Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-10-31
From English Papers.
ANIMAL MAGNE rISM.

Sir-Ha,ing been advised to make a
short tour this summer for the benefit Of my
health, ] visited Paris, and among my letters
| Of introduction Was fortunate enough TO obtain
two or three addressed to the principal medi-
| cal gentlemen.who practice animal magnetism
in that city. The generality Of your readers
being believe but lille acquainted with this
interesting science, it may hot be unacceptable
to them, to receive plain statement Of few
! facts connected with it, which came under my
| own immediate observation. My name, il ii
can add any weight TO the narrative, may be
learned by inquiry at youi office.
| carried from London a lock of hair belong
ing 10 sick friend His disorder was of a
bilious nature, resembling Jaundice, especial>
| ~ in its having thrown dark hue, approach>
ing to black, over the whole surface of his body.
Course, ana mixed, not as il ought TO do, with
blood. A physician Of the first eminence, who
attended him, Informed me when leaving Lon
don, that his recovery was all but hopeless
Dropsy was supervening on The disorder of the
liver.
Twelve days elapsed between the cutting of
the lock OF hair and my presenting il to Ma
dame Gillaud, somnam5ulis,, at the apart
ments Of DR.. Dupotet, in the Rue DIES Saints
Peres, Paris. The doctor having, ~ the
process of magnetising for few seconds, pro-
duced in this woman the extraordinary kind Of
walking Cor rather talkingl sleep, called SOM
aamSulism, she received from him The hair,
fell II for while with attention, then (verv diff
ierentIy from her usual manner in other cor.
SITUATIONS which had Witnessed she dropped
her head upon her breast. and fell into a state
OF complete toIpor, from which her magnetism
had great difficulty in arousng her. Al length
she recovered raised her head a little, and said
10 m =
proceeded to tell u, that the patient was draw
ing towards the close of his career that he had
the naaiad'e noyC, that his blood was corrupted,
,hat there was no use in ordering any Thing |
Tor him, but that he might be allowed 10 do |
what he liked best himself In answer to the |
question, whether magnetisrg would BIZ of any |
service 10 him, She replied that il might pro- |
long his lille Rke. had carefully absraincd |
from giving any hint, either 10 Mr.. Dupoet.
The respectable physician himself or 10 his |
somnan'buie, which might guide either OF them
TO previous knowledge Of The case; YOU NAV
Judge, therefore, of my astonishmen, on disco
verlng The accurate acquaintance she had in-
ternaiiy acquired Of its nature and speedy ter.
A few posts afterwards | learned
tina, my friend had actually paid the debt of ma.
ture on the very day preceding this consulta-
ton.
II may be objected, that ifihe clear sighted
ness OF this somnambulis: was perfect, she
would have known that the person in question
was no more, at the moment she Was consulted
about Kim. But you will recollec,, tina, the
laIr had been severed from his head t,ceive dan.
'sfors, and the magnetic fluid contained in it
could only convey 10 her perception sensation
If the patients Then state, Wis that of diving
nan, which she certainly expressed in yerY
lnequisccal manner Nor let it be alledeed
hat this was but a lucky guess on her part: for
consulted her at the same time on the cases a
It Two other distant friends, through the ncdi. a
I'M OF their hair, and received proofs of her in. d
diligence equally surprising; especially where. E
rom describing the physical state Of one of Il
hese persons, she made sudden dipressien a
paint some traits in his moral character ii
'ails perfectly familiar TO his friends-whicb p
ad caught her admiration. D
During my stay At Paris, had also freouen, Il
opportunities of seeing, at NJ. Foissac's in the T;
lie Mondovi, somnambulist of the name of Il
aul, who has the faculty Of reading with his 5,
'es shut; an experiment. which repeatedly in. W
stigated and fully verified, my self holding his IA
elidS firmly closed, while various books were b.