Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1842-08-09
AUGUST 8. 1912.

/
NAL, rather than human being and literally de-
voured with such rapldity. that the audi
ence were in serious alarm lest he should DC choked
| on the SPOT
The organ regulating the nerves of sensation was
then excited he shrunk from the slightest touch
and when DIR. b. proposed to pluck single hair
from his head, obstnately resisted the proposition
! The antagonist organ was then touched and he
plncked his own hair with such careless ndlifer
ence, that DR.. Il. had to arrest his hand. The Dr.
was proceeding to prick his hand with pin, when
rs brother, of the audience, who had been
greatly excited by what he had just rose and
protested against the experiment being further con-
tnued. DR.. b. assured him his brother should not
be hurt and trial, it appeared that. with his
eyes shut he could not detect the prick OF the pm
on his hand, at all.
Space permits not that should detail the various
experiments that succee led Suffice it to say, that
the organs Of fear, of frmness, of veneratlon, of
benevolence of doubt. of creduty and many others,
were excited and all gave manifestations OF
more or less striking character. pass over these
to record a few particulars CT the many expert
ments in prva's. II these seew TO transcend tho
ordinary limits OF probability ] can but sny-with
reference to the facts not TO any theories connected
with them-that my defence is the same set up by
Monk LEWIS = did say it was probable, l
only said Il was true.
The private experiments took place in the pre-
sence OF a small circle of friends, among whom
mcmberS OF the medical profession, re-
Previous to commencing these, DR.. b. informed
us, that as his intention to show the absolute
control which he could exert over the constitution
of r c., he would endeavOr to produce any
effect which, in writing, he might be requested to
do. The experiments which followed therefore,
were either the result OF a request expressed IN
writing by one of the party else the DR.. passed
around paper stating explicitly the effect ne pur-
posed to produce.
As Dr. b. had informed me- that he had already
apfn
heyed he could do so IN the case of 1t -,
asked him i'm private before r-1rrived)to make
the attempt lie requested me to arrange some
tempting articles of Jewelry on the table, hall con-
cealed by newspaper. placed a gold pencil and
sgnet ring in accordance with his request, anu
the chair destined for i was then set that
they were within easy reach. The subject of this
strange experiment had scarcely taken his seat,
when at the touch of the Drs fingers, his counte-
nance fell, his head sank on his bosom, and he cast
furtive aud uneasy glances around. GLOW do you
feel, r." said the DR.. Mean enough" was
the reply in a tone that correspondcd we'll with the
words. The DR.. then increased tue excitement
and the first effect discefned cutching mo
ton of the hands The DR.. charged the position
of his chair, so that his eyes fell on the pencil and
seal. His hands seemed almost instlnctvely TO ap-
proach them, but he drew them back several times,
as If IN fear OF detection. Those present then began
to converse Indifferent subjects, If not motto
ing him. After few minutes restless uneaslneSS
plduudlly over liOIe, he cautiously anu
dexterously conveyed both pencil and seal to ms
pocket handkerchief, which he had lad upon his
: knee, and hastily wrapped them up In 1t his coun
tenance the while exhibiting strange mixture o.
fear and eagerness II was the very npersonatior
Of petty thevery. DIR. h. then approached INN
Have you a pencil, TT said he. L replied
grufiy, without raising head, No" why, saw
one here bat tins moment. what could have become
of it Can't you tell me :! NO, how should
! know ~ you must certainly have taken it," 81
Have vour aall M ION.
Gil, then - As DIR. Ii. asked this last question he
, touched some of the honest organs and T., rails
ing his head, for the first time, abashed and mort
!, fed, gave up the articles he had taken.
| asked l. afterwards. what his sensations were
= during this experiment They were OF the
! most disagreeable, said he IA ever experienced
: a sentiment OF fear ovcrruled by craving desir,
! of possession dare say just a thief really feels.
= You thought the pencil very pretty" said /, smll
: nu. "pretty - said he, Il thought | had nevc
seen anything beautiful in my LIE. felt as j
could 20 without food for 4 week, to get it int,
. my hands,
,, During subsequent experiment when the orpar
. of calculation had been excited, and L - was tell
;, ing and over again, with amusing cagerness
, some small change which had been placed In I'M
i hands, Dr. b. standing behind T., ard signing t
! to observe the effect, slowly applied his finger
:, 10 the organs OF responsiveness and secretveaess
. The action ofreckoning Immediately arrested
= the fingers closed over the money part was con
Veyeu 10 his naDhcTcHlel; anu WHcn urged 10 give
up the rest, lie first equvocatcd about the amount
and finally declared, that 1t his, any now
i ne would never give 1t up In this he persisted
: until a touch on the organ OF conscientlousncs
y quickly reversed his intentions.
l. a subsequent experiment was of a still NOR
: startling character. DIR. B. having informed us, II
5 writing that he would attempt to change =
C mind 10 the condition of early infancy, proceeded I
Y operate certain organs. rs head droppe
o on one side; he appeared hardly conscious OF an,
d thing that was pass .ng around and with a sill
!. laugh, (Which IN an adult seemed almost idIoiic h
d held ~ his hands, opened and closed the fingers
t and appeared to examine them with much del ght
d There was complete relaxation of the muscula
system. Ills dropped his chair, an,
c STOPPING down. he seemed istlessly and ad
IS mire the bright figures the carpet. At last, get
r ting on the floor, he caught up, with great glee
IA bunch ofkeys that were thrown to HIM, seized up0
j. all impromptu doll that was paced in his way
crawled about withou. apparent object and in short
Is exhibited every symptom OF relapse into a state
d infancy When restored by the action Of the oper
Y ator's hands. he appeared to awake, almost from
y trance did not reeoect what he had been doing
/ and could not imagine how he got from his chair
], the floor.
3 IN experiment succeeded which it was frgh,
iu to witness. By passing his fingers in a pecull
j ar manner. backwards and forwards, along the me
a dunn line Of the snciPut, corresponding with I'll
n upper issurc of the hemisphercs OF the brain, Tia
offec. appeared TO be, 10 destroy al of ideT
r tty; 10 scatter the thoughts 50 that they could
Re be concentrated oil any subject and to cause h
he legs and arms 10 be extended IN opposite directions
II violently and Involuntary. The patient some
6 times moved hs head and body to one side then
the other; seemed excessively restless and uneasy
r MS eyes rolled frghfuy in their sockets and n
~ cOuntenance Indicated confusion of IDEAS