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NATURAL
AND
MESMERICCLAIRVOYANCE
WITHTHE
PRACTICALAPPLICATIONOFMESMERISMINSURGERYANDMEDICINE
BY
JAMESESDAILE,M.D.
LATEPRESIDENCYSURGEON,CALCUTTA;AUTHOROF"MESMERISMININDIA",etc.etc.
"Onsetrompeplussouventparsesmfiances,queparsesconfiances."CARDINALDERETZ.
LONDON:HIPPOLYTEBAILLIERE,219,REGENTSTREET,
AND290,BROADWAY,NEWYORK,U.S.PARIS:J.B.BAILLIERE,RUEHAUTETEUILLE.MADRID:BAILLYBAILLIERE,CALLEDELPRINCIPE.CALCUTTA:R.C.LEPAGEANDCO.
1852.
Transcribedindigitalformat
ByMaryseLockehttp://www.transcommunication.org/
LONDON:PrintedbySchulzeandCo.,13,PolandStreet.
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DEDICATION
TO
THEMOSTNOBLETHEMARQUISOFDALHOUSIE,
GOVERNOR-GENERALOFINDIA.
MyLord,
Althoughindebtedtoyoufortherecognitionandrewardofwhatyouwerepleasedtoconsiderpublicservicesofasomewhatnoveldescription,itisasmuchoutofrespectforyourprivatejudgement,asfromgratitudeforyourfavours,thatIhavenowthehonourtodedicatetoyouthefollowingpages.
YourLordshiphadsufficientimpartialityandconfidenceinyourownjudgementtobeabletosatisfyyourselfofthetruthofthephysicalphenomenaofMesmerismfromdocumentaryevidencealone,whichmustbetheonlysourceofknowledgetothegeneralityofmankindonanysubjectwhatever.Ocular
demonstration,thoughofferedtoyou,wasconsideredsuperfluousbyyourLordshipindecidingupontherealityofpainlessmesmericoperations,ofwhichyouwerepleasedtosay,"Therecanbenodoubtwhatever".
Thewonderfulmentalphenomenasaidtobeoccasionallywitnessedinpersonsunderthemesmericinfluence,areequallycapableofbeingjudgedbytheusuallawsofevidence.
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AndwhenthecaresofStateaffordyourLordshipthenecessaryleisure,itwillperhapsbearelaxationtoyoutoexerciseyourindependentjudgementuponthefactsrelatedinthefollowingpagesinsupportoftherealityofnaturalandartificialClairvoyance.
HopingthatotherswillfollowyourLordship'sexample,andthinkandjudgeforthemselves.
Ihavethehonourtoremain,
YourLordship's
MostobedientServant,
JAMESESDAILE.
PERTH,APRIL5,1852
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PREFACE
Mesmerismandmesmeristsmusthavemorethanafelinetenacityoflife,tosurvivesomanydetermined,and,forthetime,apparentlysuccessful,attemptstoputthemtodeath.But,likethecamomileplant,Mesmerismonlyflourishesthemoreforbeingtroddenupon:andmesmerists,likeheroesinaplay,arenosoonerkilledthanweseethemonthestageagain,notatalltheworseforallthekillingtheyhavegonethroughbeforeoureyes.
InconsequenceofaReportofaRoyalCommissioninFrance,in1784,theFacultyofMedicineofParis,sanctionedbytheParliament,ordained"thateverymemberanabettorofthenewdoctrinesofMesmershouldbestruckoffthelistofthesociety,andthatnophysicianshouldconsultwiththecondemned,onpainofthesameforfeiture".Tothethundersofsciencewasaddedthesmallarmofridicule,andMesmer,overpoweredbyinjustice,anddisgusted,quittedFrance:anditwasbelievedthatMesmerismwasplungedintooblivion.
ButhispestilentdoctrineunexpectedlyappearedinLondon,in1838,andwasasspeedilyputdownbytheCouncilofUniversityCollege,London,who,inobediencetotheeditoroftheLancet,Resolved:
"ThattheHospitalCommitteebeinstructedtotakesuchstepsastheyshalldeemmostadvisable,topreventthepracticeofMesmerismorAnimalMagnetismInfuturewithinthehospital".AndsoDr.ElliotsonandMesmerismweresupposedtobeeffectuallyputdown,nevermoretorise.Nevertheless,Dr.Elliotson"stilllivesaprosperousgentleman";and,ifthereaderwishestoknowthesubsequenthistoryofMesmerisminEngland,lethimturntothenineoctavovolumesoftheZoist,andhewillbecomeconvincedoftheefficacyofpersecutioninstimulatingthezealandindustryoftheconvertstoanewfaith.
In1846,MesmerismandIcametoanequallyshamefulandwell-deservedendinIndia,inflicteduponusbytheeditoroftheCalcuttaMedical
Journal.Alas!Littledidthisindignantworthyimaginethathewasonlyactingasawarming-panforamesmerist,andthattheGovernor-GeneralinCouncilwould,inonelittleyear,rewardmewithhisplaceofPresidency-Surgeoninexpressacknowledgementofmymesmeric
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labours.Itistruethat,althoughtheeditorpilloriedmypoorpatientsinprintasasetofhardenedanddeterminedimpostors,he,withthegenerosityofagreatandsuperiormind,kindlyallowedthat"myhonestycouldnotbequestioned"thatis,thatIwasonlyafool;andperhapsIoughttohavebeenthankfulforgettingoffsoeasily,andhaveheldmytongue.Withouttheusualallowanceofinsult,injury,andmisrepresentationheapedupondiscoverersandreformers,theywouldoftenbecontentwithaknowledgeofthetruth,andthementalsatisfactionofhavingsoughtitforitsownsake.Butinsultandinjusticearethespursthatovercometheirnaturalindolence,andimpelthemtodomuchmorethantheyeverintended:and,asthebestvindicationoftheircharactersandunderstandings,theysetaboutconvincingothers,which,byanirresistiblelawofnature,theymustsucceedindoingatlast.
Inself-defence,Icommencedpublishingmonthlyreportsofmyhospitalpracticeinthenewspapers,andthetruthwasthusallowedtoflowfreelythroughthelengthandbreadthoftheland,tilleverypersonofsaneunderstandingwascapableofreturningareasonableverdictuponthefactsfromtheevidenceplacedbeforehim.Thedailypress,withoneortwoexceptions,hadatfirstjoinedintheorthodoxmedicalhowlraisedagainstme,havingbeenmisled-andimposedtherecklessassertionsandconfidentdogmatismoftheprofessionalpartofthepress.Butthejudgementsofthelayeditorswerenotpermanentlyobscuredby
professionalbigotry,jealousy,andwoundedself-love:and,soonperceivingthattheyhadbeenfollowingblindguides,theynotonlyprofessedtheirconversion,butindignantlyturneduponandpunishedtheirmisleaders,and,attheendofayear,therewasnotapaperfromCapeComorintotheHimalayasthatdidnotwishMesmerismandme"Godspeed!"
Afterbeingthebestabusedmanintheworld(notexceptingMr.0ConnellandDr.Elliotson),Iwassoonasextravagantlyoverpraised,merelyforrefusingtobebulliedoutofmysensesandunderstandingandfornotbeingconstitutionallyacoward.Thisappealtothepeople'scommonsenseandnaturalloveofjusticewasextremelydistastefultomyprofessionaljudges,andwasdenouncedasunprecedentedundignified
unprofessionalonlyworthyofanadvertisingquack,etc.But,havingnorespectfortheprecedentsofprejudice;despisingthedignitythatfearspollutionfromthecontactofvulgarfacts;preferringthemoderateindependenceofthepublicservicetothebestprivatepracticeinCalcutta;andbelongingtonoprofessionthatdoesnotgladlyreceivetruth,Iwasasindifferenttosuchattacksastospittinguponorstrikingatmyshadow.AnoppositiontotruthisasnecessaryforitsadvancementasaparliamentaryoppositionisforgoodGovernment:and,butforabitterandbigotedprofessionalopposition,IshouldneverhavegonetoCalcuttaatall(havingnodesiretodoso);therewouldhavebeennoCommitteeorderedtoreportuponmymesmericoperationsbytheGovernmentof
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India;noexperimentalhospitalwouldeverhavebeenestablishedbytheGovernment;nomesmerichospitalsupportedbypublicsubscriptionwouldeverhavebeenheardof;andIshouldneverhavesucceededinintroducingMesmerismintoregularhospitalpracticeinCalcutta.Forallwhichzealinpromotingthetruthandmyselfalongwithit,Ireturnmyopponents(especiallythelearnedprofessorsoftheMedicalCollege,Calcutta),thethankstheydeserve,andthepublicwillequallyappreciatetheirexertions.Imust,however,exemptDr.Webb,ProfessorofDemonstrativeAnatomy,fromthisvoteofthanks;forhe,likehiscolleagues,notonlyboreampletestimonytotherealityofmypainlessmesmericoperations,but,unlikethem,didnot,onthediscoveryofetherandchloroform,endeavourtoeathisownwordsanddenyhisrecordedconvictions.Dr.WebbwellknewthatMesmerismwasstillindispensabletotheoperatingsurgeoninmanycases,andthatitwasthebest,becausethesafest,anaestheticagent,whenavailable,asitusuallyisinIndia;andthat,evenifMesmerismweresupersededforsurgicalpurposesbysomeequallyinnocuousdrug,thisoughtnottodiminishitsinterestintheeyesofthephysician,thephysiologist,themetaphysician,andnaturalphilosopher.
OnewouldsupposethatthesoulsoftheprofessorsofPisaandPadua,immortalisedbyGalileoinalettertoKepler,hadtransmigratedintothebodiesoftheprofessorsofCalcutta."Oh!MydearKepler",writesGalileo,
"howIwishwecouldhaveaheartylaughtogether.Here,atPadua,istheprincipalprofessorofphilosophy,whomIhaverepeatedlyandurgentlyinvitedtolookatthemoonandplanetsthroughmyglass,whichhepertinaciouslyrefusestodo.Whyareyounothere?Whatshoutsoflaughterweshouldhaveatthisgloriousfolly!AndtohearthephilosopheratPisalabouringbeforetheGrandDukewithlogicalarguments,asifwithmagicalincantations,todrawthenewplanetsoutofthesky!"Galileowellknewtheefficacyofagoodguffawinclearingthemindofmalignvapoursengenderedbytheunworthytreatmenthereceived,and,havinglaughedathisopponents,hefelthimselfcapableofinfiniteendurance.IhavebeeninthehabitofexcusingGalileo'srecantationbylikeninghimtothekeeperofamadhousewhosepatientshaveriseninrebellionandthreatenedtoputhimtodeathifhedidnotconfesshimselftobetheonly
madmanintheestablishment.Surelyitwouldbequiteallowabletosaveone'slifeinsuchapredicament.
AndhereIcannotrefrainfromchronicling,fortheadmirationofEuropeandposterity,thenoblegenerosityandself-sacrificeofthePresidentoftheMesmericCommittee,thejuniormemberofthethenMedicalBoard.ThehighlyconsistentandconscientiousPresidenthadnosoonersignedtheReporttoGovernment,declaringthatheandtheothermembersoftheCommitteehadseenmeperformperfectlypainlessmesmericoperationsofthemostseveredescription,thanherepentedhim,likeanotherCranmer,andcrying,"Oh!thisunworthyrighthand",triedto
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undowhathehaddone.Beingamanofhumour,helaughedheartilyincompanyatthecapitaljokeof"painlessoperations!"Ononeoftheseoccasions,agentlemanofsomewhattenderconscienceventuredtoask:"Buthowcouldyousigntowhatyoudidnotbelieve?""Bah!"repliedthePresident,"wepitiedpoorEsdaile,butwecouldhavecrushedhim.Sir!wecouldhavecrushedhim!"
WehaveallheardofthedevotionofDamonandPythias,andSt.Paul
saysthat"hecouldwishtobeanathemaforthesalvationofhis
brethren."Butthisisthefirstinstanceonrecord,Ibelieve,ofa
mandamninghimselfforastrangerandacausethathedetestedand
despised.ThedaysofchivalryarenotpastaslongasthePresident
oftheCalcuttaMesmericCommitteelives.
Ifindtheever-beginningnever-endingtaskofputtingdownMesmerismstillhopelesslygoingoninEnglandin1852,andthemedicaljournalshavesuppressallevidenceregardingit,evenofthemostpracticalandprofessionaldescription,(*)asthemosteffectualmeansof
burkingthehatefulsubject.IhavethereforebeenhighlygratifiedtoseeDr.Gregoryaddressingthepublicthroughthemediumofthedailypress;and,ifthenaturalsenseofjusticeandnationalloveoffairplayhavenotbecomeextinctsinceIleftEngland,wemayexpecttoseethepublicandtheunprofessionalpressresentingthisattempttosuppressfreediscussionandputdownthelibertyofthepress.
EvenLouisNapoleonhasnotyetprohibitedthediscussionofMesmerism,likeourdictatorsofthemedicalpress.
IncompletingarecordofmyIndianmesmericexperience,itwasmy
intentiontohaveconfinedmyselftothestrictlyutilitarianandprofessionaldepartmentofMesmerism,withwhichIwasbestacquainted,andwhichitismostessentialthatthepublicshouldknow.
