his endeavours

to

awaken

her

for many

were

hours

successful
un-

tried every plan we had seen

adoptedin similar
cases, and referred to different works on the subject, but in
vain. This state of somnambulism
lasted for nineteen hours,
;

we

"

at the end of which

she awoke, and

ignorantof all
perfectly

was

that occurred

duringher sleep. It may be as well to state for

the benefit of the sceptic,
that this young
girlwas artless and
and perfectly
inexperienced,
unequal to actingany part,or to
resist the various planspursued by ourselves and her feUowservants

of this

to

case,

rouse

her from her slumbers.

called," Mesmerism

not to he

or, James Cook alive and hearty.'*^

*
Of sleep is not
This prolongation
alarmingto the inexperienced.I was

It

was

an

interesting

with,thoughit Mils nobody;

trifled
so

very

uncommon,

present when

and
Martha

is

only

Price,

than 48 hours.
D. Hand's, awoke after a sleepof more
Dr.
the
for
Lancet
curious
in
of
case
1837, a very
Sigmond published
fear
lengthenedMesmeric sleep(nearly24 hours),when much
unnecessary
contains a spontaneous case of
was
experienced.The " Popular Record
shall
I
return
to this subjectin the last
280.
No.
Ivii.
prolongedcoma,
p.

patientof Mr.

"

"

"

chapter.

REMARKABLE

Sight,with

which,

CASES.

anxietywas

some

135

mingled,owing

to her

delicate constitution. But I have the satisfaction of stating

that within a few days afterwards the beneficial results surpassed
all
her

expectations
; the

our

bloom

of health returned

to

cheeks, the blood seemed to be circulating

through her
veins,her whole system was renovated,and she became lively
and

"

active.

In

that

the alteration in her pearanc

apfew weeks afterwards,
to London
a

short,so great
on

her

return

was

her mother,
you
"

tilda,
exclaimed,"Masurprisedand delighted,
changed indeed, I should not have known

are

"

'

you !
Since the above occurred

of course,
(in1843),
my experience,
has very greatlyincreased. I have employed the treatment
with several of my
have often relieved
successfully
parishioners,
severe
tinued
pain,and made the science the subjectof conpractical
study. Among the different cases, however,in
which I have assisted,
that have givenme
there are none
more
able
pleasurethan two, which happened in 1844,from the remarkrefutation they afford to the favourite anti-mesmeric
theoryof imagination.I sent the account to Dr. EUiotson,who
it in the Zoist*,from the pages of which the following
published
is extracted,and the reader,it is hoped,will not find the nar^
rative uninteresting.
H. B., aged 20 years, the daughterof a labourer in Flixton,
was
obligedto return from service last year on account of ill
flammat
health,and earlythis springwas attacked with rheumatic inof the knee-joints.
She is of a
in one
and swelling
scrofulous habit,and the familyare constitutionally
subjectto
Her sufferings
were
rheumatism.
intense,and the inflammation
usual remedies,
and the pain increased almost daily. The
in vain applied.Opiateswere
were
leeches,cupping,blisters,
"

administered,but with
pray

unable

effect. I often went

to

read and

have
experience,
and continued
human
a
seen
being enduring such frightful
The neighboursin the adjoining
cottage were
agony.
and cries of the poor
to sleepat nightfrom the screams

with her

never

no

and

in my

whole

ministerial

Vol. ii. p. 380. for 1844.

K

136

MESMERISM

girl. When

she

stretched

were

three

moved

was

on

the rack.

four weeks

or

AND

she

ITS

in

bed, her shrieks

Her

miseries had

amputationof

as

were

if she

lasted for

now

day : and at
attended her began to think
be inevitable,
to lessen the

sleptneither night nor

lastthe able and kind surgeon who

that

OPPONENTS.

the limb

would

her life.
torture and save
"
One morning in April,I went

pay her my usual visit,

As I drew near the garden gate I heard the fearful cries of the
audibly. A lodger who lived next door,
poor sufferer most

^aid to

as

me

night,and

we

walking in, Sir,this has

'

was

have

not

been

able to close

and what
Tip stairs to the bed-side,

miserable creature

to

our

sightwas

been

all

going on

eyes.'I

walked

before

me

The

writhingabout under the intolerably

out, her face frightfully
agony, screamingand almost shrieking
the mother
;flushedby fever and distorted by the pain; and this,
Her daughter,she said,
said,had continued for several hours.
of pain had been
had not sleptfor a week ; and the paroxysms
often as excruciating
what
I was
then witnessing.I attempted
as
was

to address

She

was

in too

and

comfort

her, but of

excruciating
agony

to heed

fruitlessly

course

what

was

said.

sat down

was
by the bed-side in silent horror. The spectacle
oppressive.Here was a fellow-creaturein a hopelessextremity

of torture,and

not

prospect of alleviation!

Suddenlythe thoughtstruck me that I would try Mesmejrism, I had never

attemptedit as yet beyond the walls of my
from having no great faith in my own
own
house,partly
power,
from
an
to
with
unwillingness
partly
perplexmy parishioners
an
but
I
had
known
as
of great
unpopularnovelty;
cases
some
success in its alleviation of severe
pain,I thoughtI would make
a
quietexperiment. I said nothing,therefore,
to the mother
the subject(theyhad never
or the sufferer on
heard of
even
such a thing before)
; but standingup by the bed-side,
and
addressingand comfortingthe afflictedparent all the time,I
moved
gentlybefore the patient's
face, I continued
my right-hand
to speakto Mrs. B. during the process, for this reason,
that as I had no great hopes of success,
wish was, that
my
if I failed,
they should not remark the action,but simply think
that I was
a littlemore
emphaticand earnest than usual. This
"

EEMAEKABLE

CASES,

137

is the noticeable
both

point in the story; because the partieshave

conscious
since,that wlien I began they were
quite unin what I was
doing.
any thinguncommon

stated
of

"

At

there

the end of about

was

effect. The

an

the
violent,

four minutes

the bed

writhing on

seemed

less

cries had

settled into groans, and there was

what
someof composure
in the face. I left off speaking,

more

"

begged the mother to

hands steadily
before

still, and pointedthe fingersof both

be

"

the face.

In less than

the time that I firstcommenced, the

poor
deep sleep!

"Here, then, was

exhibition !
had

almost certain that

was

Here

to bless God

ceased,only an

The

room

occasional

tossed
lately

moan

from

from

the

in

late horrible
for which

we

silent ; the groans had

heard ; the limbs
beingslightly
now

still; the
anguish lay perfectly
face was
graduallybecoming less flushed and looking more
and the distracted mother, who
had been wiping her
tranquil,
tears and wringing her hands, stood lookingat me
speechless
so

and

amazed.

to

known,
Mesmerism, here

equalthem
"

and

daughter,in
It

commenced

the

a
"

awake

their humble

the

quarter of

healingvirtues of
which appeared to

poor
cottage,had never
of

in consequence

was

and

manipulations
;
not

know

even

The

and

what

an

ignorantmother
heard

of Mes-r

sudden

while
I

was

in less than

passes for about an

started,and cried out from a sudden

frame seemed

the

livingfact

Much

success.

thought that I
I was
proceeding
doing,or, in fact,

four minutes

there

effect.

decided

own

of the

read

actual

doing any thing;

was

I continued

then

an

was

them, they did

that I

and

seen,

imaginationhere

was

merism

was

and

at my

all.

Where

with

fro in

thunderstruck

was

I had

as

and

was

minutes

girlwas
suffering

indeed, a present mercy

was,

change

sudden

ten

the

face

had

hour.

She

now

and

pain,but she did not

tranquil
; the whole
asleep. In about a

graduallybecome
and I left her
comfortable,
hour after my departureshe awoke ; and though
became
and the fever
again extremelysevere

pain soon
high,yet there

was

decided

of suffering
as
mitigation

com-

138

AND

MESMERISM

pared to

what

it had been

OPPONENTS.

ITS

she

no

longerscreamed

out from the

better,and she had a littlesleep.

agony ; her nightwas
"
The next day I put her into a deep sleepin five minutes
in less than

sleepin

to

with

me

and

known

she went
own
admission,
week, by the surgeon's
attended
two minutes and a half; for he occasionally
a

(ofwhich he had hitherto seen

of the pains also greatly
severity
nothing)
; the
she began to enjoya refreshing
night'srest. In
the

to watch

abated,and

process

there commenced
from the time of the firstmesmeric visit,
fact,
she was
a gradual,
though slow,amelioration ; after each seance
and the idea of amputationwas
doned
abanthe stronger and better,
but inasmuch

as

I must

medical

treatment

was

attribute the whole

not

going on

temporaneousl
con-

benefit to the

that as I was
undeniable,
often called from home
at th^t period,
at each interval of my
absence
and gave me
the poor girl,
relapsed,
great additional
labour on
However, be the present far happier
my return.
it may, my medical friend
state of the patientowing to what
most
has been,
candidlyadmits that a great amount of suffering
far an
was
so
sparedto her by this sleep, that Mesmerism
But

magnetic power.

this fact is

"

to him,
auxiliary

health

has

taking very

that

probablythe improvement in

greatlyaccelerated by its means.

and inadequateground; but even

been

low

admission,what

and

blessinghas

Mesmerism

proved

This
with
to

the

her
is
this
happy
un-

sufierer !
"

Though

her

generalhealth

and she is able to walk

will

ever

has since very

advanced,
greatly

crutches,it is doubtful if she

the completeuse of the limb,for it is feared

recover

about

on

and lower surfaces of the

or union of the upper
anchylosis,
bones formingthe knee-joint
may have supervened.*
"
is deservingof notice. She
One point in the treatment
mesmerised
for half an hour, and would
was
then
generally
about an hour longer. Occasionally,
continue to sleep
however,
would
be
that
I
time
able
so
was
limited,
to put her
only
my
that

into the
*

The

sleepand

continue

knee, as

feared,has

was

the passes for

become

without a stick ; and though

enjoyment of tolerable health.
walk

not

short

period,and

stiff-jointed
j but she is able to
to
hard labour,is in the
equal

REMARKABLE

she then awoke

CASES.

in about ten minutes

139

after my

departure. One
might infer from this that the merelyputtinginto a deep sleep
in the firstinstance was
that the battery
not enough
required
"

to be

well

charged
"

and

that without

sufficient amount

o"

power
communicated, the efiect would be but transitory.If
this fact be observed in other
cases, it would go far to confirm
the theoryof a fluid.
I shall not weary
fested
maniyou with the phenomena that were
in the case ; such as the touch of gold causinga strong
in the arms, the application
of a sovereignon either
rigidity
side of the knee acting,
like a galvanicbattery,
by moving the
"

limb,and relaxingapparently
the
results

are

the utter

familiar to you.

The

sinews and muscles

importantpointin

all these

this

is,

case

absence

of all aid from the imagination,as the party

was
not onlyin an extremityof
unaware
agony, but absolutely
that any process was
going on.
And now, what do you suppose
would-be philothat our
sophers
replyto these facts ? What is the class of objections
with which the Suffi)lk sceptics
?
this plain statement
meet
! A poor, nervous, hysThey say that the patientis a woman
terical
! And instead of praising
woman
Providence for placing
within the reach of the sufferer such a merciful gift,
theymagisterially
that 'These
girlsare always up to such
pronounce,
that there is no trusting
tricks,
them;' and then dismiss the
to the
subjectas unworthy of enquiry! Come we, therefore,
other sex ; and let us learn how
the everlastinghysteriaof
the opponents is to explainthe following
fact :
"It was
that I
on
Monday, the 26th of last August (1844),
I had
whom
rode to inquireafter the health of an old couple,
missed
the day before at their accustomed
place in church.
This is merelymentioned to show, that what occurred afterwards
happenedwithout design. On reachingthe cottage I found the
old peoplewell,but one of their sons was
very ill in bed, and
I profor more
than a week.
had been suffering
dreadfully
ceeded
"

'

at

once

'

to the bed-side.

is a strong stout man, of the age of

P., the patient,
and
and partly
a fisherman
a farm labourer,
-three,partly
thirty
"James

as

littlelikely
to be

for
subject

the

to playwith,
imagination

140

AND

MESMEEISM

presidentof

as

ago, he

twenty years
which

lasted

the

of similar duration

and

Englishpeasant.

About

fevel*,

to his bed

confined him

thirteen years back he had a second attack

but his health since that periodhas been

he

vigorous,and

and

OPPONENTS.

Collegeof Surgeonshimself.
had a sharp attack of rheumatic

than four weeks

more

stilllonger. About
robust

ITS

He

is

good specimen

engaged in

was

the

hardy
fisheryin

of

mackarel

for the harvest ;

the summer,
and had returned to his village
but duringthe first days of reapinghad caught cold from the

heavy rains that

ill.
seriously

set

in,and had returned

to his

father'scottage

in a severe
pallet,
acute
It was
attack of his old complaint,
state of suflPering.
an
rheumatic fever with a swelling
of the joints.Large drops of
were
perspiration
standingupon his face. He was evidently
enduringgreat agony, hardlybearingthe bed-clothes to touch
him ; and though he did his utmost to suppress what he suffered,
ally
the enemy was
too strong for him, and he groanedout occasionfrom the intolerable anguish. His mother said,
that all the
sleepthat he had had for the last week, put together,
scarcely
that the sleeping
amounted to an hour's length. He himself said,
harm than good ;
draughtsthat he had taken had done him more
for if he went to sleepfor ten minutes from the effect,
he awoke
than before. It was
worse
a distressing
lip afterwards feeling
"

scene

The

fellow

poor

and

stretched

now

powers with

made

As

it was,

I determined

Sayingnothingwhatever
and in less than
his face,
of my

own

to converse,

throughthe

"^o beautifully
expresses

miseries.

He

an

another

I held
patient,
he

few

of

minutes

into
our

it, that
"

was

experiment,and
my hand before
fast asleep
! you

of the mother's

account

cast

steepedhis
was,

make

to

five minutes

simpleagency

all pain,"had

over.

Here
gratification.

labourer,who
great agony

was

to the

shallnot be wearied with

or

his

P. after the usual conversation

"

on

successful trial of my mesmeric

I should have taken leave of poor
the other patient,

had

I not

was

was

back

had

ment,
astonish-

aginative
sturdyunimbeen

in too

deep composing slumber,

art ! as the poet
vituperated
sweet
sleepwhich medicines
a

in

of this world's
forgetfulness
in elysium, and
comparatively
speaking,
senses

"

auxiliary
; one

of many

out

ITS

AND

MESMERISM

142

OPPONENTS.

only simplerand

means,

jurious
less in-

point in this case,

in that of H. B., is this,that imaginationcould have no
as
both ignorantof what
were
part in the matter : the patients
was
takingplace,and their faithor fancy gave no assistance
But

than the usual narcotics.

the

whatsoever.
"

the learned of your

How

will explainthe above,

profession

other theory
They must find some
than that of imagination.They have ridden that horse to
death, and it will carry them no longer. Neither does the
The patients
did not
system of Mr. Braid meet the difficulty.

pretendnot

stare

at

to

guess.

They

me.

did not

fix their

eyes

at
stedfastly

my

look at me,
drop off to sleep: theydid not even
that anything
was
going on. I therefore send these
or know
of
two cases
up to you, not as proofsof the curative influence
Mesmerism, (forof that there is alreadyabundant evidence,)
undeniable illustrationof the wondrous
but as an unequivocal,
They prove that
sympathythat exists between man and man.
union does exist, be the connectingchain
a
sympathetic
or
or
either a fluid,
electricity,
agent :
any other undiscovered
to
and again I call upon our
antagonistin your profession
Let them
tone.
enter upon the subjectin a calm philosophic
discard their vulgarjokes,and their affected silence,and meet
It is really
sad to see the shifts
the question
openlylike men.
that they employ ; to see the rapture
and the interpretations
and the smooth plausiwith which they pounce on a failure,
bility
It is melancholyto see
with which they forget
a fact.
unreal
this,and remember, that the inquiryis not about some
pointin abstract science, but whether there be a provision
merciful
in nature's storehouse, the soothing gift of a
of human
suffering
Creator, by which a vast amount
may be
and
fingers,

so

"

"

"

"

"

spared,and

the

even

duration

of human

life

occasionally

And

what

prolonged."
Here

replyof

then

are

the unbeliever ?

That

I pass
and
chargeof deception

witness ?
common

few remarkable

demanding,what

For

reason

I could

cases.

the writer is

is the

credibl
inprejudiced,

unworthyof notice the

morbid vanity,"
with simply
have for upholding
Mesmerism
by
"

as

REMARKABLE

CASES.

except conviction of its truth?

But

143

incompetent
testimony, it is meant ; I have received no diplomafrom the
of Surgeons,
and know nothingof the action of hysteria
College
and of nervousness.
There
is a homely proverbwhich will
An ounce
of motheradmirablyapply to these reasoners,
wit is worth a pound of clergy."
A littlepractical
common
sense
is all that is necessary ; and it is possible
for an educated man,
even
though he may not have received a medical degree,
to form a legitimate
opinionof the appearances of Mesmerism,
after a daily
But setting
all this
observation for several months.
aside, and for the sake of argument admittingmyselfto be
am

an

"

"

"

"

"

"

in

and

error

the above

these
are
delusion,

Is my experience
Is
instance ?
a rare
At this moment, hundreds
and hundreds

cases

isolated

ones

?
nothingelse producible
of cases, out of England
of evidence quite
mass

brought forward. A
is in my possession.Cures and relief effectedin
astonishing
be named.
Not that it is
infinite diversity
of diseases can
an
There are
is a universal specific.
pretendedthat Mesmerism
alone,

be

can

many

which
disorders,

many
host

to
patients

whom

it does
it does

not
not

to

seem

to be of

seem

produced,in which
expressionvaluable,has been wrought ;
of

cases

can

be

intense agony has been removed

diseases have been subdued ; in which
most

mastered

"

cases,

too, in which

touch.

There
use.

are

Still a

service,beyond aU

in which

in which

pain of the
long chronic

sudden attacks have been

medical

men

have

been

at

they had pronouncedincurable and hopeless.

of Mesmerisers
alone a considerable number
In the metropolis
There is hardlya county in England, where
be named.
can
York to the Isle of Wight,
From
it is not now
practised.
from Dover to Plymouth,there can be produced a chain of
Our Mesmerisers are not ignorant
evidence and a list of cures.

fault,or which

"

but
not hot-headed cracked-brained enthusiasts,
;
practitioners
in society
is a guarantee for the correctness
whose standing
men
careful thinkers,
of their information, temperate,slow-judging,
to be led astray by a false lightas their opponents
and as littlelikely
themselves.
Clergymen, militarymen, barristers,
of a distinguish
surgeons, ladies high in rank, and men
physicians,
in the world could all be named : their
position
"

"

144

MESMERISM

AND

OPPONENTS.

ITS

circles; and
of the art is well known in their respective
practice
prising
by many I have been favoured with information that is surin the highestdegree. The detailsof
and interesting
their respective
are
so copiousthat
success
they would fill a,
thick volume.
Of course, I am
precludedby the brief nature
than glancing
ing
from doingmore
of this littlework
at the leadthe choice
points. If I selected a few cases for insertion,
not know
would be most perplexing
; and if I began,I should
be noticed in the
where
to stop.
They can only,therefore,
most

cursory

But

manner.

and with the addition of the

appeared before the

may

would
lawyers

of

names

some

limited

who have

allusion,

previously

but of whom
public,

many of my readers
able to produce,what the

heard, I shall be

have

not

this

with

even

call such

a mass

of cumulative

evidence,as nothing

of science could prevent men from admitting

scepticism
and importantphenomenon.
to be at least a startling
mention has been made before,
Mr. Atkinson,then,of whom
of numerous
has been eminentlysuccessful in his treatment
of which too generally
some
defyall human skill. He
diseases,
in that most
fearful of maladies,
three cures
has accomplished
of ten years'standing;and the
tic doloreux : one
case
was
but the

other
"cases

years'duration. He has cured several

and want of sleep,
of hysteria
and of those determined
fits,
of several

two

of

and

nervous

remedial

action.

He

sick

headaches, which

has

been

seldom

successful in

yieldto

various

acute

pains and contractions of the limbs,in asthma,fever,

long-standing
cough,affections of the heart and spine,injured
sight,and deafness,in melancholia,
rheumatism,toothache,
and
different functional obstructions.
He has
indigestion,
nervous

efficaciousto

found Mesmerism

cerebral excitement.

He

valuable

most

had

extent

patientunder

in subduing
his treatment,

of brain was
irritability
becoming a source of
of Mesmerism
anxiety.By the application
every day for
whose

much
a

all the
fortnight

became
brain

cool
were

symptoms

disappeared
; the

head

the paroxysms
ceased ; and the functions of the
restored to a calm and healthy
The efficacy
state.

of Mesmerism

Its

formidable

in maladies of this

soothinginfluence

has

is almost incredible.
description
so
speedyan effect. Mr.

REMARKABLE

Atkinson

day

145

lias indeed such

copiousand invaluable information

to hope that one
publichave reason

communicate, that the

to

CASES.

he may

before them.
placethe results of his experience
CaptainJohn James, of Dover, has great experiencein the
practice,and has contributed much towards its full appreciation.
His patients
He has found Meshave been numerous.
merism
efficaciousin

most

disorders

nervous

and

"

in several

other

alleviated the sufferings

of his
he has greatly
complaints,
patients.
The late Mr. Chenevix,a well-known
in 'the literary
name
view
world, the author of a beautiful article in the Edinburgh Re"

on

France

England,"and

and

scientific attainments,as
Transactions

his

of considerable

man

communications

in the Philosophical

preparinga work to demonstrate

the results of his experimentsand observations on 442 persons,
when
existence.
disease suddenlyterminated his own
acute
an
In the
of

"

of six months

course

98 manifested

whom

His

efforts

were

he

mesmerised

once

undeniable

disease

where

instance

one

show, was

164 persons,

effects. There

existed,that relief was

immense

his

and

hardly

was

not

success

cured."
pro-

tionate.
propor-

of
few instances, he cured a case
epilepsyand spasmodicpain of six years'standingin twentyone
sittings.He succeeded completelyin three other cases of
To

the

mention

relief in eight. He
procured immense
in a rapid consumption. He cured
far advanced
a man
of worms
powerfuleffect on
cases
; and produceda most
of service,
Guards.
He was
in the Coldstream
also,
men

same

cured
seven
some

disease,and

to several inmates

in Wakefield

is referred for further

man

"

to the first number

Lunatic

Asylum. The reader

this lamented
respecting

information
of the Zoist.

in
reportedby the Eeverend Chauncy Townshend
Facts in Mesmerism," are
work, called
his philosophical
opinion,
theyafford to the common
remarkable from the answer
The

cases

"

are
that the effectsof Mesmerism
fanciful
chieflyof the

persons,
adoptedMesmerism
that when
in whom

limited to
weaker

in
extensively

cases

sex.

few

and

nervous

While

he

of sickness,
he

out of
he first took it up,
more
he induced sleepwaking,
"

has
tions
men-

viduals,
inditwenty-three
less perfectly,
or

146

AND

MESMERISM

ITS

OPPONENTS.

gives
in perfect
the account of seven
health,""
or
in good and robust health,"who were
mesmerised
by him.
His description
of his power over
at Cambridge
some
sceptics
that it should be read by every
is so curious and convincing,
candid inquirer.In respect to Mesmerism
as a curative agent,
he says himself,after much
experience, its capacityto serve,
to the exigencies
either as a calmant or a stimulant,according
would
of the complaint,
alone give it the highestrank as a
temedy. In this pointof view, how valuable appear its offices,
how
unmatched
by those of any substance in the Materia
six

onlywere

only a decided
eightyoung men

one

women,

He

invalid."

"

"

"

Of all remedies,this alone pours its benefits direct

"

Medica."

In cases of deafness and

springsof sensation."
blindness,which depend on nervous
weakness, we possess a
subtle means
of actingefficiently
upon the fountain-head of the
he adds,
calamity." Though "insulated cases
of benefit,"
"
on
so
might seem
suspicious,
benefits
large a scale must
finally
vanquishdistrust." And he concludes his notice to the
with a deep regret that prejudice
second edition of his work,

upon

the very

"

"

should yet stand in the way of so much

alleviation of human
it is calculated to affisrd,
as
and with a humble hope
sufiering
that truth and time will lead to a discreet and grateful
of
use
this wonderful

giftto

man."

Colonel Sir Thomas

Mesmerism
^iractised
is no new
thing to
the warmest
with

men,

Willshire,commanding

of

cause

zeal and

humanity-.

benevolence

honour upon them, have taken up

that

and

many
reflect the

science.

our

To

Willshire,in particular,
occupying as he does
a

the
position,

Chatham, has

and with great success.

It
extensively,
the
see
of arms
gallantprofession
lending

aid to the
a

at

highestadmiration

could
interesting
particulars
that it cannot be too often
striking

many

is due

"

be related

so

military
highest

Sir Thomas

distinguished

and

while

by him, one

laid before the

very
is so

public.

nursery servant, who had been for a long time sufferinopain in her upper jaw, of a most excruciating
kind,was compelled
to
was

so

undergoa

that
intense,

severe

operationon

she could

its account.

bear
scarcely

touch

The
on

affected. Sir T. Willshire put her into the Mesmeric

pain

the part

trance,

REMAEKABLB

and the surgeon commenced

five minutes.
She did not
either twitched

nerve

her, she

feelit

the least.

of

having

lasted
Not

than

more

muscle

Sir Thomas

"When

moved.

or

147

Operation.It

the

conscious

not

was

CASES.

gone

oi

awoke

through the

ope-*

ration.

It should be added that the

in this
she

tasted

and she

"

Sir Thomas

When

case.

sympathyof taste
took

wine, the

developed
patientsaid

tried with biscuit^

experimentwas
biscuit." And though she feltnot the painof the
CaptainValiant pinched Sir Thomas's hand,

it.

The

tasted

operation,when

same

she

did not like it.

felt it,and said she

immediately
Among other cases, Sir Thomas

Willshire

Cocks, of

Catharine

servantj named
with

was

which
she had been very ill and
restored to health and
perfectly

has

cured

pulmonary complaint,
affected for years.

She

and is
robust
strength,
and well;" "though the medical gentleman,who had attended
to the Mesmeric
her for some
operation^
years, had, previously
assured her parents that she could not survive the ensuing

is

now

"

winter."

Stanhope,whose
known
universally

Earl
are

so

science.

excellent

This

or
by
prejudice,

to

has

the ridicule which

cast

the

appearing as
which

sick and

poorer

of

have endeavoured
newspapers
zeal in the cause, from
In a letter,
of which he

the noble lord mentions

use,

several

signalservice to some of his

he mentions
the
neighbours. In particular,
aged twenty-seven,who had been obliged
man,
he had

account

producedsyncope

every

upon

of

been

young
to give up his placeon

case

some

upon him for his

advocate of truth.

to make

me
permitted

cases, in

philanthropyand Christian kindness

and admired, is a practiser
of the
is not deterred by popular
nobleman

of

nervous

which
affection,

excitement.
trifling

After

being

Another was
cured.
perfectly
of a young woman,
aged twenty-two, the daughterof
the case
afflictedwith such violent epileptic
who was
a
day-labourer,
obligedto retire from service. After a
fits that she also was
pronouncedquitewell,
of a short duration,she was
treatment

mesmerised

few times, he

was

and returned to her situation with

L

her

former master.

Other

148

very
work

MESMERISM

AND

ITS

could
interesting
particulars

OPPONENTS.

be added, if the limits of this

allowed it.*

Miss

Wallace,a

"exertions
to the

are

cause

that can
be of service
unremittingin everything
of humanity,can
give the strongestattestation to

She has had several most

power.
her management.
She has cured

of the Mesmeric

the truth

lady in Cheltenham, whose

benevolent

most

under

cases
extraordinary

of decline, the only two of the kind that she has

attempted. She has cured sciatica, the most violent cramps,
head-aches,tooth-aches,
ear-aches, and some without
epilepsy,
two

cases

"

"

"

sleep being

induced.

remarkable

and

valuable

Several

of her

other

cases

are

very

hardlyknow

evidence and

able to give
more
any one
information connected with the science,

than this amiable and active-minded

friend of

truth.f
'

Several other ladies and

gentlemen in Cheltenham
for some
the
time practising

the

and

have been
art ; and
neighbourhood
could speak in the strongestway of its beneficial effect with
their patients.
CaptainValiant,of Chatham, who a short time ago was a
he called himself,
is now
as
a most
thoroughsceptic,"
powerful
"

and successful Mesmeriser.

in which
a

he has relieved

completecure.

writes,"I have
and have

seen

Numerous

cases

could be related

pain,reduced

and obtained
swellings,
His power
seems
unusually great. He
myselfmesmerised many persons of both sexes,

others succeed

with

great many

I have

more.

removed
also, in many cases, without puttingthe patientto sleep,
and several other
head-aches,tooth-aches,
sore-throats,

pains,not onlyin
of

some

but strong men,

merely by manipulating
the parts affected." Space is wanting for an insertion
facts connected with a few of his patients
interesting
;
women,

but the attention of the reader is invited to the

:
following

"

In

of Mesmerism, I have met two curious cases which

practice
perhaps may be worth mentioning.In both of these my
subjectswere powerful men, brother captainsin the army,

my

The

details of these

cases

have

been

since

publishedin the

"

Zoist,"

yol. ii.

t See also

"

Zoist,"vol. iv. p. 458.,for report of many

excellent and kind friend.

more

cures

by this

150

MESMERISM

ITS

AND

OPPONENTS.

"
He
much
persons,
says in a letter, I have seen
curative effectsof Mesmerism."
Several of his cases

instructive. Invalids,
who

had

been

incapableof

of the
are

most

any exertion

labour,through a deranged system, have been cured or

of the facts that he
One
restored to comparativehealth.
mentions,is so corroborative of the electricaltheoryof Animalthe
Magnetism, that it deserves to be recorded. "Without
or
slightest
prompting,the patientsaid she saw the
suggestion
into the water
sparksof fire pass from the pointsof my fingers
which I magnetisedfor her." This same
phenomenon has been
/Observed by other somnambulist
patients.Mr. Mnjendie has
given great attention to the subjectof Mesmerism; and his
opinionon all matters connected with it is of much value,
services in the wellr
Mr, Topham, of the Temple, whose
or

'

and of whom,
of poor Wombell
so
were
invaluable,
to entertain a protherefore,the Chirurgical
Societyseem
fessional

known

case

jealousy,has
may

be useful to record

aged 18, who, for

fits, at
epileptic
"

experiencein

much

of his

one

cases

practice.It

the

that of

young

man,

four years and a half,had been subjectto

least three a week, and each of two hours'

suffered also from

pains in his head.

ceased altogether
Upon beingmesmerised,tha painsimmediately
;
his natural sleepbecame
sound and regular
; and he had two
The
Mesmeric
fits only in the space of three months.
ment
treatbefore the
was
unavoidablydiscontinued in this case
but the change in the young
became
cure
man's
perfected;
health is somethingquiteremarkable.
Mr. Thompson, of Fairfield House, near
York, is a very
After much
he speaksin
successful Mesmeriser.
experience,
of the utility
of the science,and of the
the strongest way
He

duration.

incessant

"

be

benefit that may

acute

has

derived from

it.

He

is often able to

move
re-

pain without producingsleep. He

tested this

*'

repeatedly

with

almost

says, that he
invariable success
;

very often altogetherremoving,toothache,

and painsoccasioned by contusions,
headache,rheumatic pains,

mitigating,and

burns, and any inflammation;"

"

severe

One

or

acute

of his

and

in

some

few

cases, of

character,he has been able to afford great relief.

cases

is such

beautiful illustrationof the power

REMARKABLE

151

CASES.

of

from want of space,

Mesmerism, that I regretmy inability,
to give the full particulars.
It is that of John Bradley,
a boy
near
York, aged nine years, who had suffered for fifteen
months from a diseased knee, evidently
of a scrofulous character.
"When Mr. Thompson first saw
him, the child had
been suffering
intense agony,
unable to rest day or
was
mation
night,had a total want of appetite
; there was
great inflamextendingabove the knee, the knee was enormously
evident that extensive suppuration
had
enlarged,and it was
"
taken placein the inside of the knee."
The child was
in a
high state of fever,a deep hectic flush was on his cheeksj
attended with quickness
and a short cough." Mr.
of breathing
Thompson determined to try the
experiment of making
"

"

"

"

"

"

passes

for half

the knee

over

the
nearlyexpired,

heat

warm

which
had taken
fingers,
drowsy, but no sleepwas

pain.

the time had

then began
still,

to

of Mr. ThompsorCs

out

come

the

away

and

calm

child became

said he felt a

smile,and

Before

hour.

an

He

seemed

little

produced."After a certain period

flammati
of treatment, the child's health rapidlyimproved, the inof the matter
took
of the knee subsided,
absorption
place,and in a month he was able to put his toe to the ground.
After many
Mr. Thompson adds, that ii
other particulars,
in May that I commenced
was
mesmerisinghim ; by the latter
end of August the recovery was
as
complete,as I thoughtit
disease,
possiblefor a knee, so deformed from long-standing
"

"

could

be."

He

very

well, suffers

about

has
"

and

"

of the

great use
health

his

curious to be omitted.

"

the

not

is very

During

limb

is able to walk

pain or
slightest
good. One fact

venience,
inconis too

the process of recovery, he

Mesmerism."
the operation
q/"

under
sleep
of
is another valuable proof of the remedial power
Here
A gentlemanwho had
Mesmerism in Mr. Thompson'shands.
rheumatic
for nine consecutive days from severe
been suffering
fever,with acute pain in the shoulders,arms, hands, loins,
nightsweats
legs,and knees ; with the fever excessive ; profuse
and of appetite,
caused by the agony of pain, and loss of sleep
placedhimself under the management of Mr. Thompson. These
never

but

once

went

to

"

are

his

own

words

"

In less than
L

twenty minutes

you

had

152

AND

MESMERISM

ITS

OPPONENTS.

nearlycharmed away all the pain and restored warmtli and

then put me
to my feet. You
to sleep
: the delightful
feeling
sensation of that sleep,after such extreme
pain,I can scarcely
describe.

When

The

was

fever
down

was

me, I feltlike another person.

you awakened
reduced : and the pain was gone.
days
In^four

stairs: every time you mesmerised

me, I felt as it

life."
of three cures
of severe
Mr. Thompson givesa description
and long-standing
neuralgicpains of the head. One of the
partieshad been under the first medical advice in London;
without any faith in its
had a great horror of Mesmerism
than usual,she asked
curingher." One day,when much worse
relieved ;
ten minutes she was
: in less than
for its application
health
and awoke up entirely
free from pain; and her general
has been very good ever since.*
CaptainAnderson, of the Royal Marines,who is resident in
His last
Chelmsford, is another very powerful Mesmeriser.
is so very striking
instance of the merciful power
of
an
case
Mesmerism
that I shall give it somewhat
in detail. Mrs.
Raymond, a ladyresidingat Chelmsford,had suffered for nine
able
complaint,
heingconfined to her sofa,and unyears from a spinal
to be moved
dayand night; she had also lost the use of her
voice. Her sufferings-were
dreadful. Blisters,
caustic plasters,
tried in
leeches,setons, medicines of all descriptions,
were
without any substantial good. These are her own
succession,
words:
"During the nine years I was unable to be moved
from my sofa nightOr day ; I was
free from pain; somenever
times
were

new

"

the agony

indescribable : the three last years I have

was

been

speechless.I had given up all hope of recovery,

entirely
and almost prayedfor death."
At the very time that I had
resignedmyselfto my fate,and begged that my sufferings
might soon be ended, God in his great mercy made me acquainted
with CaptainAnderson,who offered to try the effect
"
I latighed
of Mesmerism."
at the idea ; but from his account
of the cures
he had performed,
I complied, beinganxious to
"

"

"

sent

the

Mr.
a

is

Thompson, who

largenumber

of

cases

is most
manipulations,

one

to

of the

most

the Zoist.

striking.

successful of Mesmerisers,has
in wiUitiff,
without

His power

EEMAEKA.BLE

CASES.

153

lowing
thingwhich would do me good." Without folout the details,
this is the result.
I am
able to
now
walk
out
daily,alone'and unassisted. I am regainingmy
speech; and I am free from pain,sleepsoundly,
and take no
medicine,and am now
seldom mesmerised."
Well may
this
excellent lady,when comparing her past sufferings
with her
feels thankful to God and
present happiness,"
say, that she
gratefulto CaptainAnderson." For here is a case, which
alone would be able to substantiate the healing
virtues of this
blessed gift.*
Dr. Engledueof Southsea practises
Mesmerism
in his profession,

grasp at any

"

"

"

"

studied

and

is

the

fine intellectual forehead

advocate

warm

in its

cause.

of Dr.

Whoever

has

Engledue, and

watched

his clear eye, and calm,thoughtfulcountenance, must

acknowledge,that there stands a philosopherin the truest
of
acceptation

by

the word, and one

the unreal fancies of a heated

littlelikely
to be led astray

imagination.
Dr
Sigmond, whose positionin the scientific and literary
world gives the greatestvalue to his testimony,
publishedin
the Lancet,for December, 1837, a most remarkable
Mesmeric
case

of his

own.
'

Mr.

has " for two years

surgeon at Sandwich,'
largeportionof his time and attention to the great

Weekes,

devoted

remedial

of
proceedingfrom the judiciousapplication
and for this independent and noble-minded
Mesmerism;"
conduct,he has been, of course, traduced by the ignorantand
the malevolent.
He has,however, the satisfactionof knowing,
under
that the alleviation of pain,and the removal of disease,
the Mesmeric
treatment, and through his management, has
powers
"

His

has been
success
professional
great.
of
With
Mesmerism
has
"after
the usual
him,
proved
use,
of
of treatment, and, in some
abundance
modes
instances,
and rendered the case
failed,
quackery to boot, had utterly
inveterate and distressing."
more
Among the cases that he
of
habitual and obstinate constipation,
mentions,are some
dyspepsia,
condition of the hepaticsystem,
sluggish
paralysis,

been

considerable.

"

This

case

has been

in the Zoist,vol, ii.p. S3.

since published

154

AND

MESMERISM

OPPONENTS.

ITS

wise
muscular contractions,'
stubborn and otherhypochondriasis,
hopelesscases of chronic rheumatism, local pains,and
of general languorand
several severe
forms of neuralgia,
cases
without manifest cause, as also a case of deafness,
debility
the removal of two teeth without the knowledge of the patient,

and

"

besides

several affections of

Weekes

anomalous

an

character."

Mr.

ranks
proceedingfirmlyand actively:his name
abundant reward.
high with aU parties
; and he is reapingan
is a powerfulsupporter of the
Mr. Gardiner of Portsmouth
He givesa valuable account
of the extruth of Mesmerism.
traction
of two teeth,attended by most painful
circumstances,
without the consciousness of the party.
During the whole of
this tryingoperationnot a groan or complaintescaped the
operationshave been performedby
patient."Other severe
him
without any manifestation
offeeling on the part of the
patient.
Mr. Prideaux, of Southampton,is another great practical
is

"

"

"

Mesmeriser.

of the cure
repoi-tsthree remarkable cases
of St. Vitus's dance,
in which the "twitchings"diminished
He

"

from day to day,under Mesmeric

treatment,
Fronj
perceptibly
he has extracted teeth without their con-i
five diflferentpatients
under
His description
of their demeanour
this
sciousness.
The patient
sat
usuallypainfuloperationis most curious.
with the hands
quietlyfolded in the lap, the countenance
was
placidand serene,-^ and the whole attitude that of repose."
The insensibility
was
perfect of the three other patients.
"

"

"

"

The

fifth " allowed

to

me

operate for

two

Mr. Prideaux, himself

indifference."
passive
of his
says of one
power of Mesmerism
it would
"

again,

"

patients, a

case

with

hours
a

the most

medical

man,

conclusive of the

more

remedial agent in the cure of disease,

"
be difiicultto conceive."
If imagination,"
says he

can

work

as

such

of the Materia

wonders, she should be placed at the

Medica."

"With many
such enlightened
Mr. Prideaux, the well-attested facts of Mesr
as
practitioners
head

merism
Mr.

wiU

soon

force their way

on

the mind

Park, near
Janson,of Pennsylvania

of the Exeter

of the

public.

Exeter,the President

and
Literaryand Philosophical
Society,

well known

ia that part of the world

among

man
gentle-

scientific

EEMAEKABLE

is also

CASES.

155

and can bear his valuable testimony

Mesmeriser,
to tbe therapeutic
virtues of the science. He has been par-"
successful in the treatment
of tic-doloreux.*
ticularly
Mr. Kiste,a most intelligent
gentlemanfrom Germany, and
who
has been resident some
little time in Plymouth, has devoted
much
of his attention to the science. Among the caseg

men,

in whicli he

has found

it

alone

efficacious,
one

can

be

par^

ticularly
mentioned, which by itself would confirm the unt
It was
of
speakable value of Mesmerism.
a
severe
case
The
spasmodic asthma.
patienthad been subjectto it for
twelve years.
She says herself,
that such were
her sufferings,
that for
obligedto sit with a pillowon
many days she was
Ler lap to support her stomach."
The
were
so
paroxysms
violent that she was
obligedto sit on the floor for fpur-andt
To describe half my
twenty hours at a time."
sufferings
when
the spasmodic breathingcame
She
on, is impossible."
had been attended by eightor nine medical men
in succession.
hot baths, were
Cupping, blistering,
tried,but without any
of the periodical
importanteffect. In short,her own
description
and
painswhich returned every fortnight of their severity,
of other attendant evils,
is painful
A clergyman,well
to read.
writes to the Mesmeriser,and
now
acquaintedwith the family,
It is now
at this moment
(Jan.29.)nine weeks since
says,
and she has heen
she was
subjectedto the Mesmeric influence,
freefrom asthma, her generalhealth is improved,and
entirely
she is gainingflesh." I shall not enter into the further details
and interesting
have reason
of this very striking
case
we
; as
to hope that Mr. Kiste will himself shortly
bring them before
the public,
f
Mr. Holm, of Highgate,who, in a most philanthropic
manner,
"

"

"

"

"

of his time

devotes much
has

found

obtained

Mesmerism
some

large number
He

teEs

me

to the

most

benefit of his fellow-creatures^

efficacious remedy. He ha?

He
cures.
very remarkable
of Mesmeric
patientsunder

that he has proved Mesmerism

Zoist,vol.iv. p.

f This

case

has

to

has
generally
his

management,
be most valuable

341.

since

appearedin

the

vol.ii.p. 465,
Zoist,

156

MESMEEISM

OPPONENTS.

ITS

AND

headaches,and
epilepsy,
rheumatism,brain ferer,diarrhsea,
in
has largeexperience
many neuralgicdisorders. Mr. Holm
its connection
and has tested with great success
phrenology,
with vital magnetism.
Mr. Charles Childs of Bungay
was
indisposed
very much
in

"

to receive the

of Mesmerism

phenomena

"

facts,"

as

unless
reality,

he

but

"

he would

deny
I have practised
senses." He says,
the evidence of his own
I have proved its
Mesmerism
above 'four years ; in this period,
results on several of the most afflictive
unquestionably
beneficial
their

to admit

constrained

was

"

maladies."
called

of

the mother

on

from her

of the above, I

In corroboration

the details of

mouth

own

child that had

of Mr.

one

and heard
Childs's patients,
a

in
frightened

been

state,that I

can

remarkable

very

fearful

of

cure

Every

manner.

other
Mr.

remedy, but Mesmerism, seemed to fail in this case.

has about four patients
Childs generally
at a time Under

his hands.

attention has been

Much

awakened

in his

bourhood
able

operations.I quote from

by the following
letter which Mr. Webb, the operating
surgeon,

to the editor of

he does
He

"

not

desires

"

The

Medical

forward

come

only,as

to

Times."

observer,to
unprejudiced

an

he had

himself tested."

young

women.

Mesmeric

The

cases

of
patients
for

toothache

some

Mr.

apprisedof the
they might have no

time

time

place,I

the Mesmeric

to

condition,when

are

these

"

Two

had

fered
suf-

to have

but
somnolency,
to be

was

suspect what
I went

man.

record facts

past, consented

this

for until Mr.

sent

not

was

at which

reason

says, that

Childs,who

their teeth extracted while in Mesmeric

not

the very
addressed

support the theoryof any

which

from

Mr. Webb

aeigh-

was

Childs had
and

were

done.
about

That
to

put them

extracted

for

take
into

one

very troublesome stump, and for the other,a double tooth in

the upper jaw. I am
were
morallycertain that no means

employedto producethis
Mesmeric."
and

were

both

"

state of unconsciousness

After

short time

wholly unconscious

theywere

of all that

except the
awakened,
had

taken

place."
"

Nor

was

this all; for neither at the time when

awakened,nor

on

the

following
day,did

they were
they experienceeither

153

MESMERISM

ITS

AND

OPPOJTENTS.

and powerfulmedicines,and medicines given ijowerbleeding

*
had all been unavailing."
fullyand perseveringly,
Mr. Purland,of Mortimer
Street,Cavendish Square,offers
an
honourable instance of the triumph of truth over
prejudice
and preconceived
opinions. I met Mr. Purland last July at
the house of a friend : his opinionsagainstthe existence of
Mesmerism

as

sation with

fact
"

consented,however,
became

witness

to

giving them

after

and

did not

but

him,

convert, and

tised the art with

decisive

most

were

in the

conver"'

least. He

experiments;^

he
patientinvestigation,
valuable ally, and has prac
"

He

great success.

has

distressing
malady,in

dreadful and most

much

and

now

him

Mesmeric

some

due

is

shake

I had

his fiither in

cured
a

where

case

no

relief

He has cured cases

of asthma,
procuredfrom medicine.
hysteria,lameness, and deafness. At various times he has
of headache,toothache,painsin the' chest,"c.
relieved patients
received from him,
He calls Mesmerism, in a letter I lately
a
and this from a gentleman,who
science of much
importance;"
back was
! Such, however,
a determined
a few months
sceptic
and honourable
in*
is the force of truth,where straightforward
Was

"

tentions go hand in hand

with the

inquiry.
"("
Mr. Boyton, a surgeon
Watlington,in Oxfordshire,is
another honourable example of a manly independenceof mind.
in his profession
His acknowledgedreputation
gives value to
of

he states.

what

serious

He

case

has cured

of

severe

case

of fits ; and

injury,accompaniedby

pain,and

I do not mean
to recommend
says,
the indiscrimate use of this agent in every case, nor
substitute
But in some
I should not
it for acknowledgedremedies.
cases
ill health.
general

He

much

other
an-

"

the nervous
employ it ; it strengthens
the digestion,
and tranquillises
the mind."
importanttestimony.
hesitate to

Dr. Wilson, of the Middlesex

largenumber

able and

of most

is
Hospital,

interesting
cases,

Mesmeriser,
inde"tigable

has

under

appeared in

so

proves
system, imThis is most

well known

the treatment

of this

the later numbers

Zoist.
f The prefacehas alreadyrecorded the largenumber
Furland has extracted in the Mesmeric state.

by

of teeth which

of the

JMr.

CASES.

EEMAEKABLE

159

his

to be a firm supporter of
the subject,
on
publications
truths of Mesmerism, that it is onlyneedful to allude to

the
his

Some

readers may, however, be interested in learning

that Dr. "Wilson has cured a case
of insanity,
choly,
or intense melanname.

by the aid of Mesmerism.

Dr. Ashburner,of Grosvenor
the Middlesex Hospital,is a
As

to
Street,and lately
physician
most
merism.
energeticfriend to Mes-

Dr.

also the lamented

was

Buxton, of Brownlow

Street.
Dr.

of Bristol,
has published
a valuable littletreatise,
Storer,
recommending the practice.
Dr. Simpson,of York, has been one of the earliestfriends to
the science.
Dr. Arnott,of
The

of Grrosvenor Street.

Grosvenor

Square.

Manchester
of the

another advocate.

of several other medical

names

Symes,

Edinburgh,is

good

of Great
toff,
Mr. Case,of

Mr.

Square,a

Decimus

Tichfield

Mr*

be added.

can

J. Hands, of Duke
Hands, of Thayer

Street,
Street,

successful and benevolent promoter

Mr. FlinMorgan, of Bedford Eow.

most

Mr.

cause.

Mr.

men

Street.

Mr.

Clarke,of KingslandRoad.

Adams, of Lymington. Mr. Chater,

Mr. Weddel, of Scarborough.Mr. Nixon, of Wigof Norwich,
Mr. J. B. Parker,of Exeter.
Mr. Sargent,
ton, Cumberland.
of

Fareham.

Mr.

Keigate,Surrey,"c.

Most

of these

gentleman have

sent

papers to the Zoist.

Mr. Johnston, Surgeon, 22 Saville Row, bears honourable
in a remarkable
of Mesmerism
case,
testimonyto the efficacy
recorded

of the Zoist,p. 42.

Surgeon,of Farnham, the well-known

in the second volume

Mr. Newnham,

Magnetism,"has proved himself

write
unexpectedally. He was requestedto
of

"

Human

"

Mesmerism,

and

furnished

with materials

"

valuable and

a
a

paper

his
"

sceptical
prompter :

against

for the

but the very inquiryconvinced him of its truth.

has been as honourable to Mr. Newnham, as it must
to
mortifying

author

purpose :
The
result
have

been

"

'tisthe sport,to have the engineer

Hoist with his own
petard."
For

Mr. Luxmore, of

Exeter
Alphington,

and

Mr.

Hollingsof

MBSMEEISM

160

AKD

ITS

OPPONENTS.

friends- Mr. Vivian,

most unwearied
are amongst our
Leicester,
of Woodfield,Torquay,is another supporter.
The

lent
also have noticed the benevo-

readers of the Zoist must

Briggs,of Nottingham

exertions of Mr.

Place.

(No. 14.

226.)

p.

Mr. MulhoUand, of Walsall,is

has reduced

He

Mesmerist.

and of the size of

most

and successful

of eleven

years'standing,
that it requires
completelyj

wen

goose'segg,

earnest

so

acute observation to detect it.

Stenson,of Northampton,is another valuable supporter

of fits,
He has cured cases
of the cause.
melancholia,"c. "c.
Mr.

hope to
says that he looks forward with well-grounded
Mesmerism
being more
generally
appliedas a curative means.
He

Mr.

Summers, of Chatham,has acted successfully

upon

of obstinate hernia

by

case

Mesmerism.

Cryer,of Bradford, states a case where a young girl,

and leg
named
Louisa Taylor,who had lost the use of her arm
ment
treatbenefited by the Mesmeric
was
materially
by paralysis,
Dr.

of Mr. Prest of that town,

Mr.

has
Brindley,of Stourbridge,

this power
of
case
a

an

cured various

affection of the heart,of

seven

diseases

by
standing;
years'

of the nervous
generaldebility
system ; and several
of fits and rheumatic pains,"c. "c.
cases
Mr. Tubbs, of Upwell Isle,in Cambridgeshire,
has proved

and efficacy
of Mesmerism
in the treatment
of
reality
diseases. Delirium from grief,muscular
pain,chronic
the

and
found

several other

the Mesmeric

friend to the

cause

treatment

"

Mr. Tubbs

most

of

eificacious in several
"c.

could

cases

humanity has
operations, in

has had

"

some

most

be

named, where

successful.
found

many
matism,
rheuhe

This earnest

Mesmerism

most

the extraction of

teeth,
under
interesting
patients

his care.*
Mr. Donovan, the able

can
phrenologist,
givevery

valuable

testimonyas to the powers and virtues of our science.

In Wolverhampton, Mesmerism
is making vast strides in
medical
popular estimation. Dr. Owens, of Stourbridge,
a
*

of other cases, by Mr. Tubbs, have since appeared in the

A number
Zoist. He is a most steady
and able practitioner.

EEIi'IAEICABLE

gentleman, lately
made

CASES.

161

converts, by the

many

following
operation

A young woman,
from
suffering
dreadfully
thrown
into the Mesmeric sleep,
for the purpose
:

was

the

"

tooth

extracted.

toothache,
of

having
happened to he

dentist
sceptical
much
present and undertook the operation.There was
culty
diffiin the case.
The key slipped
from the tooth twice ; and a
splinter,
broken from
was
nearlyan inch and a half in length,
the alveolar portion of the jaw. Still there \yas
the
not
manifestation of pain; and the patient,
slightest
on
being
had
the
idea
broughtto herself, not
slightest that the operation
had been performed." The dentist said,that
there was
no
than
would
have
been
in
there
more
movement
a
corpse"
About eightypersons were
present.
Mr. Gibbon Wakefield,who is so weU known
in the political
such a staunch unbeliever in the science,
world, and was
is
.

"

"

now

satisfiedof its

hundred
The

truth,and

has

since mesmerised

many

persons."
of several

clergymen could be given; in fact,

they would furnish a longlist. Mr. Pyne, incumbent of Hook,
Surrey,has publisheda most useful little book (VitalMagnetism),
names

in which

experience. The
;

and

he

Rev.

the Eev.

both sent papers

has

communicated

the

results of his

Cheltenham
Edwards, of Prestbury,

John

have
Lewis, of Gateacre,
Liverpool,

L.

to the Zoist.

in Miss Martineau's
magnetiser
SpencerHall,the original
Mesmeric
is a most
Experiences,"
case, and the author of
of the art, and well entitled to the consuccessful practiser
fidence
liehas so invariably
received.
Some of his patients
have exhibited very interesting
phenomena.
of non-professional
advocates yet remains to
A long catalogue
of Percy Street ;
be mentioned.
Among them are Mr. Fradelle,
Cross ; Mrs. Jones, of Salisbury
Mr. Holland, of New
;
Mr. Davey, of Devonshire ; Mr. Edmund
Fry, of Plymouth;
Mr. Parsons, Marine
Library,Brighton; Mr. Reynoldsonj
Eenshaw
Street,Liverpool
Leyton,Essex ;
; Mr. Brown, Low
Mr. S. Selfe,Bridgwater ; Mr. Hayman, of Sidmouth ; Mr.
Mr.

"

Vernon, the promoter of

Caillard,of Leicester; Mr.

the

Mesmeric

Institute;Mr.

Hicks, the well-known

M

and

C.

able

162

AND

MESMERISM

OPPONENTS.

ITS

Lecturer; Mr. Saunders, of Ivy Cottage,Bath; Mr. W.

ander
Warenne, of Hull ; Mr. H. Hudson, of Liverpool
; Mr. AlexWalker, Bainsford,N. B.

Mr.

Bailey,"c.

has taken

In Scotland Mesmerism

Its remedial

firm root.

and over
again. And Mr. Lang's
power has been tested over
"
useful littlework
on
Mesmerism, with a Report of Cases

developed in

Scotland," should

read

be

by

person

every

solicitous of the trrith.

practiceis too well

notice. All, who
known
to requirei
reallyseek for valuable
this head, should consult his Papers in the
information on
Zoist. They wiU there see the cases
reportedin detail, and
enriched by medical observations of the highestvalue. Let it
of insanity,
be sufiicient to state that he has cured cases
Dr. Elliotson's eminent

in the

success

"

"

dance, of palsy,of loss of voice, of

and other fits; cases
where
deafness and dumbness, of epileptic
cases

other

every
facts

St. Vitus's

of

so

medical

"

treatment

circulation of the Zoist has

placed these

completelywithin

of the medical

the reach

that this brief allusion to them

to make

listof

our

Here, then, is
Here

utterlyfailed.

had

is

otherwise

no

leadingMesmerisers

education,of honourable

of evidence

from

as

And

confidentlypredicated!*

wonderful

student,

complete.

of
ability,

whose

fact in nature

this list

science !

our

of

men

from
standingin society,

alone,the existence of Mesmerism

creasing
in-

necessary than

train of witnesses in favour of

succession

is

The

report-

might be
have

might

been,

swelled to any extent ! What

an
amount, moreover, have we
of pain,of sickness,
here of happinessconferred ! What a mass

lightenedor

of sorrow,

removed

Here

at

length are

few

life! Here,
pleasing
pages in the long sad chapterof human
and the
at last,is a delightful
study for the philanthropist
communicated
Christian ! And all these blessings
of
by means
a

that is derided,or

power

confined
alone

our

to
testimony

within the

and

narratives could have

*

dreaded,or
what

has occurred

last few
been

disbelieved !

See Miss Martineau's Preface

on

have

in this country
what
a
pile of

but
years,
added to it,if the
"

We

limits of

this point,
p. 8.

ITS

huinble work
been

might have-

have allowed it. It

Continent

the

on

16*

CONTINENT.

THE

like this would

added, that

received

ON

PROGRESS

has

Mesmerism

been

) for years : that in

fait accompli
to a considerable extent* ;.
Germany it is studied and practised
that in Prussia
physiciansmake use of it under the
many
the
of government ; and that in Berlin in particular
authority
as

fact (un

its use;

attended

has

greatest success

degreesare grantedin

that

"

in

Stockholm

university
by an examination on its
laws ; that in Russia,the Emperor appointeda commission of
medical
that this commission
to inquireinto it, and
men
pronounced it a very importantagent," that the first physician
others at Petersburgh,
of the emperor, and many
speak
in favour of its utility
and
that
at
Moscow
a
;
systematic
of treatment
under the highestauspices
has been emcourse
ployed
In Denmark, physicians
it under a
for years.
practise
of Health.
In
royalordinance,and by a decree of the College
the

"

"

extent

to

In France, the
it is practised
is considerable indeed.fA

of the first

Holland, some
which

of the

commission

Royal Academy

circle of the medical

sa

it up.

of Medicine

should be allowed

that Mesmerism

devrait trouver

take

men

mended
recom-

placewithin the
(comme moyen therapeutique

sciences

placedans

there

des connaissances medi-

le cadre

in Paris, affixed their

cales).Some of the first physicians
the cases
related
to this report. I might mention
signatures
by Foissac in his report|: I might give extracts without
and German
the subjectfrom difierent French
number
on
I might quote frojn De Leuze, Puysegur,Wienholt,
works.
Treviranus, Brandis of Copenhagen,"c. usque ad nauseam.
The

I have

Verite

du

list of

cures

See

Magnetismeprouvee par les Faits,"in which the

effectedby a lady in Paris is quitemarvellous.

"

they were

ill.
"

ExposSdesCures

by
1826), with attestations
"

Rapports

sur

les

Life,vol. ii.p.

See his

operees
more

for the sake of his

Mesmerism
practised

famous Jean Paul Richter

The

friends,when

of Hufeland, of Berlin,is a host in itself.

work by me, called " La
curious little French

greatname

en

France

than

two

Magnetisme Animal,

Medecine.
M

ISO.

depuisMesmer
hundred
par

Jours"
jusqu'cLnos

medical

M. P.

men,

Foissac,Docteur

en

164

In the United
Mr.
is

mighty progress has

told
traveller,
distinguished

States the

Buckingham,the
there practised
to

work
cases

OPPONENTS.

ITS

AND

MESMERISM

same

been made.
that it

me,

In his amusing
very great extent.
several curious Mesmeric
that country he mentions
on
at the
and phenomena that he witnessed in Philadelphia,

Asylum

for the Deaf

children in the

tried upon

Dumb,

and

physiciansand legalgentlemen,when it
appearedproved beyond suspicion,to the satisfaction of all
of the suscepthere was
a
completesuspension
tibility
present,that
of Mesmerism.
Dr. Mitchell,
of painduringthe state
mentioned
of Philadelphia,
an
eminent physician
an
operation
performedby him in the extraction of a tooth under most
was
experienced, and
painfulcircumstances, when no feeling
of several

presence

"

"

"

recollection of the fact existed afterwards.*

no

what

shall

the

are

that have

men

advocated

who

Mesmerism

and
?

of the celebrated French

in the words

answer

thus

And

physiologist,
thing
astonishing

It is a very
Georget, who says,
known
the
that animal magnetism is not even
by name
among
the enlightened
ranks that it
ignorantclasses : it is among
"

Dr.

"

"

findssupport.

It is

who

men

have

in hand

received

some

education

partlylearned men,
who
have composed the
naturalists,
philosophers,
physicians,
volumes in its favour." f And what is the replyof
numerous
our
opponents to this pyramid of facts ? That they are all

who

cases

taken

have

its

of delusion?

cause

Granted, for

might be so,
men
might be deceived
largestdeduction under
very

many

evidence

would

tlie sake

of argument, that
that in several instances the ablest

"

what

this

yet remain

evidence

it is

then ?

even
still,

head, what
!

As

Mr.

with

accumulation

an

the

of

Colquhoun observes,

permitted to believe any series

of proofis required?
amount
The host of
of facts? What
who
have narrated their
men
competent and highlyqualified
"

Upon

what

are

we

"

experience,forbid the suppositionof a universal delusion.

other theory must be adopted. Mesmerism
is a science
Some
of facts. To facts we
appeal: and we do not believe,as has
Buckingham's America,"vol. ii. p.
f Apud Isis Revelata,"vol.il.p. 45.
"

"

119

"

125.

166

MESMEEISM

of disease.

