Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1842-01-20
BATH, 1fle.
THURSDAY MORNING, JAN. 20, 1872
WONDERFUL DISCOVERY.
Experim nss in Galvanism

WONDERFUL DISCOVERY.
Experiments in Galvanism
DR.. Buchanan has been making some expert
ments in Louisville, (Ky) on the action of gal
vansm on the BRAIN and upon the whole human
frame. If there is no deception in the meter and
the Louisville Advertiser vuuches for DIR. Blu
chanan's responsibility, he has made most Won
derful revelation concerning the brain, fully es
tablishing the theory of Gall and Spurzheim.-
There is vast amount of experimenting, and
bustling, and wonderful discovery in these days
and people are inclined to condemn every new
theory as too monstrous TO be believed. 1t is not
surprising that so much ncredulity should exist,
when we look at the vast amount of dece pton
and imposition palmed upon the community for
the purpose of extracting from their pockets
Yet we think that DR.. Buchanan's statements
are worthy of some attention. DR.. B. says that
his discoveries are not matters of theory and in
ference, but are susceptible of instant and rresis-
tble demonstration by experiment. which may
easily be repeated, and cannot leave doubt or
suggest anything for debate. The amount of dis
covery appears to be substantially this--by means
of a galvanic or galvanod fluid, he can excite the
different portions of the brain, and call them sep
arately into action, so that the result of the phe-
nomena may be observed. He says:
&C | have discovered the means of exciting at
will any portion of the bran-any organ, or any
number of organs, and of retardng suspending
their action. Even the small conceptiye convnl-
tI,a rI,; -, ,ba
of Form, Calculation, Color or Order, without al
lowing the excitement to extend beyond the or
gan which wished to ooll into play. In the most
susceptible objects, find that have been able
to the entire control oftheir character and
operate upon their minds or bodies in the most
fantastic manner that caprice would suggest
Exciting single organs, | urge their excite
ment to pitch which might be well termed mon
omana-a state of excitement entirely beyond
the control of the subject, because it is part of
this existing character. Thus make my subject
alternately to laugh and weep, reason profoundly
of moral truths, and then without any reason,
draw the fist to strike; express the deepest hui
mlity, or selfsuflicency and leyty sit for hours
with the greatest patience, or leap up with pas
sionate restlessness; express the honest moral
sentiments, or assume the manners and feelings
of the miser and thief; indulge in eating, or drink
ing strong liquor, or assume moral dignity, des-
pse sensuality, and speak of food with loathing
feel the most exalted moral and religious sent-
ments, or indulge in levty, with an inclination
to be vulgar; concentrate the thoughts by an ir
10 H. bnfor bop
or scatter them in utter confusion wandering
extend their remnisence back to their earliest days
reviving the memory of almost forgotten circum
stances of ntante life or recall them to the pres
ent, and forward to the future without the power
oflooking back to the past reason, moralize, in
quire, or feel an utter vacuty of intellect, and
show an idiotic expression of countenance rise
with a stern piercing eye, in the attitude OF angry
defiance, loll in the most indolent good nature or
sink under oppressive humility, with eyes, con
tinually downcast; obey with reverence every
request that make, or become impatient, con-
Trajectory and indignant, without any reason that
did not exist during their humility; display
monomania of calculation, their whole attention
being engrossed in calculating every thing which
can be counted-the number of their steps, the
stripes of the carpet, the keys Of the piano, or
whatever attracts their attentlon-and when the
influence is changed, suddenly suspend their
counting and refuse to proceed, however they
may be entreated. The subject of this experiment,
Mrs. b. when excited in the musical organs,
would feel an irresistible impulse to sing with
brillancy of execution which she could not dis
play when left to herself
"But why need prolong the catalogue Fan
cy the human brain harp, and every string
spending to the touch, singly or in combination,
and you have before you perfect picture Of my
experiments.
81 have been in tie habit, says the doctor, Of
teaching the chronological doctrine. That every
portion of the brain, sustained peculiar relation
to the body. by means of which the circulation
and all the phenomena of life are modified through
the cerebral agency-that the permanent inAu-
ence of the brain give to the body its peculiar
growth form and temperament, that every por-
ton of the body had specific relation to some part
of the brain, upon which it was dependent for in
nervation and with which it sympathzed in health
disease and excitement. had made some pro-
gress in tracing out the laws of this innovation,