But,onseeingmedicalmenofthehighestintelligenceandhonour,likeDr.Elliotson,Dr.Gregory,Dr.Ashburner,Dr.Engledue,etc.,hootedat,andattemptsmadetoruinthemintheirprofessionalandprivatereputations,byanonymousirresponsiblewriters,forboldlyrelatingwhattheyhaveseenofthehigherMesmericphenomena,IshoulddespisemyselfforamiserablecowardifIfearedtoaddmytestimonytotheirsandrefrainedfromrelatingwhatIknowandhaveseenofthehighermesmericphenomena,bothphysicalandpsychical.
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(*)Seemylatepamphlet,MesmerismasanAnaestheticandCurcitiveAgent.
Nexttothepleasureofacquiringnewknowledgeisthesatisfactionofpartakingitwithothers:but,afterconvertingIndiatoabeliefinthepracticalutilityofMesmerism,itiscomparativelyindifferenttomewhetherpeoplebelieveinClairvoyanceornot.Ihaveinthismatterthoughtandactedlikeafreeman,andonlywishotherstodothesame.Whatevermaybethereceptionofthiswork,itisimpossibletodeprivemeofthementalgratificationwhichIhavederivedfromthestudyofMesmerism,andthesatisfactionofhavingdonemuchgoodtosufferinghumanitybyitsmeans.
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CONTENTS
CHAPTERI
NecessityofexaminingallthephenomenabeforeattemptingtoaccountforthemesmericinfluenceAnonymouscalumnyandmisrepresentationreprobatedThehighermesmericphenomenaascapableofbeingprovedasthelowerTheyareonlyimitationsofNaturebyArtMenoffreemindsnottobedeterredfrominvestigatingthelawsofNaturebybeinghowledatasAtheists?Examplesofnaturalsomnambulismand
clairvoyance............Page13
CHAPTERII
ArtificialsomnambulismVariouswaysofproducingitwellknowntothenativesofIndiaandtheancientsThemodernsonlyre-discoveringtheirlostknowledgeReasonwithoutexperienceuselessinthisinvestigation
Mesmerismbelievedinbythelearnedandpolite,andnotbythevulgarWasdiscoveredandpropagatedbyDoctorsTheAuthor'ssingularintroductiontomesmericsomnambulismSuspectedchild-stealingbyitsmeansFirstexperimentinmakingasomnambulistMeninastateofsomnambulismstolenoutofapubliccourtofjusticeWritersonmedicaljurisprudence,judges,andjuriesoughttobeawareofthecrimesthatmaybecommittedbytheabuseofMesmerismLucidsomnambulismmadeknowntothemodernsbytheMarquisdePuysegurAbsurdityofattemptingtosolveascientificproblembyamoneybribeCaseofclairvoyantreadingofabanknote,reportedbyDr.Chalmers,PresidencySurgeon,CalcuttaCasesofmesmericclairvoyancereportedbyDr.EngledueEarlofDucieLordFitzclarenceMr.Topham,barrister-atlawTheHon.MissBoyleBytheAuthorDangersofecstatic
somnambulismThenaturalmedicalinstinctofanimalsOfman.............Page44
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CHAPTERIII
RemarkableandanomalousphenomenasometimeswitnessedinmesmerisedpersonsTheyoccasionallythrowlightonthecauseofthegeneraleffectuponthesystemFirstexperimentsonlyrelieduponExamplesofconscioustranceOflossofmemoryforsometimeprevioustothetranceOblivionofwakingintervalsMesmericdeliriumLocalrigidityandinsensibilityproducedwithoutaffectingthegeneralconsciousnessThesensesextinguishedandrestoredonebyone,theconsciousnessremainingentireAsimilarcasewithcommunityoftaste
Mesmericattraction.........Page87CHAPTERIV
MedicalmenatpresentnotentitledtodictatetheirmesmericbelieftothepublicDoctors,ingeneral,asignorantofMesmerismasthepublicTheAuthor'scompleteignoranceofMesmerismbeforeexperimentingforhimselfEveryavailableevidenceaffordedbyhimHeisobligedtogiveupmesmerisingEverythingdonebyhisassistantsafterthefirstsixweeksImposturemorallyandphysicallyimpossiblePhysiological
demonstrationoftheabsurdityofthecharge....Page99CHAPTERV
ThemesmericprocessesPublicitythebestprotectiontosocietyThemesmerictreatmentofdiseaseafieldofusefullabourforthephilanthropistTheMarquisdePuysegurandM.DeleuzeunprofessionalmenProcessusedinIndiaforinducingcomaTheEuropeanmethodLocalmesmerisingThedemesmerisingprocesses..Page105
CHAPTERVI
MesmericsurgeryMenofallprofessionscomeforwardintheirownnamesinsupportoftheAuthor'sstatementsAnamputationofathighreportedbyF.W.Simms,Esq.,civilengineertotheEastIndiaCompany
FivemesmericoperationsdescribedbytheRev.Mr.laCroixAnamputationofathighreportedbyMajorCorfieldandbrotherofficersMesmericoperationsreportedbytheRev.Mr.Hill"Mesmerismasasootherofpain",translatedfromtheCountdeGoertz'sIndianLettersListofmesmericoperationsperformedbytheAuthorConcludingremarksonmesmericsurgeryTheeffectsofcoldonpersonsinthe
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mesmerictranceExperimentsonthispointExamplesofsingularphysicalandmentalphenomenasometimesseeninmesmericoperations
TheproposalofasuspectedimpostortotheDoctorSahibsP.111CHAPTERVII
MedicalMesmerismComaasamedicalagentnotoftennecessaryAjudiciousselectionofcasesrequiredforsuccessExamplesofdifferentdiseasescuredbyMesmerismaloneNeuralgiaParalysisEnlargedglandsandsuppuratingearsGenerallossofsensibilityintheskinwithpartialpalsyCaseofdumbnessdescribedbyDr.WebbinhisIntroductoryLectureAnothercaseProdigiousprolapsusanireducedinthetranceThreestrangulatedrupturesreducedinthetranceMesmerismininsanity.........Page142
CHAPTERVIII
TheabuseofMesmerismItresembleshysteriaatlastThespontaneousdevelopmentofmesmericsymptomsoftennoproofofimposture,butthecontraryBodilydangersfromgreatmesmeric
sensibilityAwarningmiracleperformed....Page156CHAPTERIX
Mesmerism,aspractisedbytheAuthor,aphysicpowerItaffectspersonsasleep,orinnaturalcoma,madmen,andblindpeoplePersonscanbemesmerisedwithouttheirknowledgeItaffectsbrutesaswellasmenKnowntotheNorthAmericanIndiansThemesmericinfluencecanbeprojectedtoadistanceCanbecommunicatedtoinanimatesubstances,towater,etc.Thequestion,''WhatisMesmerism?"attemptedtobeanswered.........Page164
CHAPTERX
TheGovernmentExperimentalMesmericHospitalThemoralofthetaleTheReportsoftheMedicalVisitorsoftheHospitalreviewedRemarkablementalphenomenaexhibitedbytheVisitorsundertheinfluenceofetherItsstupifyingeffectsuponMr.Richard
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O'Shaughnessy,professorofsurgeryItsludicrousandpitiableeffectsuponDr.DuncanStewart,professorofmidwiferyItsshockingeffectsuponDr.Mouat,professorofmateriamedicaTheeffectsproduceduponthemindofLordDalhousiebytheHospitalReportsandthoseoftheVisitorsHisLordshipdoes"anactofjustice"AMesmericHospitalsupportedbypublicsubscriptionsestablishedItisclosedinconsequenceofoneoftheGovernmenthospitalsbeinggiventotheAuthorforthepurposeofintroducingMesmerismintoregularhospital
practice............Page176
Appendix..........Page186
Postscript..........Page194
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NATURAL
AND
MESMERICCLAIRVOYANCE
CHAPTERI
NecessityofexaminingallthephenomenabeforeattemptingtoaccountforthemesmericinfluenceAnonymouscalumnyandmisrepresentationreprobatedThehighermesmericphenomenaascapableofbeingprovedasthelowerTheyareonlyimitationsofNaturebyArtMenoffreemindsnottobedeterredfrominvestigatingthelawsofNaturebybeinghowledatasAtheists!Examplesofnaturalsomnambulismandclairvoyance.
THEhistoryoftheriseandprogressofMesmerismasabranchofthehealingartformsanaturalandcompletedepartmentofthesubject,andhasbeendweltuponintheworksIhavealreadypublished:MesmerisminIndia,and
TheIntroductionofMesmerismasanAnaestheticandCurativeAgentintotheHospitalsofIndia.
But,howeverwonderfulandvariedthebodilyphenomenamayhe,theycomposeonlyonehalfoftheevidencethatmustheexaminedbeforewecanhopetoformanysatisfactoryorfeasibletheoryrespectingthenatureofthemesmericinfluence.Byenteringuponthepsychologicalpartofthesubject,Ishall
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peril,Ifear,anycreditthatmayhavebeengivenmeforpracticalviewsandsobrietyofjudgementintheprosecutionofmymesmericresearches.But,evenifthecuriosityandinterestofthesubjectdidnotleadmeon,IshouldfeelboundtorelateallIknow,injusticetothehonourableandintelligentmenwhohavestakedtheirreputationsinthecauseoftruth,andwhoaredailyinsultedbyahostofnamelessandirresponsiblewriters.
Itisnotflatteringmyself,Ihope,tosupposethatmypreviouspublicationshavesufficientlyvindicatedmyownveracityandprofessionalreputation;anditwouldperhapsbemoreprudenttoletothersfighttheirownbattlesasIhavefoughtmine.Butinjusticeandoppressionpractiseduponothersmovemyindignationalmostasmuchasifofferedtomyself;anditishightimethatthepublicshouldhavetheoptionofchoosingbetweenthedeliberatestatementsofhonourableandresponsiblemen,andtherecklessassertionsofthenamelessassailantsofMesmerism,whoingeneralhateevidentlynoknowledgeofthesubject,andtrusttotheirreadershavingstilllesswhenperusinga"smashingarticle"inareview,magazine,ornewspaper.
Thereasonofthisdiscreditableignoranceamongwell-informed
personsis,thatallevidenceandinformationoneventheprofessionalpartofthesubjecthasbeensystematicallywithheldfromthemedicalprofessionandthepublicbythemedicalpressofGreatBritain.
But,inspiteofthisstudiedsilence,thepublichaveheardtoomuchfromvarioustrustworthyquarters,nottobegenerallyconvincedoftherealityoftheleadingphysicalmesmericphenomena.Theseare,therefore,passedoverbythemedicalpress,andarenolongercontested.Butthegroundthatthemedicalmesmeristshavewon,andcannotbedispossessedof,isundermined,andtheirdestructionhopedfor,byraisingacombinedmedico-theologicalhowlof"Atheist!"(*)
(*)TheMedicalTimesnotonlyholdsupthemenwhodaretothinkandactforthemselvestoprofessionalreprobation,butendeavours,likeaDominicanfriar,todrawdownupontheirheadspublicexecrationandpersecution,bynick-namingtheminfidelsandatheists.Suchworthyleadersfindworthyfollowers,towhoseknownpassionsandprejudicestheywritedown.Amedicalman,oneofthosebeings
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"Ofwhomtobedisprais'dwerenosmallpraise,"
hasbeenfoundsoutterlyshamelessastowritewhatfollows,underhisownname,inthepublicprints(hecallshimselfCharlesDeazeley,ofMilford,surgeon):"Leavingthosewhofeelitaspleasanttobecheatedastocheat'tofollowsuchmenasElliotson,Esdaile,Ashburner,Sandby,Townshend,andahostofotherswhothroughthemedium
againstallwhodaretopassfrommattertotheinvestigationofmindandendeavourtocomprehendhowtheyareunited;howfartheycanactindependently,andhowtheyactandre-actuponeachother.
Thatbigotedandinfuriatedpolemicsshouldmournoverthedepartureofthegoodoldtimeswhenatroublesomeopponentcouldbeeffectuallysilencedbyreducinghimtoashes,isnottobewonderedat.ButtofindDoctorscallingintheaidofreligiouspersecutioninthemiddleofthenineteenthcenturytosolveaphysico-psychicalproblem,issomethingperfectlymonstrousandincredible.Theseterroristspretendthat,
becausepersonsunderthemesmericinfluenceceaseforthetimetobevoluntaryandresponsiblebeings,andoccasionallyexhibitpowersandacquireknowledgebeyondtheirreachintheirordinarystateofexistence,thereforeMesmerismissynonymouswithAtheism,seeingthatitdivestsmanofhisresponsibility,andinvestshimwithpowershithertosupposedtobetheexclusiveattributesofGod.
