The Sun.
London, England, 1850-05-14 00:00:00

MESMERIC INFIRMARY.
(From the Morning Post.)
The first annual meeting of this society was held
on the 6th of May, at the Infirmary, Bedford-street,
Bedford-square.
Mr. J. A. Gordon, of Bristol, in the absence of the
Earl of Ducie, was called to the chair.
Tue CHAIRMAN said that it was a subject of' deep
regret to him and the committee that the Earl of
Ducie was unable to attend that meeting. That
nobleman was one of the best friends and supporters of
the spread of mesmeric science, and he was sure would
share with them the regret felt at his being unable to
attend on that occasion.—(Hear, hear.) He was
sorry that the place of the Noble Earl should be so
ill supplied, as he was aware he was unable to fill it
so well as the Noble Lord ; but he trusted to their
kind assistance in the performance of its duties.
The Rev. G. S&NDBY then read the report of the
committee of management, which says :—" A few
friends of mesmerism, considering the establishment
of an infirmary for the treatment of disease by its
means, a very desirable object, met at the Earl of
Dame's, in the year 1846, and passed some prelimi-
nary resolutions to that effect. Among the steps
taken at that meeting was the appointment of a com-
mittee, to whom was intrusted the power of carrying
the plan into operation. Sundry circumstances, how-
ever, delayed the immediate execution. But in the
course of last year it was felt that the time was at
length arrived when any further delay would be un-
desirable. The progress that mesmerism had
made in public opinion, the increasing num-
ber of its advocates, and the growing demands
on the part of the sick and sufihring for
assistance and advice, all led to the conviction
that the infirmary could be at once opened with every
prospect of success.—(Hear, hear.) Funds for this
purpose were not wanting, for the liberal donations
and subscriptions of many friends and patrons
had afforded the means of taking the necessary
initiatory steps. The committee met on the 24th
of July last, and having taken into consideration
some calculations that were laid before them,
came to the resolution of looking out for and
engaging a house suitable to the purpose, and of
placing it under the superintendence of a resident
manager or secretary. .In the course of the month
of January the infirmary came into operation,
patients have been attending daily, and are increasing
in numbers, and an additional mesmeriser, William
Fisher, recommended by Mr. Tubbs, was appointed
at a salary of 16s. per week. The committee had
agreed upon several rules and regulations for the
direction and management of the institution, copies
of which had been sent round to the subscribers and
donors, and which were submitted to the consideration
of the general meeting for approval and confirmation.
The committee beg to state that a sum amounting to
903/ 175., in donations and subscriptions, has been
'paid to the treasurer's hands, and that promises of
still further assistance, amounting to about 2001. have
been a)so made, to which must be added the sum of
23/. Os. 31. for interest on Exchequer-bills. The
committee have paid the first quartet's rent, and
the first quarter's salary of the secretary, amounting
to 1211. 11s. 6,1., leaving a balance iu the hands of
the tressnrcr of 805/. ss. 81., of which 506/. 9.3.11 d.
have been invested in the purchase of 5001. in Ex-
chEquer-bills. The committee have the pleasure to
announce that they have received from P. Ramie,
Esq the donation of a freehold estate at Edmonton,
which has been let for a rent of 401. a year, and
also five railway arches, at Stepney, which may be
estimated, at the yearly value of at least 51. each.—
(Cheers.) Tne committee, in presenting this their
first report to the donors and subscribers to the in-
firmary, cannot but convatulate the friends of mes-
merism generally on an important step being at length
publicly taken for the progress of scientific truth, and
for the promotion of the great cause of humanity, to-
wards the support of which good and useful work the
co-operation of every philanthropist is earnestly invited.
The institution, whose recent opening is herein briefly
recorded, already shows a promise of growth; and,
if conducted with energy and judgment, and with a
due regard to those important considerations which
have respect to the choice of mesmerisers, and to the
management of its internal arrangements, may prove
a source of inappreciable blessings to numbers, and
serve, morever, as an example of practical benevolence
to other societies, of which it is impossible at present
to calculate the full results. Doubtless there
are always difficulties connected with the
first establishment of every hospital, and there
are soma to which a mesmeric hospital is
peculiarly liable ; still, if conducted steadily as well
as zealously, and in a spirit of prudence, union, and
good-will, these difficulties are anything but insuper-
able, and if the regulations which are adopted by the
governors for the daily conduct of the institution be
uniformly enforced, the success of the infirmary may
be pronounced certain and permanent. To this latter
paint the committee attaches considerable import-
ance, and towards a due observance of which they
strongly request the assistance of every true friend of
mesmerism. By these means the cavils of the sceptic
will be silenced ; the prejudice of the scrupulous will
be removed ; the misrepresentations of the calum-
nious be answered; and the cause of truth grow
stronger and stronger every hour. With these ob-
servations the committee beg to close their report in
expressing every confidence in the future prospects of
the institution, and in looking forward to a year of
increasing activity and usefulness." Toe Rev. Gen-
tlemati then announced that since the report had been
drawn un an addition of 131.85. had been received.
