»*'*«, V * A *' -.7../ v^v v^-y v 1 %/ : Jfe- V.* :iaSftk V^ •***• ♦- •\ <, PRINCIPLES OF THE HUMAN MIND, DEDUCED FROM PHYSICAL LAWS; TOGETHER WITH A LECTURE OS" ELECTRO-BIOLOGY, OR THE VOLTAIC MECHANISM OF MAN. IliT ALFRED 8MEE, F.R.S., ft SURGEON TO THE ROYAL GENERAL DISPENSARY OF LONDON, AND LECTURER ON SURGERY, ETC., ETC. WITH ILLUSTRATIONS. NEW YORK: FOWLERS AND WELLS, PUBLISHERS, CLINTON HALL, 131 NASSAU STREET. Rrvvn, 148 WwMnfittm St.] 185 4 L' ""* " v * M* " ^ Bi-ol-o-gy, the Science of Life ; a term introduced by Treviranus of Bremen, in place of Physiology. — L awren c e. flTEREOTYPED BY C. C. SAVAGE, 13 Chambers Street, N. Y D UBLISHERS' PREFACE. All investigations relating to the Human Mind must necessarily attract the most pro- found attention of every intelligent individual. The increasing demand for works on Psy- chology, Phrenology, Magnetism, and^other kindred subjects, have excited to action many of the leading minds of our own and other countries. Hence, new and startling develop- ments are constantly being made, and our store of knowledge increased. We are not aware that the author of this work has before been introduced to the American public, yet his name is favorably and widely known in England and France, where his various works have been extensively circulated. It will be our object to publish all works, the tendency of which shall be to advance the race in moral, intellectual, and physical improvement. 6 PREFACE. FROM THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE. u I apprehend that the time is fast approach- ing, when no other system of mental science will be acknowledged but that which is based upon physical laws and the structure of the brain 5 and if my researches shall be found hereafter to have contributed to the develop- ment of true philosophy, I shall indeed feel more than amply rewarded for the hours of anxious but delightful labor spent in its devel- opment 55 CONTENTS. Principles of the Human Mind. Knowledge of the External World page 9 The Senses 1C Combination of Senses 11 Infinity 11 Time 12 Cause 12 Pleasure and Pain .• * < 13 Memory . 14 Consciousness * 14 Instinctive Ideas 14 Reflection 16 Judgment - 16 Imagination 17 Action 17 Specific Action 18 Hope and Fear 19 Desire 19 Virtue and Vice * 19 Moral Law 20 Volition * 20 Free Agency 20 Certain Specific Ideas. Life 21 Death , 21 Mind 21 Organization 21 Future State 22 Diseased States of the Mind. Insane Ideas 22 Defective State of Mind. Idiocy 24 Loss of Memory 24 Fits 24 Fatuity 25 Loss of Sensation 25 Paralysis 25 Senile Imbecility 25 Varieties of Races ,.* , 26 8 CONTENTS. Electro-Biology; or, the VoLTiJC Mechanism of Man. Definition of Electro-Biology page 29 Office of the Nerve-Fibre , 30 Fluid Telegraphic Conductors 31 Nerve-Fibre 32 Gutta-P ercha T ubes „\ 32 The Voltaic Current in a Fluid 33 How to make a Piece of Metal Positive and Negative 33 Value of the Electro- Voltaic Test.. 34 Passage of the Voltaic Current 34 Introduction of two Steel Needles into a Rabbit -. 35 Sensations — How received and expressed 35 The Photo-Voltaic Circuit 36 Positive Photo- Voltaic Circuits 37 Negative Photo- Voltaic Circuits - 37 The Eye supplied with Nerve and Blood 37 Vision a Voltaic Phenomenon 38 Blood and Nerve distributed to the Ear 38 Blood and Nerve to the Nasal Organ 39 Electric Action excited by Odors 40 Voltaic Force excited by Savors «... 41 Impressions or Sensation upon the Skin 42 Thermo Voltaic Circuits 43 The Mechanism of Feeling is Voltaic 44 How Sensations are received ■. 45 Completion of the Electro-Biological Circuit •. 46 Office of a Commissure 46 The Combination B attery * 47 How to produce a perfect Fac-simile Picture 48 How Ideas are derived - .- 49 Sensor and Motor Nerves opposed 53 Copper more easily reducible than Zinc * 53 The Electric Battery of Fishes 55 The Artificial Electric Eel 56 Perfection of Nature's Operations 59 Man a Double Voltaic Circuit 59 How to supersede the Steam Engine - 60 Force generated by the Voltaic Battery 60 The Voltaic Circuit in Animals 61 How their Electric Current is set in Motion Gl The Functions of the Blood-Corpuscle in the Human Body 62 Circulation of Blood stopped by Electricity 63 All Sensations of Animal Life are Voltaic Effects 63 Life is one Word used to signify a number of Changes 64 Inference from the Teachings of Electro-Biology 64 PRINCIPLES OF THE HUMAN MIND, KNOWLEDGE OF THE EXTERNAL WORLD. 1. Our ideas of the external world arise, primarily, from an action upon the ultimate nervous fibres of the organs of sensation, by the specific stimulus competent to excite each organ of sensation respectively. 2. Each primitive nervous fibril is called a unit 5 the repetition of units, Number. 3. That which is competent to act upon these nervous fibrils is called Matter. 4. Whenever matter undergoes any change which renders it appreciable to our senses, it is said to evince Force. 5. The definite combination of nervous fibres excited to action determines the char- 10 PRINCIPLES OF THE HUMAN MIND. acter of the idea presented to the mind, such as form, position, magnitude. 6. Each combination may be expressed by a word or cipher, and forms a definite image. The use of words is called Language. 7. The sum total of all the possible combi- nations of the ultimate nervous fibril, excited to action, comprises all the possible images which can be represented to the mind. 8. Inasmuch as the possible combination of all the nervous fibrils is immensely numerous, so are the images which may be reflected in the mind immensely numerous. SENSES. 9. An idea is represented to the mind, when any one or more of the filaments of either specific organ of sensation is excited without reference to the definite image thereby pro- duced. 10. This solitary idea, derived from the fila- PRINCIPLES OF THE HUMAN MIND. 11 ments of the eye, is termed Vision ; of the ear, Hearing j of the nose, Smelling $ of the palate, Tasting * y of the skin, Feeling $ and, probably, from the nerves communicating the changes occurring in our own body, Per*son ality. COMBINATION OF SENSES. 11. The perfect knowledge of any object is obtained by impressions received by the sum of the organs of sensation. 12. But as matter may exist without exci- ting all the organs of sensation at one time, we determine the combination of senses which has concurred to give us the knowledge of any external object. INFINITY* 13. An idea is represented from the excite- ment of one or all the nervous fibrils of any organ of sensation indiscriminately. This 12 PRINCIPLES OF THE HUMAN MIND. idea is infinite, inasmuch as it is indivisible, incapable of addition, and represents totality.^ TIME. 14. Our knowledge of the external world at any given period, is the sum total of the im- ages from all our senses. 15. These images represented to the mind are perpetually changing. 16. When images change, one remains j the other changes perhaps several times be- fore the first changes. The relation of these changes to each other is termed the time of their occurrence $ that which changes the least frequently is said to be of the longest duration. CAUSE. 17. In the change of images, when one specific image never appears without a similar * Infinity is sometimes confounded with its hyperbolical us© in the sense of endless number. PRINCIPLES OF THE HUMAN MIND. 13 antecedent, and the matter in the external world which gave rise to the first image set in motion the second — the antecedent image is said to cause the second image. 18. The mind finds great difficulty in distin- guishing between concomitance and cause, because the matter which produces an ante- cedent image may not set in motion the mat- ter which produced the second image. PLEASURE AND PAIN. 19. When images of the external world are produced with a certain intensity, the idea of Pleasure is excited 5 when with a greater intensity, the idea of Pain.* 20. The transition from Pleasure to Pain being sudden, not gradual, it follows, that the nature of the action on the brain — and, con- sequently, of the ideas — is different. * Every action of our lives is either pleasurable or painful ; and thus we perceive how vastly the former state preponderates over the latter. 2 14 PRINCIPLES OF THE HUMAN MIND. MEMORY. 21. An image once formed in the brain produces an indelible impressior^ and may at any future time recur. This property is called Memory. CONSCIOUSNESS. 22. When an image is produced by an ac- tion upon the external senses, the actions on the organs of sense concur with the actions in the brain $ and the image is then a Reality. 23. When an image occurs to the mind without a corresponding simultaneous action of the body, it is called a Thought. 24. The power to distinguish between a thought and a reality, is called Consciousness. INSTINCTIVE IDEAS. 25. Several ideas must necessarily co-exist, giving rise to compound ideas always existing in the brain : thus, personality and infinity give us the idea of the Soul , pleasure and infinity, PRINCIPLES OF THE HUMAN MIND. 15 of Good 5 pain and infinity, of Evil ; cause and infinity, of God ; time and infinity, of Eter- nity 5 infinity, pleasure, and time, of Heaven 5 infinity, pain, and time, of Hell. # 26. These instinctive ideas are not produced by the immediate action of external influences, but have their origin in the construction of the brain, or organ of thought. 27. Instinctive ideas belong to the higher class of mental images 5 and there is no reason to suppose that a more simple idea is implant- ed in the human species. In the lower ani- mals, however, it is apparent that either other images exist, which guide the creatures to per- form their operations — as the bird to build the nest, the bee the honeycomb — or, that the nervous system is so constructed that the crea- * As these instinctive ideas are simply thoughts, and can not be proved by our external senses, the mind may be led at times to deny the reality of their existence. Revelation, howevei declares their truth, and thus compensates for the natural weak ness of man. 16 PRINCIPLES OF THE HUMAN MIND. ture is led to perform specific acts under some definite excitement. REFLECTION. 28. When images already implanted in the brain, which possess many points in common, continually reappear, the party is said to be reflecting. 29. During reflection, the influences of the external world to produce new images are en- tirely, or to a great part, neglected. 30. By reflection, ideas may be combined so as to form general laws. 31. By reflection, general laws may be ap- plied to specific instances, or images may be analyzed into their component parts. JUDGMENT. 32. When an idea is represented to the mind, it either accords or discords with other ideas previously received, or with general laws resulting therefrom, or with the moral law. PRINCIPLES OF THE HUMAN MIND. 17 The determination between this concordance or discordance is called Judgment IMAGINATION. 33. Man has the power of uniting two or more antecedent images, or the parts of two or more antecedent images. By this power, a totally new image is formed, and hence it is called Imagination. 34. Observation is the basis of fancy 5 and the novelist is fruitful only in proportion as he stores his mind with natural images, ACTION. 35. Man acts by electricity, which is set in motion through the muscular structures, where- by contraction ensues, and parts of the body are moved. 36. Action may be produced by the imme- diate influence of the external agents upon the body, which give rise to a new image in 18 PRINCIPLES OF THE HUMAN MIND. the brain j and action may also be produced by the recurrence of a former image. SPECIFIC ACTION. 37. The mind is one and indivisible 5 and thus the particular muscular movement, which the electrical force determines, is not only regulated by an immediate image, but by ev- erv other image which has at any former time been implanted in the brain. 38. Pleasure and pain regulate all actions 5 hence the particular movement which is deter- mined arises from the pleasurable or painful character of all former images 5 as animals, as well as human beings, seek those actions which are likely to be pleasurable, and eschew those which are likely to be painful. 