Thesewould-beleadersofthemedicalprofession,anddictatorsofpublicopinion,areeithergrosslyignorantofvariousmedicalfactsbearinguponandillustratingthesubject,orwilfullysuppresstheknowledgeofthem,intheireagernesstodestroythosewhodifferfromtheminopinion.Thederangementofthe
nervousequilibrium,uponwhichtheoccurrenceofthemesmericphenomenadepends,maybeeffectedbyvariousagencies.
oftheirownperiodical,theZoisthavepronouncedthemselvesinfidelsandmaterialists.Dr.Esdaile,asimilarcharactertoDr.Elliotson,isatpresentinIndia,followinghisnefariousvocationsandfromthetoneoftheZoist,Ifearisbuttoosuccessfulamongthatbenightedpeople."Nowallthispersoncouldthenhaveknownofmewas,thatIhadsavedhundredsofunfortunatehumanbeingsthemostexquisitetortures,forwhic
hIwaspubliclyrewardedbytheGovernmentofIndia.Twoofthegentlemen,Mr.SandbyandMr.Townshend,whohavethehonourtobeyelledatbythismedicalPharisee,are
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clergymen.AndthelasttimeIhadthepleasuretobeinthecompanyoftheBishopofCalcutta,hewaspleasedtosay:"Ireadallyouwrite.Dr.Esdaile;Ibelieveallyousay,Sir."TheclergyofalldenominationsinIndiawereamongmyearliestandstanchestsupporters.TheArchbishopofDublin,theRev.Mr.Sandby,theRev.Dr.Scoresby,theRev.Mr.Pyne,mybrother,theRev.DavidEsdaile,andmanymoreclergymen,belongtothegoodlyfellowshipofAtheists,beingbothbelieversin,andpracticersofMesmerism.
Insensibilitytopain,whenintheirecstasies,hasbeenclaimedastheprivilegeofsaintsinallages;and,aftermakingthemostampleallowanceforimposture,itmustoftenberegardedasreal,socontinuedandconsistentisthetestimonybornetoit.Infact,thephenomenonisdailyseenrecurringatCampMeetings,religiousRevivals,andotherfanaticalassemblages,whosemembersmeettogethertogivethemselvesuptounbridledmentalintoxication,whichisproductiveofsingularmentalandbodilysymptomsmistakenbythepartiesthemselvesforinspiration,andbythespectatorsfor
imposture,butwhich,inreality,areoftenthenecessaryeffectofderangementofthenervousequilibrium,asmuchsoasintoxicationisaneffectofspirituousliquors.Insensibilitytopain,andmanyofthehighermesmericphenomenawerewitnessedaseverydayoccurrencesamongthedevoteeswhoresortedtothegraveoftheAbbParis.Delicatewomeninvitedthespectatorstoinflictthemostsevereinjuriesuponthemasasourceofenjoyment;andMonsieurBoutin,"CouncillortotheKinginParliament",hasleftusacertificate,inwhichhedeclaresthathe,incompanywithmanyotherpersons,sawagirl,whenintheecstaticstate,extirpate,withapairofscissorsandhernails,alargecanceroustumourfromtheinsideofhermouth,withoutfeelingit,anduponwhichthemostskilful
surgeonsinParishadrefusedtooperate.
Theexhaustionofthebrainbyintensecontemplationisanothermeansofderangingthenaturalfunctionsofthenerves,andofrenderingtheminsensibletoordinaryimpressions.Thishasbeenknownandpractisedtimeimmemorial,andisprobablytheobjectoftheprolongedmeditationstowhichtheNorthAmericanwarriorsgivethemselvesuppreviouslytoenteringuponthegreatestoftheheroicordeals.ItispractisedinIndiaatthisdaybydevotees,aswillbeseenfromthefollowingextractfromtheletterofanofficerinthePunjaub.
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Acuriouscustomprevailshere,whichIbelieveisveryunusual,ifeverwitnessed,inourprovinces,ofMahomedanreligiousdevoteessuspendingthemselvesbytheirheels,andswingingandwrithingtheirbodiesintoeveryvarietyofcontortion,untiltheyareapparentlyquiteexhausted;butthemostcuriouspartofthebusinessisthemeanstheyusetobringthemselvesintoastatefirmenoughorindifferentenoughtoundergothesevereordeal.Thedifferentcandidatesforpenanceappearnottobeselectedortohavedeterminedbeforehandtovictimisethemselvesontheoccasion,but,aswewereseriouslyinformedbythebystanders,remainedplungedinthought,until,byforceoflongdwellingononesubject,they,asitwere,fellintoatrance.Itseffectswerevisiblebyseeingoneoftheparty,sooccupied,suddenlyfallflatonthegroundasinafit,hiswholeframebeingconvulsedbysomegreatnervousexcitement,everylimbtrembling,theeyesclosed,breathingshortandheavy,andsalivarunningfromthemouth.Wheninthisstate,heispickedupbyhisfriends,andissuspendedbyaropepassingroundabandagefasteningtheheelstogether,andgraduallyraisedtillhisoutstretchedhandsareabouttwofeetabovetheground;inthispositionheisleft,andinaveryshorttimethelips,the
brow,andinfactthewholefaceandneck,swellconsiderably,andaccordinglyasthespiritmovesthemtheevolutionsareperformedtillthemanappearsperfectlysenseless,whenheistakendown.Theydonotappeartobeaffectedbyanyinternalstimulant,but,onthecontrary,behavewiththeutmostgravitybeforethefitcomeson."DelhiGazette.
Thewholenervoussystemmaybealsoderangedbytheexhaustionofaparticularorgan,ashaslatelybeenpractisedbyMr.BraidofManchester,whoentranceshispatientsbymakingthemgazewithadoubleinwardsquintatanobjectplacedabovetheeyes.Butthisisonlyamodificationofanold
method,andare-discoveryofancientknowledge,likesomanymoderninventions.ThemonksofMountAthosprocuredthedesiredinsensibilitytoexternalobjectsbygazingintentlyattheirnavels:hencetheywerecalledOmphalopsychians;"andBerniertellsusthatthefakirsofIndiabroughtontheecstatic
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statebysquintingatthetipsoftheirnoses,andsobecameabsorbedintothebeingofthegreatOm.
Thesametrainofsymptomsmaybeinducedbytheactionofvarioussubstancesonthesystem,suchasopium,hemp,aconite,hyoscyamus,ether,chloroform,anddifferentgases."Wearetoldthattheancientsoothsayerschewedhyoscyamus,andthepythonesseslaurel-leaves,toinducethedivine"afflatus".Plutarchattributestheextinctionofmanylocaloraclestochangesinthenaturalexhalationsoftheplaces;andIamdisposedtosuspectthatcarbonicacidgasplayedanimportantpartinthesacredmysteries.
Dr.Gregory.ProfessorofChemistryintheUniversityofEdinburgh,tellsus:
"Agentleman,whoinhaledthevapourofchloroform,foundhimself,justwhenhewaslosingfullconsciousness,andmuchtohissurprise,possessedofacertaindegreeofthepowerofintrovision,sothathefeltasifhecouldseeintoanddescribehisownbrain,withitsvessels,etc."
VanHelmontinformsus,that,havingputaminuteportionof
aconiteonhistongue,whenexperimentingonthissubstance,thefollowingsymptomsensued:
"Ifound,shortlyafter,myheadcompressedaswithabandage,butIcontinuedtogoaboutmyaffairsasusual.Suddenly,Iexperiencedasingularsensation.ItappearedasifIcomprehendednothing,conceivednothing,distinguishednothing,bymybrainintheusualmanner,andIperceivedwithastonishmentthatallthesefunctionswereclearlyandpositivelytransferredtomyepigastrium.Ifeltthissowell,thatIremarkedatthesametime,thatfeelingandmovementcontinuedtobedistributedfromthebraintothedifferentpartsofthebody,whilethefacultyofthinking,excludedfromthe
head,seemedtohavetakenupitsquarterspermanentlyintheepigastricregion,andIfeltmyintelligencegreatlyincreasedbythisneworderofthings.Thislucidityaffordedmegreatpleasure,andIhadampletimetotestit;forIcalculateditscontinuance.Ineithersleptnordreamed,butfeltperfectly
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well:IcouldgiveanaccountofallIfelt,andperceivedclearlythatthementalfunctionshaddesertedtheheadandtakenpossessionofthepraecordialregion.Aftertwohours,Ifeltaslightvertigo,afterwhichIwasrestoredtomyusualmodeofexistence."
Gassendi,todissipatethedelusionsofthepoorwretcheswhothoughtthemselveswitches,triedtofindoutandimitatetheirsecret.Heanointedthepeasantswithapomadeinwhichopiumwasaningredient,persuadingthemthatthiswouldtransportthemtothewitches'Sabbath.Afteralongsleep,theyawokefullyconvincedthattheyhadassistedattheSatanicorgies,andgaveafullaccountofwhattheyhadseen,andthepleasurestheyhadenjoyedatthewitches'runion.
Thefollowingextract,fromSir"W.C.Harris'sHighlandsofEthiopiawillshowthattheAbyssiniansknowhowtobringontheafflatusofthesoothsayer,andalsopractisepainlesssurgery,withthehelpofnarcoticdrugs:
"Amongtheveryfewincidentsthatoccurredtobreakthemonotonyofourprobationarysojourn,wasthearrivaloftheLebashi,thehereditarythief-catcherofthekingdom.
"Forseveralhoursthelittletownwasinastateofconfusionanddismay.Burglaryhadbeencommitted,diverspiecesofsalthadbeenabstracted,andtheappearanceofthepolice-officerprovednotonewhitmoreagreeabletotheinnocentthantotheguilty.
"Aringhavingbeenformedinthemarket-placebythecrowdedspectators,thedivinerintroducedhisaccomplice,astolid-lookinglad,whoseatedhimselfuponabullock'shidewithanairofdeepresignation.Anintoxicatingdrugwas,undermanyincantations,extractedfromamysteriousleathernscrip,andthrownintoahornfilledwithnewmilk;andthispotation,
aidedbyseveralhurriedinhalationsofacertainnarcotic,hadtheinstantaneouseffectofrenderingtherecipientstupidlyfrantic.Springinguponhisfeet,hedashed,foamingatthemouth,amongtherabble,and,withoutanyrespecttoageorsex,dealtvigorouslyabouthim,untilhewassecuredbyacord
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abouthisloins,whenhedraggedhismasterroundandround,fromstreettostreet,snufflingthroughthenose,likeabear,inthedarkrecessesofeveryhouse,andleavingunscrutinisednoholeorcorner.
"Afterscrapingforaconsiderabletimewithhisnailsunderthefoundationofahut,whereinhesuspectedthedelinquenttolurk,theimpentered,spranguponthebackoftheproprietor,andbecametotallyinsensible."
"AGallaoftheIttootribehadundertakentheremovalofsevererheumatism,towhichendheadministeredapowerfulnarcotic,whichrenderedthepatientinsensible.Armedwithasharpcrease,hethenproceededtocutandslashineverydirection,fromthecrownoftheheadtothesoleofthefoot."
ProfessorMiller,inhisPracticeofSurgery,thusdescribestheoccasionaleffectsofetheronthesystem:
"Notunfrequentlyastateresemblingsomnambulismcontinuesforsomehoursduringthetransitiontorecovery.Motion,sensation,someofthespecialsenses,andmuchofthementalpowers,seemtoberestored,yetthepatientremainsasifina
deepsleep.Hemayrise,wash,shave,dress,perambulate;allthetimeunconscious."
"Wesee,intheabovecases,mandeprivedofhisvolitionandresponsibilitybyvariousnaturalprocesses,andoftenforhisgood;andProfessorMillerwouldbenotalittlesurprisedandshocked,ifthecryofAtheist!shouldberaisedagainsthimfordeprivinghispatientstemporarilyoftheirreasonfortheirbodilybenefit.
ButitisNatureherselfwhospontaneouslyoffersusexamplesofthehighestmesmericphenomenaindifferentdiseasedstatesofthesystem,andespeciallyincatalepsyandhysteria.
Sothatifitbetrue,asIbelieve,that
"NatureisaneffectwhosecauseisGod",
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thosewhothinkMesmerismandAtheismidenticalarereducedtotheawkwardpositionofseeingGoddemonstratehisnonexistencebyhisworks!
Inattemptingtounderstandthebodilyandmentalconditionofpersonsunderthemesmericinfluence,weoughtnottojudgethembyourselves,but,recognisingthattheyareinanabnormalstate,ofwhichwecanknownothingfromourownfeelings,weshould,ifwewishtogetacquaintedwiththeirpreternaturalstateofexistence,observecarefullythebodilyandmentalphenomenatheyexhibit,andattempttogeneraliseafterwardsfromabundantobservations.
Therecanbenothingmoreunreasonableandunjustthantotaketheknownmeanstoderangethenaturalactionofman'snervoussystem,andthen,likeFrankenstein,tobecomedisgustedwithourownwork,becauseitdoesnotfulfilthetheoreticalexpectationsentertainedofitspowers.
Wetakeawaysomesensesfromthesomnambulist,andgivehimothers,yetwillnotlethimusethem!
Wehaverevolutionisedthehumansystembytheintroduction
ofanewvitalagent;and,whilemanlivesunderitsinfluence,heisnomoreinanaturalorresponsiblestatethanapersonundertheexcitementofopium,chloroform,orParadisegas.
