Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1842-10-06
From tho Richmond Wing.
ANIMAL MAGNETISM |!

ANIMAL MAGNETISM!
Mr.. EpiTcR AS Animal Magnetism is az this |
time the al-engrossni topic, not only in the sci
entiiic and literary circles, but among all classes
OF the community, including the learned Faculty,
and even the venerable poticai editors, propose,
with Your permission, 10 submit for the consde- /
ration of your readers, brief synopsis of its his
tory in France, the great theatre OF it's boosted OPP
erations for more than half a century, together
with the opinions of some of the most eminent
medical gentlemen in this country.
That mankind are more easily and. successfully
deluded, and are more peTtinDCious of belief in
Nose things that are ncomprchcnsible, is II pro-
siton universally admitted TO be true; and is in
deed only AN additional illus ration Of the truth Of
the position, that crsduty is the offspring of ig-
norance and superstition. That public exhibit
tons of pretended experiments. connected with
the marvellous pretensions oil Mesncrism, are
likely 10 attract the admiration ami assent Of those
whose creduiiy induces them TO believe every
thing seemingly wonderful that they see, all dis
passionate observers are prepared 10 expect-and
consequently many OF our ingenious and dexter
| Gus ccunlrymcn have, and doubtless will avail
themselves of, this susceptibility to practice upon
! The amazing gullh!ty Of the American public.
"Eiiects," says a distinguished writer, sour
knowledge does not account Tor, arc regarded as
| my sterious and marvellous. Whoever asserts
boldly will find believers amongst the weak and
ignorant; and, eventhc judicious and intelligent
Will be often staggered in their opinions, when
not fortified BY kuowlsdge-by daring assoveta-
, ton"
But to proceed TO the synopsis; in 1884, there
appeared in France a Magnetizcr by the name of
Desior, who engaged to prove "lst. Tho exis-
tence oi Animal Magnetism. I'd. To commune
cate his knowledge oithis discovery. Sd. TO prove
! its utility In the cure OF Diseases" Such
the novelty of the pretended discoveries Of the
Magnetizer, that the King named four physicians,
| together with five members of ''the Royal Acad-
envy of Sciences" among whom the celebra-
ted Lavoisier, to investigate the new doctrine.-
After the most carefully conducted and extensive
experiments, upon patients selected from every
class of society. as well as children; thcse com
.nissioners unanimously reported "that the imagi-
nation did every thing, and that Magnetism was
nothing-that the magnetic fluid does not exist.
Animal Magnetism is nothing MT and the
means employed TO put them in execution are
dangerous"
| Shortly afterwards in the same year, other en-
! lightened commissioners chosen by the
French Government, from "the Royal Society Of
! Medicine" who presented n report upon the same
subject. "The Mag neither was the same-,he
subjects, patients suffering from various real or
imaginary diseases. They concluded ''that
the theory of Animal Magnetism is system ell
I trey devoid ofproofs-ihat the means employed
to put it in action might become Gangerous-and
that the treatment by these proceedings, might
give rise TO very serious spasmodic and convul-
siye accidents"
thus given to it by the Royal Commissioners, the
subject of Animal Magnetism not for long
period of time, revived. In consequence, howev-
ar, Of the communication of some singular facts
connected with Magnetism, by NJ. Oudet, dis
tinguished member Of .'the Royal Academy Of
Medicine, in Paris, at one of the meetings OF the
Academy in August, 1887, committee consis-
ting of nine Of the best informed members of IN
learned body (anong whom was VI Oudet) was
appointed to investigate the whole subject anew.
This committee, after the most lahorcus minute,
and extensive lnyestiga,on-at the house of the
: Nagne,izer, NJ. Bcrna, who challenged the SC
verest scrutiny, unanimously reported "that from,
, all the facts and all the incidents Of which We
have been witnesses, special proof given
e. the ey's!enc. ct paiicn,ss .ia'o called Sai
assertion, and not by demonstration, that the
Magncilzer proceeded in this nattcr''--and thai
y all the facts which he promised and s;temp led
embracing the nsensibility of subjects, the res.
toration either partially or totally, of sensibility
. to the Somnambule-the pretended abolition and
|, restitution OF moton-iransPosition of the sight
cLAiRvoYANcE, &c J "are ytEing but conclusive
in favor Of the doctrine Of An,na Mapue,ism ~
The limits necessarily prescribed to this CON-
munication preclude any notice oflhe opinions OF
the distinguished medical men Of this country,
further than the general result of the observations
OF several eminent members of the Faculty OF
Philadelphia, all concurring substantially with
the conclusions of the Royal Academy of Medi-
cine in Paris, as stated above.
Professor Dunglison of Philadelphia. than
whom higher medca! authority in this or any O.
Their country could not be addrced, used the fol-
lowing language in reference to this subject,
which 1T appears 10 me approxinstes nearer to
the truth than any exposition have seen, in the
November number Of the American Medical In
ieiilgencer for the year 1887. s'Of the reality
says he. "of certain of the effects ascribed to the
manipuiations Of the Animal hiaguezer we en-
terrain no doubt. The whole history of the ART
exhibits tina, highly impressibIc individuals may
have irregularities Of nervous distribution nduced
through tic medium Of the sensee. especially
those OF vision, and the toucl,--and that kind Of
hysteric sleep and other phenomena refelabe to a
Ike condition Of the nervous SUPPLEMENTARY be en-
gendcred, but that there is any thing like Mag
netic fluid or agent that may be communicate
from the Magnetzer 10 the snbieci of his expert
ments is not only not proved, but by no means
IpresumabIe.
"As to the CLAIRvoYAHcn," or ssIucidity Of vi
sion,' could we assign our belief to il at all, il
would be only Gil the ground, ''credo gaia impossi-
bile e$f.' r.
Amherst, I9.h Sept.
*Y.dc report en- Animal Magnetism made 70 thc Roy
al Academy al medcinc,, in Paris August Sta and 22d
1857, by Ia Dubois (D'Amcns.)
BEN EVOLENT REQUESTS.