Take

the

closed, through,

what

This

has

found

in

the

authority

of

of

case

closed.

of

before

It

but

has

and-

its
know

for

of

the

of

many

these

is

prove

by

which

the

powerfully

that

manifestations
utilitarian.

frame

human
remedial

of
can

results

it

there

of

would

have

is

And

may

placed,
be

See

Appendix

for

fact

single

the

on

other

the

of

them

to

as

our

from

instances.

histories
allusion

has

is

been
state

whence
even

to

My

purpose.

there

of

perusal

the

further

mind

the

in

obtained,

several

pendent
inde-

somnambulism

suffering.
*

case

natural

one

endeavour

my

this

all

not

recorded

statistics, that
be

of

he

but

action

question,

foreign

piece

"

in

prepare

However,

quite

any

common

of this
been

as

is

well

so

is

and

so

read,

that

morbid

And

apprehension

copious body

of

and
held

repeat,

authority

man.

pen,

seeing,

that

the

on

sleep, took

sermons,

his

we

effect

sleepwalkers.

wholly
a

the

that

his

be

the

archbishop

"

instance

some

facts

natural

object

extremest

due

high

as

to

was

It

spontaneously

Mesmerism

study

marvellous

singular

in

the

Now,

young

of

parallel
no

student

the

on

the

phenomena

strange

his

Mesmerism,

simply

of

wrote

prevent

it occurred

was

system

nervous

to

well.

with
that

"

in

him,

is

report

Bordeaux.

walked

and

face

equally

see

it,

science.

who

test

his

is established

and

state,

To

The

Encyclopaedia,

of

eyes

communication.

electric

French

the

with

reading

state.*

the

composed

connection

no

natural

of

an

Archbishop

then

and

pasteboard

had

ecclesiastic,

eyes

to

believe,

of

OPPONENTS.

fact

volume

the

paper,

appeared

in

38th

ITS

staggering

in

young

his

with
of

occurred

and

ink,

AND

the
in

cases

to

into
most

of

AEGUMENTS

CHAP.
AaCUMENTS

AGAINST

IMITATION.

"

"Win,

YOU."

MEDICAIi

ROYAL
AND

BELIEVERS

AND

IN

FRENCH

REPORT.

MR.

"

SOCIETY.

AND

AND

FREMCH

UNIVERSITT.

BRITISH

ASSOCIATION

GREAT

I
PORT
RE-

LONDON

PHRENOLOGY.

MESMERISM.

AND

ME,

SECOND

"

WAKLEY

ASSOCIATION

HYSTERIA.

"

"MESMERISE

"

CHIRURGICAL

ETHER

BRITISH

"

NAMES

AMONG

MESMERISM.

wliat is tie
cathedra

ex

FIRST

BRITISH

"

MONOTONY.

IMAGINATION.

ALONE.

AND

BRAID.

ASSOCIATION

And

MEN

MEDICAL

MR.

"

"

IV.

MESMERISM.

OP

FAITH.

"

BELIEVE
OF

TRUTH

167

MESMEEISM.

AGAINST

to

replyof

give an

to look into

certain medical

opinionon
it, what, we
"

men,

who

presume
the subjectwithout condescending

demand, is their replyto

of this state ? Simply,

that it is impossible;
representation
and consequently
the thing,
they say, is in itselfimpossible
;
is requisite
for the student. To
that no farther investigation
extraordinary,are difficultto conceive,"
say that facts are
is but the duty of a philoare
sopher,
contrary to previousexperience,
who
should suspend his belief till every reasonable
that a thing
doubt be done away.* But to beginwith asserting,
the

"

"

that it is contrary to the laws of nature,

is irrational in the
it differs from our
earlyopinions,

and
impossible,

is

"

because

eminentlyabsurd in days like our own, when

which in our
see
things accomplished,
youth
every year we
The real questionis, what are
deemed impracticable.
were
the laws ofnature ? Are theyallknown and established ? But
of nature,
inasmuch as to set limits in this way to the operations
and call a thing which is occurringevery hour "impossible,"
extreme, and

"

when
they have oncfe
Wienholt in his Lectures says, " Philosophers,
from
certain
of
a
number
deduced a
range of experience,
generalprinciples
from
of
these
admit
generallaws,when
exceptions
not easily
broughtto
are
quently
established to their satisfaction. They endeavour to reduce all subseonce
to these laws.
facts,however anomalous, "under subjection
supervening
*

nolentes volentes
all directions,
until they get them
and
if
do
not succeed, theyconsider
they
accommodated to their theory;
good groundfor throwingthem aside; and,
this circumstance as a perfectly
at once
struck out of the category of facts." Colquare

They twist them in

"

accordingly,
they

"

"

Jioun'a Wienholt,p. 41.

M

168

MESMERISM

ITS

AITO

OPPOMINTS.

genious
ina few
to the philosophic
inquirer,
quitesatisfactory
to silence the
theories are propoundedby the faculty
curious."
of the
unreasonable questionings
impertinently
One gentlemanwill tell you, that "Monotony is the secret.
is not

"

"

The constant

movement

of the hands before the face *,

""

the arm,

friction by passes down

that
dull,deadeningeffect,

the

mere

tinued
a con-

has,they say, such

monotony of

the action

granted: many a restless

such soothing
invalid has been lulled into slumber by some
of a feather,
the readingof a dull
or
process. The tickling
will often perbook in a drowsy tone for a prolongedperiod,
suade
will not meet the difficulty.
to sleep.But this explanation
first we
It applies
but to a few isolated instances. And
ask,
in the case of a
how many times would this experimentanswer
feverish patient
? For days ? for weeks ? for months ? A
of the trial would, I fear,
break the charm.
soon
dailyrepetition
Not so with Mesmerism.
The mesmeric
sleepis obtained only
and more
the more
quicklyat each renewal of the process.
easily
But with some
these monotonous
movements, made by
patients,
unskilled in Mesmerism, not only do not soothe,but
parties
have even
effect;
meric
to whom, however, the mesan
irritating
I
action,
appliedin a judicious
way, succeeds at once.
can
speakto this pointfrom my own
experience.But this is
movements
monotonous
not all. Many Mesmerisers scarcely
use
of
of the thumbs, the application
at all. The mutual
contact
the pointsof the fingers
the eyes, the pressure of the hand
near
of the head, are the plansthat I have seen most
upon the crown
and which I have found most successful myself.
u^ally adopted,
Often and often have I seen patients
in a state of cerebral excitement
put 'to sleepin two, in three,in four minutes,by the
A lady has told me
contact of the balls of the thumbs.
that
induces

somnolency. All

this is

"

oftimes from the moment

her thumb

touched the thumb

of the

weighthas settled on her eyelids,

making
resistance to sleepimpossible, and this in a case where every
method had been worse
other soporific
than idle. No : monoMesmeriser,a

leaden

"

I
waving motion of the hands, in what are termed the "passes,"
attribute all the phenomena which animal magnetism is said to induce in
who submit to this mummery."
patients
Chiiyo/Dtseasc,
by Dr. Dickson,
"

To

the

"

p. 91.

WHAT

tony will

not

HYSTERIA?

169

In fact,
so
explainthe difficulty.

to do with the

littleor

IS

nothingof

that
effect,

littlehas

but those who

none

have

action could invent this

mesmeric

notony
moseen

theoryfor

its solution.

Driven

from

behind

selves
this post,our
opponents next establish them"
the entrenchments
of
Hysteria^ This is the

that
explanation,
works

and

is for

in anti-mesmeric

being advanced
I
hospitals
; and

ever

lectures at the

think it

more

pecially
es-

worthy of answer, as I have heard it made by some

able and enlightened
friends. The patient,
theysay, is *' highly
and excitable ; it is simplyan hysteric
nervous
action, nothing
else." Now
in this representation.
there is much
plausibility
"

Its vagueness
The undefined character of the
catches the ear.
word
includes almost every thing in common
nervousness
"

"

and aU difficulties
say that a patientis nervous,
friends
removed.
But we must pin our
philosophic

parlance. Merely
are

These loose generalities

somethingmore specific.
carry
And
first
it is
them.
that
would
in
we
observe,
meaning
to
nervous
patientswho are always the most susceptible

down
no

not

to

mesmeric
the

action.

The

idea is convenient

men
Stout,strong-minded

reverse.

who
patients

but the fact is often

have

termed

been

mesmerised;
"

"

highly nervous
But let us analysethis explanation
resist the influence altogether.*
? Ls it hysteria,
more
closely. What is hysteria
when a pin is forced into a delicate female's hand, far enough
blood,and she feels no pain,and exhibits no change of
to draw
when
brute strikes a sleeping
a
? Is it hysteria,
expression
and no movement
or
boy a violent blow with a walking-stick,
ment
;where exciteconsciousness results from it? Is it hysteria,
and I have

and

were

strong cerebral irritation

are

taken away ? And

completely
but over
happeningonce and accidentally,

calmed

Teste says,

"

I would

almost venture

to

all these eifects not

and

say there

over,

and

might exist an

over

obstacle

experiettce
quiteconfirms

(_-p.
41.) My
SomnamJivlismin excessiveseritiMlity."
is
entertained.
what
to
in
vulgarly
opposition
this view,
to

and

rable
when intoleand repose ? Is it hysteria,
tranquillity
heat and throbbingin the head are carried off and leave
when racking,
? Is it hysteria,
torturing
pain is
vestige

relieved or

soothed

into

down

not

seen

170

ITS

AMi

MESMERISM

OPPONENTS.

these effects would

experience,
again? Accordingto common
action than be removed
rather result from hysteric
by it ; and
we
are
taught,that ai^
it is a novel doctrine,when
certainly
is the productof
abatement
in feverish or cerebral irritability
hysteria.However, it is now said,that aU these states are
ever
the effect of hysteria.Hysteriaincludes every thing. Whatthe human
body,' be it unusual
may be the condition of
to
depose or unusual excitement, be it exquisitesensibility
of its presence, hysteria
is the
utter unconsciousness
an
or
p"iii,
"

"

"

cause.

Be it

so.

And

how

much

nearer

are

we

For again I ask,what

resolvingthe difficulty?
"Do the medical

know

men

themselves

now

towards

hysteria?
Can they explainit ?
is

proximateoi* remote ? Are

in the dark on the subject? To explain
"theynot confessedly
is but to exchangeone diffiMesmerism, therefore,
by hysteria,
of position,
not an
for another.
It is but a shifting
"culty
aptowards the truth. It is a moving of the feet,not
"Jjroximation
of
"With far greaterjudgment did one
a marching forwards.
of the profession
"the most superior
and rising
members
observe
to me, that
Mesmerism, if true, rather threw a lighton hysteria,
Mesmerism."
It would rather lead them,
than hysteria
on
liesaid,to a solution of their very difficultieson that questioti.
But be this as it may, to explainone
difficulty
by another is a
most unphilosophical
proceeding, and one through which no
approachwhatever is made to an illustrationof the truth. But
the other hand, if Mesmeric
but hysteria*,
action be nothing
on
when
^as
perhapsit is, then we assert,that hysteria,
duced
proand intentionally,
to be a disease, but
ceases
artificially
becomes
and healingvirtue; as
a. condition full of medicinal
of cures
the inexhaustible caltalogue
accomplished
by its power
incontrovertibly
proves.
Imitation
f is a favourite explanationwith others ;
imitation is a key which interprets
and certainly
many facts

"Can they say what

are

its causes,

"

"

"

"

^^

"

"

"

*
of Hysteria,
See a cure
by Mr. SpencerHall,and some
very judicious
33.
observations. " Mesmeric Experiences"
p.
givenin the Dictionnaire des Science
\ Imitation is one of the explanations
and
also by M. Vireyin his articleon Animal
rfe Medicales,
t. vi.,p. 394. ;
"

Magnetismi

iri

IMITATION.

in the science.
for

working

wicked
and

Imitation is
the

on

in human

it may

be

human

of the most

one

mind

powerfulagents
that is good oi-

much

"

is the result of imitation alone ;

curious studyfor the physiologist
to trace the
conduct

"

of imitation to their native source.

But thougt
springs
imitation may explain
many parts in the conduct of a Mesmeric
How
patient, it goes but a small way.
can
we
explainthis
fact,that young and artless girls, the deaf, the dumb,
the blind, patients
who
had never
heard of Mesmerism
*,
who knew not what
going to take place,have all
process was
class of phenomena ? Imitation is
"quallyexhibited the same
often used, tpo, for a
of Imposture. But when employed
synonym
in this sense, it assumes
of the
that the capabilities
secret

"

"

"

"

"

human
far

"

mind

more

great indeed,and that the histrionic talent is

are

complain that
departed,and

the
that

suspected.The
days of tragicand
not

an

imitation

indeed

(orimposture)be
and

actors

actresses

the

of the

before whom
district, artists,

every
would

"

grow

pale,are making the

direction,
"

comic

remains

actor

;Unfounded regret! If the chargesof

and

lovers of the

than is

common

our

of the

touch

Yes,

Mesmeriser

if imitation

"

the

clue to

stage.

Mesmerism, then

highesttalent
the genius of

abound

into the most

the

in

Garrick

countryin every

at its zenith.

now

(orimposture)be

are

opponents be correct,

ignorant,uneducated, simplepersons

seen

excellence

to tread

circuit of the

and the art of Eoscius is

drama

I have

transformed
finished

by the
performers.

then is
solution,

supposed discoveries of
3Iesmer,- and the histrionic powers of the human mind proved
to be somethingbeyond the range of old experience.Either
greater wonder

established -than the

'

"

way,

the laws of nature

not sufiicient; for

are

"

"

must

be remodelled

"

a
new
mentallyor physically,

old

systems

and

drous
won-

which henceforward must find

power has been detected,
and
placeamidst the schemes and divisions of the philosopher

metaphysician.f
*

See

Spencer Hall, p.

6.

t See Wienholt, 1.ii. p. 57., on the fact of the somnambulist, "conducting

Practice does not
in his firstsleep as in his tenth."
himself as perfectly
f
make more
perfect.

172

Faith

ITS

MESMERISM

AND

in
confidence

the power,

or

OPrONENTS.

and

desire

to

he healed

the process of Mesmerism, are againsuggested

bj others as
of which
of the cures
a
cause
to which we
may ascribe some
have spoken. On this theory,how are we to explainthose
we
instances,where the patienthad a positiveaversion to the

by

where,
practice;
disbelief

and where

;
strong predominantfeelings

the

were

far from the existence of faith,

disgustand

so

"

adopted almost by compulsion,and yet the

and unequivocal
?
and the benefits have been most marked
cure
forward with my testimony.*
Here I can againcome
needed, and all is
Again,therefore,is a fresh interpretation
resolved by another party into the large,the comprehensive
phrase of Imagination."Truly has it been observed, that
this reference of all these difficultiesto the influence of imagination
is but
a cloak to
cover
ignorance."That imagination
has a most
powerful effect on the habit of the body,we all
traced to it.
know.
Numerous
strikingevents can be clearly
have
Several wonderful
been produced by it. It is a
cures
None but an idiot would deny its
valuable,a useful auxiliary.
has a
with all its vehement
Still,
effects,
imagination,
power.
the

remedy

was

"

"

limit.

There

is

time when

its influence

wears

off. An

in-

"

imagines that a new medical adviser has been of

service, that a change of medicine has done good, that a
has been beneficial;and repeatedly
different treatment
has a
healthier action been brought about by this power
of the mind
the spellis
system. But much too generally
upon the nervous
dissolved at an earlyday. Before the tedious week shall have
its round, a relapsehas occurred, and the benefit is forgotten.
run
Not so, againwe
The longer
say, with Mesmerism.
itis tried,the more
powerfulis the hold. A patientmay be
two
three days in succession ;
or
sent to sleepby imagination

va;lidoften

"

"

"

but would

the

months ?

Here

method

same

is a

on
:point

Faith

"

succeed

"

which I

day after day for

can

speakwith

several

confidence.

being an active cause, it sometimes has worked

the patient
by over-exciting
throughthe expectationof benefit.
prejudicially
and
excessive
From
nervousness,
beingfalloffaith,X expectedsoon to
tny
and subjectto its sleepyinfluence,"
find myselfspell-bound,
writes a patient
in Zoist,No. 19, p. 327. But daysand weeks passedover without an apparent
he says.
It seemed to banish sleep,"
effect.
*

So far from

"

"

"

174

suming

an

MESMERISM

AND

appearance

for which

ITS

in the
"Imagination,"
afford no
explanationto

can

OPPONENTS.

ment.
inducethey have no earthly
usual acceptation
of the word,
these phenomena in any way

whatever.
few

other facts may

be stated

point.

this

on

Children

easilymagnetised. Foissac mentions the case of

bulism.
child,aged twenty-eightmonths, that he placedin somnamoften

are

Deaf

and

dumb

persons, and some

into this sleep,
without

that

were

blind*,

at the
being aware
intended or what was
Animals
time of what was
going on.
have been powerfully
affected. Dr. Wilson's experimentson
and
the brute creation are most conclusive.!
Several sceptics,
of powerful intellect,
those men
Mr.
have been mesmerised.
remarkable instances
Townshend, in his
Facts,"gives some
of what
took place at Cambridge with some
unbelievingadProfessor Agassiz,of Neufchatel,in Switzerland,
versaries.f
was
put to sleep by Mr. Townshend, accordingto his own

have

been

thrown

"

statement, after he had done every

But

the influence.

there is

his power to resist

decisive than any

thingin
pointmore

one

have

just mentioned, and which, as Colquhoun

states,is well known to aH practical
mesmerisers, viz. "that
if we
the usual
attempt to manipulatein contrary directions,
effectswill not be produced,whilst others of a totally
different
will be manifested." " In short,of all the explanations
nature
that have been offered,
the least tenable is that of
imagination."
what is in a name?
If the phrase be more
Still,
acceptable
that
of
than
Mesmerism, let it be adopted. All we ask and
want
is,that the system itself be not neglected. If imagination,"
Mr.
Chenevix, can cure diseases,then cm-e by
says
which

we

"

"

"

"

"

See the very

blind for eleven

case
interesting

recorded
years,"

of

CaptainPeach,

in 5th volume

"

gentlemanperfectly

of Zoist.

See "Wilson's
Trials of Animal Magnetism on the Brute Creation,"
"f(BailDr.
is physician
Wilson
to the Middlesex
hiere.)
Hospital.

"

Townshend's " Facts,"book ii.sec. 2., for these interesting

cases.
Teste, p. 156. mentions the bad effects of magnetising
upwards. Gau-

See

thier,p. 13. of his Traite Pratique,"

givesa strong caution againstit,and
who
la
du
tete
malade s'embarrasserait,
quotes D'Eslon,
et on poursays,
"

"

rait lui donner

But

if it be

effect by

une

commotion

nothing but

ascending
passes

funeste

au

cerveau

how
imagination,

peut-etre

could

there

apo'plexie."

une

be

disturbing

IMAGINATION.

and
imagination,
to

supersede the
:

mesmeric

what

you."* We have no wish

labours of the faculty
in their importantdepartment
is rather desired is,that the treatment of the

process

is the

-r-as

175

the sick will bless

should

case

in

be under

their direction and control,

countries

many

on

the

Continent.

In,

Russia,in Denmark, in Prussia,none but medical men, or those

under their superintendence,
are
permittedto exercise the art.'
Let, then, the professiontake the practiceup, and we wiE
sacrificethe name.
Let
Lnagination be placedon the pharmacopoei
; let
Lnagination be written on their prescriptions
;,
let the students at the hospitals
be instructed how
to exert
the ideal faculty
as
: only,
observes,
Dugald"Stewart so sensibly
let them not
scrupleto copy whatever processes are necessary.
for subjecting
Let them not culpadiseases to their command."
bly
'

"

"

"

"

"

refuse to increase the

resources

of their art

I, for one,

and

gladlyconsent that the management of this mighty

agent should be left mainly in their hands, and that the name
of Mesmerism
!f
should be discarded and forgotten
fall unheeded
But our
the
concessions and explanations
on
Mesmerise
The grand coup de theatre yet remains ;
ear.
me, and I wiU believe you." Often have I heard the most
conceptio
conclusive answers
presentedto these objectors;every mishas been disposedof by argument, by facts,
by
troversy
analogy,when the unbeliever suddenlyescapes from the conself.
by a demand that the experimentbe tried,upon himthe
And
if,as is almost certain,the experimentfail,
settled. I was
a meshe considers as finally
attending
question
would

"

Mesmer

the
superintend

to

Elliotson,Zoist, vol. iv.

IntroductoryChapter.
+

Let

us

note

what

that
beginning,

the

said from

M.

treatment.

p.

377.) We

medical

men

alone

were

(See Gauthier, Traite,p.

have

entered

on

See
the
in
point

this

himself,says
Bertrand,a physician

petent
com-

"

697.

"II

est

de

et les m^decins veulent guideret faire tourner

evidence que si les savans
toute
profitde I'humanite et des sciences la nouvelle d^couverte qu'on leur
au
A queltitre voudronts'en emparer.
commencent
il faut
annonce,

qu'ils

par

Et n'est-oe pas
de ne pas la connaitre ?
ils la juger, s'ilssont convaincus
lart
de
de
guerir,de voir ks
qui s'occupent
chose honteuse pour oeux
Tine
un
insiruits qu'eux sur
grand
magnetiseursle plus ignoransse montrer plus
"
malade?
Thomme
de
la
connaissance
a
quiappartlent
de

nombre
ph^nomenes
Traite du Somnambulisme, p. i3l.
Behteand,

176

AND

MESMERISM

meric lecture

day,when

one

OPPONEKTS.

ITS

gentlemanpresent

saf down

on

the chair,and requestedthe lecturer to try his skill upon him.

The usual manipulations
for a certain period; much
on
went

by the spectators; when after a given time

round the room
our
gentleman rose up, "looked
unsusceptible
with a triumphantsmirk of self-satisfaction,
declaringthat he
with the air of a
felt nothing,"and then left the company
once
philosopherwho had refuted the claims of Mesmerism
*
and for ever ! and this is called experiment! as if certain

interest

felt

was

"

conditions
are,

teach

that

us,

chemical

and

indispensable. "What

are

show

prepared to

conditions

some

experimentson

conditions
human

not

are

we

not

were

demanded

were

at

common

least

impassivematerial
;

how

the mind

frame, where

; but

all those conditions

much
can

more

might
required. In
sense

substances certain
so,

the delicate

on

in addition offer

resistance,

to rejectthe sleep?
party himself strain his utmost
have been
who
or
present at lectures on Galvanism

the

Those

Chemistrymust have observed how slighta cause will disturb

the simplestexperiment. A change of atmospherewill affect
If
the machinery and spoilthe electric action in a moment.
conductor be overcharged,a result different from the one
a
expectedwill be evolved. If a body be saturated with any
the effect will not be the
ingredientthat it holds in solution,
the substances are
united in more
congenial
same, as when
proportions.In some
experiments,the presence of- a small
quantityof water appears always necessary to developcertain
thus we
acid properties.And
might go on ad infinitum.
in the practice
And why are not similar laws equallyapplicable
And
of Mesmerism?
who, more
why is it that the parties,
the necessity
of such conditions in rethan any others,know
gard
the very men
are
to natural philosophy,
who dispense
with
their presence in the analogousexperimentson
the human
frame. My own
after much observation,
opinionon the subject,
of the
is,that sick and delicate persons are more
susceptible
"

"
a person
in health resisting
Dr. Esdaile says truly,
the influence is no
proofthat he will remain insensibleto it in an altered state of the body,when
be a cravingfrom the nervous
there may
from
system for this sustenance

without."

"

Mesmerism

in

India,p.

13.

EFFECT

OF

THE

MESMERIC

magnetic influence than those

cases

be

can

been

Where

but

these

there the Mesmeric

tendencyappears

the delicate invalid remained

robust

man,

feeble circulation,any extreme

or
the cerebral or nervous
temperament,
"

influence

and

absence
may

some

other

resist the influence

of his
and

of

equilibrium
ofa disturbed
nervous
power.f Such an

the

of the

and
organisation

in
unsuspected,

and

explainhis

while

readier

the system

to the
susceptibility

from
delicate patient,

more

condition,which

the

is

equallynecessary,
althoughthe generalstate
altogether,
temperament might, but for this one

circumstance,have rendered him

unknown

effect. Its

producean

to

seems

to be to restore

equalising
power;

affected
un-

"

irregularity
may exist,unknown
a

but what

rather than the rule.*

exceptions
in the
unequalaction, any irregularity

irregulardistribution

of

Not

the

are

there is any

health.

177

the healthiest individuals have

produced,where

system,any improperor
of
overwrought activity

or

in robust

readilymesmerised,and
:

INFLUENCE.

magneticforce. However,

alive
peculiarly

all this is but

conjecture and
It ought^
touches not the truthfulness of the facts recorded
is not the onlyor a necessary
to be added,that sleep
moreover,
symptom. Great effectsmay result, and no sleeptake place.
to the

"

"

"

of eoinmunicating
influence be, as I believe,
a
means
If mesmeric
in
the
circulation
an
impairedsystem, one must
energy, or of equalising
in
health
could
that
not be affected. It seems,
a person
facie,
prima
expect,
*

it succeeds.
the attempt. Yet occasionally
to make
Mr.
in robust health. Mr. Atkinson
has mesmerised eightyoung men
Townshend
I saw a lady
has mesmerised several. Mr. Kiste has done the same.
of
into
manhood
full
a
in
vigour
deep sleepin less than
put a gentleman the
found a stout recruit in his late regiment
ten minutes.
CaptainJames
seen."
/ never
make
the
than any female that he had ever
susceptible
more

therefore,absurd

"

and improperwaste of time and strength.

it to be a foolish
believing
myself,
with crystals,
of
his
sen.
experiments
Reichenbach, speaking
says that the

trial

"

sitiveness of healthysubjectsis

so

limited

as

not

to

be

sufficientfor the

investigation."
p. 20.
" It
Newnham
says,
may be remarked as a generalrule, that the
and in the best health,is
order
of intelligence
the
with
highest
constitution
the
feebler nervous
while
of
influence,
systems,
the least susceptiblemagnetic
the
most
susceptible
; and that is perfectly
and those in inferior health,are

Mr.

"

is the medicine of nature, and

that magnetism
consistent with our supposition,
of
the
to relieve the feeble
exuberant
life
the
healthy
in
consists
imparting
and
not
the
while
the
healthy,
requiring
strong
life of the disordered:
its
to
not
are
impresston,"Human
susceptible
agency of such medicine,
"

"

p.
Magnetism,

82.
N

178

MESMERISM

AND

OPPONENTS.

ITS

the
symptoms, thoughof course
a
generaland intelligible.
Among the other conditions,

Sleepis onlyone
most

of many

out

the

sympathy between
physical

the firstrequisite
;

seems
parties

sympathy may be is a difficultquestion; but it is a

known
Mesthat a patientyields
to the influence of one
fact,
A superiorstate of health,or
meriser rather than another.*
what

that

of muscular
Mesmeriser
this

yet

or

energy,

is

by

no

part of the
another condition; and

power,

seems
patient,

the

over

of mental

"

invariable

means

the

on

or

without

exceptions.

Again, it should be borne in mind, that an apparent external

effect is not alwaysto be expectedat the first sitting.Sleep
for three
be produced for a week, for a month,
not
may
"

months
the

case

but it may

at

come

of individuals

in

last,and

good

health

cure

be

it is

effected.

In

less
especially

probablethat somnolencyshould come on at the firsttrial; and

in fact,
few thingsare more
ridiculous or misplacedthan the,
himself to the
exhibition of a vigorousmuscular man
offering
of the Mesmeriser.
Would
the loss of the same
manipulations
amount
quantityof blood, or the administration of the same
of medicine, have the same
or
equal effect on two opposite
constitutions or habits of body ? The abstraction of ten ounces
"

"

writer on this subjectis Deleuze : his experience

has
practical
readers
I
refer
what
he
to
this
on
safe
great.
point as to a
says
my
Tous les homines ne sont pas sensiblesa Taction magn^tique,
: -^"
authority
le sont plusou moins, selon les dispositions
c^ns
et les memes
momentan^es
The

best

been

"

il
lesquelles

Ordinairement le magnetisme n'exerce aucune

d'une sante parfaite. Le meme
homme
qui jouissent
etait
insensible
dans
de
Wtat
au
des
efifets
qui
sant6,en eprouvera
magnetisme
II est telle maladie dans laquelle
malade.
sera
Taction du magnelorsqu'il
tisme
ne
se fait pointapercevoir
sur
; telle autre
laquelleoette action est
action

sur

^vidente.

se

trouvent.

les personnes

On

iCen sait pas

ni pour

encore

Tavance

assez

pour

determiner

la

cause

de

ces

malies,
ano-

si

le,
prononcer
magnetisme agiraou n'agirapas ;
seulement
cet
on
a
a
quelquesprobabilites
egardj mais cela ne saurait
la
centre
motiver
reality
du magnetisme,attendu
une
objection
que les
trois quartsdes malades au moins en resentent
les effets.
"
La nature
a etabli un
rapport ou une sympathie physique
entre quelques
individus ; c'est par cette raison que plusieursmagn^tiseurs
agissentbeaucoup

pluspromptement

d'autres,et que
malades.

II y

le
a

meme

meme

plus efficacement sur certains malades que sur

magn^tiseurne convient pas egalementa tous les
des magnetiseurs
qui sont plus propres a guerirceret

Plusieurs personnes
croient insensibles a Taction du
se
n'ont
le magnetiseur
rencontre
magnetisme,parce qu'elles
pas
vient."
qui leur conInstruction
i.
Deleuze,
sect. 21, 22.
Pratique,
cap.

taines maladies.

"

DIFFERENT

OF

EFFECTS

MESMERISM.

of blood

felt by

while

be far too

might hardlybe
the depletion
would

179

strong athletic yeoman,

reducingfor

his feeble

attenuated

has been known

to swallow
daughter.One man
with impunitymore
than twenty of Morison's drastic pills;
while two of the same
have induced a
preciouspreparation
and painful
result upon his apparently
healthier and
distressing
more
enduring brother. And why is there this difference?
And
is
simply, because men's constitutions are different.
Mesmerism
to be an
exceptionto this generalrule ? Be the
Mesmeriser only
party mesmerised delicate or robust,the same
throws off a certain amount
of Mesmeric
influence (whether
throughthe medium of some electricfluid we know not), and
effect be expected in these
why therefore should the same
conditions within the same
periodof time ? However,
opposite
The above observations
are
as
yet in the dark.
upon this pointwe
than
for consideration,
rather meant
as
are
suggestions
the exposition
of actual knowledge. And though the question
is not one
quarter exhausted,enough has been said to show
demand
of those who
the unreasonableness and absurdity
an
"

"

immediate
I

themselves

effecton

medical

alwaysreplyto

the process,
is, "Do
go and mesmerise your
"

"

as

who

men,

ask

not

test of this

power.* What

request to be placedunder
to

be

mesmerised

yourself;

patients, and depend upon it,that

you will not onlyaccomplishmuch benefit,but you will soon
But far better would
have a proofof the truth of my words."
it be to quote the languageof Bacon in his Essay on Seeming
It is a ridiculous thing,"says he, and fit for a
Wise.
shifts men
have.
satire of judgment, to see what
Some think to bear it by speakinga great word, and being
peremptory,and go on and take by admittance that which they
make good. Some, whatever is beyondtheir reach will
cannot
of it,as impertinent
make light
or
or
to despise,
curious,
seem
and so would have their ignoranceseem judgment."
which I take my stand,and to
on
Here, then, is the position
"

"

"

which
*

invite
respectfully

Teste thinks that

all men

may

"

Cap. iii.p.

to the
turns, and according
be
and
placed,
magnetisers
they may

become

moral conditions in which

or
physical

"--i."

"

the consideration of the scientific

35.
N

by

180

MESMERISM

AND

ITS

OPPONENTS.

immediate
or
exci'ting
cause, imitation^
or
so
forth,this accumulation
imagination,
monotony, hysteria,
of evidence,
of Germany, out of France, out of England,
out
and many other countries,
proves, beyond a doubt,that a strong
curative effectin a certain class of diseases can be producedby

world,

that be the

"

is

what

Mesmerism,

called

strong, indeed, that the

so

"

alike bound, for the sake

and the philanthropist
are
physician
of humanity alone,to give the subjectthe fullest and fairest
trial.

Christian Observer,"
all farther investigation
But, says the
commissioners
is needless, for the French
have long ago
it adds,
decided the question. Their report,"
was
full,
and satisfactory."
And
the
commissioners
candid,elaborate,
evolved," and that
proved that no magnetic influence was
"

"

"

"

"

"

"

stood convicted of

Mesmer

Often
to go

this statement

as

over

the

being a

has been

its

impostor."

rebutted,it is stiU necessary

For not

ground again.

have

conscious

such

onlymust

effect,but

there is, moreover,

that the decision of the French
impressionafloat,
been adverse

to

our

report of the

We
not
are
says,
commissioners
has been
"

it may
question,
report himself,and has
"carelessor

the

read

has

savans

not

the

in which

he

from the

taken

his

the

reprinted,since
manner

be doubted,whether

treats the

some

general

whether

aware

"

revival of these follies."* And

from

sentation
repre-

system.

Reviewer

The

he has read the

opinion,second-hand,

writers.
prejudiced

At any rate, I have

report, or rather reports. Before I ventured to
opinion,I went to the British Museum, and read

express an
them carefully
and

through. And the attention of

analytically
readers is requested,
not onlyto the real representation
as
but also to the importantresoluhow far the reports go,
tions

my
to

"

of

second and far

valuable Commission.

perhaps,be desirable
slightsketch of Mesmer

It may,

by

more

that this statement

and

of the

be

preceded
proceedingsof his

opponents.
Animal

The

magnetism,it is generally
supposed,has
in Bertrand's
reportis reprinted

"

been

always

MagnltismeAnimal."

182

MESMERISM

AND

OPPONENTS.

ITS

sake, and fbr

really
philosophic
inquirer.Truth, for its own
the good of his species,
not his singleaim.
According to
was
with a dramatic and
their statement, he invested his practice
unreal character; he assumed
a
mysteriousdemeanour,
clothed his experimentswith a magicalobscurity, assumed a
masqueradingcostume, and was as much of the charlatan as of
All this, however, is as strongly
the scientific discoverer.
and followers.*
denied by his partisans
These proceedings,
however, attracted the attention of the
a

"

"

"

His

wits at Paris.

medical brethren

publicjournalsattacked
and

him

few besides the sick

bolder and bolder

the

were

on

in

were

an

uproar

disgusted
;

were
philosophers

Yet

his side.

he asserted that

"

Mesmer

there is but

the

gr^w

health,

one

"

disease,and

remedy; and this remedy,he said,was

alone to be obtained throughhis magnetic subtlefluid.
Government
The amiable
at lengthtook the subjectup.
and unfortunate Louis the Sixteenth issued a mandate in 1784,
the matter.
The commissioners
requiringa commission to investigate
of them
members
of the
some
appointedwere
and others
Academy of Sciences,some of the medical faculty,
of the Society
of Physicians,
and contained in their number
a
feW remarkable
names.
Among them were
Lavoisier,who
might almost be called the father of modern chemistry
; Bailly,
one

whose

one

subsequentfate in the French Revolution was

and melancholy;
who
in the same
Guillotin,
such

obtained

an

of that

unfortunate

distinction from his

slaughterous
enginewhich

Jussieu,the illustriousbotanist

name;

so

rable
memo-

revolution
dation
recommen-

called after his

was

that great
and, lastly,

of the other hemisphere,to

statesman-philosopher
the line of the poet,
been so happilyapplied

whom

has

"

"

The

Eripnitcoelo fulmen, sceptrumque tyrannis."

cautious and

conscientious Deleuze

said of

Mesmer^ that it is
impossiblenot to recognisein him.a distinguished
metaphysicianand a
observer."
ii.
torn.
Bruno
(Histoire
Critique,
profound
p. 20.)
spoke of
the
entitled
to
him as
of
the
human
a genius
gratitude
to
as
one
race,
"

"

whose

and

every

memory

honest

and virtuous

man

owed

p. 2.)
respect." (Discours Pr^liminaire,

candid

statement

to the Abb^

the character
respecting

6. and 7.
J. H. L., chapters

and

Those

tribute of veneration
who

wish

conduct of Mesmer

See also the his

to

may

Sevelata.

see

turn

FIRST

Of course, to

183

EEPOET.

FEENCH

like

these,to say nothingof the other able

that were
names
the commission,the profoundest
included '_in
deference is due. Though authority
overthrow
cannot
facts,
men

is to be heard with grave attention in

yet stillauthority
on

those facts ;

commissioners

and here the

"

is,how
question

have decided,or intended

facts of Mesmerism,

"

and

to

port
re-

far these

the
decide,against

far their

how

opiniongoes

in

the reality
of the cures
effected by its power.
subverting
The answer
: the
is,that they decided nothingon the subject
facts they have left untouched ; the cures
in great measure
undenied ; their main drift and aim was
againstthe theory.
It has been said, in opposition
of
of the statements
to one
in regard to the
the
Christian Observer
candid
manner
of their inquiries, that the commissioners
behaved
most
unfairly, that their examination was incompleteand superficial,
All
and that theytook but small trouble to observe.
this I cannot bring myselfto believe ; their names
a guaare
rantee
and
Men
like
his
such
Bailly
imputations.
againstany
all that was
fair and Candid.
must
have intended
colleagues
full or satisfactory,"
I deny.
But that their examination was
That
they entered upon the subjectwith strongly-formed
Their
not
is well known.
were
tinuous
conexperiments
prejudices
not followed up closely
by the same
enough, were
with the rules
not conducted in compliance
and were
parties,
cal
the great chemirequiredfor their success ; and with Lavoisier,
to detect the
was
at their head, their object
philosopher
in that,they
subtle fluid,and failing
presence of Mesmer's
at an
considered the real labours of the commission
virtually
"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

end.
The

might

have

"

utilitywas
thought that such

idea of

"

not
a

lost upon
them ; and one
would
view of the question

Franklin,and secured a careful investigation.

Le MagnetismeAnimal," says the Report, pent bien exister
s'iln'existe pas." But
mais il ne peut ctre utile,
etre utile,
sans
have

interested

"

"

good health at the time ; and

the language of the Eeport, it would
from
appear almost
not present at Paris during any of the
certain that he was
experiments. The commissioners allwent one day to his house
the fact is,Franklin

was

not

in

"

184

MESMEEISM

OPPOITENTS.

ITS

Ain"

experimentswere made ; there he himself

was
magnetised,and felt no sensation; and this imperfect
satisfiedhim.
to have
examination
and personaltrial seems
therefore is always quoted
He signedthe report ; and his name
the subject*;but the world must judge
as
an
on
authority
whose
how
far the opinionof a man,
energiesand bodily
be
at that time in abeyance,can
legitimately
activitywere
after so brief and unsatisfactory
claimed as decisive,
especially
an
inquiry.
at

Passy; there

few

the other commissioners,though,doubtless,all in

But

which
conditions,

faith,omitted, in their experiments,many

told

they were
their

were

indispensable.
They

attendance; and

conducted
Mesmer

in the

presence
himself, but of
"

afterwards

And

incorrect and

not
experiments,moreover, were
of
under the superintendence
or
of his pupils(D'Eslon),
who
one

at

"

commissaires ayant
(Ze"

senses

more

was

unsatisfactory.

reports

deny the facts ? Bather

speakof "a greatpower
having ascertained that
our

steadyin

not

length declare ? Did they

they established their reality.They
the sick. J They say that,
influencing
animal fluid cannot be perceived
an
by

did these

what

any of

were

their reports"j"
(forthere
protested
against

one)as

than

the

good

que cefluide
de nos sens),

reconnu

animal ne peut etre apergu par aucun

piagnetique
to the conclusion that nothing proves the existence
they come
of this magneticanimal fluid ;
not being in
that,therefore,
"

'

from

Paris

at
lately

met

Franklin

Dr.

of the

amusement

in the

Madame
reader. " M.
to

Sot/alea characteristic billet

Sibliothlque
Helvetius,which is here copied for the
Franklin

n'oublie

jamaisaucune

partieou

5VI"Helvetius
s'il etait engage
etre.
que
Faradis ce matin, 11 ferait supplicationd'etre permis de Tester
doit

JKsqu'aune

heure

lui promettre

There

en

II croit meme,

et

demi,

le rencontrant
four

were

but

did

not

2.

S.

The medical

one,

who
Jussieu's,

signwith

them.

had

The

4.
"

; all four, however,

Magn^tisme Animale," which is

Bertrand's "
i[" On ne peut
vuissance

a bienvoulu
qu'elle

first,signed by]Bailly,
Coille,
signedby Poissonnier,
the
to
medical
tion,
secbelonged
Secret Report,signedby all

to
.Tussieu),
relating
dangeras to
together(excepting
as to medical treatment.
facts,but doubtingthe utility

in the British Museum

terre

reports altogether.The

Lavoisier,Franklin,"c.

Mauduyt, and Andry.

recevoir I'embrassade
pour
chez M. Turgot."

d'aller
sur

are
now

de reconnaitre,
a ces
s'empecher

"c.
quiagiteles malades,les maitrise,"

to

morals"

be

The
found

becoming a

"

not

three

are

reprintedin
scarce

efiets constans,
p. 7.

denying
first

une

book.

grande
,

THE

PEENCH

existence,it cannot

EEPORT.

MEPICAL

be useful

185

{querien ne prouve FeXisfencei

dufluidemagnetiqueanimal; que cefluide^
sans
existence,est
cided
par consequent sans
utilite,
"c.); and, consequently,
they dethat some
other theory must
be brought forward
tos
for the facts {les
account
effets).
The existence of
they
many of these facts theyacknowledge;
describe some
of the most importantphenomena ; they mentioa
singularconvulsions,involuntary
many
movements, and st/mde ^esjconiiuU
pathies(rien n' est plus etonnant que le spectacle
sions
des sympathies
qui s'etablissent. Eapport de Bailly):
but Mesmer's theorythey consider null and void;
and de-"
clare that the reality
of the fluid could only be proved by its
curative effects;
as if those curative eifectswere
not, after ally
the most essential pointtowards which the commissioliers could
look (^son
existence ne peut etre demontree
que par les effets
dans le traitement des maladies).
curatifs
And
what is the theorythey offer in opposition
? " Imagination,
these they asserted
"Imitation,"and "Touch;"
the causes
of all that occurred.
les
were
{De ces experiences,
commissaires
ont conclu
que Vimaginationfait tout, que le
magnetisme est nul. Imagination,imitation,attouehement^
tellessont les vraies causes
des effets
attribues au Magnetisme
Animal).
It is unnecessary to enter upon a refutation of their hypo-*
to pull down
thesis; all the commissioners
attemptedwas
one
theory,and build up another; and this their Report,,
inconclusive,
and, if we may so speakof such;
unsatisfactory,
in the extreme,
is declared by the
unphilosophical
men,
;

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

Christian Observer," and other writers,

to be decisive of the

and
question,
impostor.

We

next

as

having convicted
to the

come

Mesmer

Eeport of

their

of

being a

conscious

the
colleagues,

medical

attack the existence of a fluid,

andequally
utter an
the theoryof Mesmer, but scarcely
opinionas to the
of the facts alleged
they sum
; and
unreality
up the result of

commissioners, who

their labours with two

There

"

of

an

evidence,"they say, " of the existence

fluid,that is supposedto be the principle
of,

exists

agent

or

resolutions.

no

186

AND

MESMEEISM

OPPONENTS.

ITS

and graiid
Magnetism (p.23);" this is their [first
"
conclusion :
the theoryis altogether
wanting in proof."
Their second resolution relates to the utility
of the discovery,
"which they pronounce
to be valueless,
curative means,
as
a
cases.*
except in certain very peculiar
The process, however, by which theyarrived at these conclusions,
is so amusing in itself,so naivelytold, and so
indicative of the feeling
with which theyentered on the inquiry,
have not thought it
that it ought not to be forgotten. We
necessary,"
they say, to fix our attention on rare, unusual,
which appear to contradict the laws of
or extraordinary
cases
nature!"^ Can anythingequal the absurdityof this conduct
As if the
unless it be the sweet simplicity
of the confession?
!"
whole
They were
subjecthad not been
extraordinary
ordinary,"
extraactuallyappointed commissioners,because it was
its most
and yet they decline to investigate
traordinary
expart ! Verily,these commissioners would have
been fitting
associates of the Medico-Chirurgical
Societyon
that memorable
nightwhen the latter refused to examine into
the amputationof Wombell's
leg,from the absurd pretensions
of the man
to an
to pain.
extraordinaryinsensibility
Animal

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

As

to all that the Medical

Commissioners

the

remark

next

about

dangersof magnetism (pp.36

40); about itsaction on the
and
of great evils of a physical
brain,and its being the source
"

moral

nature

consideration.

If

body

(p.46); the whole may be dismissed without

Their original
bias peeps out in every paragraph.
of

had
turnpike-trustees
railwaycommissioners,and requiredto
a

been

converted

send

in

into

report

on.

the

of the new, system of transport,

should
we
practicability
have expected resolutions as to the dangers anij
naturally
of the proposednovelty:but even
these gentlemen
injustice
would scarcely
have declined to witness an experimentalex-

"

Nous

absolument
"c. "c.,
"

"

toutes

Sur

pensons

en

consequence,ler,

est au

de preuves ; 2de, que

moins inutile pour ceux

des

|rares,

denue

cas

les loix de la

ce

la theorie est une

systeme
pretendumoyen de gu^rirreduit,
dans lesquels
il ne s'ensuit,"
"c.
que

insolites,
extraordinaires,
contredire
quiparaissent

physique."p.
"

25.

JUSSIEUS

cursion of

few miles, on

"

extraordinarynature
The

187

REPORT,
the

grounds of

the

"

unusual

and

of the conveyance

is

in point.
precisely
Be this,however, as it
may, the reader should know, that
the Medical Report,
and Franklin,did
like the one from Bailly
not conclude the question
to the unrealities of magnetism,
as
but confined itselfto objections
againstthe theories of Mesmer,
and the assumed utilitiesof his system ; and it is to be hoped,
shall
of their proceedings,
we
that,after this full exposition
case

"

hear

no

of the

more

But, inconclusive

missioners
Com-

decisive report of the French

even

as

this

Eeport was,

there is yet

noticeable

is wanting to
shortcoming. One great name
the signatures.The
virtuous and intelligent
Jussieu, he
who in the studyof botanyis an authority
of the first rank,
standing
notwithpaid the closest attention to the proceedings
; and,
the pressingsolicitation of his colleagues,
and the
more

"

"

"

of the minister,the Baron

menaces

subscribe
his

his name,
In that

own.

Breteuil,"refused

to

drew up a special
Eeport of
actually
experimentshe
Report he states that the
and

"

himself made, and

has

de

those

of which

he

has been

witness,

action by
a decided
producesupon man
friction (Jrottemerd),
rarely,by an
by contact, and, more
to
approximationat a littledistance ; that this action seems
animal warmth
existingin the body; and
belong to some
it occasionally
that judged by its effects,
of a tonic and
/)artafte"
with
salutaryresult; but that a more extended acquaintance
this agent'will make us better understand its real action and
him

convince

that

man

"

"

"

'

utility."*
"

et dont il a
Que les experiences
qu'ila faites,

"

produit

Thomme

que

sur

son

semblable

une

ete

temoin, prouvent

action sensible par le frottement,

a
le contact, et plus rarement
quelque
simple rapproclieraent
par un
d^raontr^e,
fluideuniverselle non
distance ; que cette action,attribute a une
la chaleur animale existante dans les corps ; que cette
a
lui semble apartenir

par

chaleur
corps

emane

dans

un

autre

loin,et pent passer d'un

dSvelopp^e,
augmentee, ou diminude dans

se porte assez
continuellement,

d'eux
;

est
qu'elle

morales et par des causes

; que, jug^epar
physiques
de la proprietedes remedes toniques,
et produit
elle participe
des effets,
de
salutaires
selon
la
des effets
ou
nuisibles,
quantity chaleur
comme
eux
communiqude, et s^Ion les circonstances oCi elle est employee; qu'eniinun
un

corps par des

causes

188

MESMERISM

Jussieu
M.

further says,

Deslon;

"

I have

OPPONENTS.

frequentedthe apartmentsof

avoid mistakes,I have

to

"

ITS

AND

much

and operate often myself; and I have

time to the experiments."
(p.10.)
"

anxious

been

to

see

given considerable

himself,he divides
very many cases
his facts into four orders ; and admits that a largeproportion
;

Having

of them

thus examined

be

may

"

explained
away by

"c.,without
Imagination,"

the assistance of any external agent.

and
At last he comes
to his fourthsection,
that he has
"

different class of

facts,"he says,

These

littlevariety, because I
"

that

were

doubt.

well

They

are,

man

one

are

on

to record.

now

small in number, and

only to

anxious

was

and
established,

which

to

of

fluid or

another,
"

I had

those

the smallest

not

tis

admit

the

cated
is communi-

agent, which

and

with

enumerate

however, sufficient to make

existence
or
possibility
from

"

occurrences

here he asserts,

sometimes

exercises

on

the latter a sensible action."

(p.37.)
A largepart of Jussieu's Report is full of
Reflections
of
and reasons
(ashe calls them),and attemptedexplanations
his
Facts." Perhaps these
the
explanations"weakened
effect of his statement
with the public. He comes, however,
to the conclusion
at last,that warmth
(chaleur animate)is
of the magnetic treatment
the principal
and success,
source
(p.78.)
Jussieu blames the course
and his
adopted by Mesmer
in aiming so much
of a theory,
at the promulgation
followers,
before the facts themselves have been fully
established :
but
of the system as a remedy.
he shows the utility
Upon the whole, the Report is a very cautious,wellconsidered document, not asserting
or
too much
predicting
nor
running wild with enthusiastic approbation.It is the
of ?t,safe and sober man.
evident production
fact in the history
of this science,
Here, then,is a signiflcant
which ought to have arrested the conclusions of the faculty.
But Jussieu's counterstatements
were
laughedat and set aside.
"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

usage

plus "tendu

veritable action

et

et
son

plus r6fieehi de

d^gr6d'utilite."
"

cet

agent fera mieux

p. 50.

connaitre

sa

MESMERISM

190

His

success

In

OPPONENTS.

performedby

cures

Germany, in France, more

burg and Paris,the subjectwas

previously
; and

what

is more

and
and sober consideration,
and

ITS

The

immense.

was

numerous.

AND

an

him

at
especially

were

Stras-

taken up with as great zeal as

to the purpose, with a judgment
utter absence

ofaWcharlatanerie

mystery.*
the progress, that a decided sensation was
now
A young physicianat Paris,the
the medical world.
a
and learned Foissac, made
stirringappeal to his

So signalwas
made

on

amiable
brethren

in its behalf.

the members

In

1825, he addressed

memorial

to

Eoyal Academy of Medicine,pointingout

fresh and more
satisfactory
inquiry.Without

of the

of a
necessity
let it be sufficient to state, that a
enteringupon the details,
was
sisted
Second Commission
appointed; that this commission conof medical men, some
of them of very high
exclusively
that a most careful and scientific
;
standingin their profession
and that in 1831 a Eeport on their
took place;
investigation
laid before the Academy.
And
Magnetic Experiments was
of this Report ? "Was it evasive,cold,
the nature
what was
and decisive in
satisfactory
neutral,condemnatory? It was
and
the highestdegree. After havinggiven a most interesting
circumstantialaccount of their proceedings,
they finish with a
to which theyhad arrived : they are thirty
series of conclusions,
in number, and ought to be read, as well as the Report itself,
forded
can
; space
only be afby every one interested in the subject
for a few extracts,but these are decisive enough. They
the

"

"

Magnetismis a

"

biiisethat is dead

and

buried,"said M.

Academy of Medicine, in 1825.

member
observes
the prefaceto
is right,"
honoured colleague
of the

"

In

the

one

Renauldin,a
sense,

our

Rapport Confiden.

condemned

fAere tried in the

jSrsi,
1784 by the
year
but
it
is
notorious,
that,since that epoch, the said
scientificand the doctors ;
itselfas dead, has not
far from regarding
ceased to spread itself

tidl.

"

Magnetismwas

magnetism,
mannei'in
in a deplorable

France, in Germany, in Prussia,"c.,to the great

and
the great disappointment
of the faculty,
sick,
who
these sort of resurrections
of
make
to
what
!"
not
know
(p. 2. ) I am
work for my
with this very clever
acquaintance
indebted to Mr. Newnham's
be
t
o
translation
a
from
which
professes
Scobardi,an Italian
production,
Master of the Societyof Jesus. The
in his report to the Grand
satisfactionof the

Jesuit,

through every page.

richest vein of ironyruns
it.
read
should
and sarcasm

All who

love Mesmerism

SECOND

8. A

certain number

to

depend upon

l9jt

REPORT,

FRENCH

of the effects observed

Magnetism alone,

and

without its application.

These

appearedto
were

are

never

us

duced
pro-

well established

and therapeutic
physiological
phenomena.
29. Considered as a cause
of certain physiological
phenomena,

therapeutic
remedy,Magnetism oughtto be allowed
a
place within the circle of the medical sciences ; and
it,or superconsequently,
only should practise
physicians
intend
or

as

its use,

as

is the

case

And

countries.*

in the northern

selves
they conclude with saying, We dare not flatter ourwith the hope of making you participate
entirelyin our
conviction of the realityof the phenomena, which we
have
observed,and which you have neither seen, nor followed,nor
We
do not, therefore,
studied alongwith us.
of you a
demand
blind belief of all that we
have reported. We
conceive
that a
great proportionof these facts are of a nature so extraordinary
such a credence.
that you cannot
.We only reaccord them
quest
that you would judge us as we
should judgeyou,
that is
to say, that you be completelyconvinced, that neither the love
of the marvellous,nor the desire of celebrity,
nor
any views of
interest whatever, influenced us during our labours."
This Report was
signedby nine physicians.The two who
did not signdid not consider themselves entitled to do so, from
not having assisted at the experiments. The
Report was laid
resolved that manuscript copies
before the Academy, who
le Rappori), To this
sliould be taken of it (Jaireautographier
made : and the adversaries of Mesmerism
signed
rewas
no
objection
themselves,as far as the Academy was concerned, to an
from that hour. Mesmerism
the subject. And
absolute silence on
has been gainingground in France, with such an im"

"

"

8.

Un

certain nombre

magnetismeseul,et

ne

se

des effets observes

sont

pas

bien
et th^rapeutiques
physiologiques

menes

Consid6r^

29.

comme

agent de

des connaissances m^dicales ; et par

en

faire oil en

nord.

"

206.

panis
Ce
sont

dependre du
des pbeno-

ou
comme
physiologiques,

trouVer

sa

place dans

le cadre

consequentles medecins seuls devraient

dans les pays du
se pratique

ainsi que cela

surveillerI'emploi,

FoissAC, Rapports,p.

lui.

constates.

phenomenes

le magnetisme devrait
th^rapeutique,

moyen

ont

nous

reproduitsans

MESMERISM

-i92

AND

"

upholdersof

stanch

are

worthy of a

with
Observer,"

if the French

"

better cause,

in

men

the science.*

Christian

"

But," says the

OPPONENTS,

heard,a fourth of the medical

petus, that,as I have

Paris

ITS

pertinacity

have

Commissioners

Mr. Wakley
question,Mr. Wakley has."
laid bare some
of the impositions
to the conviction of unprejudiced
"
observers."! The' wary coroner
quietlyslippedthe
wonder-working talisman (a piece of nickel)into a friend's
hand, and substituted for it a pieceof Queen Victoria's vulgar
coin." " It was
impossiblethat the hopeful young
eopper
a
lady," as the writer unbecominglyterms as respectable
decided

not

"

the

"

could have

"

himself,

as

person

"

indications of Mesmeric

exhibited such

influence if she

the editor of the

nickelised." And

"

his readers to those identical

that there is

appealfrom

no

had

characteristic

Lancet"

duly

been

not

is for

ferring
re-

ever

and assuming
proceedings,

his infallibletribunal.

It is

new

Christian Observer"
sight to behold Mr. Wakley and the
yoked togetherin the same car of compact alliance."}Misery,
they say, makes us acquaintedwith strange companions; and a
"

"

bad

cause

Mr.

have

to

appears

much

Wakley has

done the state

of the "Lancet"
minds

of the

was

juniormembers

service."

some

of his

Not

that

attention.

Mr.

His first establishment

useful act; it

deference to officialauthority
; and

lighton

result.

same

undeserving of

Wakley's opinionsare
"

the

emancipatedthe

from
profession
it often threw

sluggish

considerable

than

within the
questionableproceedings
different hospitals.In fact,it furnished an
abundance
of
some

more

valuable information for all classes. Mr.

*

In

1837, there

of
entirely

Magnetism,and
cmly to

two

was

the members
who

of

Wakley'sconduct

in

third investigation
in Paris, composed almost
a
of the Medical Academy,who
most
hostile to
were
course

female somnambulists

returned

had

who

the curative

an

unfriendly
report.

manifested

some

It -related

phenomena, and

question.This reportis notorious for its flagrant

and for its suppressio
points,
veri.
The particulars
to the third edition of the
win be found in the preface
Isis Revelata,^in
Human
Mr. Newnham's
Magnetism, and the recent French worksj
As
the Abbe
J. B. L. observes," though the commission onlymade half a dozen
two somnambulists,
on
they have embraced the wlioleof magnetism
experiments
conclusions."
This
in their
(p.397.)
report was
completelyrefuted by M.
Husson, and M. Bcrna in their replies.
"fIn the articlefor September,1843.
did

not

bear

on

in
dishonesty

one

or

two

"

MR.

WAKLEY.

193

Parliament,in spiteof his political

ultraism,has been often
marked by an honest detestation and exposure of abuse. And
officiousand meddling,
he has
as a coroner, thoughoccasionally
broughtthe reluctant authorities to a better knowledgeof their
duty. Still Mr. Wakley is not oracular on every subject.
Clever as he is,he may, like other men, occasionally
be mistaken,
on
pointswhich he has littlestudied,and to
especially
which he comes
for a novel and first experiment. He has so
often enlightened
of what he tried
the world with a description
in the cases of two of Dr. EUiotson's patients,
that it is needless
to

repeat the story. It may

it was

in

be

as

set of

well,however, to state,that
nickel and lead,and which,

with
experiments
and proved the falsehood and
he says, most egregiously
failed,
of the pretendedsleepers.Those who have read
imposition
Mr. Wakley's strictures should know that every chargehas
answered.
Dr. EUiotson,
been againand againsuccessfully
in
his chair in University
the Letter to his Pupilson resigning
into every part of the subject.
Those
has entered fully
College,
look into the reply.
who adoptthe accusation should,at least,
that some
part of the proceedings
They will there find it stated,
sary
were
suppressed."They will there see how necesentirely
frame to
it is in an experimentwith metals on the human
proceedwith the greatestcaution and observation. They will
effects change the nervous
there learn what slight
disturbing
and alter and affect the result of the
condition of the patient,
"
experiment. He acted,"says Dr. EUiotson, as though
and alwaysthe same
is alwayspresent,
Mesmeric
susceptibility
;
is the fact ; and experimentswith water
whereas the reverse
and metals frequently
repeatedso derange the susceptibility
has
often obligedto desist." Many a school-boy
are
that we
with his eyes bandaged,alternate
the trial of tasting,
made
has become
of white and red wine, tillat last his palate
glasses
that he has been unable to detect the difference,
so disordered,
experiments,
and know the one from the other. In Mesmeric
a

"

"

whether in
with

most

removed,

it is indispensable
or with metals,
phreno-magnetism
be
that the action of the first experiment
patients

or

wear

attempted. They

before
ofi^,

second

and

will otherwise clash and

o

different

one

injureeach

be

other.

194

AND

MESMEEISM

ITS

OPPONENTS.

cir-greatestnicetyare requisite.The slightest

and so produce a
cumstance
may upset and disturb the patient,
and a seeming impostureon the
real failure
in the eixperiment,
Time

and the

part of the sleeper.*With

metals is

complete;

mentioned
their

as

somnambulists

caution to those who

metals have
all this for

Thig is

quit a publiclecture with

because
the mesmerised
strengthened,
obtained the promised effectfBut

more

not

moment,

trialwith

the

uncertain.

with others it is most

scepticism
onlythe

waving

some

let

us

that these two

suppose

respectable
patientsof Dr. Elliotson, patientswith
whom
the editor of a religious
might not be ashamed
periodical
to be acquainted, let us suppose that these two
were
patients
and
to suffer,"
and, for " sordid gain,"
affecting
deluding,"
^'
pretendingto respond to the magical control" of the magof Mesmerism
then ? does the cause
iietist. What
depend upon
the truthfulness of one or two cases ? Granted that theywere
that
false,it would be rather a strong inference to assume
What
a mistake.
yet becomes of the
every thing else were
that could easilybe counted up, if a
thousand-and-one
cases
careful statistical
collected from all
body of evidence were
that we
to
quarters ? It is to facts without number
appeal-;
facts confirmed by experimentand observation ; and a hundred
hundred
of imposture,
would detract but a
or
a
cases
failures,
from the actual heap:
small amount
most

"

"

"

"

"

But

who,

we

Suave est

inform

must

for the sake of

ex

magna

toUere acervo."

these cruel

and

thoughtlesswriters,

pungent sentence, care

not

what

libels

that these
theyscatter againstamiable and unoffending
women,
of Dr. Elliotson were
two lister-patients
mo* impostors. One
*

"

Peopleare

i clever

not

very, acute

articlein the Examiner

in

the causes
distinguishing

newspaper,

indiscriminately
againsta scheme,",which

"and
appears

the
to

of

failure,"
says

tide of fashion
miscarry.

"

runs

July Sth

1845.
"

To

show

how

necessary it is to

proceed most

and
leisurely,

with

vals
inter-

of every kind,the reader is referred to

experiments
Zoist,No.
for
case
tljeinteresting
ofMys. Snewing. I was myself present
19, p. 244.,
the day mentioned by Dr. E. p. 242., when
on
the Archbishop of Dublin
and Mr. Scarlett asisisted
in the experiments,
and can
bear testimony
to the
between

itccuracy of the doctpr'sstatement.

LONDON

of them

TINIVEESITT.