But,tocrownthefollyandinjusticeofthething,theduties,freeagency,andresponsibilityofmaninhisnaturalstate,andeventheexistenceornon-existenceofaGod,arereasoneduponfrompersonsinthisirregular,preternaturalcondition,whichisveryoftennomoretobedependeduponthanthedeliriumoffeverorintoxication.
Buttoreturntotheposition,thatNatureoftenspontaneouslyoffersusexamplesofthehighest
mesmericphenomenaindifferentdiseasedstatesofthesystem.
Themostsingulardeviationsfromtheusualstateofthingsarewitnessedinnaturalsomnambulism,catalepsy,andhysteria.In
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thesediseases,thereissometimesseenageneralexaltationofthewholenervoussystem,thatamountstoatemporarymetamorphosisoftheindividual,orthereisanexaltationofoneormoreofthesensesattheexpenseoftheothers;anditoccasionallyappearsasifnewsensesweredeveloped,andunthoughtofsympathiesamongindividuals,andeveninanimatenature,arediscovered.
ItisbystudyingthedisturbancesofNature,thatweoftensucceedinpenetratinghermysteriesandimitatingherprocesses.Whilethenaturallawsworkharmoniouslyandwithoutobstruction,theveryperfectionofthemachinerybafflesus;noweakpointisperceptible;nocrevicepresentsitselfintowhichtheleverofthehumanintellectcanenter;andweareobligedtofallbackinadmiration,butdisappointedanduninstructed.
But,whenthelawsofNaturemeetwithobstruction,ornewcombinationsbecomenecessarytocarryouttheintentionsoftheDivineWill,thenthecreativeanddestructiveforcesofnatureseemtobefreedfromtheirallegiance,andearth,airandwaterareconvulsedbyavarietyofagents,whoseexistencewouldneverhavebeensuspectedinthestateof
orderandbeautyusuallypervadingtheuniverse.ItisinthesenaturalcrisesthatwegainamomentaryglimpseintoNature'sworkshop,andbecomeacquaintedwiththeindividualactionofthedifferentpowers,whosecombinedenergiesgivelife,order,andmotiontotheworld.
Inlikemanner,thismicrocosm,thehumanbody,performsitsvitalrevolutionswithallthesilence,harmony,andregularityoftheinorganicworld,whenitsdestructiveandreparativepowers,thevoluntaryandinvoluntaryvitalforces,areinastateofhappyequilibrium.Aswehavebeenabletodistinguish,insomemeasure,theformative,preservative,anddestructivepowersofNature,bywatchingtheminastateofrevolution;so
wemayhopebyanattentiveobservationofthephenomenaoforganiclife,whenpresentedtousinastateofspontaneousrevolution,toexhaustthesubjectbyanalysis,andthenwemayattempttoconstructthelifeofmanoutofthenumerous
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fragmentsandobservationsaccumulatedbycuriousinquirersinallpartsoftheworld.
Thisdeeplyinterestingsubjectisfortunatelynotapurelyprofessionalone,requiringtheexperiencedphysicianandskilfulanatomisttobeitssuccessfulinvestigators.Itoughttobeequallyattractivetothemetaphysician,andnaturalphilosopher,whoselabourswillberequiredtoassistinsolvingtheproblemoftheunionofmindwithmatter,theextenttowhichtheycanactindependently,andthereactionofoneupontheother.
Naturalphilosophy,moreespecially,islikelytothrowlightuponthenatureofthelifeofman,whichwillprobablybefoundtobeonlyamodificationofthevitalagentwhichpervadestheuniverse,andthencewemaycometounderstandtheastoundingsympathiesandaffinitiessometimesdevelopedbetweentheorganicandinorganicworld,andbeledtosuspectthepossibilityofthefinitemindofmanpassingforatimeintorelationwiththeInfinite,andtherebyreceivingimpressionsotherwisethanbythesenseswhichregulateandcircumscribeourknowledgeofsurroundingnatureinournormalstateofexistence.
Thematerialsfortheillustrationofthehighermesmericphenomenafromthespontaneouseffortsofnatureareabundant,andthedifficultyisintheselection.
Perhapsitwillbemostsatisfactorytogiveafewexamplesfromdifferentcountries,reportedbypersonswhoingeneralhadnoknowledgeofeachother'sobservations;weshallthusgetridofthetheoriesofimitationandcollusion.
CASESOFNATURALCLAIRVOYANCE
ProfessorWienholt,inhis"LecturesonSomnambulism",says:
"Averyremarkablecasewasrelatedtomebyamosttrustworthyobserver,thelateHamburghphysicianDr.Schulz.Itwasthatofagirlbetweentwelveandthirteenyearsofage,belongingtoafamilyofsomedistinction,whowasafflictedwith
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aviolentnervouscomplaint,inwhichstrongconvulsivemotionalternatedwithcatalepsyandsyncope.Besides,shefrequentlyhadparoxysms,duringwhichsheconversedwithmuchlivelinessandingenuity.Inthisstate,shedistinguishedwithoutdifficultyallcoloursthatwerepresentedtoher,recognisedthenumbersofthecards,andthestripesuponthosewhichwerevariegated.Shedescribedthebindingofbookswhenshowntoher.Shewroteinthesamemannerasusual,andcutfiguresonpaper,asshewasaccustomedtodoforpastimeinherwakingstate.Hereyesatthistimewerefirmlyclosed;but,inordertobeassuredthatshemadenouseofthem,abandagewasplacedoverthemontheapproachoftheparoxysm."
AnotherveryremarkablecasewillbefoundintheBreslauMedicalCollections,Itrelatestoarope-maker,whowasfrequentlyovertakenbysleep,eveninthedaytime,andinthemidstofhisusualoccupations.Whileinthisstate,hesometimesrecommenceddoingallthathehadbeenengagedinduringthepreviouspartoftheday;atothertimeshewouldcontinuetheworkinwhichhehappenedtobeengagedatthecommencementoftheparoxysm,andfinishedhisbusinesswithasgreatcareandsuccessaswhenawake.Whenthefitovertookhimintravelling,heproceededonhisjourneywith
thesamefacility,andalmostfasterthanwhenawake,withoutmissingtheroadorstumblingoveranything.InthismannerherepeatedlywentfromNurembergtoWeimar.Upononeoftheseoccasionshecameintoanarrowlanewheretherelaysometimber.Hepassedoveritregularlywithoutinjury;andwithequaldexterityavoidedthehorsesandcarriagesthatcameinhisway.AtanothertimehewasovertakenbysleepjustashewasabouttosetoutforWeimaronhorseback.HerodethroughtheriverIlme,allowedhishorsetodrink,anddrewuphislegstopreventthemgettingwet;thenpassedthroughseveralstreets,crossedthemarket-place,whichwasatthattimefullofpeople,carts,andbooths,andarrivedinsafetyatthehouseofanacquaintance,whereheawoke.Theseandmanysimilar
acts,requiringtheuseoftheeyes,heperformedindarknessaswellasbydaylight.Hiseyes,however,werefirmlyclosed,and
hecouldnotseewhentheywereforcedopenandstimulatedbylightbroughtnearthem.Hisothersensesappearedtobeequallydormant,aswerehiseyes.Hecouldnot
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smellthemostvolatilespirit.Hefeltnothingwhenpinched,pricked,orstruck.Heheardnothingwhencalledbyhisname,orevenwhenapistolwasdischargedclosebesidehim.
ThenextcaseisreportedbyProfessorFeder.Thesubjectofhisobservationswasastudent,who,duringaseverenervouscomplaint,experiencedseveralattacksofsomnambulism.Upontheseoccasionshewouldgofromhisparlourandback,openandshutthedoors,aswellashisclosetandtakeoutofthelatterwhateverhewantedpiecesofmusic,pen,ink,andpaper,andallwithhiseyesshut!
FromamonghismusicheselectedamarchfromtheoperaofMedea,laidthesheetinapropersituationbeforehim,and,havingfoundtheappropriatekey,heplayedthewholepiecewithhisusualskillupontheharpsichord.InthesamemannerhealsoplayedoneofBach'ssonatas,andgavethemostexpressivepassageswithsurprisingeffect.Oneofthepersonspresentturnedthenotesupsidedown;thisheimmediatelyperceived,and,whenherecommencedplaying,hereplacedthesheetinitsproperposition.Whenplaying,heremarkedastringoutoftune,uponwhichhestopped,putitinorder,andagainproceeded.Hewrotealettertohisbrother,andwhathewrote
wasnotonlyperfectlyrational,butalsostraightandlegible.WhileProfessorFederwasonavisittohimoneafternoon,he(thesomnambulist)observedthatitwassnowing,whichwasactuallythecase.Onthesameoccasion,notwithstandinghiseyeswerestillcompletelyclosed,heremarkedthatthelandlordoftheoppositehousewasatthewindow,whichwastrue,andthathatswerehangingatthewindowofanotherroom,whichwasalsothefact.Wemustobserve,however,theremarkablecircumstancecommontohim,indeed,withseveralothersomnambuliststhatthereweremanythingshedidnotperceive.Thus,whilewritingtohisbrother,hedidnotobservethattherewasnomoreinkinthepen,andcontinuedtowriteon.Atonetimehestruckfire,andheldthetindertohisear,as
iftohearthecrackling,andthenascertainifitwasburning.Helightedamatch,wenttothecandle,andhelditinthemiddleoftheflame.
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ThefollowingisextractedfromDr.Bertrand'sTreatiseonSomnambulism.
"Manyexamplesofvision,withouttheuseoftheeyes,aretobefoundinDr.Petetin'swork,publishedatLyonin1808(*).
(*)CalledElectricitAnimale.
Theauthor(whohadagreataversiontomesmerism)relatesingreatdetailnumerousexperimentsmadebyhimuponmanycatalepticpatients,amongwhomhehadremarkedthattheseatofallthesensationswastransportedtotheepigastrium,andtothepointsofthefingers.Itwasbyaccidenthemadethisdiscovery.Hewasattendingapatientwhowasinacompleteparoxysmofcatalepsy,seeingnothing,hearingnothing,andinaccessibletoeverykindofimpression;neverthelessshesangcontinually,andhersinginggreatlyexhaustedher,withoutanyonebeingabletoinformherbyanymeansthatsheoughttostopsinging.WhileDr.Petetinwasinthisstateofembarrassmentatthebedsideofthepatient,hischairslipped,andhefellforwarduponthebedwhilehewassaying,'ItisveryunfortunatethatIcannotpreventthiswomanfromsinging!'Thepatient,whohadhithertobeendeaf
totheloudestnoises,heardthesewordswhenpronouncednearthepitofherstomach,andsaid,'Donotbetroubled.Doctor,Iwillsingnomore'.Astonishedatthisnewmarvel,andespeciallyatthecatalepticnotansweringhimwhenhehadreseatedhimselfinhischair,hereplacedhimselfinthepositionhewasinwhenpronouncingthefirstwords;thatis,withhismouthclosetoherstomach,andinthispositionsheagainheardhim:finally,aftermakingnumerousexperiments,hewassatisfiedthatthesenseofhearinghadbeentransportedtothepitofthestomach,andtotheextremitiesofthefingersandtoes.Hedidnotconfinehimselftothefirstdiscovery,butalsotriedwhetherthestomachhadnotbecometheseatofothersenses,aswellasthatofhearing.Hecommencedwiththe
senseoftaste,andmadeaseriesofcompletelysuccessfulexperiments.Henextspeaksofvision.'Iwenttovisitthepatient',sayshe,'onthefifthday,betweennineandten
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o'clockinthemorning;herattackofcatalepsyhadsurprisedherinbed,atthesamehouraslastevening,andasshehadpredicted.Shewaslyingonherback,andIdidnotraisethebedclothesmorethantoallowmetointroducemyhand,withinwhichwasacard,whichIplaceduponthepitofherstomach.Isawhercountenancesoonchange,anditexpressedattention,astonishmentandpain,allatonce.'Whatastrangediseaseismine!'shesaid,'Iseethequeenofspades.'Iwithdrewthecardimmediately,andgaveituptothecuriosityofthespectatorswhoturnedpalewhentheysawitwasreallythequeenofspades.Othercardswereplacedwiththesameprecautionandthesameresult.Ithenaskedthepatient,speakingonherfingers,'Wherehaveyouseenthesecards?''Inmystomach'.'Didyoudistinguishthecolours?''Certainly,theywereluminous,andappearedtomelargerthanusual;butIbegyoutogivemearespite,thismodeofseeingfatiguesmegreatly'.Butthehusbandcouldnotrestrainhiscuriosity;hedrewhiswatchoutofhispocket,andplaceditonhiswife'sstomach.Oureyeswerefixeduponher;wesawherassuminganairofattention;and,aftersomeseconds,shesaid:'Itismyhusband'swatch,itissevenminutestoteno'clock'.Thiswasexactlyright.OnedayshedescribedtoDr.Petetinaheadachethatdistressedhim,andthelengthoftimeitwould
last:andherdiagnosisandprognosiswereperfectlycorrect.'Ifyouwishmetobelieveyou',saidthedoctor,'youmusttellmewhatIhaveinmyhand'.Iplaceditimmediatelyuponherstomach,andthepatientwithouthesitationreplied,Iseethroughyourhandanantiquemedal.'Iopenedmyhand,confounded,andhersister-in-lawnearlyfaintedonseeingshewasright.Onrecoveringfromherastonishment,sheshutupapieceofpaperinasmallbox,andgaveittomebehindmyback.Icovereditwithmyhand,andplacedituponthestomachofthecatalepticwithoutsayingaword.'Iseeaboxinyourhand,andaletterinittomyaddress'.Thesister-in-lawtrembledwithastonishment,andIhastenedtoopenthebox,fromwhichIdrewaletterfoldedinfour,andaddressedtothe
patientfromGeneva'',etc.
