Richmond palladium., 1842-06-18

nine persons out Of every hundred, would eihe
suppose the operators deceived themselves, o
worse, were ANXIOUS to deceive others
Under these circumstances, a number OF high
iy respectable citizens, and among them ma
lorlty of the editors of Philadelphia, assembled a
The dwelling of the physician above noticed, OF
Tuesday evening last, for the purpose OF being at
iorded ocular proof There were probably thir
/ ~ gentlemen in attendance, besides the Physlcl
an who operated and the iudivldual friend O
ours, OF unbleinished integrity superior intel
gence and unsullied character, who consented to
be the subject for the evening, and who had fa-
mlllarzed himself with the whole scene by former
experiments. II is no, necessary FOR Us IN this
article, TO express an opinion, TO the truth or
talsitv either Of Mesmerism or Phrenologv. We
merely state facts they passed under our own
observation, and as they will be corrobora ted by
similar accounts from other gentlemen who were
present.
The company being seated, the operator and
his sub ject also took seats, Immediately opposite,
when the history Of the matter was given IN
few words by the physician, and in substance as
we have recorded it above. He then placed his
right hand on the forehead, and with his left grasp
ed hand Of the patient. In the course Of about
two minutes, the latter fell into Mesmeric sleep,
when the physician so pronounced him, cnnvers~
ed freely in explanation of the various points Of
the case, and proceeded to apply the phreno-mag
netc tests. He then exhibited a cast with era
mum marked out accOfOing 10 tHa C0clflHcS O
phrenologv, nd applied his finger to the various
Developments on the Uranium Of his patient
The effect astonished every one present. All
knew the character of the subject, and there fore
knew there could be colluslop, no trick, no dc
ception whatever. Bat just the physician
touched with his finger the several specific indi
cations the head of the subject, did that subs
Ieci deveIope in the strongest and most unequivo
cal manner, the various feelings tas les and emo
tons which phrenoloGl SITS contend, arc indicated
by protubrances. Thus, music, language, mirth
Ideary. number, veneratIon almentIyeness firm
ness, time, space, destructycness, envy, sclf-es
teen. hatred and despair--were successfully made
manifest, well by the countenance aud the lea-
lures, by movements of the limbs and by oral
expression. The fidelity Of the various delnea-
tons was wonderful. We never saw them sur
passed on the stage, and are satisfied that the
subject could not give them with such accuracy,
in his usual condition Of mind. When under the
Influence of envy. for example, the snbject alluded
TO some ideaI character. pointed to scene that
was very pleasant TO the eye, that presented
green and tempting aspect. but quietly re-
marked, and in covert spirit of exultation, tha;
there was ditch IN the distance, into which The
object referred 10 would later plunge
or be en,rapped Again, he observed that "go.
ing up was very pleasant-all very fne--but tha,
the higher his antagonist asceuded, the further
he would have to fall" The expression and the
manner, however. were still more striking than
the language. When ldeallty was developed, he
first described a vast plain, upon which large
body of military were moving, and then, the oper-
ator having moved his finger, he threw his head
back md saw seraphs and airy figures floating
bove him; and again, the finger of the operator
once removed, he stepped forward and leant over
n yawning abyss. On being questioned he said
it very deep, that he was afraid to approach
any closer, and that his eye could not penetrate
into its shades. The organ Of venerntion was
touched and his aspect OF alteration became at
once solemn and beautiful. With upraised hands,
he turned his clos cd eyes tnuards some fancied
object, and whispered what seemed TO be the out
ponrings of a praverful heart. The organ Of mirth
was then touched in conf JUNCTION with the organ
of veneraion, when the subject went through
Mawworn par in which wit was slngularIy blend
ed with religious advice. Some local illusions
were made, which in their association and the
grave maHner in which they were uttered, were
not little Iudcrous. The organs of combative-
ness and destructveness produced terrific effects.
and one organ caused SO fearful paroxysm Of
despair, that the subject drew knife from his
pocket and would have used II. had II not been
taken instantly from him. Acquisitiveness and
the love Of children produced droli e1ects-in the
former the subject evidently taking and conceal
ing ina ginary objects-and IN the latter, nursing
and caressng imaginary children, dandling them
on his knee, and hushing them TO sleep IN the
real nursery maid style. These distinct effects
continued about three or four minutes after the
finger of the operator was removed from The or
gam and then subsided gradually, If the infu
ence of some vision were becoming fainter and
fainter, until it passed away and left the subject
in state OF quiet magnetic sleep. The first eff
fecis of the several influences, were preceded by
slight convulsive t~itchngs Of the muscles, and
by occasional capping of the hands.
The subject was kept 10 this condition. and pas
sing through the effects Of the various passions
and emotions Of the mind for about hour and
three quarters. The las, operation was produe-
ed by the physician, touching with bis finger the
back of the neck the spinal bone and mar
row. The subject then became -igid and stiff,
stretched himself back in his chair, and rose from
his sea, with uplifted hands while his appear
ance generally nearly resembled that OF death
The operator then. with few passes of his hand
eide ofh h;s face disnelted the Mes