Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1837-1839, 1838-06-02
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES,

AsAs aDu presume many o. yoWS ScoCoSS nave
likewise. Numerous and contradictory ~ have
been some Of the statements Of ,h.se who have
written upon the subject, there are some Particu-
lars in which all agree.
But what - aaimal magnetismf and what are
the wonders which characterize il! Already it
has been asked il the days Of soreery, Of witch
craft. aud Of magical influence arc to he revived
among Us! Who can respond witt, certainty to
this inquirye Who foreicll the end Of this
wonderful doctrine! Certainly no one.
Verify il wouid seem that Witchcraft might be-
como a legitimate object for the investigation Of
the schools and Sorccry g. Magic have their foun
dation in the Philosophy Of the human mind
Already We feel disposed TO ask the question,
what is mind? what is matter? ] for one have
heretofore been satisfied with the received notion
utmost UNIVERSAL Of minds being stationary, and
confined in its operations to tho individual who
has it in possession--who.c Uranium is its reccp-
tacle--and who as all parties allow, (or have
l!owcd)--must exercise it within its legiti-
maic spherc-hithcrto eircumscribcd by tho
row compass Of the cranill bones.
Animal magnetism places it in the power Of
ono individual to WELD minds empire in another
10 benumb his external senses, md infuse into,
and give an impulse TO his chronological organs,
making them pregnant with ideas perhaps never
before cnteriainod--io give tho subjects Of its
power an insight into material objects, with which
neiihcr Of the "cxiernal scnses' come at all in
contact.
Six years ago ! read the report Of committee
appointeG by Of the mast learned bodies in
the world-the "French Academy Of Sciences"
which committee took five years for the investi-
CATION Of a science, then almost, as it is yet a
norc!ty. Their conclusions were in accordance
with those S the Originators Of the doctrines-and
with those oflater i.ss. Facts were developed
which clashed too mu, h with their pre-conceived
notons IL things, to gain for them that attention
which their importance demandcd-and though
they were recorded facts, they received such
comments from their observers greatly to iu-
saIiats them in the eyes Of the public for whom
they werc intended.
Notwithstanding, however, the mighty opposi-
tion which this doctrine has had to contend with
from its infancy, it still continues 10 spread and
gain psoselytes in overy region where free en-
quiry 10 permitted. As may be expected from the
nature ofous laws and t.e geniuses Of the Amer
ican people, our country is destined to become a
mighty theatre upon whose broad arena its nigh
aicst isiumphs will yet be exhibited toan astonish-
cd world. So much indeed has the cart Of mag
netizing" been simplificd since the days Of Mes
mcr, its originator, that il Is within the province
Of every man u dcveloPs results truly wonderful
and interesting--thougha agent for the relief
Of Suffering humani,y-in tho hands OF the skilful
physician IL must alone he Of general utility. in
some diseases, great relief is said TO have been
obtained Mt the hsnds Of several eastern Physi-
clans, and il is daily becoming more general since
the publication Of Col. stones pamphlet on that
subjsct, Ihavc laascraly read an ~cs.ay on Ami
NAL Magnetism" delivered by gentleman Of
Philadelphia before the Northern Ly:cum Of that
Cisy-t6 me the most satisfactory Of any thing
have yet seen on the subject; and believe more
than any thing else determined me to commence
= cour.e OF experiments for myself, some Of which
will detail. OF the stature Of the phenomena
which shall have cause to mention, shall; no,
attempt to speculate; but must leave TO each can
did rcadcr to draw his own differences and conclu
sions. Tho first individual upon whom the oper
alton was performed was man about thirty year:
Of age, Of considerable science and obscrv alton
and ardent lover Of knowledge, and one wht
would be little calculated to DO the dupe Of i'm
posture. Indeed his love Of science, and dcsir'
to test the truth Of what he had read on this sub
ject, alone overcome his scruplcs, and he with re
luctance submitted to the mampulations. As thi
was his frs, sitting, did not anticipate any vcr
marked results, (for il requires several to arriv
at a state Of perfect somnambulism) The 'pas
scs" rs they are technically called, were com
mcnccd At about half past ten A. Ma perio
whea tho digestive process for the morning IS q
bout ep3ed-and their effect soon ident up
on the individual before me. Had not been pre-
pared to expact some Of the symptoms from wha
HAD read, I should have felt some alarm and d.
sisted. The whole frame Of the indiv idual BIZ
came rcstivc beyond his POWER to control-an
the convuisive efforts Of the diaphragm, and mu.
c)cs Of The face following each other in quick
cess;on, evidently showed that something powe
full was at work on his features lately placid in III
extreme. Ibid not succeed however in prodncin
"magnctic sleep" but was fully satisfied in m
first attempt with the phenomena above relates
The "Passes" were not kept up more than se