The Sun.
London, England, 1838-06-14 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 1838.

agent whatever it is." All the phenomena occurred (in
the cases in which they were at all found), as fully and ob-
viously without the conductors, as with them—even when
the operator was in a separate apartment, or at a consider-
able distance, from the patient ; and in those cases in which
the phenomena did not occur without the conductors, they
were not produced with them. It is not, therefore, by veri-
fying " either of these assumptions," (that is, as to metallic
or animal conducting chains), that magnetism can be " de-
monstrated to be a real entity, not a phantom of the mind?'
We agree, however, with Dr. H. that the explanation
which refers the phenomena of Mesmerism to the imagina-
tion of the patient, is disproved by the fact that the lower
animals are subject to its influence. Dr. H. relates an in-
stance of this, and Dr. M'Creight afterwards informed the
meeting of another. The first case was that of a lady's
lap-dog, which the students of the North London Hospital
were in the habit of Mesmerising ; and the second was that
of a cat which was subjected to the process by the patients
of another institution, and which showed great suscepti-
bility.
Dr. Hancock says, " The principal objection urged
against animal magnetism is, that it produces little or no
impression upon strong men, and persons in health ;
the exceptions, however, might be deemed in perfect ac-
cordance with the observed operations of other physiologi-
cal agents, as evinced in food, medicines, poisons," &c. &c.
This appears to us not only reasonable, but in accordance
with all that is recorded, or that we have witnessed re-
specting Mesmerism. But Dr. M'Creight did not agree
with Dr. Hancock in this, because he had found strong
persons susceptible, and weakly persons not so. This
would not disprove the general fact, that weakly and nervous
people are the most susceptible ; although in this case, as
in all others, exceptions are found.
Dr. Sigmund, following up the commentary upon Dr.
Hancock's paper, said that he had no faith in the curative
powers of Mesmerism. He did not believe that it cured
" epilepsy." . This is strange ; for if any of the facts related
of Mesmerism may be relied on, its curative effect in this
very disease, is positively established, as may be seen in the
report to the Royal Academy of Sciences (Paris) the recent
work of the Baron Dupotet de Sennefoy, and Dr.Elliotson's
last lecture at the North London hospital. But Dr. Sig-
mond has found that wherever he has applied it in epileptic
cases it has done more harm than good. That may be ; but
has he never found that his application of other remedies in
other diseases has done more harm than good? It is pos-
sible that where the palpable facts produced at the Uni-
versity College Hospital cannot be denied or disputed, there
may exist a wish to throw discredit upon the statement,
that positive good is derived from them, and thus indirectly
to obscure the reputation of the Professor who holds
Mesmerism to be in epilepsy a positive cure, although cases
may occur in which it is inoperative.
Dr. M'Creight indeed stated at this meeting that Mes-
merism was a cure for persons—not for diseases. We are
not aware that he has sufficient grounds for enunciating
this dogma, but if it be correct we should say from all we
have observed that mesmerism is a cure for epileptic persons,
but not for them alone, although, as is the case with all other
remedies and in all other diseases, some epileptic patients
are not susceptible of its influence.
On the subject of clairvoyance a preter-natural power,
with which Mesmerised somnambulists are said to be en-
dowed, and of which some apparently absurd and extra-
vagant instances arc related, Dr. Sigmond stated that he
had heard of one case upon the authority of an eminent
physician, who was confirmed by Dr. M'Creight who had
witnessed the circumstances :
" A physician to a public institution had called upon him, Dr. Sig.
mond, and asked him if he had ever attended'a patient of the name of
Perry, and if he had ever prescribed for her the ammonio.chloride of
iron. Dr. Sigmond recollected the individual, who had been some years
since under his care at the Marylebone Dispensary, and that he had
ordered for her the medicine in question—that she had been subjoct to

long-continued intermittent fevers from which she recovered, he had
every reason to believe, by this remedy. The physician then went on
to state, that he had lately been treating this woman for an intermittent
disease, by Mesmerism; he found that during the state of magnetic
sleep she replied to any questions put to her, and he asked her what
remedy would cure her, to which she replied the same medicine that
was employed by Dr. Sigmontl, " What is the medicine ?"—" A red me.
dicine." " Vegetable, animal, or mineral ?"—" It is a mineral ; I know
you have it in your house; it is the sixth bottle on the second shelf in
your medicine chest." On going to the shelf the ammonio-chloride of
iron was found to be there ; it had become redish, as is usually the
case when it has been long kept. It was administered, and the patient
was cured."

We think the less such improbabilities are sought after at
present the more likely are we to arrive at a knowledge of
this mysterious subject. An investigation of the physical
phenomena of Mesmerism has opened a sufficiently wide
field of observation and research, without attempting to
revive in these days the absurdities and delusions of the