39. But the action determined in any particular instance may be painful for the sake of obtaining greater pleasure at future periods; and the idea of obtaining infinite PRINCIPLES OF THE HUMAN MIND. 19 pleasure may allow of the most intense imme- diate pain, HOPE AND FEAR. 40. The idea of future pleasure is called Hope $ of future pain, Fear. The government of mankind is conducted by exciting Hope and Fear. DESIRE. 41. When a tendency to act exists, it is called Desire ; and always exists, more or less, when a being is in good health, and in a state free from fatigue. VIRTUE AND VICE. 42. All actions, in the higher generalizations, would give the idea either of infinite pleasure or of infinite pain. Actions which concur with those which lead to infinite pleasure, are called Virtuous $ and those which lead to infi- nite pain are called Vicious. 20 PRINCIPLES OF THE HUMAN MIND. MORAL LAW 43. The moral law, being infinite, is compe- tent to control all actions. It is therefore important that it should be frequently and strongly impressed upon the human mind. VOLITION. 44. The resultant of the force of an imme- diate stimulus, and of all former ideas im- planted in the brain, is termed Volition, FREE AGENCY. 45. A man is born a free agent $ but after images are once implanted, he is compelled to act from the ideas existing in his brain. Hence, could we but tell the exact ideas which any human being possessed, it would be prac- ticable to foretell his line of action under any defined circumstance. PRINCIPLES OF THE HUMAN MIND. 21 CERTAIN SPECIFIC IDEAS. LIFE. 46. The term Life is assigned to the idea which the mind forms of the capacity of an organized being to perform its functions. DEATH. 47. The term Death is assigned to the idea which the mind receives of an organized being, incompetent to perform the vital action. MIND. 48. The term Mind is assigned to the gen- eral idea of any action of the brain, which is a part of the organization of man. An idea is the term assigned to any specific action in the brain. ORGANIZATION. 49. Organization is the term assigned to the construction of a being to adapt it to perform certain functions. 22 PRINCIPLES OF THE HUMAN MIND. FUTURE STATE. 50. The mind has constantly represented to it the idea of a personality which will exist infinitely. 51. While, however, the idea exists, we have no power to learn the properties of in- finity 5 and hence we can not define the nature of the state in which we shall live hereafter. DISEASED STATES OF MIND. INSANE IDEAS. 52. Whenever an idea appears in the brain, which is neither instinctive nor is due to ex- ternal causes, nor is deduced by the ordinary operation of the brain, it is said to be an Insane Idea. 53. When this idea is continuously the same, the party is said to have a Monomania. 54. When various images appear and vanish PRINCIPLES OF THE HUMAN MIND. 23 indiscriminately, the state is called Incohe- rence, and when this state is combined with more or less unconsciousness, it is termed Delirium. 55. The danger of insane ideas depends upon the distinctness with which the idea is impressed upon the brain, for it will deter- mine the party to act in proportion to the power with which it is impressed. 56. To the violent actions arising from strongly-implanted diseased ideas, the term Mania is given 5 and the violence of the Ma- nia is proportionate to the power of the delu- sion. To the individual it is an exaltation of pleasure. 57. When, from the delusion, the patient is in continual fear, he is said to be melancholy $ and it is probably, to the individual, an exalta- tion of pain. 58. When a fixed insane idea exists in the mind, the party can not be said to be partially 24 PRINCIPLES OF THE HUMAN MIND. deluded ; for, inasmuch as the mind is one and indivisible, it will control all actions. 59. A strong moral impression may coun- teract an insane image, as a party may be kept from doing wrong, by feeling assured that it will lead to present or future inconvenience to himself. DEFECTIVE STATE OF MIND. IDIOTCY. 60. When the structure of the brain is con- genially defective, so that it can not perform all its normal actions, the party is said to be an idiot. LOSS OF MEMORY. 61. Sometimes the power of memory is in- termittent, or is totally lost, as after the fre- quent recurrence of epileptic fits. FITS. 62. Any interval of unconsciousness, except sleep, is called a Fit. PRINCIPLES OF THE HUMAN MIND. 25 FATUITY. 63. When, from loss of memory, or want of powei in the brain, the functions of reflection or judgment are not perfectly performed, the individual is said to be fatuous. L033 OF SENSATION. 64. Sometimes the power of receiving im- pressions from the external world is diminished or lost, as in blindness, deafness, etc. PARALYSIS. 65. When parts of the body do not move by volition, they are said to be paralyzed. SENILE IMBECILITY. 66. In old age, the brain loses its power to receive new images, to restore by-gone impres- sions, to connect different images, or to apply general laws to specific instances. That which ennobles the man has passed away 5 the out- ward form remains, but the inward structure has lost its power to act. Childhood again 3 26 PRINCIPLES OF THE HUMAN MIND. ensues — not to acquire new ideas, but to for- get those before implanted. All that is beau- tiful or desirable in this world has passed away — the brain has lost its power — the mind ceases — the very existence of the man is un- known to himself, till death gives rise to a new life, and discloses that new and glorious state in which our organization teaches us that man will be immaterial and immortal. VARIETIES OF RACES. 67. As individuals differ in their organiza tion, it follows that they differ in their capa city to perform various acts, and we may pre- sume that the mind being one of the functions of the body, is of varying power in different individuals. 68. The observations which apply to differ- ent individuals, apply with greater force to different races. ELECTRO-BIOLOGY, THE VOLTATC MECHANISM OF MAN, ELECTRO-BIOLOGY; THE VOLTAIC MECHANISM OF MAN. Electro-Biology literally means, neither more nor less than the relation of electricity to the vital functions. Now, systematic wri- ters divide the vital functions into two great classes — into those of animal life, and into those of organic life. The functions of animal life will particularly occupy our attention at present 5 and for their consideration, we shall have to study the ap- paratus by which the animal receives impres- sions from the external world, transmits them to the brain, registers them, combines them, 3* 30 electro-biology; ok, and acts, not only upon the immediate impres- sions, but also upon those which it has re- ceived at former periods. For the manifestation of the functions of animal life, we require a central parenchyma or brain, a peripheral or body, the two being connected together by a peculiar tissue called "nerve-fibre j w and at both situations a proper supply of bright arterial blood is requisite, for the production of the phenomena of life. If we look to purely physical contrivances, we find that similar conditions are fulfilled by a double voltaic circuit Z — S S — Z If we abstract the proper exciting fluid from either end, or substitute any other fluid, or de- stroy the structure at one end or the other^ or divide the connecting portions or wires, the effects proper to the apparatus will not be manifested, and the battery will be destroyed. The analogy between the mechanism of a THE VOLTAIC 31ECHANISM OF MAN. * 31 double voltaic circuit and that of animal life is quite complete; for if we pith an animal (an operation which separates the brain from the body), or remove the blood from the brain, or from the peripheral part, or destroy the struc- ture of either the brain or the periphery, action is stopped, and animal life ceases. You will at once say, doubtless, that man has no metallic wires, no plates ; and there- fore, you may naturally ask, how far does that fact destroy the analogy which I have given to you ? It is not necessary, however that the connecting portions should consist of metal; and though all present are doubtless accus- tomed to see the electric telegraphic wires along the course of the railways, yet I have here upon the table an example of fluid tele- graphic conductors, which answer as efficiently for the conducting of the voltaic force, as wires or metals. Those among you who reside at Upper Clapton, may remember some time since 32' ELECTRO-BIOLOGY j OR, having seen mysterious wires placed at an ele- vated situation round the Horse-shoe Point on the River Lea. At the time these wires were in that situation, I was experimenting upon the conducting power of liquids, and they were found to possess that property in an extraordi- nary degree. If the nerves, however, carry the voltaic force, they might perhaps be ex- pected to have within themselves some means of insulation, and from my own microscopical examination of nerve-fibre perfectly fresh, I believe that a layer of fat exists in the interior of each primitive fibril, which would as effi- ciently insulate it as the gutta-percha of my tube does these artificial nerves w r hich are placed on the table. Fig. 1. Double voltaic circuit, with gutta-percha tubes; Z, zinc; S, silver ; C, C, copper wires for electro-voltaic test. THE VOLTAIC MECHANISM OF MAN. 33 In this double voltaic apparatus before you, in which the communicating portion consists of gutta-percha tubing, filled with acid and water, a powerful voltaic current is passing, but one which will yield no indications of its presence to ordinary voltaic tests. It is no easy matter, gentlemen, to prove the presence of a voltaic current in a fluid, and for a long period I did not know how to proceed to render its exist- ence certain. However, at last I observed if any metal capable of being oxydized was inter- posed in the path of a voltaic circuit, that one portion becomes positive, the other negative 5 and that this result is no fanciful chimera, I now show you an electro-metallurgic precipi- tating trough, in which a piece of copper is in- serted between the positive and negative plates, and you will at once perceive that the portion near the negative pole has become acted upon or positive, the part nearest the positive pole has become negative and has metallic copper 34 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY J OR, deposited upon it. From this experiment I saw that a mode was afforded to me of ascer- taining the presence of a voltaic circuit in any fluid. To give you a practical illustration of the value of the electro-voltaic test, I have in- troduced two copper wires (fig. 1, C C) into one of the gutta-percha tubes constituting my artificial nerves, and you will perceive that the moment I connect them with a galvanometer, deflection ensues. Animal bodies consist solely of membranes and fluids, and therefore, in the order of my investigations, I had to study bat- teries solely composed of similar materials. This form of voltaic circuit is extremely diffi- cult to investigate, though one is placed upon the table for your inspection. After I had thoroughly studied the electro- voltaic test, the time arrived to ascertain whether a voltaic current was actually passing during nervous action. For although the anal- ogies which I have detailed were, to my mind, THE VOLTAIC MECHANISM OF MAN. 35 complete, yet analogy would be useless with- out the corroboration of direct experiment. My first experiment was, to introduce two steel needles into a rabbit 5 the first into the masse- ter, or muscle which enables the creature to masticate $ the second, into the subcutaneous cellular tissue. After two or three minutes, the creature, which was very tame, attempted to bite my finger 5 the power of volition was sent to the muscle ; this acted upon my elec- tro-voltaic test, and you may judge of my in- expressible delight, when the deflection of the needle showed to my mind the mechanism of volition. These needles being between the skin and muscle, the course of the voltaic cir- cuit is clearly demonstrated to exist between these two points, and therefore each required a most minute consideration. Sensations are received by various organs which are destined to be acted upon by cer- tain physical forces, as the eye by light, the 36 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY; OR, ear