Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1836-11-24
From the Providence Daily Journal.
SURPRISING PHENOMENA OF AMI
NAL MAGNETISM,

SURPRISING PHENOMENA OF AMI
NAL MAGNETISM.
Mn. EpIrOR-Allow me to commune ate
TO the public, through yOHr columns, some
particulars of wonderful case Of ma ghetcal
somnanbullsm which has occurred in the
village of Pawtucket, under my own opera
ton. ! am going in the first place to relate
the bare facts as they could be seen by eve
ry one present; shall afterwards make few
remarks, to show the great philosophical iI1-
portancc of those tncts.
The subject ofthese experiments is young
lady well known in this place, where she has
been residing for over ten years. There Is
hut one opinion concerning her character;
that she is surpassed by no one in purity of
mind disnterestedness, laborious habits, and
religious disposition. But alas. in this valley
of tears and hard trials, called the earth,
happiness is not frequently in proportion with
virtue! Miss CYNTHIA GLEASON has been
for eight or nine years laboring under com
plcated nervous and functional disease which
baffled all the skill of the physicians. 1t
would be too long, and perhaps insignificant,
to describe here the various symptoms of this
complaint. will say only that, in conse-
qnence oft, the sleep of the patient had be-
come difficult, short, very much troubled by
pains, and always followed with dulncss Of
the mind, and heaviness of the system for
several hours after awakening.
! need not say that was a perfect stran-
ger to Miss Gleason, and that she was. for
her part, entirely ignoran, even of the words
Animal Magnetism, when she heard of it tor
the first time, by her attendant physician, the
respectable DR.. Manchester, of Pawtucket.-
This gentleman proposed to her to try an ex
~, tI,n h,,n shat ,tvhf Il
ceivc benefit from it. She very cheerfully
agreed; and, in consequence, was brought
to her lodging, by DR.. Manchester, on Sun
day, the 9th inst, at half past O'clock in the
afternoon. must state here that was very
much pleased To- find her perfectly caim and
sober; have acquired since the first visit the
full conviction that she Is one of those per-
sons upon whom 'lma gina!ion has very little
empire" Miss Gleason told us, among other
things, that she had not much faith in Animal
Magnetism, and that she would "dely any one
TO PIT her to sleep in this manner" | observ-
ed To- her that did not think myself that !
could put her to sleep at the first trial, as
intended 10 n,ugnetse her only Is or 20 min
utes, with the view of establishing II mere
communication between us. Her pulse ta-
ken by DR.. Manchester, gave 81 pulsations
per minnie before the operation. ! commenc-
ed. and in the course Of o5 minutes we per-
ceived that her eyes grew dim and her lids
fell heavily down--in 80 minutes she was
profoundly asleep-puse gave 81 pulsatons.
We tried her senses in every possible man
ner: nothing could disturb her; the sleep last
ed half an hour; caused it to cease by "A few
gestures with my hand at several inches dis
tant from her face.
The next day, | resortcd again to the pa
TENTS house at quarter bciorc in the after
noon, together with Or. Gardner and r..
Walcott Esq Miss Gleason told us that
she had slept very well all the night and felt
better than usua the operation CONNIE need
at 4 o'clock, cxacty.-and although the pa
tient according to her own avowal, tried to
keep awake, she was fast asleep in ten min
utes. On the next day the number of her
attendants was still greater. Sleep was
produced in - minutes: on Wednesday in
6 minutes the desired effect was obtained.
As the patient had already experienced
some benefit bv these operations, she mani
tested to us the desire of being magnetised
once in public, in order, said she, to convince
the unbelevers, and establish truth so i'm
portant to religion and the health of mankind.
| must also state, as another proof OF the
qualities Of her heart, that she took this res
olution for my reputation's sake, viz. to prove
that was not an imposter, and that my la
bors really deserved more encouragement
than have hitherto obtained
y Therefore, having previously consulted all
my friends about it, aud received their IMAM
imous appreciation, | concluded to accept
Miss Gleuson's proposal. The intended ex-
pertinent took place on Thursday last, at the
Pawtuckct Hotel, before an audience Of l70
persons, comprising the medical faculty and
part OF the clergy of the village.
+ | commenced operating at q quarter be-
fore o'clock. In the course OF four min
utes, the patient shut her eyes; then got mp
and suddenly thrust with my foot against the
floor, the chair upon which was sitting
no sensible effect was produced by this
noise: Finally, in five minutes, the lady APP
peariDg profoundly asleep, leit her and
commenced my lecture, which lasted nearly
three quarters Of an hour, and was listened
To with much interest Miss Gleason contin.
ued sleeping during that length OF time
When the lecture was over, we resumed our
experiments We proceeded to ascertain
whether the lady was really in the magnetic
s'eep. We pinched her-prickcd her with a
pIn-tickled her lips, nostrils and eye. lids
WIN oIt of paper; no sensation was mani
rested. gentleman put his mouth close to-
her ear and asked her in very loud voice il
she was not tired OF sleeping, and wished to
get up She remained perfectly deaf TO the
sound OF this loud voice; ;-anothcr man whist.
led IN most thrilling manner aud cappedl
his hands: but all the disturbance was with. !