The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-04-22 00:00:00

MR. LAFONTAINE'S LECTURE LAST NIGHT

Mr. Lafontaine gave his concluding lecture last evening,
at the Templars' Hall, upon animal magnetism. •
The experiments were similar to those exhibited on former
occasions. The most successful was that of the lecturer
stopping the singing of the young lady who has appeared on
former occasions, and arresting her footsteps. The cham-
bermaid from the George Hotel was placed in a mag-
netic sleep, and cataleptic state. The deaf and dumb boy who
has been magnetised, was also brought forward, and showed
an evident improvement in his hearing. This lad is an ap-
prentice to Mr. Isaacs,. of Castle-street.—A gentleman pre-
sented himself to be magnetised, on whom Mr. Lafontaine
partly succeeded.—Great amusement was caused by Mr.
Lafontaine magnetising the deaf and dumb boy's leg, who
attempted in vain to demagnetise himself.
Amongst the gentlemen present we noticed several of the
medical profession, and one or two of the clergy. The latter
appeared to take great interest in the proceedings.

ANIMAL MAGNETISM CONTRASTED WITH
NEUROHYPNOLOGY.

Last night Mr. Braid, of Manchester, delivered a lecture
in the Music-hall, 80ld-street, on the contrast between
Animal Magnetism and Neurohypnology. A very large
audience were present, amongst whom we observed a great
number of the medical profession.
Mr. BRAID said his object in the present lecture would be
to explain certain important points more fully than could be
done in a lecture which, as formerly, embraced the whole
phenomena of Neurohypnology. The first subject he should
explain would be the difference between natural and artificial
sleep; and, as it was of great importance in all discussions
that the terms to be used should be clearly understood,
what he understood by the waking state, the state of
profound sleep, the state of dreaming, and the som-
nambulic state. Having described these several conditions,
he described the difference which there is between natural
sleep and neuro-hypnotic sleep, and the gradual development
of the phenomena in the latter state. Be quoted a work by
Dr. Abercrombie, containing some remarkable instances of
of somnambulism, to show the peculiarities of that condition.
It left no permanent effects, and could be turned to no useful
purpose ; but the hypnotic sleep, on the contrary, had pro-
duced the most marked improvement in afflicted persons, on
whom he had operated. Thus, he had enabled an old lady,
64 years of age, afflicted with amaurosis, who could not see
for many years to read the smallest print ; and another lady,
aged 45, who could scarcely see to thread a needle, both by being
put into the hypnotic sleep. He related several other cases,
shewing the extraordinary effect produced by the hypnotic
sleep, particularly one of a Miss Collins, of Newark, whom
he had cured of a spasmodic affection, which had for years
before resisted the efforts of the most celebrated of the fa-
culty. He next entered into 'a consideration of how far the
phenomena of neurohypnology were analogous to those of ani-
mal magnetism, and said they could succeed in but very few
cases, and that the instances in which he had failed were
much fewer than those in which they succeeded. On this
account he contended that his mode was much more benefi-
cial. Having quoted a letter from Mr. Herbert Mayo, in
which that gentleman stated he was satisfied that much
practical good would result from these discoveries, Mr.
Braid proceeded to say that he wished for no mysticism on
the subject, but that he would allow free liberty to any medi-
cal man to investigate all experiments. In fact, he should be
glad to do all in his power to make the medical men of Liver-
pool know as much of the subject as he himself did. The
general success of his mode of operation was well known ; it
was founded upon the undoubted laws of the animal economy,
and the fact that it might be, and had been, turned to prac-
tical use in the cure of diseases which had resisted every other
remedy, ought to shield its professors from the unwarrantable
imputation of its effects being produced by satanic agency.
The best answer was to quote that scriptural text, " By their
works shall ye know them." He had always understood the
devil to be actively engaged in effecting injury, in the
ignorance and blindness of man. That, at least, was what
he had been taught in Scotland. But he had heard, that by
taking advantage of a general law of the animal economy
(and he felt assured that there was no general law which re-
sulted in any thing but good),—by.taking advantage of this
general law, and enabling him to restore sight to a lady so that
she could read her Bible by means of a few minutes of hyp-
notic sleep, that this was a work of the devil. Was it not
far more likely that there was Satanic agency over a man
which inspired him to become an active agent in opposing
what was so likely to prove a vast blessing to mankind ? Mr.
Braid then referred to the objection, that mesmerism (so
called) might overturn the gospel miracles, and having
refuted that objection, he said, that in regard to a re-
verend gentleman who had taken up this subject, he
might state one or two things, of which every medical man
was aware. It was a fact which everybody was aware of,
that of those who were afflicted with the natural small-pox
every third person died. The progress of science, however,
led medical men to rind out that by inducing the disease
at favourable times they could mitigate its severity ;
thus inoculation took place. There was immense hos-
tility to this, both by professors, the public, and even
from the pulpit. By and by the practice was improved
and vaccinnation was found out—a still safer mode of
protecting the system against the ravages of the small pox.
Another vast flood of hostility was raised against this im-
provement, but ultimately it triumphed. He remembered a
patient calling upon him some 23 years ago, whose family
refused to be vaccinated from religious prejudce. and he him-
self did not know what to do. He, however, understood his
danger, and asked what he was to do ? " Take off your coat
instantly, and I'll vaccinate you," was his (Mr. Braid's) re-
ply. The consequence was, that he escaped, but four out of

his family, young men of 16, 19, and _
Their religious prejudices prevented them taking advantage of
scientific improvement. He therefore, would like to recommend
those who wished to oppose such a principle as this, to con-
sider the words of Gemaliel. "If this work be f men it
will come to nought; but, if it be of God, ye cannot over-
throw it, lest happily ye be found to fight against God."
He recommended this text to every gentleman who chose

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to speak upon satanic agency in this matter.
At the close of the lecture Mr. Braid introduced, first, his
own man-servant, upon
_whom he produced in a short time
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