195

is most

married ; and both have secured

respectably
the good opinionof all who know
them.
But as one
test of
is better than fifty
let us state an actual
sincerity
assertions,
fact,and see how far it will serve as a set-off to Mr. Wakley's
charges.Mr. Gibbon Wakefield, as hard-headed and little
"

credulous

man

had often excused himself,when

exists,"

as

to
invited,from going to UniversityCollegeHospital

the Mesmeric

phenomena

last he went, and

his mind
were

and

he

he

of these two

cases

astonished

was

believe what

to

over,

in the

When

"

saw.

not

the

make

up

experiments

pital
part of the hos-

passing through some

was

sisters. At

stillwould

but

witness

noticed one of the sisterswith

it,he accidentally
the balusters carelessly,
and
her back to him, hanging over
looking down, still in the Mesmeric delirium,and therefore
to leave

He
highlysusceptible.

her, because

to test

that he did.
distance with
fixed and

he

was

favourable

satisfiedthat she could

and

"

This

was
was

"

He

Lancet"

clear-headed and

had

sense

and of the

honestyof

Observer" of the truthfulness and

as

see

enough
satisfiedof the reality
of
now
fact ; and might
a convincing

brother-editors of the

sleeper.A

not

made

and perfectly
senseless.
rigid,

believe his senses,

all he had beheld."*

opportunity

thing
anyher
back
behind
at some
a
pass
directed to her, and she instantly
was

He

his hand

to

the
satisfy

thought this

the

"

tian
Chrisniated
calum-

friend of mine,
ance.
any of my acquaintback (one of the
the patient's

thingoccurred
a man
as
strong-minded

similar

to

pass behind
sisters Okey),at Dr. EUiotson's house, when she was occupied
unconscious of his
one
else,and was
in conversation with some
He

made

hardlyconscious of
thought and act of a
the intention himself ;
seized,and fell back
But the poor girlwas instantly
moment.
gentlemanwho told me this is no
in a state of torpor. The
stance
it as a circum: he merely mentioned
believer in Mesmerism
that occurred within his experience.Facts,however,
presence and intention.

such

as

In truth,he
the
for it was

was

these will receive the attention of the candid

of deception
;"t
; theyrefutethe impjitation
impartial
"

Zoist,No. L
o

p. 83.

and the

and it is by

196

OPPONENTS.

ITS

AND

MESMEEISM

plainstatements that we replyto the ungenerous slanders

the " Christian Observer."
of Mr. Wakley and his new
ally,
the honesty
But if Mr. "Wakleydid not succeed in disproving
there was
one
of two excellent sisters,
thingin which he was
had their
Lancet
fortunate. The thunders of the
eminently
intended effect on his medical brethren.
Though anythingbut
such

"

"

pet authority.And
Fearful of
as

strange to say he also became

beinghitched

into

"Lancet,"
gentlemenstraightway

risingconvictions with wry

while the remainder,almost

"

refused for the future

retreated
carefully

be

to

present at any Mesmeric

Mr.

M'Neile

from the evidence

at

of their

man,

stration
demon-

Liverpool,they
own

senses, but

altogether.My clericalbrother judged

in these cases ;
he
somethingsupernatural

different reason

that there

was

that
regretted

and

to

Like

whatsoever.

faces and

their

reluctant hearts

from

their terror.

line of the next week's

some
believers in the so-called absurdity,

swallowed

their

before,he henceforward became

them

favourite with

"

he had

not

faith

depart*, and

bid the devil

it." But

to

play the part

from want

of exerciser

of this faith would

fears of the liberal

profession
evil spirit
of a different order. It was
that
not of an
were
of the evil genius
of Mr. Wakley,
stood in awe
fhei/
; it was
of a substantial,
of the
Lancet," of the gibesand jeerings
before whom
This was
editor,
corporeal
they shrank rebuked.
the demon
whom
they dreaded : and though we might have
expectedbetter thingsfrom such a body of men, it is a fact,
that mainly through an apprehensionof having their names
brought forward before the publicin the pages of a clever
gentlemen turned their backs on the
periodical,
very many
and from that hour declined all invitations to visit and
subject,
examine the phenomena for themselves.
And
thus it went on
for a few years. The progress of Mesmerism
was
seemingly
in this country. It appearedstifledin its birth,an
suspended
would be heard.
unlucky abortion,of which nothing more
and steadily
it making way.
But silently
was
A changewas
Day by day fresh accessions were
graduallycoming on.
"

see

nothingof

the

"

"

"

See Sermon, p. 147.

198

AND

MESMERISM

their

have

unable

be

to

bruited about

names

resist their

to

OPPONENTS.

ITS

of

testimonies

as

convictions,

own

fact,^-^

be

to

"

able
un-

position
with a secret dread of approaching
enough in detecting
sharp-sighted

in the bliss of

to remain

ignorance,
"

this is

they fall back

be
danger. They can
of spirit
in any other quarter, advocates for
narrowness
minal
crifreedom of conscience in theology, ameliorators of our
toleran%and
code'in matters of jurisprudence, liberal,
from which

-^

",

""

haters of abuse

proposedas

an

as angry,
sensitive,

as

stout

their order

were

publicdo dxpeot from

cautious,slow, and

they are

is old,
"

thoughthe charterand
being jeopardiedfor ever !"

opponents of what is new,

as

"

strange and novel character,

the most
the medical profession

Doubtless,in aU experimentsof
the

adherents of what

staunch

as

influence is

instant

that
practice,

their

to
auxiliary

as

of
privileges

that Mesmeric

but the moment

"

deliberate frame

of mind.

They expect

of this nature the most

of subjects
cognisance
conduct.
Nay, they would
searching,
scrutinizing,
hesitating
be displeased
to see an inquirycarried on in a sceptical^
not even
But stillthey do expect inquiryof some
unbelievingspirit.'
of this important
kind.f They dO' not expect to see a subject
from their closer

Miss

medical

Martineau

journalson

of some
observes," The systematic
disingenuousness
sive
this subject,and the far-fetched calumnies
and offen-

with which
assumptions

it is the

regularpracticeof

the

to assail
faculty

or
Mesmerism, looked very m-uch as iftheywere
every case pf cure
and as iftheyknew it." Preface,
truth,
ebnjUctwith powerful
p. 7.

in

relief by

"

"

medicat

most

and
men,
many
h
ave
of
made
a
pleasure being acquainted,
fair and straightforward
often
too
into the subject. But we
inquiry

meet

with much

some

West
our

It would be unjust not to

with whom
I have the

of

of

contrary character.

England,saying,
"

medical

men

way."

were

acknowledge,that

We

have

had

present,and behaved

lady,where

was

on

letter

was

lecturer on
in the mo.st

read to

me

Mesmerism
brutal and

visit lately,
said, We
"

from

ous
outrage-

have

lecturer in our town : Mr.

in the
^, a surgeon, behaved
all
he
and
did
the
to
could
intimidate
manner,
parties."In
bullying

Mesmeric

the

here ; all

had

)l

most

wich
Nor-

Mesmeriser was
a
recentlygivinga- lecture. A most
intelligent
inhabitant of that citytold me that many of the medical men
furious
were
who
One
of
the
occasion.
was
took
out
them,
on
a lancet
present, suddenly
the
under the nail into the quick
and ran it deeplyinto
patient's
finger
; a part
all know : no expressionof pain was
most
as we
sensitive,
dent
eviexquisitely
suffered
at the time ; but the poor
deal
he
after
a
boy
was
good
wish to learn the name
I neither know
awakened.
nor
of the party who
of this unmanly outrage. A strong feeling,
I understand,has
was
guilty
"

"

LONDON

treated with

nature

UNIVERSITY.

199

the

and ridicule ;
vulgarestvituperation
its supporters stigmatised
as
credulous,its operators defamed
as
its patients
mocked at as impostors.They do
fraudulent,
not expect to see the heads of a profession
which piquesitself
its .liberality,
the Ijigotry
of the
on
pte-emdnentljr
exhibiting
priest,and the specialpleadingof the lawyer. Look, for
instance,at what took placea few years back at the London
and promptingsof certain
University
through the instigation
members
of the faculty.Often is the world invited to sneer
at the blind prejudices
the banks of the Isis ;
that disfigure
"

often have

the venerable

doctors of Oxford

their love of the useless and

some

nobler

branches

faults of Alma

of

Mater,

I would
absurdities,

"

the

been satirized for

of
prejudice
spiteof all the

obsolete to the

knowledge; but in
in spiteof all her past
her

contrast

conduct

on

and

present

memorable

occasion in academic

and

of

institution.

Are

^ith the intolerance

history^
recentlymarked the more modern

noveltythat
the

under
circumstances,for instance,

expelledfrom

Church

Christ

themselves, than the

whit

one

which

treatment

which

hatred

Locke

was

in
disgraceful

more

induced Dr. Elliotson ta

in the University
of
Professorship
liberal than the
London
? "Was the temple of science more
the new
foundation more
Lall of logic? was
to
friendly
than the old ?
What, in short,
enlightenedinvestigations
In the
circumstances of the two cases?
the respective
were
of a dean and
the timidity
or
ancient seat of learning,
servility
from the books
of the philosopher
chapterexpunged the name

withdraw

been

his

from the

name

entertained

him.
respecting

inquiryis conducted,
"

But

if conducted at

these

A
solicitousof truth.
remarked to
believer in Mesmerism, lately

temper,
philosophic
different

provincial
papers,
that medical

and

from

what

I have

than
acute

most
me

the

are

all,rather
:

"
"

in which

ways

with

observer, though
From

heard from

an

calm, patient,

what
other

no

I read in

quarters,

with the humane

meetings,
with the hope of detectbut solely
ing
auxiliary,
I
also
read
It
the
truth.
have
is
curious
some
too
nearly
imposture."
The conduct
and at Exeter.
at Bedford
of what took place lately
accounts
men
to me,
it seems
a valuable
desire of discovering

attend these

not

be fresh in every one's

Vernon
must
at Greenwich
to Mr.
of certain parties
"
brutal assault,"
See also in Miss Martineau's letters another
by
memory.
"
and
out
the
shouted
that
the
seized
who
sleeper's
arm,
violently
a surgeon,
The
whole story is worth reading.
house was
on
6re,"p. 35.
o

200

AND

MESMERISM

of his
the

at
college

Second

sovereign; James
arbitrary
of the expulsionof Locke,
cause
most
had long endured
a
Oxford
tillLord GrenviUe cleared
subject,
of

the mandate
the real

was

though the Universityof

unjust opprobrium on the
the matter

up

OPPONENTS.

ITS

an

the vacancy
institution,

while in the model

the Professor's chair

the result of

was

an

in

to physiological
opposition

experimentson the part of soi-disant friends to scientific

that was
set on foot by Dr. EUiotson's
inquiry, an opposition
and carried out to its completionby the
own
colleagues,
despoticmembers of a liberal council !
wiU bear a littlefurther examination.
But this subject
"

of London, or, as ithas since been designated,

University
formed on the most liberal
was
originally
UniversityCollege,
admissible;"
were
principles.No tests, ^no subscriptions
but to promote the largestamount
of knowledge amongst the
largestnumber of students,was the projectedtheory of its
friends and founders.
The stare super antiquas vias, the
of new
the rejection
to old usages,
truths, this was
clinging
the favourite charge againstthe elder Institutions ; but with
^he rival establishment in Gower
order of thingswas
an
Street,
The

"

"

"

"

to arise which

would

men

forward

to

ledge.
fresh fields of know-

of Religion
the very name
to do
not to pass their threshold ; each man
was
was
seemed rightin his own
eyes ; and worship his Creator

Nay, so

what

lead

liberal were

(ornot)after the

they,that

fashion he liked best.

article in the

"

But,"says
are
few,even

clever

Newspaper, there
Spectator
among
the most
who
liberal,
apply their liberalism to every point.
Some are liberal on commercial,some
on
on
some
theological,
and some
but beyond the
on
political,
juridical
questions;
paleof their own peculiarsubject,
they are often as intolerant
make them"\ And thus,in the University
of
as ignorance can
to be his own
the
London, though every one was
theologian,
latitude was
not grantedin the matter
of medicine.
Here
same
all was
by precedentand prescription
; here the conventional
of the faculty
deemed
were
sacred as the Thirty-nine
customs
"

"

Locke

and Oxford,"by Lord

See

Nov.
Spectator,

"

11th,

1843.

Grenville.

BELIEVEES

IN

Articles elsewhere ; here,whatever

orthodox

seal of the

to
heresy,

be burnt

for the

state
spiritual

better part,no

stampedwith the
Surgeons,was shunned as a

Collegeof

by

201

MESMEEISM.
not

was

of the

the hands

hangman.

common

of the students, for their immortal

"

what

matter

the result,
these young

was

As
and
men

might become

Budhists,Mahometans, Atheists,or Muggleso

longas their freedom of
any thingthey pleased,
but for the perishing
bodies
not interfered with ;
of the sick,all must
be done selon les regies
or reliefwas
; cure
of the practitioner
not
so that the prejudices
were
unimportant,
tonians ;
choice was

"

"

offended.

when Mesmerism
introduced into
was
Accordingly,
Hospitalby their most distinguished
Physician,though

the

"

the

patientsthemselves
signalbenefits were

most

academies
beneath

their

notice,
"

"

"

and

at Paris

willingrecipients,though the
beingdailyexperienced, though the
Berlin had not thought the question

were

this new,

this liberal, this consistent

"

"

University
steppedforward to aim
birth. The free-thinking
Council
Resolution
"

met

blow

That

"

the

HospitalCommittee

than
passed,

of

vote

back

Brougham,

on

to

own

known

that

and
principles

nority
humanity,constituted an honourable mithat Dr. Elliotson should be
proposition

resume

Sir L.

Dr. Elliotson sent

be made

of the Council,true to their

great cause

invited

his chair.

Goldsmith, Mr.

These

Tooke,

four
and

were

Mr.

Lord

Bishop.

the proposition.
rejected
of London !
much for the liberal University
so
of the
for a second example,to the proceedings
again,

the Council

And
Turn

Royal Medical

and

See the alarmed and

advisable to prevent
Magnetism, in future

resignation.It ought,however, to

in

But

this Resolution

was

four Members
to the

be instructed to

Hospital."

sooner

in his

passedthe following

and

take such steps as they shall deem most

the practiceof Mesmerism, or Animal
No

science in its

"

Eesolved,

within the

at

See

"

SurgicalOperationswithout Pain,""c., by
(Bailliere.)

Numerous

Dr. Elliotson.

Societyon a late occasion.*

Chirurgical
with which certain
almost frantic feelings

Cases of

202

AND

MESMERISM

ITS

OPPONENTS.

of a
discussed the remarkable
report of the amputation
parties
anxious
See how
state. *
man's thigh during the Mesmeric
they were to put the matter down, and bury the fact in oblivion.
could not have
A Bible thrown into an old Spanishconvent
convulsed

more

that learned

'

its inmates,than

assembly.

Mr.

conscience of Mr. "Ward

The

did this unfortunte

has

Topham

much

to

treatise
for.

answer

weighed down with bitter

gentlemen established a great fact
must

be

True, these
self-reproach.
exampled
in physiology
: true, they assisted an
unhappy sufferer with unbut they
relief during a formidable operation
;"
cannot

be otherwise

mindful
painfully

than

of the bile and

bad

of the societyon
they engenderedamongst the members
that unluckyevening. Poor WombeU, indeed,enjoyeda composing
sleepduring the horrors of amputation; but contrast
feverish nightsof the angry opponents,
that with the sleepless
and then what has humanity gainedin the matter ? The thing
"-r- was
and
was
was
irrational,
ridiculous,"-^
impossible,"
there for the Societyto discuss the subject?
need was
so what
Like a country bench of double-barrelled squiresassembled
to
offender againstthe game laws,this philoconvict a suspected
sophical
before the
audience arrived at a
foregoneconclusion,"
been
jneritsof the case had even
opened. The Mesmeriser
the one
has no
both be silenced :
and the poacher must
the other to cure ; and so defence or explalicence to kill,
nor
nation
alike inadmissible.
One gentleman declared that he
are
blood

"

"

"

"

"

would

not

believe

the facts had

expressedhis

Another

reportsmade

he

witnessed

them

perfectsatisfaction with

by others,and

that he should be

'par

present and

the

himself.f
natory
condem-

lessness
consequent,the Heed-

examine

them

himself!

Eeally,in passing through the account of this debate, in

notingthe anxietyof certain members to expunge all record of
the proceedingsfrom their minute-book,I could have fancied
that I was
readingthe discussions of a knot of mendicant friars
"

of a Case of successful Amputation of the Thigh during

Account
Mesmeric State,without the Knowledge of the Patient." Read to the
November, 1842, by W. Topham,
Society,
Royal Medical and Chirurgical
Regent Street.)
Esq.,and W. S. Ward, Esq. (Ballliere,
"f-Etherisation has since provedthe truthfulness of thiesefacts in Mesinerism.
*

the

See

"

MEDICO-CHIRTIRGICAL

terrified at the dawn

SOCIETY.

of the Eeformation

I felt myselftransplanted,

"

it were, into the Vatican,where

as

203

was

letter from

Luther, frightening
the holy conclave from its propriety.All
the time that I

readingthe speechesof certain opponents,

there kept involuntarily
risingup in my mind the outcry of
craft is in danger
Demetrius,the Ephesiansilversmith,
"Our
to be set at nought : and, Sirs,
ye know that by this craft we
have our wealth." (Acts,
xix. v. 25. 27.) One would suppose
that these gentlemenwould remember
of Harvey,
the treatment
was

the circulator,
he
as

the averted eye that at first

turned
Jenner ; and the disbelief with which many
was
on
be more
great and mighty discoveries have been received,"and
cautious
ancient

and
usages,

was

termed

circumspectfor
"

"

the

if a hatred of new

future.
and

Oh ! if

love of

truths
unpalata;ble

is to

bear away the beU, Oxford may now

hide her diminished head,
"
Salamanca
paleher uneffectual fires," the doctors of the
Sorbonne part with their old pre-eminence,
for competitors
are
"

"

steppingin

from the

take the lead.

which

And

"

liberal

yet

we

are

able
professions,"

all aware

of the

and

willingto

sarcasms

with

"treat the "learned

and the "philosophers
faculty"
and their presumed dislike to scientific
ignorance of the clergy,
inquiry; and perhapswe are too often a fair subjectfor
if many such sermons
such animadversion,
more
as the
especially
one
preachedat Liverpoolare delivered by us : but I can tell
in return, that I should often have more
the profession,"
hope
and importanttruth to the minds of a
of bringinghome a new
the
simple ignorantpeasantry than of combating successfully
and the prejudices
of an educated
bigotryof the philosopher,
of
from the credulity
and scientificassembly.* Yes : save
me
the sceptic, from the intolerance of the tolerant, from the
of
tyranny of the ultra-liberal! Experiencehas shown us some
"the

"

"

"

"

the bitterest opponents of real freedom of conscience amongst

the stanchest sticklers for religious
dailysee men,
liberty
; we
will believe nothing,
even

who

upon

in
the strongesttestimony,

everything
contradiction to their preconceived
systems,believing
beaucoup d'id^es trouvees
savant, quia recueilli,
compare
avant
lui, pent et veut compiendveun oidie de verites nouvelies." Magnetisme devant le Cour de Rome, 45.
*

"

Rarementun

"

204

MESMERISM

AND

OPPONENTS.

ITS

and competency
againstthe veracity
*

of the most

credible witnesses

council opfree-thinking
posed
whose
to freedom of inquiry, and a body of gentlemen,
whole professional
is based on experimental
career
evidence,on
occasion declining
one
to witness
facts,and upon another,
thrown into a confusion,
than that in King Agramont's
worse
if attended by a
camp f from the recital of a case, which, even
few erroneous
of a candid
at least deserving
was
conclusions,
;

and here

"

have

we

had

"

investigation.
Look, for another instance,to
in Manchester.
erratic

When

was
flights,

what

the British

preparingto

occurred not

in
Association,

visit that

longago
one

and by
city,

of its
aid of

railwayexcursions in the morning,and concerts and conversaziones

in the evening cram
its money-making population
with the arcana
jof science,Mr. Braid J, a surgeon of that
who had longdevoted his attention to Mesmerism, offered
place,
the subjectto the medical Section,and proposed
a paper
on
to produce as
in proofof
of his patientsas possible
many
the curative agency" of his particular
system. He thought
that gentlemenof scientificattainments might thus have an
"

"

"

"

I would rather believe,"

said a surgeon to a friend of mine, " that all
Mesmerisers and their patients
than give credit to one
of
were
impostors,
their facts,however well authenticated." " You must
said
rather believe,"
" that
anti-mesmeric lecturer,
an
all your wives and sistersand children are
than think any of these cases
false,
true."
t The wild and fanciful poet describes Discord as hastening
with her
bellowsto blow up the strife:"
"

"

La

Discordia

Corre
Ed

i mantici di botto,
pigliare
agliaccesi fochi esca aggiungendo,
a

Ed

accendendone

Da

moUi

cori

un

fa salire
altri,

alto incendio d'ire."

Orlando

From all accounts

Street. The fire was

there

beUows wanted
were
no
kindled before the match
was

Fur., canto xxvii. 39.

eveningin Berners
applied Gibbon sneers
about the
Monks
of Magdalen,"and the "port and prejudice"
bibed.
they imThe monks
of Magdalen,
with their venerable president,
now
may
their liberal,
turn the tables against
scoffers
What is the favourite beverage
I know
of the Chirurgical
A
not.
Society,
friend,more
wittythan wise
from
to
the
the meeting,
of
suggests that, judge
the potationsthat
temper
nightmust have been ginand bitters.
t See Braid's Neurypnology,considered in relationwith Animal Magnetism
of reliefand cure
: illustratedby numerous
cases
of disease."
"

"

that

206

what

their

was

OPPONENTS.

ITS

AND

MESMERISM

object? Was

it not

the detection of error,

of truth, and the good of human

discovery
not Mesmerism
or
Neurypnologyfallunder

Oh!

let

us

was

to
listening

severelycritical:

not

be

not

wholly without

too

treatise

learned

"

fruit.
the

on

the

might

kind ? and

of these classes?

one

visit to Manchester

the

While

party

one

was

Palpiof Spiders,"
hj

"

into
arachnologistwould be preventedfrom falling
the too common
error
for old ones*
of mistakingyoung spiders
instructed by certain "microscopicresearches
another Section was
of airin fibre,"
and on the
tight
application
therapeutic
"

the

which

"

"

fabrics."

Released

from

duties,and this

these arduous

their cerebral functions,our

could only
professors
find repose by a promenade through the adjoining
gardens;
vied with their most tempting
here where
Flora and Pomona
gifts,and the eyes of beauty smiled reward on the learned
anchorite to
labours of the liecturer|,
who could expect even
an

strain

on

vnth all its

himself away, and find leisure for Mesmerism
? And then came
the banquet with its venison and its

tear
cures

wines;
Section

"

and

the

then

bepraisedthe

other

of song, till at

charm

speechesjwhere
self-applauding
;

and

then

length,wearied

followed
out

music

with

one

and the

this train of

"

could onlyrecline their heads

occupations,Section E
that they had
with the self-satisfiedassurance
the pillow,
"

endless
upon

liot,like Titus,lost a

To

the state of mind

melancholyin

their uses, and

have

day !
are

be

serious,there
But

something

These

here exhibited.

valuable.

is

after all,the

papers
"

proper

is man;"
the palpiof spidersare not so
study of mankind
the nervous
as
interesting
system of a patient;and when a
to mitigatethe maddening
professes
subjectlike Mesmerism
throes of pain, to give relief to thousands, and to effect
had been pronounced impracticable,
a
cure
to
a
cure, where
"

"

see

men

other

of education like those at Manchester

side with

the fact,is
ran

"

to

counter

over

to the

offended

scene

pass

dignityrather than be spectatorsof

both. painfuland humiliating.
The question

all their

previousviews,
"

and

so

See the reports in the Athenfeum,

See Times Newspaper and Literary
Gazette.

with

sullen

ASSOCIATION.

BRITISH

silence they declined

to

witness

an

207
art

which

promises to

to an extent, at this moment,

multiplytheir remedial resources
beyond calculation.
Mr.
Though Section E, howcTer, declined to countenance
Braid by their medical
presence, a largebody of visitors did
think his curious experimentsbeneath their notice,and
not
his lectures were
attended
and scientific
by a numerous

audience.*
The

above,however, is

only occasion,on which the

British Association has flinched from free investigation.
Nitor
in adversum
is evidentlynot its motto.
It loves the popular
and the fashionable,
and to run
along the smooth road of acknowledgedand prevalentstudies. Prima facie,one would
that an
association for the promotion of
assume
ignorantly
science would

not

the

seek truth wherever

facts in nature

it could be

found, and love

Prima faciei
price,and from any source.
would
that the object
of such an institution would
one
assume,
be to extend
the frontiers of knowledge in every direction of
that the atmosphereof examination
physics,with, the feeling
and opposition
often expect to breathe,
was
one
that it must
But no : such assumptionsargue a rustic unacquaintance
with,
erudite corporations.The
subjectmust first be scientificall
orthodox,approvedof in high placesand academic bowers, and
then the views of its promoters may be pushed to any extravagance
and any length. "The
bounded reignof existence "is
for our soaring3,nd enlightened
then too narrow
who
lecturer,
has

"

at aU

old worlds

exhausted

"

and
with his theories,

must

now

"

for the edification of his auditory.All

ones
imagine new
this is legitinaate,
and pleasant,
enough. But why need the
be blind to facts,in a different province of
man
very same
nature, that lie.within his arm's length? Why does he not
"

examine

truths that

are

accessible to his very touch ?

Why

searchingSectionists had a narrow

escape from extinction at the
called in question
in
Their
was
utility
actually
Cambridge meeting 1845.
*

These

termine was
active brethren ! But a mezzo
discovered,which
by their more
their services, ji new
name
has saved and, it is hoped,will enlarge
was
given

them I
Macte

Section E is no longer the

virtute. Nous verrons.
nova

"

medical

"

but

the

"

physiological."

208

ITS

AND

MESMERISM

OPPONENTS.

does he spurn the easiest of all information,

the evidence of his
senses? the
own
et quas
qua sunt oculis subjectafidelibus,
"
?
tradat
Ipsesibi
spectator
"

Alas for

is full of thorns,
study,perchance,
in
circle of inquiry, unpalatable

The

!
philosophy

yet admitted within the

of ages,"
and
leadingquarters, " opposedto the philosophy
not

"

"

apt

its advocate

to involve

of heretical

advancement

and rebuke.
The
unpopularity
truths in science might be damaging
in

difficult; the advancement

and

confederated

majorityis

of the

far

more

fates of Mesmerism
respective

The

of

views

and
pleasing

friendly

easy

and of Ether, of

pation.
occu-

Geology

and of

Phrenology,within the halls of the British Association

of science,
for the advancement
may furnish a commentary on
the above observations.
many years back, occupiedthe
in the intellectual world that Mesmerism
does

Geology,not
pursuitof

position

same

It

now.

was

unpopularminority. Those who adopted

doctrines were
its more
extreme
regardedwith coldness from
the assumed danger of their theories, if not frowned down
upon as atheists and impugners of revelation. The tables are
turned.
now
Geology is a favourite study; and to quote
"Lyall" and "Murchison," and dilate on rocks "primitive"
the

an

"

and

"

an
tertiary,"
indispensable
part of

when
Accordingly,
and

"

Cathedral

fulminated

his

in 1844

finished education.

the Association assembled

"

Doctor

(to use

Ben

at

York,

phrase)

Jonson's

feeble notions

againstcertain views in the

was
inflicted on the spot,for,
science,a splendidcastigation
annihilated both space and time
in a replythat
from the
of its opinions,the great Cambridge
and liberality
extent
"

"

championedforth

Professor

againstthe assaults of

an

the claims of his beloved

Obsolete

and
bigotry,

out, amidst an applaudingcrowd, enthroned

!*
fearless philosophy
*

Some
than

persons
was

thoughtthat

the

able
reply,

necessary,that itsmacked

as it was,
of the wormwood

study

Geologyshone
a

upon

showed
that

free and

more

ness
tart-

is
occasionally

BRITISH

AT

ASSOCIATION

EDINBURGH.

209

and on this ! "

here upon this picture,
Mr. Hewett "Watson tells us in his useful work
Look

"

that

when

British Association

"the

meetingin Edinburgh,about
Mr.

Combe

addressed

week

a
a

held

Robison,one

to give a demonstration
secretaries,
offering

skulls in the collection belongingto the

Mr.

Robison

forwarded

committee, and

concerned
officially
Journal
the

"

'

but

he

Combe

Mr.

attention ;
polite

and the

the

persons
notice
following

of the "Phrenological

duly admitted a member

meetingsof several of the
with

of
tions
Sec-

replywhatever

any
Robison
he

Mr.

From

his communication.

the

to

was

honoured

not

was

of

apparent from the

from the ninth volume

Association,and attended
;

Mr. Combe

will be

of the matter, borrowed

of the

the national

on

gentlemanlycourtesies

the

bling,
assem-

Phrenological
Society.

letter of

the

its annual

their

previousto

letter to Mr.

logy*,
Phreno-

on

to

received the most

of the silence of the committee

reason

meeting. Mr. Sedgwick,the

addressed
presidentfor last year, before resigninghis office,
the Association in a speech,in which he urged most strenuously
of its instiof keeping in mind the objects
tution,
the necessity
into dead matter,
their researches
and of confining
the relations of
on
without enteringinto any speculations
intellectual beings; and he would brand as a traitor that person

became

who

dare

would

the

at

apparent

to

first

boundaries
overstep the prescribed

Institution.'" Strong language this for

!
if it be rightly
reported
investigator,
"

boundaries
prescribed

caution in another !

The

What

"

Dare

mind

uninitiated

and
philosopher

boldness in

of the

to

overstep the

science ! what

one

of Mr. Combe

(a

ing
assumhimself,and a genuinelover of truth),
philosopher
under the
in its ignorancethat a collection of crania came
stration
dead matter,"offered to give a publicdemoncategory of

true

"

but

he

was

soon

disabused

found in articlesof the great" Northern

are
and inconvenienttheories,
original
this I

am

not

competent

to

offer an

of his

Review," when
to be

error.

However,

popularauthor,and

got rid of and

silenced.

Upon

opinion.

in some
Mr. H. Watson has the credit,
Statisticsof Phremlogy,p. 42.
and
scientific
which
of
author
recent
the
w
ork,
a
popular
of
quarters, being
"
'"
the
?
this
Is
several
editions.
case
Vestiges
through
has alreadypassed
traced in it.
it is thought,may be clearly
of his opinions,
*

ITS

OPPONENTS.

it is of small

remarks,

Mr. Watson

as

AND

MESMERISM

210

"

importanceto

instruct others,that he should be

for his good wishes.
in return
But
traitor,^

wishingto
that

of the

demonstration

part of

the time

we

of national
peculiarities

apprehend
skulls was
*

of the institution.*

the 'boundaries'

within
completely

'

any one
branded
as
a

of the Association

sides,
Be-

occupied with
of very trifling
when compared to this one,
importance,
subjects
of fossil fishes,
the colour of chamelions,
and
the description
circulation of tortoises ; and

the

human
'

as
are

of

head

such

was

"

in

science,as well

"prescribed"belief
as

in the

other.

as

as

are

of the

surelythe anatomy

consequence to mankind
the explanationis easy. There
as

questions.' But

popes

school

of

matter

was

much

in

theology
; and the articles
carefully
guarded in the one

Canon

law

rules elsewhere

than

at

Rome.*

Again,
at

the British Association assembled

when

Oxford, the

appearedin
that will not

exclusiveness and self-induced ophthalmia

same

their

this year

proceedings.

see."

And

Sir

addressingour friends of
of
their new
appellation

"

None

Eobert

Section
the

are

so

bKnd

as

those

Inglis,the president,

then under
E., rejoicing

"

Physiological,"
spoke most
of the great blessings
of Etherisation,
and of the
appropriately
well-recorded instances of operations
under its influences,as
a
subjecteminently
deservingthe attention of that division
of the philosophers.Nothing could be more
justand becoming
than every syllable
that fell from the lipsof the amiable
would scarcely
speaker: but to read what he said,the ignorant
of the same
had ever
nature
suspect that an insensibility
been
before attainable,
that upwards of 300 f operations
or
under
the Mesmeric influence
had been previously
in chiregistered
"

"

*
See also in Zoist,No. 16., a letter from Mr. Prideaux,with
of the B. A. on another occasion before the
of the proceedings

Section,when,

on

beingpointedout,

certain

the chairman

study." What
of the brain in

foreheads of

called to order,as

"

some

account

Ethnohgical
old

Phrenologywas

skulls
a

hibited
pro-

philosophers! to prohibitthe study

truth-loving
"

examination of the diversitiesbetween

an
different peoples!
omission of the " character of Hamlet," as in the Irish play-bill,
seems
longeran invention.
t See Summary, givenin Introductory
Chapter.

The
no

in the
developments

an

BRITISH

ASSOCIATION

annals.
rurgical

Mesmerism

But

has

not

"

"

heard

Oh,

In

the words

mention

theynever

no,

211

luok is every thing in this world

yet been fortunate enough to secure

sanction of scientific
magnates.

baUad,

OXFORD.

AT

within their committee-rooms

it ; its
and

and

the

of the favourite
is

name

never

dining-halls
; and
thus ignorant
of

so

they hope, that,by appearingthemselves

the knowledgeof its very existence
influence,

escape the

recollection of their

is not

tamed," nor
the

to

But

readilydisposedof.

so

topicshows

discourse :

audience.

the animus

may
"Leviathan

The

its

so

absence of all allusion

of those who

gave

the

to the

cue

prejudiceitself must admit, that when the

of an oration is insensibility
subject-matter
to pain duringthe
of surgery, to pass over
a
operations
cognate condition of the
human
than three hundred cases
of a
body, under which more
similar character had actually
been recorded,marks an intentional
in its silence
omission in the argument more
significant
than

thousand

In

for

bold allusions.*

with which

science could thus

almost

happened to
tempted to exclaim

welfare

"

forget a fact in
contradict a preconception,
I
in the indignantlanguageof
remember

"

it

nature, because
am

cold-blooded indifierenceto human

observingthe

to

Festus,
"

"

Not

One

members.

God

! I

am

man,

! "f
philosopher

remark, that no great reform or

has ever
a profession
proceededfrom its own
the idea; but
two
or
may have originated'

It is,indeed, a

improvement in

Thank

common

"

for
member
Every one knows, that on this occasion the good-natured
of
learned
the
of Oxford was
the University
confessedly mouth-piece a
fessor,
proBut surelythe
an
opponent of Mesmerism.
earlyand unforgiving
boundaries of the institution were
overstepped when the professor
prescribed
the
in
dared
to prompt an allusion,
president's
speechto the effects
of ether on the nervous
system (ifwe decide accordingto the speech of a
before quoted). The subjects
for a surgical
operationare
former president,
drawn
at
the
strict
line
for
dead
Edinburgh,
matter,"
not yet
investigation
applied,
they would be very apt to become
althoughif ether be injudiciously
*

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

so.

We

ought to
omits, or

them, as to who
professorsto decide between
the man
who intentionally
be " branded as a traitor to science,"
who
the
a subjectfor
who interdicts,
introduces,
or
man
the man
must

leave the two

investigation.
f Festus,p. 84.

MESMEBISM

S12

the

adoptionof

from

This

regard to law.
parliamentarycareer
criminal

is

Church

in

the movement

said in

our

them

on

siastical
true in regard to eccleeminently
They were not the clergybut the laitythat

"without,"

on

forced

been
plau has generally

the

matters.

led

OPPONENTS.

ITS

AKD

code;

The

reform.

may

illustriousRomillycommenced

The

for
propositions

with

be
his

of

amendment

an

unpopular in

how

it is notorious

but

same

it was
public
; and
suggestions
opinion alone that carried out his views. Again, may the
remark be appliedto the medical body. Men of a certain
same
are
unwillingto depart from the old
standingin the profession
to
afraid of losingcaste ; they care
not
routine ; they are
fresh
unlearn
their earlyteaching,
and to begin with some
laws of nature, of which they were
unaware
; and
so, sooner
than sacrifice themselves,they sacrifice truth. It is thus in

Westminster

Hall

his

were

instance of Mesmerism.

the

discovered it ; but

It

theywere

not

was

medical

medical

that first

man

that took it up

men

attention,
say their unwilling
at last obtained,
onlythrough the firm attitude that their'
their attention, must

and

"

was

we

"

question. And yet, even

unreal
an
phantom, there were
have felt such shame in lookingit

on
patientsoften displayed

own

if Mesmerism

had

been

the

"

why they need not

in the face. Great
impartially

reasons

amongst its adherents.

the first in science and

Some

could

names

of the first

have
philosophy,

of

men

not

numbered

be

blushed

which

our

That

Mr.

no

be

profound
his

it;"

"

and

own
on

to
unphilosophical

more

and

states, in the
than

one

London

conversation

Medical

with

La

and
Place

PhysicalJournal,
upon

Mesmerism,

1817, and that the

of that great philosopherconstantly

expression
"
in
that the testimony favour
of the truth of Mesmerism,
was,
from enlightened
of many
with such uniformity
nations,who
men

1816

coming
bad

it would

common

phenomena, because,in the present

to
knowledge,their operations
are yet inexplicable
be no weak fancy,
when Cuvier,by common
can

Chenevix

that he had
about

"

to

express

existence of the

deny the
us."*

withhold his assent

could write,that

he

state of

could not

"

to

That can
be no
their strong convictions of its truth.
delusion upon a subject,
which La Place,the most
on
of mathematicians,could state, that " on
and exact

he
principles

day,

our

interestto deceive,
and

no uossible means
possessed

of

was
collusion,

214

MESMBEISM

till

ponents,
the

they

question.

goodly

We

our

let

expense
the

Truth,

Let
let

timid

and

eternal

into

the

the

science

the

more

and

Christian

be

the

enabled

God

"

to

for

have

we

will

exclaim,

It

the

dive

the

more

the

more

the

virtues

of

and

thankful

gift

of

will

doubt.

we

at

sneer

in

more

humble
is

and

learn

in

us

raillery

season

to

at

the
"

The

motto.

rejoice

to

more

"

heads

quality

or

their

employed,

and

reason

back

our

shall

practised

number

their

to

keep

to

exhaust

shake
hold

be

the

into

belong

we

comrades

at

then,

wits,

cautious
must

have

laugh

prejudiced

truth,

is

discovery

all wise

the

subject,

philanthropist

and

the

of

plenty

bear

the

mistaken,

are

we

have

can

friends.

our

We

company

countenance.

of

if

looked

experimentally

and

practically

Verily,

OPPONENTS.

ITS

AND

the

the

merciful

CHAP

DANGERS

OF
THE

FOR

RULES

"

IS.

HINT

But

DANGER
ON

GROUND

MORALITY

TO

ANSWERED.

MEMBERS

YOUNGER

diflferentindeed

THE

OF

MESMERISM.

FACULTY.

third class of opponents,widely

from either of
of their objections
in the quality

another

have

OF

WHAT

MESMERISER,

DIFFICULTIES

MESMERISM

OF

HORROR

CROSS-

WAKING.

OF

ISING
MESMER-

QUALIFICATION

IMPERFECT

ATTACHMENT

OF

"

FOR

we

THE

DANGER

"

CALMNESS,

FROM

MESMERISING.

FOR

MORAL.

AND

AMUSEMENT.

OBJECTIONS

MESMERISM.

IT

FOR

HEALTHY

MESMERISER.

V.

PHYSICAL

MESMEBISM,

215

MESMERISM.

or

DANGEES

and

have been hitherto contending,

with whom
we
parties
to arise from a conto Mesmerism
sideration
whose
professes
antipathy
character
of its dangers. It is not on the irreligious
of Mesmerism
that they dwell ; at that view of the question
theyshrug their shoulders and sneer, as if they themselves had
unbelievers in
it. It is not that they are
advanced
never
to their knowledge are so
Mesmerism
: the tacts broughthome
ashamed
that they ever
to remember
that they are
staggering,
that they
It is of the dangersof Mesmerism
had their doubts.
liable
so
now
speak: It is so fearful a power,"they say,

the two

"

"

"

abused,

to be

"

can

one

no

to be

pregnant with mischief,

so

:
prohibited

"

but

few

weeks

in assertion of
viribus,

before,we

had

pas,

"

"

The

will confirm this statement

from his

of
antagonists
not

exist,have

it."*
own

Every
experience.

n'existe
du magn^tisme,
apres avoir prononcdqu'il
antagonistes
tion
InstrucdeelamS contre lea dangen quiraccompagnent." Delkuze,

P., p. 265.

I-

"

its reality.

Les

ont

safe,

totis
fighting,

been

magnetism,after having decided that it did

the dangers that accompany
declaimed against

is

"

work, says,
Deleuze, in his practical

Mesmeriser

one

ought
may happen, its practice
and all this is gravelystated by those with

for what

answer
"

whom,

no

"

"

216

AND

MESMERISM

It has
with

and

allof us, over

friends last summer,

happenedto
some

OPPONENTS.

ITS

smile settled

their faces

on

topic.I

to another

unwelcome, I passedon

incredulous but

; an

that
perceiving

so

on

visit

I in vain endeavoured

whom

of the truths of Mesmerism

convince

again. I was

over

polite

was
subject

the

them

met

to

their turn

againin

begin:
it was
of its
full of the subject
: but
altogether
they were
harangued. Dangerous! I calmly
dangers that they now
me
: how
can
a thingthat does not
observed,
you surprise
knows
exist be dangerous?
Oh," was the reply, everybody
the

It

months.

of two

course

was

now

to

"

"

"

"

"

that there is

"

"

somethingin Mesmerism, and

transition of these views

The

it is

Mesmerism

on

gerous."
very dan-

so

is

as

abruptas

the passage to be of the sublime

it is but a step."Extremes, in fact,are

Napoleon described
ridiculous

"

One day there

yfoeeting.
'

great deal
The

to

too much.

the

dangers,and
serious.
a

and

Mesmerism

does
hence

exist,can

not

derive

we

an

of

logicwould

That

good

Mesmerism

is there

is there that

has its

in nature

follyor

see, that

neither useful

be

nor

gerous
dan-

additional corroboration,that

not

was

the next,

commissioners, whose

the purpose of the commissioners

disprovethe theoryof the fiuid.
it

novice in the firstelements

thing that
;

nothingin

always

Report is supposed
of Mesmerism, also speak of its
non-existence
be most
decide positively
that its effects may

first French

prove

is

to the

wickedness

more

be admitted:

dangers must

free from

do

to

than

what

attendant evil ? what

some

StillI am
may not abuse ?
of these dangers is very

persuadedthat the actual amount

of the agent, our
exaggerated. The invisibility
greatly
igno*
of
the true springsof man's organisation,
the novelty
of
ranee
*

Dr.

Gregory,Professor

"whose

strong conviction

cause,

says, in his admirable

claims

of

that, the

of

of which

existence

on

examined,

we

the

of Mesmerism

pamphlet

oughtto be

Mesmerism

Chemistryin

of the truth

the
We

of Edinburgh,
University
is such

triumph to

the

Spiritin which
Scientific

the

fear the

of
perversion
Mesmerism
be altodeny. If,therefore.
"

cannot

pretherthe result of fraud and imposture,these evil consequences

imaginary."p.

11.

"

(Neil,Edinburgh.)Every student

should read this unanswerable

paper.

of

must

be

Mesmerism

DANGERS

MESMERISM.

or

211

the

at the employmentof a
remedy,and our natural timidity
new
mysterioustreatment, aU these circumstances would east
a deepershade of
that dangerwhich may really
over
colouring
exist :
but havingtaken much
painsto examine the subject,
and discussed it often with some
of the mos|;experienced
MesI feel assured that the apprehensions
tained
entermerisers,
generally
to a great degreewithout foundation.
Stillit must
are
be owned that Mesmerism
has its dangers: and as a work that
all the popularobjections
would be incomplete
to meet
professes
without some
allusion to them,
will state what they
we
are, and how they may be met.
and the moral.
The dangersmay be divided into the physical
I would begin,however, with the remark, that Mesmeiism
"

"

is not
as

for the idle and the curious.

plaything
pastimefor a duU day in the country.

It is not meant

frost has set

in,and the hounds

Because

meet

cannot

at cover,

sharp
or

deluge of rain has imprisonedthe listlesssportsmen, and

to kill the dreary
morning,tries his hand in
young squire,
art, and mesmerises

new

his sisters or

is that to be

occurs,
somethingunpleasant

It would

Mesmerism?*
animal

their

appear

from

Christmas

of

amusements,

destroyedthe charm;
become
reallya part
absurd and

monstrous

naturallylook

solemn

which

our

the
the

and
lady's-maid,

laid to the door

certain

magnetism is to supplythe placeof

of

anecdotes,that

some

altered

of those old
habits

have

"philosophyin sport" is to
entertainment.
How
evening's

thus

and

of

an

then grave ladies very

and make a few not
forbidding,

allthis is!
and

And

improprietyof Mesmeric experiments.

a whole
But who would think of vaccinating
family
the
for a littledomestic diversion ? who dreams of insinuating
of some
uncle,to see how
plethoric
lancet'spointinto the arm
unreasonable

remarks

on

the

?
good gentlemanwould feel after a littlefestive depletion
duct
to every rule of conto be an exception
And why is Mesmerism
? As Mr. Colquhounobserves most judiciously
such a subject
on
to producethe magnetic
phenomena,I
In attempting
of
all experiments
"would eminentlycaution individuals against
the

"

"

Many

of my

similar storiesto

readers may have heard within tlieirown

those referred to in the text.
Q

circlessomewhat

218

AWD

MESMERISM

OPPONENTS.

ITS

ludicrous ideas many

persons may
with this subject,
have been hitherto in the habit of associating
Whatever
curiosity.

mere

them
that experiencehas proved mag"
assure
seriously
We
not recklessly
must
netism to be no trifling
matter
or to playwith the lightning
attempt to handle the thunderbolt,
conferred upoii us by the
of heaven.
Like every higher gift
ment
Creator,the magnetic facultyought to be exerted with judgand onlyfor benevolent purposes."*"We
and discretion,
the
or
do not know," says Dr. Hufeland, either the essence
limits of this astonishing
power : whoever, then,undertakes to
direct this power, let him enter upon the duty with the most
which he endeavours to set
profoundrespectfor the principle
in operation.Above
all,let him beware of Magnetisingin
to
sport. In medicine,the most indifferent remedy is injurious
so an
agent which is perhapsthe
persons in health ; still more
All these observaof all remedies."
active and energetic
tions
most

can

"

serious attention

deserve

everythingof

should
practice
should

useless

further,that
say even
jocosecharacter connected with the

or

I would

be discountenanced

in the

strongestway

dren
chil-

merism:"
against playingat Mesand if the above is what is meant
by the opponents
of magnetism in their remarks
its dangerous consequences,
upon
I agree with them most cordially,and have always
proper
circle to discouragesuch imdone my utmost within my own
and discreditable trifling.
As it is,however, especially
desirable to discouragein the
of Mesmerism, for mere
amusement,
strongestway the practice
be

"

warned
especially

"

few

more

Dr. EUiotson

Mesmerism
am
"

from

extracts

other writers

says, "when

is not

persons

are

here added.

inquireof

me,

whether

dangerousthing,I alwaysreply,that

and I continue,
say it is. They look astonished,
not dangerous,it would
not be a real
because,'if it were

happy to

power

in

nature.

nonentity,an

unreal, though alleged,

power of nature can do no harm : but all real powers of nature

for evil if misapplied.The lightsin our
will work readily

houses, the fireswhich

*

warm

us, the

heat,without

Tsis Revelata,vol. ii.p. 188.

which

we

DANGEE

could not

OF

JIESIVIERISING

exist and all

THE

HEALTHY.

livingbeingswould

be

219

dead

frozen

burn

bodies to a cinder,may
destroyouiup our
property,nay, whole cities,
yet we take a candle to go to bed,
and we
The knives at our tables
lightfires in our rooms.
could be plungedinto our breast by the
who sits next

mass,

may

person

by the servant behind our chair : yet our tables are

with knives. Mesmerism
spreaddaily
may be abused like anything
else : like medicine,used through designor ignorance,
as a poison,
in too violent a manner,
and like the surgeon's
or
into parts,and, perwounding instruments plungedunskilfully
haps,
*
fatal
havoc."
making
or

us,

Dr. Elliotson then mentions

three rather serious cases, which

the danger of
to his knowledge,to " prove

had

latelycome
playingwith Mesmerism, and at the same time to show
who regardit as nothing,
that it is something."
to

Dr. Esdaile also says, " Experimenting

the healthyought
on
be discouraged,as it is onlyundermininghealthyconstitutions
for

so

to those

possible
advantage. The

no

a matter
lightor transitory

as

it

artificial
disease is not
reckoned

to be

seems

by

of every
nerves
Mesmerisers,who go about
many
one
they can lay their hands on. * * * It is proper that ladies
who beg to be mesmerised for fun,should know
and gentlemen,
the
upsetting

this

and

then

they will probablychoose

other kind of

some

amusement." t
the

Upon

improprietyof mesmerisingpersons
I
says elsewhere, People say to me,
"

Dr. Esdaile

ascertain if I

to

can

health.

should like

'

mesmerised

be

in

try.' I reply, you

soon
complywith your
'

do

cannot ; and I should as

very probably
desire to feel the eflectsof opium as mesmerise

it,you

you need
be
it.' If Mesmerism
cause:

when

wiU

forced

you without
probablybe benefited

upon

person

in
.

by

state

of

to do mischief; for any attempt to be

health,it is very likely
is pretty sure to make one ill."
%
well,'
better than
Dr. Bell,who in 1792 wrote a treatise on Magnetism,says
"

'

"

I would
*

never

Zoist,vol. iv.

advise
p. 388.

I Esdaile's Mesmerism
"

p.
\ ibid.,

trial to put

who
people,

Article " Mesmerism

in India,"
p. 24tf.

13.
Q

not

to be

are

in

good

trifledwith."

MESMERISM

220

AND

OPPONENTS.

ITS

others
/health,into a crisis to please

for you

may

put them in

*
*
*
united with
Power
or
epilepsy."
catalepsy
in the hands of a child."
is like a loaded pistol
ignorance
not
Teste also states it as his opinionthat it is probably
health."\
devoid ofdanger to magnetisean individual in perfect
to
This part of the subject,
then,I at once dismiss as foreign
its
the question. The abuse of a power is no argument against
is not a fitgame for foolish girls
because Mesmerism
use
: and
to playwith,this is no reason
why it should be pre-eminently
as a remedial art.
hazardous,when adoptedseriously
in this Une, Mesmerism
even
Still,
may have its dangers,
when practised
"especially
by the ignorantand the timid. A
Mesmeriser
is worse
than a nervous
nervous
patient. The
of the judicious
calm collected manner
Magnetistwill soothe
the tranquil
the most agitated
sleeper
; but even
repose of the
deepest slumber may be disturbed by a sympathy with a
and unpractised
manipulator. But what is there
frightened
petency
strange or unusual in this ? why are not experienceand comequallynecessary in Mesmerism, as in everything
for a formidable operation
?
else? who employsa raw
surgeon
"

of

state

"

who

sends for

that

? Skill,
are
practice,
qualifications
knowledge,
eye-tooth
in every department; and in no treatment
are
requisite

an

untried dentist to extract

difficultand decayed

essential than in the

presence of mind more
direction of the Mesmeric
power ; a fact which ought to be
evident to all when they reflectthat this agent " penetratesthe
are

coolness and

depthsof

the

and

organismand
even

may
ordinaryrelations."

the internal lifeof the

affect the

and
itself,

tem,
sysunsettle its

language of the great Dr.

Hufeland
in the cautions that he givesto the imwary
himself,
and
Magnetiser. But even with the drawback of inexperience
is so dangerousas much
Ignorance, I know not that Mesmerism
medical practice
of the common
of the present day. When
we
that such tremendous
remember
poisonsas prussicacid and
arsenic

that
*

our

are

among
lives are

This

mind

nervous

is the

the favourite remedies of the modern

at the mercy

of

Animal Electricity,"
p. 19.
Teste,translated by Spillan,
p. 228.
Bell

on

"

an

incautious

This is now

school

in
physician

scarce

book,

MESMEEISM

222

"

he

was

OPPONENTS.

had

prepared.
emergencies,the

calm

undertaken

duty for

not

In all these

sees

ITS

operator,who

ignorantnervous
which

AND

fear

nothing to

he knows

action is often the

signof
prolongedsleep

that

welcome

Mesmeriser
judicious
the most violent hysteric
crisis;

he knows

"

of

that

days will wear

itselfout at last ; he knows that the most
threatening
language
and aspectof the sleep-waker
that of a person in a deranged
(like
be best met
can
condition)
by coolness and kindness: he is
firm,collected,
gentle; his calmness and firmness
consequently
the patient
act healthily
on
; and,however
great may have been
the excitement of the Mesmeric
state,the patientis sure to
awake out of his slumbers refreshed and strengthened,
with
the mind
vated
beautifully
composed,and the whole system renoto an extraordinary
degree.|
It is here not unadvisable to give a caution by the way.
If
be awakened
the sleeper
cannot
by the usual methods, and the
has acted with an unpleasant
uneasiness of the Mesmeriser
or
who disbelieves in
to send for a medical man,
excitingefiect,
normal state,might
and would treat it as a common
the science,
be followed
by the most serious consequences. I cannot impress
of bearing this
readers too stronglywith the necessity
my
caution in mind.
Calmness and patiencewould bring all
the most

"

sleepeven

"

round.f
*

Gauthier says,

"

Calmness

Mesmeriser,who
will
invalid
always come
With

for
of the firstqualities

!s one

magnetising.

retains his sang-froid

and presence
of mind, the
the
disease bringson,
that nature or
out of a crisis,

successfully."
(p.22.)
I
was
myselfpresent on an occasion when the alarms of the Mesmeriser
"f
of a patient
at the prolongedsleep
and preproduced most embarrassing
judicial
effects.

terminated

only cause

The

I was
Fortunately,

favourably.My
for fear

J. B. L. mentions

Abbe

arose
a

disturbed the sleeper. " I

"

"I

made

my

passes

able

composure
from the

case, where

an

to

take the

composed

fears of the

incautious

changed my action,"
"

slowly,

more

more

happinesssoon
sufferer." (p.100.)
expressionof

case

the

hand, and all

agitatedsleeper.

Mesmeriser.

the

The

"

proceedingseriously

the Mesmeriser

co^mZy,and

spread itself over

in

more

narrates,

and
gently,

countenance

an

of the

^ In Zoist,vol. iv. p. 404., is an

in

medical

he the

man,

be
crisis,

nothingevil

who

can

not
or

was

an

instance of mischief arising

from calling
unbeliever. Gauthier ,says, " Whatever nvfy

if you will but wait patiently

:
and
will happen to the sick person." (p,314.)

alarmed

cahiity,

CROSS-MESMEEISM.

Another pointon which

inexperience
may

guard, and throughwhich

the

danger of

223

be thrown

formidable results

very

off its

might arisej^

partialwaking. "With some

imperfect
it is not alwayseasy to distinguish
at firstthe half
patients
state from full and restored consciousness : the patient
seems
perfectly
awakened, and says he is so ; and the unpractised
IS

an

operator would be apt to leave him.

danger:the patienthas
his actions,
than

no

child

This is

condition'of
real

or
self-control,
manageiAent of

more

and yet for

idiot,

or

time rill converse

and recogniseevery person present. I

sensibly,
have seen
in two patients.It happened to me
this distinctly
time with Anne Vials,
whom
I could not manage thoroughly
one
most

to awaken

and

room,

she said she

and

ate

awake

was

talked

; and

usual.

as

she walked
was

about

the

on

the

point of

leavingher,being persuadedthat she was awake, when the

sound of somethingpeculiar
in her voice caughtmy ear ; I recognised
it to be the tone of the sleeping,
and not the waking
had reason
the tones are often different)
state (for
; and I soon
discover that she

to

state
"

"

un

case

watched;

should be

action,serious

awakened.

not

French

The

call this

imparfait." Townshend,

somnambulisme

Facts,"mentions

and

was

of the
as

the

in its consequences

kind.

It is

not

patientmight
not

onlyto

in his

uncomtnon,

commit

some

himself but to

others. *

Cross-Mesmerism,which
Mesmerisers

or

persons at

means
one

the influence of two

and the

same

or

more

time,is also a

dition
con-

inexperienced
Magnetistshould be taughtto
To some
avoid.
indeed,the effectis onlydisturbing
patients,
and inconvenient ; but with the very sensitive it is occasionally
followed by serious results ; with a large number, however,
there is not apparentlyany adverse action, and they seem
indifferent under the operation.
that the

"

Cross-Mesmerism

is of two

kinds.

The

firstoccurs

when

Deleuze says, " At the close of every

See Townshend's " Facts,"p. 73.
the patient
remain
so that he do not
be careful to arouse
thoroughly,
sitting,
and waking." ( Instruction Pratique,
sleeping
in an iniermediatestate between
awakened; and too
EUiotson says, " She had not been fully
p. 293.) Dr.
awake before
a
re
that patients
be taken to see
perfectly
cannot
much
care
they are left."" Zoist,vol. i. p. SU.
*

"

the

AOT)

MESMERISM

224

OPPONENTS.

ITS

is actually
patient
asleep.Among

Ms other excellent rules,

suffer your patientwhile asleep to

says, "Never
is not en rapport with him;
who
touched by any one
nefltfaer placehim en rapport with another,unless it be to do
Deleuze

isome
"

Watch

good,or that he
that no
carefully

desires it." (p.291.) Gauthier says,

stranger meddles in your treatment

allow him to touch your

never
; and
permission
patients."
(p.347.)
The Mst writer givesa valuable caution to the Magnetist
of the impertinent
the vulgarcuriosity
for,
sceptic
;
regarding
the sul^ectof Mesmerism, it must be ever borne in mind,
on

withoftt your

"

that

our

opponents often consider themselves

as

set free from

the usual courtesies of

and at liberty
to playwhat experimental
society,
tricks they please, not reflecting
that their tests
for the detection of the untrue
are
being tried on the sick.
narrated by Miss Martineau,(p.35 of
The brutal assault,"
has been alreadyquoted,where
her Letters),
a
"gentleman
violated the first rule of Mesmeric
practice,
by suddenlyand
and shoutingout that the
seizingthe sleeper's
arm,
violently
house was
fire." And
I myselfexperienced
on
somethingof
the [same kind, whilst mesmerisingAnne
Vials, though not
In both these cases, however,
of quiteso outrageous a nature.
failed" ; the
it may be as well to add that the attacks entirely
and saw
fulness
heard nothing,
patients
nothing,and proved the truthof their condition. But this was fortunately
owing to
indifference to foreigninfluence,
their own
or
insensibility
of the gentlephilosophers.
rather than to the delicacy
Gauthier,therefore,
an instant,
says, "If you absent yourself
"

"

"

r-

for a moment, you may be sure that

medical or otherwise,)
will not have sufS.(sceptics,

if you turn your back

these

men

cient command

over

they know

even

themselves

to

restrain their

curiosity,

that

they are about to impressan influence

the patient.You ought never, therefore,
to omit fuU cauon
tion
Human
nature never
with them.
changes; and scepticism
in all times producethe same
and curiosity
fruits."*
"
I have repeatedly
Dr. Ashburner
witnessed such bad
says,

when

effects from

cross-mesmerism,that I
*

Gauthier

Trait6

cannot

Pratique,
p.

too

359.

warn
strongly

CEOSS-MESMEEISM.

225

Ignorant and rasli persons from practising

it. Some foolhardy
Irish surgeons have, it is said,incurred an awful responsibility

by each,within
Dr. A.
"when

few

hours, mesmerisinga poor nervous

girl."
mentions a patientof his own, who, on one occasion
cross-mesmerised,
slepteleven hours,and awoke with an
a

intense headache.*
Dr. Elliotson says, "We

not
to ascertain,
ought carefully
only that the patientmay be left by us, but that he can allow
the presence or proximityof another.
If he cannot, and we
leave him asleep
in the chargeof some
may
one, great ndsehief
he occasioned."^
In the People's
Journal,No. 49.,a serious case
Phrenological
"f cross-mesmerism
is narrated by Mr. Holmes, in which
a
state of delirium was
induced,that did not perfectly
pass away
tillafter the expiration
of four or five nights.
The second sort of cross-mesmerism
occurs, when the patient
is not actually
asleep,but under magnetictreatment, and the
Mesmeriser,not being able to attend,sends a substitute
original
in his place,
with whom
of the sick
the physical
peculiarities
Experience
party do not sympathise.This is not uncommon.
that primarilysuits
shows, that it is not every Mesmeriser
stillless so, after that the treatment has
; and
every patient
is then
The sensitive temperament of the patient
once
set in.
alive to a change in the influence that is imparted
;
delicately

distress is exhibited ; and the progress of the cure may

occasioned, at any
even
retarded,and perhapsa relapse

much
be

"

rate, great disturbance

caused

to the whole

system. Caution,

if the friendly
aid of a second Mesmeriser
is requisite,
therefore,
be called in ; though,at the same
time,I am inclined to believe,
effectswould
no
prejudicial
that,with the majorityof patients,
be visible.