by sound, the nose by odors, the tongue by savors, or the skin by heat or force. It is quite certain that if a voltaic circuit is generated in the eye, there must be such con- trivances as photo-voltaic circuits, that is, vol- taic circuits in which light causes the evolution of electricity. In trying the 'experiment, I found that there were not only an extensive series of combinations in which the sun's rays determine the generation of electricity, but that in one division light caused a positive voltaic circuit ; in the second, a negative vol- taic circuit. The table of these circuits will illustrate the manner in which these circuits are formed, by using solutions so arranged that one portion may be screened from the light, and the second may be acted upon pow- erfully by the sun's rays. 1HE VOLTAIC MECHANISM OF MAN. 37 POSITIVE PHOTO-VOLTAIC CIRCUITS. Mixed solutions of per-nitrate of iron and red ferrocyanate of potash. Mixed solutions of bromine water, phosphorus water, and per- nitrate of iron. NEGATIVE PHOTO-VOLTAIC CIRCUITS. Mixed solutions of proto-sulphate of iron and nitrate of silver. Mixed solutions of gallic acid and nitrate of silver. Mixed solutions of oxalic acid and chloride of gold. Mixed solutions of ferrocyanate of potash and ammonio-per-cit- rate of iron. Mixed solutions of ferrocyanate of potash and ammonio-per- tartrate of iron. Mixed solutions of ferrocyanate of potash and potassio-tartrate of iron. These experiments I can not show now, because it requires the sun's rays to shine upon one side of my apparatus 5 but from what I have stated, you will perceive that it is quite within the range of ordinary physical effects to have voltaic circuits set in action by light. Having developed photo-voltaic circuits, the eye itself next demands our attention 5 and we find nerve and blood to be abundantly sup- plied to that organ. The electro-voltaic test 4 38 electro-biology; or, is best applied by the insertion of one needle into the choroid, the second into the muscles of the eyeball, and I found a slight deflection of the galvanometer when a strong light was thrown into the eye, proving that vision was a voltaic phenomenon. The essential part of the organ of hearing is encased in textures of such extreme hard- ness, that it will probably be for ever pre- vented from being the subject of direct exper- iment. In the cochlea, I believe we may reasonably assume that the pitch of the note is determined 5 and in the semicircular canals which are placed in the three orthogonal planes of a cube, physiologists are pretty gen- erally agreed that animals learn the direction of sound. Blood and nerve — essentials to voltaic action — are here distributed, and no physical difficulty is presented to the proba- bility of a voltaic circuit being determined by sounds. THE VOLTAIC MECHANISM OF MAN. °J 39 Apparatus showing the generation of a voltaic circuit by odors. The nasal organ is, like the ear and eye, liberally supplied with blood and nerve-fibres. The voltaic circuit is easily demonstrated by the electro-voltaic test ; but the animal has an extraordinary repugnance to the operation, and you must be extremely careful not to be deceived by other secretions which are com- petent to set up the voltaic action. I can very readily show you that it is not at all difficult to form voltaic circuits, in which odors should excite the electric action. The tube which I hold in my hand contains two iron plates, which are separated by a membrane, and on each side pieces of sponge, dipped in very 40 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY j OR, dilute muriatic acid, are arranged. Now, if ammoniacal vapor, which produces the most powerful action on the natural nose, be brought under one side of the diaphragm, you perceive that a very strong action of the needle is immediately produced. The experi- ment which I have selected is one which shows the result easily, rapidly, and in a very marked manner j but I should not think it a bold assertion to declare, that with a little trouble and patience I could exhibit voltaic effects, although perhaps to a less marked extent, with every other odoriferous body. Fig. 3. Apparatus showing the generation of a voltaic circuit by savors. When an animal tastes, the matter which contains the savor comes in immediate con- tact with the tongue, and is there probably THE VOLTAIC MECHANISM OF MAN. 41 absorbed. I need hardly state, that the essen- tials for sensation, blood, and nerve, are abun- dantly supplied to that organ. With respect to physical contrivances analogical with the tongue, it is very easy to show voltaic force excited by savors; and I have here a V-shaped tube, containing a solution of pernitrate of iron, and two platinum poles, which exhibit by themselves no signs of electric action. As soon, however, as I drop a little infusion of meat into one side of the tube, you will in- stantly perceive that the galvanometer shows signs of action. There is no mystery about the meat, as sugar, or, in fact, any other savor, would have had a similar property in a greater or less degree, The direct examination of the tongue in the living animal affords unsat- isfactory results, inasmuch as secretions in the mouth are very apt to give wrong results — a circumstance which should be very carefully guarded against. 4* 42 electro-biology; or, The last organ of sensation to which I have to beg your attention is the Skin. Now, by the ordinary sensor nerves, we derive two sets of impressions of somewhat different charac- ters — for instance, we are enabled to judge of impressions upon the body by either heat or force, or what may be termed csenaisthen- ics. We are also enabled to judge of the changes taking place within our own body, which estimation may be more properly called somaisthenics. By somaisthenics we are ena- bled to estimate the slightest muscular motion, and, in fact, I can not move my finger or my arm to even the slightest extent without hav- ing a perfectly distinct idea of the amount of motion produced. The skin is acted upon by variations of temperature and force $ hence we have to in- quire how far heat and force can be employed to set in motion the voltaic force. In experi- menting upon the variations of temperature, J THE VOLTAIC* MECHANISM OF MAN. 43 found a large series of thermo-voltaic circuits, which, curiously enough, are analogical to photo-voltaic circuits, inasmuch as heat, at various times, determines both negative and positive circuits in the same manner as light. I have here a negative thermo-voltaic circuit, Fig. 4. Thermo-voltaic circuit in which the voltaic force is produced by heat. The apparatus, as you perceive, consists of a V-tube, containing sulphate of copper (fig. 4). Into each side of the tube a copper wire is place, and you perceive, that the moment I apply the heat of a spirit-lamp to one side, the galvanometer is very strongly deflected, the heated side becoming the negative pole. When force acts upon the skin, I presume 44 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY 5 OR, the blood corpuscle is prevented from coming in contact with the termination of the nerve- fibre 5 and I will beg you to bear this supposi- tion in mind, as in a later part of this lecture I shall demonstrate to you, that if this suppo- sition be correct, a voltaic circuit must be generated. My observations upon heat and force simply indicate that a thermo- or dyna- mo-voltaic circuit is an ordinary voltaic or physical phenomenon ; but that by no means proves that in the living body the mechanism of feeling is voltaic. This, however, is an experiment easily shown, for we have but to introduce our electro-voltaic test into the cu- taneous textures, when a powerful deflection of the galvanometer occurs whenever we pinch or otherwise irritate the skin. We thus find that the mechanism of all the sensations is voltaic, and according to the laws of the voltaic test, the needle nearest the negative pole becomes positive; that nearest the posi- THE VOLTAIC MECHANISM OF MAN. 45 tive pole, negative. From direct experiment, I should therefore infer, that the organs of sensation all constitute the positive pole of the peripheral battery. These inferences, how- ever, must always be taken with a proper allowance for the complex character of the voltaic circuits in the body, or rather, I would say, for the complex materials of which the circuit is composed. Sensations are received by a certain defi- nite number of sensor nerves, which constitute the only means we possess of obtaining a knowledge of the external world. The sensor nerves pass to the brain, and then come in contact with a highly vascular tissue, called the gray matter of the brain $ and I invite your attention to the very exquisite injections which I have made of that tissue, by means of the solution of carmine, and which will be exhib- ited under the microscope in the library after the lecture. 46 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY 5 OR, Inasmuch as the sensor nerves come in con tact with blood-vessels, it follows from voltaic laws, that a voltaic battery exists in the brain, which is opposed to that in the body, and by which the electro-biological circuit is comple- ted. At this point we leave the regions of direct experiment, and we must deduce the mechanism of the central battery according to voltaic laws on the one hand, and the proper- ties of the mind on the other. I infer that the sensations are simply re- peated in the brain, nerve for nerve, action for action, and this first battery I term the sensa- tion or aisthenic battery 5 the second pole of this battery is probably connected with the corresponding fibre of the opposite side, by what anatomists call a commissure, and which I have illustrated on the table by voltaic arrangement. We have represented to our minds, not only simple sensations, but also combined impres- THE VOLTAIC MECHANISM OF MAN. 47 sions 5 thus, while I am looking at all the parts of this theatre, one impression — namely, that of a theatre — is brought before my mind. There is no difficulty in obtaining this result by voltaic means 5 and the mechanism by which I believe it to be accomplished I have termed the syndramic or combination battery. Thus, if we have three primitive nervous fibrils, A) B, C, they may be thus combined : A B, A C, B C, A B C. The diagram behind me illustrates this mode of combination 5 and here, upon the table, I have the voltaic arrangement itself 5 and you can not fail to observe that these wires, even on this very limited scale, begin to look like the interlacing which we observe in the brain. If we divide any space into a certain num- ber of squares, and give to each square a cer- tain name or figure, it will be apparent, that by simply giving the names of the squares filled up with black, the word, or name, or 48 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY j OR, symbol, would at once be accurately de- scribed. I have divided this piece of card into certain squares, and if I read you a cer- tain combination of numbers, it would appear, at first, to give no definite idea, but if you ex- amine carefully, you will find that this combi- nation of numbers brings out the word life. This word, I find, has been very unfortunately chosen, but in reality I only selected the word in illustration of the principle of combination, because it only consisted of four letters, and because each letter was so formed that it very perfectly filled up square spaces. Ladies constantly in practice take advan- tage of this principle in their patterns of worsted work j and it would be possible so to describe a picture, up to the very limit of our powers of sensation, that it might, from the description alone, be repeated in any country, and yet be a perfect fac-simile. I dwell thus long upon the syndramic, or THE VOLTAIC MECHANISM OF MAN. 49 combination battery, because, in all proba- bility, it constitutes a very large part of the brain. When we consider the large number of ultimate fibres in each organ of sensation, I do not think that we have reason to suppose every possible combination ensues; and even with regard to ordinary sentient nerves, 1 think that such a universal combination would be embarrassing to the mind, and that the combination probably would extend to the nerves