Dr.Petetin'scasesalonearesufficienttoestablishtherealityofNaturalClairvoyance;but,followingthecourseindicated,letushearwhatothershaveobserved.Thefollowingcasewas
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reportedbytheArchbishopofBordeauxinthegreatFrenchEncyclopedia.
"Itisthecaseofayoungecclesiastic,inthesameseminarywiththeArchbishop,whowasinthehabitofgettingupduringthenightinthestateofsomnambulism,ofgoingtohisroom,takingpen,ink,andpaper,andcomposingandwritingsermons.Whenhehadfinishedonepageofthepaperonwhichhewaswriting,hewouldreadoverwhathehadwrittenandcorrected.Upononeoccasionhemadeuseoftheexpression'cedivinenfant',inreadingoverthepassage,hechangedtheadjectivedivininto'adorable'.Perceiving,however,thatthepronoun'ce'couldnotstandbeforetheword'adorable',headdedtotheformerthelettert.Inordertoascertainwhetherthesomnambulistmadeanyuseofhiseyes,theArchbishopheldapieceofpasteboardunderhischin,topreventhimfromseeingthepaperonwhichhewaswriting.Buthecontinuedtowriteonwithoutappearingtobeincommodedintheleast.Thepaperonwhichhewaswritingwastakenaway:butthesomnambulistimmediatelyperceivedthechange.Hewrotepiecesofmusicwhileinthisstate,andinthesamemanner,withhiseyesclosed.Thewordswereplacedunderthemusicalnotes.Ithappenedupononeoccasionthat
thewordswerewrittenintoolargecharacters,anddidnotstandpreciselyunderthenotes.Hesoonperceivedtheerror,blottedoutthepart,andwroteitoveragainwithgreatexactness."
LetusnowquitFranceandseehowtheSwisssometimesbehaveintheirsleep.
ThePhilosophicalSocietyofLausanne,havingheardofaninterestingcaseofsomnambulism,appointedacommissionofthreeofitsmemberstoobserveandreportuponthecasetothem;andthefollowingaresomeofthefactsrelatedbytheCommitteeuponthisoccasion.
"Wecantestify,"saytheCommittee,"thathedressedhimselfinaroomperfectlydark.Hisclotheslayonagreattable;and,whenwejumbledthemwithotherwearingapparel,heimmediatelydiscoveredthetrickandcomplainedgrievously
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thathiscompanionsmadesportofhim.Atlast,bythehelpofafeebleray,wesawhimdresswithgreatprecision.Havingsnatchedoneofhisbooks,whenhiseyeswereperfectlyshut,hesaid,'itisasorrydictionary';asindeeditwas.Withhiseyesfastlocked,hetouchedinourpresenceseveralobjects,anddistinguishedperfectlywellthosehehad,fromthosehehadnot,seenbefore.
Once,forexample,hethrustintothedrawer,thatcontainedhispapers,abookwhichdidnotbelongtohim.Hestumbleduponitbyaccident,andexpressedgreatconcernlestheshouldbesuspectedoftheft.Atfiveo'clockonthemorningofthe21stofDecember,oursleep-walkerrosefromhisbed,tookhiswritingmaterialsandversion-book,andputhispentothetopofthepage:but,observingsomelinesalreadytraced,hebroughtitdowntotheblankpartoftheleaf.Thelessonbeganwiththesewords:'Fiuntignaviprigritiailsdeviennentignorantsparlaparesse'.Whatisverysurprising,afterwritingseverallines,heperceivedthathehadomittedansintheword'ignorants',andinsertedit.
"Weshowedhimabookhehadneverseenbefore:hesaidhewouldexamineitindaylight,and,retiringwiththisintention,
intoaverydarkkitchen,openedthebook,etc.Hetookfromhisownpressseveralofhisownbooks,wenttoexaminethemintotaldarkness,castupthetitle-pages,andnamedeach,withoutmakingasinglemistake,asweverifiedbybringingthemintothelight,assoonashenamedthem.Hehaseventoldthetitleofabook,whentherewasathickplankplacedbetweenitandhiseyes.M.Tardentshowedusaspecimenofhiswriting,which,heassuredus,thesleepwalkerhadexecutedinthecompletestdarkness",etc.
ThenextcaseoccurredinthehospitalDeliaVitaatBologna,andwasobservedatthesameplacebyMM.CoriniandViscontiandbyM.Mazzacorati.Thepatientwasafemaleoftwenty-five
yearsofage,sufferingfromspontaneouscatalepsyandecstasycombined.Thebodywasaltogetherinsensibleeventothemostintenseandpainfulphysicalimpressions.Duringthefirsttwenty-onedays,theeyeswerecompletelyshut.Inthesecondperiodofthedisease,sheopenedthem,butshekeptthem
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motionless,turnedtowardsthelight,andinsensibletoalltheimpressionssoughttobecommunicatedtothem.M.Mazzacoratisoonperceivedthatsomesingularfacultiesweredevelopedinthepatientduringthisstate,and,inconcertwith
M.Corini,hetriedaseriesofexperiments,themarvellousresultsofwhichwerethefollowing:Thepatientheardnosound,howeverloud,whichreachedherbytheears;but,ifshewasspokento,eveninthelowestwhisper,directedonthehollowofthehand,orsoleofthefoot,onthepitofthestomach,oralongthecourseofthesympatheticnerve,sheheardperfectlythewordsaddressedtoher.Thepatient,whenlefttoherself,keptconstantsilence;but,wheninterrogatedinthemannerabovementioned,sheansweredwithperfectpropriety,alwaysmakinguseofthetoneofvoiceofherquestioner.If,duringheranswer,theimmediatecontactwasbroken,orthechaininterrupted,shestoppedsuddenly;but,theinstantthecommunicationwasreestablished,shefinishedherdiscourse,withthisremarkablecircumstance,thatshetookitupatthepointwhereitwouldhavearrived,hadtherebeennointerruption.Withhereyesclosed,orevenbandaged,sherecognisedthingsandtheircolourswhenplacedontheregionwherethisspecialsensibility
existed.Shepointedout,totheinstant,thehoursandminutesoneverywatch.Sheoften,butnotalways,succeededinreadingwordswrittenonpaper.Laterinthedisease,thisfacultybecamestillmoreprodigiouslydeveloped.
Itsufficedtocallherattentiontoanyobjectplacedinherroomorinthenextroom,orinthestreet,oroutofthetown,orevenatenormousdistances,tohaveitdescribedbyherasperfectlyasifshesawitwithhereyes.Thefollowingaresomeexperimentssufficienttoprovethisassertion.InpresenceofacelebratedProfessoroftheUniversity,itwasagreedtoaskhertodescribeaconventinthetown,intowhichneitherherselfnoranyofherinterrogatorshadeverentered.Nexttodescribea
cellarinacountryhouse,equallyunknowntothequestioners.Accordingtothedescriptionshegave,plansweredesigned;and,ontheplacesbeingvisited,theywerefoundtocorrespondperfectlywiththedesignsmadebyherdictation.Sheeven
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pointedoutthenumberandpositionofsomebarrelsinthecellar.
Odoroussubstanceswerediscoveredbythepatientwiththesamepromptitudeandprecision.Atthemomenttheywereplacedonthesensitiveregions,shenamedthem:or,ifshehadnopreviousknowledgeofthenameofthesubstanceapplied,sherecognisedthenameamongmanyotherspronouncedbeforeher.Theintellect,sufficientlyacuteinitsnaturalstate,wasmuchmoresoduringthecatalepticaccess.Althoughshewasacquaintedwithonlythefourrulesofarithmetic,shesucceeded,underthecatalepticinfluence,inextractingseveralrootsofnumbers,etc.
ThefollowingletterwasreceivedbySirGeorgeMcKenzie,PresidentoftheEdinburghPhrenologicalSociety,fromaclergymanoftheChurchofScotland."Itisperfectlytrue,thatourpoorfriend,whohasbeenwithussomemonths,presentsoneofthesesingularandalmostincrediblecasesofhystericalornervousaffection,whichareatdistantintervalswitnessedunderthedispensationoftheAlmighty.
"Theextraordinarypowers,communicatedtotheothersenses
bythetemporarysuspensionofoneortwoofthem,arebeyondcredibilitytoallthosewhodonotwitnessit:andIreallyseldomenteruponthedetails,becauseitwouldbebutreasonablethatthosewhohavenotseenshoulddoubttherealityofthem.Allcoloursshecandistinguish,bydayornight,withthegreatestcorrectness,whetherpresentedtoheroncloth,silk,muslin,wax,orevenglass;and,thisImaysafelysay,aseasilyonanypartofthebodyaswiththehands,although,ofcourse,theordinaryroutineofsuchanexhibitionofpowertakesplacewiththehandstheotherbeingthatofmerecuriosity.
"Herdelicacyofmind,andhightoneofreligiousfeeling,are
such,thatshehasgreatobjectiontomakethat,whichsheregardsinthelightofaheavyafflictionfromGod,amatterofshoworcuriositytoothers,althoughtoourselves,ofcourse,alltheseunusualextravagancesofnervoussensibilityaremanifestforatleasttwelveoutoftwenty-fourhours.
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"Shecannotonlyreadwiththegreatestrapidityanywritingthatislegibletous,music,etc.,withthemerepassingofherlingersoverit,whetherinadarkorlightroom(forhersightisforthemostpartsuspendedwhenundertheinfluenceoftheattack,althoughsheisperfectlysensiblenay,moreacuteandcleverthaninhernaturalstate);butwithinthismonthpastshehasbeenabletocollectthecontentsofanywritingorMS.,bymerelylayingherhandonthepage,withouttracingthelinesorletters:andIsawher,lastnightonly,declarethecontentsofanotejustbroughtintotheroominthisway(whenIcouldnotdecipheritmyselfwithoutacandle),andwitharapiditywithwhichIcouldnothavereaditindaylight.Ihaveseenherdevelopwritingbytheapplicationofanotetothebackofherhand,neck,orfoot;andshecandoitatanytime.
"Manytakeuponthemselvestodeclarethatweareall,hermedicalattendantsaswell,underameredelusion.Weasknonetobelieveanything,iftheyprefernottodoso:andonlyreply,thecaseisequallymarvellouseitherway;eitherthatthisourpoorpatientshouldbethusaffected,orthateighteenornineteenpersonsofmyfamilyandfriends,inthehabitofdailyseeingher,shouldfancysheis,fortwelvehoursoutofthetwenty-four,doingatintervalsthatwhichsheisnotdoing",
etc.LetusnowseeiftheyevercontrivetodowithouttheirusualsensesintheNewWorld.
ThefollowingcaseisrelatedintheAmericanJournalofMedicalSciencebyDr.Belden,themedicalattendantuponthepatient.
"Shewasattackedwithasecondparoxysm(ofpainintheheadandinsensibility)duringwhich,afterseveralattemptstokeepherinbed,itwasdeterminedtosufferhertotakeherowncourse.Releasedfromconstraint,shedressedherself,wentdownstairs,andproceededtomakepreparationsfor
breakfast.Shesetthetable,arrangedthevariousarticleswiththeutmostprecision,wentintoadarkroomtoaclosetatthemostremotecornerofit,fromwhichshetookthecoffee-cups,placedthemonatray,turneditsidewaystopassthroughthe
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door,avoidedallinterveningobstacles,anddepositedthewholesafelyonthetable.Shethenwentintothepantry,theblindsofwhichwereshut,andthedoorclosedafterher.Shethenskimmedthemilk,pouredthecreamintoonecup,andthemilkintoanother,withoutspillingadrop.Shethencutthebread,placeditregularlyontheplate,anddividedtheslicesinthemiddle.Infine,shewentthroughthewholeoperationofpreparingbreakfastwithasmuchprecisionasshecouldinopenday,andthiswithhereyesclosed,andwithoutanylight,exceptthatofonelampwhichwasstandingintheroomtoenablethefamilytoobserveheroperations.Shefinallyreturnedvoluntarilytobed,and,onfindingthetablearrangedforbreakfastwhenshemadeherappearanceinthemorning,inquiredwhyshehadbeensufferedtosleepwhileanotherhadperformedherduty.
"Noneofthetransactionsoftheprecedingnighthadlefttheslightestimpressiononhermind.Inoneinstance,shenotonlyarrangedthetableforameal,butactuallypreparedadinnerinthenight,withhereyesclosed.Asthefamilydidnotsetthemselvesattable,shebecameimpatient,andcomplainedthatthemenwereneverreadyfortheirdinner.Whileengagedinherpreparations,sheobservedalampburningintheroom,
andextinguishedit,saying,shedidnotknowwhypeoplewishedtokeepalampburninginthedaytime.Onbeingrequestedtogotobed,sheobjected,allegingthatitwasday.