Several other minor pointsmight be mentioned,such

as

the

upwards," the dangerof discontinuing

danger of mesmerising
a

treatment

in certain cases,

Letter from Dr. Ashbumer

and
letters of this accomplished
matter.
curious
and suggestive
t Zoist,No. 16. p. 473.
"

to

"c., for information

Dr.

on

Elliotson in Zoist,No.

friend to
experienced

Mesmerism

which

14.
are

The
full of

226

MESMERISM

AND

ITS

OPPONENTS.

refer the reader to Gauthier*,and to the

would

of the "Practical
for the young

Instruction" of

Deleuze,a

eighthchapter
useful book

most

Mesmeriser.

ale
dangersof Mesmerism
physical
exaggerated; and I would conclude this part of
very greatly
the subject
with a noticeable fact : that in spiteof the number
of ignorantMesmerisers
that are
taking up the subject,"-^in
of most
delicate patients
that have been
spiteof the number
of the number of opponents
placedunder itsinfluence, in spite
the look-out for a disastrous result, no
that are anxiously
on

Still I repeat that the

"

"

fact of great and serious mischief has yet

that it is so ; Mesmerism
I rather wonder
must,

well-authenticated
named.

been

everythingelse,have its drawbacks and its dangers. Still

mentioned': now
nothingvery formidable has yet been publicly
like

and then

read in the newspapers

we

find

days we
a'^few
than

Now

ever.

and then

the

eyesightof

and

asked

one

if it were

And

thus

hear in

we

day of

of his children;and
eyes.
taken

fatal effect;" but in

"

our

the

own

patientis better
circleof something

examination,proves

on

told the other

was

paragraphsayingthat

which,
deplorable,

of

of his
true

be

to

mistake.

gentlemanwho had greatlyinjured

children by Mesmerism.
I callecl
he had

nothing had

mesmerised

never

even

been

the matter

with their

it generally
is ; and several friends who

have

inquiryhave never yet been able

of serious injury
evil: stillmy opinion
to establish one
case
or
has its dangers,and some, too, of rather
is,that Mesmerism
anxious
kind.
I say, therefore,
Mesmeriser,
to the inexperienced
an
"Be cautious,
be circumspect
; you are
playingwith
a
powerfuland ill-understood agent ; and you are bound fdr
the sake of the patient's
that
safetyto adoptevery precaution
f
prudencecan suggest."
certain dangerstouchingla morale to which
But there are
is supposed to be peculiarly
Mesmerism
open, and respecting
which allusion is often made in conversation.
Much ignorance
some

painsto

make

one

the

"

Gauthier,p. 331, "c.

I never
heard,"says Miss Martineau, "of any harm
I
much
where
as
prudencewas employedas we apply in the
*

"

and food.""

Letters,p. 52.

being done by it,

use

of

fire,
water,

OBJECTIONS
also exists

ON

this

on

as
clearly

OF

SCORE

THE

227

MOEALITY.

tinguish
and here,too, it is necessary to dis-

point;

is intended

to what

the

by

charge.

If it is meant,

that under the pretextof mesmerising,in a

avail themMesmerism
selves
is not required,
can
parties

where

case

of the occasion to commit

I

"maurs,

sometimes

careful to

not

am

enter

objection.Men
impropermotives ; men

findingfood
said,who

for

shut

that account?

Again, we
nothingagainstits value.
themselves

with
acquaintance,

churches

our

up

StillI have my

consequences.

or

often

has been

burn

Bibles

our

on

say the abuse of a thing proves

in sport or in thoughtIf parties,
lessness,
into the power of an unprincipled

lies the

them

than that of

other view

and unbelief;still,
as
ribaldry

would

throw

the

upon

go to church from the most

read the Scriptures
with no

sometimes

les bonnes

offence contre

an

and they must

fault,

doubts whether

take the

Mesmerism

afford the easy openingfor misconduct,with which

does

it has been

would placethe sleeper

or torpor,which
deepsleep,
so
completelyat the mercy of the Mesmeriser, as to givean
and more
for evil,does not occur
opportunity
every day;
the
on
if not always, the Mesmeric state produces,
generally,
and sense
such a high tone of spirituality,
part of the patients,
them less than ever
of right,
as to make
disposedto an acquiescence

taxed.

The

"

is wrong.
StUl,into this view
in what

is,whether,in
question
Mesmerism

as

the

on
objections

questionI

of the

the treatment

do

Our

not enter.

of the sick,
and in

ing
regard-

serious remedy, the influence be

score

open to
of morality
t and les bienseances? I

trulyin his

excellent littlework

If a magnetised
the mind
is as sufficiently
active to
the earlierstates of coma,
in
is
person
the
if
in
circumstances
it
is
in
condition
;
ordinary
higher
repress evil as
withdrawn
its impressions
the
from the senses,
are
of sleep-waking,
*

Pyne

Mr.

says

"

"

"

and, in short,the soul Is In a condition of the highest

Magnetism,by Rev. T. Pyne, p. 5B.

is refined,

judgment
mentality."
"

+
"

We

faye,

"

Vilal

forgetthat

not

must

immoral

"

in

"

the

its earlierdays.

of
practice
"

I have

Inoculation

shown,"

says
inconsistent with
inoculation is absolutely

that

equallycalled

was

the
the

Rev. T. Delavirtue

of

our

the
rightsof our fellow-creatures; * * I have shown
minds
*
"
device
o
f
this
that
it
and
undoubted
iniquity
;
manifoldimmorality,
what
than
the
dread
from
ease,"
dismen
the soul to more
importantperil

and

the

"

"

"

exposes

and
Practice

on

so

for several pages,

pamphletpublishedin

(p. 83. )
1 754.

"

an
Inoculation,

sible
Indefen-

AND

MESMERISM

228

unhesitating
way,

ia the most

answer,

OPPONENTS.

ITS

to

no

soever.
whatobjections

else,certain precaueverything
tions
be
and regulations
adopted; and in
are, of course, to
default of those precautions,
why is the science to be blamed
sends for a low pettirules ? Who
for the neglectof its own
fogging
attorney to make his will,or conduct an important
his money with a banker that oflfersten
lawsuit ? who deposits
who
at command?
per cent, interest with no visible capital
admits an unprincipled
physicianinto his house ? Only let
be employed in Mesmerism; and nothing
similar safeguards
be a person
need be feared. Not onlyshould the Mesmeriser
of known
and established principle
then
of character,
; but even
In

Mesmerism,

in

as

it is the rule that the process should be conducted in the presence

attention
of a third party. All Mesmerisers
an
require
it

to this rule where

Patients have it in their

be observed.

can

power to have any of their relations present when

be remembered
and carried out
Let this regulation
?
objection

is the

Not

only is every

needful

theylike.
"

and where

obtained
security

this course, but "the appearance, even, of evil" is avoided;

be ill-spoken
and the good work
cannot
of,or misrepresented

by
by

the malicious

Deleuze

Gauthier

and

the candid

neighbouror

both

relative

patienthaving
It is a standingrule
says,
a

"

friend.
the importance of th?

urge
friend

present. Mr. Newnham

with medical men
that,on certain

or

as
a
occasions,the presence of a female friend is requested,
guarantee,"c., and therefore in the process of Magnetism,
"

the

medical

same

friend

of the

patient,
"

And

"c.
agreeable,

evil,which
because

the

would

men

have

we

it is

one

male

requirethe presence
or
female,as might

of
be

thus,"he adds, ends the dreaded

"

some
more

moral

thought it

of the most

necessary to combat in detail,

favourite weapons
employedby

enemy."*

The
opinion of Mr. Newnham* as
Magnetism,p. 117.
is
of attention on this head.
especially
deserving
experienced
surgeon,
confers
of mischief,
no
which was
elsewhere,
Magnetism
power
says
*

Human

"

an

He
not

in the hands of wicked

means,
persons, especially
the
iiistrumentality
of opium,and who ever thought of opposing
through

attainable by other
previously
the exhibition of

opium by medical

men,

for the

cure

of disease?"

(p.115.)

MESMERISM

230

even

AND

ITS

OPPONENTS.

but
nothingsexual in it ;
bj affection,
and indeed exactlylike
purest kind,simplefriendship,

if characterised

is of the
the love

of

by

of safety
when
feeling

rather resembled
a

child to its mother,

young

In

fear of others."*

towards

"

for it

friend.

There

has been the humble

who

has

instrument
kind

been

and

"

is,for instance,

there is the

the Mesmeriser

pleasure

useful; there is
"

and active virtues

for his benevolence

feeling

is entertained

regardthat

uncommon

successful medical

seeingone,

and of

with the Mesmeriser

which
gratitudefor pain removed, in accomplishing
of

terised
charac-

seems

cases, I should say that the

some

the not

"

"

miration
ad-

but that the

beyond this, or what Dr. EUiotson describes,

is assuredly
a mistake.
Nay, as was before remarked,so far
sistent
from the Mesmeric
sleepproducinga state of feelinginconperienced
exwith what is right,it is considered by the most
attachment

goes

"

"

operators,that

great increase of the moral perceptions

brought out ; and that if the Mesmeriser

act,
commanding an improperor reprehensible

is created and

capableof
the patient
would revolt from an obedience to his will,with a
decided and peremptory than,
even
more
language and manner
when in a waking state. Puysegur in his Memoires
(p.168.),
in
and Deleuze
his Letter to Dr. Billot (Billot's
works, vol. ii.
and most
remarkable
instances
interesting
p. 34.),both give some
in exemplification
of this truth. Their facts are really
were

beautiful illustrationsof what

Mr. Townshend

the state of Mesmeric

that
says, viz.,
rise in man's nature ;

is a
sleep-waking
the mind, separatedthen from the senses, appears to
"that
to the fountain of
gain justernotions,and to be lifted nearer
all good and of all truth." (p.113.) Foissac states the same
thing. And from what I have myself seen of the increase and
I am
developmentof the intellectualfaculties duringthe sleep,
quitepreparedto believe in the existence of that exaltation of
the moral being,
which the best authorities have described as

""

invariable.

so

between

Be this,
however, as it may,
and be the relation
the Mesmeriser and the patient
however peculiar,

Zoist,vol. iii.p. S5.

this subjectis examined.
*

"

Sec also Mr. Newnham's

Magnetism,p. 115, where

"

the whole

HOEKOR"

sympathy and

the moment

the

of

mesmerism.

attraction are

is awakened
sleeper

at

231

end and

an

forgotten

into actual existence.*

Another

with which unconscious

is the facility
objection
partiescan be put to sleepagainst
their will. It is said,that
is safe, no one can feel sure as to what may happen,
no
one
and that a powerfulMesmeriser
has his whole acquaintance
"

"

under

his command."

This is

and

view entertained among

the timid; but one

more
be mentioned.
Except in certain most
nervous

"

the Mesmeric
sensibility,
will

or

sleepcould

can
groundless
rare

cases

not be induced

the

hardly

of extreme
the
against

consciousness of the party mesmerised.

Certain conditions
are
requisite.Silence and stillnessare among the most

It may often require

half an hour of the most
indispensable.
profoundrepose, before any somnolencycan be obtained ; and
with many patients
the Mesmeric
action must
be renewed for
several days in succession before any effectbe procured. The
is so absurd,that no notice of it
whole objection,
therefore,
would
it not that the opinionon this point
be necessary, were
is so very universal,
that has led the superstitious
and one
to
their worst apprehensions
the science.f
against
Somewhat
akin to the last objection
is another class of feelings
that should not be passedover ; I mean
undefined
a vague
horror" of Mesmerism
a mysterious
dislike to it,
generally,
would find difficultto
which the party objecting
an
opposition
shape,but which yet fillsthe mind with an
put into a tangible
it. This is distinct from an
unpleasantsensation respecting
or Satanic character : without adopting
opinionof its irreligious
with
that view of the subject,
many
persons regardMesmerism
abhorrence.
indistinct and painful
Here, again,we must
an
understand what they do dislike. If
and clearly
distinguish
"

"

and the feeling

then completely
remains of sleepsoon went oif,
of affection or grasubsided." (Zoist,vol. iii.p. 55. ) In respectto this feeling
titude,
never
whichever it be, Dr. Foissac says, that he had
perceivedany
*

"

The

"

difference between

the

he
patients

had

Mesmerism."

by medicine or
treatments.
Rapport,^.390.
above charge
the
if
Even
+
whether

been

The

fortunate
was
feeling

enough to cure,
equal under both
"

"

would
chloroform?

there

yet

were,

in

some

be with the tremendous

degree,true,
powers

arise out
for evil,
that may
facilities
most
formidable to contemplate.
are
inestimablediscovery,
The

what

rison
compacommand
of
of that otherwise

at the

232

AND

MESMERISM

OPPONENTS.

ITS

if they
is liable,
practice
dislike to see it made the subjectfor trick and foolish experiment,
Mesmerisers
inform them that all right-minded
we
can
and hold such conduct as
in their feelings,
strongly
participate
ing
But if they dislike to see a rackand wicked.
most
revolting
invalid
painremoved by it, to see the feverish sleepless
enjoyinga balmy slumber by its aid, to see the nervous
their
restored to comfort and repose,
excited patient
surely
or rather from the novelty
can
onlyarisefrom prejudice,
feelings
and freshness of the art. It is nothingelse than what is even
cination.
vacyet experienced
among the uneducated classes respecting

they dislikethe

abuses to which

the

"

"

"

"

Largenumbers

entertain

often has the wife of

How
would
It is

not have

"

horror

"

labouring-mantold

that she

me

her child infected with the disease of

it is

to her,onlybecause
objectionable

what
Peoplewill soon perceive
pass away.
natural process Mesmerism
is ; and when,
shall be

to
privileged

relieved

or

witness

comforted

by its means,
agoniesof pain,shall have

their horror will

soon

all good,and with

dear

some

or

"

myselfthey will

Habit

cow
so

servatio
and ob-

strangenesswill

simple,
easy, and
day after day,they
a

beloved

and

relative

when

found

be turned into

strange. And

is it with the present aversion to Mesmerism.

will soon
this feeling.The
remove

after the

of this remedy.

theythemselves,
or
a cure,
respite
"

to the
gratitude

Author

exclaim that Mesmerism

of
is

giftof God !
But thoughthe dangersof Mesmerism
have been magnified
into an importance
which they do not deserve,and which,for
the most part,could be avoided by prudence,stillour science
the
,

has its difficulties.These

infancyof

the

and
practice,

years will tend to diminish

easy to
methods

say to
of the

mesmerised,"
"

difficultiessomewhat

which

arise from the

the

of
experience

stilltheyare

considerable.

few
It is

whom
all the usual
unhappy sufferer,
healingart have failed to benefit, Go and be
some

"

the

is to
difficulty

find

Mesmeriser.*

They

and easiestremedy for meetingthe above

simplest
is for
difficulty
members
of a familyto mesmerise the sick ones.
healthy
This plan
of the previous
would also silence many
objections.Fathers and mothers,
and wives,brothers and sisters,
husbands
should respectively
merism
employ mes"

The

the

as

the domestic

"medicine

process, instructionis givenin the

of nature."

"

And

to

concluding
Chapter.

assistthem

in the

DIFFICULTIES

OF

MESMERISM.

233

not so

of a
obtained. Added to which the treatment
easily
chronic case generally
demands a sacrificeof time, which, even
if men
have the inclination,
to
theyhave not alwaysthe leisure,
bestow.
and knowledge are also indispensable
: I
Experience
should be sorry to placea very delicate patient
into the hands
of an unpractised
and presence
Mesmeriser.
Temper,patience,
of mind, are also requisites
before stated,
character
; and as we
and rightprinciple
not
be forgotten.Here then are a
must
are

number

of

desirable for the formation of

qualities

and which
Mesmeriser,

warning.
work.

And

this,for

the

It retards its course

time will

procuredat a moment's
in the
present,throws a difficulty

not

are

competent

of

to be

more

this inconvenience.

extended usefulness.
What

Still

the

publicdemands,
the publicwill always find providedere long. As there is
that Mesmerism
will shortlytake its rank
every certainty
of the medical art,a supplyof
among the established branches
will be soon
culties
qualified
forthcoming;Our diffipractitioners
but temporary. Many juniormembers
of the proare
fession
will devote themselves to the study,and
obtain a
Others,
standingin society
by their experienceand success.
whose time is less at their command, will onlygivea general
will be conducted
superintendence
; while the actual treatment
Nurses will be
instructed for the work.
by pupils,specially
will gradually
Students in the hospitals
taughtto mesmerise.
bring themselves into notice by a useful exercise of their
which hinders the progress
power ; and when the drag-chain,
of the good cause, shall be removed
by the retirement of the
tions
institupresent Lecturers and Managers,these invaluable public
correct

schools
very requestof the subscribers,
of the Mesmeric
science. In short,everyfor the practice
thing
will become,

at the

looks fair and

promising. Our obstacles are abating

silent.
and more
every day. Prejudiceis becoming more
to a few select quarters. Eidicule is
Fanaticism is retiring
losingthe sharpnessof its edge. The timid begin to speak.
The
greater anger and abuse. A general
opponents display
interest is awakened.
Our

We

have been
difficulties
"

Time

and the hour

have

longand

evidentlyreached
many

but
"

run

throughthe roughestday!
B

crisis.

234

AOT)

MESMERISM

ITS

VL

CHAP.

OPPOSITION

FROM
OF

APPREHENSION

SECRET
"

MESMERISM

TO

TERTE's

INFIDELITY

OF

SCHOOL

NEW

SCIENCES."

"occult

"

ELIZABETH

Arnold's

DR.
THE

AND

OF

THE

CLOSE

IF

DUBLIN

DOCTRINE

mesmeric

NATURE.

AND

cures
TOUCH

and
OF

CEASE?

MESMERIC

OF

MIRACLES

PREDICTIONS.

LOTTE
"CHAR-

MESMERISM
the

THE

"

SAL-

"

"

miracles

of

MESMERISER.

ARGUMENT

"

"

RATIONALISM.

"REVELATIONS."

ON

MESMERIC,

ASPECT.

GERMAN

AMERICAN

"

the

MIRACULOUS

CHRISTIAN

COMPARED.

MIRACLES,

DID

PRESUMED

ON

MR.

opinion

testament

new

WHY

ITS
THE

OPPONENTS.

FROM

BISHOP
ARCH-

CLAIRVOYANCE

NOT

MIRACULOUS.

But

anxious

more

consideration remains behind.

truthfulness of Mesmerism

alongwith it a perplexing
be proved in great measure

powers
chargeof an

its difficultiesmay

"

maybe

admitted

be

surmounted

in all their

novelty;

and

"

discussion with

"

its curative

magnitude;
as the productof
rejected

that

the appearance

of

evil agency may be

fancy which invades the mind

heated

very

carries

apprehension.Its dangers may

chimerical

The

at

minds
yet well-regulated

"

may

the

approach the

reluctance. Another argument

distressing
The subjectappears to trench on
the most

presents itself.
sacred

ground. It threatens to work a revolution in the most

awful questions
that can
interest man.
It unsettles the very
groundwork of his faith. Such extraordinary
statements
are
advanced, such unexpectedlaws are developedin nature,
such mysterious
facts are given, that old accustomed
ciples
prin"

"

of belief are

shaken to their centre, and the

pietyof the
Christian trembles for the result. A startling
consequence is
hand.
If
the
of
at
facts
Mesmerism
be not miraculous, if

they
makes

be

no

them

otherwise

marvellous

so, and if custom

will

than
soon

their strangeness
reduce this marvellousas

APPREHENSION
to

ness

bear

OF

THE

every-day
occurrence,

an

the

upon

CHRISTIAN.

235

how do all these positions

"

miracles related in

Scripture?Are we
which
on
very keystone,

not

loweringtheir value ? Is not the

faith is built,loosened,
if not removed?
If the course
nature be not suspendedby the action of Mesmerism, how
show

we

that the wonders

of old time

must

our

of
can

fallback to the

not

shrunken proportions,
and that the truths of Revelation do

same

totter at their base ?

not

This

is

troversial
chargewantonlythrust forward for conand creatingthe very evil it professes
to
display,
but the expressionof an
actual livingopinion
deprecate
;
which is beginningto assume
serious shapeand being. It is
a
no
longerwhisperedin the salons of science that the tendencies
of Mesmerism
go to uphold the Deist in his unhappy belief,
the proposition
of
is triumphantly
advanced in the publications
no

unreal

"

the infidel; and

the Christian himself

often feels

an

anxious

of the
which
deters him from a bold investigation
misgiving
fact. The position
has been strongly
stated to me by the two
have faith in
sects.
If,"said a friend, you really
opposite
the reality
of the wondrous cures
of which you make mention,
?
do you not see the dangerousground you are treading
You cannot
stopwhere you will. K I believe in Mesmerism,
"

"

"

"

disbelieve all that I have

must

divine."

Follow

"

out

the other school, and

"

hitherto held

said
your convictions,"
flinch not

as
a

sacred and

gentlemanof
The

at their consequence.

but the result of strong

were
Scripture
Christ onlyraised the dead by Mesmerism."
Mesmeric power.
of the world.
And
been in the history
And thus has it ever
thus has every new
cording
discoverybeen dreaded or vaunted, acto the respective
pointfrom which it has been viewed
Thus was
it with
by the friends or adversaries of religion.
nology.
astronomy, with chemistry,with geology, with phreThe Bible speaksof the risingof the sun ; but
the Bible,
and Galileo were
chargedwith upsetting
Copernicus
the centre of its system,and
for theyprovedthat the sun was

reputed miracles

of

"

"

"

"

I here

which

help quotingan

cannot

with

lately

in what
belief

met

I do."

"

"

admirable
suffer what

never

Observations

on
K

remark

by Jacob Bryant,

Ida

know

not

difficult
Passagesin
8

to

disturb m;/

Scriptwe,

23G

MESMERISM

OPPOKENTS.

ITS

AND

The theoryof
not rise to gladden the earth.
consequentlydid
another hemispherewas
heretical for a season, and Columbus
of Scripture.
in his turn taxed with weakening the validity
was
of Moses:
Cuvier,in like manner, was treated as the antagonist
and Gall was accused of leadinghis followers to a belief in the
materialism.

coarsest

trembled

And

at the truth ; and

thus it went

for

on

Men

season.

the truth itself lay hid behind the

partial
knowledge and discovery,-Soon,however, a
Profounder researches dispelled
on.
brighterstate of thingscame
Faith and science were
the anxietyof the timid.
not
had but one and
found incompatible.Revelation and matter
the same
divine original.The firstof philosophers
were
among
the humblest of Christians ; and the most aspiringstudent of
mists of

"

the laws of nature

has not

in lowliest adoration

blushed to bow

before the "Word of Life. And

thus will it be with Mesmerism.

to
discoveryof this mighty power will form no exception
the other departments
of science. He, who spakeas never
man
been able to imitate :
has never
spake,wrought also as man

The

and while the

evidence

reader
Scriptural
*

must

feel in his heart

of the truth of that book

on

which he

an

ternal
in-

placesaU

hopes,under the conviction that doctrines so pure, so lovely,

could proceedfrom nothingshort of a heavenlysource, even
so
in the miracles of his blessed Lord an insepawill he perceive
rable
of His mission,for that no one
pledge of the divinity
with him !
could do such thingsas Christ did,except God were
The
questionof Scriptureevidence, it has been before
observed f, has within these few years shifted ground. The
of falsehood,
of exaggeration,
is now
or
charge of dishonesty,
but seldom advanced
againstthe Gospel Historians. The
his

..

"

that

In

the

lamented

the internal
is
and genuineness
of the Scriptures,
evidence in favour of the authenticity
rest with far greater satisfactionthan
that on which the mind can
on
any
valuable. " * "
however
It has been wonderfully
external evidence,
ordered
"

the

truth, however," observes

books, generallyspeaking,are

their

Arnold,

own

"

witness."

"

Rughy

Sermons, p. 339.
second edition,p. 7. " ChristiailTruth,"says Dr. Hawkins,
Oriel
learned
Provost
of
the present
Cdllege,when speakingof the
examination of the Christian Evidences, *'is a subject ever
and of
new,
the deepest
in each successive generation."
interest to each individual man

t See Preface

"

to

Sampton Lectures,p. 225.

238

AND

MESMERISM

OPPONENTS.

ITS

of

evidence^and built up
Scripture
In the north of Germany,
Christianity,

range

Catholic

and

in the

semi-

Roman

istic
in the Protestant churches,this rational-

less than

no

speciesof

found
soon
were
interpretation
openlyobtained. Disciples
in France,in England,and in the United States of America,
the subject.* And whilst
as is seen
on
by several publications
for different classes of miracles different explanations
were
gested,
sugfor the miracles of healingand for some
others of an
Mesmerism
almost
was
character,
analogousand corresponding
esteemed the natural and adequatesolution.
universally
As the languageof other writers will bringthese statements
of the reader,a few
home
more
to the apprehension
clearly
from some
tration.
extracts
recent works shall be now
given in illus"

"

In

article in the

an

as

"

the

an

late

as

Edinburgh Review

October,1847,

Christian

on

it is said," in the

"

dence,
Evi-

case

of

have been led to adoptthe prinsome

miracles,
ciple
Scripture
of endeavouring,
in each particular
to seek for
instance,
natural
derived from the operationof known
explanation
*

(Paulus)view of them (the

events which were
regardedas miraculous
miracles)
theywere
in that age and country ;
but which ought to be regardedin
of our
advanced intelligence
a very different light
by the more
We
times.
them into extraordinary
to construe
ought,therefore,
causes.

"

Accordingto

his

"

natural

events

simply omitted

superiorskill

"

or

into results whose

in the narrative

"

or

causes

into the

mere

have been
effectsof

and

scribed,
knowledge,which the Evangelisthas dein the popularlanguage of the day, as supernatural
interpositions."
|
French writer,in a work
Salverte,a popularbut superficial
Occult Sciences,"
called the
which
has reached
second
a
and been also translated into Englishunder the titleof
edition,
the "Philosophyof apparent Miracles,"
asserts that "if we
"

"

Milman's

Historyof

the Jews

contains

some

slightindicationsof

the

of certain of the Mosaic

prevalence of this theory,in his explanation
of the lamented
miracles. The remarks
Hugh James Rose, on German
of
Rationalism,must be fresh in the memory
many.
"fEdinburghReview, No. 174. for October, 1847, p. 413.

put

on

one

to the

or

SALVEETE'S

"occult

side that which

to imposturej
belongedto jugglery,
there is not one
of the
imagination,

delirium of the

sciences."

239

ancient miracles which a man

skilled in the modern
sciences
could not reproduced* "It is reasonable,"
he adds again,"to
suppose that

individuals had the

some

physicalknowledge and

suitablefor working a miraculous act,in the time and in

power

the country where historicaltradition had placedthe miracle : "

and then he observes again,
that " it is absurd to refuse to
"

believe,or
on

In

admire

to

as

that
supernatural,

which

can

be

plained
ex-

natural causes."

chapelin South
Place,FinsburySquare,and since publishedunder the titleof
"German
Mr. Harwood, the lecturer,
Anti-supernaturalism,"
in favour of Strauss'sviews,takes
thoughpreaching,
apparently,
The spirit
occasion to unfold the interpretations
of rationalism.
of legend,"
a nucleus of
says he, would have many and many
dents,
incifact to work upon.
Some miracles,miraculous-looking
delivered
lectures,
recently

some

at the

"

"

there must

peoplelike
could have

been

in

Nothing

but

have

that.

presence of one
No
Christ of God.

who

dead

miraculous
may

have

in
takingplacealmost daily,
believed or imagined to be the

was

demons

doubt,many

not
paralytics

by

one

age like that and among a

prolongedmental miracle

hindered miracles from

the

as

an

few

voice

lived

or

the discoveryof powers

he possessed."
|

touch:

again upon
which

cast out

bably
pro-

restored,
wholly or partially

were

arise.' Perhaps Jesus himself

were

was

some
possibly

few

all but

the divine,'I say unto thee,

than once
startled by
more

he had

been
scarcely

aware

that

illustrate the tendencies of the

sufficiently
quotations
rationalisticschool, though it will be seen, that Mesmerism

These

"

is rather alluded to than named.

Other writers have,however,

verse
,dansles sciences
11 n'est pointde miracles ancicns gu*un homme
Sciences
seconde
edition,
Occultes,
p. 461. "c.)
modernes ne put reprodmre."(
the
miracles
makes
observations
Salverte
further
on
some
In his 20th cap.
of
Elisha
of Jairus's daughter,
and on the powers
the raising
on
of healing,
*

and

"

of St. Paul.

Some
extracts from
Anti-Supernaturalism,
p. 68.
the
7.
in
Other
expressions
Preface,p.
might be
work are given
the same
the
Saviour
where
in the languageof modem
Deism,
quoted,as, for instance,
of
Jesus
Nazareth."
that
(p.
of
96.)
gifted
B
eing
as
wonderfully
is spoken
German

f Harwood's

"

240

MESMERISM

spoken more

ITS

OPPONENTS.

the influence of this agency is

of the Divine manifestations.
the secret source

expressly
; and

claimed

at once

AND

as

Richter,Rector of the Ducal School at Dessau, an influential

German
Considerations on Animal
and the author of
critic,
"

died about three years back,taughtthat

Testament were
the miracles of the New
performedby this

Magnetism,"and
"

who

Paris

work

on

thing.

same

the

in
Bouys, who published
endeavoured
to prove the
subject,

Theodore

M.

power."
extraordinary

same

Professor

Rostan, who

the Medical

that

of the miraculous

"

mass

up

the article on

asserted therein
Dictionary,

French

Magnetismin

drew

facts of old find

satisfactory,

M.
explanation in Mesmerism.
Mialle,a copiousand popular French writer on the subject,
and enters into reasonings
declares the same
opinion,
strongly
a

and
physiological

natural

to prove the assertion.

but

will

we

at

come

in which

"

Other

writers could be

to

once

recent

views

the above

are

and

mentioned

remarkable

"

cation,
publi-

expressedin explicit

language.
The

originally
appeared in
in England,called
The
justreprinted

referred to is

work

America, and

has been

Principlesof

Nature

one

that

"

and

her Divine Revelations.*

It is in

is written with much

printed,
largeoctavo volumes,closely
circles,
literary
power, and has attracted largenotice in some
two

both

the Atlantic and

across

in this

country. Professor Bush

of New

York, and other scientificmen, have shown themselves

of its progreatlyinterested in its contents, and in the manner
duction.
The work professes
of
Revelations
to set forth the
"

"

illiterateyoung man, named Andrew

tated
Davis, which he dicin the Mesmeric
sleepwith a fluencyand clearness most

an

Asa"
extraordinary.
upon

voice

the

to

most

thoritativel
mankind," it pronounces, auabstruse subjects,
embracing

and science. Into the

theology,cosmogony, natural history,
of the work it is not necessary to
derivation and authenticity
Whether
it be the combined
in part of a transenter.
result,
*

"

The

of Nature,lier
Principles

Mankind," by
and

and

through Andrew

divine Revelations,and a Voice to

Jackson Davis,the Poughkeepsie
Seer

Clairvoyant.
(Chapman,Strand.)

"

AMEEICAN

EETELATIOIfS."

ference of thoughtfrom the Mesmeriser

of

and
suggestive

and

241

others, in part
"

assistant imagination, and

in

"

part of previous

knowledge
obtained,all mingled together
surreptitiously
harmonyand poured forth under the condition of

in wondrous

excessive

an

exaltation

whether

this be

correct

view

of the

of the book, is not importantto the argument:

origination
the pointfor
present consideration is this,that great attention
has been paid to the statements
of the work,
that Professor
Bush declares that for "grandeur of conception
and sowwrfwes*
of principle"
it is almost unrivalled, that other critics speak
nearlythe same
language, that .itsreaders and admirers are
and that it reflects the opinionsof an influential
numerous,
section. Mr. Chapman, the English editor,says that it is
a
work of no ordinary
theological
pretension."To that portion,
of itstheology
let us briefly
therefore,
turn,where the Clairvoyant
It is painful
in
speaksof the miracles of the New Testament.
the extreme
to be thus driven to record so many
objectionable
and offensive passages : but nothingwould be gainedby concealment.
The book is extensively
read and quoted: and the more
"

"

"

"

"

"

plainlythat such obnoxious notions are set forth,the more

and the more
easilyare they met,
quicklydisposedof.
The
Clairvoyantsays, that "Jesus seemed to possess an
intuitive knowledge of the medicinal properties
of plants, of
"

"

mineral

animal

and

substances, of their
"

proper time and manner

various diseases. He
power

This
Hence
that

cured."
And

he

was

in
application

possessedalso

the disordered

over

system.

of their

or

because

benevolence,{i.e.

curing of

the

disconcerted forces of the human

of his

laid his hands

"

of the

and

great physicalsoothing

ments.
superiorphysicalendow-

it is related in various

(VoL ii.p. 562.)

again he says, Such

use,

upon

placesin
persons

deeds of

the miracles of

the New

and

they

tament
Teswere

sympathy and
charity,

are
healing,)

to be admired

in

has lived,or who

ever
ever
character of any person who
ance,
will live on earth ; but further than this they are of no importveneration nor
no
and demand
approbation.For they

the

are

simplythe good and justdeeds

of any person who

is natu-

242

OPPONENTS.

ITS

AND

MESMEEISM

for their accomplishment."

qualified
rally(whichmeans
mesmerically)
(p.512.)*
not unnaturally,
Now these rationalisticviews have, perhaps,
of
raised up a distinct class of objectionsto the practice
have
Mesmerism, in opponents,whose inaccurate perceptions
confounded
againsta studywith the study
misrepresentations
himself
itself. "Is it no evil,"
says a hostile writer,calling
Senex, that from the deductions of this science,the arm of
to assert,that the
is so strengthened,
as to induce men
infidelity
miracles of our Saviour,
however
were
stupendous,
performed
are
told, then not generally
by the same
art, though, we
known ? f In another pamphlet,which I have already
noticed,
called a
Dialoguebetween a Mesmerist and a Christian,"
it is said, the doctrines founded on these imitations of the
miracles of ovu: Lord, go to explainaway the divine character
"

"

"

"

"

and end of his miracles ; and

which

our

Mesmerism

thus to undermine

faith and hope rest.

have

not

Some

hesitated to

say

the truths

on

of the advocates of

that

by

means

of

common
to all human
virtucj"
bodies, the miracle of healing
meric
"c. (p.21.) Mr. SpencerHall, in his "Meswas
effected,"
has referred to the same
opinions: " so
Experiences,"
"'

"

striking,"
says he, "have

been

of the

some

effects of Mesmerism

many to regardit as a sort of

and to consider it the parent of all attested
scientific
divinity,
miracles ; a view,"he adds, " from which I unequivocally
press
exin this way

my
*

as

to

cause

dissent." (p.25.) And

the late Mrs. Tonna

(Charlotte

than
the changein the languageof Deism,
marked
more
those
of Voltaire and the Philosophical
as
Dictionary,
different quotationsabove
The
divine
of
the
mission
Saviour is,
prove.
and irreverent sneers, with which he
indeed,equallydenied: but the coarse
then reviled,
have passedaway ; and the excellency
of his moral code,
was
and the beautyand soundness of his views,are the constant
of admiration.
theme
Christ is now
and spreading
school, of
spoken of,in this new
the wisest and best of,men,
and "highlyas
as a benevolent,
infidelity,
is the more
fatal and ensnaring
gifted individual. This altered phraseology
from its subtilty
and respectfulness,
that mischievous aphorism
reversing
of Burke's,of *' vice losing
half its evil by losing
aU its grossness,"Many
who would
be shocked by the ribaldriesof Paine and the French Philosophers,
the
smooth
of
German
Rationalism.
are
plausibilities
caughtby
"f Extract from " Strictureson Fhreno-Magnetiim,"
by Senex. (Simpkin
and Marshall.)

since

Nothing is
the

time

"

"

"

ELIZABETH"

CHAKLOTTE

and
Elizabeth),

AND

MR,

CLOSE.

Close, of Cheltenham,and

Mr.

243

Mr. Bickers-

teth,of Watton, have all three deemed the argument worthyof

and referred to it in their writings.
a notice,
The

latter observes

miracles
Saviour
that

Infidels have ventured

"

of Mesmerism

those of

superiorto

are

to say that the

"

yet,"adds Mr. Biekersteth, we

is an immense
account,deny that Mesmerism
;

and

blessed

our

must

not, on
from
blessing

God."*
"

Charlotte Elizabeth,"
asserts
are,

miracles of

that

marvels

the

of Mesmerism

agency, such close imitations of the

the first principles
of the
to undermine

throughSatanic
Christ,as

Christian faith : and

she refers to

book

"

some

on

Mesmerism^

by a Frenchman, who, after statingthat Mesmerism

prevailedamong the ancient Egyptians,reminds his readers
in Egypt, and there learned the Mesmeric
art
that Jesus was
recorded in the
by which he effected the miraculous cures

written

Gospels."+
Close,in his excellent lecture

Rev. F.

The

on

the

"

Nature

thoughtof
"Were theymiraculous,
the astonishing
phenomena of Mesmerism.
a very hard
or were
theynot? This seemed,at firstsight,
stillhe thought that a solution might be
:
questionto answer
the pointat some
littlelength,
given." And, after discussing
that he felt persuadedthat there
he concludes with observing,
was
nothing miraculous in Mesmerism, and no interference of
Mr. Close here seems
to me
the evil spirit in its wonders.
of Miracles,"
says,

"

"

he

might

be asked what

he

"

"

to pass

the

over

It is not

much

so

that the miracles

Dr.

are

he says,

"

subjectdeservingof
"

formidable

because I

am

"

inclined to

than

more

remark.
think

argument.

miraculous,
phenomena.J

is

littleelse than Mesmeric

Arnold, too, in his Sermons,has

the

generaland more
taught that Mesmerism

more

"

once

I mention

as

sidered
con-

this,"

that there exists

lurkingfear of these phenomena (ofMesmerism),as if they

"

See

Letter from
explanatory

Letter to Miss Martineau,by

on
See Mr. Close's Lecture

p.
LiteraryInstitution,

23.

Rev.

Edward

Biekersteth,in No. 17. of

Charlotte Elizabeth,"
pp. 7. and IS.
the Cheltenham
at
delivered
Miracles,

'"

244

MESMERISM

mightshake

our

faithin

miracles

true

far

and far
unreasonable,

more

men
and, therefore,

"

spiteof testimony; a habit

Christian
to our
dangerous,
Magnetism."*

inclined to disbelieve them, in

are

OPPONENTS.

ITS

AND

more

faith than any beliefin the facts of

These extracts,from such various and very adverse writers,
that I now
of the opinion,
all show the prevalency
propose to
enter upon.
They, at least,
prove that the notion is not the
of my own
fancy,
few inconsiderable enthusiasts.

invention
exaggerated
of

"

the feeble gestion

sugof the
Churchmen

nor

unbelievers in
schools,rationalistic professors,
revelation, and friends and opponents of Mesmerism, have
alike regardedthe subjectas deserving
of attention,
and have
diverse

most

pressedthe consequences deduced from it into the service

views.
of their respective
Nay, Dr. Arnold, as it has been
of
that this "lurkingfear
seen, collected from his experience,
far as actually
the magneticphenomena went
so
to-indispose
and admission of their truth.
for the investigation
He
men
thoughtthat he could perceivethat they were afraid of diving
venient
inconinto the depthsof nature, lest they should encounter
an
disclosure in their course
that theyhung back from
;
as a sequence,
lest,
believingin one fact,
they must disbelieve
All this,it is repeated,
in another.
shows
the prevalency
of
the opinion, and an opinion,
it may be remarked in the next
place,that does not at the first blush appear very unnatural.
alike

"

"

"

"

For

some

of the

and
startling,

so

and

cures
so

marvels

of Mesmerism

have

been

contrary,indeed,to the ordinaryoperations

of

that the bulk of mankind, who seldom are

at the
physics,
between
painsof distinguishing
conflicting,
though seemingly
are
homogeneous effects,
caughtby the primarypresentationof
and hasten to some
an
conclusion about
object,
unphilosophic
A medley of ungeneralisedideas
ijtsnature.
passes through
the brain ; the true and

the false,
the

jumbled togetherwithout
man

one

*
"

are

new

Arnold's Sermons, vol.iii.p. 246.

mere

wonders

perhaps,they may
are,

precisionor

that the

pronounces

nor

in

our

become

present
the

will be miracles."-" Ibid.

same

state

and the similar,

are
distinctness ;
and so
"

phenomena
"

These

of

are

facts,"he observes again,

knowledge:

of
principles

a new

but identical

a
future period,
science ; but theyneither

at

AND

MESMEEISM

246

OPPONENTS-

ITS

To Paley,therefore,we
every doubt.
the waveringheart. But our presentinquiryis,whether

refer

refuted

ject,and

there

from facts evincing

our
attention,
any counter-claims on
by evidence equallyconclusive.*
equalpower, and supported
be

beginning of miracles,with
the change of
forth his glory,"was
The

"

Jesus

which

manifested

into wine.

water

He

did

the six stone water-potsto be firstemptied of the

but he ordered
them with wine ;
water, and then replenished
filledwith water ; and from
the empty vessels to be previously
not

command

"

flUed up to the brim," the servants

instructed to draw forth,and bear to the governor of the
were
feast; and a quantityof water, being supposed,upon the
which
these vessels,

smallest

were

to
computation,

"

be

above

hogshead,was

the guests to be converted into wine.

The fact admits of
have no agency here.

by

than that of

find
"

Those
an

who

being a

miraculous

and

"

no

discovered

Mesmerism
other

could

explanation

supernatural
work.-j-

indisposedfor the studyof Paley'slongerwork, will

compendium of the whole subject in a small volume, called
from
the Evidence
Miracles,"
by the Rev. R. C. Coxe, the
are

admirable

Lectures

on

present learned and excellent Vicar of Newcastle. (Rivingtons.)

f And yet this is the miracle,that the welUmeaning and lamented
Charlotte Elizabeth,"
by a confusion of the facts,singledout as the one
that
Satan was
which she considered
imitating
through certain powers of
"
." Whether
you," she says to Miss Martineau,
willing in a Mesmeriser.
"
conscious of it or not, this last incident,
are
(thatof the sleeper
imagining
be
water
mesmerised
to
devised
some
by Satan to pour contempt,
wine,)was
to throw
or
a soul-destroying
doubt,on the miracle of Cana in Galilee. You
"

"

doingsacted upon a suggestionof the

companion in these perilous
into wine ; and though no changetook place,
to will a glassof water
to any mortal
the possessedgirl
over
sense, the spirithad power
perceptible
"c."
to imitate in her the effects of a draught,
a slight
(^Letter,
p. IS.) Now
in the two facts will explainthe complete
examination of the circumstances
or

your

evil one,

difference between
one

In Miss

them.

singleindividual,who
to

sherry.

fancythat

But

there

was

was

Martineau's story,the Mesmeriser willed

and under strong mesmeric
fluence,
infast asleep,

glassof water,
no

feast,and the guests,to say

sleepat Cana

nothingof

that she
of
the

was

was
sipping,

glassof

Galilee. The governor

of the
attendants that drew the water,

all wide awake, and saw

a fact
theywere drinking,
of, and in addition to, the change that they perceivedin the
irrespective
it is a most
feeble and
quality. If the mesmeric fact be a Satanic imitation,
have
To
far-fetched one.
a parallel
must
will a room-full
case, a Mesmeriser
were

the

colour of what

shall be in an active state of wakefulness

senses
of friends and servants, whose
and discrimination,
not only to imagine that a tumbler
of what they see to
of
wine
but
a
be water is actually
wine,
very superiorvintage.

NOT

MIRACLES

"We

next

to the miraculous

come

occurred

twice:

and

after his resurrection.

once

MESMERIC.

draughtof

fishes. This

of Christ's ministry,

at the commencement

once

247

Twice. had the fishermen been

all the night,

At the command
of
and caughtnothing..
toiling
Jesus,theylet down their nets,and inclose the first time so
that their nets brake,and their boats
a draught,
extraordinary
"were
beginningto sink. On the second occasion,they were

hardlyable

draw the

to

for the multitude and size

to land

net

of the fishes; and yet it is mentioned by the Evangelist,

as
an
additional wonder, that the net was
not broken.
Now
not,
canwe
describe a fact like this as beyondnature,
perhaps,strictly
for such a thing might happen ; but it is not accordingto
nature.
Nothing like it has ever been seen, before or since.
It

is,therefore,
contrary to

the

natural

no

have

causes

of nature,
contrary to
when
like this,
event
an
"

produced at

of one
history
no
or
peculiar

twice in the

occurred

And

of nature.

generallaws

which

the order

sayingthat it could be
but a preternatural
fact,which

we

man,

other

any

ia
justified
coincidence,
are

fortunate

"

be classed under

can

time,

no

other-

head than that of the miraculous.

The

miracle to be noticed is the instant

next
on

that the

waves

his

of Gennesareth,

the Lake

tempest

breakingover

were

that when

mentions
travels,

with the force of

the mountains

tempest

meet
hurricane,

the

strong:
"

the river Jordan

by

is at

once

raised.

such a hurricane Christ and his disciples

tered
encoun"
a
and he stilledit in a moment
; for there was
great

some

calm."

The

"

ragingof

winds, subsided

By

violent

so

ship. Dr. E. Clarke,ia.

adverse winds,sweepingfrom

passingthrough the lake,a dangeroussea

Now

at

at

the

very

has been

water," and

Now

this

the wind

same

fortuitous calm would

Whoever

the

once.

accident
singular

hushed

not

to sea,

moment

miraculous..
clearly
might have been suddenlythat Jesus spoke,
but this-,

also have
or

the violence of the

whoever

was

extended

to thi;waters.

has witnessed

storm

at

a certain interval of time

fullwell that it requires
to swell after the winds have ceased to
to cease
for the waves

sea

the

is formed

of the waters, which

current

"

of a
stilling

knows

blow.

It is

never

great hurricane in
s

one

moment, and

AND

MESMERISM

248

glassysurface
such

OPPOXENTS.

ITS

in the next.

to
fishermen,tinaecustoraed

The

themselves, what
"

among
And
the

was*

Mesmerism
The

here ?

occasions,with

two

all bounds

fishes,surpasses

could be

There

is

Where

God !

from

Christ

man

on
feedingof greatmultitudes,

loaves and

"

of

manner

Man

is,a

only answer

manded,
de-

they might, and

well

"
marvelled,"as
transition,

also.
exaggeration

of

false perception
here.

no

few

The

does

statement

of the suppositionof a fortunate experiment. As

plied
Leslie says, that " one
small loaf of bread should be so multiadmit

not

and to the eye,

not only in appearance
as
breaking,
of a, thousand
but trulyand
the appetites
reallyto satisfy
hungry persons, and that the fragments should be much more
in the

than

the bread

at

was

explanation.And
the powers

which

we

is a fact which
first,"

while

do not

we

of nature

know

in the

cation
multipli-

of food is
here

have

we

of Mesmerism,

case

that such
declare,unhesitatingly,

can

no

precisepointat

the

terminate,as

of

admit

can

that

and

beyond the reach of a natural cause,

of the
again a manifest interposition

of

power

God.t
walkingupon
It is a
"explanation.
The

once

"

the

is

sea

only did

not

great calm, hushing,in

plainfact

the awalened

winds
instant,

an

adfnitsof

which

no

there could be neither

in which

statement

So, too, in the storm,

and

Saviour

angry

make

waves,

at

but

"

Sev. T. Pt/ne's
immediatelythe shipwas at the placewhither they went."
Vital Magnetism,
p. 22.
of this miracle in the wellf Some pretendto see a satanic "imitation
of
Icnown mesmeric
when
mesmeriser puts bread,or
a
sympathies taste,as
the sleeping
or sugar, "c. into his mouth, and
iginger,
sympathisingpatient
of
Charlotte Elizabeth,"
it is considered
it. To applythe phraseology
tastes
travestie
the
work
of
Lord
the
Jesus
in
on
an
Christ, which
infernal
to
o
f
horror givesway
sou)." Now in this satanic
a burningindignation
the number
of souls that partookof the food, five
to pass over
imitation,"
"

"

"

"

"

"

thousand

men,

besides

pointswanting; the
the

women

and

of
satisfying

children,"there

hunger,and

the

are

one

or

two

other

the baskets with

filling

remainder.

that it is not
for all,
I who am
firstsuggesting
observed,
once
these
facts.
The
between
opposite
comparison
very naming them
is
is
it
ridiculous
in
to
reality.I am simplytogether as revolting myself as
of
and wellreligious
replyingto the different objectionsand arguments
started them, and gave
meaning opponents of Mesmerism, who originally
to their views,
great publicity

Let it be

an

odious

RHEACLES.

mistake

sea,"and he walked

"

shipwas

exaggeration.The

nor

249

walked

upon the sea." The

shipwas twenty or thirtyfurlongsdistant from the shore,i.e.
than three miles,and he walked to them.
St. Peter also
more
walked

the

upon

saved

to

them.

to

sea

He

in the midst of the

"

him, and, "beginning to sink,"

meet

The miracle is
catchinghim by the arm.
mentioned
and most fully
three Evangelists,
by St. Matthew.
The same
which is used by St. Mark, in
word in the original,
his sixth chapter(verse47.),
for describing
Jesus as being on
the land,"is used by him and St. John, when
they speakof
him as walking
the sea." *
No statement
in the New
on
was

Jesus

by
by

"

"

Testament

admit of

wiU

than will this.

closer

what

And

or

criticalexamination

more

confirms the miraculous

character of

to have been more

seem
disciples
by any preceding miracle,for they

that the
the action is the fact,

impressed by
"

than

this
"

worshipped him,
that "of

St. Matthew

truth he

was

says, in consequence,
the Son of God."

and

clared
de-

of the Saviour is a fact,also,which

Transfiguration
admits of no softening
explanation.It happened not at night,
but on the very top of a
not in a corner,
but in broad day ;
than
The
the
mountain.
more
brightnessand glory were
"

The

"

"

faculties of the
voice

with

their faces
them

touched

took

all that

overpoweredwith

on

the

"

Gospel was

no

place,that
ground,and so

and bade them

refers to the wonders

the

endure.

The

heard, speakingto Jesus.

was

Saviour

able to

spectatorswere

of this

day,as

cunninglydevised

celestial

were
so
disciples
selves
they flung them-

remained

And

rise.

tillthe

St. Peter

pressly
ex-

special
proofthat
fable." f
a

rationalislicinterpreters
have said that
This is mentioned, because some
planation
Christ was
walkingupon the shore,by the sea, and not upon it. Their exof men
criticism. It is the suggestion
will not bear a moment's
with Greek, and who have not studied the context.
unacquainted
"
"
a
Dialoguebetween a Mesmerist and a Christian,"containing
f In the
Mesmerism, a prosuitableand earnest address to all true Christians against
fane
and fancied "imitation" of this miracle is dwelt upon and reprobated,
readers by reciting.Let it be sufficientto
but which I shall not offend my
*

"

say,

that

there

is

no

proper

resemblance

the pointscompared ;
between
with Mesmerism, I ever
before

I am
as
neither is it one which, conversant
I
in
this tract,by " Philadelphos."
with
it
till
met
These
found referred to,
"
unchristian
their
to
Christian writers in
Mesmerism,"
opposition
exclusively

250'

AND

MESMEKISM

The

of the

dryingup
makes

power

the most

OPPONENTS.

ITS

is a fact to which no Mesmeric

fig-tree
and the.
distant approach. Jesus spoke,

soon"
How
from the roots.
withered away instantly
fig-tree
is the tree withered !
said the disciples,
plained
three distinct occasions,is exof the dead,on
The raising
by the modern unbeliever as the revival of a sleeping
"

"

"

of

out

person

of

carried Out

opinion. Jesus meets the dead

Nain, humanly speakingby accident, as

arise ;

man

young

his bier.

on

speak." Now,

"

at

dead sat up, and

that the mother
supposition

friends of this young

and the body was
in attendance,

numerous

the

and

people

inclosed in

not

is

"

much

"

(for

he

began to

was

man

of

son

bids the

approachesand

once

and he that
the

on

He

put

case

the

togethercontradict
the widow

different facts of each

The

trance.

were

coiEn,but

the
on
in the East),
is the way
as
openlyon a litter,
was
that all were
deceived,and that the young man
supposition
only entranced,can we suppose, with any degreeof reason, that
in the two
remaining instances the relations and domestics
carried

also under

were

daughter. Jesus

ruler's
house

delusion ?

us

take,then, the

is suddenlyinvited

his child.

heal

to

Let

In

Jairus

by

the meantime

of the-

case

death

to

his

seizes his

that the
victim ; and so undeniable are the signsof dissolution,
familyare anxious that Jesus should retire and be no further
inconvenienced.
would

be

"

Trouble

not the

coincidence
singular

Jesus,beforehe has
pronounces
But we have

even

if this also were

entered

that the maiden

had been in his grave four

call into beingsome

the

house,or
be

shall live and

third instance: the

Mastep,for she

of
raising

days. When

is dead."

the

made

Lazarus.*

the stone

odious phantom, put ideas into our

But

trance.

seen
"

was

It-

body,

whole."
Lazarua
removed

heads,and language

and then charitably

our
as
never
existed,
mouths,
conclude their
as
proved by themselves,that
Mesmerism
pamphletsin teaching,
is,in
the as.sertion
of the will and of the power of Satan." (p.24.)
fearfulreality,
such

into

"

"

"

Paulus

knowledgedas
were

from

may

Hiedelbergsays that the Bible narratives must

records of real occurrences, but that these occurrences,

of

be

ao

which

miracles merely in appearance,

planation.
always admitted of a natural exFor instance,Lazarus was
from
but
not
awakened,
death,
only
for Christ was
of asphyxia,
a state
worker
of miracles,
no
though he
have

been

an

excellentphysician,
"c."

Wolfgang MenzeFs

"

translated by Gordon, vol. i. 1 96., On

Literature,
"

Religion."

German

NOT

MIRACLES

251

MESMEKIC.

from the cave, and as soon

Jesus spoke,
that instant Lazarus
as
came
and his face
bound hand and foot,
in grave clotheSj
forth,

fastened

with

over

The

napkin.

restoration

neous
instanta-

was

and

die

complete. He did not merelymove, and speak,and

and with further assistance,
again. He did not gradually,
himself;but he,

to

come

alreadyin
from the

offensive state

an

tomb, returned

alive

seen

whose

forth at

decay,walked

of

be

once

and
and lived,
family,

to his

home

supposedto

was

corpse

was

Now, upon an examination of the

of questionssuggestsitself. What probability

longtime

above, this train

is there,that all

the

after.

relatives in these

and

attendants

three

that all
equallyunder a deception? Is it meant
is there
who die are onlyin a trance ; and if not, what reason
to show that these three persons were
in a trance
exclusively
than any others ? How
should Jesus,if onlya man, know
more
cases

were

seen
them, that Lazarus and the ruler's
beforehe had even
that they
daughterwere onlyentranced ? Supposing,after all,

had

been

dead,and

Jesus have

dared

son

trance

forth,would

and void ?

of the widow

of Nain.

have risked the chances of

not

that

proved null

been

to the

rise

did not

is

more

The

remark

same

Jesus,
unless
failure,
as

than

occurrence

common

not the power

mere

of
plies
ap-

man,

it be said

death.

The

not
unbeliever,however, says that these three persons were
From their own
statement,
dead,but onlyin appearance.
really
three of the most
curious coincidences, and all
here then were
"

of two years. The mere

the theory.This is the dilemma

in the

but

none
1"

if

he venture
on

built

divine power

could raise

of the fact refutes

if theywere

dead,
really

them,and that by a miracle;

only entranced,how could Jesus,if but a mere

how would
it ? and not knowing it of a certainty,
his tion
the hazardous experimentof placing
on
reputa-

they were
know

man,

recurrence

course

on

the issue of such

a

more

untenable

chance ?

Never

was

an

hypothesis

position.

that
will not enter upon an examination of the question
to whether the
as
presentsitself in the next place,
naturally
We

Saviour

was

himself also in

trance.

No

one

fact is better

than the re-appearance

establishedin the whole Gospelhistory,

of Christ after-the crucifixion. If that fact be not true, there

s

MESMERISM

252

is

end

an

then, in
the tomb
:

of human

Here, then,we

offer not

power

in detail a class of miracles in

meric
the Mes-

proudestresults of

the

And

distant resemblance.

the most

idle,

say, that this examination was

"
to the subject, that we
as
fight,
no

self
it-

questionanswers

The

refutation.

have examined

Tiestament,
to which

ask

laid in

the cross, and when

by Joseph of Arimathea?
to need

also,we

He

Was

ever.

hanging on

it is too monstrous

the New

for

evidence

when

trance

OPPONENTS.

ITS

AND

one

"

foreign

that beateth the air."

one

"

that it is

let

Nothing is useless,
by which the faith of the believer may be
heart be
and
the misgivingsof the anxious
strengthened,
quenched as they arise. The extracts that have been given
from anti-mesmeric

the

writers,
prove

opinionsthat

afloat,

are

to undermine
respecting the manifest tendencyof Mesmerism
of the Christian faith." Many, it is added,
the first principles
who "go to laugh at a mesmeric
exhibition,may remain to
"

it is
perish."*The facts,
said by others,
is newly discovered.
are
old,but the principle
And
is a livingreality,
knowing myselfthat Mesmerism
knowing that its powers reach to an unsuspectedextent,
covery,
knowing that the faith of many has been disturbed by this disI have thought it essential to analysethe question
and place the subjectin its true colours. If I could
closely,
and
doubt, to disbelieve the Gospel,

to

"

"

not

say how

far Mesmerism

does go, I have at least shown how

nation
inquiryhas commenced
by an exami-

far it does not go.

The
of facts,
to which

no

even
approximation,
by the Mesmeric

in the faintest

degree,has ever been made

matter
stoppedhere,sufficientwould
the Divine Mission
a

from

teacher sent

If the
power.
have been said to prove
Jesus, and to show that He was

of the Lord
God.

But

into those miracles of

greaterresemblance
And

here it is at

something very

They

once

we

often been
"

"

proceedto

now

new

not

most

the

fall back
wonderful.

Charlotte Elizabeth's

"

is supposedto exist.

power

that the Mesmeric

asserted,
do

gation
investi-

an

curative character,to which

extraordinary.For

present argument,
have

with this

we

cures

convenience
from
The

that

of the

position.

treatment

Letter,p. 14, IS.

are

has

254

mesmerism:

the

heard.

claim

OPPONENTS.

ITS

I have
of whom
every other Mesmerist
laid
has never
successful practitioner
most

to
applies

same

ever

AND

The

of an infallible and universal power.

possession
He has never
pledged himself beforehand,in every possible
If he have succeeded in ninety-nine
case, to producea cure.
the

to

procureda

If he have

cases, he has failed in the hundredth.

porary
the relief is often but temin many patients,
is the wide
in others. Here, then, in the first'place,

lastingbenefit
and

of the
interval that separates the wonders
of Israel. No
the marvels of the Redeemer

immeasurable

Mesmeriser
one

ever

and

was

from

soughtHis

pain,

be

can

this

point.

"

To

And

the

that

were

"

All

them

few ;

to every

unto

healed

or

that he

him

(Matt.c.
had

and

touch

in its

was

His

the

made

ever

confirms
Gospelhistory

they that

His language

void.

"

or

sick."

went

sanative power extended

Nothing
of disease.
complication
;

the

in

succeeded

promise that

Him

Gospelnarrative,"
says he,
in
believe,that Christ attemptedcures

nothingin
to

of

on
testimonyof Scripture
there was
thing
noPaley'shappy expression,
There is
experimentalin the manner.

use

tentative

Him

authority
; His

decisive than

more

unto

went

ever

unto

effect certain,
foreknown,invariable
to every

one

word

returned

lipsnever

decisive and with

was

No

The

unrelieved.

cast out

forth from His

face in vain.

this

viii.

v.

"

which

allow

us

and
many instances,
the attempt in vain.".
"

position.

healed all

He

St. Luke

16.)

sick,with
any
he laid his hands

can

says that

divers diseases,
brought
on

every

one

of them

and

(c.iv. v. 40.) St. Matthew, again,says that

He went about all Galilee, healingall manner
of sickness,
of disease,among
and all -manner
the people." And they
that were
taken with divers
brought unto him all sick people,
them."

"

"

"

diseases and torments, and

those which

were

and those
lunatic,

curingdiseasesand distempersby the stroke of his hand only,"after an old

found in Cambridge.
printlately
Mr. Thoresby,in the Philosophical
226. p. 332. A.n.
Transactions,
1699,
mentions how
Greatrakes
drove the pain from place to place,bringingit
This is by no means
in
to the leg,and, at last out by the toes."
uncommon
Mesmerism
I have done it myselfwith one
of my parishioners
:
who
had a
"

diseased knee.
Dr. Real
a

blacksmith

mentions, in the Philosophical

Transactions,No.
who

cured

by strokingwith

the hand

Ig. p. 206.,

like Greatrakes.

255

MIEACLES.

that had

the

palsy,and

he healed

them."

(c.iv. ver. 23, 24.)

unto him, having

Again, we

read,that "great multitudes came

with them
those that were
lame, blind,dumb, maimed, and
others,and cast them down at Jesus' feet,and he healed
many
them"

(Matt.c.

xv.

30.)

v.