of each separate region of the body. It is quite certain that we always know the specific sense by which impressions are learnt — that is to say, that we know whether an idea has been derived from the eye, nose, mouth, or other organ of sensation. This resolves itself into one idea for a vast number of sensations, and is a state which can very easily be imitated by voltaic contrivances. I have upon the table a voltaic arrangement of this character, in which but one action is pro- 50 electro-biology; or, duced from one or all the combinations which exist in the syndramic battery. In some cases, ideas do not arise alone from action on one sense, but on two or more senses at one time — a combination which I infer to occur in the syndramic noemic battery 5 and lastly, it is necessary to assume, that all these last combi- nations of each specific sense are connected , together into one total in the pneuma-noemic battery, from the opposed pole of which the dynamic or motor nerves spring. The situation of this important battery is somewhere in the base of the brain ; .and I believe that in applying the electro-voltaic test in this situation, I have obtained deflection of the galvanometer. Let me, however, speak with the utmost caution upon this point 5 for, although I have tried the experiment over and over again, the animal is almost invariably de- stroyed 5 and in fact, by the electro-biological maps which are suspended upon the wall, you THE VOLTAIC MECHANISM OF MAN. 51 will at once perceive that an action here influ- ences every nerve in the body, and thus may very readily destroy vitality. Now, what are the qualities of this last bat- tery, which has but one impression for all the sensations of the body ? We find that it rep- resents totality, and can not be limited. It has therefore the properties of infinity, and gives to man his most exalted ideas. The ideas of soul, God, eternity, immortality, are obtainable from this battery, acting in con- junction with the lower batteries w 7 hich I have already described. I regret exceedingly that the hour allotted for this lecture has now been so far spent that I am unable fully to consider the properties of the mind deducible from the theoretical structure which I have developed upon voltaic laws 5 but, under the circumstan- ces, I feel bound to pass on to matters which can be elucidated by direct experiment. When the voltaic force is carried by the 52 ELECTIiO-BIOLOGY J OR, sensor nerves to the brain, it there causes some change of matter, by which polarity is * ever after determined. This phenomena is a physical result of the most ordinary kind 5 for I have here a solution of argento-cyanide of potassium, with two copper poles, and, before the lecture^ I passed a voltaic circuit from one pole to the second, by which I have effected a change of matter, and silver has been precipi- tated on one side. You will now see, that immediately I connect the two poles with the galvanometer, a strong deflection will ensue, and, to use a metaphorical phrase, the solution has remembered what I did to it. This exper- iment, which is but a sample of a class, must only be regarded as analogical, and is only valuable to show that voltaic electricity may produce effects which will ever after be appa- rent. In the arrangement of the nerves of the body, every sensor nerve is opposed to every THE VOLTAIC MECHANISM OF MAN. 53 motor nerve, and may excite it to action under certain circumstances. Now, before I con- sider this subject in detail, I may state that the voltaic circuit, when it has the choice of two or more roads, invariably takes the easiest route, to the exclusion of all the rest. Here is an arrangement, in which one of my pla- tinized silver batteries is connected with two precipitating troughs, having the same distance to travel in both cases, but one is charged with sulphate of copper, the other with sulphate of zinc 5 and yet with this trifling difference the entire current has passed through the sulphate of copper, to the exclusion of the sulphate of zinc, because copper was more easily reduci- ble than zinc, and therefore offered a some- what easier passage to the voltaic force. Upon examining the arrangement, I find that the experiment has been tried under the most trying circumstances, as I observe that the positive pole, ti the sulphate of copper, is 5* 54 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY j OR, almost entirely dissolved. Notwithstanding, however, this, the law which I have developed and described in my Electro-Metallurgy still holds good, though I must confess that I should not have risked the demonstration of this ex- treme application of the law 7 , which fortunate- ly, by accident, has brought the matter more strikingly under your notice. Frdni this law, we learn that the voltaic cir- cuit would be completed, through the nearest motor nerve, when any sensation was excited, unless obstacles were presented to its passage in that direction, or any circumstances favor- able to its passage through any other motor nerve were afforded in some more distant part of the electro-biological circuit, when even the farthest motor nerve might be excited to ac- tion. The action of every animal is determined, then, not only by the impression received at the moment, but by every other event which THE VOLTAIC MECHANISM OF MAN. 55 it has registered or remembered from the first moment of its life. The motor nerves, by which the circuit is completed in the body, are distributed, in man, to the muscles 5 in other creatures to the electric organs 5 in others, to light-generating structure. The electric battery of fishes, as it is technically called, is composed of an enor- mous number of minute cells, supplied with blood-vessels. The nervous force, which I have already shown to be voltaic, acts at right- angles to the direction of the cells, and there produces some change of matter which in- stantly causes a powerful voltaic current. I have here a glass vessel, containing a so- lution of ferrocyanate of potash, into the inte- rior of which is placed a porous cell, contain- ing a similar solution 5 a platinum pole is inserted into both vessels, for the purpose of connection with the galvanometer. Now, if I pass a voltaic cm Ten* from the outside to the 56 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY J OR, Fig. 5. Artificial electric eel : Z, S, connections to be attached to the battery ; N, P, wires exhibiting the phenomena. inside (Z S), no change of matter takes place in one part — the prussiate of potash remains the same $ in the other, it is converted into the red prussiate. From this change, one side becomes strongly positive to the other; and you perceive that so powerful a current has been generated, that the needle completely swings round the instant connection is made with the galvanometer, I have only shown this experiment upon one cell 5 but it must be manifest to you, that, as every cell adds a certain amount of force, it simply requires a number to make a battery as powerful as that of an electric eel. The artificial electric eel THE VOLTAIC MECHANISM OF MAN. 57 I have myself constructed, in a vast variety of ways, which I have not now time to con- sider. The muscular substance is ultimately divis- ible into primitive fibrils, which consist of a sheath, called the sarcolemma, containing in the interior a peculiar matter, which, during the act of contraction, becomes wider and shorter ; and this contraction is caused by a change of matter, produced by the voltaic force carried through the motor nerves. I have here a strong piece of gut to imitate the sarcolemma, and into the interior of this I have placed fluid and pieces of platinized sil- Fig. 6. Artificial muscular substance 58 electro-biology; or, ver. Upon the outer side of this gut is placed a strong piece of amalgamated zinc, so that the moment connection is made between the zinc and silver, gas is evolved, which renders the bladder wider and shorter, and thus moves this bar of wood over a space of three or four feet. (See fig. 6.) The conditions of the natural muscle and artificial muscle are perfectly analogical 5 both possess a power only limited by the strength of the materials. In both cases, the power acts over the short end of the lever, and there- fore at a mechanical disadvantage. In both cases it is a great power moving over a small space. I, however, can move my natural mus- cles much quicker than I can my artificial muscle 5 but you must please to remember that my organs are not competent to construct a machine having such fine tubes as we find in the ultimate muscular fibrils ; and for want of this delicacy of construction, we sacrifice THE VOLTAIC MECHANISM OF MAN. 59 the speed and rapidity of action observable in the perfection of Nature's operations. Anxious to lay before you the leading ex- periments and deductions of this truly delight- ful subject, I have delivered this lecture with the utmost possible rapidity 5 and yet I see around me multitudes of experiments which I fear that I shall have no time to explain, as the hour has already passed. By your applause, I understand that you wish me to proceed 5 but as some of my audience live at considera- ble distances, I will only detain you by calling your attention very briefly to a few other points. In the first place, we find that man consists of a double voltaic circuit, and there- fore we ought to consider the nature of the changes taking place in that voltaic circuit. Now, there are strong reasons to suppose that hydrogen and carbon act as the positive pole, and become changed in that capacity into water and carbonic acid. It would only re- 60 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY ; * OR, quire one thirty-second the quantity of these materials to produce any result that it would of zinc j and I can assure you, that many a time have I sought diligently and carefully for a voltaic circuit which should be efficiently excited by carbon or coke as a positive ele- ment 5 and I can promise to the fortunate dis- coverer of such a combination the delight of being able to supersede the steam-engine, and the pleasure of successfully generating the voltaic light. Then, and not till then, will voltaic batteries be employed to the exclu- sion of every other means of generating force. Although up to the present time I have not been able to use coke or carbon for a positive pole, I have succeeded in making a variety of circuits, in which substances composed of carbon and hydrogen form powerful voltaic circuits 5 for instance, sugar and nitric acid, oxalic acid and chloride of gold, ferrocyanate THE VOLTAIC MECHANISM OF MAN, 61 of potash and nitric acid, constitute examples of this class of batteries. The voltaic circuit in animals is exactly balanced, and does not act without some im- pression to set in motion the electric current. The arterial or oxygenized corpuscles are ad- mirably adapted for this purpose 5 and I have here an experiment which will illustrate their functions in a very beautiful manner. The glass vessel which I hold in my hand contains a solution of common salt, and two iron poles are inserted into it. Now, in this state every- thing is balanced, and no voltaic force is ex- hibited. If I take an artificial corpuscle made of animal membrane, containing a little per- nitrate of iron, and bring it in contact with one of the iron poles, a very powerful deflec- tion of the galvanometer ensues, indicating the presence of a current. When, however, one corpuscle is placed against each plate of iron, the effect is again balanced, and no vol- 6 62 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY J OR, taic circuit arises. These experiments well indicate the functions of the blood corpuscle in the living body 5 for when one is in contact with each end of the nerve fibre, no current can take place, but the moment one is re- moved, or acted upon by heat, light, or other forces, a strong voltaic battery is formed. Fig. 7. Artificial blood corpuscle. I would gladly have occupied your attention with a few remarks upon the relations of elec- tricity to organic or cell-life. By a modifica- tion of the aggregation of cells, a plant pro- duces leaves, stalks, flowers, or roots, which every gardener knows is, to a certain extent, afe much under human control