Mr. JANSON had great pleasure in moving the
adoption of the report, having come a distance of 200
miles to attend that meeting, and he believed that
had all their friends done the same they would have
had great difficulty in accommodating them. One
principal reason of his attending the meeting was to
submit to the subscribers of the institution a manu-
script, drawn up by Mr. Capern, of Tiverton, who
he believed was the most successful mesmerist since
the days of Greatrex. The manuscript contained re-
ports of upwards of 100 cases, and would be extended
by about 150 more, when he hoped it would be pub-
lished, as containing most surprising and convincing
proofs of the truth of the science.—(Cheers.) He
would now merely move that the report be adopted
and circulated amongst the subscribers to the inst.
tution.

Mr. LuxmouE seconded the resolution. He had
for years looked with anxiety to the time when they
would he enabled to have an establishment like this
in London, feeling convinced that that was all that
was wanted to prove the truth of mesmeric science.
—(1-Isar, hear.) He believed that mesmerism
would Fore of great assistance to medical science,
though he did not mean to say that it would super-
sede it. He had himself seen the beneficial effects
produced by it in alleviating the sufferings of those
afflicted with rheumatism, tic doloureux, paralysis,
&c., and he believed that no philanthropist who
examined into mesmerism would deny that it was a
great addition to the science of alleviating pain and
curing disease. The professors of the science had
been met with derision and calumny, but he felt that
the day would arrive when its success and its truth
would be universally acknowledged, and the calum-
nies of its opponents for ever silenced, He felt
that they were under a deep debt of gratitude to the
gentlemen who had taken an active part in promoting
the establishment of this institution, and he had
therefore great pleasure in seconding the motion
for the adoption of the report.
The' motion having been put and carried unani-
mously,
The SECRETARY read the proposed laws of the in-
stitution, to which
the f
"This infirmary is establishedleving is the preface : for the alleviation and
cure of diseases, and for the relief and prevention of
pain, by means of mesmerism
the voluntary contributions of It is
those Supported by
ftruth
supp
mesmerism,
having faith in the medical efficac persons who,
ex-
being desirous to be assured of persons
traordinary cures alleged to have beeneffec
and ofte the or
d by its
should have
agency in the hands of many credible
respect
able persons, are anxious that the poor
the opportunity of availing themselves of the advan-
tages it may afford. There is another object which
the originators of this new establishment have in
view. They desire to extend the field of observa-
tion in the science of mesmerism, and to‘encourage
the promulgation as well as the cultivation of its
truths without favour to any party or to any limited
or individual interests."
[The laws providing for the management of the
institution are much the same as those governing
similar institutions.]
.11r. MONCRTON Mums, M.P., moved the con..
firmation of the proposed laws, and trusted that it
would go forth to the public that the friends of mes •
nieric science were now prepared to put the truth of
through
their principles to the test in the heart of the metro-
polis,believed that, through the agency of a public hospital. He
tion, tnesmeth the agency of such an.institu-
branch of mediae lwould take its fair position as a
was all its real fraiesidcence, and lie was sure that that
all knew that nwished.—(Hear, hear.) They
ordinary mesmerismphysiologiesalhexhibited some most extra-
subject could be of interest to philosophical
inquiry than those grilintoeermena, and perhaps no
possible interfere time, he thought it roost important hut, at the same
tion should as little as that this institu-
ipterfere with those
inquiries, and confine their attention
much as pos-
sible to the application of mestns• as
as a curative
agent in diseases which might
tn.
ightniotrume under their
notice.—(Hear, hear.) He
tant that it should go forth to the
fi ibt 'very iinlY'r"
the real objects and intentions of the institution, so
he what were
that it might avoid as far as possible
any imputation
of quackery, which, no doubt, wouldbe
against it. If, however, the society quietly carried
brought
- its operations under the eye of the public, under
notice of the press, but excluding
idle curiosity
m interfaing with its patients, head no hdoubt
,t it would make its way and establish
itself
public opinion.—(Hear, hear.) He considered