The Press.
London, England, 1856-08-16 00:00:00

LORD DALHOUSIE ON MESMERISM.

THE following letter, written by Lord Dalhousie in
reply to an inquiry from the Exeter Board of Guar-
dians, with regard to the use of mesmerism in the
treatment of lunatic paupers, has appeared in print
this week. The guardians, having read Dr. Esdaille's
pamphlet upon the subject, applied to Lord Dalhousie
to know whether Dr. Esdaille had been authorised to
quote his lordship as sanctioning the exercise of ME E.,
merism in the Government hospitals in India, and
whether his lordship would recommend its applica-
tion for the cure of lunatics in this country. Lord
Dalhousie replied as follows :

Edinburgh, June 27, 1856.

Gentlemen—l have had the honour of receiving your
letter of the 23rd instant. It reached me only this day.
In reply to your question I have to state that Dr. Esdaille
was not authorised by me to use my name with reference
to mesmerism, but at the same time I wish to add that all
the statements in his pamphlet with which my name is
connected are quite accurate. Of the efficacy of 1)r.
I..:edaille's practice of mesmerism in cases of lunacy J am
not able to say anything. Of the efficacy of it in surgical
cases lam able to speak with confidence. Dr. Esdaille
undoubtedly did possess the faculty of so influencing the
sensations of the natives of India by means of mesmerism
as to reduce them to a state of insensibility not less com-
plete than that which is now produced by use of chloroform.
While they were in that state of insensibility he performed
upon them surgical operations of every kind, many of
them tremendous in their magnitude, duration, and seve-
rity. Those operations were performed without any ap-
parent consciousness in the patient, without pain to bim,
and usually with great success. I never witnessed any of
such operations myself ; the sight was a disagreeable one,
and it was not necessary that I should witness it, for the
testimony of very many witnesses of the highest official
position and character, both written and oral, was so strong
that even the evidence of my own senses could not have
added strength to it. Accordingly, I appointed Dr. Esdaille
in 1848 to be one of the presidency surgeons. I did this
in acknowledgment of the service he had rendered to hu-
manity by mitigating largely its sufferings within his own
sphere, and in order that he might be able to continue Lis
services at the capital. Whether Dr. Esdaille can influence
lunacy by his mesmeric practice Ido not know. Whetter
he can influence the English constitution in the same
manner or in the same degree as he undoubtedly in-
fluenced the native constitution I cannot pretend to say.
Having thus replied to your question, and testified (as I
shall always be ready to testify) to what Dr. Esdaille
actually effected in India by what he termed mesmerism, I
wish to be permitted to add that I must not be considered
as a disciple of the doctrines of mesmerism generally. I
beg you to accept my thanks for your courteous congratu-
lations on my return to England, and for your good wishes
on my behalf.—l have the honour to be, gentlemen, your
obedient faithful servant, DALHOUSIE.

AUGUST 16, 1856.

N ittrature.

The Oxonian in Yorway. By the Rev. Frederick
Metcalfe, M.A. Two Vols. London : Hurst

and Blaokett.
Wx have to thank Mr. Metcalfe for a couple of
very amusing volumes. He has made several
trips to Noiway, and has here given to the
public the fruits of his experience. He is a keen
angler, and at the same time an intelligent ob-
server— gifted with excellent powers of descrip-
tion, and a quick perception of humour. Hence
his notices of Norwegian scenery, and of the
manners and social state of the people, are of
a kind to attract all classes of readers. His
good humour and healthful appreciation of
novel scenes and adventures made him in
different to the discomforts which have
severely tried the temper of less lighthearted
travellers.

Mr. Metcalfe takes his readers from Hull,—
where a steamer starts every Friday in sum-
mer for the North Sea,—to Christiania, and
thence overland through some of the grandest
mountain scenery in the world to Bergen.
Hotel accommodation, however, is scanty on
this route; meat is rarely to be obtained the
whole distance of three hundred miles. No-
thing is to be met with but " porridge, por-
ridge, porridge." Yet the people thrive on
their meagre diet ; for though their growth is
slow—lads of eighteen not being bigger than
English boys of fourteen—yet they become
stalwart men before their growth is finished.
is there are no public conveyances by this
route travellers have to hire a small gig, called
a cariole, for which one•third of the cost is de-
manded for a three months' tour. The ex-
pense is not ruinous, as the whole cost of these
vehicles when new does not amount to more
than 51 or 61. Posting is equally cheap :

On the principal post.routes of Norway there are now
what are called fast stations, where horses are procurable
within ten minutes of your arrival. For this expedition
you pay one-half more ; the whole expense being at the
rate of about 2id. per English mile, which is just three.
farthings less per mile than the price which used to be
pain England for a horse and guide in the year of grace

There is some good fishing on this route in
the Ranzfiord Lake ; but the people, according
to our author, were quite ignorant of fly-fishing
until they saw an Englishman practising it
a few years ago, when they quickly caught the
art. From Bergen a steamer plies to Chris-
tiansund ; and on the voyage the author,
according to his wont, indicates good fishing
stations, and details the experience he has
acquired during his previous visits. English
wealth is making some impression upon the
simple habits of the people. The little town
of Molde—a coaling station—will easily be
found on the map, some forty miles south of
Christiansund Here—

The Rauma, which flows into the head of the Romsdal
Fjord, is a noted salmon stream. The chief fishing quar-
ters are at Feva, where a couple of Englishmen, who rent
the fishing, may always be found in the summer. The
river above this, which after having long been
confined in its rocky straight-waistcoat and madly
dashed itself about to its heart's content, is suddenly let
loose and permitted to expatiate in a large and roomy
pool, quiets down wonderfully under the change of treat-
ment. Here, then, is the great resort of the salmon, who
rest for a considerable time at the spot, before braving the
terrors of the rapids above. Lord P. caught upwards of
thirty salmon in this pool in one afternoon, some years
ago. It lies under the shadow of the Witch-Peaks and
Romsdals Horn, so that the sun is never long on the
water, and you may generally take salmon here, when
elsewhere it is out of the question.
I was at this spot on the day of the eclipse in 1852;
but so bright and hot was the weather that not even in the
pool would the salmon stir, though tempted by whatever
of gorgeous or sombre in the way of flies Eaton or Jones,
or amateur skill, could produce. But no sooner did this
eclipse begin than the salmon began to rise, and the sport
was capital. A huge fellow soon lay panting on the grass,
the mpolia ()pima of the occasion. If I remember rightly,
he weighed thirty-six pounds. Fine salmon were also cap-
tured this year, many miles higher up the stream.
In an out of the way nook of the Lange Fjord, called
Eridsfjord, there is a salmon stream, little known indeed,
but where I have captured fish of twenty-eight pounds.
Here an Englishman has recently purchased a property,
with the right of fishing in some of the best pools. The
whole course of the river is not above three miles termi-
nating at that distance from the Fjord in a lake fourteen
miles long, up to which the salmon run for the purpose of
spawning. Were not scenery a drug in this country, it
would be worth while to dwell on the glories of this lake,
its waterfalls, glaciers, &c., as well as on the splendid
trout-fishing in another lake beyond.