The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1837-11-17
fron the aleieh Standard.
ANIMAL MAGNETISM


For some weeks past the world # x
York has Teen highly Initiated viii d, |
revival Of the long exploded docGine q
animal magnetism. Col. stone, the ed
tor # paper in that city. and man {.
considerable reputation for intelligence
has become a victim 10 this exci,rmer.
in fact is a leader in the delusion and /
doctor Of the hypothesis. We Wish n,
could give IN ineligible account Of Ms
aPochryphal appendage TO the wonLss
OF science; bm the subject is involved \
darkness: its nv steries ale intrereired /.
oceult sorceries, thai defy tie powers d
reasoning and excite the q" hattie Of ,is
mind " While We should enlrrtaiu p
speci for the assertions Of those persors
Who declare their knowledge Of lsr q.
istence Of animal magnetism, we sho "A
also douh. the truth Of ans theory o ..
wars agains' all the known laws thar IN
sern thu moral and material world; ars
as giving vision without the use Of III.
organs of sight; though, without pcrrg
ton; location withou, identity; and know,
ledge without Ei,ion' We imagine "
limit To the power Of a benefcen. Dcy
the countless wonders Of the cart, tie
air, and the ocean, are but imperiecty
known to the wisesi Of mankind; ana ne
loftiest in:elleci may not be surprised 4.
the farther development Of Creative and
Sustaining Power. that shall mock iB
pigmy efforts of conception. BUi though
we NAV not understand the process nor
the means. il is given US tn know that IL
are grounded in bene6cence and uuliiS
We think, with defereniial submission 70
higher intellect, that the gift Of animsI
magnetism could not rebound Ia the GO
~ Of God or the honor Of man. l,clain,
the ubiquily OF the Deity. and processes
TO exercise i, for the qualification Of idle
curiosity, or the indulgence OF childish
pasiirEe; il il susceptible, il true, Of nj.
nistering 10 the vices Of man, BY opening
the avenues TO seduction and debaUchery,
without the ability to exercise one re-
deeming virtue.
Abou, sixty years ago, the doctrine oil
animal magnetism was asserted, hut ne.
yer explained. II consists Of several
phenomena. produced BY the action Of
one man upon another. The origin O
the term was fancied analogy between
the action Of the mineral magnsL md
that Of the animal energy. We shall
eondense few remarks on this subject
from an author before us. hoping TO give
as fair an outline of Tie hypothesis, a'
The subject is susceptible Of. The Prr'
cipal means used 10 produce the efecs
of animal magnetism, are such as louca'
ing with the hands, breathing upon
person, fixing the eyes upon him, Dc,
The magnetized person mus, always 10
OF weaker constitution, and II possloe'
of different sex from the magneiIzer;
is also essential that he should believe
without doubling. The phenomens them
selves consist partly in bodily sensations
such as chilliness, heaviness, flying pans
&C.; partly in diminished activi,y Of TIE
external senses, partly in fainting, cor
vulsions, sleep, with lively dreams
which the magnetized person is tran"
ported to higher spheres, observes TIE
internal organization of his own body
prophecies, gives medical prescriptions
receives inspired views of heaven he'll,
purgaiory. DC; reads sealed letters laa
on his stomach; and when awake, IS 10
tally unconscious oil what he has eNpe'f
enced. Al the same time the soul Is "
refined. that the approach Of the impure
or disheliesers in animal magnetism
throws the subject into fits. The mag
netized person shows remarkable con,
neciion with the magnetizer-iasins
wha, he eats. smelling what he holds OK,
fore his nose. and no one else can oFOO
him back from the magnetic state.
We think We have mentioned enongu
Of the phenomena; those who believe 'n1
far, may enrol themselves among the la''r
fol; and vet what We have stated, is mol,
ss Charles Cha,ierbox would say, "Na'
a quarter!"
Mesmer, who we believe is the arr"
OF the system. excited much ai'c'''',
in Vienne in l772, until he was dc'''l"'
in fraud, in the pretended resort.