as digging, raking, or hoeing. During the prevalence of the potato malady, I subjected the plant to THE VOLTAIC MECHANISM OF MAN. 63 every form of electricity, and in every possible manner, over long periods, without obtaining any result. There is, however, one remarkable circum- stance to be noticed with regard to the rela- tion of electricity to cell-life $ for I have found that electric currents stop the circulation of the blood, as suddenly as a stop does a watch when put down 5 and this entire stoppage of the circulation extends not only to the blood corpuscle, but also to the lymph corpuscle which creeps so slowly along the side of the vessel. If we take a review of the functions of ani- mal life, we find that all sensations, the regis- tration of impressions, thought, action, and other phenomena of animal life, are voltaic effects, and solely obedient to physical laws ; and to the idea of the performance of these functions we assign the idea of vitality. Life, therefore, is one word used to signify a num- 64 THE VOLTAIC MECHANISM OF MAN, ber of changes. It is no independent reality apart from the matter which exhibits these phenomena. Neither is it an imponderable attached to matter ; nor is it an all-pervading ether, or anima mundi, as some philosophers would have us suppose. Life, mind, memory, reason, thought, come from organization, are purely physical phenomena, and cease at death. "* — Man, however, is immortal. Man, at all times, and in all regions, has believed in his immortality. Now, that which is mortal can have no relation with that which gives to man his immortality. That which is infinite must not be limited ; time must not be confounded with eternity, matter with space, the body with the soul, nor material actions with God. Electro-biology, then, leads us no less to infer, than religion commands us to believe, "that the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 55 INTRODUCTION. Mesmer was the first who reduced the principles of Animal Magnetism to a system, and he employed it very successfully as an auxiliary of medicine in his extensive practice. This was in 1774. In a few years he was assailed by numerous enemies. The curative effects of animal magnetism excited the jealousy of the medical faculty in Paris ; hence the Academe Royale Mede- cine, in the exercise of its royal prerogative of intolerance decreed : No physician shall declare himself a partisan of animal magnetism under the penalty of being struck from the list of members. In 1745 this same Academy had condemned inoculation as "murderous," " criminal," and * £ magical." Peruvian bark shared the same fate ; also against the circulation of the blood. In 1784 this Academy appointed a committee from their number to examine and report on animal magnetism ; but instead of confining their attention to the facts which were laid before them, they sought the cause by which they were produced, and inquired into the existence of the fluid described by Mesmer, but it escaped their research. They could not see, taste, or touch it ; they could not collect it in masses, and could neither measure or weigh it ; therefore they made a leap in the dark, and concluded that animal magnetism did not exist. How ridiculous would such tests now seem to determine whether the mind exists or not ; but it is equally so with regard to animal mag- netism. But the decree of the Academy was assailed on all sides, and their sophistry detected by some of the most learned men of Europe, and the science spread in spite of persecution, through France, Germany, Holland, and many members of the Academy became believers and practisers of it, as an auxiliary of medicine ; and in 1825, a new commission was appointed to examine and re- port to the Society on the subject, and in 1831, they reported unan- imously in its favor, although when first appointed, several of the committee were opposed to it In Europe, Cuvicr, Laplace, Hum- boldt, Dugald Stewart, Coleridge, Prof. Kluge and Dr. FJliotson 2 INTRODUCTION. are advocates of it ; and in our own country, Doctors Bartlet ol Lowell ; Flint and Buyard of Boston ; Cutler of N. H. ; Cleaveland of R. I. ; and Payne and HofTendahl of Albany, use it with great success in their practice as an auxiliary of medicine ; besides the president and professors of Union and other Colleges, and a large number of the most intelligent men in our country are either prac- tical magnetisers or advocates of it. We are aware that it has numerous opposers. Every new dis- covery has had opposers, and the more important the discovery, the more numerous were the opposers. Harvey, the discoverer of the circulation of the blood was persecuted by the most learned physi- cian, and they so prejudiced the people against him, that he lost his extensive practice and had to flee his native country. Gailileo was condemned to the inquisition. Fulton was persecuted. But like every other truth it will triumph over opposition, and hold up to shame and contempt, those who oppose it through ignorance and prejudice ; as opposers of this and every truth, are among those who never have examined it ; for it is the universal result, that every one who carefully examines it, by experiment and observation, be comes convinced of its reality. Animal magnetism is introduced with success into the hospitals of Paris and London. At Berlin is a professorship of Animal Mag- netism in the Medical College. The learned Dr. Kluge now fills that station. Some charge the whole phenomena of Animal Magnetism to the devil. Admit this, and we must also admit that he is a clever sort of a fellow after all, to thus relieve distress, and reclaim the drunkard from the intoxicating bowl, to become a good member of society : to change hatred into love, so that the subject can pray for his ene- mies, and be saved from death. Magnetism does all this, and if this is a work of the devil, the poor fellow has heretofore been awfully slandered. Animal Magnetism like every other blessing has doubtless beoo abused by some, so has religion. ELEMENTS. OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. CHAPTER I. DEFINITION OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. Anmial Magnetism is the action of one mind upon another, so as to attract or influence it. We feel it whf n listening to the eloquence of a celebrated orator. He is the centre of attraction ; the audience is held in riveted attention ; he conducts them to the battle- field ; they hear the roaring cannon, they see the fields strewed with the dead and dying and covered with blood. The result is similar when we listen to the singing of an accomplished musician. But wh;it is more especially understood by animal magnetism, is that power which some possess of so concentrating their attention, and directing their will with such en- ergy, as to put some persons into a magnetic sleep, and frequently to cure or relieve diseases. Its more appropriate name is pneumatology. It is a species of electricity. CHAPTER II. ANALOGY BETWEEN NATURAL AND MAGNETIC SOMNAMBULISM. Sec. I. Natural Somnambulism. A somnambulist mentioned by Gassendi used to rise, dres himself in his sleep, 2*0 down to the cellar, and draw wine from a ©ask. One night he carried on his head a table 4 ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. covered with decanters, up a very narrow stair-case and with more dexterity than he could have done when awake. The Archbishop of Bordeaux, states in the thirty- eighth volume of the Encyclopedia, edited by Diderot, d'Alembert, &c, the case of a young clergyman who was in the habit of rising during the night in a state of somnambulism, and writing his sermons. When he had finished one page of his manuscript, he would revise it, after having read it aloud. In order to ascertain whe- ther he made any use of his eyes, the Archbishop held a piece of paste-board under his chin to prevent his seeing the paper before him ; but he continued to write on without being at all incoi nmoded. Dr. Dwight mentions the case of a somnambulist who every morning on awaking found himself minus a shirt. After thus losing about two dozen, and having no remembrance of what had become of them, his brother slept with him one night, to ascertain, if possible, what he did with his shirts. About twelve o'clock he arose, dressed himself and went out ; his brother followed him to a pond, one mile distant ; there he undressed himself and took his shirt and thrust it into a hollow log ; then bathed ; after which he dressed himself, with the exception of his shirt, and returned, undressed himself, and retired to bed. In tne morning he awoke as usual and found his shirt missing ; he inquired of his brother what had become of it ; he told him that if he would follow him he would show it him ; they went to the pond and there found it, and all the others, stowed away in the hollow log. A man in Massachusetts arose in his sleep and threshed out his grain, and then retired to bed ; the next day he was much astonished, when he went to his barn for the purpose of threshing his grain, to find it already done. A girl in Albany is accustomed to rise in her sleep, and sew and do other unfinished work of the preceding day ; but has no recollection, when awake, of it. Dr. Haycock, professor of medicine in Oxford, would give out a text in his sleep, and deliver a good sermon ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 5 from iv, nor could all the pinching and pulling of his friends prevent him. A volume of sermons, preached in New York a few years since by a young girl, a natural somnambulist, have been published. Dr. Belden gives the following description of the Springfield somnambulist : One of her fits of somnam- bulism continued forty-eight hours ; many attempts were made in vain to arouse her ; a bandage was tied over her eyes, but she read a great variety of cards written and presented to her by different persons, told the time by watches, and wrote short sentences. A second ban- dage was placed over the other, but apparently without causing any obstruction to the vision. She repeated with great propriety and distinctness several pieces of poetry, some of which she had learned in childhood, but had forgotten, and others which she had merely read several years since ; she sung several songs correctly, yet she had never learned to sing, and has never been known to sing when awake. In another fit, I took a large black silk handkerchief, placed between the folds two pieces of cotton batting, and applied it in such s manner that the cotton came directly over the eyes, and completely filled the cavity on each side of the nose. Various names were then written on cards, which she read as soon as they were presented to her. When at Worcester, in one of her somnambulic attacks, she was taught how to play backgammon, and in the sixth game beat Dr. Butler, an experienced player. But she could not even set the men when awake. Dr. Abercrombie gives the following extraordinary account of a natural somnambulist : "A girl aged seven years slept in an apartment, separated by a very thin wall from one which was frequently occupied by an em- inent itinerant fiddler, who often spent the greater part of the night in performing pieces of a very refined de- scription ; but this child took no notice of it only as a very disagreeable noise. Six months after, she became sick, and was removed to the house of a benevolent lady, where, after her recovery from a protracted illness, she D ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. was employed as a servant. Some years after, the most beautiful music was often heard in the house during the night. At length the sound was traced to the sleeping room of the girl, who was found fast asleep, but utter- ing from her lips a sound exactly resembling the sweet- est sounds of a small violin. She would first utter sounds precisely resembling the tuning of a violin, and then dashed off into elaborate music, which she perform- ed in a clear and accurate manner, and with a sound exactly resembling the most delicate modulations of that instrument. Soon she imitated the piano, and sung, imi- tating precisely the voices of several ladies of the fami- ly. She was, when awake, a dull awkward girl, and in point of intellect was much inferior to the other servants of the