The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1834-02-19
For the Rhode-I Island Republican.
6OMNAMBULIShI,
Tiperton, Feb, 4th, 1894

sOMNAMBULISM,
Iiperton, Feb. 4th, 1884.
MR. PKCKHAM,
fShould the enclosed be worthy of place in
your columns, you may give it an inssrton1
BY note in your paper ofthe 22d ult ia.
ken from the Boston M. J. it is observed
that the Springfield Somnambulist, has been
completely cured, and that her cure has
been effected wholly by medical treatment
This is truly triumph in the skill Of the
medical department, and some applause may
be honestly awarded to the practitioner, who
has been 80 successful in administering 10
her relief There has been much said upon
her case, in some Of the public prints more
presume, than have had opportunity to OBJ
serve, and less, perhaps than might have
been, were il not that the public holds in re
serve certain degree of scepticism, that
may be ra,ioually considered salitary in CON-
batting that credulity, which upresisted
might eventually degenerate into supe erstit.
ion, similar to those of other times II has
been represented, with seeming sincerity,
and by persons who aught not to sufier them
selves to be deceived or imposed upon, by
any pretended art Of necromancy, wanton
peridy or collision, that this girl, while un-
der the paroxisms Of her sleep, with her eyes
shut and blindfolded in such way, that there
could be no communication of light to them
whatever, could read the finest print end do
many other things equally impracticable, for
her or any other person under ordinary cir
cumstaDces, when asleep or when awake
These representations are observed, by a
writer in the Boston Courier, whose remarks
were re-published in your paper, TO bear a
strong resemblance to persons by him secn
in some experiments of Animal Magnetism,
made in Paris. Of this science of Animal
Magnetism we have had some opportunity of
being informed from the publications of the
day, in respect to its practical operations up.
on the human mind and bodily sys,em.-.-
And there is obviously a remarkable coinci.
denee Of phenomena with the statements
published of this girl. How this coincidence
originates probably may be explained by
those who have the opportunity of possessing
the facts. lfthe facts are, as have been de.
tailed, they must 60 TO confirm the state.
ments made Of the phenomena attending the
science referred to. If untrue, it eventually
proves, that mankind possess much more
skill in deceiving themselves and others, than
they have in philosophical research after
truth. Ifthe facts are not aseeitained under
the opportunities that have existed, there
must have been obstacles Of which am not
informed, or there must subsist an indiffer
ence in the scientific to subjects Of this spe.
cies Of philosophy, while they are strenuous
in their researches after truth, in matters
less interesting. Is it an argument that O.
vents, which are not reconcleable with the
ordinary experience, or that cannot be ac-
counted for upon physical or known laws
in human ereduli,y, and consequently arc be-
meath the dignity of that speculation which is
in character with the learned Ifthe learn.
ed and philosophic are disposed to set bounds
TO theft own researches, and resolve, that
the laws Of matter are correctly understood
that mind is a certain mechanical produc-
ton consequent upon the operations Of ply
sical organization, and tina, consequently all
effects must ultimately resolve themselves
into those laws which are fixed principles
and modes of sc,ion.--Then We may well be
quiet under the presumption, that we have
attained our limits. that We have only to re
fne upon things within this sphere and tina,
even though circumstances solicit, ye, 10
urge further enquiry, is but the vague spec
ulstions ofa dis,empered mind. There are
many subjects that remain concealed in the
mysteries Of Providsaee the ps,ure sndlsws