There

no

was

of in any instance. Here then,in the

characteristic of the Christian
distinguishing

read

of the

We

wherever

success

come,- in

now

the

the next

In

the class of cures

distinction,
Mesmerism, the diseases subdued

remarkable

character

cures

attempt

place,to

niaterial

exceptionthat we
is one
first-place,

the universality

"

made.

was

and

second

effected
have

by

either

been

of

tic-douloureux,fearful

most

party.
a

very

fits,
epileptic

brain

in the eyes,
fever, derangement, deafness,weakness
fevers,
neuralgicpains of all kinds, loss of voice, paralysis,
and

varietyof

where

all other

other

disorders

have

means

failed

short of the miraculous

Cures
limbs
the
mark

of

far

higherorder
had

members

or

injuryhad

dated

the difference

been

are

;
;

cures

have

been

effected

still all these fall immeasurably

effectsrecorded
there related

in

Scripture.
"

; cures,

organically
injured,
"

from the birth of the party.

where

where

cures

And

the

here to

it is necessary to introduce a
strongly,
third and even
viz. the period of time in
greater distinction,
the relief has
which the benefit was
produced. In Mesmerism
been often most rapid; in a quarter of an hour pain has begun
a
to give way, and has been
even
expelled
; in a first sitting
disorder has been removed ; yet, even
rapid as has been the
it to
therapeutic
power of the Mesmeriser, it is idle to compare
the instantaneous
to the magicalchange that followed on
more

"

word,"

and

place in

the

What
was

the voice of the

and

the touch

renewed

quickerthan

Saviour.

wanting,was

what

was

"spake the

thought a completerevolution

brain,in the blood,or

was

Christ

in the structure

made

of the sufferer.

weakened,
whole ; and that,

; what
supplied

broken, was

took

was

In the twinklingof an eye,

too, in an instant of time.
became " as the flesh of
sores
of diseased and putrefying

mass

little

combination
is very
The
child,"in the bloom of health.
and marks the miraculous character. In Mesmerism
noticeable,
where a rheumatism
1 have heard of more
than one
instance,

256

MESMEEISM

of many

AND

standinghas

years

OPPONENTS.

ITS

at the firstseance,

cured

been

as

had passed into the patient's

magneticmedium
efiectsmay
expeditious
system ; perhapseven greater and more
be compared to the miracles of the
be named ; still,
let them
in regard to the class of diseases and the
New
Testament
soon

the

as

instantaneous

of the cure, and what

character

resemblance

ia

there ? *
Peter's wife's mother

Christ takes her

her

the hand

by

fever;
immediatelyleaves

is confined to her bed

;

the fever

remains

for she arises and ministers to them

Eleven

of

cases
specific

cure

of feverish action,

the usual consequence

lassitude,

; no

with

at their meat.

of

leprosyare recorded.
fearful ; by some
description

The

it
is a disease beyond all
leprosy
of corThe skin and flesh are one
is thoughtincurable.
mass
ruption.
To effect a cure, therefore,
take place
a change must
in the whole

current

In

the first cure

related,

leprosy immediatelydeparted." In the cases of the other

Jesus,
lepers,
they were all cured at once on their quitting

the
ten

and in their way

"ven

of difference.
take you

to the

That

"

day,

or

which

month,

He

arisen

was
or

way

to

it

was

this

new

the

knot

Scripturespeaksof

that when

that

most

tinction.
importantdis-

year."( Traite Pratique,

700.)

explainit.

cuts
Revelations,"thererore,

asserts

Mesmerist, pointsout this mark

accomplishedby Christ in a second, will

that
distinction,

a
perplexedin finding

meant

is

cures
Gospel-

Gauthier, the great French

indeed,is the
"

priests.

instantaneousness of the

The

his

of the blood.

"

"

gradual."

These

are

So

school of Rationalism

lous,
marvel-

is much

American
youth, Davis,in
in the easiest manner
possible.

The

that
thingbeinginstantaneous,
his

own

words.

"

There

it

has

of

from the
misapprehension
concerningthese miracles,
Matthew
and the other evangelists
record the
ityleof the written word.
and effect as occurringin rapidsuccession
almost simultaneously.
cause
infirmitiescured by Jesus,the effectis related as though it
In the physical
followed the cause
with physiological
immediately.All who are acquainted
and energetic
and with the calm, gentle,
of the human
movements
principles,
e
ven
that
are
be
persuaded,
positively
convinced,
no
cause
can
organisation,
health
to
immediate
to
act
as
in
so
as
an
of
produce
result, case
brought
any
established disease. Therefore, notwithstanding
the thingsrecorded were
effected by causes
performed,they were
agreeingwith the nature of the
re-establishment
the
of
human
and
health,which actually
occurred,
system;
and by means
effected gradually,
was
adapted to the temperament of the
a

vast

amount

"

of the disease." Vol. ii.512.

in Cochin China,on hearing
of the
This is as if a philosopher
should say that it was
aiissionof news
by an electrictelegraph,
and that what was meant was, that it was by degrees.

and
individual,

the nature

rapidtrans-

impossible,

MIEACULOUS

257

CURES.

of paralysis
mentioned.
One in
are
Many importantcures
where
the sufferer was
particularis specified,
so
completely
deprivedof the use of his limbs as to be carried by four men.
He is cured instantly
and walks off,
that Jesus speaks,
carrying
his bed.
A

from his infirmity

and loss
who had been suffering
cripple,
of limbs for thirty-eight
who
had
and a poor woman,
years,
been bent double for eighteenyears, are
both cured at once.
The
latter
was
immediatelymade straight."The former
was
immediatelymade whole, and took up his bed and
"

"

"

walked."
What
limb ?
A

be

can

Nature
with

man

withered

stretch it out, and

Mesmerism

"

in the

dead

seems

than

hopelessstate

more

hand

dry

part. All power

Christ

to

comes

it is restored whole

withered
is gone.

he is ordered

to

the other."

as

ness,
signalservice in deafness,in blindand where
the voice has been injured;but the benefit
has been obtained by degrees; and in no instance has a cure
has arisen from a structural
been producedwhere the priration
are
tioned
mendefect,commencing with the birth. Several cases
from
in Scripture
of cures
of blindness, of blindness
has been

of

"

"

of deafness

birth,"
"

and

in the

deafness with

impediment

the

instantaneous,and

was

cure

the
of blindness,

case

cure

united

dumbness

was

speech,
"

from
and

birth,
"

so

of

on, where

In one
the touch.
following
effected more
gradually
; stillit

the
cured ; and half an hour, or an hour at the most, was
fore
time occupiedfrom the sufferer'sfirstinterview with Jesus,bewas

"
his eyes were
restored, and that he saw
every man
merism
clearly."To compare any of the benefits procuredby Mesof blindness and deafness,
with those marvellous cures

be

would

an

studied them

Among

but those who

which none
absurdity,
would dream of committing.*
closely

other instantaneous

cures,

we

may

mention

have

not

that of

and Xagthe miracles of Scripture

between
distinguished
that of rendering
as
to such power
netisra : for the latter makes no pretensions
of
withered
with
sound
a
or
instantaneously
givingsight,
arm,
perfectly
the
of
to
born
wonder
one
two)
all the effects of experience(the greater
"

"

We

blind."

"

have

TJeo. T.

Pyne, p,

20.

258

OPPONENTS.

ITS

AKD

MESMERISM

duration,whc
years'
knowledge
came
behind,and without the (humanly speaking)
of Jesus,'
cured directly
touched his garment, and was
; that oi
fits; and that of the servant whose
a boy with violent epileptic
healed by the
at once
of which was
ear
the wound
was
cut off,
with

woman

issue of blood of twelve

an

touch of Jesus.
It may

be

well

as

"

maimed
and

the

the xvth

larae and
Evangelistspeaks of the
being brought to Jesus,and of the lame walking,"
of the best commaimed
mentators
being made whole," some
in our
lation
transthat the word, which
of opinion,
are
had not
those who
rendered
maimed," signifies
"

"

"

is

"

merely lost

the

of their limbs,as

use

the lame,

limbs themselves ; and that those deficient limbs

and

of Matthew,

the

30., where

I'erse

add, that in

to

the

sufferers

"

made

whole."

Be

this

as

"

but
were

it may,

even

the

replaced,
here is

of cures, standingout in pre-eminentmajesty,

both
in the nature of the disease and the suddenness of the relief,

succession

"

far

any that the annals of Magnetism can

line of demarcation between
them so broad

far above

"

with

adduce,
and

in^

that the most

superable,
trembling Christian need not dread
the faintest approximation.
A. fourthdistinguishing
mark, attendant upon the cures related
in the Gospel,is the permanency
of their effect. There
is no
to suspect,from the slightest
reason
phrase that drops
from any of the New
Testament
writers,nor from any charge
that was
advanced by the unbeliever,
that the benefit was
not
it was
as
of
as lasting
complete. No one can assert the same

all

Mesmeric

our

with

cures.

largenumber

the

in some
especially

Still the

by

cures
were
one

the

sick with
of them

diseases that

unbeliever
"

touch."
divers

and

Many are indeed permanent ; but

action requires
to be renewed
vals,
at inter-

That

and
diseasejs,

there

was

It

he laid his hands

was

the
accompanied

the Mesmeric

on
"

every
touch
"

manipulating
process adopted,
him
to such an unpossessedby
usual

no

power was
that the
excessive degree,

virtue

chronic kind.

"

^tillthe Mesmeric
and

that Christ performedall his

replies,
They brought unto him those that

healed them."

theyassert. Though

of

are

mere

touch

was

sufficient.

touch of the Saviour is admitted.

TOUCH.

THE

It

the very thingwe

is,in fact,

that touch

divine

was

other human
the

being,not

The

assert.

human,

or

259

recorded

whether
questionis,'

whether

"

in

the touch of any

ever
Scripture,

wrought

effects?

even
as some
think,that the
Supposing,
touch was Mesmeric, onlyexerted to a supernatural
the
degree,
result would not be less of a miracle.*
If God bringsout a

out

same

latent power
in nature, and exercises it to an
is incapable,
man
though the virtue itself be

of which

extent

part of nature's

stiU its employmentto this extreme

forces,
degreewould be an
interference with our
physicallaws, and therefore strictly
This is the distinction between an energy that
prsBternatural.

is

extraordinary. The

ordinary or

wonderful,

the latter is miraculous.

but

"

confirmation

former

of this

view,it

must

be

may

very
in
certainly,

And

be said that God

works

by

analogy.He does not create a frash

in nature
where sufficient
the
alreadyexists. When
power,
divided by miracle,though dry land could have
Red Sea was
been producedat once
by the simpleword of his power. He
rather caused the waters
to go back by the effectof a strong
means.

To

east

wind, which

And

judge

from

called into unusual action for the occasion.

He

it may be with Mesmerism

latent Mesmeric
power to

thus
a

him

blood touched
that virtue

was

an

Christ may have exercised

and miraculous
extra

with
poor woman
and Jesus said that he
secretly,

instance,when

For

extent.

gone

of

out

the

him," He

may

have

an
"

issue of

perceived

meant

that

which is imparted
portionof that magneticvirtue,
supernatural
in a greater or less degree to every human
being,had escaped
from Him, and caused the beneflt.tI mention this in defer*

Mr.

SpencerHall,who

of Christian faithand
always writes in a spirit
dirt and spittle
disdain to use even

humanity, says, true, since Jesus did not

felt a ' virtue gone
as agents, and since he
"

another

was

benefited by

all,he might use

or
magnetism,

any

other

of
would

out

touchinghim, I

him,'on
not

occasion when
Lord of

an

deny that,as

for the
agent in creation,

working

compassionatedesigns."{Mesmeric Experiences,26.) The

in the articlebefore referred to, adoptsthe sairiie
Christian Remembrancer,
after
the
Saviour
that
thinks
might have exercised the faculty,"
view, and
1847, 389.)
(April,
a miraculous
way.
La vertu magnetique,
qui r^sidaita un degr"incom+ Gauthier says :
chez tous les hommes, et
parabk en Jesus- Christ,existe k un degr6inferieur
il
sort une
vertu de lui."
les
le
mains,
impose
magnltiseur
chaque fois que
out

of

his

"

"

".

T.

Pratique,46.

260

MESMERISM

OPPONENTS.

ITS

rather than
the views of others,

to

ence

AND

opinion. However, in changingwater

as

expressingmy

into

own

plying
in multi-

wine, or

five loaves to feed five

thousand,there would appear a

ever
speciesof divine power exerted,having no connection whattouch."
His touch,therefore,,
with this quality
of
may
"

have been meant

not

simplyhave

been

towards

of the

persons
Mesmeric

of communication.

attention of the party more

cially
espeJesus
touch
did
not
Moreover,
always

cure

of the sick of the

of
palsy,

of
cripple,

the

mention
no
hand, of the boy with epileptic
fits,
"

layingon

of hands."

very remarkable
and
immediately

and
fifth

It may
himself with
action,identifying

medium

external

an

him.*

In the

the withered
made

the
attracting

the cure, and

the sick.

for

virtue could not

And

this brings us

is

to

of three sick
the cure
distinction,
at a distance,
whither this assumed
possibly,
except by miracle,extend.

has a parallel
to this. I
Nothingin the annals of Mesmerism
know of some
where a strong sanative and
instances,
certainly
has been

soothingpower
transmission of
cotton, and

or

permanent.

communicated

highlyMesmerised

from

which

at

distance

But this curative efiect was

the work

the

as

leather

at

present

material,such

the benefit has also been

by

of

weeks, of

of long incessant application.

Let us, on the other
months,
hand, turn to the three cases recorded in Scripture.The first
"

was

the

cure

of

the distance of

nobleman's

more

son, who

was

dying of

On

fever,at

than

twenty miles. The disease left him

which Jesus said, Thy son liveth." The

"
very hour in
of the Centurion's servant, who
second is the cure

at the

the external action of the

was

sick of

makes the
hand,the Rev. C. Townshend
and appropriate
remarks
Gifts of healing,
:
not
following
less
pleasing
than of power, belongto the hand
If
the
by prescriptive
right.
potency
of the royaltoucjh,in curingthe king'sevil,
be but a superstition,
let us
that it took its origin
from a holy source
remember
Christ
and his disciples
:
the sick,and they were
laid their hands upon
healed. The miracles of our
Lord were
remarkablyaccompanied by actions of the hand,as if they were
connected with that external means.
in some
measure
In restoring
sight
he touched the ears
and eyes of the afflicted
and hearing,
Even
persons.
of the giftof the Holy Spirit
the imparting
followed the imposition
of hands ;
and this external ensignof a spiritual
agency is stillretained in our church.
that has undergoneor witnessed the beautiful rite of confirmation but
Who
has feltitspower" (p.1 99.).
"

"

262

MESMERISM

the

AND

Apostle. Other

same

is sufficient to enable

wrought his

that Gassner and others

the

successor

no

was

'

once.

appeared?

fresh argument, that decides the question

t^
It is said,that this virtue was
transmitted,
or, ia

But here
at

why
employed,

natural power
he able to transmit

same

while with Gassner and Greatvirtue to his followers,

same

rakes

ask

might be named ; but' this

If Christ only
this question,

the exei'ciseof the

by

cures

wonders
to

us

OPPONENTS.

ITS

comes

curative process, whatever

it was, was
and by them to many others :
taughtby Jesus to his disciples,'
these supposed miracles of healing
?
if so, how came
to cease
other words, that the

"

and would

theynot rather have increase^in each successive

? As this argument, however, is given in the most
generation
clear and forcible languageby the Archbishopof Dublin in
his tract on Christian Evidences *,I avail myselfof his permission
it in his

to render

"I

words.

own

performedby

said that the works

have

beyond the unassisted powers

of what is
I think,is the best description
Superhuman would perhaps be a better
were
disciples

miracle,thsm. supernatural
; for if
which

of events

called
strictly

'

works

which

'

none

as

other

did.'

man

"

which

we

are

But

accustomed

of the

is

of nature

to.

decide what does

can

be

sure

that

with all those laws. For instance,

bitant
inhaacquainted
an
of the tropical
climates might think it contrary to the

laws of nature, that water

ice. And
had never
seen

many

course
ordinary

those laws

But then it may be objected

that we cannot
laws of nature,unless we
violatethe ordinary
are

apply to

to

of nature, but
what is in general

"

we

miracle.

violations of the law

by supernaturalis somethingout
nature,
somethingat variance with

of

word

believe that nature

we

'

'

meant

by

meant

this,

to

his works, not

as

And

man.

his

and

that state of thingsand course

signify
God has appointed,
be
can
nothingthat occurs
Jesus himself accordingly
scribes
desupernatural.'

word

merely another

of

Jesus

of its effectswere

Christian

Knowledge.

should
when

ever

become

hard

since he

firstdiscovered,
was
electricity

contraryto the laws of nature,which

Evidences,
printedfor

the

for promotingChristian
Society

AECHBISHOP

had

been

hitherto known.

regionsmay
solid.

with

see

his

And

effects of

some

who

one

any

visits colder

own

see

for himself the

who

had discovered

any

rnan

subject,
may

the

Jesus had been

suppose
natural

new

enabled to

diseases

cure

by

all ;

person

touch,and performthe

He did,and
done the like,this would

practisedby

agent through which

works which

have

263

electricity.

Now

"

But

DUBLIN.

does become
eyes, that water
will procure an electricalmachine, or

any one who

attends lectures on

who

OF

justlike

the

throughwhich
have

soon

might
other

derful
won-

else might

one

any
become

be

known

and

of

or
electricity
any newlyhis
discovered medicine,and from
time down to this day every
would have commonly performedjustthe same
works that He
one
did. He might,indeed,have kept it to himself as a secret,and
thus have induced some
to believe that he wrought miracles.
But so far from actingthus. He imparted his power, first to
the twelve
Apostles,and afterwards to seventy others ; and
the power
of not
after his departure,his Apostlesreceived
ing
only performingmighty works themselves,but also of bestowwhom
all the disciples
on
those giftson
they laid their

hands, as you may

E,om.

see

from

use

Acts, viii.14.

23.

Acts, xix.

6.

i. 2. "c.

in
therefore,

the

earlychurch,many
hundreds, and probablymany thousands,performingthe sameJesus and his Apostles. And
if,therefore^
as
sort of works
of any natural agency^
these had been performedby means
else might use as well as they,the art would;
such as any one
known : and the works performed
have been universally
soon
of Jesus would have been commonly performed,
by the disciples
after down to this day.
ever
by all men
were
convinced,with good reason, that the;
But the Jews
"

There

have

must

been

"

of Jesus

works
And

it may

once

to

'

No

man

the

were

seem

same

"But," says

strange to

us

powers

that

conclusion with

of unassisted

they did

not

Nicodemus,

do these miracles which

can

be with him.'

beyond the

thou

all

when

doest

come

he

man.

at

said,

except God

"

the anxious

"you
inquirer,
T

have at present made

264

MESMEKISM

AND

allusion to the most

no

OPPONENTS.

ITS

wondrous

and these

are
predictive
faculty,
phenomena that more than

the

are

passed
partake

all

the
internal vision,
over

voyance,
Clair-

partsof Mesmerism.
any

of the miraculous character."

there is
Of the predictive
faculty

some

in speaking.
difficulty

the most
been stated,
on
Many remarkable facts have certainly
authority
respectable
; and he vrould be a bold and hastyman,
who
to reject
should presume
tified
certhem, without having fully

himself
as

defect in their evidence.

to the

But

strange

predictions
appear, to placethem in the same
the prophetic
writingsof the Old Testament,

of these

some

category with
to

as

"

them

compare

with

the fulfilmentof facts which

had

been

of years before,is preposterous. They

approachthe character of the stories of second-sight

predictedhundreds
somewhat
iimong

the Scotch.

ianecdotes that

It would

be

related under

difficultto discredit all the

that head ; and

many other
have occurred in the history
of the human
predictions
-singular
are

works have
"mind,to which differentmedical and metaphysical
How
referred.
far, in certain states of disease,the mind
becomes
"

"

more

and acquiresa peculiar

character
spiritual

exaltation and of subtle

judgment,so
of an event, I
probability

to decide

of

clearly
leave to physiologists
to the
to
as
determine.
Such, at any rate, is my own
opinion. Still all
at the best,is widely different from the prophetic
this,even
of an event, a few weeks
character. The
anticipation
preof several centuries ;
is very remote from a prediction
"viously,
relation to anbears no more
and in fact,this sort of foresight
cient
than do the wonderful cures
of the Mesmeriser
prophecy,
to the miraculous effectsrecorded in the Gospel.
These predictions,
then,as far as I have been able to judge,
a result that is about
to arise
"go no further than the foretelling
from circumstances
iDulist'svision.

as

more

then in action,at the time of the

The

increased

subtletyof

the

somnam-

clairvoyant's
wards
fermentingtotheir issue. In other words,the future is known
through
for
clear
:
a
its then existingcause
acquaintancewith the
present infers what must arise in the sequel. This would
and the opinionof many
also appear to be Mesmer's opinion,

foresees the conclusion from

perceptions

facts

CLAIRVOYANCE.

263

other

experiencedMagnetists. The
distant from the
enough : but infinitely
Of

of
the faculty
or
ClairvoyancBj

bodies,of readingwithout the

is remarkable

power

of

prophecy.*
seeingthrough opaque
nature

.^

of the eyes, and so forthj

wonderful as these facts appear at first,
and utterly
discredited
as
they are by many who believe in the other marvels of Mes"
merism, it is not needful to say so much as might be expected,
for two

use

reasons.

First,
corded
theybear no resemblance whatsoever to anythingrein Scripture.Nothing of the kind is mentioned
in the
Gospelhistoryas one of its miracles.- Christ never appealedto
any such fact,as a proofof his divine legation.^
wonderful
however
incredible they may
or
But, secondly,
singlefact of this nature, occurringin
appear, there is not one
the Mesmeric

state,but the

same

in
exist,spontaneously,

to

the

or

similar fact has been found

condition

of natural

bulism.
somnam-

will see this assertion

studythe subject,
unequivocally
proved. I have giventhis statement before.
In certain stages of extreme
or
peculiardisease,nature has
into an abnormal
tion.
condifound a vent, by throwingthe patient
In this condition very singularphenomena have
peared.
apin
Very many cases | could be cited of clairvoyance
unknown
In these cases, Mesmerism
was
state.
that particular
These
not appliedartificially.
was
or
mena
phenoto the parties,
natural Mesmerism.
At
the result of hysteria
or
were
and in a state of disease ;
spontaneously
any rate,theyappeared
and as such they relieve the Mesmeric wonders of the character
and bring them down to the level of ordinary
of the supernatural,
between
occurrences
; and
any comparison,therefore,
Those

who

will

See
c'est sentir I'effetpar la cause."
says, "pr^voirI'avenir,
the
of
where
he
also
B.
See
I'Abb^
J.
601.
speaks
L.,
T.
P.
Gauthier,
p.
a
nd
exalted
divine
between
an
revelation,
a
of distinguishing
tion
penetrameans
*

Mesmer

into the future.

If Mesmerism

how
"wrought,
to

process?
there

was

We
no

"

p. 611.
been

had

the

it that

agent by which

Jesus

and his

disciples

sensibili
inrigidity,
prevision,
clairvoyance,

coma,
happened
themselves in the
presented
pain,and other phenomena, never
is
additional proofthat
This
an
read of nothingof the sort.

Mesmeric influence in

;fSee Appendix,I.

the action.

666

AND

MESMEKISM

the latter and the miracles of

and

ITS

OPPONENTS.

would
Scripture,

be

misplaced

superfluous.

feel
scrupulousmay now
the wide
assured on this importantsubject
more
; and perceive
The questionis capable
distinction that exists in the matter.
I trust that the anxious

of

much

and of receiving
a fuller and
analysis,
than
proof. But enough, and perhaps more

detailed

more

conclusive

more

enough,has
that is

the

and

been

stated ;

"

^much,too,that is wearisome,much

that is self-evident* But

old,much

I seek not to

please

give knowledge to the well-instructed. This little

the timid ; and while I
of the ignorant
work is for the use
or
anxious by its publication
do good unto all men
to
am
;" I
of faith." Many
write for the "household
more
especially
amiable and virtuous minds have been deterred from givingthat candid trial which
its importancedeserves,
Mesmerism
other feeling
than a silent unuttered fear as to itsfrom no
is not rfght,.
bearingon Revelation. To say that such a feeling
that a love of truth ought to be predominantat all hazards,
is easy of utterance, and perhapscorrect in reality.Still it is
that deserves respect. And
it is to meet this feeling,
a feeling
these scruples,
that the materials of this Chapter
and remove
far they may be successful time
have been put together.How
will show.
That there was
for the attempt,ther"
a
necessity
be a question*And my hope is,that many
cannot
a perplexed
and doubtingheart,whose faith had been staggered
for a little
at the presumed mysteriousness
of our new
season
science,
may
sect, or

"

"

be led to

of its relative merits j

understanding
and comparing natural thingswith thingsthat are
really
the transcendent superiority
superhuman,may see more
clearly
of all that has been related of Christ,
beyond any antagonistic
claims affecting
equal power ;
and
and, with a belief more
and prayerful
more
of
by a diligent
strengthened
investigation
be enabled in all sincerity
the truth, may
with Nathaniel to
exclaim, Eabbi, Thou art the son of God 1 Thou art the King
a

accurate

more

"

"

"

of Israel!"*
*

Dr.

In

recent

Shapterof

address at Exeter,before the Devon

that

quotedas part of

cityactually
spoke of

the medical

the

"

Society,
Pathological

blasphemies
of Mesmerism

art,"meaning,
as

it was

being

understood,by

that

BLASPHEMIES

OF

MESMERISM.

CHAP.
EXPLANATION
AND

OF

MARTELS

REVELATIONS.

OF

"

MAXWELL

AND

NATURE,"

ON

MAGNETIC

OF
OF

BY

AN

ACTION
AND

Even
mean

the
?

jMesmerism

MAKER.
HAY-

VIRTUE.

distant

most

the

of
reality

or
cliaracter,

rather

blasphemiesof Mesmerism

By

what

process

of

"

!"

induction

What
"

Baconian

the

can

has he landed

on

turer
lecthis notion ?

or
false,
exaggeratedas to its value,but wherein is it
other
of those adjunctsin the healing
blasphemous than any
art,which

more

the
i

AMERICAN

of the divine power.

its "imitations"
"

miraculous

R.ACHEL

CONTAGIOUS;

do not shake, in the

though Mesmerism
Christian in
degree,the belief of the intelligent
some

THE

SLEEPING

But

of the science to
phrase,the pretensions

PHETESS
PRO-

"

THE

SYMPATHY

THE

DOCK.

SERMONS

MESMERIC

THE

WESLEYAN

REVELATIONS

OF

OF

PHETESS
PRO-

PLYMOUTH

PROPHETESS.

THE

BROSSIER,
OR

OF

OF

BOHEMIAN

MARTHA

FEMALE,

SOLDIER.

BACON

THE

REMARKABLE

MESMERIC

SLEEPING

CRET

ECSTATICS.
"

DREAMERS

PROPHETESS
PROPHETESS

DEMON

REVELATIONS

THE
THE

"

TYROLESE

"DIVINE

CLAIRVOYANT.

THE

BRAZIL

THE

PREVOST."

OF

BAKER.

AND

ECSTATIC

THE

ENTRANCED

EVANS

SHREWSBURY'S

SEERESS

KENT,

OF
OF

THE

JOHN

OF

SHEPHERDESS
GERMAINE

PARIS

MIRACLES

MICHELSON,

THE
SISTER

LORD

MAID

MARGARET

COVENANTERS.

vn.

FANCIED

THE

"

CATHOLICS.

WITCH

AND

267

be

himself

doctor

in nature

power
this

may

?
blasphemous

employs?
An

Mesmerism

is

simply an

of
application

disease,and nothingelse : is
of
zeal and of religious
assumption religious
language

towards

the

of
mitigation

wish to raise a prejudice

againstan adverse party,is an old game,
for its charity. The
wrath of man
but not remarkable
plausible,
of God :
in other words. Christian feelings
the righteousness
not
worketh
out of his path to
advanced by a lecturer steppingunnecessarily
not
are
under the sanctithe
with
nickname
monious
of
brand an adversary
blasphemer,"
horror
of
his
of
a
opinions.
guise
when
and

we

**

"

"

Dr. S. is a soi-disant follower of Bacon : here is

to have overlooked.
favourite author, which he seems
"

It

was

notable observation of
of

persuadedpressure
as
meaning,the
bious purpose,)"were
ends."
Essays,III.

from
quotation

wise father,that those which

consciences,"
(a phrase,which Bacon
descend^
the
cause
^making
of religion

commonly

interested therein

"

his

held and

plains
expreviously

to

themselves

some

oppro-

forthar

own

268

MESMERISM

OPPONENTS.

ITS

AND

Scripture
miracles, it furnishes the Philosopherwith a useful
clue towards the understanding
of much that has hitherto been
mysterious.*In the historyof man, many facts have been
recorded,of which a clear explanationhas yet been wanting.
"

In all ages of the world, we

at which the ignoranthave

had

have

of

succession

alarmed,the wise

been

marvels,
been

have

excited.fFalse prophets,
tended
presuperstitious
time
to
miracles,wonder-working saints,have, from
and deceiving
the very elect. Though
time,arisen,disturbing
in abundance,
have had their prodigies
heathenism
and idolatry
of which their votaries have appealedin confirmation
to the authority
and
staggered,

the

of their

of
rife with pretensions
especially
of trick and

delusion

generation;

every

of Christ has

creed,the Church

"

on

the

been
The

order.

same

these occasions has been

more

charge

advanced

in

correctly,not unfrequently,
haste. :[:
The unbeliever has detected

sometimes

"

however, with inconsiderate

that was
much
false; the scientific have traced much

to

the

efifect
of

has

"been

conclusion
imagination
; and so the inconsequential
at
adopted throughconvenience,that imposturewas

the

"

foundation of all the rest.

examined
sion

had

impartially
deci''

statements, this summary

the various recorded

A miracle,or miraculous
always satisfactory.
After a time an
of incidents,
is,for example,announced.

As, in

of
variety

constantly
sayingthat
once

yet to those who

not

was

train

And

for

all,that

curious facts

Mesmerism

I do not

in this chapter,I am
will explain them, let it be understood

alwaysmean

to

be

adduced

that the

had
parties

been

mesmerised,

identical with the Mesmeric state.

but that their condition was
"
If
look
we
"jthrough the records of past times,we shall find many
facts not
to be accounted
believed,
extraordinary
for,nor yet, therefore,to be disbut stillwhich are simplyextraordinary
wonheks
not
miracles
;
;

thingswhich

excite

vol. iii.p. 245.

\ In Professor

but which
surprise,

lead

to

nothing."AmoldCs
"

Sermons,

"

Gregory's abstract from Reichenbach,there is a curious

and satisfactory
in
explanationof certain ghost-stories,
or
"corpse-lights
females must
or
often have been
hysterical
churchyards." Many nervous
alarmed by white, faintly-luminous
to which
objectsin dark churchyards,
defined
has
fear
form."
Reichenbach
a
most
ing
interestgiven
objects
givesa
"it
that
and
not
was
when
old
altogethererroneous
explanation, adds,
declared that aU had not the giftto see the departed
about
women
wandering
have
their graves, for it must
The
always been the sensitive alone,"o."
"

"

"

reader is referred to the whole

account

for the elucidation.

"

p. 67.

270

MESMERISM

AND

ITS

OPPONENTS.

deservingof notice. "Whatever ac-i

cumulation of falsehood has heen super-addedin the progress,
the original
fact,from which the pretendedmiracle has taken
its rise,
and undoubted occurrence,
has in generalbeen a genuine
for which a natural or secondarycause
be discovered.
may
Most corrupt as is human
nature, this statement
may be adopted
with but occasional exceptions.Nor is it difficultto follow out
the colour
a transaction of the
assumes
kind,tillit altogether
of completeimposture. A singularfact,for instance,occurs
in a secluded spot,and amongst an
ignorantpopulation.It is
soon
spokenof as supernatural.The firstto visit and inquire
into the details is the spiritual
pastorof the flock. He hears
One

point,however,

is

that is

much

But littleremoved
in
to him.
incomprehensible
above his own
he adopts
intelligence
superstitious
congregation,
their theory,and sees with their eyes. The fact becomes
a
miracle with him.*
the
God has visited his people
as
; and
minister of God he takes the management of the case
especial
under his peculiarcare.
Nothing has thus far occurred but
what is fair and natural.
Soon, however, a temptationassails
him ; for the admiration of the populace
begins to flag; the
fears
is ceasingto be wonderful.
The
wonder
good man
check upon sin and immorality,
which the
that the salutary
is
suddenness of the marvel had effected in his neighbourhood,
A littleexcitement is necessary : a small
losingits charm.
additional wonder, therefore,
is ingeniously
broughtout. The
is complete: the credit of the miracle resumes
its hold ;
success
takes deeperroot : and thus the supposed
the power of religion
and the real benefits of the deception,
of the object,
goodness
The
ever,
same
round, howwarp his judgmentand lead him on.
must
And thus, stepby step, the
run.
againbe shortly
piousfraud grows beneath his hand ; unintentional deceptions
added in virtue's spite
himself has become rather
are
; the man
he cannot changejthan what he chooses;" and at last
"what
wonder
has swelled into a monstrous
the original
amount
of
"

"
as

"

we

every wonderful
them, that becomes

It is not

know

4rnolcCaSermons, vol. iii.p.

245.

thing,contrary to the laws of nature, so far

immediatelya sign of divine power,*'
"

MARVELS

wickedness and
are

FANCIED

afford

natural

explanation.fFrom

that very many facts,

which
and secured the wonder
of
miraculous,

as

the

cause

occurrences,

state

can

271

MIKACLES.

and
imposture
; and religion

perilled
by the detection.*
Now, for many of these marvellous

can

AND

have been but the

of the
transcript

have occurred within

the walls of my

my own
have been

of truth

Mesmerism

experience,

as
accepted
tude,
multisuperstitious

same
own

class of incidents
Natural

house.

Somnambulism,or Mesmerism, (forthey are both but different

will explainmany pointsof the
phasesof the same condition,)
quirer.
to the insupernatural which were
previously
inexplicable
"

"

Nor

is it necessary,

on

all

to
occasions,

that

assume

have been appendedto the firstwonder.

any additional prodigies
Oftentimes the whole transaction has seemed,on Mesmeric principles,

nothingbut a probableand natural chain of facts : good

faith,and honestyof purpose, have prevailedthroughout;
position
the original
marvel remained as it began ; and a chargeof im"

would

unphilosophical.J
More often,however, the temptation
to deceive has been too
His unconquerable
love of spiritual
successfulwith sinful man.
And
within.
has acted fatally
the evil propensity
on
power
where this power could be maintained
by the encouragement,
has too
or
connivance, or practiceof deceit,the Old Adam
This is the fact with
surrendered to the seduction.
generally
It is monstrous
to make it an
all creeds and all religionists.
be wanton

"
the
says that
Vindicia
advantage."

Southey

with

"

and

the

phydohgistmay peruse
Ecd. Angl. 144.

of
legends

the saints

sions
in the Zoist,by Mr. Lloyd,called "Alluin the Classics,"
full of varipus research,and showing
to Mesmerism
several passages
in point. The writer well
extensive reading,there are
In
"["

interesting
papers

some

remarks, "the
science,is,to
will repay
Miss

examination
a

considerable extent,

to

not

have

perusal. Zoist,vol. iii.p.

Martineau, in describing
some
a

"

influence of Mesmerism, observes

occur

of the
discovery
observations
The opening
re-discovery."

leads to the result,that the

me

if I had

that

escapedthe

been

;
a

"

new

157.

sensations,when

of her

then, and

piousand

persuasiontliat I had

under the

before and since,did it

I could
ignorant Catholic,

often
very
seen

heavenlyvisions.

Every

merist,
objectbefore my eyes would have been a revelation; and my Mesglorified
illuminated
profile,
with the white halo round her head, and the

would

^t

have

been

be remembered

saint or an angel."(Lefter,
p. 1.5.) Let this
and appliedto some
subsequenthistories.

striking

272

OPPONENTS.

ITS

AND

MESMEEISM

Church.
particular

exclusive chargeagainst
one

That

greater

has been detected among the priesthood

church is referable to the fact,that their swaytianity.
predominantduring the darkest ages of Chris-

of piousfrauds
variety
of the Eomish
has been most
As

ArchbishopWhateley says

useful of his works, "The

tendencyto

of the

one

"

Errors,"

Romish

most

"

This

is not

to any sect,age,
peculiar
spontaneous growthof the corruptsoil of

fraudulent

country^" it is the

or

Originof

in

means

man's heart." *
In illustrationof the above, a fact can be stated on the best
I am
not at
authority.I received it from a lady,whose name

libertyto mention,
"

whose

positionin societyis

of the story. She received it

with
herself acquainted
sister of the patient,
and was

guarantee for the

from

but

correctness

parties.An invalid had for

matism.
it is believed,
of his legs,
seven
by rheuyears lost the use
who had
A WesleyaQ minister in the neighbourhood,
meric
discovered in himself the power of relieving
pain by the Meshad become
process, long,however, before Mesmerism
known, called upon the sufferer, offered to do all
generally
he could to heal him, and said that "he hoped to be as useful to
the

and

names

residence of the

"

him

ProphetElisha." The man, of course, was but too

to placehimself in his hands.f And, after a succession
willing
of manipulations,
warmth
a genial
came
plete
on, followed by a comas

the

restoration of the limbs.

cured. :|:The
*

In short,the sufferer was

immediate
know
now,
cause, we

Pious Frauds,"p. 143.

Chapteron
trulyEnglish writer,Defoe, says, as no cheats are
t
those which come
so
no
prefacedwith introductions of religion,
make impressions
so easy to prevail,
or
so soon
the people.
on

derfully
wonwas

"

That

"

"

"

so

fatal

cheats

as

are

System of

Magic, p. 64.

I Southey,in his Life of Wesley,vol. ii.p. 21S.,refers to a cure performed

which Wesley published as "plainly
miraculous."
by a life-guardsman,
"it
must
either
been
have
miracle
and then shows
Southeysays,
ot fraud;
his own
it
the
latter. To this Coleridgeappended a
was
opinion,that
As to the fact itself,
MS. note,.
either
Southey'smust
or
is grounded on imperfectknowledge of the complainthere described. It
"

"

'

'

"

was

case

of that class which

have been

found

most

"

oftenand

most

influenced

sudden acts of active volition,

and by regulated
by stimulants of imagination,
and the like." Coleridge,
it is well known, had
breathing,
friction,
touching,
of Mesmerism,especially
deeplystudied the question
amongst the Germans.

DEVOTIONAL

Mesmerism;

for such results

are

not

inscrutable to all around,and

was

273

ECSTASIS.
uncommon;

was

deemed

but the

thing
miraculous by

the

patientand many of his friends. The Wesleyanminister

was
regarded by the ignorantpopulace as a prophet,or, as
Bacon expresses it,a
holy man," in consequence ; and as his
influence was
spiritual
mightilyincreased by the transaction,
our
good preacherwinked at the delusion, but in reality
was.
"

"

of

more

deceiver

church

of Rome.*

De

Foe, in his

than

System

"

rational

or

magic,in
by such and

herbs,
"

and

such

which
such
and

manner,

calumniated

many
of

monk

in the

Magic,"speaksof an artificial
cured diseases by charms, by
men
the Jleshin suck
gestures,striking
innumerable
such-like pieces of
"

but upon the

mimicry; working not upon the disease itself,
the
imaginationof the distemperedpeople,and so eflfecting
refers to
cures
by the power of nature." f De Foe evidently
with which
servatio
he was
some
facts,
acquaintedby tradition or obin
is a curious one : but our writer,
: the quotation
his remai'k on
of
undervalued
that
imagination,"
power
nature,"on which he was dwelling.
"

But

it is
the

on

"

that class of

strange appearances, which has

of the Devotional

name

Ecstasis,that

ceived
re-

Mesmerism

a
especial
light. In all ages, heathen and Christian,
effect has been observed,from
peculiarspeciesof physiological

throws

time to
which

an

time,to present itself in young

has

divine.

assumed

the

character

of

and

females,
sickly

the miraculous

"

or

"

the

ecstatic
Sibyls,prophetesses,
inspiredpriestesses,

dreamers,magicalmaids, devout nuns, entranced females,have

and received their particular
all followed in succession,
tion
appellafrom

the

accident of the

them, and of which

that
country or religion

they became

J. B. L.

claimed

the temporary boast.J

All

similar facts are given,

(Chapter19.)some
especially
Tliiers.
The
Traite des Superstitions,"
B.
J.
by
these
curious and instructive. Gauthier, in speakingof
facts,
are
accounts
hovr Mesmerism
and in describing
passedfrom the hands of the Pagans into
it
calls it a " Catholic magnetism." The Catholics,
those of the Christians,
exclusive
the
claim
title.
to
will be seen, have no
xii.
48,
vol.
Works,
p.
f
furnished by the history
of sibyls,
pytho^ " Nevertheless certain facts,
*

In the Abbe

in extracts from

"

"

274
these

female

and

regardedas
symptoms, language,

invariablybeen

prodigieshave

commissioned
divinely

OPPONENTS.

ITS

AND

MESMERISM

while

their

and dreams,have all partakenof one

attitude,

the doctrines

poles. Disease
believe that

been

they have upheld have

of the

the secret

was

the

as
opposite

as

whole

character,
I do not

matter.

of this class of ancient

singleinstance

one

uniform

or

adduced,in which the party had not

been originally,
and often for a long time,in a most unhealthy
modern

miracles

be

can

Let this fact be followed out, and it will be found

In this diseased state,nature often relieves itselfby

condition.*
correct.

throwingthe patientinto
somnambulistic

condition

produced,

as

"

indicate.

They

This
and sleeping
state.
hysteric
is nothingelse than Mesmerism
taneously
sponthe symptoms and phenomena clearly
an

but

are

the

and

one

that in artificialMesmerism,

same

this difference,

with

sympathy with

the Mes-

and a curative action obtained. I do not

superadded,
of
that these peculiarphenomena occur
in every case
mean
the contrary,
Mesmerism
they are very rare : but when
; on
similar in their character
they do take place,
they are so precisely
is

meriser

affection to what

and

that

no

short duration

"

some

"

from
resulting

Vials,and which
have been

some

very beautiful
stilltheyall belong to
are

be traced to the

phenomena,which

them.

in another ;

point than

one

painfulto witness
whether

Of course, as
marked : some
not all equally

ecstasis,
they are

stronger in

somnambulism,

common

material difference exists between

in the natural
are

in

occurs

I have

"

natural

or

are
some

one

of

are

very
family; and

artificialaction,
may

working of disease. The very

myselfwitnessed in the case of

have occurred with

brought forward

as

her

proofsof

over

and

very

over

the miraculous

versally
unisame

Anne

again,
nature

of several appearances in different entranced

females.t Dr.
"
of the
Elliotson,in the fourth number
Zoist,"mentions a
nesses,

will perhapsbe
and ecstatics,
convulslonaries,
at

least in their second

causes,

when

we

stood,
more
easy to be undershall know
of the
more

Abbe J. B. L., p. 106.

phenomena of artificialsomnambulism."
*
of
this
of
there was
a
case
Michelet,speaking
class,
nothing in
says,
It
iliis relating
to theology.
was
merely a subject of physiologyand
"

"

Priests and
medicine."
Women, ^.^1.
See
III.
Chapter
f
page 128.
"

ECSTATIC

similar case

in

EAPTUEE.

275

of his

where a beautiful ecstatic fit

patients,
of holy rapture was
brought on in the Mesmeric trance;and
which, amongst an ignorantpeople,
might have been used for
purpose.* In other cases, which will be menany superstitious
tioned,the patientis invested with an apparently
prophetic';
and a species
of divine knowledgeseems
character,
to be conferred
or
her.f In all these cases, naturally
upon
artificially
induced,there is almost always,during the periodof the paroxysm,
one

'

an
great exaltation of the intellectual faculties,
unusual clearness of mind,
of moral feeling, a
a high tone
a

very

"

"

but in language,
and occanot only in appearance
sionally
spirituality
that peculiar
the probableresult of
power of foreseeing

certain circumstances

then

in

action,which, when

the

effect

with the expectation,

the semblance of the
assumes
corresponds
prophetic.In fact,as has been trulyobserved,the crisis is so
strange,and the characteristic phenomena so remarkable,that
"

the

like two

appears

had

different persons."
%
entirely

all to be wondered

at

Zoist,vol. i. p.
also

awake, and when

when
individual,

same

449.

whom
patient,

attitude

devotional

from

at, that

Mr.

D.

1 have

than

In

Mesmerism.

It is not, therefore,

young and

Hands, Surgeon,of
more

somnambulist,

once

Mr.

ignorantgirl,
Thayer Street,

22.

in

seen

S. Hall's

ecstatic and
Mesmeric
periences
Ex-

an
"

description,
by Mr. William Howitt, the popular writer,of
Mr.
Hall cured of a serious affection of the brain.
whom
Henry,"
him by music are in particular
the effects produced on
Mr. Howitt says,
striking.They throw him into attitudes which would form the finest
models for the sculptorand painter."
(p.SO.) Having myselfseen Mr. S.
I can bear witness to the
Hall place Henry in the Mesmeric
sleep,
accuracy
at times acquires
of Mr. Howitt's description. His countenance
a pathos,
of fun, that are singularly
beautiful.
or
an
a sublimity,
expression
Divine Revelations of Nature," by the
f Of a similar character are the
I referred isL
to which
American youth, Andrew
Davis, the
Clairvoyant,"
"

"

is

Little

"

"

"

"

"

last

the

chapter: and the Revelations of

by Dr. Kerner, of Weinsburg.

the

"

Seeress of

Sermons
Remarkable
shortlyrefer to the
in the State of New
delivered during her sleep,
York,
fifteen
of
no
means
by
an
years
age,
ignorantgirljonly

I shall

"

municated
Prevost,"com_^

"

of Rachel Baker,
in 1814.
She was
"endowed
with a

showed herselfmost learned

sensible mind," but who, in her " nlght-talliings,"
and eloquentin the doctrinal parts of CalvinisticChristianity.
1 have already(p.90.)quotedfrom Dr. Moore, the case of Dr. Haycock,
but was
in his sleep,
who
so powerfully
unequalto it when awake.
preached
of similar exaltation ; and
three
other
two
mentions
cases
or
Dr. Moore
that
the
Italian
of
Dr.
in a
are
Improvisator!
refers to an opinion
Copland,
forth their ideas.
state of ecstacy at the time of their pouring
peculiar

276

MESMERISM

when

thrown

by

AND

OPPOKENTS.

ITS

disease into this devotional ecstasis, at

"

one

lookingup with heavenlysmiles,and claspingher

hands togetheras if praying, at another, utteringthe most
with a degreeof knowledge,
strange and mysteriousopinions,
and freedom,and decision,of which she is perfectly
incapable
be
should
the
uneducated
when awake,
as a superregardedby
natural
sence
being. And when certain phenomena, such as an abof pain,lengthenedsleep,
vision of persons or things
should be superaddedto these other apwith the eyes closed,
pearance
it is,perhaps,to be expected that some
such an
opinionshould possess the minds even of the better informed.
Deceived themselves by the incomprehensible
character of the
condition,
sleeper's
theyend in deceivingothers. And thus a
diseased habit of body, which a largeracquaintance
with physiology
became
accredited as a miracle,
now
can
explain,
readily
denounced
as
Satanic,accordingto the accidental creed of
or
interested in the interpretation.*
the parties
of this present Chapteris twofold.
The object,
therefore,
moment

^"

First,to show that the Mesmeric

anomalous

state, abhorrent

condition is not

from

all

an

tric,
eccen-

previousexperience

and
and tradition,

if true, the acknowledgedlaws

oversetting,
of nature ;
but rather analogousto,
and operations
or, to
in its phenomena and
correctly,
identical,
speak more
actually
that had been recorded by physioloin its essence, with much
gists
"

and

"

divines

and his treatment

had
long before Mesmer
been born or thoughtof.f
of wonders in past,and present
Secondly,to divest a variety
*

The

takes
sceptic

all such

statements

the tomb

of the Abbe

as

cloud of witnesses but

the events

which

differentline. Hume,

in his famous

"impossible."Speakingof
Paris,he says
the

absolute

"

What

have

the
we

be

regardedas

Essays,
rejects
performed at

to oppose

miraculous
or
impossibility

in the
they relate ? and this,surely,

people will alone

cures

to

such

nature

of

eyes of all reasonable

sufficient refutation."

The

modern

knows, however, the possibility

of far more
physiologist
wondrous facts.
in offering
this argument: the
j-I am not pretendingto any 'originality
opinionhas been long establishedamong Mesmerists. See Elliotson'sPhysiology
Isis Revelata,chaptersxvi. xvii.and xxii. and
; Colquhoun's
;
especially
Townshend's Facts, book iii.on
Conformity of Mesmerism
with general
The
all take the same
French
writers
view.
Experience."
It is hoped that
this identity
the
of Mesmerism
on
sceptic,
observing
with antecedent
to givea readier credence to our
marvels, will be disposed
simplertales.
"

278

MESMERISM

OPPONENTS.

ITS

AND

The silly
hood
peoplein the neighbourmemory.
struck with these appearances, which they imagined
were
"
watch
to be supernaturaV The vicar of the parishbegan to

tirely
escapedher

her

sayings."Knavery soon
maid was
taught to assume
a
more
language,and to counterfeit stranger
extraordinary
director.
Miracles
trances under the dictation of her spiritual
were
dailyadded to increase the wonder; and the pulpiteverywhere
and inspiration
resounded with accounts of the sanctity
the
of the new
prophetess."She was afterwards apprehended,
deceived.
forgeryof her miracles was detected,and the publicwas un-

her in her trances, and note down

followed the firstdelusion. The

"

from
it is clear,

Now
was

of natural Mesmerism.

case

the attendant circumstances,that this

The

girlhad

poor

the effectof disease. In

fits,
subjectto hysterical
the
fellinto a deep trance or sleep
: in this sleep
of mind

came

on

when
strange sayings,

which

This

common

in the Mesmeric

occuiTence
"

"

mistaken

the

views

the

designingpriesthood

ravings

of the multitude

caused the death of Elizabeth

state

herself that her

"

As

usual exaltation

"

and
supernatural
;
persuadedthe people and the maid
of the Holy Ghost."
were
inspirations

deemed

world

these fits she

of
uttered strange sayings,"
she awoke, she was
scious.
quite uncon-

she

"

been

Barton,
"

in this instance

and the

imprisonment,
Fisher,Bishop of

the execution of
and, perhaps,ultimately
Rochester,this case has acquiredan historical importance.
The
next

our

ill-used

above

example
in

of Scotland,
"

Mesmeric
When

shall be taken
a

Charles I.

Burnet

case

from

which

is

Catholic

:
prophetess

the Calvinistic fanatics

equallystamped with

thfe

to force Episcopacy
endeavouring
upon
citizens of the northern province
of his kingdom.

says,

"

was

she

forgotall she had

said in her

let it go so, but persuadedher that what

of the Holy Ghost."
Vol. i.p. 275.
the inspiration

would
priest

by

Roman

characters.

the reluctant

girlwas

not

fits; yet the crafty

she had said was

"

and the rector

herself
insensibly
partookof the illusion,
Lingard says,
In her new
situation her
parishadvised her to enter a convent.
ecstasiesand revelations were multiplied."Henri/ VIII.,p. 206.
"

she

of the

"

CALVINISTIC

it is well

known

what

Hume

"

says, We
of the Covenanters,
and no
auxiliary

was

an

uproar.

279

excited
were
passionate
feelings
determined people. The whole

fervid breasts of that

in

PEOPHETESS.

must

in the
nation

omit another

not

inconsiderable

one

; a

who
followed and admired
was
prophetess,
by all ranks of
full of whimsies,
people. Her name
was
Miohelson,a woman
and inflamed with a zealous
partlyhysterical,
partlyreligious,
for the ecclesiasticaldiscipline
concern
of the Presbyterians.
Thousands crowded about her house. Every word she uttered
received with veneration,
the most sacred oracles. The
as
covenant
her perpetual
was
theme.
EoUo, a popularpreacher,

was

and

zealous Covenanter,was
his part,no

on

less veneration.
with

to pray
'

her

her, and

his

But

desired

by

Royal

or

of

*'

There

minister,and

was

years

paidher^
the

tators
spec-

answered, that

be ill manners

in him
"

was
Master, Christ,

the purpose

speakingin her.'

to

speak

will be found

case

which was
Large Declaration,"
put forth for
traducingthe Covenanters and their adherents.
"

maid, whose
when

been

weaknesse,some
one

and

the fullest description

of this curious

in the

many

Being

speak to her,he

he durst not, and that it would

while

great favourite

is

Michelson,her father

died,left her

young

was

she hath for

by Jits.Upon this young maid's

pleasedto work, and to report her for
of divination : and finding,
that out
spirit

distracted
were

inspiredwith

he

name

affected with their covenant,

"(vonderfully
and that in her raving fitsher words tended all,
or, for
that
the most
part,to the admiration of it, and perceiving
and had a good
well-skilledin the phrasesof Scripture,
she was
they thoughther a fitinstrument to abuse the people,
memory,
of her blind zeal she

was

"

made believe her

and cried her up so, that the multitude was
All sorts
but from God.
words proceedednot from herself
duringher
of peoplewatched and stayedby her,day and night,
"

pretended^ts, and did

coming from heaven.
many
to her

times had

She

her rapturesand inspirations,

as
spake but at certain times,and

of days and weeks." Opponents

she had a good
nothingsupernatural,

intermissions

said, there
"

admire

was

Hume, vol. vi. p.

U

337.

MESMERISM

280

memory,
she was

OPPONENTS.

ITS

AND

she knew what

of herself;
very good expression
if she were
and while speaking,
interrupted
speaking,
and

answers
she made very pertinent
any questions,
Most of all she spake tended to the Covenanters'

by

to

them.

ends

"

when'

spoke of Christ,she called him the CovenantingJesus."

Many thoughtthat the cryingup of this maid did look like
*
a Romish
imposture."
while speaking,
and the
Her "good expressionof herself
pertinencyof her answers,"in her fitsand trances, all clearly
point to the condition that this poor girlwas in,and to its
sleep-waking.The circumstances of
identitywith Mesmeric
she

"

"

"

the

case

the

one

are
was

Gur next

similar to those of Elizaheth Barton, except that

Catholic and the other a Calvinist.
shall be also drawn

instance

History,in
evidentlytraced.

the Mesmeric

which

Louis

When

Edict of Nantes, and withdrew

the reformed

from the pages of Protestant

type can be still more

Church, the

the Fourteenth
of
protection

the

most

revoked

the state from

excitement
extraordinary

stirred up in the south of France, in the mountainous

The

called the Cevennes.

They
religiouszeal.
quaked; in short,the
"

on,

was

district

whole

mad with
populationwent
preached, they prophesied, they
"

most

"

marvellous

state

that to the eye of the ardent Protestant

and assistance appearedvouchsafed to the

of

so

"

the

thingscame
divine

cause.

lation
reve-

All the

before theybegan to preach.

however, fell asleepfirst,
parties,
In the midst of the generalexcitement,
of
one
case
especial
illumination was
miraculous
singledout. Isabeau Vincent, a
into a state
aged seventeen, was
constantly
falling
young girl,
of deep sleep,from which it was
at times impossible
to arouse
her.
They called to her with a loud voice, they pushed her,
they pinchedher, theypricked her till they drew blood,
they burned her, but nothing awoke her. She was soon
regardedby her Protestant neighboursas a prophetess.For in
her sleepshe sang Psalms, and chanted long hymns, and made
"

"

"

"

"

Large Declaration,by Charles I.,London, 1639, one of those Tracts,for

which, like the Eikon, the royalmartyr obtained the credit of authorship.
*

The

"

is supposed to be written
Declaration
rewarded with the Deanery of Durham.
"

by
'

Divine

who

was

wards
after-

THE

SHEPHERDESS,

281

admirable prayers, and recited texts of

Scripture,which she
expounded, and from which she formed her prophetic
declarations.
"When she awoke, she remembered nothingof lohat she
had said or prophesied
markable
duringthe ecstasis. And one other rethat she rarely
awoke
pointin her condition was,
of herself, but
and told those about her
requiredassistance,
"

"

~-

to

awaken

her.*

IJlsabeauwas called

of Cret." In a "Re-j
Shepherdess
lation of several that Prophesiein their Sleep,"
who
a writer,
callshimself
and philosopher,
a physician
lous,"
incredunaturally
the beating
the eyes, pulse,
of
states,that "he examined
the heart of the shepherdess,
and sales,
five different nights,
that notwithstanding
she is in all the night,she
the agitation
has her pulseas quiet as one
that is in a deep sleep,
and her
body insensible. She has preachedfrom the 3rd of February
to the 28th
of May, but does not find herself the least weary,
risingas freshin the morning as if she had neither said nor
Jone any thing(duringthe night).She never
opens her eyes
in speaking
and speaksin a shriller tone than when
she
:
talks."f
ordinarily
in his
Turner
also speaksof this case,
Providences,"
beginningwith "reflexions upon the miracle that happenedinthe person of a shepherdess
of Dauphine,"
| and then givesthe
famous "Pastoral Letter" of Jurieu upon the subject.Peter
"

the

"

"

"

"

Jurieu, it

is well

known, was

celebrated French

Protestant

beginningof the eighteenth

century.
and polemical
his
His theological
more
writings,
particularly
Preservative against
Popery,"were so highlyvalued,that he

divine, who

died

at the

"

was

we

sometimes
are,

called the

"

Goliah

curious
therefore,
naturally

of the

to learn what

controversythoughtof the "reformed"

was

evidentlycaughtby

He

it.

Protestants,"and

wonder.

considered

"

this

giantin

"

Jurieu,then,
"

Isabeau

"

in-

*
"
un
Ces extases ne paraissaient
profondsommell, duquel
que commc
de la tirer. On I'appelait
on
a haute
voix,on la poussait,
il etaitimpossible
r
ien
la
reveillait."
la
la
ne
brulait,
la pinf
ait,on
plquait
jusqu'ausang, on
,

'

"

BEKTiiaND.
f Tract

T. du

SomnaminUsme,

^. 568.

Relation of severalf
Museum, called a
Sfc,that
the
their Sleep,
Relation
a
Propheti
containing
of
tf

in the British

"

and Preach in
Frophesie
Dauphine." 1689. p. 13.
J Turner's Providences. Folio,p.

161.
2

282

IIESMEEISM

to
spired,"

character of
he

his

use

AND

in
Divinity

her,he described

saw

he says, that " there is a great

when asleep. When
she utters,"

words

own

what
her

as

all sense."

of
privation

OPPONENTS.

ITS

"

being

"

in

entire and

an

puts her

She

out

arms

lute
absoof

bed,

gracefuland well-ordered gestures."

She was
observed,after her waking,to return to her
natural simplicity,
and to the ignoranceof a poor shepherdess,"
and the improveand to forgetall her inspiredpreachings,
ment
in the character of her languageand ideas.
spired,
inWhile the Protestants thus regardedher as miraculously
the neighbouring
endeavoured to exorcise her
priesthood
with Holy Water.
The Curate of Bordeaux
to see
the
came
thus diabolically
others that were
case, and also to examine
and sorely
prickeda young
possessed. He pressedthe finger,
felt nothingof
maid of fourteen years old,who notwithstanding
and with

them

forms

certain

"

"

"

it."*

Wq

have,however,

Barton, the very

fraudulent

Spirit
by

by
her

the

same

that in the

seen,

trances

and

but the
Protestants,

people.
an
experiencedMesmeriser
There
Vincent.
storyof Is^ibeau

case

of Elizabeth

deemed
prophecieswere
of the Holy
inspirations

own

isow

sees

is

the clue to the whole

nothingin her case,

The deep sleep,and

but

the
met with.
occasionally
and then
firstof all ;
to pain and to noise,
come
insensibility
when
she beginsto preach
have the change in her condition,
we
provement
and an imand singpsalms,
with an exaltation of the faculties,
and an alteration itithe voice,and
in the language,
the utter absence of fiatigue
after most
violent exertion, and
the gracefulness
of her attitudes,
of every
and the forgetfulness
thingthat she has said or done,when she is awakened from her
meric,
were
purelyMesecstasy. All tliese incidents in her history
except in their origin. Nature broughtthem out spontaneously
in a simpleignorantshepherdess,
but the practised
than once
Mesmeriser has more
induced them by his manipulations
what

he has

"

"

and influence.

We

have

another

remarkable

prophetessin

the reformed

Her convulsions,
church. Christian Poniatova, of Bohemia.
trances,and visions took placein 1627,at the time that a sharp
*

"

Relation of

"c.
several,"

p. 14.

SISTER

persecutionwas
Bohemian

set

foot

on

283

Protestant part of the

Her visions had reference to the prosperity

community.

and

GEEMAINE.

fortunes of the

againstthe

reformed

Her

church.

sleepwas

profound; duringwhich she fell into an ecstasis. She

then predicted
several events ; and she seems
to have had in
that state a certain species
of prevision,
such as Mesmerised
Protestant partisans
garded
repatientsoccasionally
possess. Her
the whole as a miracle^and the girlas divinely
inspired.
But here is the noticeable point: when she recovered her health,
the supernaturaldisappeared.The malady and the miracle
went
no
away together. She afterwards married,and was
longerregardedas a prophetess.*
Mr. Colquhoun, in the
Isis Revelata,"gives us another
that occurred in Brazil,
where a girl,
named
Sister Gercase
panied
accommaine, in 1808, was attacked by an hysterical
affection,
in such a state,that
She was
by serious illhealth :
she was
no
longerable to rise from her bed,and subsisted upon
could scarcely
have
a regimen which
supportedthe life of- a
most

"

"

"

infant."

new-born

poor

invalid

fell into

extended

were

And
a

deep trance

in the form of

for hours.