family." Said S. T. Coleridge, "A young woman of 25, who could neither read nor write, was seized with a nervous fever, during which she talked continually, Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. She had when a child lived with a clergy- man, who occasionally read in each of these languages." Sec. II. Magnetic Somnambulism. M. Delouze in his critical history of Animal Magnetism, gives the fol- lowing summary of the phenomena of Magnetic Somnam- bulism. " When magnetism produces somnambulism, the being who is in this condition acquires a prodigious extension in the faculty of sensation ; his eyes are shut, his ears are closed ; yet he sees and hears better than any one awake. He is under the w 7 ill of his magnetiser in regard to every thing that cannot hurt him, and he does not feel contrary to his ideas of justice and truth. Hs recovers the recollection of things he had forgotten when awake. He expresses himself with astonishing facility. When he awakes he forgets all. The magnetic somnam- bule perceives innumerable relations in all objects, with an extreme rapidity, and in one minute runs through a train of ideas which to us would require many hours. Time seems to vanish before him." " Of all the disco veries which have excited attention, this gives us the most insight into the nature and faculties of man." The ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. / following case was embodied in the report of the com- missioners of the French Academy, and read to that learned body in 1831, to which we have referred. On the 18th of March, 1826, M. Petit was set asleep in one minute. A bandage was put over his eyes ; one of the gentlemen present, M. Raynal, played a game of cards with M. Petit, and lost it. The latter handled his cards with the greatest dexterity, and without making any mis- take. We attempted several times in vain to set him at fault by taking away or changing some of his cards. They also attest other cases, among which was M. Paul, who was put asleep in two minutes by M. Foissac, and read fluently any book presented to him. The following statement was published in the Salem Gazette, in 1836 : " Dr. B , of Providence, operated upon a young lady, during the period of magnetic sleep, who could tell correctly the time by a watch, though enveloped in a cloth, and at the same time having a bandage over her eyes. The doctor had a patient sick, as was believed, of liver complaint, and bade the som- nambulist go in spirit to the man's house, (it being one fourth of a mile distant.) Arrived, she, at the Doctor's request, described the house, that there might be no mistake, and then entered. " What do you see ? " ask- ed Dr. B. "A man sick." I wish you to tell me what ails him. First look at his head ; is it well ? " Yes." How do you know ? " Because it looks like yours or any other one who is well." Is the liver, heart, &c, well ? " " Yes," Do you see anything wrong ? " Yes, there is an enlargement of the spleen." Several ques- tions were then put to confuse her, and also to ascer- tain if she knew what the spleen was, and where situa- ted ; to all which she gave correct answers. In four days the patient died ; a post mortem examination was instituted ; all the physicians of the city were present, to whom the story of the girl was narrated before com- mencing operations, and they were requested to exam- ine the body to see if they could discover the diseased spleen from external examination. They, sixteen in 8 ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. number, declared with one voice that they could not. The body was then opened, and to the astonishment oi all present, the girl was right; the spleen weighed fifty- seven ounces ; its usual weight being from four to six ounces." The natural somnambule is impelled by his own ima- gination, and certain corporeal impressions ; the mag- netic wholly depends on the will and faculties of his magnetiser. But in all the highest cases of phenomena in magnetic somnambulism, there are cases in natural somnambulism almost identical with them. The following is extracted from the Journal de la Meuse for the 20th September, 1835: "A girl by the name of Arron, when plunged in a state of natural som- nambulism, answers with precision the questions put to her ; she perceives not only such natural objects as are around her, but also those which are concealed ; and, what is still more surprising, objects removed to a very great distance. A physician from Chartres, saw her in an attack and said to her, " Mary, do you know me ?" " Yes sir." " Who am I? " " You are a physician." — " Where do I live ? " "At Chartres." " Can you see my house ? " " Yes." " Is there any company in it ? " " Yes ; four ladies ; one old, two middle aged, and one a young lady." " What do I hold in my hand? " "A small wooden box." " What does it contain ? " " Sharp little iron tools." " What do I hold in my hand ? " " Some money." " How much 1 " (She names the sum.) " In what coins ? " (She specifies them.) AH these answers were perfectly correct. The following experiments were performed by the writer: June 19th, 1840, put Miss W , of Albany, into a magnetic somnambulism in 20 minutes ; she walked wherever I directed her, either by word or simply wil- ling her. Without any gesture or moving of my lips, she would converse with me or with any other one that J willed. She would tell accurately what was held be- hind her head ; read cards placed on her stomach ; sung whenever I willed. June 22d, put her into a magnetic ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 9 sleep in 14 minutes. Mr. Lancaster, Mr. Bulgin and se- veral ladies were present. She walked as before ; a large black-board was placed before her at the distance of four afeet ; the different individuals present held various articles behind it, and she told correctly in evrey instance, what they were ; she also read accurately, cards and books held behind the black-board. I went out of the room, after requesting her to notice what I should do, and on my return she stated accurately. She is the natural somnambulist that I have referred to in the first section of this chapter. Clairvoyance at a Distance. — Dr. Arndt, the emi- nent German physician, relates, that being one day seat- ed near the bed of one of his somnambulists, on a sudden she became agitated, uttered sighs, and as if tormented by some vision, exclaimed, u O heavens ! my father ! he is dying ! he is dying ! " A few mo- ments afterwards she awoke, seemed quite cheerful, and recollected nothing of the anxiety she had so re- cently manifested. She relapsed twice into the same state of magnetic sleep, and each time she was tormented by the same vision. Being asked what had happened to her father, she replied, " he is bathed in blood, he is dy- ing." Soon she awoke and was cheerful as before. Some weeks after, Dr. A. found this lady pensive and sorrowful, she had just received a letter respecting her father, who was distant 450 miles, stating that a serious accident had befallen him. In ascending the stair of his cellar the door had fallen on his breast ; a considerable haemorrhage ensued, and the physicians despaired of his life. Dr. A. had marked the precise time of the prece- ding scenr of the somnambulism of the lady, found that it was exactly on the day and at the hour when the ac- cident happened to her father. 10 ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. CHAPTER HI. USES OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. When an individual is in somnambulism, sensibility 13 destroyed, and the most painful surgical operations have been performed, and the patient remained the whole time in a state of perfect unconsciousness. " The most painful chronic diseases, as well as numerous spasmodic nervous affections have been either perfectly cured or relieved by its application. And it frequently restores the pa- tient when medicine fails. Says Deluze, magnetism of- ten assuages a fever ; and is a sovereign remedy for en- largement of the glands, and has wrought astonishing cures in scrofulous complaints ; ulcers which have ex- hausted the resources of medicine, have been cured by magnetism. A woman w r ho had an ulcer ten years was cured in thirty-five sittings. There have been over six- ty cases of paralysis cured by magnetism in France. Rheumatic affections are usually speedily cured by it. It is a certain remedy for tic doloureux. Continues De- luze : a young lady of twenty had attacks of epilepsy ever since she was nine years old, and had been unsuc- cessfully treated by the most able physicians. It is three months since she had recourse to magnetism. — From the first month her attacks became weaker and less frequent ; at the end of the second they entirely disappeared, and she now enjoys perfect health." Dr. Cutter of Nashua, N. H. gives the following account in a letter to T. C. Hartshorn, of Providence, dated — Nashua, N. H. Nov. 22, 1837. Tic Douloureux. — " I was called to see Miss E. M. of this town. The disease was confined to the right side of the face. I proposed magnetism, she assented. After sleeping a short time I awoke her and the pain was gone, and has not returned." A little girl ten years of age, daughter of Mr. Mayer ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 11 of Albany, had had convulsion fits for several days, and was given over by the physicians, who said that she could not live twenty-four hours ; as the last means hei father sent for the Rev. Mr. Garfield, a magnetiser, to try magnetism on her. When he arrived, the girl was insensible, and her frame much convulsed ; he com- menced magnetizing her ; in a few minutes she was per- fectly calm, and went into a tranquil slumber and slept well during the night ; ths next morning she awoke and conversed with those around her ; her fits had ceased ; after that she was magnetised several times, and in five days she was well. Dr. J. W. Robbins of Uxbridge, Mass., thus states, " One individual was affected with dyspepsia, had a cra- ving appetite for fruits and aliments which were sure to distress her. When in magnetic sleep, I enjoined upon her in the most impressive manner not to indulge her- self in their use. The day following, having procured an apple, she wished to eat it, but found herself under the control of a mysterious influence which rendered it morally impossible. I next tried the experiment with regard to tea; I willed that every attempt to take the least quantity should be followed by nausea. All her suc- ceeding attempts to take tea was followed by distress- ing sickness ; and it is now several months, yet those ha- bits remain corrected. I tried the experiment of inter- dicting the use of both tea and coffee with equal success ; the same with the use of snuff." Another gentleman states that an inveterate attachment to tobacco in its va- rious shapes, has been entirely destroyed, though the pa- tient, a medical student, knew nothing of the cause of it, while in the ordinary state. In another individual a spirit of charitable feeling was induced towards an in- dividual who had rendered himself an object of the pa- tient's hatred and indignation. Thus far the spirit of forgiveness prevails, although the patient is ignorant of the cause. Other experiments have been made to excite cheerfulness, hope, &c, successfully. It may be applied to every bad habit with equal success. 