Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1837-10-10
V0LU ME- 1.
From our evening edition Of yesterday.l
Animal Magnetism.

Animal Magnetism.
This is the great science or chariatanr.e = r~s's
u order 10 rive our readers full idea Of us progress
in Europe, we give in this evenings paper 'u
taken from he last Blackwood's Magazine
Animal Magnetism In Lona" =,
Our readers are, perhaps, aware lh1 e.. "
rontroversv after an interval Of nearly or eai'' mas
;,i IL ore a,est bitterness in France
great change, certainly for Inc oe.el, 'l1
In the philosophy of animal ias"el,sih - oe
~ ,, all reasoning and experience at defiance,
!, ~ ,,as before us science founded upon natu-
al I,ys ,bering round 1t new proofs the more closely
80 a,a,oned and substantlang It's clam to be consd-
Il . H. atest blessing ever vouchsaied to mankind.
T. PEI; he advocates of the doctrine were SO numerous
and so distinguished in their profession, that was I'M
nossbe to pass over its claims IN silence Men OF sci
49, and literature-surgeons and physicians OF the
h;hest emnence- declared that animal magnetism was
moi the dream Of mailman, as it had formerly been
considered nor the trick OF mpostor They profess
"a belief in its virtues and introduced 1t into their
practice On this the medical section OF the French
ROYAL Academy Of Sciences thought necessary 10 IN
terere and appointed committee, under tne presioeh-
G., Of Bourdos de la Motto to make inquiries on the
subject and report to them the result OF their aoors
rhis duty was intrused Of the most unpreudi-
ced opnions-some of them had given cursory atten
ton TO the claims advanced by the magnetizers' and
considered them acknowledgements nau peen ess
ed with toe great contempt for any thlng SO "id ana
startling on its first announcement to consider seri-
ously al a-and not one member oil tue coinihittee
compromised himself by having written or spoken one
SYLLABLE in support Of the doctrine Another ,iing
,hicb weighed with them and with most OF the think
inp men in Europe was the decided reports against
the system of Mesmer delivered to the Academy OF
Sciences and the Society of Physicians IA inc year
1734 From their decisions there appeared to be no
appeal or at least people considered themselves
justified in making farther inquiry after the research
Is Of such men Benjamin Franklin, lie hol baiHy,
De Bori and Lavoisier. Many circumstances, howev-
err were advanced in explanation of this verdict Some
Of the committee are alleged to have been unwell and
not have attended the meetings-and al were Prelu-
diced from the beginning against the nroaucer OF tne
novel system Mesmer undoubtedly gave great ground
for suspicious. His accessaries-such as darkened
rooms and hidden musclooked more ike the alds OIL
travelling coniurer than the accompaniment OF true
scieace-and the boldness with which his discoveries
were PROMULGATED as also the pecunary with
which they were rewarded, armed against hin the
pride and the personal interests OF the gen
tlernen by whom he was to be Judged The commttee
of 1881 resolved keep themselves as mucn as Possoe
unbiased by the assertions of the contending parties
and to examine into the subject tor themselves. Inc
result Of their labors long and patiently pursued and
of their experiments, TO which 1t seems posso ior
any deception have had access, is report confirm
ing the claims Of animal magnetism in the most ample
This repor, is ably drawn up and Is probably
in the hands of great many OF our readers as mas
been translated upwards OF three years ago ny MT y
c. Colquhoun.
We do not propose to take any farther notice of that
work, it will be perceived il has been frequently al
luded to in the English report which we are happy 70
ed for pubcaton-and indebted to the kindness
of the President Of the scientific section OF the Associ
alton for the original paper as read at the general meet
ing We owe the membersot the committee an apollo
oy fs ,.,aring print the Of their proceed
ings without their direct sanction. bat We know tney
win pardon the liberty allow ourselves IN consider
alton of the interests Of science Mr.. Brown their ell
and ingenious secretary will also, we are per-
suaded accord his forgiveness for using his very Ia
Tented report II is not often that philosopher, who
has genius to conduct scientific examination, mas at
~ of [
The Metropolitan Joint Stock Medical Scientlhc
o Literary Association has not been long established
But we may to observe, that no Dody OF men
have done more for the furtherance OF tue ends ior
which they are associated than the eminent individuals
who compose this society. We will not particuarize
any names, institute comparison between ,heir
labors and those of the chartered body oil the Pnys
clans or of any other institution. We merely wish 70
record our high opinion Of the usefulness OF the Metro
poitan Association school Of philosophical enquiry
aud as an uncompromisng advocate Of the truth Where
societies of longer standing and reposhg on .ne respect
Of the public and the strength of their own characters
have absained perhaps too guardedy from interfering
with the new discoveries in medicine or science the
Metropolitan Association has eagerly rushed forward
and hailed with generous warmth the appearance OF
any novelty Its honorary diplomas to DR. Morrison the
dscovcrcr Of the properties of the vegetable pill and 70
Dr. Turnbu for his profound treatises on the virtues
Of Veratra its readiness to pay honor 10 dsse
rested skill, wherever it may be found Its medal to
the philosophical gentleman who has established his re-
putation by essay containing proofs OF the UNITY OF
the body shows less zeal rewardng metaphysical
distinction than its former proceedings had displayed
for the encouragement Of medical utility
+, is not therefore, be doubted that on the hrst re
appearance Of the Mesmcr Philosophy its adventwas
warmly welcomed by tie Association. Allusion was
made il long ago 1880, in very luminous paper
by the late Mr. St Jehn Long But other topics OF ap
sorbng interest at home occupied too much OF the at
tention Of the scientific world allow the subject TO be
prosecuted that time At intervals, however, the mag
nec theory has incidentally been introduced IN the DIS
cushions arising at the quarterly meetings. but no tor
NAL proposition to inquire INTO fully and completely
was submitted TO the Association till the beginning OF
this year The public however seemed take little in
terest in the till about months ago, when the
arrival in London Of Baron Dupotet the principal pro.
lessor Of animal magnetism in Paris announced in
the newspapers An invitation published by the Ba
any gentleman who desired instruction in the doc
trnes Of animal magnetism, visit him anyday between
ndttree at his house in Maddox street. Hanover
Square. Before laying the scientific report Of
Mr. Brown, read at the last meeting Of the Meiropo
Titan Association before readers may be allowed
to describe visi, which We paid to the Baron in comp
with his invitation. On entering the room No g.
Maddox street, saw party of twelve or thirteen
gentlemen standing on the floor Baron Dupotet man
OF very prepossessing appearance with fine dark intel
hgent eyespwas seated in front Of gentleman who mad
offered himself for experiment After keeping the points
Of their thumbs together for time till the
Of both the same, the Barren pressed his hands
the patients shoulders, and passed lightly over his
till their hands again touched He repeated this
three times and then spreading forth his hand
with the fingers closed he moved il gently witha down
ward notion the patient face az about two incbes
ga distance from his He then continued the