"Ontheeveningofthe10thNovemberitwasproposedtoascertainifshecouldreadwithhereyesclosed.Shewasseatedinacorneroftheroom:thelightswereplacedatadistancefromher,andsoscreenedastoleaveherinalmosttotaldarkness.Inthissituationshereadwitheaseagreatnumberofcardswhichwerepresentedtoher,someofwhichwerewrittenwithapencil,andsoobscurelythatinafaintlightnotracecouldbediscernedbycommoneyes.Shetoldthereporterthedateofcoins,evenwhenthefigureswerenearly
obliterated.Avisitorhandedheraletter,withtherequestthatshewouldreadthemottoontheseal.Thisshereadilydid,althoughseveralpersonspresenthadbeenunabletodecipheritwiththeaidofalamp.
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"Onthe20thNovemberthereportertookablacksilkhandkerchief,placedbetweenthefoldstwopiecesofcottonwadding,andapplieditinsuchawaythatthecottoncamedirectlyovertheeyesandcompletelyfilledthecavityoneachsideofthenose:variousnameswerethenwrittenoncards,bothofpersonswithwhomshewasacquainted,andofthosewhowereunknowntoher,whichshereadassoonastheywerepresentedtoher",etc.
Zschokke,thewell-knownSwisspatriotandauthor,givesusinhisAutobiographyaninterestingaccountofwhathecallshis"inwardsight"."Iam",heremarks,"almostafraidtospeakofthis,notbecauseIamafraidofbeingthoughtsuperstitious,butlestImaytherebystrengthensuchfeelingsinothers.Andyetitmaybeanadditiontoourstockofsoul-experiences,andthereforeIwillconfess.Ithashappenedtomesometimesonmyfirstmeetingwithstrangers,asIlistenedtotheirdiscourse,thattheirformerlife,withmanytriflingcircumstancestherewithconnected,orfrequentlysomeparticularsceneinthatlife,haspassedinvoluntarily,and,asitwere,dream-like,yetperfectlydistinctbeforeme.ForalongtimeIheldsuchvisionsasdelusionsofthefancy,andthemoreso,astheyshowedmeeventhedressandmotionsoftheactors,rooms,
furniture,andotheraccessories.Bythewayofajest,Ionce,inafamiliarcircleatKirchberg,relatedthesecrethistoryofasempstress,whohadjustlefttheroomandthehouse.Ihadneverbeforeseenherinmylife;peoplewereastonishedandlaughed,butwerenottobepersuadedthatIdidnotpreviouslyknowthemattersofwhichIspoke;forwhatIhadutteredwastheliteraltruth.Ifeltasecretshudderwhenmyauditorsreplieditwastrue,orwhentheirastonishmentbetrayedmyaccuracybeforetheyspoke.Insteadofmany,Iwillmentiononeexample,whichpre-eminentlyastoundedme.Onefairday,inthecityofWaldshut,Ienteredaninn,incompanywithtwoyoungstudents;weweretiredwithramblingthroughthewoods.Wesuppedwithanumeroussocietyatthetable-
d'hte,wheretheguestsweremakingverymerrywiththepeculiaritiesandeccentricitiesoftheSwiss,withMesmer'sMagnetism,Lavater'sPhysiognomy,etc.,etc.Oneofmycompanions,whosenationalpridewaswoundedbytheirmockery,beggedmetomakesomereply,particularlytoa
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handsomeyoungmanwhosatoppositeus,andwhohadallowedhimselfextraordinarylicence.Thisman'sformerlifewaratthatmomentpresentedtomymind.Iturnedtohim,andaskedwhetherhewouldanswermecandidlyifIrelatedtohimsomeofthemostsecretpassagesofhislife,Iknowingaslittleofhimpersonallyashedidofme?Hepromised,ifIwerecorrectinmyinformation,toadmititfrankly.Ithenrelatedwhatmyvisionhadshownme,andthewholecompanyweremadeacquaintedwiththeprivatehistoryoftheyoungmerchant:hisschool-years,hisyouthfulerrors,andlastly,withafaultcommittedinreferencetothestrongboxofhisprincipal.Idescribedtohimtheuninhabitedroomwithwhitenedwalls,wheretotherightofthebrowndoor,onatable,stoodablackmoneybox,etc.Adeadsilenceprevailedduringthewholenarration,whichIaloneoccasionallyinterruptedbyinquiringwhetherIspokethetruth.Thestartledyoungmanconfirmedeveryparticular,andeven,whatIhadscarcelyexpected,thelastmentioned."(*)
ThefollowingexampleofaclairvoyantdreamhasbeencommunicatedbyDr.Davey,oftheColneyHatchAsylum,inthewordsofthepersontowhomithappened:
"Inaccordancewithyourrequest,Iherewithtransmityoutheparticulars,astheyoccurred,ofthepeculiardream,ifsuchitmaybecalled,whichprovedofsoessentialservicetome.
"AsImentionedtoyou,IhadbeenbotheredsinceSeptemberwithanerrorinmycashaccountforthatmonth;and,despitemanyhours'examination,itdefiedallmyefforts,andIalmostgaveitupasahopelesscase.Ithadbeenthesubjectofmywakingthoughtsformanynights,andhasoccupiedalargeportionofmyleisurehours.Mattersremainedthusunsettleduntilthe11thofDecember.OnthisnightIhadnot,tomyknowledge,oncethoughtofthesubject;butIhadnotlongbeeninbed,andasleep,whenmybrainwasasbusywiththe
booksasthoughIhadbeenatmydesk.Thecashbook,banker'spassbooks,etc.etc.,appearedbeforeme,and,withoutanyapparenttrouble,Ialmostimmediatelydiscoveredthecauseofthemistake,whichhadarisenoutofacomplicatedcrossentry.Iperfectlyrecollecthavingtakenaslipofpaperin
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mydream,andmadesuchamemorandumaswouldenablemetocorrecttheerroratsomeleisuretime;and,havingdonethis,thatthewholeofthecircumstanceshadpassedfrommymind.WhenIawokeinthemorning,Ihadnottheslightest
(*)TheZoist,No.XV.,p.414.
recollectionofmydream,nordiditonceoccurtomethroughouttheday,althoughIhadtheverybooksbeforemeonwhichIhadbeenapparentlyengagedinmysleep.WhenIreturnedhomeintheafternoon,asIdidearlyforthepurposeofdressing,andproceededtoshave,Itookupapieceofpaperfrommydressing-tabletowipemyrazor,andyoumayimaginemysurpriseatfindingthereontheverymemorandumIfanciedhadbeenmadeduringthepreviousnight.
"TheeffectonmewassuchthatIreturnedtoouroffice,andturnedtothecash-book,whenIfoundthatIhadreally,whenasleepdetectedtheerrorwhichIcouldnotdetectinmywakinghours,andhadactuallyjotteditdownatthetime."(*)
Goethetellsusthathisgrandfatherhaddreamsthatwererealisedonseveralimportantoccasions,andthathehimself
hadvisionsinthewakingstatethatweresubsequentlyexactlyfulfilled.Swedenborgappearstohavepossessedthepowerofnaturallucidityalso,ofwhichKantgivesusthefollowingspecimeninhispublishedcorrespondence:
"Butthefollowingoccurrenceappearstometohavethegreatestweightofproof,andtosettheassertionrespectingSwedenborg'sextraordinarygiftoutofallpossibilityofdoubt.
"Intheyear1759,whenM.deSwedenborg,towardstheendofFebruary,onSaturday,atfouro'clockp.m.,arrivedatGottenburg,fromEngland,Mr.W.Castelinvitedhimtohishouse,togetherwithapartyoffifteenpersons.Aboutsix
o'clockM.deSwedenborgwentout,andafterashortintervalreturnedtothecompanyquitepaleandalarmed.HesaidthatadangerousfirehadjustbrokenoutinStockholm,atthe
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Ludermalm(GottenburgisaboutthreehundredmilesfromStockholm),andthatitwasspreadingveryfast.Hewasrestless,andwentoutoften.Hesaidthatthehouseofoneofhisfriends,whomhevalued,wasalreadyinashes,andthathis
(*)TheZoistNo.XXXI,p.325.
ownwasindanger.Ateighto'clock,afterhehadbeenoutagain,hejoyfullyexclaimed,'ThankGod!Thefireisextinguishedthethirddoorfrommyhouse.'Thisnewsoccasionedgreatcommotionthroughoutthewholecity,andparticularlyamongthecompanyinwhichhewas.Itwasannouncedtothegovernorthesameevening.OntheSundaymorning,Swedenborgwassentforbythegovernor,whoquestionedhimconcerningthedisaster.Swedenborgdescribedthefireprecisely,howithadbegun,inwhatmannerithadceased,andhowlongithadcontinued.OntheMondayeveningamessengerarrivedatGottenburg,whowasdispatchedduringthetimeofthefire.Inthelettersbroughtbyhim,thefirewasdescribedpreciselyinthemannerstatedbySwedenborg.OntheTuesdaymorningtheroyalcourierarrivedatthegovernor'swiththemelancholyintelligenceofthefire,ofthelosswhichithadoccasioned,andofthehousesithaddamagedandruined,
notintheleastdifferingfromthatwhichSwedenborghadgivenimmediatelyafterithadceased,forthefirewasextinguishedateighto'clock."(*)
JohnKnox,whenneardeath,seemstohavehadaprevoyantvisionofthefateofhisfriendKirkaldyofGrange,thenholdingouttheCastleofEdinburghforQueenMary.TheparticularsarethusrelatedbythehistorianCalderwood.
"JohnKnox,beingonhisdeath-bed,sentforbigcolleagueandsuccessor,Mr.Lawson,Mr.Lindsay,ministerofLeith,andtheeldersanddeaconsofEdinburgh,allofwhomheaddressedinafarewellspeech.
"Theyweredeparting,whenKnoxcalledbackLindsayandLawson,anddesiredtospeakwiththeminprivate.'Weel,
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brother',saidhe,addressingLindsay,'Ihavedesiredallthisdaytohavehadyou,thatImaysendyoutoyonmanintheCastle,whomyouknowIhavelovedsodearly.Go,Iprayyou,
(*)TheZoist,No.XX.,p.344,andNo.XXIII.,p.265.
tohim,andtellhimIhavesentyoutohimyetoncetowarnhimandbidhim,inthenameofGod,leavetheevilcauseandgiveoverthatCastle.Ifnot,heshallbebroughtdownoverthewallsofitwithshame,andhangagainstthesun.SoGodhathassuredme.'
"LindsaywenttotheCastleaccordingly,anddeliveredKnox'smessage;butKirkaldy,afterconferringwithSecretaryLethington,said,'GotellMr.Knoxheisbutadrytingprophet'.Mr.LindsayreturnedtoMr.Knox,andreportedhowhehaddischargedhiscommission.'Weel!'saidMr.Knox,'IhavebeenearnestwithmyGodanentthesetwomen.Fortheone,Iamsorrysoshallbefallhim;yetGodassurethmethatthereismercyforhissoul.Fortheother,Ihavenowarrantthatitshallbewellwithhim'.KirkaldymaintainedtheCastleforsomemonthsafterKnox'sdeath,butwasatlastforcedtosurrender,andwascondemnedtodeathasatraitor,and
hangedatEdinburghonthe3rdofAugust,1572,atfouro'clockP.M.,thesunbeingwest."(*)
Ifournervoussystembedisturbedinitsfunctionseven,weoftenloseouridentityandrelationswithsurroundingobjects,andliveinaworldofourown,unapproachableandunintelligibletothosearoundus.
Allgooddreamersrememberhavingthought,said,anddoneclevererthingsintheirsleepthantheyeverdidwhenawakeandmostdesiroustoexcel.Longlostlanguagesreturntopersonsinastateofdelirium,andtheyspeakunknowntongues,whichturnouttobethelanguagesoftheirchildhood,
longsinceforgotten;andPineltellsus,thatmadmenoftenconversewithaneloquenceandintelligencetowhichtheyare
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totalstrangersintheirnaturalstate.Madnessinmanypointsstronglyresemblessomnambulism,whethernaturallyorartificiallyproduced,andespeciallyintheoccasionalexhibitionofclairvoyanceorluciditybyinsanepersons.
(*)TheZoist,No.XX.,p.349.
MissMitford,inher"Recollections",givesthefollowingaccountofJohnClare'smadness,theploughman-poet.
"Whateverheread,whateverrecurredtohimofhisformerreading,orhappenedtobementionedinconversation,becameimpressedonhismindasathinghehadwitnessedandactedin.AfriendofminewasstruckwithanarrativeoftheexecutionofCharlesI.,recountedbyClareasatransactionthathadoccurredyesterday,andofwhichhewasaneye-witnessanarrativethemostgraphicandminute,withanaccuracyastocostumeandmannersfarexceedingwhatwouldprobablyhavebeenathiscommandifsane.ItissuchalucidityasthedisciplesofMesmerclaimforclairvoyance.OrhewouldrelatethebattleoftheNile,andthedeathofNelson,withthesameperfectkeeping,especiallyastoseamanship,fancyinghimselfoneofthesailorswhohadbeenintheaction,anddealingout
nauticalphraseswithadmirableexactnessandaccuracy,althoughitisdoubtfulifheeversawtheseainhislife."