12 ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. A materialist in Albany, when he saw the astonishing phenomena of magnetic somnambulism exhibited in his own daughter, exclaimed, " I have been deceived, the soul is not materia], it is an immortal spirit. I see ample proofs of it before me." Therefore this science is not only of vast importance as an auxiliary of medicine ; but also as a corrector of evil habits, and a promoter of Christianity. Effects of Animal Magnetism on Superstition. — Animal Magnetism throws considerable light on many of the mystic rites and ceremonies of the ancients ; it unseals the door of the heathen temple, and strips the priest before his altar of all his supernatural attributes ; it explains a variety of extraordinary facts which the historians of all ages have recorded, and connects them with each as effects which are identical and dependent on the operation of the same cause. It affords, too, a satisfactory explanation of the curious facts connected with sorcery and witchcraft, which during the middle ages excited the apprehensions of the vulgar, imposed on the credulity of the learned, and led to those hor- rible persecutions which prevailed throughout Europe. Prosper Alpinus states that frictions during ablution were among the se-cret remedies of the Egyptian priests : " The mystery of Oracles, the prophetic ravings of the Sybils, are explicable on the same principle." Jose- phus was frequently in somnambulism. Among the an- cient oriental nations, the treatment and cure of disea- ses by the application of the hands is universally attest- ed. Jarcha.s informs us that he saw almost every de- scription of disease cured in this way by the Indian sa- ges. "In looking over the trials of those unfortunate persons who w r ere condemned for witchcraft, it is impos- sible to escape the conviction that the sorcerers or wiz- zards exercised a truly magnetic influence over their credulous disciples." " The affected persons exhibited several of the phenomena of somnambulism, and it is not surprising that in that age of darkness, effects so ex- traordinary were ascribed to the devil." ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. J 3 Persons in somnambulism, as we have shown, are de- prived of sensation ; this in those times was considered a sure sign of witchcraft, and multitudes were murdered with no other proof against them. Increase Mather thus states about the New England witches : " They did mutually with the touch cure each other, and fore- told when another fit was coming on, and it happened accordingly ; their eyes in the fits were fast closed." Animal Magnetism explains the phenomena of Irving's prophetessses. Those persons who fall at camp meet- ings are in somnambulism, and fully explain those phe- nomena that they exhibit, which have so long excited astonishment. * The somnambulic faculty of clairvoy- ance, or the power of seeing events passing at a dis- tant place, affords a solution of the nrystery of what in the north of Scotland is called second sight." Therefore- fore a general knowledge of animal magnetism will ba- nish superstition of every description from the globe. — The superstitious through ignorance attribute natural ap- pearances to supernatural cuuses. " Mesmerism and Surgery. — At the invitation of Dr. Homer Bestwick, of No. 75 Chambers-st., we witnessed Saturday, a surgical operation upon a patient in the state of Mesmeric Sleep. The operation was performed at No. 152 Church-st., and consisted in the removal of an adipose tumor from the back. The patient was a color- ed woman named Emeline Brown, a servant in the fa- mily of the Rev. Dr. Higbee. She was magnetized by Daniel Oltz, of No. 80 Chambers-st., assisted by E. J. Pike. After the patient had been thrown into the proper state, Mr. Oltz left the room, but Mr. Pike remained and held her hand during the operation. The object of this, as we understood, was to insure her continuance in a state of perfect unconsciousness. Only five minutes were occupied in magnetizing the patient. She sat in a chair, her head thrown forward and resting on a table. There was every indication of a state of perfect uncon- sciousness. * Dr. Bostwick, before commencing the operation, sta- 14 ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. ted that he had been entirely skeptical on the subject, but had desired in this instance to subject the claims of magnetism to a practical test. Mr. 01 tz, the magneti- zer, had not known the patient until some three days previously, and had magnetized her only some four or five times, at Dr. Bostwick's request. Mr. Pike had never seen her previous to the time fixed for the ex* periment. " The magnetizer having pronounced the patient in the proper state, Doctor Bostwick (assisted by Doctors Samuel R. Childs and John Stearns,) proceeded with the operation. He first made an incision about eight inches in length across the tumor, and then proceeded to remove it by the usual process. The operation last- ed three minutes, and required no small amount of cut- ting. We stood within two feet of the patient, and watched her narrowly. There was no muscular twitch- ing and no manifestation whatever of sensibility to pain, or even of consciousness. A physician examined the pulse and said it was quite natural, though somewhat feebler, perhaps, than usual. A dead body could not have exhibited stronger insensibility to pain. The tu- mor weighed ten ounces. The wound did not bleed near as profusely as such wounds do when the patient is in a natural state. The whole operation of removing the tumor and dressing the wound occupied just half an hour. " The wound having been dressed and the garments of the patient adjusted, Mr. Oltz awoke her by a few pas- ses, which occupied less than a minute. Her appear- ance was much like that of a person suddenly aroused from ordinary sleep. Questions were put to her imply- ing that the operation had not been peformed, and that she would have to be magnetized again. She said she would rather submit to the operation at once in the nat- ural state than wait any longer. She was asked if she did not know that the tumor had been removed. She replied in the negative, and with every appearance of perfect simplicity and integrity, declared that she had ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 15 felt no pain and was wholly ignorant of whatever had transpired during her sleep. " There were present as witnesses, including several Reporters for the Press, some dozen persons. Among them we name the following gentlemen : — Dr. Eleazer Parmly ; Edw T ard A. Lawrence, from the Rooms of the Home Missionary Society, J, R. S. Van Vleet, from the Office of the Courier and Enquirer ; E. A. Buffum, Re- porter for the Herald ; Dr. H. H. Sherwood ; Dr. Ed- ward Spring ; Oliver Johnson, Assistant Editor of the Tribune. There were others whose names we did not learn. We have no comment to make upon the facts thus stated, except to express our perfect conviction that there were no collusions. In fact we see not how de- ^ntion could have been possible under the circumstan- ces. The most obstinate skepticism must yield in the presence of facts like these." — ZV. F. Tribune. CHAPTER IV. PROCESSES. There are various methods practiced by different mag- netizers. But we think the following preferable : If you wish to put a person into the magnetic sleep, cause him to sit as easy as possible in an easy chair, with his head reclined back, and require him to be per- fectly quiet ; sit down before him, place your knees beside his ; then take his thumbs in such a manner that the inside of your thumbs will touch the inside of his. Concentrate your attention, and will him to sleep ; after holding him thus about ten minutes, slowly raise your hands with the palms turned outward to his head, then 16 ELEMENTS OF ANUfAL MAGNETISM. turning the palms inward let them descend to his shoul- ders, and let them remain there five minutes ; then let your hands descend with the fingers pointed towards the arms, at the distance of two or three inches from them to the extremities of his fingers ; let your hands then ascend, sweeping them off to the right and the left, to their extent, palms outward as before ;. raise them as high as the head, then descend as before ; thus continue from five to ten minutes, and lastly, lay the right hand upon the pit of the stomach. Remember that un- less you keep your attention fixed, your will steady and unwavering, your efforts will be vain. The operation is principally intellectual ; many make no use of the ma- nipulations, and produce all the effects by the mere ener- gy of the will, at a distance from the patient ; but still the movements of the hands give some assistance in pro- ducing the magnetic current ; the downward motions are magnetic, the upward are not. Some persons are much more susceptible of the magnetic influence than others ; hence some require a longer time in being put into the magnetic sleep than others ; in some cases the processes are shortened, in others they must be lengthened. There are some persons upon wham magnetism has no sensible effects. Another very successful method is, to take the patient by one hand and place the other hand on the head and exert the will as in the preceding case. But a comparative few that are put into magnetic sleep become somnambulists, If a person in this sleep will answer the questions of his magnetise*, he is m somnambulism. To awaken the patient from magnetic sleep make upward motions with your hands before his face, willing him to awake, and he immediately awakes. Its Application to Diseases. — The magnetic sleep is highly restorative, and always should be resorted to when the complaint is general ; but when there is simply a local pain or disease, there is no necessity for it. For head-ache place your hand upon the part affected and exercise a constant and benevolent desire to relieve pain ; and after holding ; t there a few minutes pass it lightly ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 1? over the head from right to left ; if the pain is occa sioned by the stomach, next place your hand on it and proceed as with the head. If the head-ache is accom- panied with cold feet, after holding the hand on the head for a short time, draw the hands slowly from the head downwards, along the sides, to the knees ; soon the head will be relieved and the feet become warm. If the pain has existed for years it is chronic and must hav<$ a prolonged treatment. In rheumatism, if local, place your hand where pain is felt, hold it for fifteen or twenty minutes, then pass your hand lightly to the extremity of the feet, and thus continue for ten minutes ; but if the limbs are generally affected, make passes at a short distance from them to their extremities, for an hour or more ; if the dis- ease is chronic repeat the operation daily until the relief is complete ; and so of every chronic disease. Says Deluze, " I have seen a fit of the gout, so violent that the patient could not put his foot to the earth, relieved by one sitting and cured by three, and the pains have not re- turned for eighteen months. I have also seen a som- nambulist in fifteen days cure her magnetizer, who for a long time suffered with the gout in the knees and feet. For this purpose she merely employed passes along the legs, continuing them each day for a quarter of an hour. When the gout has mounted to the head or chest, mag- netism readily brings it down to the feet, and then draws it off at the extremities." We mean by pass, simply passing the hand sor moving them as we have stated. For tooth-ache hold the hand on the part affected for a few minutes, then pass the ends of the fingers slightly over the cheek from right to left. " In biles, magnetise when the inflammation begins." " For a felon, make passses along the arm as far as the extremity of the finger, and then concentrate the action, and then draw it off from the end." It is not pretended that magnetism cures all diseases ; some are beyond its reach ; but it is a valuable vuxiliary IS ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. of medicine, and every physician should be familiar with its principles ; and a general knowledge of them would relieve many of the ills of life, and preserve multitudes from untimely graves. Says Baron Dupotet, " the value of such a discovery as animal magnetism is to be esti- mated, not by the evils to which its unskilful application may give rise, but by the positive good which may be derived from it. Already we have seen that during the state of magnetic insensibility the most painful surgical operations may be performed, and the patient remain the whole time in a state of perfect unconsciousness. Is this not a boon to suffering humanity ? This is not all ; the most obstinate and painful chronic diseases have been relieved and perfectly cured by its application. It was the successful treatment and cure of diseases which had notoriously resisted every other remedy, which compel- led the rudest and most inveterate of our antagonists to recognize the influence of magnetism ; and when these facts were demonstrated beyond all reasonable contro- versy, it remained for them to seek in the umbrage of their