Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1842-08-09
From he y. Y. Ereniag POST
NEUROLOGY.
ExrRAoRDISARy PHYSIOLOGICAL EXPERIMENTS by
r.. BUCHANAN.
NV HARMONY. Indiana, June. 1912

NEW II,RMoNy. Indiana, June. 1912
Experiments ia ply siologg ot startling eharac-
ter, such - all must appear extraordinary, aud
by many @ be deemed Incredible nave recently
been exhibited, both IN public and private, III our
little town. These experiments chiefly refer to the
vital powers and mental functions OF the human
subject and. IN earlier and d1rker aye OF the
world, would have obtained for their author. DR.
Buchanan Of Louisville, not the character oil Doid,
original, philosophical naturalist, but rather the
reputation Of some Paduan necromsncer. casting
his cabalistc spells the minds and bodies OF
hls victims.
And, even now, in the nineteenth century, have
hesitoted IN my intention OF addressing. on this
SUBJECT a communication to one of the leading Jour
mails of your city. The simple statement at what
/ have seen and heard-and | presume 10 offer
nothing more will naturally, and almost neces
sarlly, be received with dIstrust. Men have been
go often deceived by the marvellous, that the wise
are Justly the watch against easy creduliiy IN
narvcls- Gevenese philosopher has wei said
that J." 1t easy and agreeable TO trust and believe
but 10 doubt requires an unpleasant effort >; and
the history OF the human mind and ITS alterations
so strklngly illustrates the remark that none who
have read It's lessons Alright, but will set strict
guard on their imaginations bearing IN mind that
credulity Is to the full dangerous and seductive
as unbeef.
Yet are there reasonable bounds to sceptcism
GalIlco wrote 10 kepler: 4" Here at Padua, Is the
principal professor OF philosophy, whom have re-
and planets through my glass, winch he peftina
c!onsly refuses do.
This logged line Of oppostion-this resolution
not to use ones eyes and lest their testimony
disturb some pre- conceived idea, or derange some
favorite system--Is equally at variance with PHI
osophy and lnimical Improvement Nor, IN fol
lowing scientific researches, should we rashiy
decide what is too marvellous for belief. Many
natural phenomena, which would have seemed to
ancestors nothing short OF the cabala OF the
hlarr lav fam ltar and pnt,yl-
edged and the only wonder in regard TO them
now, not that they have been discovered at last,
but that they have been hidden from the world 50
long.
phrenology long denied a rank among the
sciences yet 1t Is commonly conceded that its
outlines, least, true and demOnstrable. IL IL
generally admitted, that to certain portion OF the
BRAIN may be referred the intellectual faculties TO
smother the moral sentiments; and again to another
he animal impulses. And If there be Just cause
for doubling the accuracy OF the mlnuter subdt-
visions. this would prove, not that TALL and SpuFZ-
helm were empires, but only that their science Is
imperfect science of origin so recent may well
DC supposed 10 be.
The most valid objection which has been urged
against the claim of phrenology 20 a place among
the exact sciences is the fact that the observations
character, for which II depends To demonstrate
the functions of particular organ, are OF very
general nature aud, even IN their aggregation. art
necessarily contingent and interenial rather thar
absolutely dcnonstrativc. 1t Is to obvIate this oh
lectIon that DR.. Buchanan's researches have been
for years past, chiefly directed.
IL occurred to him. that If the different portions
or organs Of the brain could be excited, so as Il
manifest: on the instant. and III striking manner
their peculiar functions, then what before ONLY
inference and probability, might become certalnt.
and demonstrations
Following up this idea. Dr. Buchanan arrived
by actual experiment, at various results which BIZ
fair to solve a, last the great problem that has d.
dai tta Tic A
lIIppocrates and his - animal spirits down through
the disgus tons of Des Carries T. the present day
when some physicians ibcrnethy | believe. among
the rest J appear inclined to recognize subtl hul'
analogous To electricity the prime agent IN sen
saion. Some such subtil agent, tor which DIR
Buchanan has retained, most appropriate, the
name of =. nervous fluid, appears, according 70 DE-
BIS discoveries. to pass, by contact. or through tht
medium of a metallic or other conductor. from one
person to another Experiment further proves, tina
some Compartments are more capable OF receiving
Us Impressions others OF communicating them
DIR. b. found the liability TO excitement, or "a h'
phrases IL, mprfssibitty in some persons feeble
that hardly any effect could by ordinary means
be produced while IN others, usually of nervous
temperament, the effects are 50 powerful, tina
great care necessary IN conducting his eXperi
mentS.
The general result has been TO establish the &c
curacy Of 4 general portion OF he system OF Gal
and SpurzheIm. Some organs, however, 1t wou
A"Ai~No''
have been partially IN understood and many hav
been wholly omitted Those, for example. tina
appear to control the vital functions and the ex
terna senses, have been overlooked by phrenolo
gisis. They have not imagined, that the sigh
could be invigorated weakened, that pcrIstaltl
action could be accelerated or arrested. that III,
pulse could be qu.ckened or retarded, that the mus
GUAR energy could be increased or diminished, By
exciting particular portions OF the brain. et Ties
results DR.. Buchanan has obtained, By simple con
tact of the hands. placed on the head or face.
The number of those whose brains are thus easill
excited he found to be comparatively small yet il
every society of few hundred persons he has beei
able to meet with impress bic subjects. The,
may usually be thus detected Let the operate
grasp firmly IN his hand any metallic conductor.
bar OF steel for example. and the subject receive
loosely IN his hand, placed at rest, and remaining
without muscular effort if benumbng tinsins
sometimes painful sensation. occasionally accom-
PANIED by feeling o. heat. be experienced IN liz
arm often running up to the shoulder, the suhJec
IS commonly impress bic.
DIR. Buchanan has found several such among US
The most easily impressed was young man. T.
C, about nineteen, Of quick, excltab.e TEN
permanent but IN good health. | have known hn
from his infancy. lie is of OF the most respect
able families N this place, originally from Nrr MA
once ncigh5ors of Thomas Jefferson, with whom
rs father was well acquainted. lie himse
IS Of quick parts, good common education. aud IRE
pfoachablc character. The idc1 u stimuli alton q