The Sun.
London, England, 1853-06-18 00:00:00

71.10 s Odl

THE MESMERIC INFIRMARY.

Yesterday the annual general meeting of this institu-
tion was held in Willis's Room, King-street, St. James's.
The Earl of Stanhope was called to the chair.
Among those present were Mr. Moffatt, M.P., Baron
de Rothschild, Professor de Morgan, Majendie, Esq.,
F.R.S., Dr. Elliotson, Lady Mary Bentinck, Miss
Goldsmid, &c.

The Noble CHAIRMAN, in opening the business of
the meeting, advocated the claims of the infirmary
to encouragement and support. He should be sur-
prised if in the present times any one of ordinary ca-
pacity, and divested of vulgar prejudice, could be op-
posed to mesmerism. (Hear, hear.) They knew by com-
mon experience that it was powerful in its effects, and uni-
versal in its operation. Medical men complained that it
had not yet been thoroughly tested. Now they all knew
that several drugs produced different effects, but they
were unable to-;explain the precise mode of their opera-
tion. It was known to them that mesmerism, by some
process of which they were ignorant, was able to reani-
mate and revive. In no case had mesmerism been pro-
ductive of injurious effects, excepting when it was re-
sorted to through motives of curiosity, and unskilfully
applied. (Hear, hear.) It enabled the patient to submit
to the most agonising surgical operations. It was true
it might be said that chloroform did the same, but there
was this difference, that in tiwitinsat of too little, or tog
much being allied theepsequences *ere very bad.
r(Hear, hear.) He was if to say, in conclusion,
that the institution founded in this metropolis continued
to flourish, notwithstanding the sneers of the vulgar,
and the ignorant. (Loud cheers.)
_ _ .

Dr. EiliorsoN then proceeded to read the report of
the committee for the past year, which to a great extent
was devoted to the advocacy of mesmerism, and to a
confutation of the objections urged against it by its op-
ponents. Since the last meeting twenty-two vice-
governors had been added to the institutiou, and forty-
four annual subscribers. The charge in the infirmary to
patients had been reduced from half a guinea to ss. per
week, and there were separate apartments for males
and females, and, notwithstanding the insinuations that
had been thrown out, no charge of improper treatment
had been attempted to be made against the institution.
(Hear.) In fact, the ladies and gentlemen who visited
it were delighted with the arrangements. In accordance
with the resolution of the general meeting, a new house
had been taken in Grafton-street, Fitzroy-square, and
although they had not anticipated any opposition, so
hostile were the inhabitants of Fitzroy-square to the in-
stitution, that they would be compelled to remove rather
than encounter the chances of litigation. During the

last year there had been 298 patients, and of those 41
were still under treatment ; 57 had improved, and were
able to return to their work. Sixty-one patients had
been cured in from one to three visits, and many of the
diseases cured had been of long standing. It appeared,
according to the financial statement, that the annual
subscriptions during the past year had amounted to 2121.,
and the donations to 1521., and after defraying expenses
the balance in hand was 347/. 78. 9d., the previous bal-
ance having been 3941.
On the reading of the report having been concluded,
Mr. DE MORGAN moved that the report should be
adopted, and in doing so he alluded to the falling away
of the opposition which mesmerism formerly had to en-
counter. It was about 200 years since the first mesme-
riser appeared in England, that first instance of mesme-
rism produced a remarkable impression. They might
hereafter be able to ascertain to what particular cause
they should attribute the advantage of mesmerism ; but
in the meantime, let them be content with the good re-
sults which had, fortunately, attended it. (Cheers.)
Mr. JANSON seconded the resolution, and said he
patronised mesmerism as a curative agent.
The motion was then agreed to.
The Rev. Mr. SARNBY moved the second resolution,
and congratulated the meeting on the success of mes-
merism during the past year. He regretted the loss the
institution had sustained by the death of their president,
the late Earl of Ducie. It was, at the same time, a
satisfaction to them that there was a man behind him on
every ground fitted to take his place, and that man was
the Archbishop of Dublin. (Cheers.) The Archbishop
had manfully testified to the truths of mesmerism, and
acknowledged the benefit he had himself derived from it.
(Hear.) The reverend gentleman concluded by moving
that his Grace the Archbishop of Dublin be elected Pre-
sident of the Institution. (Hear.)
Mr. MAGENDIE seconded the motion, which was then
unanimously agreed to.
Mr. MOFFATT, M.P., in moving the next resolution,
the appointment of Dr. Gregory, Professor of Chemistry
in the Edinburgh University, to be a vice-president,
warmly commended the infirmary to public patronage
and support. The honourable gentleman added that
Dr. Gregory had conferred great benefit on the cause of
mesmerism by his valuable publications on the subject.
(Cheers.)
The motion having been seconded, was unanimously
agreed to.
Mr. KNIGHT, in moving the appointment of certain
gentlemen members of the committee, availed himself
of the opportunity to pass a warm eulogium on the ex-
ertions of Dr. Elliotson, who had triumphed, he said,
over the persevering opposition to which he had for so
long a time been subjected.
The resolution was agreed to, as was also another re-
solution appointing Lady Mary Bentinck, the Lady of
the Archbishop of Dublin, the Dowager Lady Goldsmid,
and several other ladies, members of the ladies' com-
mittee.
Thanks were then given to the noble earl in the chair
k after which the meeting separated.