imagination the solution of the mystery. In epilep- sy, hysteria, neuralgia, chronic rheumatism, head ache, I know of no remedy so immediate and availing. How often have I seen the victim of pain writhing in the most acute agony, sink under its influence into a state of the most placid composure ! How often have I heard thanks- givings and prayers breathed in gratitude to the Creator for the relief which the afflicted have hereby experi- enced ! At Gronigen, a girl nineteen years old was suf- fering under hysterical spasms, which sometimes contin- ued forty-eight hours ; after being magnetised half an hour a day for three weeks, recovered." "A lady resi- ding in London, after a violent attack of fever, under which she was suffering in December and January last, was affected by convulsions of every kind, but mostly ^y fainting, which often lasted two hours, and it was difficult to bring her to herself. I was present one day when the fainting was coming on, and tried to make application ot magnetism ; I had scarcely begun to operate, when she ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 10 quickly recovered from the fainting, as though she had been awakened from a dream, and from that moment she gra- dually recovered." Says Dr. Elliotson of London, one of the most eminent physicians in the British empire, " I know of no certain cure for epilepsy but magnetism, I have cured several by it." Says Baron Dupotet, " in many acute diseases, medicine should be used with magnetism." To cure a person of any bad habit, as intemperance, he must be put into the magnetic sleep and then the magnetizer must will with energy that the least partici- pation in intoxicating drinks, snuff, tobacco, opium, or whatever it may be, should cause nausea, and he will be forever unable to partake the interdicted articles ; unless in another magnetic sleep the magnetizer should remove the interdiction. It may be equally well appled to an- ger, revenge, and every evil passion. Hence the philan- thropist, by a practical knowledge of this agent has his means for relieving suffering humanity increased a thou- sand fold; and many frightful maladies, and infidelity, will take their flight before its bright rays from our globe. Note. A person cannot be magnetized when under the influence of any stimulating drink, food, or any excitement. CHAPTER V. PRECAUTIONS. Says Baron Dupotet, " I am anxious to impress on the minds of those who may feel inclined to try the experi- ment, that the operation is not always unattended with danger ; for I have known instances of many who in en- deavoring to induce the magnetic phenomena, have 20 ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. placed themselves in a very painful position, and the per- son operated on in a very alarming state. Of course animal magnetism, like every other science, has its own laws, and these should be diligently studied before any individual attempts to practice it. M. de S. C, a retired officer, having heard a vague report of animal magnetism, attempted to make the experiment upon his own daugh- ter, although she complained of no illness. He merely wished to ascertain whether he could make her feel tho magnetic sensations. With this view, and without being aware of the extent of mischief he was provoking, he laid his hand on the stomach of his daughter and obeyed the magnetic injunctions. After a few moments of magnetization, she experienced spasmodic attacks, and shortly was siezed with violent convulsions ; and her fa- ther, not knowing how to calm them, only increased their intensity, and she thus remained for a week." Says M. de Puysegur, " a young lady of Nantes, of distinguished birth, when on a visit to her relative, the Marquis de B., was indulging with the rest of the com- pany in passing sundry jokes upon magnetism. Her un- cle, M. de B., who outstepped, by his sarcastic remarks, every one present, and was gesticulating with great freedom, began to direct his pretended influence upon his niece, when they both set about magnetizing each other as fast as they could. At first the young lady laughed very heartily, but it was soon discovered that this laugh- ter was any thing but natural ; and she was gradually lo- sing her reason; she followed her magnetizer every where, and yielded to his sole influence. The spectators attempted to separate them, but this only provoked dreadful convulsions. Her magnetizer felt extraordina- ry sensations ; the lady remained in that alarming state several days." But if convulsions do occur, the mag- netizer by being calm and firm can soon quell them, by making passes at a short distance from the patient, and directing the energy of his will to soothing or calming them. An experienced magnetizer rarely ever induces convulsions, and if he should he can speedily remove ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 2J them. In niagnetking for the relief of any local pain, there is no danger; so that any one can attempt it with jmpunity. In nearly all cases where there have been convulsions, they have occurred when attempts were made through mere curiosity, to excite the magnetic phenomena. Women can magnetize equally as well as men ; all nurses should be magnetizers. CHAPTER VI. EXPERIMENTS, SaysBaron Dupotet. "A large marble pestle, alter being magnetized, was wholly immersed in muriatic acid, in which it was kept until the acid had reduced the mass to about one half of its original size, it was then drawn out, well cleansed, and presented to the somnambulist, who fell asleep as soon as he had touched the w r hole mass of marble." There is an analogy between anima. magnetism and electricity, because if the magnetizer places himself on an insulated glass stool, he can mag- netize with double power, and if the hand of the mag- netizer is on the head of the magnetized, and the hand of the latter touches the head of the magnetizer, that mo- ment he experiences a shock like that of electricity ; also if a natural magnet be held near the hand of a per- son in magnetic sleep, it follows the magnet. A bottle of magnetized water put to the feet of a person with cold feet, will warm them. Magnetized water is very beneficial to persons in ill health. 2& ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM CHAPTER VII CONCLUSION. The phenomena of somnambulism are simitar " to the unclouding of the mind previous to death. Thus does the study of animal magnetism assume a peculiar sacred interest.; it is the unveiling to us our spiritual nature, and leads us onward even to the verge of eternity." It also demonstrates that all thoughts are in themselves imper- ishable, and will at one view crowd upon us when sepa- rated from our clay tenements. " Do we understand the connection between our bodies and souls ? No. Let proud philosophy, therefore, descend from her throne ol bigotry and intolerance, and with a spirit of humility, prepare to investigate these solemn mysteries. I know of no study so exalting to the human mind, none so deep- ly interesting to all who are capable of reflecting or* their destiny/' " To practice magnetism successfully," says M. de Puysegur, " you must have an active will to do good ; a firm belief in your power, and an active confidence in employing' itJ 7 Let us thank heaven that the exercise of an agent so useful, and sublime as that of animal magnetism, demand- ing only suigleness of faith, purity of intention, and a development of a natural sentiment, which connects us with the sufferings of our fellow men, and inspires us with the desire and the hope of relieving them.*' The female tract distributor, who understands magnetism, has an additional power of doing good, and can be an angel of mercy to multitudes of the poor and suffering in our cities. If the immortal Howard had understood it, how much more good he might have accomplished, what sparkling gems it would have added to his crown ; what new joys would have filled his heart. APPENDIX. MAGNETIC AND CLAIRVOYANT TREATMENT OF INSANITY. In 1847, Dr. Barker, of South Adams, Mass., cured Miss Potter, of that place, of insanity, oy magnetism The following statements on insanity were made on the evening of June 11th, 1848, by S. G. Grooms, of Troy, N. Y., while in the clairvoy- ant state. Insanity ', or Disease of the Mind. — Physicians are often igno- rant of its cause. There are portions of the brain that cannot bear the least pressure, without derangement, or fits. The or-* gans of Destructiveness and Combativeness are the most easily affected. When there is an equilibrium of the circulation of the blood, there will be no derangement : lack of circulation is the first cause of insanity ; then a portion of the serum does not be- come blood. A bruise becomes bad blood, and pleurisy is pro- duced by thick blood. Different organs become deranged, as Eventuality, Constructive- ness, Secretiveness, and Acquisitiveness; when the last-named or- gan and Color are deranged, the person thus affected will steal arti- cles of a certain color. The physician's first object should be, to ascertain what organ is affected. If Mirthfulness is disordered, excite Veneration. Try to draw the surplus blood from the brain toward the extremities, by magnetic passes. Insane persons ought never to be opposed. Follow them in their views, as if they were sane, by small portions, in due sea- son. Examine the patient's hands and feet ; when they are warm, and animal heat is equalized with moderate perspiration, and the system is open, the health of the person is good. Treatment. — For Nervous Derangement. — After bleeding the patient a little, give the following medicine to strengthen the nerves. Take tincture oi iron, (made by pouring boiling water upon iron, or boiling a piece of iron in water,) with skull cap and a little castor, (from the beaver,) and assafoetida, and make a tea of this mixture. Or sulphate of iron, one ounce; rectified spir- its, two pints. Another mode is : take ammoniate of iron, four ojnces; proof spirits, one pint: digest and strain. For Mental Derangement. — Reduce the patient by dieting, and not permit him to eat food that makes blood. The following articles are appropriate, namely : crackers, rice, and molasses ; 24 APPENDIX. and avoid stimulants. A person of strong, robust, constitution, and red face, needs bleeding. Palsy is produced by a similar cause as insanity. Never let the insane know that you think them in- sane, as it makes them worse ; and also eyeing them with suspicion does the same. The reason why their best friends prove their worst enemies is, because they eye them closely, which horrifies the insane and increases their malady, and begets in them extreme hatred toward their friends. Insane persons should be talked with as if they were sane and rational. They ought to see fre- quent change of scenery, the oftener the better; and in extreme cases, let pictures in the room be changed hourly. Persons that become insane by fixing their thoughts constantly on one thing, are hard to cure. Any person confined in a white glass globe, would become insane in six hours. Long and intense thinking on one subject will render any person more or less in- sane. The doctrine of election causes more insanity than any other one subject, because it leads its believers to doubt and melancholy, and finally to despair. Universalists are rarely insane, as they are buoyed up by hope, and are often cheerful ; but Universalism is a passport without a signature: a robe not in the fashion of the robe of righteousness. All insane persons are costive. Typhus fever is a species of insanity. The nerves of voluntary and in voluntary motion are opposite ; if the one class are unusually active, the other are proportionally inactive. In addition to the other remedies, give a tincture of Cayenne and aJcohol, and use the warm bath, with friction, by rubbing the patient; with a wet woollen cloth. If the foregoing treatment was observed in the insane hospitals, In one week three-fourths of the patients would be cured. THB BUD. jy ^, .^°* » ^ ^ lV«* A Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process ^ A*° >'4 Neutralizing agent: MagnesiuJ "ox^e ^ /* » ^(\> ; ! Treatment Date: Nov. 2004 & *+ PreservationTechnologies I * WORLD LEADER , N p APERPRESERV » |0N 1 1 1 Thomson Park Dnve Cranberry Township, PA 16066 (724)779-2111