The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-12-17

superior intelligence of the present age, the bold
defiance with which the master spirits treat the old,
exploded systems of moral and physical philosophy.
No man can be regarded as worthy of the nine
eenth century, unless he be the founder, at least
the disciple, of some original system of ethics sci
ence, or religion. He doesn't merit the name Of
genius who cannot tickle the pubic pal ate.
The profound science of g Neurology" is the
most recent discovery. 1t is the offspring of pho
sopher from Kentucky-a State which has already
astonished the world by its frequent extemporane
Gus experiments in optics Dr. Buchanan is the
name OF the apostle of this " neurology" He is
young gentleman of reputable character and con-
nexions and he has received a very respectable ed
ucation. He has all the enthusiasm of youth, and
believes that he is destined to revoutionize the old,
mater-o-fact systems of medicine, and morals.
He has been taken by the hand in this city, by Mr..
Bryant, Mr. O'Sullivan, and few others, whose
names are as yet unknown to fame, and "report
occupying seven eight columns, has been publish.
ed by these gentlemen, for the purpose of unfolding
| the new science.
DR.. Buchanan's theory may be stated in a few
fences. He believes that in every individual of the
! human species there exists mysterious principle,
! which he denomnates " neuraura," and that this
agent is perpetuay oozlng from ones fingers ends
that this influence is communicable, or in other
words, that one person can, by means of it, pro-
duce the most remarkable and characteristic eff
fects or the soul and body of another. Thus Mr..
A. touches with his finger the organ of comba-
tiveness" on the skull of Mr. b. and Mr. B. imme-
| dately becomes pugnacious or the organ OF :" be.
nevoence" is touched, and Mr. B. is at once inspir-
ed with unbounded love for his and so on, all
over the Uranium. The "neuraura" again can cure
bodily suffering. Thus Mr.. G. has got headache in
consequence OF having drank too much cham
paigne last night; the neuroogist touches the organ
OF lmhibltlveness" and Mr. c. is relieved instanter
from the unpleasant effects of his indiscretion
Sull more marvellous-each of the fingers posses
ses the power OF transmitting specific and peculiar
influence. The thumb is of right, and from long
established usage, the presiding power, and is, as it
were, the governor of the dgital congregation This
Is emphatlcally the &c rule of thumb" Only one
man IN one thousand possesses the full power of
exercising this subtle agency, and only one in one
hundred Is "lmpressible," or susceptible of the
magic influence. Such is in brief, and without
particle OF exaggeraon, the substance and spirit of
the new candidate for the support of the lovers of
the profound, the incomprehensble and the new.
Ii is hardly necessary to say, that this " Neuroo
gy" Is Just another incarnation of the mysticisms
| and sublimltles of the ilustrious Mesmer Both
sciences" require due contempt for vulgar sex
act reasoning and demonstration, and both ascribe
proper supremacy TO subtitle and inscrutable fluid
Mesmer maintained that the sun, moon, ard fixed
stars mutually affect each other in their orbits that
they and direct on our earth flux and reflux
not only on the sea, but in the atmosphere and
affect in similar manner all organized bodies
| through the medium of subtitle and mobile fluid
which pervades the universe, and associates all
things together in mutual intercourse and harmony
And Mesmer precisely like DR.. Buchanan, found
that by passing his hands in certain way, even at
a distance from the body of the subject, he could
produce the most remarkable effects The arrange
ments of Mesmer well adapted for producing
an impression. Those on whom he operated were
assembled in large apartment, dimly lighted,
whilst mysterious music from distant part of the
building, foated the air, and fell with softened
cadence on the of the excited listeners The
philosopher himself habited in delicate coored
| silk, and bore wand, with which or his hand he
| produced effects still more extraordinary than those
which Doctor Buchanan appears to have as vet been
able TO create. After Mesmer, who died in 1915
came the Marquis de Puysegur who was the Disco
verer OF magnetic somnambulism. Three separate
schools OF magnetism at this time arose, as we are
informed by.M. Dupoet-frst, the original school of
Mesmer, which prevailed principally in Paris It's
doctrines similar to those of the Epcurean pho-
sophy, as described in the poem of Lucretius Its
disciples believed in the existence of the univer-
sal fluid, to which we have already alluded,
and conducted the operation physically--that is
by passing the hands Immediately over, or at short
distance from the body of the subject. Second the
school Of the Chevaer de Barbarin This was
founded at Lyons, and although it had many par-
sans in France, prevailed principally in Sweden and
Germany. Its principles remind us of the Platonlc
philosophy; its disciples maintained that the mag
netic operation depended entirely upon pure
effort of the SOUL" and was to be conducted ONLY
upon psychical principles They were, therefore.
termed splrtualists." Lastly came the school of
the Marquis de Puysegur, founded at Strasburgh.
the disciples of which, protesting to be guided only
by observation, called themselves experimental
lists "
II appears to us that the youthful Plato from Ken
lucky has happily combined all these dissenters Dr.
Buchanan believes in the subtitle fluid, though he
gives II "local habiation and name;" he also
depends on the aid OF the soul land he is called in his
advertisement, "the distinguished psychological phi
osorher;" finally, to complete the union the three
schools, he relies altogetheron experiment. He com.
bines the physical treatment of Mesmer, with the
psychical treatment of Barbarin land unes with both
the experimental exactness fdePuysegur. There can
be, therefore, doubt of the truth of the discovery
revealed by Buchanan. We rejoice with patriotic
ierver that to our country belongs the fame of prio
rty in this advance ts superior intelligence. Our
hlgh-nessure steam-engines have no rivals in the
old world Our explosions on the Mississippi, and
in the financial circles, are of unexamped magni-
icence. 1t would be inexpicable were our strides
to the summit of scientific perfection, to be measur-
able by European standards. Mesmer and is con-
freres must new hide their diminished heads
II is fortunate for the new science, that its first