Sinceturningmyattentiontothissubject,ithasoccurredtome,thatweperhapsoftenmosterroneouslyconsiderasmerefantasiesanddelusionsoftheinsane,manyphenomenawhichareinfactasmuchrealitiestothemintheirabnormalconditionofexistence,withitsnewsympathiesanddifferentmodesofperception,asthephenomenaofdailylifearerealitiestothesaneinthenormalstateoftheirnervoussystem.Thenextcase,relatedbyMr.Clark,surgeonoftheShoreditchworkhouse,inthewordsofoneofhispatients,isaninstanceinpoint.
"Intheyears1841-2,mydearrespectedfatherwasfrequentlyattackedwithmentalderangement.Whenhewasfirstattacked,Iwenttoseehim,butitwasonlyattimesthathe
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recognisedme.Myattentionwasfirstexcitedbythefollowingincident.Sosoonasthemeatfordinnerwasbroughtfromthebutcher's,ofwhichhecouldhavenopossibleknowledge,beingconfinedtohisbedandoutofthereachofeitherseeingorhearing,heexclaimed(pointingtothefloorunderneathwhichwastheroomitwasin),"Whatanicerump-steak!Iwillhavesome."Struckwithhismanner,andalsoknowingthatitwasnotourintendeddinner,Ireplied,"No,father,thereisnorump-steak;wearegoingtohavemuttonchops".Hewentintoagreatpassion,declaredthattherewasrump-steak,thathecouldseeit,anddescribedthedish.Iwentdownstairs,andtomyutterastonishmentbehelditasherelated.
"Inthemorning,withoutmakingknownmyintention,Itookabasketandwentintothegardentocutsomecabbagesandgatherstrawberries.Thegardenbeingatthesideofthehouse,wheretherewasnowindowtolookintoit;itwasimpossibleforhimtoseemebyordinaryvision.However,heturnedtomysister,saying,'ThatbasketintowhichBetsyisputtingthecabbagesandstrawberrieshadbetterbemovedoutofthesun,orthefruitwillbespoiled.Tellhersheisnotgatheringstrawberriesfromthebestbed;shehadbettergototheother'.WhenIwastoldofit,Iwascompletelypuzzled.Duringthe
timeofmyvisit,whereverIwent,whateverIdidorthoughtof,wasopentohisview.Mysisterafterwardsinformedmethathismedicalattendantlefthersomebooksforherperusal;onemorningmyfathersaidtoher,'Thedoctorsendshisrespects,andwillbeobligedforthebooks'.Supposingsomemessagehadbeensent,mysisterreplied,'Verywell'.Inthecourseofashorttimeafter,thedoctor'sboyarrivedwithhismaster'srespects,andrequestforthebooks.Oninquiry,shefoundnopreviousmessagehadbeensent,norinquiryforthem.Anothertimehesaidtomysister,'Thereisahandsomeyoungmanandanoldwomancomingtoseeyouthisafternoon'.Sureenough,tohersurprise,whenthecoacharrived,itbroughtmybrotherandanurseformyfather:the
distancefromwhencetheycamewaselevenmiles".(*)Inthisperson'sfamilyinsanityandclairvoyancewereinheritedbythechildren;twoofthesistershavingalsoshownthephenomenaoflucidityduringillnesses.
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Dr.Darwin(inhisZoonomia)relatesacasewhichhewitnessedofayoungladywho,afterbeingexhaustedbyviolentconvulsions,wassuddenlyaffectedbywhathecallsreverie(somnambulism).
*TheZoist,No.XVII.,p.30.Sheconversedaloudwithimaginarypersons.Hereyeswereopen,butsointentlywashermindoccupiedthatshecouldnotbebroughttoattendtoexternalobjectsbythemostviolentstimulants.Sometimesshewasangry,atothertimesverywitty,butmostfrequentlyinclinedtomelancholy.Indeed,itappearsthatthisreverieonlyexaltedhernaturalversatilityoftemperandintellect.Shesangwithaccuracy,andrepeatedmanypagesfromthepoets.Insubsequentattacksshecouldwalkabouttheroom,and,althoughshecouldnotsee,sheneverranagainstthefurniture,butalwaysavoidedobstacles.Dr.Darwinconvincedhimselfthatinthisstateshewasnotcapableofseeingorhearingintheordinarymanner.
ProfessorSauvagesthoughtthefollowingcasesointerestingthathereportedittoalltheacademies.Thepatientwasayoungwoman,agedtwenty-five,subjecttofrequentattacksofcatalepsy.
"InthemonthsofAprilandMay,shehadmorethanfiftyattacksofanothermalady,inwhichthreestageswereobserved;thebeginningandtheendwereperfectcatalepsies;andtheinterval,whichlastedsometimesanentireday,wasfilledbythemalady,whichthegirlsofthehousecalledtheactivestate;thenameofthedeadstatebeinggiventothecatalepsy.WeshallseephenomenawhichIshouldhavebelievedsimulated,ifIhadnotsatisfiedmyselfbyathousandproofs;theoccasionspresentingthemselvessooften.Onthe5thofApril,atteno'clockinthemorning,Ifoundthepatientinbed:towhichweaknessandheadacheconfinedher.Theattackofcatalepsycameon,andleftherinfiveorsixminutes,which
wasknownbyheryawning,andsittingupinbed,whenthefollowingscenetookplace.Thisgirlbegantotalkwitha
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vivacityandintelligencewhichnooneeversawinhernaturalstate.Sheoftenchangedthesubjectofherdiscourse,andappearedtospeaktoseveralofherfriendsaroundherbed;whatshesaidwasacontinuationofwhatshehadsaidinherattackyesterday,whenshehadrepeatedwordforwordareligiousdiscourse,informofcatechism,whichshehadheardtheeveningbefore,andofwhichshemademoralandmischievousapplicationstothepersonsinthehouse,designatingthembyfictitiousnames,allaccompaniedwithgesturesandmovementsofheropeneyes,althoughshewassleepingprofoundly.
"Thiswasself-evident,andnoonedoubtedthefact;but,seeingthatIcouldnotventuretoassertthisconfidently,withouthavingformallyprovedit,Imadeexperimentsuponallherorgansofsensewhileshewasconversing.Inthefirstplace,asthisgirlhadhereyesopen,Ithoughtthat,ifshefeigned,shewouldbedisturbedbyasuddenslapoftheface;butthisexperimentoftenrepeatednevercausedtheslightestmovement,orinterruptedherdiscourse.Itriedanotherexpedient.Thiswastoshootthefingerrapidlytowardshereye,andtobringalightedcandlesonearhereyebrowsastoburnthem:butsheneverevenwinked.Theloudestnoiseswerealso
suddenlymadeclosetoherearswithoutanyeffect,thoughatothertimestheywouldhavemadehertremblewithfear.Inthelastplace,Iputbrandyandliquorofammoniainhermouth,andevenappliedthetipofafeatherandofafingertothecornea;butwithoutanyeffect.Spanishsnuffblownintothenostrilsandprickingwithpinshadnomoresuccess;sheborealllikeamachine.Duringalltheserudetests,thegirlspokewithmorevivacityandgaiety.Thisstateusuallyterminatedwithsingingandjumping.Accordingly,shortlyafter,shebegantosingandlaughloudly,andjumpedoutofbed.Iexpectedtoseeherhurtherselfagainsttheneighbouringbeds;butshewalkedroundherbedstead,avoidingthechairsandfurniture;tookawalkintheroomwithouttheuseofhereyes;returned
toherbedwithoutgroping;gotintoit,coveredherselfup,andsoonafterbecamecataleptic.Thecatalepsylastedforaquarterofanhour,whenthegirlawokeasiffromasoundsleep,and,knowingfromthepresenceofthespectatorsthatshehadhad
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afit,shewasmuchconfused,andwepttherestoftheday,notknowinganythingthathadhappenedtoherinthisstate."
IamfullysensiblethatfactsinsupportoftheexistenceofNaturalClairvoyancemightbeciteddailythroughalltime,withoutdisturbinginthesmallestdegreetheself-sufficiencyofcertainminds,who,inscienceandreligion,makeitapointtodictatewithoutexaminationorknowledgeofthesubjects,invokingreasonallthetime!(*)
Havingunfortunatelynopretensionstothisintuitiveknowledge,Iamcompelled,whenmyownobservationsandjudgementdonotaffordthenecessarymaterialsforformingarationalbeliefonanysubject,toresorttotheworksoftheauthorsofdifferentcountries,ofvariousprofessionsandopinions,andthustobecomeacquaintedwiththefactsofthecasethroughthesensesandjudgementsofhundredsofpersonswhoarelesslikelytobedeceivedthanthesensesofoneman,unitedtoasingleintelligence.
Followingthismethod,letusnowseeifwecanimitatetheabovenaturalphenomenabyartificialmeans.
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(*)Forthedevelopmentofthissubject,seeMr.Colquhoun'sMagicWitchcraftandAnimalMagnetism.
CHAPTERII
ArtificialsomnambulismVariouswaysofproducingitwellknowntothenativesofIndiaandtheancientsThemodernsonlyre-discoveringtheirlostknowledgeReasonwithoutexperienceuselessinthisinvestigation
Mesmerismbelievedinbythelearnedandpolite,andnotbythevulgarWasdiscoveredandpropagatedbydoctorsTheAuthor'ssingularintroductiontomesmericsomnambulismSuspectedchild-stealingbyitsmeansFirstexperimentinmakingasomnambulistMeninastateofsomnambulismstolenoutofapubliccourtofjusticeWritersonmedicaljurisprudence,judges,andjuriesoughttobeawareofthecrimesthatmaybecommittedbytheabuseofMesmerismLucidsomnambulismmadeknowntothemodernsbytheMarquisdePuysegurAbsurdityofattemptingtosolveascientificproblembyamoneybribeCaseofclairvoyantreadingofabanknote,reportedbyDr.Chalmers,PresidencySurgeon,CalcuttaCasesofmesmericclairvoyancereportedbyDr.EngledueEarlofDucieLordFitzclarenceMr.Topham,barrister-atlaw
TheHon.MissBoyleBytheAuthorDangersofecstaticsomnambulismThenaturalmedicalinstinctofanimalsOfman.TOthosewhohavethenecessaryamountofreasonandimaginationtoenablethemtoconnectknowneffectswithunseencauses,Iwouldsubmitthefollowingsuggestionsinsupportofthepossibilityofapreternaturalexaltationofthenervoussystem,inwhichpowersmaybedevelopedunknowntomaninhisnaturalcondition.Intracingthechainofnaturefromthepolypusuptoman,weeverseeanincreaseofnervousmatteraccompanyingnewpowers,andthat,inmanhimself,nerveandbrainarethemeasureofhisfaculties.Thereisanormalstandardofbodyandmindthatnatureseldomallowsherselftoexceed;butoccasionally,asiftoopenour
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understandingstotheextentofthepossible,sherunsintoextremes,andpresentsuswithdwarfsandgiants,idiotsandmenofgenius,headlessmonstersandmenofsuchgod-likeintelligenceastobeincomprehensibletotheircommonfellow-creatures.
Fromthesefactsitisonlyreasonabletosuppose,that,ifthenormalsystemofmanwerestillfurtherdeveloped,hewouldspringupintoanewbeing,withwhomwe,asatpresentconstituted,couldhavenosympathyorcommonintelligence.Althoughwecannotaddnervousmattertoourbrain,anymorethanwecanaddacubittoourstature,yettherearevariousartificialmeansbywhichthebraincanbestimulatedintoastateofpreternaturalexaltation,inwhichwegainglimpsesofwhatmanmay,andprobablydoes,become,inahigherorderoforganicdevelopment:aconditioninwhichthemindmayreceiveexternalimpressionsotherwisethanbyitspresentinstrumentsthesenses.whichareonlytheordainedmediaforconnectingitwiththepresentorderofthings.Whenwereflectthatitisthemindthatsees,smells,tastes,touches,andhears,andnottheorgansofsense,whichareonlytheinstrumentsthatituses;andthattheDivineIntelligence,fromwhencethehumanmindemanates,dispenseswiththeuseof
organs,andisyetall-knowingandomnipresent,itisdifficulttoseewhythemindofmanshouldnot,underextraordinarycircumstances,occasionallypartakeofthesamepowersinalimiteddegree.
"Allthearguments",saysthelearnedandrespectedDeleuze,"bywhichwecancombattherealityofprevision,areofthesamevalueasthereasoningofblindmenagainsttherealityofthephenomenaoflight,andthemeansofbecomingconvincedofwhatwecannotunderstandarethesameforthemandforus.Letusimitatetheblindtherefore,andassureourselvesoftheexistenceofthephenomenabytheresults;letuscarefully-observesomnambulists,andthenweshallbecomeassured
thatthehumanmindisendowedwiththefacultyofprevision;thatthispower,whichisnotexercisedinordinarynormallife,isdevelopedmoreorlessundercertaincircumstances,andthatitcanimporttousideaswhichwecouldnothavereceivedfromourordinaryfaculties.Theprevisionofsomnambulistsisdueto
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asortofinstinctdevelopedinthembythelawsofnature;letusthereforeprofitbyit;butwemaybesurethatsomnambulistswillonlyrelatetousthereveriesofadisorderedimagination,ifweinterrogatethemaboutwhatdoesnotpresentitselfnaturallyandspontaneously."