Other

pilgrimsto

was

visither

to

saint

And

natural and

part. The

and
stiff,
grew
in this position
mained
re-

arms

declared

was

immense.

was

her

usual
circumstances,

regardedas

close connection between

The

cross, and

ecstasis,took place; the whole

Sister Germaine

the miraculous

comes

now

in this sort of

to

be

and the

Mesmeric

miracle.
of

concourse

let us

now

notice the

somnaflibulism.

vulsions,
prieststated,that in the midst of the most fearful conit was
always sufficientfor him to touch the patient
restore her to perfecttranquillity.
During her periodical
"

when
ecstasies,

her limbs

were

so

stiffthat it would

Bertrand,Traite du SomnarabuUsme.
we
departureof the malady and the miracle,
'

uexion with Mesmerism.

Gauthier says,

"

In
have

regardto
another

have

been

this slmultaneousi
proof of its

con"|

Z'/jebest proofof a

state nfi
perfect
of magnetism."

health is the cessation of somnambulism, and of the action

"
To all tliesenatural
And M. Casaubon
Traite Pratique,
p. 599.
says,
fits are
diseases and distempersenthusiasticdivinatory
often
it
doth
but
when
doth
:
happen very
say that it

is cured
same

Casaubon

not

the disease

so

"

was

happen,

as

the enthusiasms go away, I will not say by the

Treatise on Enthusiasm, cap. ii*p. S9.
time."
hut at the same
close observer of nature.
and
cautious
a
evidently

by natural means,

means,

incidental. I do

"

MESMEKISM

284

AND

easier to break than

bend

OPPONENTS.

ITS

them, her confessor,

accordingto his

account, had

own

only to touch her arm, in

he thoughtproper."Every
position
state
a patientin a rigidor cataleptic

whatever
has had

order

give it

to

Mesmeriser
can

who

understand

narrative.*

and believe the above

reignof Henry IV. of France, a case containingsome

startling
phenomena had its originin the town of Eomorantin,
occasioned much
disturbance at Paris,from
and subsequently
animosities and the edict of Nantes.
its connection with religious
The narrative is givenby the great historian De Thou.'f
of the girl,
seized with fits,
Martha
was
Brossier,the name
convulsive movements,
and fell into a state of
and violently
delirium and ecstasy. Marvellous prodigies
were
performedby
In the

ultra-Catholic party, anxious

The

in this condition.

her

to

king and unsettle the country,in consequence of the

conceded to the Protestants,fastened upon
toleration recently
and a signal
this case as a proofof divine displeasure,
instance
The girlis carried before the Bishop
"ofdiabolical possession.|
trouble the

learned writer

April,1 84S, in

in which

cases

some

females
the

of the

church

of

Rome.

the

of several

names

The

clear,and

"

added

was

in the

on

progress

of the work,

profitable
state
; but that the original
which led to the delusion,
was
and diseased
a natural
prophetess,"
can
doubt, who have givento the subjectof Mesmerism
a philosophical

"

none

See

study.

"fThuanus,
other

England QuarterlyReview," for

reviewer mentions
admitted afterwards by
infers that all the other instances were
sheer
will
not
all
however,
the
Imposition,
explain

hence
he
: and
parties
i
n
like
manner.
Imposture,"
facts.
It explains
much
that
had found the
after the priests
a

of

has collected
subject,

imposturewas

the

of many
action

Church

"

this

articleon

an

and

"ecstatic nuns

in the

torn.

Appendix

II.

liber. 123.

v.

Bayle,in his

writers.

trances

The

is also alluded

case

has
Dictionary,

mind regardedthe whole

sceptical
\ De Foe, in that strange but

as

long

by

to

article upon

several

her

his

cheat.

orthodox

book, The Political Historyof

the Devil,"
written indeed with good intentions,
though too often in an
irreverent style, has a chapter about
"the
cloven foot walking about
"

"

"

without
is not

devil,"
or, in other words, a dissertation to show
guiltyof all the simplethingswe chargehim with."
the

that
Much

"

Satan

of it is

of Blesmerisra.
How," says our author, " does
very germane to the uses
the devil's doing thingsso foreignto himself,
and so out
of his way, viz.,
kind
of
to mankind, or
a
friendly
disposition
showing a
doing beneficent
"

with

things,
agree
professesin
show
when

the

the

rest

Introduction

is,and

what

he is in us, and

when

what

he

of his character ? "

to

"

he is not

give the

; where
he is not."

Part ii.chap. 7.

history
is,and where

true

he

"

of

De

Satan,
he

is not

Foe
"

"

to
"

286

OPPOSTENTS.

ITS

AND

MESMERISM

mained,
Secondly,the girl,accordingto De Thou's narrative,refor a moment
or
two, suspendedin the air without
of hody peculiar
to her condition.
lightness
support,from some
Fullo,Ahbot of St. Genevieve,stated that Martha, though held
down by six strong men, liftedherself up four feet above their
not
so
heads,and remained so some short time. The priests,
ever,
pronouncedthis diabolical. Marcescotus, howunreasonably,
of the physicians,
one
examining into the fact,thoughtit"partlyfraud,and partlyaccordingto nature, or rather not
credible
for the opinion. Inbeyond nature *, and he giveshis reasons
shall
fact appears, we
rather impossible
or
as the above
find more
than one instance of somethingof the kind occurring
in cases of this description.
in her sleeppoint,is that the girl,
Thirdly,the last peculiar
of which, when awake, she knew
.wakingstate,spokelanguages,
cian,
.nothing.She spoke Greek and English. Duretus, the physithought this a proof of diabolical possession(quodlinexercuisset).
f
prseternaturam
guam

Martha

Brossier and her father,on

their return

home, died

against
great miseryand want, throughthe popular feeling

in

them.

That

there

up with the latter stages of

but that,in the first instance,

fraud mixed

was

the

is too probable;
proceedings,
of Mesmeric-hysteria,
there
was
a genuine case

it

can

be

no

question.
"We will now

come

to later

days
"

to certain modern

miracles

and Eoman
which have excited
Catholics,
among the "Wesleyans
considerable interest and sensation in their respective
churches.

Among

the

Wesleyans|

three wonders,
"

some

there have

of which

are

been

recentlytwo

too ridiculous to be

or

noticed;

Eam, supra eorum,

in vacuo
qui captam tenebant,se capitaefFerentetn,
esse,"
See
naturam
for
non
III.
aliquamdiueonatitisse,
Appendix
prater
remarks
this incident,
and for several other allegedfacts of the same
on
"

:kind.
t See Appendix IV.

upon

this fact.

^ See Appendix II. for earliercases among

Journal, "c.
Coleridgein his Table- Talk
"

the

Wesleyans,from Wesley's

observes,

"

The

coincidence

all these Metliodist cases with those of the Magnetists

makes me
wish for a solution that would applyto all,"
"e.
Vol. i. p. 107.
Tlie coincidence
is so complete,
t
hat
it
we
shows
that the physicalcondition is
reply,

throughoutof

the

same.

ENTRANCED

but there is

and credit it has obtained,

which, from the notoriety

one

the

287

FEMALE.

vited
publicattention has been intowards it,
and the effectit has producedupon the religious
of their own
feelings
body, is more
especially
deserving of
"

with which

manner

examination.*
"

The

of
History

up and attested
This littlework
Book

Entranced

an

the Rev.

by

sold

was

Committee

if

their

not

reached

is

simplya

far the story received

immense.
It
circulation was

permission;
The

few words

extracte'd from
had

"

Here
a

and

so

from

been very ill,and

imaginationin
the
"

There

is

no

It is unnecessary
reason

the transaction.

Holy

Maid

of Kent, and

Female

"

was

in her

In 1820,

(now

to

to suppose

It is

case

either trick

of pure

several Mesmerised

simplyin

examine

rance
igno-

Wesleyan supporters.
a

and had clearer and

moral and intellectual,

Dock

dying."

At last she fell into '

the part of the writer and of his

Entranced

than

be

supposed to

nambulist
som-

disclosures''

these disclosures.

the

was

"

and

remarkable

Like

The

as

warmth
about the region of the
slight
nearlya week, she opened her eyes. And now began

mouth

the

on

excitement

warm

Mr. Young says,

she appeared to
state,"
after lying,
with no signsof life,
a littlefroth
save

heart,for

or

the faith of whole

the narrative will show.

In this

"

But

die.

revelations of the

natural Mesmerism,
or
hysteria,

is the first pointto be remembered.

trance.

her

of

case

Minister.

leyan
the accredited organ of the Wesof the Conference,with their connivance,

was

narrative drawn

Young, Wesleyan

R.

twenty-seventhedition ; and the

prophetesswere considered so importantthat
Wesleyan congregationswas in a state of
them.
respecting
It

by

and

their indirect sanction.

"

Female

state
more

patients,

of exaltation,
active perceptions

ordinarycondition. "("
occurred

among the Wesleyans at Plymouth

Devonport),which created immense sensation in
case

Sold by Mason, Paternoster Row.

ties,
j- See a clever useful littlebook in refutation of several of these absurdi"
and
Reason
Miracles
condemned
Modern
Scripture,"
by
called
by
*

tPainter,342. Strand.) Still the viriter has not gone

of the phenomena.
or understood the real cause
of the subject,

Philo- Veritas.
the bottom

to

AND

MESMERISM

288

that

OPPONENTS.

ITS

neighbourhood.The phenomena

of

were

Mesmeric

type,

A small book,
as usual,to Satanic power.
ascribed,
and
called
The Demon, or a case of Extraordinary
Affliction,
*
Gracious Relief,
the effects of Spiritual
lished
Agency," was pubby Mr. Heaton, the minister of the congregation, in
described.
This book had a largesale,
which the facts were
"
author called,
ther
Furand was
followed by a tract by the same
Observations on Demoniacal
Possession," in which the

and

were

"

"

"

"

"

"

of the symptoms were

againurged.
of the circumsecond edition. Some

character
prseternatural

This

reached

tract

cumstances, indeed,were
who

: and
singular

most

attended

the

case,

called the

as

medical

tleman,
gen-

malady a "very
thing,and as Mr.

unnatural, unaccountable"
extraordinary,
who tellsthe story,lived next door to the
Heaton,the minister,
and had every opportunity
of examininginto its truth,
patient,
the facts may be considered well authenticated and deserving
of
notice.
John
some

Evans, a boy between

time in the

Plymouth
speech. Here

loss of

fits and

he

or

ten

blistered and

was

Sunday,after service

One
Mr.

years old,had been

of
Dispensary,for the treatment
nine

at

bled

Windmill-Hill

to Mr. Heaton
came
Lose,the father-in-law,
that the boy was
very ill,and wished him

Chapel,

with
to

"

words.

sensible,

boy

speak,but

could not

convulsed,
violently

was

"

The

"

was

fixed his

"

branches

began
the

to

name

of

tree, and

then

relaxed."

became

will

We

his muscles
staringupwards, then stood motionless,
his arms
close to his side,and
on
a painfulstretch,
the

and

shocked

"

own

sage,
mes-

come

and was
accordingly,
pray with him. Mr. Heaton went
affliction of the poor child.
at the " extraordinary

givehis

peatedly.
re-

fectly
pereyes,

appearing
stiffas
Mr. H.

agitatedby prayer, and' " at

pray, but the boy was
of Christ convulsions came
he showed antipathy
on,
"

to every

thing sacred,
"

and

was

enraged at

the

sightof

the

to Mr. H. to scratch
approach nearer
and bruise him, than within four inches,
with all his efforts!
on
"convulsions, and dancing,and
Every day there came
horrible fits,
and shriekingand noise, ending with limbs

Bible,"
"

but could not

"

"

Sold

by Mason, Paternoster

Row.

like
stiffening
some

he

in

his fits go

with

apparent

could

senses."

not

"Whatever
he

himself."

one

"At
"

the

medical

ease,

had

others

were

"

he

recollection

no

time,the spiritof
another,a needle was
he

suffered

he

whatever

"

in
properly

was

of, when

he

hartshorn

was

thrust

appearedto regard.

gentleman,solicitous

to find out

during
to

came

applied

deep

This

his

into his
done

was

the real nature

of

tried the lad's sensibility,

by suddenly
with

cane,

When

"c.

he has been

his aim at the door

has been
course

there

were

self-command,and perfectsafety,

did,

shakinghim, beatinghim
making

there
epilepsy,

being merely epileptic,

and dangerous manoeuvres
through difficult

Several persons

case.

Of

"

from

case

he

to his tongue,
at
neither of which
flesh,
a

corpse:"

289

possibly
performwhen

his paroxysms,

by

or

his
distinguished

he would

as

tree

DEMON.

strong symptoms, nevertheless

very

which

THE

held before his

a handkerchief
(walkingtowards it),
face : stillhis eyes were
fixed,and his

himself,he was
as_
profoundsleep.The boy said, I was like
When

undisturbed.

was

he

to

came

moaking from a
and didn't dream
neither ; I don't
as
though I was fast asleep,
remember
he performedthe most diflEL-/
anything.' In his fits,
cult exploits, things which
other people could not,
ana
'

one

"

"

"

himself could

which

he

dance

strangelyand

"

Some

kind

with

of his attitudes

again he

then

"

not, when
ease

on

in the fit.

not

the surbase

of the most

were

would

become

corpse, and continue in this state for

minutes, with his eyes fixed. His
"

He

of the

would

room."\

and elegant
graceful

stiffand

"

an

hour

motionless
and

as

twenty
stiffness

uncommon

Jxis
(rigidity
Jhing;j__SDme_oi)e4)u.t)wasth"jm"st_surpriaj^
hand under his Jiead to.raise it,but it could only be raised__as

body was.iaisgd with it. We

placed him upon his feet;

but even
he rested his whole weight on the pointof his toes ;
of science,"
this did not make him bend
his joints."* "Men
puzzled,and medical men hesitated to give
says Mr. H., were
for to say that he was
to givebut
was
an
epileptic,
;
opinion
termine
:
a mere
good sense must descrap of the truth of the case
whether or not the supposedsuperhuman actions,
performed
be
to the
demoniac, physically
possible
by the suspected
the

"

"

"

"

See

Appendix III.

MESMERISM

290

in
patient

disease

AND

conclusion that it was

After

held at the house

clear

OPPONENTS.

and

our

possession.
"Wesleyanministers was
the recovery of the boy,

for

offer prayers

to

arrives at the

author

of Satanic

case

assemblyof

time,a solemn

"

health

or

ITS

of the power of the demon ; when,

for the final subjugation
the attacks
to their supplications,
and as if in answer
suddenly,

and

normal

^a
ceased,

state

the child

suffered
subsequently

the

means

same

completecure followed :
but recovered through
relapse,

on, and

came

and after the

same

way.

Such

Mr. Heaton's strange story. Of the reality

is,briefly,
of its facts,
there is no reason
tained.
why any doubt should be enterThe
demoniacal
and

which
points,
and
possession,

the medical

the author
which

"

attendants," may
"

considered

proofsof

as

of science
puzzledthe men
traced to a conbe clearly
dition

identical with that of Mesmerism.

repeat the characteristics ; the reader

It is unnecessary
by this time must

to

be

in a
evidently
boy'sbrain,too, was
was
capable of being
state,in which the imaginativefaculty
and horror,
acted on,
as
was
seen
by his agitation
powerfully
and at another,by his recovery after
at one
time,of prayer ;
its use.
will
Mesmerism, and imagination,
Epilepsy,catalepsy,
explainMr. Heaton's "Demon."*

familiar with

The

them.

"

"

We

will

now

examine

in the Eoman

occurrences

and

recent

some

less memorable

no

Catholic community

which

have

been referred
produced an equal excitement,and have equally
of the supernatural.
It has long ago been observed,
to as proofs
that in
and

Romanists

"We
the
on

Mr.

this case,
it

must

are

belief of the marvellous,the

sister churches,

firstreturn

to

Mr.

M'Neile,and give his

the artificialand the natural

Heaton, among

his arguments
which

givesus a, reason
deserves a transcript.
"

is

"Wesleyans

question
; for strange to say, he has
a certain portionof the truth,and

between
*

enthusiastic

in
seen

some

manner

views

on

alighted

the real connection

ecstasy. This pretended

to prove

"

the demoniacal

character of

amusing for itslogicand naivety,that

afflictionwill betrayitselfby
praiternatural
so

prsEternatural
symptoms; and without much dangerof error, ve
may
that prreternatural
have
must
a prietematural
cause." (p.8.)
effects
This reminds one of the ratiocination exposed in the firstchapter.
well-known and most
useful work.
f See Bishop Lavington's

some

conclude

TYROLESE

291

ECSTATICS.

science,"
says

the sermon, " is precisely

the thingthat my Lord
Shrewsburyhas put forth,to prove that popery is the true
version
of Christianity.
Wliat is his Ecstatioa which he has
written such a book about ? You have heard of the Ecstatica
and

Addolorata,
"

Continent

the two

they were
with
exactly
corresponds
:

young
Mesmerised.

he

saw

who

in

was

Virgin;

state

her eyes

"

of what
open, but she had no natural sensibility
without.
He says that " a fly was
to walk
seen

on

them

have of these Mesmerised

young woman,
of ecstasy,wrapt in prayer, devoted to the
were

the

on

of
description

His

we
description

the

He tellsus of

persons.

whom

women

going

was

her

across

and she never

insensible of
winked ; she was
eyeball,
totally
everythingthat was going on, except one thing: he says, that
she manifested consciousness at the approachof the consecrated
host."
here is a state,pleadedby a popishwriter as a
Now
proof of divine influence,as a proofof divine originof his
this belongsto the mystery of iniquity." And
creed."
Now
"

"

"

far the

so

Now

sermon.

Satanic,and my Lord

merely an

beg

Shrewsbury as
leave

action of nature

considered

as

divine in the above transactions,

to

in

reduce

humbler

Germany,where
the ever-varying

southern

of the inhabitants,
and

simple character

and
of mountain, valley,

charms

to

state of disease.

delightful
provinceof

In that most

the

M'Neile

Mr.

character ;
of the marvellous,show to be
the facts altogether
stripping
I must

and

what

torrent, would

tempt the idle

been
young girlshave lately
character and
observation from the peculiar

travellerto lingerfor weeks, two

the

subjectof

much

condition of their health.

in the

route

want

not

to be

Tyrol,which

puts on its most

of the

who

have

traversed that

leads from Brixen

to

turesqu
pic-

Trent,

every nook and turn of the road

of Eoman
Catholic worship. Superstition

reminded,how

with the emblems

swarms

Those

form.
persuasive

Images of

the

Virgin,

dents,
Saviour, of the crucifixion with all its attendant acci-

stations for devotion,and

meet
hermitages,

the eye of
part of the

succession. In no
passenger in uninterrupted
of the externals of
so
Continent have I ever remarked
many

the

devotion

as

habits

smilingvales of the Tyrol;

of its mountain
peasantryhave

in the

and

the

been

tive
primi-

strongly

292

MESMERISM

moulded

under

AND

OPPONENTS.

ITS

their influence.

As

Southeysays

loquies,
in his Col-

forgotten
and the reader is requestedto
in Roman
Catholic countries ;
certain'
in mind, as throwing lighton
bear this observation
the source.*
were
feelings
phenomena,of which strong religious
the Ecstatica of Caldaro, and the
These two
girls,
young
Addolorata
of Capriana (as they are
now
termed) had both
illhealth. The former' had had various
been subject
to much
attacks of illness during her earlyyears." The Addolorata

Religionmay

"

be

but
neglected,

be

cannot

"

"

"had

attacked with violent and

been

of seventeen."

the

age
became

"

Ecstatic."

exhibited
a

the

And

at last fell into

in that

state

themselves,the effect of

diseased habit of

by

Both

illnessabout?
complicated

singularphenomena

excited mind

an

body,that the appearances

surroundingcountry

were

miraculous.

to be

The

upon

pronounced
priesthood

their

is no
protection
; but there
to believe that any impostureor
reason
were
trickery
added
superthem.
honest
as
as
They were
by
they were
ignorant.
and
All they did was
to magnifythe importanceof the facts,
to give the largest
Multitudes
currency to the intelligence.
flocked from all quarters as on
a
pilgrimage. Amongst them
at

took

once

came

the

such

Both

trance.

Shrewsburyand suite; and

Lord

my

under

case

who
gentlemen,

several Protestant,

all

staggeredby what they saw.

Lord
Shrewsbury, believingthe facts to be supernatural,
publishedthat account to which Mr. M'Neile referred ; and
will select the more
from his little pamphlet,we
prominent
points. We found her,"says the Noble Lord, speakingof the"in her usual state of ecstasy, kneelingupon her
Ecstatica,
were

"

"

in one
of his Discourses," He
Sir Joshua Reynolds observes
might
have'seen it in an instance or two ; and he mistook accident for generality
;
Mesmerists are too prone to commit.
with this
a blunder,which
Still,
*

"

"

caution before
me,

me,

the
respecting

helprecordingan observation,which

cannot

tendencies

of the

Reformed

and

of the

Roman

has

struck

Catholic

in the Somnambulistic condition,

to developthemselves,
religions
according
The
their
to
characteristic of Protestant churches
is
peculiarsystems.
Catholic,contemplation
preaching; that of the Roman
as helps
of images,"'c.,
Catholic Somnambulists
Roman
to prayer.
have generally
fallen into the
ecstatic and devotional attitude ; while sermons
and revelations have usually
proceededfrom the lipsof the Reformed
Sleeper. Sometimes, however, the

very

reverse

has

been

the

case

i"

it may,

be
therefore,

all

"

accident."

294

AND

MESMERISM

OPPONENTS.

ITS

Now," says Lord Shrewsbury in conclusion, the infidel

but the designsof God are accomplished."
scoff at all this,
may
There is,
however, no inclination to scoff at the sincere opinions
"

"

of any man,

that
reply,

it is said in

when

the
appearances are
"Wesleyanand the Protestant

culous
supposedmirawhat

character,as

in

same

these

and

of the Cevennes

maidens

the
of

exhibited in their persons, due allowance being made

and the various habits of mind
for the differences of religion,

Bohemia
and

body;

they

nay,

spectatorshave witnessed
I have

what

I have
wished
from
and

to

the

in

the

occurringunder

seen

not

the

much

are

found

numerous

Atkinson,and

roof.

own

if Mr.

had

Atkinson

Vials

Anne
sect, and, secluding
religious

world, had

and
objects,

my

what

as

of Mr.

house

of doubt, that

shadow

same

habituated

for years to conversation,

of an exclusively
religious,

her

and books

persons,

transactions to be
permittedmundane
state,
brought to her notice,either in her waking or sleeping
that the most extraordinary
effects might have been produced,

character,and

and

the most

never

suggestion.He might have

to some

and

built up at his
retreated with his ecstatic dreamer

doctrines

monstrous

been

have

hood
neighbourvale, startled the superstitious
ings
her devotions,and her miraculous sufferby her attitudes,
romantic

and crowds

imbibe

"

would

his creed

their readers with

Atkinson

is

have

gapingtourists might have

lucubrations on the phenomena.
;

and

and
philosopher

illustrate,to compare,
"

flocked to witness the

"

to

lover

of truth

explain;
"

with

spectacle,
perplexed
But

Mr.

his habit is to
Bacon

lights
he de-

God
that
of Nature," believing
Interpretation
hath fitted much
for the comprehensionof man's mind, if man
will open and dilate the powers
of his understandingas he
scriptio
may." He knew, for instance,that Lord Shrewsbury'sdeof his Tyrolesemaidens might answer
word for word,
that has occurred with poor Anne.
The fact of a fly
to much
walking over the pupil of the eye, when wide open, which
seemed such a proofof the miraculous to M. de la Bouillerie,
The flyeven
once
has happened with her two or three times.
stoppedand"cleaned its wings on the eyeball.I once saw the
end of a pocket-handkerchief
placedgentlyon the pupil,and
in the

"

"

295

ECSTASY.

the lid neither winked

unconscious

nor

moved

She

at the touch.

was

fectly
per-

of the act.

In

regard to the appearance of the stigmataand the small

wounds
the head of the Addolorata,Dr. EUiotson and Mr.
on
Atkinson

both

of

that theymight be the effectof

opinion,
and habitual contemplation
strong imagination
upon a highly
*
diseased frame
be tropfortfor some
: if that view
readers,I
can
of Lord Shrewsbury's
sertion,
assay, on the other hand, in spite
it is physically
a piece of deception,
that,as
sible
imposto have made the
;"that I would have engaged repeatedly
are

'"'

very

same

marks

the head and

upon

any consciousness
this declaration

her

on
:

hand

of Anne

Vials without

part.tAllMesmerisers

at the

time, I

same

see

will

no

firm
con-

to

reason

with any artificeof the kind ; the

chargethe Tyrolesepriests
effect of imagination,
after a preconceivedidea,is
involuntary
that through
so strong with
some
females,
sicklysleep-waking
the bare impressionof the mind, nature might throw out the
external phenomenon.
In the ForeignQuarterly
Review, No. LXIIL, is an example
taken from Lavergne's De I'Agonieet de la Mort, sous
le
"c. which strongly
illustratesthe proRapport Physiologique,"
bability
and shows the effectof habitual thought
of this opinion,
At this moment
there exists in
upon the state of the body :
of the departmentof the Var, of which Brignoles
is
a village
the chief town, a woman
possessedby divine love. Since her
the most ardent love for
earliest infancythis woman
professes
"

"

have
"

See

to

stances
Appendix II. for extract from Ward's Historyof the Hindoos,for inascetics of the East.
I
of the effect of imagination
upon the fasting
thank

Medical Times for reference

Mesmerism."
July 1844.

writer in the

Practice of Hindoo

In Petaval's Causes

who
Gaufridy,

marked
other

to

seems

Madeleine,

one

vol. vi. p. 171., is an

CelSbres,
have

this work

of his

in
victims,'

her

of

account

a magneticpower
possessed

in his breath.

head, and breast,and

body,without her consciousness.

and came
back again.
disappeared

parts of

to

"

her

These

priest,
He
many

times
stigmatasome-

article in The Examiner

also directs our
attention to a
the
of
the
300
in
novice
at
case
Berne,
Yetser,
miracle,
years ago,
parallel
made drunk with
after he was
whose
pierced,
side,and hands,and feet were
See Examiner, Feb. 26.
of his convent."
wine
and opium,by the monks
An

admirable

"

J848

This

case

may

be found at

"c., chap,cxxix.
Chloroform,however, may

make

lengthin

Voltaire's Easai

believe every

us

thing.

sur

lea Momrs,

296

AND

MESMERISM

ITS

OPPONENTS.

ject
the Saviour;tliePassion has always been her fixedidea,the obmeditates and prays;
of her
confided some

and thoughts. She

aspirations

of her

of ecstasymay have
visionsto her friends. Wlien her prayer is
other words, when
the ecstatic state is most
and

"a

in her moments

is

crown

fully
developed)
the rest of her

her forehead and

to surround

seen

"
its height
(in

at

regulartattooing,
from each pointin which a pure blood issues : the palms of her
at the places
hands and the soles of her feet open spontaneously
her side offers
where the nails of the punishmentwere
inserted,
of
the bleeding
mark of a lance-thrust,
a true cross
and, finally,
blood appears on her chest. Cotton cloths appliedto these
This fact can
be vouched for
placesabsorb the red mark.
by hundreds in the country."
looks

head,which

as

if it

opened by

were

"

It may be desirable to add,

that Lord Shrewsbury,
speaking
of the Ecstatica,
says that Gorres,in his narrative of the case,
"

relates that

of the year 1833, her confessor

earlyas the autumn
that the part of the hands,where
observed,accidentally,
afterwards appeared,
the wounds
began to sink in, as if under
the pressure of some
external body,and also that they became
attacked by cramps.
He conjectured,
painfuland frequently
from these appearances, that the stigmata (i.
e. the five wounds,
"

so

"

like those of the

ally
crucifixion)"would eventuOn the
appear, and the result fulfilledhis expectations.
the 2nd of February,1834, he found her holding
on
Purification,
with which, from time to time,she wiped her hands,
a cloth,
like a child at what she saw there. Perceiving
blood
frightened

the

upon

Saviour,in

the

he asked her
cloth,

what

"

which thenceforward
continued
stigmata,
shortly
afterwardsmade their appearance

these,at the
Now, when
our

same

time,was

the Earl of

it meant

These

were

the

hands, and
and to
upon her feet,
upon

added the wound

with
Shrewsbury,

her

upon
a

the heart." *

pietywhich

respect,says that he considers these

mands
com-

"c.,
stigmata,

clever paper in the Dublin University

Magazine for July, 1847,
Saducismus
and
Glanvil's
mentions
named
beth
ElizaTriumphatus,
a girl,
quotes
and
stomach
whose
hands
swelled, and thorns were found stuck in;
Hill,
and adds, that the Tyrolesenuns
"swelled enormously" about the head,
The writer evidently
to stigmatization.
is of opinion,
that there
previously
"
in
it
is
not
the
See
:
was
case
deception
my opinion.
Evening with
Witchfinders."
*

ECSTATICS.

TYROLESE

"the

in
objects
extraordinary

most

to remind

the

him, that Gorres mentions

directors of her

297
it is necessary

world,"
"

that

it is asserted

"

and by her curate,that

conscience,

duringthe

lastfour years, she had been

by the

in Iterecstasies,

templating
employedin conThe most frequent

passionof Christ.
is the Passion of the Eedeemer
objectof her contemplations
;
this produces the profoundest
impressionupon her,and is
most vividly
during
expressedupon her exterior. Particularly
the holy week, her whole being seems
and the
penetrated,
images in her soul act forcibly/
upon her frame."
hood
Now, when we iind that this poor girlhad from her childin prayer,
evinced an ardent love of God and a pleasure
the life and

"

"

that her visits to the Franciscan

often

was

ameliorated

her

brink

the

on

health,that

undiscovered,and

that

of the grave, that

obtains

clue

ting,
unremit-

no

remedies

the root of the disorder remained

therefore she became

and
pious,meditative,

stillmore

had been

in her fifth
year, that

bodilysufferings
began even

that her

she

church

constant

in consequence
in prayer,
the physiologi

to the wonder.

"

"

In her

eighteenth

and when, after a whole year's

ill,
againfell seriously
of the doctor if it were
she inquired
quiteimpossible
suffering,

year she
for her

her

to recover

health,and he

answered

only alleviate her pains,she repliedthat

future without medical

"

that he could

she would

do for the

mission
advice," and would receive with subwhat God would lay upon her. Here, then,we
see
a
for what the ecstasis,
somnambulistic
or
preparation
physical
condition,
brought out. She lived for four years duringher
of the Passion of the Saviour;
ecstatic state in the contemplation
"

for

more

than

wounds, that part

"

four months

before the appearance of the

of the hands began to sink in,and became

stigmataon the feet and heart did not occur

tiU afterwards. In readingallthis, the result does not appear
Gorres's own
: to use
expression," the
so very extraordinary
upon her whole frame."
images in her soul were actingforcibly
of
of the Addolorata shows the same
The history
preparation
Domenica
effect.
mind and body for the same
gave early
found
indications of extraordinary
piety. She was frequently

painful, and
"

the

"

"

"

prayingin

the most

secluded parts of the house.

X

She received

AND

MESMERISM

298

with

her first communion

tiieage of seventeen she

"
her
oated illness;
"

"

screams

"

layentranced

for

at

her,
"

compU-

great, that

so

great distance

pressed
ex-

earlier period." At

an

were
sufferings

alone relieved

communion

at

so

had
"

attacked with violent and

was

often heard

were

and

singulardevotion,

ardent desire to do

an

OPPONENTS.

ITS

after which

"

she

"

her

the

holy
frequently

considerable time."

pamphletmentions too, that under the very

which is suspendedover
the head
shadow of the largecrucifix,
the spirit
of ecstasyis infused
of Maria Mori (theEcstatica),
Lazari (theAddolorata)
Domenica
lies
into her,"and that
in face of the representation
of the
stretched upon her pallet
death of the Saviour,"
thoughLord Shrewsburydescribes them
miracles"
additional
an
we
two great and astounding
see
as
the body,
and
assistance to the action of the mind
upon
the matter.
unitingwith Mesmerism to explain
Lord
Shrewsbury mentions in a note the case of another
the wounds
Ecstatica,in whom
appeared, who had been
the sufferings
and
of the Saviour,
contemplating
very ill,"
to suflPerwith him." *
and,moved by sympathy,had demanded
From allwhich occurrences, it would appear that this peculiar
other
state is, after all,not so very extraordinary
; for fifty
are
affected,
supposedto have existed in the
persons, similarly
When

"

the

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

Catholic Church.

Koman

As to the consciousness of the

Ecstatica,
during her trance,
of the approachof the consecrated host,though Mr. M'Neile
it is
thinks it an additional proofof the
mystery of iniquity,"
at
which, though rejected
simplyan instance of clairvoyance,
"

by many
present as impossible

is so exceedingly
unbelievers,

that

it will occasion no wonder

shortly
While the miracle of Maria Mori beingraised off
whatsoever.
her knees,and resting
onlyon the tipsof her feet,when, physically
seemed unequal to any effort,
her strength
finds a parallel
Daemon ; when John Evans,by the aid
in Mr. Heaton's
of Satan, rested his whole weighton
the pointof his toes ;
who was
lifted up still higher,
and in Martha Brossier,
to the
of Duretus,and the Parisian fanatics,
amazement
f
common

an

occurrence,

"

"

"

Sec

See

"

Appendix II. for this case.

Appendix III. for stillgreaterwonders

of this class.

SEEEESS

After

OF

allowance,
then, for

PREVORST.

299

the accidentals of

and
religion,
the diversitiesof constitutional temperament, there is nothing
in the Tyrolese
Mesmerist
phenomena of which the experienced
Las

not

minor

seen

read

or

points,
indeed,
may

but there

can

their main

be

be

and

new

mistake

no

Some

indubitahle indications.

to

as

of the

these cases,
essential character of

to
peculiar

the

features; if animal

magnetism has done nothing

else,it has cast,"
light
says Wolfgong Menzel, a surprising
*
the
on
whole subject
of Physio-psychology."
Of a different class to the Ecstatics of the Tyrol is the case
of Madame
of the
Seeress
Hauffe,better known by the name
of Prevorst," a small town
in "Wirtemberg,
and her native
said to
and converse
with the
see
place. This lady was
of the dead,and to free them by her prayers from a pur*'
spirits
state.
gatorial
Upon her Kevelations,"a new belief in the
communications
world
ill
of the unseen
spread extensively
some
parts of Germany. Eschenmayer,.a well-known writef
first attracted attention to her
on
Philosophyand Psychology,
Dr. Kerner, physicianof
case
by his communications.']'
in 1829, a detailed account of her illness
Weinsburg,published,
been translated into
and visions, in a book that has recently
tivated,
English.
J And we are told that many of the most pious,culand enlightened
of Germany,"have givenmuch
men
"

"

"

"

"

"

"

consideration to the case, from admiration of its phenomena."

and was
Mrs. Hauffe had long been a fearful sufferer,
at last
reduced to almost

skeleton.

remarkable for excessive

an

In
and easily
somnambulist,
influenced_by_MesDaerism.

natural
*

earlyperiodshe,had been
and at lengthbecame a
sensibility,
At

Chapter

on

Natural

Sciences.

The

only point

in

the

Tyrolese

similar or analogous,
is the
I have not found something
"
"c.
"c.
blood
the
the
of
fact
not
sheets,"
Supposing
staining
reported
character
this to be true, it would not, by itselfalone,prove the supernatural
of which
Ecstatics,

of the

condition,when

would rather

pointto

the

but
thing else had a physicalexplanation,
effects;
of the disease and its peculiar
idiosyncrasy

every

told that this is the least well-authenticatedfact in the story.

the fluid?
Has a chemist or medical man
inspected
"
he
the
wrote
Conflict between Heaven and Hell,
+ Among other works,
of
as observed in the Spirit a Possessed Girl."
of Justinus Kerner,by Mrs.
of
from the German
Seeress
The
Prevorst,"
^
"
"
Susan
The
of
Night-Sideof Nature,""c.
Hopley,"
Crowe, Authoress
" See a Letter to Editor of Critic. June, 1845.
but

I have

been

"

"

300

MESMERISM

AND

ITS

OPPONENTS,

and poured forth revelations,

sights,
which, in no other respects,are deservingof notice,but from
Her
the credit and importanceattached to them.
disclosures,"
in religion.
of the highestquestions
however, enter into some
with accuracy, the precise
She distinguishes,
difference between
the soul and the spirit,
and pointsout their separatefunctions :
she describes how infants grow in the other world : she speaks
of the shapeof the soul,and of the forms of spirits
; instructs us
to
the condition of the heathen, and of virtuous Pagans
as
after death ; and gives us, in short, a great deal of other informati
about a great number
of other things."According
this poor lady'srevelations coincide with the views
and
as
belief of her readers and followers,
spired
they are deemed semi-in-

these conditions she

saw

"

"

and

York, finds a

New

German

Dr. Bush, Professor of Hebrew, in

confirmation of Swedenborgianism; certain

authoritative.

the triumph of Christianity

over
an
pirical
ementhusiasts,
Mrs. Crowe, a proof of her favourite
philosophy
; and

and of spiritual
doctrine,the existence of ghosts,
appearances.

She

"

to

was

more

world of

than half

spirits
; she

spirit,'"
says Kerner, and belonged
belongedto a world after death. She
"

delicate flower,and lived upon sunbeams."

The awkward
part in the "revelations" of these various
a

was

vision-seers is the contradiction between

countenance.
theyrespectively
out this discrepancy,
that

the different doctrines

It is with

ing
tjbie
purpose of pointis alluded to.
their history
They
all
be
cannot
true, nor all of a quasi-miraculous
; the
authority
conclusion rather is,that they are none
The case of the
so.
Seeress of Prevorst" was, doubtless,
a real one, and deserving
of study; but there was
nothingmore in her disclosures than
"

what

may

be often met

with

family.They give a

in communications

lesson in

of the

and
physiology,

bulist
somnam-

the matter

is ended.
Eachel

Baker, who

preachedin New

York

duringher sleep,
in the year 1815, is another instance of populardelusion from
the same
Divines of divers
principle.*Learned Professors,
Doctors of Medicine, Quakers and Methodists,
persuasions.
Sermons
Remarkable
taken down in Short-hand."
"

"

of Rachel
1815.

Baker, delivered duringher Sleep,

302

MESMERISM

majoritya

fact

OPPONENTS.

ITS

AND

explarMtion"

"completelyto defy human

so

regarded as miraculous, and the

of God.
immediate effusions" of the Holy Spirit
The accidentals of Rachel's birth and education beingstrongly
took that
the tendencyof her preachingof course
Calvinistic,
who
that "those
direction. She pronouncedauthoritatively
fall away," that "the chosen
could never
had the true religion
mandments,"
but
must
of the Lord
could not do evil,"
keep God's comindefectible. She spokeconfidently
and that grace was

that

her

revelations

were

"

"

"

asked, how

it

that she,

woman,
she
to the apostolic
injunction,
opposition
"

Shall

was

hold

woman

her

friends

God

but

presumed to preachin
replied,
unhesitatingly

peace, because

Methinks,the Apostlemeant not

her lightshine before men.
jlet
forbid that

so

"

should

New

in the
shall,

to Revelations

have

which
the

case,

come

been

woman

that she should

mystery to you, my
be silent,for I only

"Revelations"
York

These
speak the truth."*
in the cityof
supernatural
next

she is

but meant

This is
I

being

And

and of its establishment.

of the millennium

considered

were

in the year 1815

of

equallyregarded as

we

racter,
oppositechain
supernatural

an

place.

same

There

to the
however, the truthfulness peculiar

was,

condition

repeatedlyin

in this

case.

Upon

Rachel

sleep,by different ministers,

she
she had not
received a supernatural
whether
revelation,"
and the honour ;
denied it,and resistedthe temptation
invariably
and meekness.
but her denials were
only attributed to humility
the case,
A physicianof New
examined
York, Dr. Mitchill,
indicate
and described its leadingphenomena. They clearly

being

asked

exhibited

nambulistic
som-

her

"

the mesmeric
*

"

This- somnium

is of

devotional

instance of Scripture
This is by no means
a single
beingmade to bend
Somnambulist's interpretation.The last Chapter showed
mediate
how the imof Christ could not be immediate but were
cures
gradual,according

to

to

another

remind
sleeper.These explanations

occurred in my
to

condition.

own

somethingsimilar that
ignorant
expounderwas requested
Unjust Steward,"and say why he was praised
me

of

neighbourhood.An

explainthe Parable of the

Our interpreter
was
by his Master.
"

so
At last he
perplexedfor a moment.
hit upon it. " The fact is,"said he, " that he was
a just steward,and
only
attention." This w.'is not in sleep,it should be
called unjust to attract

added.

EACHEL

BAKEK.

303

kind, and of a very extraordinary

character,and occurs
a day.
The paroxysms begin at earlybed-time.
It commences
with

of uneasiness

sort

spasmodickind, anxiety in
ness,
hysteric
choking. There is no chill nor cold-

and
respiration,
"

nor

waking

to

her
paroxysm
She takes the
toward

of the

febrile excitement.

any

state

that of somnium

pulse varies

transition from the

The
is very

quick. During the

little from

but

the

beat.

common

posture : and her face beingturned

recumbent

heaven, she performsher devotions,with

wholly novel

once

fervour

unexampled. Her body and limbs are quiet

and motionless : they stir no more
than the trunk or extremities
of a statue ;
is that
the only motion
the spectatorperceives
of her organs of speech. Her eyelidsare
closed : but the
muscles of the eyes, on disclosing
the lids,
have been observed
to be in tremulous
and the balls to be inclined upagitation,
wards.
Her fingersare observed to be firmlyclosed for a few
seconds : and the muscles of the back and arms
to be rigid.
which
She passes into a sound and natural sleep,
continues
during the remainder of the night. In the morning she wakes
if nothing had happened,and is entirely
as
ignorantof the
and

"

memorable
she knows

scenes

in which

nothing of

nor
lassitude,

she has acted.

And

them.

She declares that

complainsof

she

no

pain^

of any disorder."

languageno less than her

ideas were
greatlyimproved and heightenedduringthe fitof
somnium.
They were, in fact, far beyond her waking state."
Another
point was, that when awake, she maintained that she
not asleepduring her paroxysms,
though her condition
was
of Eachel Baker
became
evident to the bystander. What
was
afterwards,I know not : she probablyrecovered,and the supernatural
also.
disappeared
disclosures of Andrew
The
Davis, the Poughkeepsie Seer
in his
of Nature and Her Divine
and Clairvoyant,"
Principles
are
regardedby the learned Professor Bush, of
Revelations,"
knowledge,only
New
York, as an instance of supernatural
into his
to be explained
by the influx of the minds of spirits
in a higherlight
than
Professor views this case
The
mind."
to any other sampleof the clairvoyant
power."
that pertaining
It remains

to

be

added

that her

"

"

"

"

"

304

AND

MESMEEISM

ITS

OPPONENTS.

it as his firm convietioa

to avow
Moreover, "he has no scruple
have been developedin this
that the phenomena of Mesmerism
of
age with the express design of confirmingthe message
to the truth of the doctrines he
Swedenborg,and of testifying
his own
observations on the
promulgated." And in publishing
himself as enteringinto direct
the Professor
regards
subject,
Now
when a
with the designsof Providence."*
co-operation
thus express himself on a
talented and religious
writer can
numbers
of other learned and clever
particular
case, and when
also regardingit with deep attention,our curiosity
is
men
are
naturallystimulated to know somethingof the history. The
of Davis, given in his sleep,
Eevelations
have been published
in two thick volumes, and Recently
in
reprinted England,f
Some extracts from the book were
given in the last Chapter.
"

"

"

few

more

Andrew

observations may not be without their use.

in question,
Jackson Davis, the young
American

that were
Mesmeric
lectures,
accidentally
present at some
being delivered at Poughkeepsie. By chance he was selected
for one
of the parties,
whom
the operator was
to try to send
to sleep. All the manipulations,
however, were
unavailing.
was

Some

time

when
afterwards,

impressiblestate,

Davis

amusement.

became
subsequently
His power

visionist.

frame

his brain

or

nerves

companion commenced
soon
dropped off into

in

were

the

seeinginto

more

for

passes

the slumber

and
somnambulist,clairvoyant,
of

"

and
intro-

an

the condition of the human

consulted
greatlyincreased,that he was
continually
and his fame spreadwidely; and he also put forth
in disease,
in philosophy.This happened in 1843.
clever opinions
many
in his somnambulist
His faculties,
continued so to
condition,
so

advance,that

in

taken to New
year or two afterwards he was
York.
Here an immense
sensation was
created. The learned
of the cityflocked around him.
Short-hand writers attended,
in the

as

lectures

"

case
on

Mesmer

of Eachel

Baker

and

he delivered,
in his

sleep,

Eeligion,
Astronomy,Cosmology,
Geology,
and, in
and

Swedenborg,"by Professor Bush.

See Preface tor these passages.

of Nature, Her
t " The Principles

Slankind,"by Andrew

Davis.

Divine

New

and
Revelations,

(Chapman,Strand.)

York, 1847.
a

Voice

to

ANDREW

short,
upon

almost

DAVIS.

305

subjectthat the universe embraces.

Like Goldsmith,
in fact,
nihil erat quod non tetigit,
and perhaps
almost like Goldsmith,nihil tetigit
quod non ornavit,for his
and philosophy
of the most extralanguage,
ordinary
vi^ere
ideas,
power
kind.
under whatever
Viewed
lightthey may, these
discourses
and

are

every

effort of the human

remarkable

most

of perusal
deserving
;

mind,

questionis,how did this

?
for in his waking
obtain all his learning
very young man
and possessing,
as it is
state,he is very ignorantand illiterate,
His advantages
said,no knowledge of science whatsoever.
and

"

the

"

had also been

ing
enjoyedlittleschoolthat of a shoemaker's apprentice
was
:
; and his occupation
hoiv,then,did this lad of ttoentyobtain a knowledge as profound,
a

limited kind

Hebrew
the

he had

"

of

Eevelations

opinion he

in

"

to

been

seen,

siders
con-

"

"

astounding a character,as to
a praeternatural
state,"and specially
affirm the doctrines of Swedenborg.
so

with

shares

York, it has

Professor of New

prove that Davis is

commissioned
by God
This

it is extensive and minute

as

The

of

While

many.

the

meric
ultra-mes-

party, in their extravagant estimation of the capabilities

of Mesmerism,

youth have
as

to

actual and
knows

consider

arrived at

so

that

etherialised and

sublimated

all this to be

true, because

he

sees

it to be

therefore,
they regard his lectures as
light,
of nature
the authority
teachingthroughher

These, then,

are

may,

the

Under

so.

of

authority,

"

"

examination

tion,
condi-

give him the knowledge he possesses through an

quasi-personal
inspection
; in other words, that he

this
"

of the

clairvoyant
powers

the

views

of the

perhaps,reduce

extreme

the wonder

"voice."

own

sections
to its

little

real level.

and
denyingthe lectures to be very extraordinary,
I am not prepared
not to be explained
principles,
upon common
certain attenmuch
dant
more
extraordinary,
to say, that they are
circumstances
being taken into consideration,than many
Davis
been examined.
of the Eevelations that have previously
surrounded
constantly
by very learned and philosophical
was

Without

and their presence

visiters,
Neither
has been

no

"

of

course

have

its influence.

quitebelieve,with Professor Bush, that

cramming in the matter : thoughI must

can

would

"

there
admit

that all the

cramming

lad's mind,
several

and to

as

to

ITS

AND

MESMERISM

306

so

have

filledthe

day to day,for
de omni seibili,
digressions

pour forth,from

to

and

months, long lectures

questions
aptnessthe perplexing

with readiness and

answer

could not

in the world

enable him

OPPONENTS.

persuadedthat there has

tensive,
been a little surreptitious
reading,nothingvery deep nor exAn
but sufficientto lay a sort of basis to build upon.
branches
unusual knowledgeof detail exhibited by him in some
His friends,
indeed,all assert
of studyleads me to this opinion.
to books, and on this they
that there has been no
accessibility
: but they themselves
speak very positively
may be mistaken.
It would be difficultfor them to prove a negative. Many a
Mysteries
lady in our suburban seminaries has the
young
at her fingers'
the Italian
of Udolpho,"and
ends,of whose
ignorancein such politebranches of learningthe presiding
geniusof the establishment would speakwith every confidence.
shut out such intellectual smugNo quarantinecan
effectually
gling.
that

But

to him.

put

were

am

"

"

"

And

so

have

it may

of

been

with

young

Still

prepared
in the
come
very short of explaining,
all day,
under twenty, occupiedas he was
of a young man
case
and indeed profound,
the prodigious,
stores of erudition which
in its very
he occasionally
developed.The Mesmeric principle,
highestcondition,is of all solutions the only one which is able
That very peculiar
exaltation of the
to clear up the difficulty.
far greater amount
to tax him with,would
even

facultiesf
*

Since

(towhich

the above

I have

was

readingthan

Davis.*

so

written,I

often
have

what

am

in an unusually
referred),
met

with

an

of Davis,

account

of Poughkeepsie,
who
he loved
given by the Rev. A. Bartlett,
says, that
controversial religious
whenever
he
could
books, especially
borrow
works,
for
and
obtain
leisure
their
fond of asking
them,
reading; and that he was
and possessedan
mind."
Mr. Armstrong, however,
questions,
inquiring
he was
with whom
most
apprenticed,
limited,and
says that his readingwas
confined to books of juvenileor narrative description.
It is clear that his
of information.
readinglaid a substratum
in
Hall, a letterbefore referred to, speaking
t Dr. Radclyffe
of a case
of
where
the patient
Etherisation,
developedan increase of mental power, adds
sneeringly,nor does it approach in wonderfulness the superhuman mani^
festationsof increased intellectuality,
described by Mr. Sandby and others."
Dr. Hall implies
that there has been exaggeration
on
our
part. Here, then,
is a case of exaltation for him to study. Lancet, April,1847.
The reader is also referred to some
Critic on
judiciousarticles in the
"

"

"

"

the

case

of Andrew

Davis.

"

ANDREW
intense

and

thoughtof

elevated
no

DAVIS.

state, accompanied by
force from

common

those

the problem, especially

if we

throw

and

that is

"

for
invention,"
The

from

first to

The

much

historyof

Davis

last,

or

"

number

rejectionof the second.

exalted

phase can

is either
"

there

are

Mesmerism

alone

So far from Andrew

or

solve

rapport, may

en

"

"

imagination

an
a

and

rowed.
unbor-

infamous

forgery

mesmeric

marvel.

the witnesses

completely

sufficientreasons

for

in its noblest and

in to throw

come

transference of

new
evidently

miracle,

forbid the firstconclusion

in the aid of

of
respectability

and

307

lighton

the

our

most

mystery.

Davis

being a divine instrument for the

diffusion of Swedenborgianism,some
of his statements
are
stronglyopposed to its very doctrines. When, therefore,is
he inspired
and when
?
So much
for the miracle.
not ?
of his teachingsare
subversive of Christianity
Nay, some
fearfully
in those passages which
relate to the
itself,
especially
"

miracles

of the

chapter. He
heretic
should

on

be

New

Testament,

is orthodox
That

others.

caughtby

that

an

some

was

shown

in
the

points,and

able man,

the

like Professor

last

veriest

Bush,

is
temporary harmony of opinions,

of those illusionswhich

much

on

as

one

pate.
objectof this chapterto dissiAndrew
utters
Davis,in fact,in his eloquentvolubility,
and inconsistent,
and much
that is contradictory
also
those pointsare
is nonsensical ; unfortunately
alone remembered,
which coincide with the specialprepossessions
of
it is the

and what
What, however, is true, is not new ;
the brain of Davis
When
I fear,is not exactly
true.

his admirers.
is new,
has been

"

the disclosures relate

impressedby a Swedenborgian,
and the glories
of the New
Church :
to the world of spirits
from a Germanised
when
the impressioncomes
scholar,the
inner life,"
and of Kant, and of Schelling,
philosophyof the
The "Vestiges of the Natural
and of Oken, takes its turn.
History of Creation," the studies of Le Verrier and of
on
disquisitions
prophetsand prophecyall follow in
Adams,
succession,like figuresin a magic lantern,accordingas a
an
astronomer, or a theologianhave influenced
cosmologist,
is the regenerator
man
his organism. At one time,the young
"

"

"

of

and
society,

sent

into the world

to

forward

some

coming

308

MESMERISM

reformation

; at

of

action

the

signalability,"in obedience to
of Fourier,or a philologist.
a disciple

most

"

his brain from

on

Almost

OPPONENTS.

ITS

another,lie discusses the originand affinities

languages"with

some

AND

every

thing,in short,passes

under

review, as

accidental rapport determines the order*: the lectures

very clever,
very curious,
show, like an intellectualkaleidescope,
the

but

all

at

not

convincing; and

the

out
his work, and worn
will pass away
this cerebral activity,

done

havin"

PoughkeepsieSeer,"
the impulsesthat excite

as

"

meteor, like his predecessor

to fresh

before him, to giveway

"

from Nature,"

Voices

and equallyto be explained

on
equallypraeternatural,
some
homogeneous principle.
of Davis, though
Eevelations
Something similar to the
"

"

of
few years ago in one
of the case
short description
counties. A
midland
appeared
for the year 1845.
The "Prophetess,"
in Zadkiel's Almanack

inferior in
greatly
our

as

excitement

the
and

power,

party

was

discussion.

occurred

considered,caused
A

declared that
her,actually

in

femalevisitant of this earth

at the time much

clergyman,who
she

was

since the time

took

"The

most

an

interest

illustriotcs

of the VirginMary!"

examination,however, of the case will confirm what I have

ferred,
justsaid in regardto Davis, that the opinionsare rather transAn

second-hand

it were,

from the brain of another son,

perintuition throughthe agency of
than the result of original
as

in a spiritualised
: in other words, that the patient,
clairvoyance
state,is readingthe mind of the Mesmeriser,and nothingelse.
who
had been broughtup by her parents in
A young girl,
unbelief and great ignoranceof Sci-ipture,
had been Mesmerised
an
on

by

account

of her health.

four different individuals,

two

own,

without

any

remarkable

She had
of whom

effects of

been Mesmerised

friends of my

are
a

mental

character

she is Mesmerised by a gentlemanof strong

At last,
resulting.
whose knowledge of Scripture
is most profeelings,
religious
found
and

accurate, and whose

tenets are somewhat

theological
is,in fact,the uppermost occupationof his
peculiar.Eeligion
the patient. She
on
mind; and mark the effect at once
*

The

reader is referredback

Thought.

to page

88. for remarks

on

Transference of

310

AND

MESMERISM

OPPONENTS.

ITS

and
prophetess,
i^whoin her waking state is an amiable girl,
had described
knew nothingof what she had uttered in her sleep,)
that a
and impossible,
that was
much
so
contradictory
abated.
Her powers have been
faith in the miracle materially
E
is a first-rate
since turned to a more
practical
purpose.
of investigating
introvisionist. Her clairvoyant
disease,
faculty
of a patient's
physicalstructure,is so
through an inspection
that she is much
great,and has been so tested by experience,
in her neighbourhood
of largepractice
consulted. A physician
has often called in her diagnostic
aid, as it is said,with the
happiestresults. This is one of the wisest methods of making
of service ; and if other prophetsand prophetesses
Mesmerism
would
useful
talents in the same
employ their clairvoyant
the prejudices
direction,
againstthe art, on the score of its
and nonsense, would in great measure
prseternaturalism
pass
away.

Sufficient evidence
condition of
mesmeric
and

has

adduced

now

to

somnambulist
ecstatico-prophetic
and to test the truthfulness of
patient,
an

stillfurther number

been

Appendix.

Baron

of instances will be

Feuchterleben,in his

callsMesmerism
Psycjhology,"

"

the
identify

with that of
each in turn

found

in the

Principlesof

dical
Me-

halfhalf-philosophical,
of the description
medical,system," and the appropriateness
be acknowledged. Aided, therefore,
must
by the lightof this
and the Philosopher
need no
longer
system, the Eeligiohist
racle,"
mirepeatthe old,but not exploded,blunder of crying out
at every anomalous
or
impostor,"
extravagance,when a
examination
will explain
the mystery. The
slight
physiological
and spontaneity
of the symptoms in all countries,
sameness
in
all ages, and under all conditions of life,
is the great argument.
A young
and most
secluded
ignorantpeasant girl,in some
with the most
hamlet,has equally,
veloped
depractisedsleepwaker,
certain phenomena; and the questionis,where
and
how she learns her cunning? There has been but one
school
for all,
the school of untaught,but misrepresented,
and selfnature !
acting,
a

"

"

"

In

his

History of Psychology,
The Baron's
p. 60.
learned work is edited by Dr. Babington
for the Sydenham Society.
*

Chapter

on

the

THE

One

HAYMAKEE.

other instances of

two

or

SLEEPING

31

somewhat

differentcharacter,

thoughof the same

which will
family,
may be also mentioned,
assist in illustrating
the philosophy
of the subject.
The Sloane manuscripts,
in the British Museum, give the
who used to work hard in his sleep,
historyof a man
and
of strange antics. A few extracts will be
perform a number
amusing.*
Jonathan Coulston,
of the county of York, in the twentieth
hath for about two
year of his age, and servant in husbandry,
fallen asleep
in the peryears and a half last past frequently
formance
"

of his work, and then will do

do, and
ordinarily

men

One

sat
to

day

when

near

haycockto try what

him, Jonathan took him by

gave him

such

as

two

three

or

as

he would

upon

much

well.f In this state he is

ing,
haymaking,as strewing,raking,cockhe was
spreadinghay, a lustyman

very

excellent in all parts of

"c.

as

do

when

he

came

the shoulders,
and grumbling,
three times over ;
two
or
toss that he tumbled

he took
cur-dogbeingasleepon another haycock,
legsand flunghim as high as an ordinaryhouse.
a

him

by

the

I-Iefodders

binds them up in the barn in their respective

his master's cattle,
and unlooses them into the pasture. He delves in the
places,

garden,digs turf
over

stone

walls

on

near

and climbs
very fast,
yardshigh,without any harm. Once

the
two

common,

runs

he got up into a tree about eightyards high,and hooped and

hallooed as if he had been huntinga pack of dogs: his master
was

in

great concern

to

get him down, but shoutingto him

tc

down
again. He playsat Put,'
go to his work, he nimbly came
and holds the wrong
the cards falsely,
side
but often names
towards him : he Puts every time, and takes up all the tricks :
he has

several times
the

partsto

stood upon

side of the

room,

his head,leaninghis hinder

and in this posture he always

whistles.
and isanonymous,
The MS. has no date,
Sloane Collection,
403, 404. 40G.
his
it
is
like
Sir
Hans
as
drawn
Sloane,
handwriting.
up by
but probably
"
EUiotson's
Numerous
who
Cases,Ifc.
,"
possesses
f The Mesmeric reader,
*

Samuel Chilton,the Sleeper

at
similar story,at p, 45., respecting
forward
B.
Brodie
as
a
that
Sir
which
once
proof
brought
a story
Bath,
! Is Sir Benjamin of the same
not a truth in nature
Mesmerism were
?
still
opinion
will find

AND

MESMERISM

812
"

Having

been

spread dung

to

fire; all this

the

o'clock he went

of the house

out

and
asleep,

went

with

family over

the

awake.

was

from

seek him, with

to

Christmas, he

last

them

among

candle and

eight

About

expected,they imagined

time

in the

not

he

whilst

was

day

one

talked

home, got his supper, and

came

OPPONENTS.

ITS

he

he

as

turned
re-

might b6

lantern,in the

where they had wrought that day,and found him spreading

field,
at a furious rate, and in a most
profusesweat,
dung, in bis shirt,
cold.
always is in this case, and suffers much by catching
first,he might have been awaked by shouting and pulling
but now, if thenif^i'e to he cut off,
by the ears and nose,

he

as

At
him

"

familyhe

would

awake.

'tisthe

opinionof

several

stringsor piecesof riband,givenby

as

as

soon

dead

he is touched

then

in them

beginsto

if he

He

"

and, as
stupid,
till ten

or

were

rub his eyes, and complainsof great pain

he awakes,
any stranger about him when

thing he

in

quick

sleep are

lively.When

to his

he may
intellect,

and

sense

common

knocked

were

lies as if he

three minutes

or

more

is

his

They have
godmother,and

them,he fallsas if he

tells every

All his motions

countenance

two

not

knows

in his

dream,

stillmore.

troubles him

which

of

sees

is troubled.

he

with

head, and about

the

on

the

an

idiot.

He

and

awake

and his
vigorous,
he is heavy and

be said to be betwixt
was

brought up

one

Quaker

twelve

still seem
to have the
years old,and may
I have had a relation of these things amongst

lightwithin.*

others from my
tenant, J. Eeston, and his mother, and
many
two of his brothers,who are all sensible,
honest,cautious persons,
and twenty

others,have

things (theribands)should
to
instant,'tis diflElcult

'tiscertain there

is

no

been

eye-witnesses.How
produce such appearances

account.

Be

these

contrivance in the

Mesmeric

and
cernible,
*

these

characteristics of this

help us

towards

to
We see here the tendency
anomalous occurrences.

in

an

thingsas theywiU,
He

case.

if spoke to very loudly. Several other

any question,
but to no purpose."
have been tried,
The

these

case

are

answers

strings

dist
clearly

its unriddling.
find

somethingof

character
religious

in

THE

1st. Coulston's

much

as

work

SOLDIER.

SLEEPING

313

"
in the sleep,
doing
great increase of strength

two

as

three

or

do," lifting
ordinarily
up

men

and

and so high. I have seen a very

men
so
flinging
easily
littlegirl,
in the Mesmeric
of six feet
sleep,
carry a stout man
high across a room with ease.
2d. The insensibility
to pain,
at this present hour
a point
"

not

necessary to dwell upon.

