The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-11-28

energies Of his highly cultivated mind to
an examination Of the merits of the system,
and he did me the honor to express his wisI,
that I should prosecute the labors ] had
commenced. As n lecturer, too, I thought
tins subject intimately connected with
therapeutic powers, and as, by the publicity
Of your Journal, l am standing before the
profession, have felt that am not in
,ruding myself by giving the result Of my
experiments. These have been performed,
Of course, with the full certainiy that
possessed no peculiar power which could
he productive Of any effect that might moi
attend npon the exertions of any other in
dviduul. The extent Of my examination
has been such as to satisfy me that can
produce sleep Of q very unusual charac-
ter, by certain manipu laiions which do not
require me to be in actual contact with the
person upon whom the operation is intend
cd to be performed; that l have acquired a
certain degree of experience, by which
knuw how TO accommodate the manipu!a-
tions for the purpose required; and that
eau communicate to another individual, in
n short space Of time, all the information
necessary for the production of tEis sleep.
~ commenced my series Of experiments
by initiating the nctions of the Baron Du
Potet. My first subjects were of the uned-
ucated class but 1 found them so prone to
believe in the marvcllous--so anxious for
extraordinary results, that they deceived
both themselves and me. l have since
tried tho same manipulaiions upon the high
er classcs, and though fnd them much
more sensitive to every expression, and
their nervous system more easily acted up
on, and although, occasionally, the imagi-
nation has led some of them away, yet
have succeeded in giving very pecaliar
sleep, amounting almost to stupor, to IA vas,
number of individuals. | have constantly
found females much more susceptible OF
the influence than men nor does It pro-
duce upon :hem all precisely the same state
of sleep. For while in some it is n sort Of
trance, during which, as often occurs in
that unnatural state, pain is scarcely felt, in
others it produces hysteria, convu!sions,
aud have likewise known fainting occur.
The most remarkable case that has fallen
under my observation, and which, while it
excited in me great anxiety, mud the deep
researches with extreme caution, has oc-
Cured to me within the last two days.
was enjoying tie hospitality Of II most am
liable family in Fnzroy- square, when ami
,nai magnetism became The topic Of conver-
sntion, and related the trials had already
made. One Of the Young ladies proposed
to become the subject Of experiment, I,
which very willingly assented for, hav-
ing on former occasions attended her du
ring momentary sickness, was fully awar
of the natural strength Of her constitution
aud the absence of that nervous tempera
nent which renders this system totally in
applicable. began what are technical
called +" the passes" They, as is not un
usual, excited laughter and incredibly.
proceeded, for about five minutes, aud thei
stopped and inquired if any sensation WA
produced, and the answer was, I" a Sigh
sieepiness; and ridicule was again throwt
upon the subject. ] recommended tho ma.
nipulations / observed the eyelids falling,
and at last they closed but, ns the same
incredulous smile remained, l persevered
for three or four minutes, when I, almost
doubling whether any influence had been
produced, inquired what the feelings were
10 this no answer was returned. | found
my young friend was in the most complete
trance had ever yet Witnessed us the re-
suit Of my magnetism. The stupor was
most profound aud then tried the usual
meaps to arouse her, but they were vninly
exercised. After few minutes I found the
hands become icy-cold, the face lost It's nat.
ural hue, aud became perfectly psllid the
extremitics became quite cold the respira.
ton was impercep,lble the stimulus o
light did not affect the eye; on speaking I,
her faint smile was excited, and n quivcr
ing of the lower jaw, which seemed to indi
cate wish, but nn incnpablity of answer
ing; the pulse became gradually feeblel
whilst the external appearance altoge,he
bore such decidedly deathly cast tha, na,
nrally some apprehension was excited n
monsst her family, by whom she was SUI
rounded. Of course could not but fe
certain degree of anxiety and regret TIN
I had produced suc. n state, and much NJ
easincss nt the thought that ! had inficte
moments alarm on my kind friend
These feelings were, however, less acut
from the full knowledge | entertained tn
the f,mily had long reposed the most pc
feet confidence in me, and that no mcmb,
Of it had that nervous susceptibility, whc
would have embarrassed me had any unit,
ward accident presented itself.
~ placed the perfectly unconscious sui
ject Of this distressing scene in n horizont'
position, nnd directed the application
warmth and of friction 10 the exircmtie
Circulation and animal heat were gras
uaIly excited, but she presented most sir
guIar appearance of suspended animation
In this condition she remained more tha
four hours, for had commenced a little a
ter ten In the evening, aud it was about ha
past two, that, on some slight effort bein
made to rouse her, she uttered some Of th
most piercing shrieks have ever heard
there were coavuIsive efforts to raise ih