ProfessorDumassays,insupportoftheopinionthatanothernervebesidestheonebywhichthemindsees,tastes,orfeels,canoccasionallyserveasitsmediumandinstrument.
"Itispossiblethat,byasingularconcourseofcircumstances,certainorgansmaybecomecapableofexercisingproperties,andfulfillingfunctions,towhichtheyhavehithertobeenstrangers,andwhichevenbelongedtodifferentorgans.Ifrareandextraordinaryfactsdidnotinspiredistrust,Icouldallegethesingulartransferenceofthehearingandsight,which,abandoningtheirusualseat,haveappearedtobetransferredtothestomachsothatsoundsandcoloursexcitedtherethesamesensationsasareordinarilyconveyedthroughtheearsandeyes.Fiveyearsago,ayoungwomanfromthedepartmentofArdche,whogaveanexampleofaverystrangephenomenon,cametoMontpeliertoconsultthedoctorsforahystericaffection,attendedwithcatalepsy.Shereferredallthe
sensationsofsight,hearing,andsmelltotheregionofthestomach,theappropriateorgansbeinginsensibletotheirusualstimuli.Iamwellawarethatfactsofthisnature,inoppositiontoalltheknownlawsofnature,oughtnottoreceive,withoutdifficulty,theassentofwisemindswhofearbeingdeceived.Butifwemultiplyourobservationsonthissubject,andscrupulouslytestthemostminutecircumstancesofeachcase,weshallbecompelledtoadmitthepossibilityofaphenomenonwhichisonlysomarvellousforwantoffactsintheusualstateofthingswithwhichtocompareit."
Butifreasonbecomesperfectlyindignantatsuchasuppositioneven,Iwouldrespectfullyask:Isitmorewonderfulthanlight
traversingtransparentbodies,electricitypassingalongconductors,caloricpenetratingallmatter,themagnetactingthroughallsubstances,eventhemostisolating,dense,andthick?Andtheatmosphereofthemagnet,howisitestablished?Reasonhasnoobjectionstothefresh-water
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polypusrenewingitsheadwhencutoff,reproducingitselfbyslips,andperformingotherequallyastonishingprodigies;andweseenothingunreasonableinthestarfishpossessingthepowerofbreakingupitsbodyintofragments,andgivingtheordersauvequipeuttothedifferentpartswhenitisindanger.TheseMunchausen-liketalesareacceptedasfactsinnaturalhistory,becausesorelatedbycrediblewitnesses,like
M.TremblayandProfessorForbes,whocanhavenointerestindeceivingusinrelatingwhattheysaw.LetreasonlistenthentowhatequallytrustworthyanddisinterestedwitnessestellusregardingtheoccurrenceofmesmericClairvoyance.Thenaturalexaltationofthenervoussystem,describedinthelastchapter,maybeandhasbeenimitatedinavarietyofwaysfromthemostremoteagestothepresenttime.ThebeneficialeffectsofthemesmericprocessesareknowninIndia,andthesecrethasprobablydescendedfromremoteantiquityincertaincastesorfamilies.AndfartheronacurioushistorywillbegivenwhichleadsonetosupposethatthenativesofIndiaknowtheevilaswellasthegoodofMesmerism.Inmyfirstwork,IsaidthatIhadsatisfiedmyselfthatthemedicalpracticeoftheIndianconjurors,orJadoowalla,wasonlyMesmerismdisguisedbyincantationsandmummery;andIdescribedthe
processesgonethroughbyacelebratedconjurorforsoothingpainandcuringnervouscomplaints.ThishasbeenconfirmedfromdifferentquartersofIndia.Dr.Davidson,lateResidentatJyeporeinUpperIndia,visitingtheMesmericHospitalinCalcutta,andseeingthenativemesmerisersstrokingandbreathingupontheirpatients,said:"InowunderstandwhattheJar-phoonkofUpperIndiais;itisnothingbutMesmerism".Beingrequestedtoexplainhimself,hecontinued:"Manyofmypeople,afterIhavetriedtocurethemofdifferentseverecomplaintsinvain,usedtoaskleaveofabsenceforseveralweeks,inordertobetreatedbytheJadoowalla,andtomygreatsurprisetheyoftenreturnedtomequitecuredinashorttime;andinreplytomyinquiries,astohowtheyhad
beentreated,theyallsaidthattheyhadgonethroughaprocesscalledJar-phoonkthemeaningofwhichIcouldnevermakeout.ButInowseeitbeforemeinthecontinuousstrokingandbreathingofyourmesmerisers.Jarnameansin
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Hindoostaneetostrokeandphoonknaistobreathe,whichveryexactlydescribesyourmesmericprocesses."
Dr.ThorbumthuswrotetomefromArracan,theotherextremityofIndia."ThesubjectofMesmerismhaslongbeenfirmlybelievedinbyme;andyouwill,Idoubtnot,bepleasedtohearthatithasfromtimeimmemorialbeensoamongstsomeoftherudesthilltribesinAssam:e.g.,amongtheMivis.AmongtheAssamese,thelocalpassesreceiveseparatenames,accordingtothesitesoverwhichthepassesareperformed;thusthoseusedforthepurposeofrelievingheadachearenamedMatapon.ThelongpassesareknowntothembythesamenameasinUpperIndia,viz.,Jar-phoonk."
ColonelBagnoldoftheBombayarmydescribesthesamepracticestobeprevalentontheBombayside:"Thissemi-barbarouspeoplehavehandeddowntraditionallywhatwe,withallourpretensionstoscienceandresearch,haveeitheroverlooked,or,whatismostprobable,rejectedthroughsectarianprejudice.
"ThefirstinstanceIcanrecollectoccurredtomesofarbackas
1808;yeteverycircumstanceattendingitisasfreshnowinmymemoryasthoughbutyesterday.ApooryoungHindoofemalehadfallenintoamiserablestateofhealth,theeffectsofgreatprivationduringthepreviousgreatfamine,wasepileptic,andsubjecttooccasionalfitsofinsanity.AVergraggeymendicantdevoteeofferedtoundertakehercure,byperformingareligiousceremonyormuntur;and,asthefamilylivedinthesamebuildingwithmeandmymilitarydetachment,andhadnoobjectiontomybeingpresent,Iattended.ThemancommencedwiththeusualHindooofferings,suchasburningfrankincense,breakingacocoa-nut,andinvokingsomegod,andparticularlySeetaram;seatedthewomanontheground,withherbackandheadagainstthewall;tookfromhislong
mattedhairastringoflargesandal-woodbeads,whichheheldupbeforehereyesanddirectedhertolookat;thenmadepasseswithitfromherheaddownwardsoccasionallystoppingtobreatheuponorlayhishanduponherchest.Shesoonbecamedrowsy,andappearedtosleep,whena
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handfulofwood-asheswerecalledfor,wavedoverherhead,thrownintheair,andthecharmwaspronouncedcomplete:hethenretiredtoalittledistance,andsatcountingthebeads,butwithhiseyesattentivelyfixedonher,andmutteringasifinprayer.Inabouthalfanhourhestartedup,snappedhisfingers(demesmerisedher?),calledoutloudly'Seetaram!'whichwasloudlyrespondedtobytheHindoospresent;tookhispatientbythehand,andtoldhertogoaboutherfamilywork.Totheastonishmentofherfamilyandallpresent,sheobeyed,walkeddirecttothehand-millandbegangrindingcornfortheevening'smeal,aworkIamcertainshehadbeenincapableofperformingformonths.Lookinguponthisasmerepriestlydeception,Ideclinedbeingpresentatanyfuturevisits.However,hermother,brother,andseveralmenofthedetachment,assuredmeafterwardsthatthismannotonlyputhertosleepwheneverhecame,butmadeherspeakduringthatsleep,describeherdisease,andwhatwouldcureit.
''Ilaughedatthepoorpeopleasfools,andabusedthemanasaknave.Buthismild,good-humouredrebukeisoftennowpresenttomymind:'Youth!Thehaironyourchinisincomplete;bythetimeitislikemineyouwillthinkdifferentlyofme'.Thewomanrecovered,andrapidly."(*)
WecannotnowdoubtthattheTemplesofIsisandOsiris,Serapis,Apollo,andEsculapius(**),andtheSchoolsoftheProphets,wereplaceswheretheartofSomnambulism,withmorethanitspresentpretensions,waspractisedandtaughtbytheancientpriesthood.
Theancientpriestswerealsotheonlynaturalphilosophers;and,havingremarkedcertainwonderfulphenomenatoarisespontaneouslyinnaturalsomnambulism,catalepsy,andotherdiseasedstatesofthesystem,theydidnotdespairofimitatingbyartwhatnaturehaddemonstratedtobepossible;andbystudyandexperimenttheyatlastsucceededinrivallingthe
wondersofnature.Andthiswillaccountforthewisestmenofantiquitybelievingintherealityofwhatwenowregardaslyingwonders.
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PlutarchandtheotherwisemenofGreecedidnotaffecttodoubttherealityoftheafflatusofthePythoness,ortheoccasionaltruthfulnessoftheOracle.Infact,wecannowimitateperhapsallthatwastrueandusefulintheancienttemplesinourmodernhospitals,bytheuseofopium,hemp,ether,chloroform,differentgases,andespeciallyby
(*)TheZoist,No.XXIII.(**)SeeMr.W.W.Lloyd'slearnedpapersinTheZoist,NosX,XI,XIX.
Mesmerism,whichisthesafestandmosteffectualstimulantofthebrainweareacquaintedwith.
Everythinggoestoprovethattheoraclesreceivedindreams,andthecureswhichfollowedthem,weretheconsequencesofwhatwenowcallthemesmericexaltationofthenervoussystem,variouslybroughtabout,nodoubt,butfrequentlybythemodernmethodofmanipulations,assistedbybreathing.
Indeed,itisimpossiblethat,inthelongcourseofages,thisfacultyinmanshouldnothavebeenobserved.Itwasso,infact,andthepaganpriestsexploredittotheirownadvantage
bygivingthecredittotheTemplesofIsis,Serapis,andEsculapius.Knowinghowtoproduceanddirectsomnambulism,theyplacedthepersonwhomtheyknewtobegiftedwiththepowerofdistantvisionandofprevisioninthesanctuaryofthetempletobetheorganofthegod,who,itwaspretended.possessedhim.Another,inhisstateofexaltation,feltthediseasesofthosewhoapproachedhim,perceivedthestateoftheirorgans,indicatingtheaccessionsoftheircomplaints,andprescribedremedies:theseweredestinedtoplaythepartofEsculapius,orthatofsomnambulistpriests;foritoughttoberememberedthattherewerepriestsinthesetempleswhodreamedforthepatients,iftheywerenotabletoenterintosomnambulismthemselves.Besides,everyconsultantassisted
inhisself-deception.Whenhehadindicatedinthesomnambulisticstatehiscomplaintanditsremedy,ashelostallrecollectionofitonawaking,thepriests,whohadcarefullytakendownhiswords,didnotfailtopersuadehimthatallwas
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theworkofthegod,andthatthelatterhaddictatedthemeansofcure.
ProsperAlbinussays,inhisTreatiseontheMedicineoftheEgyptians,"Afternumerousceremonies,thesickwerewrappedupintheskinsofgoats,andcarriedwithinthesanctuaryofthetemple,wherethegodappearedtothemindreams,andrevealedtheremediesthatoughttoberesortedtofortheircure.Whenthepatientsreceivednocommunicationfromthedivinity,thenpriests,calledoneiropoles,sleptintheirplaces,andthegodnolongerwithheldthehoped-forboon."
TheoracleofTrophoniuswasinfulloperationinthetimeofPausanias,whohimselfconsultedit;and,fromhisaccount,itappearsthatpersonsresortingtoitwerethrownintoastateofsomnambulism,whateverthemeansmightbe.
''Amongotherceremonies,theinquirerwasledtothetwofountainsofOblivionandMemory,fromthefirstofwhichhedrank,thathemightforgetallhispreviousideas,andfromthelatterthathemightretainrecollectionofwhatheshouldseeinhisconsultation.
"Descendingbyaladderintothecave,helaydownontheground,placedhisfeetinasmallorifice,and,followingthemwithhisknees,immediatelyfoundhiswholebodycarriedinwards,asifbythevortexofamightyrushingriver:hisreturn,andfeetforemost,wasbythesameorifice.Hecameforthinastateofgreatdisturbance,andunconsciousofhimselfandthosearoundhim,andinthisstatewasimmediatelyplacedonthechairofMemorybythepriests,whothenobtainedfromhim,byinquiries,allthathehadseenorheard.Hewasthendeliveredtohisfriends,andafteratimecametohisusualsensesandfoundhimselfcheerful."
TheGrottodelCaneatNaplesmighteasilybeconvertedintoamodernCaveofTrophoniusby
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