3d. The touch of certain bits of riband from

one

person

stantly
in-

but not any other

pieces.
4th. Distress at the presence of a strangeron beingawakened.
5th. Coulston mentioning
facts in his sleepthat he did not
wish to have known, and would not tellwhen awake.
6th. The improvement and liveliness of face and intellebt:
at other times beingnearlyan idiot.*

producinga deep coma,

These

phenomena allshow

but inasmuch

the

from where

source

theysprang

the accidents of Coulston's condition did not

as

said about the miraculous

religious
turn, nothingwas
the sleepingYorkshire boy was
of their origin
nature
; and
of his neighbourhood, and a
wonder
simplythe nine-days'
for Sir Hans Sloane and his philosophical
acquaintperplexity

take

"

Militaryannals

record

one

two

or

which
on
occasions,

some

sharplydealt with by the martinets ot

of the Horse
their regiment,for what, in the phraseology
parlance,
Guards, is called Malingering," and in commoner

poor fellows have

been

"

"

pretence of sickness.
may

lead to

the
in the

case

of

knowledgeof

the Mesmeric

toms
symp-

caution in future.

more

Dr. Hennen, in his

"

of Military
tions
menSurgery,"
Principles

which
soldier,

at

one

time made

much

noise

called in his
part of England. He was
and was
placedunder Dr.
SleepingMan,"

south-western

regimentthe

"

"

at the Hospitalof the

Gautliier quotes from Dr. Choron, physician
He had mesmerised
of the text.
Val-de- Grace, a Mesmeric fact illustrative
a girl,
aged 30, who had been an idiot from her birth. In her sleep-waking
that no one
would have supposedher to be
so
intelligent,
state, she became
amazed, and cried with joy," Oh, why
the same
person. Her parents were
Gauthier,p. 379.
is she not alwaysa Somnambulist I"
*

"

H. in Hilsea

describes it

who
Hospital,

combined

as

of

case

and
hallucination,"

mental

with

OPPOKENTS.

ITS

AND

MESMERISM

314

"

lency
somno-

adds

that

griefand terror had a share in the

and other
productionof his disease." Many of the officers,
dition
who came
to studythe symptoms, considered the conparties,
of the experiments
that some
for this reason,
feigned,
"there

be

can

no

doubt that

"

to test its truthfulness

successful to

were

certain extent

; but

stage of the somexperimentssimplyproved the particular

nium, and that the sleepwas not so deep as to leave the man

the

in
"

there is

between
difference

therefore leads the reader to infer that it was

and

"

Dr. H. himself says, that

this maris sleep
and real sleep,"

utter state of unconsciousness.

an

blushed

soldier smiled,I believe,and

The

sleep,
accordingas

certain observations

were

made

all assumed.
in his

in his pre-

sleepwaking state, in which far strangerincidents are constantly

concluded from thence that it was
not all genuine
developed,
nature.
Much, however, remained inexplicable.The man
spnce

"

and

Dr. Hennen,

who

knew

nothing of

the

shocks from the electricalmachine,"*

bore "a great many severe
of hartshorn into his nostrils." " He was
and " the injection

"

in

state of

torpor: he laywithout

motion

remained, during the day, immoveably

touched."
roughly
lesson to the

one

Dr. Hennen

in bed

open,

his eyes
unless when
;

closes the narrative in

profession
; the

man

giving

graduallyimproved

throughgentletreatment.
Dr. Beck, in his Medical

furnishes a similar
Jurisprudence,
that of Phineus
Adams, a soldier in the Somerset
case,
Militia,
aged 18,who was confined in gaolfor desertion. This
was
man
a
lyingin a state of insensibility,
constantly
resisting
varietyof remedies that were
employed to rouse him, such as
snuff up the nostrils,
electric shocks,powerfulmedicines,
thrusting
When
"c.
raised,they fellwith
any of his limbs were
Pins were
thrust under
a leaden weightof total inanimation.
his finger-nails
to excite sensation.
The operation
of scalping
"

The

shook of

an

electricalmachine was
appliedto Elizabeth Okey, and
without an evidence of sensation. See
patient,

of the electric eel to another

Elliotson's Pamphlet,p. SO.

The

reader should also turn to p. 42., for the

of the skep-wahing
and the rationale of the phrase.
explanation
condition,

NATURAX

(to ascertain whether

performed:

was

up, and

315

SUPERNATURALISM.

there

of the brain)
depression
the scalpdrawn
made,

not

was

the incisions

were

"

the head examined.

fested
During all this time Adams manino
audible signof pain or sensibility,
except when the
with which the head was
instrument,
was
applied.He
scraped,
then,but only once, uttered a groan.* How similar is all this
to the case
of Wombell, which
chloroform has provedto be no
longeralien to the laws of nature !
There is a passage in Carlyle's
Sartor Resartus, in the
so
Chapter on Natural Supernaturalism,
expressed,
cleverly
and so pertinentto much
that a few exthat has been stated,
tracts
be offered.

must

'"But is it not the

cries

"

deepestlaw

illuminated class :

an

fixed to

friends ; nay,
universe,does move

I too

good

of you

I make

too

Is not

"

the machine

unalterable rules?"

by

move

that she be constant?"

of nature

of the universe

Probable

enough,

believe that nature, that the

the most unalterable rules. And now,

by

must

inquiry: what those same unalterable

complete statute-book of nature, may possibly

the old

rules,forming the
be ?
"

stand

They

the records

written

of man's
at

present
Have

on

any

the foundations

These

into the

experience. Was
the

"

onlyseen

and Writer

and
*

perience,
ex-

it all went

down

to

nowhere

To

the wisest

deeperthan

we

we

see

man,

all

experience

computed centuries,and

few

some

but where

miles.

of nature
is God.

19.

how

see

in

bottom, as without shore"

is infinite,
without

! And

trulya volume

To read it !

the

Beck, p.

been

hand-breadths

alphabetthereof?
grand descriptive
pages ?

know

as

creation,
then,to

some

of nature

square

Volume

man,

universe,and gauged every thingthere ?

of the

thereof limits itself to

measured

say you
with his

"

deepestscientific individuals yet dived

deep that

System

of science

works

our

scientificindividuals have

also are; have

"

in

similar

case

Dost
With

It is

thou,does

man,

Author
so

much

its words, its sentences,

volume

occurred with

army.

it is,whose

written in celes-

soldier in the Prussian

316

MESMERISM

AND

tial hieroglyphics,
of which

read,here

can

To

and

ITS

OPPONENTS.

Prophetsare happy

even

that

"

there,a line !

return, however,

'

questionof

the

to

they,

mental

and Mesmeric

that the modern

sympathy,there is every probability
miracles in Egypt,which Lord Prudhoe
witnessed,and which
have
have so perplexedthe learned of this country to explain,
of which we
connection with this "transfer of thought,"
some
have been speaking.* Dr. CoUyer has written an able work
that a vital electricity
is the
the subject
on
; he
supposes
of communication
from mind
medium
to mind; causing an
of thought on the brain or mind of another.f
embodiment
reads the mind
By this embodiment of thought the prophetess
of her Mesmeriser,and transfers his Scriptural
acquirements
the Arabian
into her own
brain ; and by the same
embodiment
with the likenesses of Nelson, of Shaksboy became acquainted
peare, and of the brother of Major Felix,and so perplexedthe
noble traveller and his numerous
critics. It has been said by
travellers that this Egyptianboy has lately
recent
failed. A
failures cannot
hundred
fact. The probability
upset one positive
is,that the brain has been overfatigued
by too much
work : this is constantly
in clairvoyance,
and then the
the case
for example,with Alexis.
cry is raised of imposture:
In short,we
but in the infancy
of our Mesmeric knoware
ledge.
Not onlymay the oracles of old,those for instance of.
Belphi,be explainedby the responses of a magneticsomnambulist
in the higheststate of lucidity,
but it may
be
even
to the philosophic
suggested
inquirerto pursue the topicinto a
wider field. It may be possiblethat the sympathy of Mes"

"

"

"

Numerous

seem
experiments

show,"

Mr.

Lloyd, that the

Mesmeric influence is capableof reflectionfrom polished
surfaces,and some
with this fact,
others resulting
or
from the same
acquaintance
generallaw,led
have
the
to
of
mirrors in various forms of
employment
may probably
magic,from the engravedmirrors of the Etruscans,to the mirrors of the
middle ages, such as that in which Lord Surreywas
said to have beheld a
vision of the fair Geraldine,and to the globuleof ink in the
palm of the
Egyptian boy at the present day." Zoist,vol. iii.p. 313.
A
good deal
to

says

"

"

more

to

the

same

purpose

will be found in the paper

from

which

the above

is extracted.
"

See

See also

"

"

the Embodiment
or
of Thought,"by Dr. Collyer.
Psychography,
The People's
No. XLIV.
Phrenological
Journal,"

318

of

secret

known

that

it

light

effluxions

with

one

there

from

another,

is

"

on

remarkable
and

man

the

as

caution,
a

law

left

be

of

Maxwell,

the

De

magnum

Magorum

in

things

Much,"

set

by

says

with

these

down

and

as

not

to

until

there

again,

"will
not
can-

ciples
prin-

observation^

presented

are

useful

great

and

experiment

chapter

it

to

man

indications

whereunto

accordance

very

losophy
phi-

this

bottom,

he

is

of

improbabilities,
"

this

this

adds
have

the

to

upon

philosophy
in

"We

"

also

instructive

knowledge,

probation,

to

the

sideration
con-

student.

Magneticd.
hoc

"

Natural

Frankfort,

spiritu impregnatis

secretum."
"

all

he

affections

knowledge

the

inquirer

And

Medidna

si instrumentis

Bacon's

of

of

and

by

All

father

remain

immateriat^

either

men,

great

examination."
and

of

emission

considered

reject

related

versalem,

See

the

or

instructive

of

from

impressions."

examine

to

reach."

statements

other

every

experience

to

fully

the

for

due

by

who

credit,

upon

passed

hath

rule

the

other

"

that

adds,

should

the

to

one

some

presence

He

there

to

says

are

in

are

body."

that

so

he

when

there

men

to

spirits of

important

ourselves,

to

receive

Eacon,
most

as

the

and

language

when

body

from

touching

or

that

reason

spirit,

to

from

minds

imaginations,

by

or

the

to

also

seems

principle,

individuals,

oj"virtue

from

Tirtues

of

as

experiments

"

wrote

well

as

Bacon

Mesmeric

the

spirit

sympathy

transmission

illustrious

agreeable

is

OPPONENTS.

ITS

Our
of

somewhat

certainly

"

witchcraft."

have

a,

AND

MESMERISM

ususfaeris,

Aphorismus,

History."

1679.

Century

Ixxviii.
10.

p.

"

Spirltum

in auxilium
182.

uni-

vocabis

GENERAL

RULES

FOR

RUIES

FOR

NECESSARY.
MODES

OF

OF

NOT

THE
AT

CLASS

ORGANIC

OF

OF

DISEASES

AFFECTED

OP

of the human

GOOD

CONTACT

THIRD

OF

MESMERISM.

DIFFERENT

MANNER.

TION
EXER-

EXPERIMENTS.
AND

BY

ENED
LENGTH-

"

DEMESMERISINC.

FROM

MESMERISER

PARALYSIS.

after all,
what

now,

condition

BENEFIT

NOT

MESMERISE?

AWAKENED.

BE

OF

METHODS

ABSENCE

FREEDOM

TO

SLEEP

ONE

ANY

CAN
NOT

WARMTH.

"

DISEASE.

CONDITION

Anb

DANGEROUS.

NIGHT.

PARTY.

EFFECTS.

PATIENT

"WILL.

MESMERISM.

DOMESTIC
OF

MESMERISING

SLEEP

SLEEP

MESMERISIUG

DIFFERENCE

319

vin.

CHAP.
GENERAL

MESMERISING.

EPILEPSY

STAGES

MESMERIC

OF

CONCLUSION.

CLAIRVOYANCE.

by which this peculiar

tained
is most easily
induced,or mainwords, what is the rightmethod

is the process

frame

managed ? in other
of Mesmerising?
In giving instructions under
or

Domestic

encourage

sick members
nature

"

to relieve the
sisters,
and
of a familythroughits soothing
influence,
I
in her work.*
Not that,by any means,
am

husbands

assist

this head, my
objectis to
thers,
to enable fathers or moMesmekism;

or

wives, brothers

this treatment

settingup

as

or

rival to the medical art,

"

as

some

that is to supersedeevery other appliance,

specific
with the contents of the Pharmacopoeia.
to dispense
and at once
Such notions would onlyfoster a disappointing
quackery. It
charm

or

is true, indeed,that
has

so

"

several occasions the mesmeric

on

revolutionised the whole

efficacy
extraordinary
upon

such

power

and wrought with

system,"
diseased habit of body,that

of
every other item
in his progress towards recovery,
medical treatment, and to rely,
alone.
It is true, also,that in certain conupon this power
the

"

patienthas

would

also

been

add

enabled

Parochial

to

discard

Mesmerism, by

clergyman,for his

popular periodical It strikes us very

a minister
of these occasions (a visitto a sick-bed),
that, on many
forcibly,
of Mesmerism
a useful
would find the composing treatment
of the gospel
of
the
God,
with
its
and
allay
blessing
means
ally. He might, through
"
c."
Church
and
sufferer,
of
assist a feverish
sleepless
a sharp pain,
many
135. of this
No. 92.
See my
own
ii.
experience,
vol.
p.
Journal,
England
See also Vital Magnetism,
by Rev. T. Pyne.
work.
I quote
parishioners.

from

"

"

320

OPPOITENTS.

ITS

AND

MESMERISM

principle
repellant
the latter
between medicine and Mesmerism, through which
But these
with the former.
will not alwaysact harmoniously
alone instruct the
on
are
which experiencecan
exceptions,
of
the adoption
student. My
wish is rather to recommend
and in strict accordance with
Mesmeric
practice,
conjointly
medical advice;
to have magnetism thrown
in, as it were,
stantly
conto every thing else. If this planwere
supplementarily
pursued in families,
by its own members, and at their
appear to exist

stitutions there would

some

"

time, the

own

would

be

of

amount

be afforded

is generally
requiredin

What

incalculable.

relief that would

human

room
sick-

patient
in obtaininga remission
of cerebral activity, something
that shall tranquillise
the nervous
system, something that
shall relieve painor render it endurable, somethingthat may
check inflammation without weakening the constitution. For
acts
all these purposes the
of the magnetiser
healinghand*
is either

somethingthat

shall assist

feverish
"

"

"

"

"

with promptness and

repeatedly

It

success.

is,indeed,my

firm

used by the.
that if Mesmerism
were
persuasion,
extensively
of a household for the benefit of its sicklier
healthymembers
illness would be cut short at its commencement,
an
portion,many
and shortened in,
many a disease abated of its intensity
its duration, many
an
organicand incurable malady receive
and respite,
and many a lifeprolongedwith comparapalliation
tive
"

"

comfort to the sufferer. Mesmerism

but it often effectsgreat wonders

of medicine

works

it sometimes

no

miracles,
"

assiststhe action

its power
has become all but dormant, and
and ease, when every other remedy has failed
givestone, sleep,
when

lost itsvirtue.

or

Dr. Esdaile,who

has

employedMesmerism

declares
surgicaloperations,

Virgilspeaksof the

jEneid. xij.402.
"
The great field for
"j-

"

manu

medicd

largelyfor

remedial agent
Dr. Elliotson has said the

efficacious and useful.^

is stillmore
*

that its power

so

as

Phoebiquepotentibusherbis."

"

of its usefulness is in
display

the treatment
of
all other resources
aid when
from Dr. Esdaile. Zoist,vol. v. p. 191. "The inin the alleviationof diseases are of greater
of
Mesmerism
eistimable
blessings
in ppetations,
extent than its application
Dr. Elliotson. Zoist,vol. iy,'
"c."
where
medical diseases,
have
Letter
taMei."

it often

comes

to

our

-^

"

p. 580.

SLEEP
same

of

thing. And when

inducingthe very same

by

such

NOT

NECESSARY.

know

we

321

that this influence is

capable
is procured

to pain that
insensibility

formidable agents

as

ether and

chloroform,we

well believe that its action

on

the human

frame must

may

be most

and transforming,
searching
so much
so indeed as oftentimes to
bring on an actual "revolution" in the system. This is the
phrase,indeed,that Dr. Esdaile himself employs.* And thus
it

is,that,in

ways than one, chloroform

the usefulness of Mesmerism.

Before,however,
there

that

we

enter

upon
points,with
preliminary

two

are

and ether confirm

more

directions for its use,

which

it is desirable

that the learner should be

impressed.
sleep is by no means
indispensably
necessary in
effect. The ordinarynotion on this hfead is,that

1st,That

proof of an
sleepis the
send

that

no

to

me

opponent

of the whole

secret

and

"

sleep,"is the vulgar cry

if

influence

system.

sure

am

of the

supercilious

somnolencybe induced, his conclusion is,

has been imparted. Now, in the first place,
no

it is any thingbut a correct inference,

that because
health may not
have been rendered somnolent,the

would

not

be

affected when
easily

in

and

as

the absence' of
sickliest patient,

party

same

is

no

body.

predisposed
with

But, secondly,even
coma

person in

of Nature,"

Mr. Newnham

fitted for its influence, t

and

different habit of

says, is the "Medicine

it is the sick and the suffering
that nature has

Mesmerism,

not
can-

you

proofof the

the

absence

Essential benefit may

be communicated, and the
wakeful and conscious as ever.
remain
as
Sleepis,in

of action.
invalid

truth, a satisfactory
symptom,
that it affords that
annals

record

some

from

the

evidence
intelligible

action has commenced

cases

numerous

but Mesmeric
cure, where

of alleviation and

revolutionises the whole system, and every other constitutional

coma
affection is for the time suspended." Dr. Esdaile's India, p. 170.
"f Gauthier says, " Out of a hundred persons in good health,two thirds

"

Mesmeric

"

and the other third a very slight

effect." T, P. p. 19.
effect,
no
perceive
of
to the easy
the
Esdaile says,
nervous
predisposes
Dehility
system
Newnham
Mr.
observes, that
receptionof Mesmerism," p. 26. Preface.
have
been
is greatlyincreased in emaciated persons, who
susceptibility
women
are
more
ceptible
susenfeebled by chronic disease," and he adds,that
of
their
nervous
because of the much
than men,
greatermobility
system." Chapter vii.

will
Dr.

"

"

"

"

"

ITS

OPPOKENTS.

somnolencyhas been imparted. Miss Martineau's

she says,
to enjoythe
is a striking
I longed,"
instance.
and except the great
Mesmeric sleep
the sleepnever
:
came,
marvel
of restored health, I have
experiencedless of the
wonders than I have observed in others." (p.14.) Mr. Townshend, speakingof a foreignMesmeriser, says, Many of his
patientsgot well under daily Mesmerising,without having
ever."
symptom whatexperiencedany drowsiness or extraordinary
whom
he
(Preface,
p. 24.) Dr. EUiotson had a patient,
before he could
Mesmerized
for four months half an hour daily,
send her to sleepfor more
than a minute or two, and then she
vol. ii. 197.) I know
became
(^Zoist,
extremelysusceptible.
several other instances of the same
kind, and have myself
removed
sharp local pain without inducing any somnolency
Mesmeriser be not
the inexperienced
whatever.
Let, therefore,
disheartened at an apparent failure from the absence of sleep.*
we
2dly,In naming the different methods of Mesmerising,
can
only touch upon the generalcharacteristics of the condition
induced.
No certain effectscan be predicated
or dependedupon.
Nature is infinitely
of
various, and the various complexities
the fiuman constitution,
of course, give out the most
various
for their result,f
operations
Exceptions and idiosyncrasies
be looked for. for instance,Mr. Snewing,in his interesti
must
"- so far from the
letter,
on
says, that
passes bringing
a
sleepyinfluence,
they seemed to banish sleep
; when, in
he should have been asleep
in a few
ordinarycircumstances,
minutes." A curative effect was, however, equally
obtained :
and the pain in his head relieved."^
he was
Medical
better,
of uniformityin Mesmerism
men
as
a
bring this want
as if their
chargeagainstthe art,and a proofof its uselessness,
and their opiates,
own
systems of treatment, their etherisation,
induce the very opposite
did not occasionally
effects to those.
little or

AIJD

MESMERISM

323
no

"

"

"

"

"

In the Critic Journal for March, 1845, is

of a severe
a
case
attack of
cured
Mesmerism,
no
"somnolence
though
by
gout
appeared,"p. 409.
The reader is also referredback to ChapterIII. for cures
effected by Captain
Valiant and Mr. Thompson without the induction of sleep. Dr. Ashburner
and Mr. D. Hands can offerevidence on the same
point.
in Mesmerism.
"f See Chapter I. p. 75. on this want of uniformity
237.
vol.
V. p.
Zoist,
"

CAN

intended.

ANY

To mention

I have
instance,

one

is' repeatedlygiven to

would

be

which
creosote,

seen

violent

even

and
retching

argument againstits value for

no

than

more

any

the most

323

sickness,nay,

counteract

actually
bringon
This

MESMERISE?

ONE

the anomalies of Mesmerism

sickness,
seanausea.

common

use,

any evidence
these anomalies are now
are

againstits more
generalfacts : but
alluded to by way of caution to the young Magnetiser,
that
remember

may

that in

these
presenting

he

instructions for his

I onlypretendto offer some

broad and general
rules,
guidance,
"those salient pointsin the practice
which observation has shown
of patients,
number
and
to be most
to the largest
applicable
that his own
judgment and experiencemust assist him in
supplyingall the rest.*
merise
The first questionthat presentsitselfis.Can any one Mesfew and favoured
to some
? Is it a giftappertaining
"

to the whole human

individuals, or a property common
is,any one in good health can Mesmerise
My answer
"

persons of

weak

and

says that
that there exists in man,

patients.Teste

their
to him

subtle agent, a cause

individual to another

beings,a
from

one

of

is,"says EUiotson,

facts have

Mesmeric

"

is in the

free from

power."

The

He

adds

again, I am inclined to
health,strength,
activity,
"

that,besides the differenceof

bulk, very little difference of Mesmeric

constitutionsare alike ; and

separatecharacter in every separateperson.
"

painor

enjoyment of an
sickness of body,

strongerand healthier a person

the greater,other thingsbeingequal,
"

believe
and

"

No

nay,
Mesmerise :

to prove
conspired
and probablyin all organised
transferable
or
productof life,
"

family,who

equablestate of health,and
to Mesmerise.
is qualified
is his

ditiona
t;" and this I believe that adobservation will affirm. The conclusion,
then,is,that

member

every

can

"or for
themselves,

either for

recommended

it is not to be

but

even

sicklyconstitution

race

two

that the

the

does by
of the recipients
variability

no

exists

system exhibits

nervous

It is of

power

ber
importance to rememmeans

prove the agent

Tovmshend, p. 298.
itselfvariable."
He
place," I think that
says, in another
p. I SO.
"f Teste's Magnetism,
latent
exerted,though in a
way, in such a manner
this influence is constantly
and incessant
and probablyall the beingsof nature,are reciprocally
that all men,
"

(p.35.)J
magnetised."

OPPONENTS.

ITS

AND

MESMERISM

324

and that the great difference of effectsis referrible

At the same
time, observation
to the person Mesmerised.*
suit different
would seem
to show that different Mesmerisers
have a peculiar
and that some
power for controlling

amongst

us

patients
;
and removing

peculiardiseases,f On the other hand,

Mesmerisers producean unfavourable effectwith particusome
rlarparties,
or while they are
very successful with one disorder,
can
hardlytouch another. Teste says, There sometimes exists
self
the Magnetiserand the individual who submits himbetween
which nothingcan dissipate.
to him, a certain moral antipathy,
certain

"

This

is unfavourable."

circumstance

(p.44.)

Dr.

ter
says, There appears to be a difference in the characinfluence of different persons ; for some
of the Mesmeric
fort,
experiencecomfort from one Mesmeriser,and discompatients
"

EUiotson

iii.52.) As a general
head-ache,"c. from another." {Zoist,
that any person in good
rule,however, it may be shortlystated,

|
capableof Mesmerising.
have been referred to in a preCertain moral qualifications
vious
it
desirable
to repeat that patience,
chapter:
may be

health is

^-oA.
are
firmness,
gentleness,
will

We
*

among the most

of a
suppose that a member

now

Zoist,vol. iii. p.

recommended

to the

Mesmeric

"

familyis prepared

is particularly
student for its various information.
whole

considers these

Gauthier, who
"jp. 64. and p. 316.
^ Deleuze says,

This

49.

essential."

paper

E.

by Dr.

pointsvery fully.
"

ought to mention,as

Traite

Pratique,

condition essentialto the success

be in the enjoymentof

should
treatment, that the Magnetiser
Instruction
"c."
289.
health,
Pratique,
p.
good
of every

"

asserts,that,in magnetising,
(a great German physiologist)
"
the
the
of
in
dependson
harmony
original
magnetic disposition
everything
and magnetised.Hensler divided all men
the magnetiser
into four classes:
have
no
those who
those who
magnetism, those who have a fiery
one,
"

Hensler

"

have

cold moist

and those

"

who

have

mixed

a
from
a
one;
proving,
example,that when the magnetiserpossesses the same
magnetism as the
will follow,as certainly
it will be prevented,if the magthe cure
as
patient,
netism
both sides do not
German
on
correspond." Wolfgang MenzeVs

one,

-^

"

vol. iii.p. 66.

Literature,
be fanciful,
I pretendnot to judge. The
description
have
Germans
deeplystudied the subject,
though theyare sometimes more
and
their
than
deserve
consideration. Speaking
opinions
practical,
visionary
of Mesmerism, Menzel himself says, This discovery
is certainly
of the
one
has
been
that
ever
most
made, and one which redounds to the glory
important

How

far the

above

"

of our

country,"Vol. iii.

326

AITO

MESMERISM

OPPONENTS.

ITS

equal degree of warmth

that being done, you will
"withdraw your hands, one
to the right,and the other to the
left,
moving them so that the interior surface or palm be turned
outwards ; you will then raise them as high as the head, place
until you perceivethat there is
between your thumbs
and his ;

an

"

them

upon

his

then draw

them

there for

shoulders,leave them

alongthe

the

to

arm

extremityof

minute, and
the

fingers,

the passes or downward

touchinggently.You will,then,commence
of the hands,at a littledistance from the body
movements
and continue!
(asbefore described),
the greaterpart of the sitting.*

this sort of process

during

in a paper in the Zoist,

Dr. Elliotson,
has quoted some
structi
inof his own, which are here repeatedfor their clearness

easiness of

and
make

veri/ slow

his stomach
from

application."I showed his wife how to

his forehead to opposite
passes from opposite

with

hand, held

one

the distance

at

of

few

his face,both

partieslooking at each other in

and all in the room
for at
silence,
still,
being perfectly
perfect
least half an hour, and at least once
a
day. I told her she
tired,and that she must
might change her hand when it was
either stand before or at one side of her husband, or sit a good
deal higherthan he was, or her hand would soon
tire ; that,if
he should go to sleep,
she had better continue the passes tillthe
allow it to expend itself,
sleepwas deep,and then contentedly
inches

it

as

sure

was

begged

him to omit

his habit.

been

do

to

sooner

later.

or

all medicine,and

This

was

done

At

live

and

the

time, I

same

justas

he obtained

had

always
complete

recovery."
"f
I have great opinionof the efficacy
of resting
the hands upon
the patient's
of a sitting
shoulder,at the commencement
; and I
still further success
fancy that I have seen, on some
occasions,

by the

Mesmeriser

the

upon
With

some

best.
*

his
crossing

The

and

rightshoulder,and his left on

however, the very
parties,

has probably
much
Polarity

Deleuze,chap.ii.p.
f Zoist,vol. V. p. 235.

arms

placinghis righthand
the left of the patient.
reverse

succeed

would

to do in the matter.

25.

Cure

of intense Nervous

is particularly
to
^student;
preferred

Affections,
"o.

Reichenbach's

Chapter

on

MODES

OF

MESMERISING.

of these methods

none

327

succeed,the pointsof the

be held steadily
for
to the eyes, about an inch off,

fingers
may

littletime. *

The

to

seem

is
patient

requiredto stare at the

Mesmeriser,nor even to open his eyes : though,if he do, a
"
pleasant
quicker action may be anticipated
staring is an un; but
far from suggesting.It is
process, and one that I am
not sufficiently
fortable
composingto the nervous
system,is an uncomexertion for an invalid,
and has a tendencyto distress
the brain ; but the pointingthe fingersnear
to the eyelids,
when
theyare closed down, is a most efficaciousmethod,though
with which I like to begin a sitting,
if it be
not one
especially
first trial. It is an excellent planfor seconding
a patient's
the
after the influence has a littlecirculated
manipulations,
introductory
for deepeningthe coma,
into the system,and especially
has onlydropped offinto a light
if the patient
slumber, f
have been pursued for a
After that these various methods
for onlyfive minutes,with some
littletime,with some
patients
some

not

"

for fifteen

or

of

first symptoms
The
and

droop,
"

and

more,

with

influence

an

average for about ten, the

selves.
wiU probablydevelopthem-

the

to quiver
beginto wink, the eye-lids
swallow
will sighgently, sometimes
patient

eyes will
the

"

"

eyes will
The
operator should then
close,and the patientbe asleep.'
continue the passes downwards
J,slowlyand without contact
sometimes

little saliva,and

Dualism,

"

p. 93.

With

the

cross

yawn,

hands

at last the

"

(of

"

"I

healthy)all action was

overwhelming."See

the

the author's force

arrested ; whereas, with the sick,
the
work.
same
also again,
p. 105. of

was

speakingof
found," says Dr. Elliotson,

"that

particular
case,

towards the eyes at the distance of an inch or two had

fingers
than
effect
making passes." Zoist,vol. ii. p. 49.
more
"
"(" The modes of inducingthe sleepare endless ; and just as an operator

pointingthe

"

met
accidentally

have

may

method,

may

or

weeks

or

months,

for

try all ways

vol. i.p. 312.
Zoir.t,

I have

mentioned,at

Gauthier, at
and

Deleuze

awaken

p.

efficientway

is found."

174.,the evil effects of

p. 102., givesquotationsfrom
effect. If they do
to the same
a

particular

the
acquired

in turn, till an

to

affected by
more
persons
have
them
to it,or may

and energy, he
method with more
ease
particular
after
day,be it for
or that.
Steadyperseverance day
at least half an hour, is the greatestpoint. It is best

operatingin
this method
"will praise
habit of

with

accustomed

have

sleeper.
Z

Dr.

EUiotsm.

making upward

Mesmer,
no

"

passes.

Puysegur,D'Eslon,

other harm,

they would

bably
pro-

the knees and the feet.

influence towards
After
common

and

time, if the patientremain

indications of slumber, you

"
If he
ask, " if he be asleep?
is called

he is what
condition

as

at

once

Gauthier

in the

answer

distinct from that of

in not

common

expectedat
generally'
more

thaii ten

cases

out

affirmative,

regard his
nambulism
sleep. Somthe first sitting
:
may

of

hundred

allow
will,perhaps,scarcely
70.); other magnetists
great a disproportion.

( T. P.
so

says,

"

quiet,and exhibit th"

to him,
may speak softly

somnambulist,"and you

"

not be

must

needed),carryingthe

be

local Mesmerisation

(unlesssome

OPPONENTS,

ITS

AND

MESMERISM

328-

Do

p.

not

Mesmerise

the head

produce a head-ache,which

too

much

will be

it has

felt,after

;"
of

tendencytoi
the patientis
a

awakened.
or begin to laughor to cry,
hysterical,
; take hold of his
stop it at once with firmness but gentleness
his chest,and requirehim to
hand, or placeyour own
upon
be composed. A quietand serious manner
on
part
your own

If the

will

become
patient

induce quietnesswith
gradually

him.

be continued for about half an

hour; a
passes may
longertime is not necessary, as a generalrule ; some even say,
of that
for only a quarter of an hour ; and if at the expiration
The

to the
period,the patienthas not exhibited impressionability
the operator should leave off,
of sleep,
and renew
the
ififluence
the next day,as nearlyas possible,
at the same
inanipulations
time.
The absence of sleep,
it has been already
shown, is no
proofof the absence of action or of a beneficial influence.
that now
The question,
is whether the patient
presentsitself,
should be awakened,when the time is come
for the Mesmeriser
As a generalrule,most certainly
to return home?
not. There
are
some
indeed,who cannot bear the 'absence of the
patients,

it would be imprudentfor
Mesmeriser, and whom, therefore,
him to leave asleep
these,of course, must be awakened :
; and
but the longer
that the sleepcontinues,
the greater generally
is
the benefit,
and I would always recommend
the Mesmeriser to
i
f
without disturbing
retire, possible,
the patient.The latter
will

probablywake up in a quarter of an hour ; but

the better for him. Elliotson
longerhe sleeps,
says,

"

if not, the
If I have

OF

METHODS

way, and have no

generalrule,I would never

my

own

There

is

againfrom

an
a

DEMESMERISING.

329

for deviating
reason
from
special
toake a patient."

idle notion abroad,that persons may never

awake
Mesmeric
and great alarm is sometimes felt
sleep,

A more
of the slumber.
erroneous
prolongation
opinion
time
wake
other
existed
to
sure
never
: they are
or
; and
up one
the less that theyare disturbed or troubled by effortsof awakening
in these longtrances, the sooner
will the influence wear
itself
often seem
out.
The attempts at arousinga sleeper
to have
but if we
the effectof deepeningthe coma
wait patiently,
;
hours
let it be even
for twenty-four
shall be reor
warded
more, we
by the result. In a previouschapter*, I have referred
instances of this lengthenedslumber,and showed
its
to some
At any rate, we
must
harmlessness.
not employ any strong
towards awakening the sleeper.Dr. EUiotson says,
measures
It is in truth highlyimproper to use violent means
to rouse
whether spontaneous or induced by
persons in sleep-waking,
state is free from danger,and expends
The mere
Mesmerism.
the repose is harmis still,
later. If the patient
less
itselfsooner
or
he will at lengthbe stillor
; and if he is moving about,
self.
awake, and care should onlybe taken that he do not hurt himand roughly,
from comeven
To wake persons suddenly
mon
is improper."
t
sleep,
at the

"

"

If,however,

the half-hour

when

or

hour

be

expired,it

be-

few gentlemethods
a
will
expedientto awaken the patient,
should always give him noticewe
usuallysucceed. But, first,
tressed
him, otherwise he may awake disthat we
are
going to arouse
the sleeper
to
Sometimes,the mere
telling
or startled.
however, in this case to give
wake up is sufficient: it is better,
and to requirehim to rouse
him a littleleisure for preparation,
minutes.
up in two or three
are
The best methods for demesmerising

the

to
opposite

those

of cold instead of warmth,

application
rapidtransverse or upward passes across the face and eyes,
touching or drinkingcold water,
blowing upon the eyes,
and
raisinga current of fresh air by waving a handkerchief,
of

The

Mesmerising.

"

"

openingthe door,
"

Page

134.

the fire-ironsi,
cold steel,
as, for instance,

t Zoist,vol. iii.p.

41.

AND

MESMERISM

330

the forehead,

to
applied

Some

"

succeed best with

on
sleeper

awakening

OPPONENTS.

ITS

adopted.
plansmost generally

the

are

case, and

one

should

the

or
himself,
communicatingthe

not

another.

time

given him

serious

or

to

unpleasant

after
immediately
retaining
any bad effects

his hands

to wash

both to avoid

is over,

seance

of

The

with

always have

recover, before he be addressed.

in cases
It is a good regulation,

for the Mesmeriser

illness,

some

the

to

same

others.

Allusion

has

of cleanliness,
to
as preliminary
necessity
it is so obvjous and indispensable,
that
:
manipulations

the

to the

made

been

appear idle. I mention it,however, because I

assists the transmission of the
believe that ablution actually

reference would

influence,
"

both

that

well-washed

"will communicate

hand

the

as well as more
readily
pleasantly.
The
above are those generalrules,that applyto the young
Gauthier and other
first essay with Mesmerism,
practitioner's
minute inT"rench writers from thence proceed to the most
structi
turninga simpleprocess into a wearisome study.
Without
denyingthe correctness of their views,I shall confine
which the most
myselfto those further pointsin the practice,
magnetists
experienced
appear to regardas most important.
is the exertion of the will. Many Mesmerists
Among the first,

power

more

"

of the will
the power
and
have produced
some
impression,

attach the greatestvalue

towards

an
effecting

to

the greatest
marvels
the British Museum,
the

men,

be

constant

in
In two small pamphlets
by its means.
publishedin 1790, and written by practical
"
greateststress is placedon willing. Let there
intention within you : keep up an idea of the

that
-complaint

you wish to remove."

great promoter of success, strange as
the will, determine to do good."
"

you

are

possessedof."

This

"

Constant

it may
"
Exert

intention is a

seem."

"

Exert

all the volition

pointis pressedover

and

over

againby both writers with the greatestearnestness ; and later

Mesmerists use the same
language. In the fifthvolume of the
Zoist,are
Mr.

that

two

Thompson
"

very
"
On

letters from
striking
the Power

the firstcondition of
*

Dr.

Ashburner,and

of the "Will."*

is
magnetising

Page 253.

to

Deleuze says,

will,
"

that the

WARMTH.

331

will is necessary to conduct the fluid,

and to maintain a proper
action ;" and Mr. Townshend, in his chapteron the "Mesmeric

Medium,"

enters

remits,"he says,

the

lengthon

at

attention
"

of Mesmeric

there is a remission

"

When

"

subject.

power :
and he mentions an instance of a patient,
who, althoughhe had
his eyes closed and his limbs paralysed
in the torpor of the
Mesmeric slumber,was not slow to perceive
the wanderingsof
his attention,
and called out to him constantly
and coincidently
with

the remission

of his

You influence me
no
thoughts,
exerting,
youKielf."*
Jussieu stated in
adjuvantis^'Warmth.

longer

you are not

Another valuable
"

his report that Warmth

of magneticsuccess.
source
of Warmth

is

Warmth

(chaleur
animale)was

has

causes

pointedout

principal

cation
says that the communiof magneticsomnambulism.

Gauthier
of the

one

Dr. Esdaile

"

"

the

great importanceof

ia
operations
happy termination of surgical
the Mesmeric
sleep; and Dr. EUiotson observes, This is an
of
for stating
the greaterMesmeric
susceptibility
opportunity
for the

"

persons, and the

party is warm.
hand

greaterpower of Mesmerisers,if the respective

merising
The apartment, the two parties,
and the Messhould

assured
frequently
my
comfortable.

Patients have

warm.
comfortably

that the effect of my

me

hand

less when

be

was

All the

passes
I
feltelsewhere
cold,though

was

muck

warm

and

of a living
and powers
susceptibilities
of thinking,
lessened by cold."f
are

the power
and rather to be encouraged
Experiments are also very useful,
than otherwise.
has become
When
the brain of the sleeper

frame, even

and he has passedfrom the stupor

degreeactive,
what is called sleep-waking,
the more
a cheerful conversation
is carried on the better ; some
indeed,do not like
patients,
to

into

be

to

spoken to,

Townshend's

"fZoist,Tol.

to

or

Facts,p.

vi. p. 6.

answer

; some,

on

the

contrary,are

310.

Maxwell, in the old Treatise

so

often referred to,

to man,
and
considers that diseases and health are communicated from man
he
the
them
insensible
various
mentions
:
mentions
perspiration.
ways
among
"
et insensibilisdicta a medicis perspiratio,
non
mere
excreSudor, igitur,

etiam resolutas
mentitia sunt, verum
ut in Medicina
vincitur. Hinc fit,
Liber ii.cap. 16.
z

secum
particulas
corporis
maximi
usus
Magnetica

vehere

con-

sint,""c."

832

IVfESMEEISM

annoyed if they are

say, that it were
the patienthas

AND

ITS

OPPONENTS.

I should
addressed ; witli the majority,
desirable to converse
a little. If,however,
not

passedinto the sleep-wakingstate,"the

deeperthe sleepcan be made by breathing,continued passes,
the hand upon the head,
the eye-balls,
or
over
layingthe fingers
"c., the greater
or
rigidity,
by experimentsmade with traction,
I
the good. Not, however, always,"(addsDr. EUiotson)
:
made so
have seen a few patients
who suffered if the sleepwas
deep that they could not converse." * Experiments,also,with
not

"

metals,and with mesmerised

water,

also very useful.

are

"

The

of gold to a jointstiffened by rheumatism, or disease,

application
often bringson a quasi-galvanic
viceable.
action,and is most serToo deep a sleep,
however, producedby metals,or
"

in any other way, may

greatlyexhaust the strength."

water,

or

overpower

the system,and

useful. Several of my patients

theyhave held in their hands, or on

are
Experimentswith crystals

tave

declared that when

lap, a piece of quartz, or of carbonate or sulphateof

lime,they have found the Mesmeric influence act more
rapidly,
and their sleeprendered more
deep. If traction can be induced,
of a crystal,
the better.
so much
by the application
The notion with inexperienced
persons is,that experiments
do harm, and fatigue
is the fact,
the sleeper.The very reverse
providedthat theyare not pushed to an extravagant length.
The patient,
on
awakening,feels rather refreshed and strengthened
their

than

otherwise.f
It may here be appropriate
which is one
to allude to a fact,
of the most convincingproofsof the truth of Mesmerism, and
at which medical men
one
the
seem
alwaysstaggered, I mean
good sleepat night that so generallysucceeds the Mesmeric
"

Zoist,vol. iv. p. 472.

"|- This is one of the most striding
thingsin Mesmerism
exhausted
shall be
by previousexertion,
very weak, perhaps
"

that

thrown

persons

into the

and be kept in constant

muscular action,perhaps
sleep-waking,
their arms
and legs,
in a state of rigidflexion,
or
forced into and
extending
retained in the most awkward, and one would think painfulattitudes,
such
as they could not support a hundredth
part of the time in the natural state,
and on
than
that they feel much
being awakened, know nothingmore
stronger and better than before you sent them to sleep." EUiotson. Zoist,
Mesmeric

vol. i.p. S2S.

AND

MESMERISM

334

OPPONENTS.

ITS

the
retire."*
On these occasions,
prevailed
upon to let me
Magnetisermust act with kindness and judgment.
Another
point for consideration is,whether a sleepercan
To some
of a third person.
bear the touch or pi-oximity
their dearest relatives is
the near
approach of even
sleepers,
and ought,
to be avoided.
and distressing,
most painful
therefore,
If, however, contact be for any reasons
necessary, a rapport
induced between
should be gradually
them, by the Mesmerisei;
nication
holdingeach party by the hand, and placingthem in commuand by degrees.f '; '-5';fe
gently,
should not commence
after full eating,
A sitting
intmediately
while digestion
is first proceedingeither with the patient
or
'

operator. Deleuze

says, however, that it is sometimes

desirable for the Magnetiserto eat a little,
to avoid exhaustion
the

fatigue.Temperance and

or

tions in

moderation

are

valuable

qualifical-

Mesmeriser.

and pains shift themselves

appliedlocally,
of a
and descend,it is an admirable sign;.c!fThe displacement
of the magnetism."
malady,"says Deleuze,"proves the tfficacy
there is no cause
If painseven
for alarm.
increase,
They often
If Mesmerism

be

in the
do at first ; and it proves that an action has commenced
should endeavour
to attract them
system. The Mesmeriser

downwards, and

out

at the feet.

If the eyes of the patientbe unpleasantly

closed after he is
his limbs or jaws rigid,
or
awakened, or his eyelidsfeel stiff,
relaxation may be obtained by the Mesmeriser
This is an
them.
importantfact for a young
His

remember.
from

I have
firmness
and

alreadyspoken,in

EUiotson.

The

and

upon
when

Gauthier

Mesmeriser
and

his

to

patient

of the value of
previouschapter,
should any thing unusual arise. Calmand patience,
ness
perseverance wiU always carry a Mesmeriser through
a

Nothing serious

every crisis.

acts

release himself

may
embarrassment.

an

many

breath

breathingupon

has

ever

been

known

to result

Zoist,vols. v. and ii.

meaning of beingen rapport,says Deleuze,is when

individual
one
another
by the existence of a physical
sympathy between them,
this sympathy is well established,
they are said to be en rapport"
calls it, the communication
of the vital principle,
and a Uniformity
"

"

of movement

between

two

persons."

DISEASES

from

AFFECTED

BY

MESMEEISM.

335

change,when the Magnetiserhas not givenway to

the apprehensions
of others.
If a sleeper
be onlypartially
awakened,or if a disturbing
effectremain after he is demesmerised,the patientshould be
thrown back into a deep sleepagain,and allowed to remain so
for some
minutes ; the evil effectswiU then generally
pass off,
and the sleeper
will probablywake
up again,unconscious of
any

their former existence.

In aU likelihood there had been

some

littlemismanagement.

Some

of extreme
disturbed by the
are
patients
susceptibility
touch of gold,or other metallic substances ; and many Mesand
merisers,on that account, take off their ringsor jewellery,
their keys or purses from their pocket. If the patient
remove
moves
the Mesmeriser
anxiously,and exhibits pain when
touches or approacheshim^ the latter has probably
tating
irrisome
material about his person.
This,however, is a pointon
which no rule can be given; with my patients,
the touch from
metals has been almost invariably
eificacious.
Mesmerism, however, does not always produce sensible
effects; and one of our next
questionsis,how longmust it be
before we abandon
the hope of experiencing
real benefit from
?

the treatment
Mesmerism

be

In acute

likelyto

whether
it will be soon
seen
attacks,
render service ; but,in chronic cases,

Gauthier

the time

is uncertain.

days are

sufficientto show

arise *,

though oftentimes

whether

this latter statement.

the

as
patient,

to the

instances

sufferer not
On

to

be

the other

to do

than

againsays,
appears

to

"

me

more

to

fifteen
generally
to
likely
tillat
perceived

any real effectsare

pages of the Zoist corroborate

of
must
depend upon the feelings

Much

of
prolongation

the treatment

merable
but innu-

of ultimate relief obtained,could teach the

too
discouraged

soon.

hand. Dr. Esdaile gives a caution,which

take with

more

that

The

desirable for the convalescent

liberties we

"

influence is not

an

the end of several months."

says,

to

bear

in

mind.

the better,the rule

nature

"

The

it is
fewer

being never

he
the system,"
on
practise
than is necessary for the cure
of disease,
be a dangerto be avoided in the use of Mes-

enough.-'

"

"

To

T. P. p. 315.

MESMERISM

336

In

When

patientis fullyrestored

the

that

the
I

"

eays,

Elliotson

Dr.

discontinued.

be

advanced,
recovery
; as
performedless frequently

noticed,that

have

diminution."
Another
which

as

merism
Mes-

"

ready :

answer

wrought." As
that it can

avail

recorded

of

is

onlyin
of

cure

The

these

whom

He
are

diseases,

medical

man

will tell you,

the subjects
for
have

imaginarycures

Martineau, however, observes," No

Miss

Mesmerism

about

with ?

cases."

nervous

fanciful women,
the patientson

and
hysterical
Magnetism, and

cases

deals
usually

most

"

mistake

is the class of

questionoften asked,is,what

Mesmerism

his

been

should

to

in a
requiredto be
as
medicine,patients,
they improve,requirea gradual

tonic

has

soundness

treatment

fullyconcur.
health,it is expedient

of this advice, I

imerism."

the

OPPONENTS.

ITS

AIJD

than
prevalent

more
nervous

diseases.

the

The

tion
supposi-

numerous

the whole

rheumatism, dropsy,and

class of tumours, cases

and almost as numerous,
as
as distinct,
those of cure of paralysis,
and other diseases of the
epilepsy,
brain and
his

experimentsto

acts

throughthe
of the

index

make

nerves, must

the

that

"diseasesthat

are

Epilepsyis one
almost
caution which

limiting

\ The
system is another question."

nervous

Zoist will confirm

Mesmerism

of

Mesmerism

system. Whether

nervous

enumeratingthe cures
repeat the language of
"

inquirercautious

an

this statement

and

without

recorded,it will be sufficient to

there

accomplishedlady,before quoted,
is successful through the widest range of
and have not caused disorgannot hereditary,
isation."
of the

the

diseases for which

specific
; in

Mesmerism

its treatment,

it is desirable to

give to

the

is

sidered
con-

however, there is a

inexperienced
Mag-

netist.
Teste says," an increase in the number
and severity
of the
"fits
constitutes almost alwaysthe first effect of the treatment."
I think

that he

has

stated

this

opinionfar

too

strongly
; it

ought rather to be said,that an increase in the number and

of the fits,
is a not uncommon
result of the Mesmeric
severity
and a most favourable prognostic
of a successful issue.
-influence,
*

Zoist,vol. i.p. 328.^

f Letters,p.

12.

EPILEPSY.

But this increase in the fits is

337

for
commencement
distressing
a
that he is
young Mesmeriser;he not unnaturally
apprehends
doingharm rather than good,and would be apt to suspendhis

operationsat the very

promiseof

that he has

moment

Teste adds,

cure.

These

"

received the best

diminish

crises soon

in

and severity,
and ultimately
frequency
;"*
altogether
disappear
and

he

givesa case or two in illustrationof the fact. One of

them
was
in which
a
reportedby Dr. Koreff, a physician,
the patient
succession of fits came
scribed
defrightful
on, which
"

"

"

as

stormy explosion
necessary

after
disease,"
excellent

health.

mentions

in

case

almost

as

fitwas

over,

times

which

soon

as

she

restored
perfectly

was

shakingfor

the

process

twelvemonth, and
voL
{Zoist,

She

month.

and

the

enjoyed

Teste,p. 269.) Dr. EUiotson

{Spillan's
which
had a fit
"for three weeks the patient

the process was

each sitting.The

at

terminate

to

recommenced,
continued
a

be

to

and when

and

so

several

on

for

mesmerised

for above

fit now

the

produced only a

then

process

had

has not

commenced

was

six

years"

ii. 76.)

Teste says, "These violent paroxysms do not occur

constantly.
the
M. Mialle's work
of cases, in which
contains a number
ing
disease observed an
inverted course,
i. e. began by exhibit"

Dr.

from

amendment

an

Elliotson,says,

"

the first days of treatment."

It

occasionally
happens at

(p.269).

first that the

state,or a
process either excites a fitinstead of the Mesmeric
state ; or that the Mesmeric
fitwhich passes into the Mesmeric
to an attack that it is interrupted
state so favours the disposition

by

and

one,

sometimes

continues

the fit is over,

when

times
some-

the
broken
perfectly
up by the fit,and sometimes
of waking a patient
excites a fit. But, if the process is

is

process

such
repeated,

result

When

attacks

state, they decline after

Mesmeric

process or
length cease, if the

ceases.

course

of Mesmerism

occur
a

from

the

time, and. at

with.
is persevered

continuance of the passes duringthe fit clearly

aggravates,
in
the fit
but
be proper to desist tillthis is over ;
general
it may
If

yieldsthe

sooner

to

steadycontinuance

reader is referred back

work.
p. 127. of this
"

The

to the case

of Anne

of the passes, or
Vials,and

to a note

to
at

MESMERISM

338

AND

ITS

OPPOlfENTS.

passes down the chest and back with contact,transverse passes

before and behind the trunk,or to what is often better,breathing

assiduously
upon the eyes, nose, and mouth, or
hands in our own
; and the
holdingthe patient's
manifest itself in proportion
as the fitis
state may

and
very slowly
the bosom, and
Mesmeric
subdued."*

questionthat is often asked by medical

with a sneer, is.Can Mesmerism
too generally
cure
of
disease ? by which is meant, such an aggravation
Another

men,

and

organic
disease in

the part affected as amounts

to an actual alterationof structure?
For instance.
Can Mesmerism
an
or
a uterine
cure
liver,
enlarged
?

cancer

"We

medical
ask in return,can
this sneer
at the presumed

might

if not, why
Mesmerism ?

and

Of

men

cure

it?

impotencyof

questionof this kind, I am not competent

to offer an
opinion. Some medical Magnetistsassert, that
Mesmerism
revolution" in the system as
does producesuch a
to bringabout a cure, where actual disorganisation
occasionally
has sat in ; and in confirmation of this view theypresent some
facts. Other Mesmerists,however, say, that the
very startling
for a
extent of this agency
goes no farther than to palliate
if this be
season, and to suspendthe progress of disease. And
all,is this nothing? WeU does Mr. Newnham
observe, It
is, however, somethinggained,to get time, to arrest the
rapidityof the downward
path, to renovate strengthfor a
while, to induce sleepwhere narcotics fail, to tranquillise
the nerves,
to discard
to
frequently
pain, and generally
diminish suffering
such effects we
claim for magnetism
; and
over
organiclajsion."f But, (as Mr. Townshend
observes,)
with most persons, not to cure is equivalent
to doingnothing
of suffering
at all. Is mitigation
nothingin this suffering
world ? Who
the persons who choose to denythe advantage
are
of a remedy because it is not entirely
curative ? Certainly
not
those who
tortured by disease,
are
their friends who witness
nor
that torture."!
Let us assume, that in the whole class
course,

on

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

Dr. Storer of Bristol has been

Zoist,vol.ii.p. 1 99.
very successfulin
Mesmerism.
See particularly,
treating
Epilepsyby
Zoist,vol. iv. p. 447.
t Newnham's "Human
Magnetism,"p. 134.

Townshend's

Facts. Preface.

OEGANIC

of

in
organicmaladies,

the
to

liver,no

final

cure

mitigate
symptoms,

DISEASE.

cancers,
be
can

indeed,may

not be

of

lungsor

obtained,' stillit is something

"

"

to

obtained,
"

..."

Shall lull the

produceimprovement.

cure,

but

The salutary
spell
penalagony to sleep."*

But, because Mesmerism

be insufficientto restore

may

structure, this is

gainst

in diseases of the

or

and procure a partial

over
victory
pain,
the conventional arts of established practice

when
especially
have altogether
failed

most

339

no

argument,

its application
in functional

as

some

or
disorders,

in

organise
dis-

employ it,
derangeme
partial

of the

to hear
ever
cease
'system."We
scarcely
of the curative effects of the system,"says Mr. Allison,an
Let the reader seriously
ask himself,
whether Mesmerism
opponent.
is adequate to restore an
altered composition,
and a
structural change ?
who
May Providence aid the afflicted,
to the object!" "Among
trust in means
so
disproportionate
the diseases,
which are supposedto be influenced by the passes,
have a
must
paralysisoccupiesa prominent place. Paralysis
is a disorganisation
of structure in the nerThat cause
vous
cause.
examination
after
matter ; for every properly-conducted
+
death has demonstrated the existence of a structural change."
be organicor functional,
it is certain that
Whether
paralysis
"

of essential service to many afflictedwith

and with all deference to the anatomists,
itwould

has been

Mesmerism
the disease ;

"

scarcelyseem
detected

in examinations
had

malady. And
this remedy.
will be
and

even

follow,because

to

structural

conducted

change

had

afterdeath, that

been

ganisation
disor-

earlier stages of the

it is for those earlier stages that I strongly
urge

equallyexisted

in the

Like

which are constantly

galvanism and electricity,
for the cure. Mesmerism
recommended
by the faculty
found to succeed,when
every thing else has failed ;
to produceessential,
in cases of longstanding,
though

benefit.
gradual,

Deleuze, who

wrote

follow, mentioned

to
"

in
more

1825, and
than

who

sixtycures

is a most
of

safe

guide
that
paralysis,

Thalaba, book v.
"
"c., by J. Allison,Surgeoni
Mesmerism and its Pretensions,"
p. 50.

MESMERISM

340

had occurred

AND

in France

ITS

through Mesmerism, up

Dr. Elliotson,
Dr. Esdaile,and Mr.
And

in the Zoist.
I

cal,there is a

Eev.

Jstanding.The

D. Hands

in the seventeenth

reportedof

cure

OPPONENTS.

case

record

number

of

to that time.
some

cures

of that

periodiof thirty
paralysis
years'

L.Lewis,the Mesmeriser,says,
in

"The

lysed
para-

cold and

withered
a
leg and fool which had been
state for thirtyyears, are
as
warm
now
as
any part of the
frame, much largerin size,and strong enough to bear
patient's
her weight. She can walk many miles."
Friction of the

by
the

Deleuze

recommended
paralysedpart is particularly
and when
Gauthier,after the patientis asleep,

and

rapport is well established.

often begin to use

their limbs in the sleep. I
Paralytics
have seen,"says Dr. Koreff, paralytics
the full use of
recover
their limbs in somnambulism, which they lost,when awakened.
has been completed.
Dr.
Gradually,however, the cure
Elliotson mentions a case in point,
where by tractive passes he
made
elevate his head and walk after him.
a
young paralytic
The father and mother were
and called in their
petrified,
peoplefrom the shop to witness the strangesightof their child
with his head nodding in sleep,and slowlymoving after me,
his legsat all
though unable to raise his head an inch or move
a
that
quarter of an hour before." Dr. E. adds afterwards,
is
in
health." ^
he
perfect
It is unnecessary, however, to recapitulate
every disease to
is applicable.Let it be tried on
which Mesmerism
every
"

"

"

"

"

occasion,when circumstances render it convenient, not, as

before remarked, in antagonism to the physician,but
was
"

to his kind and practised

care.
subsidiary
J
The student would probably be glad to know

as

writers divide the

stages,which
"

are

Mesmeric

in
Coleridge,

I
of
application
;

in

two

Animal

always found

not

Koreff,p. 445.

"

note

to

of them, every known

and for which the

purpose,
King of Prussia,had a medal

Dr. Wolfant."

(p.508.)

to

"

into several states

or

in the

in-

occur

f Zoist,vol. i.
Southey's
Wesley,alludes to "the

Magnetism in

no

condition

that modern

four
means

or

five cases

of

had

used

been

same

successful

tion
suspended animafor six hours

Emperor of Russia,who was present, and

struck,one of which, in sgold, was
siven
S
'

to

the
to

JIESMERISM

342

OPPONENTS.

ITS

AND

proof of the realityof the Mesmeric state. This happy

depends upon the cerebral character and
feelingof equality
one

patient. Those, whose

(when awake)is marked by levity,
may,
of the

education

mixed

his

(touse

imagine how

about, when

of the

of
precision

Damascus, with
with
sleeper,

Mr.

by
a

Eliot

of

mentions

who

did not

veloped
de-

manner

case, where

see

the

nambulist,
som-

littlethe poor fellow knew what

"
told that he took the " longitude

theyare
the Supreme Court
cabman. \ But the

of

Judges

that recorded

He

language), those

own

freedom

same

"

may
was

the

the Hindoos.

itself among

and

state,

"

describes how

Esdaile

he

in the Mesmeric

rude, and then,if there is a degreeof delirium

of imposition."*
with it,the conduct begets a suspicion

rattle and be

Dr.

familiar conversation

with

the cool

most

instance
striking

Warburton,

of what

impudence

occurred

is
at

black

he Mesmerised.
The
slave,whom
fearful howl, suddenlystarted to his feet,
flung
a

of water and dashed it into

his arms, seized a largevase
smashed
a lantern into a thousand
bits,and rushed
fragments,
wide

court-yard.All

the

about

presence

of his master

When

of all that he had

having

as

done

by
awakened, he

was

slave in the

a
was

conscious
quiteun-

done, but described his sensations

that
delightful,
such as he
rights,

been

all his

with

this

of

freedom,of
perfect

had

man

felt before in his

never

life.t
fourth stage is that of clairvoyance
and of the ecstaticoin which the sleeper
prophetic,
senses,
appears to acquirenew
The

and

obtains with the

vulgarthe reputationof the miraculous.

has several degrees,
and various powers.
Mental
Clairvoyance
voyance,
travelling,
thought-reading,
introvision,
prevision,
pure clairthe terms most generally
are
employed to describe the
voyant
highestphenomena. Of these,introvision,
by which the clairis enabled to
*

Zoist,vol. iii.p.

^f See
of

see

the structure

356.

Cross,"vol. ii. p. 320.

curious instance of the effects of ether on
"

Crescent

and

of the human

frame, and

t Esdaile's India,p. 113.

Dr. RadclyfFeHall, speaking
of
Her manner
a lady,says,
"

her opinionduring her ether-dreaming,

expressing
though free from the
slightest
immodesty,was far removed from the reserve which a knowledge of
the presence of those around would have occasioned."
Lancet, March, 1847.
"

When

this absence

of

reserve

occurs

in

Mesmerism, it is called imposture.

CLAIEVOYANCE.

report the condition of

343

diseased organ, would

seem

to be the

useful. "

most

is a fatiguing
and exhausting
Clairvoyance
condition. The
effectf: it is not always
presence of scepticshas a disturbing
the same
on
all occasions,(most especially,
it is said,with
women
be overworked, it will fail altogether.
;) and if the faculty
are
and
Clairvoyants
perform,
very vain of what theycan
fond of creatingwonder.
are
If the Mesmeriser
encourages
their
increase
and
will
their
wonders
also. This
display, vanity
has been the source
of much
imposture,and of discredit to

Mesmerism.
In

short,

Mesmerist.

Man

be reared
and

does

by man
healed by man.
all formed

useful should be the first studywith

be

to

"

live for himself alone.

not

; must

be

We

are

from the

taughtby

man

must

be comforted

; must

all necessary the

Man

the

to the other ;

one

clay,and are hasteningto the

end ;
and while our
same
sojourncontinues on this earth,
all intimately
identified with each other's happiness.As
are
that wild, but powerfulwriter,Thomas
Carlyle, in one of
The French
the wildest and most powerfulof his writings,
of this work, says :
Revolution," speakingon the very subject
are

we

same

"

"

"

"

"

"

And

so

under

begins again to

the

vesture, the old great truth

strangestnew

revealed,

be

"

that

man

creature, with miraculous power

the whole,with such a lifein him, and such

is what

miraculous

with
Analysis,
wiU
metaphysic,

victorious

as

physicand
nothingof explaining."

The

task

to

and
completed;

now

"

See

my

AppendixI. for

men

nervous
physiologies,
name
never
completely

so

readers

instances of

and

on

world round

her

I have

which

over

call

we

him,
systems,

to

say

is
anxiouslydevoted myself,
must judge with what success.
unconnected
Clairvoyance

with Mesmerism.

Feucbterleben observes, The presence of an indifferentor inand they produce their most
credulous spectatorexcites their antipathy,
before
I have often cona fact of which
believers,
vinced
astoundingwonders only
209.
Medical
Psychology,
p.
myself."
+

"

Baron

"

5544

MESMERISM

I have endeavoured
existence of

ITS

AND

OPPONENTS.

there is in Mesmerism

that

to show

which, if properlydirected

power

may be found eminentlyserviceable in

of human
kind.
I have

endeavoured

this

to prove

and

the

controlled,

the happiness
increasing

in-i

position
by numerous
experiment.

confirmed by observation and

I have respectfully
invited the attention of the medical world

stances

to a

consideration
philosophic

I have

renewed

been
that

"

from the

of this power,
chargeof Satanic action is one

that the vague

shown

has

which

of the

it is

at

every

uses

fresh and

covery,
mysteriousdisoften proceedsless

charge,too, which
grossest ignorancethan the interested
a

of the

motives

inventor.
endeavoured

I have

does,in

and

upon
and

prove that
degree,affect our
to

knowledge

our

of Mesmerism

belief in real miracles,

in the doctrines of Scripture,
though it may throw light
no

of mind
the relationship
many of those secrets respecting
matter, which have hitherto appeared miraculous or perplexing,

accordingas
regardedthem.
I have
And, lastly,
for those who

familyand

wish

the

have respectively
or philosopher
priest

given a few plainrules in mesmerising,

to employ the art for the benefit of their

of their sick friends.

the friends of
nothing remains but to congratulate
truth,at the marked and steadyprogress that the great cause
is making. The adversaries may be numerous
and influential,
is diminishingdaily. The
but their number
established
leaders of the medical profession,
who have fixed the principles
and desire no disturbance in their views from
of their practice,
And

now

"

the detection of

fresh and

unknown

law in nature

"

creasin
de-

of the Evangelicalclergy,
nate
whose unfortuproportion
and power
love of popularity
tempts them to upholdtheir
otherwise well-deserved eminence by fanatical denunciations of
the firstobjectthat perplexes
them ;
every weak and nervous
"

who

deems

it

of the

of the sex
to
privileges
surrender her reasoningfacultiesinto the guidance of some
favourite and spiritual
adviser ;
the largeportion
and, lastly,
of the publicthat hates to think for itself, that loathes
every
woman,

one

"

"

CONCLUSION.

343

that callsreformation revolution, and

thingwhich is new,
of existence,to the animatingpleaprefersa vapid uniformity
sures
of knowledgeand discovery
; these are the opponents of
"

Mesmerism
useless.
The

and

How

with

these

cheeringis

friends of the

proud. Men

"

art

controversy is

any

the

those of whom

are

of the

oppositeside

cause

any

of

than

worse

picture!
might be

whose
philosophy, men
clear
benevolence is as wide and practical
as their intellectsare
and commanding ; these are our
guidesand championsin this
field of Christian usefulness,
and under their banners a
glorious
be far distant. But they are
cannot
day of completesuccess
not merelya few select and leading
minds that rank among
its
advocates ; largebodies of men
are
takingup the question. It
is a fact that a numerous
portionof the juniormembers of the
medical profession
alive to the truths of Mesmerism, and
are
onlybidingtheir time till the ripenedmind of the publicgives
them a signalfor its more
generaladoption.It is a fact that
the younger
individuals among
portionof the
very
many
and
conscious of the medicinal value of the science,
are
clergy,
of their means
of parochial
its practice
as one
are
introducing
of the great social pyramid
usefulness.* Nay, the two extremes
in the same
direction. Mechanics'
both exertingtheir energies
are
Institutes are
takingthe subject
up ; and many of the'
in the North, and in the manufacturing
towns, haveoperatives
of its domestic benefit.fBut it is amonga sense
experienced
of

science,
"

men

"

nohlesse itself that the strongest division of supporters

be
found.
members;
of
the
Some
leading
may perhaps
the art for the benefit of their
are
of the aristocracy
practising
and very many
a
are
giving to the subject
poorer brethren ;
of theIt is,indeed,one
patientand anxious investigation.
haute

our

favourable signs of the times

most

storms

that

seem

to

See, for instance,an

This
the practice.

of
+

In

merism

one

of

our

ablest

of
confirmation
is resortedto

in

spiteof

cloud the social horizon

the part of
on
disposition
*

"

all ranks of the

"

the fearful

this

growing

community to

devote

ing
articlein The Christian Jiemem^ravcer recommendtion
written
it
well
article, is
known, was
by a near rela-

bishops.

the above, I

in Exeter

by

see

that Mr.

states,that

the industrious classes as

remedial agent." Zoist,vol. v.

"

Parker

i!

p. 155.

most

"

Mesordinary
extra-

MESMEEISM

346

AND

ITS

OPPONENTS.

tive.
to the useful and to the instrucextensively
no
There is,perhaps,at this moment
singledepartment
boast amongst its
cannot
of science or generalliterature which
from out of
two
most
followers one
or
accomplishedmembers
And Mesmerism
is no
the circle of the British aristocracy.
exceptionto the progressivecharacter of their studies. In
themselves

most

Mr.

short,as

said

Chenevix

few years back, Mesmerism

is
generalconvulsion of society

Nothing but a
and a return
to the barbarous condition
a loss of the art of printing,
roll back that
of those of old,can, humanly speaking,
which
of knowledge on the subject
is growing and expanding
current

ESTABLISHED.

"

Soon, vei-y soon, will it

every year.
an

"

of medical

branch

admitted

be

ledged
acknow-

an

practice.And

when

and

when
the mists of prejudice
day shall at lengtharrive
before the glowingsplendours
of
bigotryshajl be dispersed

the

Sun

that

"

of truth,and

shall look back

men

in wonder

at that

which
checked its onward
let
incredulity
progress
who it was
that in this country firstplaced
it never
be forgotten
the questionon its legitimate
footing, who it was that first
took the practice
and added
out of the hands of the charlatan,
and profound resources
its multiplied
to the former stores of
who
it was
the healingart,
that,riskingthe loss of friends,
the loss of income, the loss of elevated standingin his own
fession,
proout
and
from
the
timid
stepped
manfully
truthfully
to a place
-crowd,and asserted the claims of this great discovery

hardened

"

"

"

within the circle of the medical

is asked who

it was

that

sciences

and

when

boldlyventured on
will respondwith
ground,a grateful
posterity

of John
to

see

his calumniated

iived to
him

Elt.iotson.

see

the stream

with the full tide

But

so

the tion
questhis untrodden
the

it will also be added, that he lived

acknowledgedand pursued; that he

of professional
success
flowingback to
of popularsupport ; that he lived to see
art

which he had advanced,

every statement
every treatment
he had adopted,
established and confirmed ; and that as
the

first

physiciansof the
he was
classed
reputation,
honourable

age, first in

Qui

sui

which
one

of

and firstin
practice,
with the proudest names
of that

band,
"

name

memores

fecere merendo."

APPENDIX.

No. I.
INSTANCES

OF

CLAIKVOTANCE

UNCONNECTED

WITH

MESMERISM.

The

great

which

to

use

be

Clairvoyance
may

detection of disease

turned, is the
other words, the
"

through intro-vision,
or, in
vital portions
of the human
frame, such
the
and
of
the
the
their conthe
as
dition
"c.,
heart,
liver,
lungs,
report
of the practitioner.
for the guidance
The
however, that firstpresentsitself is this, does
question,
exist in nature }
such a faculty
of a case
of Clairvoyance
Mr. E. Fry's" Report of an Examination
at Plymouth before a Committee," as
given in the fourth

of the inner and

inspection

"

of the

volume

that I have

is

Zoist,
"

of the

one

statements
convincing

most

read.

ever

in the twenty-first
number
of the Zoist,
letter,
made by himself and others,
is startling
narratingsome experiments,
His high character,
and his competency for an
in the extreme.
in a strong light.
examination,placethe question
he was
The case of Alexis Didier was
genuine. Unfortunately,

Dr. Ashburner's

so

overworked

of
activity

his

exhibition,and

impostor."I

England,through the mercenary

employer, that frequentfailures attended the
that
Alexis was
an
a
report spreadeverywhere,

on

his visit
"

"

saw

him, on

arrivalin London, and

An
"

four different occasions,

upon

articlein the

have

hesitation in

We

no

is

to

"

"

as
asserting

of human

state

external objects
throughsome,
perceives
A

his first

the realitiesof his power.

Critic for February,
184"4,says,

satisfiedas

am

ablywritten

experiment,that there
mind

to

the result of

accurate

in which
existence,
other medium

the

than tha

APPENDIX.

348

the senses, and that in this state the mind perceives

this
in its natural condition." Startling
as
thingsimperceptible
wonted

of

media

positionisj there
Mesmer
or
appeared,

is

"

been

stated

"

we

"

most

was

"

authority.What
unquestionable
is another and
effectsare produced,

is the

difficult

for the solution of

question,
the

Mesmerism

these

which

by

manner,

the

on

the fact. Long hefore

practised, have such facts

escaping from

no

ledge,
which, in the present state of knowthe
writer
Whether
in
littleprepared.
jt be, as

are

"Critic"

suggests, "by

condition of existence

sixth*

a
we

in

our

dinary
or-

which

conscious,and

not

are

of which

sense

"

is

or
whether, by
developedonlyunder certain circumstances ;
of
the
that
an
so
quickening
they catch
extraordinary
senses,
whether,
sightsand sounds invisible and inaudible to us;"
the
mind
its
of
tlie
immaterial
from
rial
mates
everance
by
partial
of thingsdirectly
without the
tenements, and its perception
intervention of those senses
through which only it is usually
ther
permittedto hold intercourse with the material world ; or wheever
it be
by a mysteriousor unexplainedsympathy; whatbe the hypothesis, the fact is certain,
and
admit
cannot
of contradiction. The useful point,
however, to be borne in mind,
is this, that these phenomena have occurred without the action of
animal magnetism. In a useful littlework by Mr. Edwin
Lee on
Clairvoyance
f, which, all who are interested on the subject
"

"

"

"

"

"

'"'

"

"

"

should

reatJ, there
"

which
religion,
it is not

to

into the

secrets

know,

instrument

quotationfrom

is corroborative of the

be denied that

we

are

work

German

on

tical
prac-

"

opinion. Nevertheless,
our
investigation^

but learners in

of nature, and that what

is not,
preheiisible,
row

is

that account, to
for instance,
that the human
on

appears to us to be incomWe
be denied altogether.

soul,which employsfor its

regardsearthly
thingsthe nervous
system more
ticularly
paralso feel and perceivebeyond the sphereof the nerves.
can
know that in certain conditions of nervous
man
disorder,
may

We

as

possess increased powers, may

perceivedistant things,which are
separatedfrom him by an interval of many miles. We know that
in some
states
of the nervous
system, persons can see with firmly
closed eyes,

"

hear with

can

this in sormiambulists

closed

We

ears.

who
(natural
sleep-walkers)
"

sleepof their bodies,

perform thingswhich
they were
*

unable

Wienholt,who

to

examples of
plete
during the com-

have

in their

waking state

accomplish. Thus, herein shows

itself very

lias written so ably on the subject,

rejectsthe
altogether
Cokjuhoun'sTranslation,p. 126.
of Clairvo^'ance,"
t
Report on the Phenomena
by Edwin Lee, Esq.
Prince's Sheet, Soho.)
(Churchill,

sixth

sense.

"

See

APPENDIX.

350

do not witness it ; and I really

seldom enter into any
be but reasonable that those who
of the details,
because it would

all those who

have

not

should

seen

the

doubt

of
reality

All colours she

them.

with the greatestcorrectness

by night or day,
distinguish
whether presented
to her on
cloth,silk,
muslin,wax, or even glass
and this,
I may safely
on
any part of the body as
say, as easily
of course, the ordinary
routine of such an
with the hands, although,
exhibition of power takes placewith the hands, the other beingthat
Her delicacy
of mind and high tone of religious
of mere
curiosity.
feelingare such, that she has the greatestobjectionto make that
in the light
of a heavyafflictionfrom God, a matter
which she regards
of course, all
of show or curiosity
to others,
althoughto ourselves,
these unusual extravagances of nervous
manifest for at
are
sensibility
leasttwelve out of every twenty-four hours. She can not onlyread with
the greatestrapidity
to us, music,
any writingor printthat is legible
can

"

"c., with the

or

lightroom

the influence of the attack

under

it,whether

over
passage of her fingers
her
is
the
most
sight for
(for

mere

printingor

of any

without tracingthe lines

only,declare the contents of a

page,

this way
^nd with
I have

(when I
a

could

or

paroxysm, althoughshe is perfectly

and clever than in her natural

letters; and

note

saw

to

with which
rapidity

collectthe

hand

justbroughtinto the

I could

not

her

on

the

her,last night

decipherit myself without

not

dark

or

by merelylayingher

MS.

part suspendedwhen

acute
sensible,nay, more
within
this
month
state)
past,she has been able
; but,
contents

in

room,

in

candle),

have read it
the

by daylight.
of a note
application

develophand-writingby
hand,neck, or foot ; and she can do it at any
There is nothingunnatural in this ; for,of course, the nertime.
vous
extends all over
the surface of the body,but use
susceptibility
and habit cause
to limit its power
us
to the fingers.Many,
more
to

even

seen

the hack

of her

medical,men

take upon themselves

attendants as well)under a

(hermedical
none
"

to

The

to
mere

declare that
delusion.

we

are

We

aHi
ask

believe any
case

is

thingif theyprefernot to do so, and onlyreply

marvellous either way;
either that this our
equally

that eighteen
nineteen
or
or
poor patientshould be thus afflicted,
of
and
in the dailyhabit of seeingher,
friends,
persons
my family
should

fancy she is, for

every twelve hours out of twenty-four,

that
which
she is not doing. There are
doing, intervals,
many
exhibitions of extravagant powers which she possesses, that we talk
of to no
one
; for, findingit difficultto acquirecredit for lesser
at

we
things,

the greater. Her power

the
ceases
the attack passes off. A considerable swelling
moment
has at times
been visible at the back of the head,which has yieldedto the treatment.
do

not

venture

on

APPENDIX.
"

'

It is certainly
a case

considerationof the
thing! is most averse

which

351

would

be

the human

of
physiology

in the

instructive one

an

frame

; hut

she,poor

made on her :
beingpurposely
experiments
us, we have no lack of prooffor all

to

hut in her
every-day life among
we
"

believe and know,

Between the attacks she is
'

ever

she

and

that

in her

was

life. There

is,-that she

others,though very much

"

she would

hear

not

the

her.

natural

sounds

some

see

some

She could hear

or
absorption
like
things,
thoughpresent to others,

absence of mind

In

'

making this communication

testimonyof my friend Mr. M
usual

suffererherself to make
believe what

her

tell them,

we

to you,

too

much

in

I have

not

to some

; and thus Dr.

man

part to vindicate the

reallyexceeded

my

think it fair to the poor

the talk of others. Very few

resolution ; for I do

and

custom

and

for it.

accounts
"

absent

any

as

things^d not
tune
whistled,
It is certainly

gun fired close to her.

that occasions this : absent

state

paradox in her state,

one

and

louder,

others,though placedbefore
when

is but

such times hear

at

can

in
perfectly

as

not

we
and, therefore,

are

in

no

degreeanxious

lipson the subject. All I know is,that I should not

open our
have believed it myself,had I been onlytold of it. I must
beg,
to

that you will not make

therefore,

letterabout

by handing my
have

not

written it.

be welcome
much

to

it ; but

embarrassed,by

her
on
particulars

use

to

any one.
is perfectly
welcome

ask the information

you

any undue

If the

case

were

my

of this communication,

The

friend for whom

to read

own,

the world should

might be
sensibility
young female of much
of all
findingthe world at largein possession
a

recovery, should God

so

pleaseto permit.
"'1

Mr.

Colquhoun,in

it,or I should

the

"

Isis

am,

"c.'

"

Revelata,"has collected several

similar cases.

boy,named Divaud, residingat Vevey. The

ported
Societyof Lausanne examined into this case, and rePhilosophical
that the boy read,when
committee
the facts. The
testify,
that he wrote accurately
shut ;
thoughwe
;
his eyes were
perfectly
One

is the

case

of

"

"

his eyes, he continued to form each

thick pieceof paper before
distinctnessas before." " He has told the
character with the same
between it and
a thick plankplaced
titleof a book, when there was
narrated of this
circumstances
are
his
Many other singular

put

eyes."

natural somnambulist.
Another instance of
a

severe

ing
is that of a student,
who, durclairvoyance,
severalattacks of somnambulism.
nervous
experienced
complaint,
for this
is the authority
Professor Feder of Gottingen

APPENDIX,

352

given,from which it is evident that this

somnamhiilist savf distinctly
without the use of his eyes.
The
of Breslau" mention
Transactions of the Medical Society
the case of a ropemaker,
overtaken by sleep,
who was
frequently
whose eyes were
and in this state he would coht
then firmlyclosed,
Several facts

case,

are

"

"

tinue his work

namhulist

with

great ease

as

when

and

that

in

state

performed a

use

and sewed

things,he put the thread

his clothes.

Lord

has recorded

Monboddo

girlin

of
variety

of the eyes, with which

other

this som-

But

when

see

requiring
lightand the

which

awake.

his eyes were forcedopen."

who became
givesthe exampleof a gardener,

could not

"

Dr. Knoll

Among

as

case

of

dispensed.
of a needle,

somnambulism,in

of
neighbourhood
performeda variety

his

nambulist,
som-

occupations,
he

throughthe eye

curious

acts with

her eyes shut.

Dr. Schultz

of

Hamburgh

mentions

the
distinguished
colours,and recognised

wrote, and

who
patient,

numbers

of

cards,and

cut

In order to be certain,
paper, with her eyes fast closed.
that upon these occasions she made no use of her eyes, theywere
bandaged upon the approachof the convulsions which precededthe
"

in
figures

somnambulism."
who

"

closed,was
completely
to

able to

and discriminate all

see

ahoy,

eyes

were

objects
sented
pre-

him.

Dr. Abercrombie

in his

Aberdeen, in the
described
often

of

Magazine" gives an account

Psychological
fell asleepsuddenly
frequently
; and althoughhis

Moritz's

"

of

cases

quoted,and

IntellectualPowers," and Dr. Dyce of

"

Transactions,"have
Edinburgh Philosophical
a
very similar character ; but theyhave been so

are

so

familiar

the

to

reader,that further

reference

is unnecessary.
Those
"

who

anxious

are

should consult the

pursue the subject,
and
these cases are more
fullydetailed,)

to

Isis Revelata," (inwhich

Dr. Wienholt's Lectures on Somnambulism.

Several other instances of Clairvoyance,
of,and viously
independent
prebe
adduced.
to. Mesmerism, may

Glanviil,in his Sadducismus, mentions a boy,Richard Jones,

described the clothes that peopleat a distance wore
who
stable
; the conand

others often

and
tried,

"

found

the

boy rightin

(p.120.)
mentions
Historyof Superstitions,"

Lebrun, in his

'

"

scriptio
his de-

that towards

the end of the fifteenth century there was

who saw
a
man
all stuffs,
except those whose colour was mixed with red.

through

(Liv.i.

ehap^6.)
In Chambers's

Journal

iv. N. S.)is an
(vol.

account

of

Zschokke,

ArPENUIX.

Swiss,who
sight." Some

which he
possesses this faculty,
remarkable instances are given.

lu

Forbes's
who

353

"

"

Oriental Memoirs

is the

possessedthe Clairvoyant
power

calls his "inward

of
description

in

min,
Brah-

marvellous

degree.

vol. V. 130.)
{Zoist,

In

the Zoist

(vol.v. p. 344. and 347.)are two other striking

of Mesmerism,
Clairvoyance,
independent
one, that
that of Swedenborg.
grandfather
; the other,
Teste,quotingM. Mialle,speaksof a Polish Jew, named Da;nemark, who sees through opaque bodies in his natural sleep. He
instances of
of Goethe's

"

"

reads

a
fluently

the

"

book."

but in
faculty,

same

My

shut

friend

Mr.

Ashhurst

His

son,

ten

years

old, possesses

higherdegree."(p.404).
Majendie

tells

me

of

well-known

of natural

M. Eugene Gibert,after
at St. Malo.
Clairvoyance,
into somnambulism, and
fell spontaneously
a
dangerous illness,
became Clairvoyant. He described accurately
the planof the citadel
case

of

Antwerp,

power
The

are

its

Several other instances of his

being taken, "c.

notorious at St. Malo.

above

Electricite

surelycause

facts,and others that

by

Petetin in his

Animate, and by Wienholtin

the unbeliever

to

his Somnambulism,
before he pronounces
hesitate,

is impossible,
and not
Clairvoyance
to prevent mistake,
again repeated,

"

do with any of the above

fact in nature

that Mesmerism

"

to

recorded

are

might
that
it be

Let

had

nothing

instances.*

No. II.
ECSTASY

AND

INDEPENDENT

OF

TO

INSENSIBILITY

AND

SLEEP-WAKING,

PAIN,

MESMERISM.

Magazine (to
University
has
of confessing
I take this opportunity
whom
sundryobligations)
and his discipleshave thrown
lightupon
observed that Mesmer
of
in
the
man
of the darkest chapters
; they have
history
one
and
the riddle of those wild accusations,
solved,at least partially,
An

writer
accomplished

in the

Dublin

"

so
still wilder confessions,in virtue of which
many
*
death."
delivered
to
an
appalling
beingswere
human

"

In

Colquhoun'sWienholt, pp.

89.

109.

thousand
*

"

of

It is

tion,
and 189., and in the Introduc-

of so philosophical
a
various observations
on
Clairvoyance
p. 17., a'l^
for
their
student
the
will
well
perusal.
repay
nature, tliat they

354

APPENDIX.

the appearances observable in a modern Mesmeric

to compare
impossible
with those presentedby a witch or a devil-possessed
patient
Nun of the periodreferred to, without beingled to the conclusion
that it is

influence which

affects both ;
that their states are
is a witch,or the witch
identical; that either the Mesmeric patient
one

"

of
nothingmore than a Mesmeric patient.And this recurrence
is the
under circumstances so widelydiverse,
phenomena so similar,
that the phenomena
strongestof all arguments againstthe supposition
the result of imposture. If we
find insensibility
to
are
have the less reason
to
we
pain in the witch,or the demonopathic,
to pain,shown
to
believe the insensibility
by the Mesmeric patient
find
of
If
be simulated.
we
or
a
Clairvoyance,
perception things
the
the
without the ordinary
of
in
witch or the demonopathic,
senses,
range
have the less ground for supposingthe Clairvoyance
we
was

of the Mesmeric

be

patientto

hallucination

or

pretence.

If

we

observe that very strange state of thingswhich, in the languageof

is termed rapport
the Mesmerists
a
community of sensation,
"

thought,or will,between the witch

between
the demonopathicand
or

and

the victim of her sorceries,

the exorcist,we
the less
are

that such rapport,as subsists between the Mesmeric

patientand the Mesmeriser,is a chimera,or a trick sustained

warranted

to assume

collusion.

by

And

classes of

two

but

are

phenomena we

of Mesmeric
the thousand

these

cases

few of the

pointsin which the

speak of correspond.

In

the hundreds

that have been treated,

and in
"c. * *
cases
of diabolism in its thousand forms,"c. "c. a
"

unity of character,a constant reproductionof the same

leading
i
s
to
be
the
unless
on
features,
recognised,
wholly inexplicable,
of
hypothesis

After narrating
the
the writer

of
origin,

common

most

one

principle
out."
throughoperating

phenomena of the demoniacs,"c.

where a reality
to all
corresponding

curious

"

asks, Is there

no

this?"
"

No doubt

there is such

: and
reality

a clue,
phenomena yield
by

state

into the

may advance
it lies. AVhatever
we

been
*

some

one

the psychic

of the middle ages was,

demonopathics
does the agency of Mesmerism
throw the person
it is brought to bear.
It is a state sui generis, a state
state

"

of great nervous
but of which
disturbance,
disease supplies
with a definition."*
nervous
us
The

think that the Mesmeric

of the witches and

same

whom

on

which

steps,in the direction in which

two

or

we

above
stated

From

July,1847.

"

remarks
clearly-expressed

by myselfin
An

the Seventh

Eveningwith

no

familiar form of

accord with much

Chapter. This

the Witch-finders."

Dublin

that has

writer
U.

has,

Magazine,

APPENDIX.

355

rather referred to the presumeddemoniac possession

however,
of the
than
bewitched, to imaginarymiracles and divine revelations. This,
is indifferent. Accident and education determine the name.
however,

What

is a miracle with

age, is a demoniacal

or
people,

one

visitwith

another.
Several additional facts are herewith
the argument
cases,

appendedin continuation of
in the respecChapter. The points,
tive
which
will
throw
to,
lightupon

of the Seventh

only

are

alluded

"

Mesmerism.
It has been shown
that long and serious ill-healthhas been an
almost invariable precursor of the ecstatic condition,
when the latter
has been induced

by

Mesmerism.*

If

Saints among
in whom
the Catholics and Methodists,
itself spontaneously, we
shall equally
trace
"

stagesof disease. Severe abstinence

for the

also

same

that St. Catherine

tells us

1380, had been

but those who

of

Sienna,who

as

skin and

pain,and

St.

: often
lasting
a

state

unconscious

St. Elizabeth

ecstatic, whose
"

bone,

and

"

it
Catherine,

of

as

was

is well
:

dead ;

were

of all that

was

"

done

to

known,

regarded

was

most

were

quent
fre-

body remained

she

was

insensible

bringher

to

France, the sister of St. Louis, was

by
on.

to

another

holiness of life is celebrated in the annals

the power
attacked
she was
unceasingly
miraculous condition then came

in

herself.-j

"

of nature, into the most

of

broughtherself

to surpass
For six years
The
other maladies.
to seem

fearful illhealth.
fevers and

Sister Agnes

astonished
the monastery, and was
and
the chaplains
ecstasy. She summoned

an

She

her

piety. This excellent but mistaken woman

which were
and austerities,
so
severe
as
by fastings

her

none

"

very skeleton and

French

see

evil spirit

amount.

her dreams

in her divine trances

if she

died in

pains,that

could credit the full

ecstatic in her church

miraculous

motionless

them

witnessed

anatomy of death."
and

The

nothingbut
a

the preparatory

strongly
predisposes

dreadful martyr to ill health.

afflictedher,he says, with such cruel maladies and

as

eestasis developed

condition.

Ribadeneira

was

those

to the lives of

turn

we

at

one

to

day called to

find

her

domestics,
"

in

an

who,

he cured of neuralgia,
of Mr. Charles Child's,
whom
"e., and
A patient
eestatic. Her
most
was
a
exquisite
had been long a great invalid,
who
that was
of
devotional
received
an
expression
resignation
countenance
Hall's
ecstatic
been
had
W.
an
(Mr. Spencer
patient)
beautiful. Henry
of
music
the
His
ordinary.
extrasound
were
attitudes at
invalidat an earlyage.
illhealth of Anne
The severe
Vials, that of a patientof Mr.
facts that
are
(allecstatics,)
D. Hand's, and of another of Dr. EUiotson's,
under my own
knowledge,
have come
"Vies
des
vol.i. p. 484.
Saints,"
Ribadeneira,
t
"

"

APPENDIX.

336

sittingup on the bed, without

forward, and her lips
straight

their arrival,
seeingElizabeth
motion, her eyes and face fixed
on

"

"

"

voice,

what would

see

awaken

At last

happen.

her, but in vain

when

words

waited
glory,"

and

alone be honour

him

To

proceededthe

whence

from
stirred,
only slightly

they made
after

in

time, her

low

time

to

tried

to

some

and
noise,

he-

countenance

in this state,until
as
came
"resplendent
like an infant in
the evening,when
she awoke, says Ribadeneira,
admiration
of religious
the source
and
cradle. Her ecstasywas
a
the sun."

wonder.

St. Mary

"

Magdalenof Pazzi,

almost

"was

She continued

one

continued

whose

life,"
BishopLavingtonsays,

1566,in Florence,
of our Lady of Mont Carmel.
in takingthe
disappointment

was
ecstasy,"

born in

of the order
Religieuse
In consequence
of some
delayand
she fell sick and was
so extremely
habit,"or in making profession,"
that her friends,
ill,
supposingher to be at the pointof

and

became

"

"

death,carried her
She

vows.

of great

seems

where
altar,

she

allowed

to

the

to

have lain before the altar some

was

bodilysuffering. Upon being carried

"

Ribadeneira, she became wrapt

"

says

to

take the

time in
back

to

state

firmary,
the in-

in ecstasy,and

her

brilliantas the sun, and so much on

fire that it resembled that of the Seraphim. She kept her eyes
than an
fixed on a crucifix;
and this condition lasted for more

face

appearedas

beautiful and

recurred every morning after the holy communion, for

the very commencement
of her
the space of fortydays. From
ecstacies,she spoke most
profoundlyon divine things."Our

hour,and

author

adds,that so far from these ecstasiesand rapturesweakening

her, they actually
exljausting
(likeMesmerism)gave tone and

or

able in her trances to walk from

her system. She was
to another,
to converse
and answer
part of the convent
tions,
ques"
with
much
work
and even
with
her
to
needle,
as
perfection

to
strength
one

"

enjoyinga perfectuse of her senses."

Some
of her needlework was
exhibited and preserved,
of
as proofs
the miraculous character of her condition,f One day,she remained
in a state of rapturetwenty hours without coming to herself. This
if she had

as

been free and

in this state of exaltation and

creature, who at times was
the admiration of all around her,
ravissement,and consequently
sufferer. The least touch caused
appears to have been a frightful
her at times as much torture as if she had been hacked by razors
poor

a coups
(hachee

de

and
rasoirs),

she

at

last

passedfrom

this life

"

Ribadeneira,vol. ii.p. 21 4.
"fMy friend,CaptainJames, had

mesmeric
who
a
was
patient
able
quiteunneedle duringher natural state,but who in the sleep,
wakingcondition worked very beautifully.
to work

with

her

APPENDIX.

358

speakingof

"

dedicated

was

publishedwith
of the

Jesus," a work which

and
to the Queen of France,written by a Cardinal,
of an Archbishopand the Doctors
the approbation
Life of Sister Katherine

the book

to

devout

"

sensation at the time,says, " I found

of several strange ruptures and
be a long contexture
or if you will,
that had happenedunto a melancholic,
a

Sorbonne,and made

enthusiasms

of

this I

In

maid.

saw

of wonder

great matter

no

in the relation of the

much

could I observe

; neither

but what
particulars,

as

true.
might believe charitably
coherence of natural
I could observe, as I thought,a perpetual
which gave me good satisfaction."
causes, in every particular,
the case
afterwards mentions
of a baker's boy at
Casaubon
who
in
in
would
fallinto deepsleep
or
1581,
Oldenburgh Germany,
and
His
ecstasies,
"prophesiemany things."
propheciesseem
to have aflfectedthe peopleof Oldenburghstrongly.
Casaubon next mentions an entranced maid at Friburgh,
in Misnia,
and was
who had
ecstaciesand visions,
full of religious
discourses,
most
in the nature
of sermons
and godlyexhortations,
that she
so
and her speeches
were
was
apprehendedto be inspired,
generally
under the name
of divine Prophesies."On this occasion,
published
The popularcry was
in favour of Lutheranism.
the ecstacies were
loud in behalf of the maid's
but Eberus, the clergyinspiration,"
man,
the
but
much
durst not against
was
public
opposedto it,
she
said."
of
there
God's
i
n
all
affirm
that
was
Spirit
"voice,
nothing

I conceived

so
probable,
rationally

"

"

"

(Chapteriii.p. 72.)
The

ecstatic

cases

Quakersand Methodists are of the

Life of Wesley,in speakingof the

the

among

Southey,in his
the converts
in Bedfordshire at
contagiousconvulsions
among
recorded the
the preachingof the Methodists,
says that Wesley
cases."
thingswhich occurred not as psychologicalbut as religious
same

kind.

"

"

"

"

Numbers

fell into

very neck seemed

such trances
were

trances

made
not

one

became

of iron,"
the work

Many

as

"

stiflf"
like a

began to

of Satan ;

however, theypassedfor eflfectsof grace.

them

"

"

with

statue

"

his

doubt whether
the

majority,

Wesleybelieved and

corded
re-

such." *

Southey'sLife of Wesley, vol. ii. chapterxxiv. To this Coleridge

"I regret that Southey is acquainted
appended the followingmarginalnote :
onlywith the magneticcases of Mesraer and his immediate followers,
and not with the incomparably
more
of Gmelin, Weinholt,
ones
interesting
"c.
whose
men
merits as naturalists
Eschemmeyer,Wohlfast,
acknowledged
and physicians,
with their rank and unimpeached integrity,
raise their testimony
in pointof veracity
above suspicion,
and of any ordinary
at least,
delusion.
The case Wesley saw
identicalwith that of the
is,in all its features,
Kharaerin, and with a dozen others in the seventh or ecstatic grade. The
facts it would be now
quiteabsurd to question
; but their direct relation to
*

"

"

APPENDIX.

359

Wesleyin his Journal says, Mr. B. came

and told me
Alice
Miller (fifteen of
age)was fallen into a trance. I went down
years
and found her sitting
and leaningagainst
unmediately
on
a stool,
a
"

wall with her eyes

1 made a
open and fixed upward.
to
but theycontinued immovable.*
Her
going
strike,

unspeakablemixture
stole down
her cheeks.
times moved.
I do not
an

look

know

about half

love and

an

face showed
while
silent tears
love,
little open, and some"

and

reverence

Her

Sometimes
beautiful.

so

joy mixingwith
In

of

lipswere

whether
it was

ever

saw

covered with
Her

reverence.

hour I observed her

motion,as if

human

face

smile,as from
quiteregular.

pulsewas

change into

countenance

the

form of

fear,
pityand distress. Then she burst into a flood of tears,
cried out, ' Dear Lord, theywill be damned,
theywill all,'
"c.
Then againher look was composed,
and full of love and joy*
About seven her senses
have you been ? '
returned. I asked,' Where
'
I have been with my Saviour,
I was
in glory
: I cried not for

and

"

"

myself

world,'"c., with much

but for the

"

more

of the

same

matter."
several other of his
I talked largely
with Ann Thorn

Wesley mentions
"

trances.

theyaD

agreedin

was,

that from the

"

who
disciples
and

two

fell into
others. What

theywere

moment

entranced,

another world, knowing nothingof what was said or

theywere
done by allthat were
round about them."
Wesley at times was cautious of committinghimself : stillhe
"
God favoured several of his peoplewith divine dreams,
says, that
in

others with

and

trances

and
believed,

to strengthen
and encourage them
visions,

his work

apparent."This is much
Professor Bush asserts of the lad Davis's testimony
Lke what
to
view respecting
the
Swedenborgianism,and of Lord Shrewsbury's
The
Ecstatics.
phenomena in each are of the same family
:
Tyrolese
must
be
all
!
supernatural, or none
all,therefore,
\
that

to make

more

"

the

magnetictreatment,

beginning. And

these

as

cases

effect to cause, remains

of the Methodists tend

as

doubtful

to
strongly

as

at the

support the

that of the very many

well-educated men
yet it is singular,
effects of this kind, or under whose
treatment
such
produce(^
should have withstood the conviction
not one
have taken place,

negative.And
have

who

phenomena

having exerted a direct causative agency : though several have

of the practice
recommended the suppression
as rarely
altogether,
earnestly
of their

and often injurious,

beneficial,
nay, calamitous."

"

S. T. C.

Vials in her mesmeric

with Anne
ITiisI have seen
constantly
the
mentions
o
f
in
Signa diagnostica Catalepsis,
Sennert,
giving
*

things; Mger apertos

veluti rigentibus,
quas
palpehris
"

other

among
fixes et immobiles,
oculos habet, eosque
ad minas quidem claudit." Vol. iii.
ne

p. 151.

See

trances.

Journal,vol. ii.p. 464., "c.

Wesley's
B

APPENDIX.

360

of a
account
Magazine, for 1839, is a sneering
Methodistical servant-girl,
who
some
thirtyyears back, in the
neighbourhoodof Lynn and Wisbech, acquiredthe art of suspending
and of lyingin a state of complete
her facultiesfor hours together,
her eyes glazedas in death,and her breath every thing
stupefaction,
the

In

Chilrch

"

The
imperceptible.

drawing of a featheracross her eye-balls,

feathers near her nostrils,
producedno effect. She
in
visions and receive revelations." The writer,

but

burning of
pretendedto see
the poor girlwith havingbeen an impostor,
his ignorance,
charges
offensive observations on
and takes occasion of indulgingin some
and

"

Methodism.

George Fox,
of his life

his

but

lay in

and wonder

stare

the celebrated Father of

sleepwas

his followers

trance

for fourteen

Quakerism,at one period

days, and peoplecame to
"

had the appearance of a dead man

;
full of divine visions of gloryand beauty,and

,at

him.

He

believed that his "revelations"

the result of

were

by dreams. -fspiritual
agency workingsupernaturally
in
the
of
Job Cooper,a weaver
state
became,in the
Pennsylvania,
and attracted the
preacher,
year 1774, like Rachel Baker, a sleeping
usual attention. People came
from considerable distances to hear
"He
him.
was
insensible,"says an eye-witness,"of all that
ing
passed in his room
during the paroxysm : and his articulation durhis preachings
and his discourses were
was
remarkablydistinct,
delivered with a fluency
far superiorto any thinghe could perform
"

"

awake."

when

the Gentleman's

In

Magazine

for

May

] 760, is

an

account

of

who in his trances delivered a series

Joseph Payne,a lad of sixteen,
of regulartheological
discourses at Heading. He
had
formerly
lived servant to a farmer,who had educated him strictly
in religious
at church, and while living
knowledge. He attended constantly
as
post-boywith a Captain Fisher at Reading,began to preach;
Dr. Hooper,a medical man, ordered a candle to be lighted,
and the
flame applied
to the boy'shand while he was
tilla blister
preaching,
sensation
but
was
manifested.
no
was
raised,
Bishop Lavington,havingquoted Bodin,a French lawyer,who,
in a work on Dsemonology,
of ecstatic cases
that
produceda variety
had occurred before the Christian era,
"Ecstacies are by
observes,
no
means
much
less to the Christian." " In
peculiarto religion,
"

"

"

Church

Magazine,June, 1839, p. 178.

PopularLife of Fox, compiledfrom his Journal,""c.
\ Statement of Job Cooper'sSomnial Devotion," by Andrew
Professor at West Point.
January,1815.
" Lavington's
Enthusiasm,p. 245.
t See

"

"

"

Elicot,

APPENDIX.

corroboration
of this remark, we

361

shall find ecstasyand

sleep-waking

the Hindoos.
Ward, in his historyof that

among

of the
givesa description
people,
Philosophical
austeritiesthat theypracSects,and of the religious
tised.
One school was
that of Patunjulu. Its leading
feature was
the restraining
it to internal mediof the mind, and the confining
tations."
This was
called Yogu. The effectwas analogous
to selfinduced Mesmerism.
this. The Yogee, in preThe method
was
paring
"

his mind

meditation," first,
gradually
suppresses
the breath," i. e. he retains his breathing
for twenty-sixseconds,
and enlarges
this periodtillhe is perfect.The ascetic then endeavours
of
to fix his thoughts
act
the senses
; for instance,
upon some
"he placeshis sight
the
his
nose."
He must
and thoughts
on
tipof
these
for
often
and
exercises daily, as
as longa time as
practise
for intense

"

"

"

he

By

can.

continued

period,the mind

meditation

action and

the half-starved fanatic

of

of this kind
will "become

for

truly

fixed," says the treatise, " fixed,like that of a person in a state

of deep sleep,who, without any union with the senses, partakes.
of perfect
the mind from wandering,
happiness."" By withholding
"

"

the organs

turned from their accustomed

are

Yogee, who

has

perfectedhimself

has induced

the ecstaticor Mesmeric

in

objectsinwards. The
all this,"or in other words,

condition, obtains
"

ledge
know-

past and of the future,'' discovers the thoughtsand

with the anatomy of the
becomes
hearts of others,"
acquainted
''

of the

"

"

"

body,"

human

"

"

The

"

longerfeel the inconveniences

over
a victory
pain,""c. *
acquires
"

cold,but

all visible objects," " renders his

sees

"

above

will

is

no

very

curious passage.

Here

vulnerab
body in-

of heat

all the

are

or

higher

Prevision, Introvision,.
phenomena of Mesmerism, Clairvoyance,
and Insensibility
to pain, said to be broughton,
Though tr-reading,
with a sect of religious
fanatics,
by intense meditation actingon
a body emaciated with fasting.
in his Occult Sciences,in observing
Salverte,
upon the above fact
into ecstasy,
the Hindoos
adds,that it is
of certain among
falling
condition " to which the Kamschatdales, the Jakoutes,and natives
It has been observed
of North and South America, are very prone.
exercised by Europeans in the countries
that since the persecutions
ents
of Tahiti and the Sandwich Islands,the imaginationof the adhera

of the

old

has
religion

been

much

excited,"and

ecstasy

broughton.
Volney (whom Salverte alludes to)says, that it is a physiological
what was
the singular
to solve,to know
problem very interesting
"

Ward's

"

Historyof the Hindoos,"vol.ii.p.

203.

APPENDIX.

362

of

state

nerves,

what

or

the

was

fluid
the electrical

of

movement

Indians were
American
the North
the system, through which
brought to such a state of ecstasy as to be enabled to endure the
This
with the most extraordinary
torments
most
courage.
frightful
in

deserves to be considered in the schools of medicine."

question
facts,indeed, decidedlyshow that the MesmericPhysiological
of Mesmerism.
ecstatic condition is induced by many causes
independent
that in religiously-excited
'VVe have seen
minds, intense
Other influences may
of a subjectmay be one cause.
contemplation
I againquote from the Dublin U. Magazine,
act on other natures.
f
named
Horst relates that a merchant of Silesia,
was
demned,
conLiihnig,
"

the

under

government of the Emperor Paul, to receive

blows of the knout.

At the same
time
seventy-five
another criminal received thirty
: the former
blows,and a third fifty
of whom
Lohing saw die before him, and the latterhe saw kicked
of the way like a lifelesslog, after his punishment. At last
out
Lohnig'sturn came, and from that moment he lost all conscioutness
into a swoon.
He received the
and
sensation,yet without falling
his nostrils were
slit up, and his forehead
full tale of stripes,
and

hundred

of all this he

branded, and

reports a somewhat

Heim

lashes,which

punishmenthe

no

gave

bore the whole

without

with
officer,

asleepin your
In
was

soldier received

case.

fifty

corporals.During the
signof pain, neither groanedor winced,but
by

stir. When

confused

two

over, he said to the

it was
"

air,

beg

pardon for

manding
com-

falling

presence."

the year 14)6l a noble Hussite was

tortured at Prague. He
insensible under it,that the executioners believed him to be
so
threw

the carcass,
hours he came
to

dead, and
After

he

similar

administered

were

declared he felt nothing."

afterwards

some

in, and

was

related

as

they thought it, on

wondered

himself, and

dream
pleasant

he

had

the
at

had

ground.
the

state

duringthe

torture.

Of

similar character to the above

Historyof Women.
with which the
jugglings
in his

some

few."

"
.

maid

for his

is

storytold by T. Heywood

Heywood said,

"

Of the several sorts of

devill deludes his scholers,

I will nominate
An
honest citizen in the Delphinate,
calling

day, and hearingno answer, searched the

rooms
lyingall alongby a fire which she had before,
made
in a privatechamber ; which seeing,
he kickt her with his
bid
her
and
a
nd
about
her
foot,
arise,
her
but seeing
get
businesse,
he took a rough wand, and belaboured her
not
to move
soundly
;
and

servant

found

one

her

Volney,torn. vii.p.

Number

449.

for June, 1846.

In Miscellanea

Mystica,p.

699.

APPENDIX.
but

her
perceiving

363

neither to stir or

all the
complain,and finding
took fire and put it to such places
of
body insensible,
her body as were
most
her to have lost all
tender; but perceiving
vfas
feeling,
persuadedshe vf as dead,and called in his next neighbours,
t
hem
in
what case he found her, but concealing
the
telling
blows he had given her."
The body was
then laid out as dead.
In the morning,
hearingsomebody groan, theywent in and found
her alive,and suffering
the master
had
sorelyfrom the wounds
inflicted. This poor woman
burnt alive,
was
as a witch !
cal
PhysiSalverte observes,
considered
as
insensibility,
a
being always

parts of her

"

certain

The

signof Sorcery.
ecstatic condition

developedat the tomb

strikingly
excitement of the devotees.
Paris,throughthe religious
A Reportdescribes the terrific blows and weights,
which the convulsionistsendured,
not
onlywithout pain,but even with pleasure,
out
at
crying
times, Oh, how delightful, what good it does me !
The details furnish a curious exemplification
of what
religious
most

was

of the Abbe

"

"

"

enthusiasm

affect.

can

Hoffman,physicianto
treatise on

the

mentions
Catalepsy,

hearingat

church the word

down, like a statue, with

remained

the Elector of
of God

her

in that condition

case
on

who
Brandenburg,
of

wrote

who,
young woman,
the nature
of sin,dropped

eyes open
hour.
an

heaven, and

and

raised

The

attacks continued

to

for

fortydays,and alwayscame on at the utterance of any

words expressive
of the love of Jesus Christ for a sinful world,
Hoffman
thoughtthat the visitation was miraculous
says, that some
than

more

divine, others referred

and

"

referred it

to

it to

the devil ; for his part, he

disease."f

Reign of Henry VIII.," mentions one " William

Foxely,potmakerfor the Mint of the Tower of London, who fell
and hurningfor fourteen
and could not be waked with pinching
asleep,
but
days ; and when he awaked, was found,as if he had slept
Baker, in his

one

night,and

Wanley,in

"

after."J

lived

fortyyears

his

Wonders," mentions several

"

who worked in
and of men
deep sleep,
boy, William Withers, who remained
ten

days.
Magnetismbefore the
the Middle Ages and

In
on

"

"

Rome," and in the Chapters

will
Antiquity,"

on

be

found

of the subject. Teste also contains

illustrative

curious matter
*

Court of

of

longand
their sleep,
of a
particularly
in a (Mesmeric)
sleepfor
cases

1657.
Historie of Women."
Dissertatio Hoffmanni de AtFectu C'alalcptico.

T.

Heywood's

"

f
298.
f Baker's Chronicle,

BBS

Folio.

much
some

APPENDIX.

364

with

abounds

and

earlywriters :

from
quotations
striking

Mesmerist

that every

information

the

Isis Revelata"
will peruse with
"

pleasure.*

No. ni.
LIGHTNESS

ETC.

BODT,

his contempt for the wonders

of Mesmerists, we
for the credulity
replythat
the

When
and

has

of

shows
sceptic

no

Mesmerism,

phenomenon

itself under magnetictreatment, for which

yet developed
find somethingcorrespondent,
similar in the spontaneous
or

ever

cannot

we

OF

however, are recorded of natural

things,
for which
and sleepwakers,
I have not yet met with any
ecstatics,
in Mesmerism
in the
thingparallel
; and of such are the statements
Brossier beinglifted up above
to Martha
Seventh Chapter,
relating
the heads of several strong men, who were
pullingher downwards ;
to Maria Mori, the Tyrolese,
miraculouslyrestingon the tipsof her
feet,when unequal to any effort;and to John Evans demcmiacallfi
the whole weightof his body on the pointof his toes ; now
resting
Dr. Arnold
such thingshe true ?
can
givesus a useful caution,
before we positively
rejectthem.
and objectof wonders,
Beingwhollyignorantof the nature
and being ignorantof a great many
natural laws,by which they
be produced; the questionof their credibility
resolves itself
may
into littlemore
than a question
of the witnesses.
to the credibility
as

workingsof

Some

nature.

"

appear ridiculous if he expresses his belief in any story

this sort, and yet, to say that all such wonders are false,
would

man

of

be

may

extravagant boldness of assertion.

an

The

then,from Livy'sprodigies
downwards, I should
to Herodotus's
when
expression
speaking of one
cnrttrreiov,

what

ohre

-ttkttcvwv

ti

Xiriv:

of

wonders,
receive,
according

accounts

sometimes

of

them,

ovte

of
considering

fact

an
at
theywere
exaggeratedor corrupted representation,
remember
to
whether
trying
any, and how
many other
the
occur
same
and
whether
of
thing,
they are of force

other times
notices
"

I have

allusion to the transcendental views of Mrs. Crowe

no
in
o
f
Night-side Nature," touchinga Mesmeric rapport,"c., with the
world ; though my attention has been called to her statements
spiritual
by
than one
more
party. I have advanced nothing in this work
to
her

made

"

relating

Mesmerism,
for which

which

I have

in
differing

has
not

seen

degree.

whatever.
experience

not

been

based

personalobservation and
somethinganalogous,
or the same,
though perhaps

With

Mrs.

on

Crowe's

my

own

far loftier theories I

have

no

366

APPENDIX.

of the phenomena,
Ward, in his "Historyof the Hindoos,"gpeaking
which

the half-famished

that

the

hody of

and

able

"

wood,

the air."

the

Yogee,who

walk

to

his trance, says,

meditates,will become lightas

ecstaticwould
the fluid

on

developin

element,and able

"

were

on

Now,

into

(203.)

in his
Occult Sciences,"
mentions a
Salverte,
sleep,
performedvarious movements, and struck
he

to ascend

as

the wing.
to all these

who, in

sorcerer

out

even

Aii

though

as

"
the question
solves
refacts,
(asArnold observes)

of the witnesses,"though at times I

credibility
feel with Hume
that no testimony
could satisfy
me
as to the reality
of such improbableoccurrences
; but the coincidence between these
when it is
various statements
not be thus dismissed,
must
especially
not likely
to have heard of
are
remembered, that the different parties
the corresponding
of their ecstaticbrethren and sisters.
performances
is the fact that at this
What, also,
givesinterest to the inquiry,
moment, in the Tyrol,the elevation of Maria Mori on the tipsof
her toes,is regardedas a proofof miraculous intervention.
Baron
Feuchterleben,in his work on Medical Psychology,
says,
itselfinto the

"

The

obscure ideal

images which

exert

become
dreams, have evidently

so

their influence,
even
vivid in the

in ordinary

somnambulist,

under

that theybecome invested with a motor

repressed
spontaneity,
take the placeof spontaneity
so
altogether,
power, and consequently
that we might here certainly
miliar
applyto the effect produced,the fa"
reversion of the poles." Thus the walking
expressionof a
the
roofs of houses,"c., "c.,which it would be impossible
for a
on
in a state of waking,may be, in a degree,
to accomplish
man
explained."

(p.203.)
Do

the above observations of

in
us
assisting

our

belief?

that these different statements

"

of

are

the learned

Perhapswe
"

an

Baron
may

wards
go any way tosay, with Arnold,

presentatio
exaggeratedor corruptedre-

real fact.

No. IV.
SPEAKING

In
the

the

Historyof
phenomena in

(Greek and
knew

nothing.

Martha

STRANGE

LANGUAGES,

ETC,

Brossier,I have mentioned

her case,

that

one

of

the power of speaking

guages
foreignlanEngUsh),of which, when she was awake, she
was

APPENDIX.

367

This is another point,in the ecstatic condition,respecting

which more
curious evidence can be adduced than may be generally

suspected.
If
to

analysethe

we

different statements, the

would appear
faculty
heads,though theyare apt to be

fall under

three very different

confounded together
; viz.
"

1. Imitation of the voice of another in

2.

the
Understanding

most

degree.
surprising

thoughtsof another when

addressed

in

foreign
tongue.
3. The

actual

speakingin a foreigntongue,
awake,is said to be ignorant.

when

I. In

regard to the facultyof

in the Mesmeric

numerous

cases

is that of the

of Mr. Braid's
in the
A
own

"

at
patients

Medical Times

"

the party,

instances
Imitation,"

are

very

prising
perhapsone of the most surimitation of Jenny Lind's voice,by one
:

Manchester.
for

of Mr.
patient

The

narrative will be found

September,1847.

of the grammar
of her
Braid, thoughignorant
when awake, when asleepwould prove herself competent
language
in
in
the
in
to accompany
room
singingsongs
any
any one
"

language,givingboth

and

notes

words

feat which

a
:
correctly

she

quiteincompetentto perform in the waking condition."

was
"

world

"

of which

Mr. Schwabe
him
The

The

playedand

German

correctly,
givingboth
same

was

done in Swedish

song, in which
and words
notes

with another

she

companied
ac-

taneously."
simul-

gentleman.

in the most peraccompanied

Jenny Lind
fect
words and music.
both as regarded
Jenny now seemed
to the utmost
of the somnambulist
test the powers
by a

somnambulist
manner,

sang

"

next

resolved to
continued strain of the

most

difficultroulades and

cadenzas,for

of her extraordinary
sostesome
vyhich she is so famous, including
their
from
cendo,
inflections, pianissimoto fortecresnuto notes, with all

againdiminish to thread-likejojamssimo; but in all these

of genius,by the Swedish nightingale,
fantastictricks and displays
and accurately
tracked by the
so closely
to the shake,she was
even
could not have
somnambulist,that several in the room
occasionally
that there were
individuals singing
two
merelyby hearing,
told,
did she catch the notes,and so perfectly
did their
so instantaneously
voices blend and accord. Next, Jenny having been told by Mr.
this charming
other language,
Braid that she might be tested in some
Alia Bella,'
in
commenced
Casta Diva,'
and the
songstress
of the somnambulist's performance,
both in words
which the fidelity
all Mi-. Braid had
and fully
most
justified
perfect,
and music,was
her powers : she was also tested by Mile. Lind in
regarding
alleged
when
exact imitations ;
she gave most
language,
merelyimitating
and

"

'

'

368

APPENDIX.
Schwabe

and Mr.

also tried her

sound, which he said

much
at once."
correctly
without

he knew

no

some

one

was

difficultcombinations

further

of

rectly
corcapableof imitating

but the somnambulist

practice,

is
In the Critic (No. 145.),

imitated them
from

account

Mr. Braid

Greek and Celtic, and of

patientimitating
and French, after
patientsingingsongs in Latin, Italian,

himself of the
another
her

by

same

"

with the
mistress,

utmost

accuracy.

of Mr.
givena similar account of a patient
he threw
His faculty
of imitation being tested,
SpencerHall's.
echo
back any sound issuingfrom the company
as the most
perfect
and threw back
would do.
He was
addressed in various languages,
with the most
and generally
perfectpronurlciation,
every sentence
without the omission of a single
syllable."*
his Hindoo patients
Dr. Esdaile has made
speak Greek. An
Mr. Howitt

has also
"

East India paper

in the learned

the poor ignorantBengalee.t

the third volume of the Zoist (p.222.),
is

by

exactness

In

says, that Dr. Esdaile uttered words and sentences

languages,which were
repeatedwith wonderful

a similar
Jago of Bodmin, describing

state,when
Mesmeric

her organs

scene

with

of imitation and

letter from

lady in the
languagewere

could producesundryinstances
experience

of the

Mr.
meric
Mes-

fluenced
in-

same

Kind.
II. We

higherphenomenon,where the patient

not onlyrepeatsand mimics
but even
understands
foreign
languages,
of
them, and often understands them, without having the faculty
or
repeating
imitatingthem. This power, I should say, was only
transference of thoughtappearing
under a differentguise.
Mr. Jago'spatient
is one
above mentioned
instance of this power.
Miss Martineau's patientis another.
Parties spoke to her in
"

next

come

to

and French, and she understood them.

Miss M.
German, Italian,
"
observes,
that, providedthe ideas conveyedto the girlwere within
her scope, it mattered nothingin what hnguage theywere
uttered."

(Appendix.)
Some
them

of the Ursulines of Loudun

in

Latin,providedthat

In the D^momanie

who
nuns

understood

they were

in

any orders givento

lism.
state of somnambu-

de Loudun

told that M. de Bouille,

we
are
bore
that he spoke to the
America,
testimony
the languageof certain savages of that country, and that they

had

resided in

SpencerHall's Mesmeric Experiences,

p. 31.
See also Dr. Esdaile's India, p. 113. for another

case.

APPENDIX.

answered

him

readily.

very

369

Sister Clara Understood

Turkish,

and Italian,
and others understood Greek.
Spanish,
In the Historyof the eighteen
that I referred
nuns

to

from

Pitaval'sCauses Celebres (inthe last Appendix),

it is mentioned in
the report, that
the phenomena which the Religieuses
veloped
deamong
in their sleep,
of which,
was
a
knowledge of languages,
when theywere
awake, theywere quiteignorant.

Majendie,has mentioned to me the case of

an
ignorantpeasant girlof Normandy, Marianne
aged 22,
who was magnetisedby Mr. Marie,manager of the Gas Company at
Caen, on account of her health. She soon became somnambulist,
and readily
answered questions.Mr. Marie,has spoken to her in
Marie in Spanish:
German, Italian and Latin : Madame
English,
Mr.
My friend,

A.

answered in French to the

Cur6 de Ranville asked her

the Eomnambule

accuracy. The
which she answered

very remarkable.
this point.
on

thoughtthat was
statements
interesting
of

More

under

cases

with

and
pertinently,

questionswith perfect
in Greek, to
questions
occasional exaltation

an

Mr.

Majendie gives some

broughtforward.

this head could be

pointto notice is that,where the ecstaticis said to

language of which, when awake, he is utterly
ignorant.

III. The last

speak in

I have

this power

Of
but

names

such

of

myself seen

eminence

not

have

the

most

distant indication ;

allusion

made

the assumed

to

dismiss their evidence,"

too trifling
-as
altogether
of criticism,
Again,let us remember Arnold's canon
theyoffer.

facts, thati cannot

"

absurd.

and

and hear what

Sennertus,

of

name

Works), says, "There

can
or the mad
speakin
melancholy
iii.of
(vol.

his treatise

in
authority,

Madness,

on

who

deny that the

*
*
*
But
foreign
languages.
are

some

doubt."
of the truth of these facts we cannot
mentions
Forestus,in his tenth book, (in Schol. p. 340.),
he himself saw, who having received
whom
of a sailor,
in the head and become
which he was
language,"

in
made syllogisms
delirious,
when
he
unable to accomplish

"

the
a

son

wound

the German
was

cured.

that he attended,
who, during
Forestus also mentions a woman
her illnessand melancholy,
sang Latin hymns, which she had never
that
she may have heard them in church and
learnt. Forestus adds,

remembered them.
a
Erasmus, in his declamation in praiseof medicine,mentions
of
native
his
of
under
a
fell
own
Spoletum
knowledge,
case which
"

T^ho,during an
When

illness,
spoke the German

adds
he recovered,
it.

Erasmus, he neither

languageadjnirably
stood
spoke it nor under-

APPEKDIX.

370

Melancthon,in

an

to Hubert
epistle"
Languetus,says that,twelve

learnt
Saxony that never
she
influenced by the devil,
spake

years before,there had been a

and yet when
she was
letters,
Greek

the Saxon war.*

Latin,respecting

and

of the ecstaticnuns

Some
Greek

in

woman

and

German,

of

Loudun

at

which, when

are

in

said

have

to

normal

spokenin

state,they were

ignorant.
Remarks
Dr. Brighara,in his
Health,"refers to similar
on
the case
of a child "twelve years of age,
instances, particularly
who
knew
only the first rudiments of the Latin language,but
duringa fever spokeit with fluency."
"

"

ii. p. 23, 24.)refers

Colquhoun,(vol.

Mr.

writers,who
The

state

Seeress of

spoke in

similar facts.

Prevorst,in her sleep-waking

state, frequently

languagethat

had

resemblance

some

Mr.

tongues.

of the power
Now, how

divers learned

to

Jago, and other Mesmerisers,also

in question.
is the above

to

record instances
the

Are
explained.?

to be

the Eastern

statements

the writers misinformed.''

or were
pure invention.?
Baron Feuchterleben cannot deny some
of these facts : he admits
"

that somnambulists

and frequently
dialect,
in a languagewith which theyare not otherwise familiar,"
(p.206.) but he explainsit afterwards by adding,that "Foreign
languages are reproductionsof dormant recollections."(p.208.)
do

"

speakin

refined

more

"

this view
Probably
all.

Would

would

the

meet

the conveyance

of
majority

of such

mental

but

scarcely
the
as
acquisition
tation
high state of exal-

cases,

"

a foreign
languageto a brain in a
incredible fact,than a
and impressionability
be a much
more
gical
of theoloand the communication
transfer of thoughtand of ideas,
to the
and philosophic
?
I ofier this suggestion
learning

knowledgeof

"

physiologists.Ths Historyof Errors,'^

says Sir Joshua
Reynolds,
"properlymanaged,often shortens the road to truth."f
cerebral

"

Melancthon,Epist.1. 2.

t Second Dbcourse.

p. 550.

THE

END.

London
Spottiswoode

and

Shaw,

NeiV'Street- Square,
,