Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1843-01-31
PHRENO-MAGNETISM,

WOulu Setul 10 Ue unnecessary 10 present any
additional evidences in the PREMISES but the under
signed, having lately had the pleasure of witnessing
interesting Phreno- Mag ghetto exhibition, under
the auspices of professor Rankin, now in this place,
deem tproper that the circumstances or facts which
transpired under taer observation should be given
% the public. Without, however, pretending to en-
ter into dissertation upon, to express full be-
lief in the science of Mesmersm, they will merely
relate what they and heard, leaving to those
who read TO form their own opinions.
The subject was boy of Is years of age
nervous Emphatic temperament predominaung-
He has been resident of the village but two or
three months, and was perfect stranger, not only
TO the professor himself but to those who Witnessed
the exhibition.
The mesmerio sleep was produced by the usual
process, and The time occupied in producingi it from
five ten minutes, when the subject appeared TO be
entirely insensbls to all external objects and I'M
pressions, except so far as in communication with
the magnetism. The undersigned became
ally and fully convinced of the reality Of the boys
sleep, as all attempts him, by the applca-
ton of physical force, and by speaking calling
to him, failed to elicit the least indication on his
part of attention or sensibility. His eyes were
firmly closed and his pulse had increased from 20
TO IS or 80 per minute, showing him to be in
state of more than ordinary excitement, and his
sleep not to be a natural one.
He was then addressed by professor Rankin, who
inquired his name-of which all present igno-
rant. The boy stated his name to be O
@G.x.., and in reply to another question, said his
occupation was that of house building The Pro-
fessor called one of the audience forward,
whom he took by the hand, and shaking it, he in
-quired of the boy whose hand he had hold of, vhc
ther a gentleman's or a lady's GA gsnteman's, s."
was the reply.
PRor-TeIl me his name7
BoY-Mr No..
PRor.--What is the color of his hairl
Bor.-Black
'PRoF.-The color of his eyes2
BoY.-"Black." &c. &c.
A similar routine Of questions asked concer-
ming every gentleman in the room, and his answers
although not always Immediately given, were, with
but one or two exceptions, correct
When the organ of individuality waseKcted, by
pressure upon it, his answers, With referesce to
the names Of persons, were generally more quickly
gwen.
Iii. organs of Veneration and Benevolence were
excited in connection, when in answer 20 the ques
lions, whether he was -nsiou.ly disposed, and how
much he would give for the support of the gospel
hs replied to the first that he was and to the see.
ond that he would give a hundred dollars.
His organ of Combativeness was next excited
upon which he gave strong indications of pugne-
cious Disposition striking about him in every direc-
ton, and dealing out upon those immediate prox-
unity to him. blows which pretty sen.ibly
felt.
Mrthfuness was next excited, when the whole
expression OF his countenence chensed-the an
ger strongly depicted in hi. face depered-his hands
fell by his side and he burst into an nmoderate fit
of laughter, declaring in answer to a question asked
him by Professor Rankin, that he was perfectly
good hunored, and had not the least disposition to
hurt any body.
Time AID Tune, in connection with Veneration
and Benevoence, were excited, when he was asked
10 sing. He followed in hymn started by the
Professor hut from the great deficiency Of his organs
Of Time and Tune, it with difficulty he procee-
ded.
Many other hi-hly interesting and satisfactory
phreno- magnetic experiment. were made which 1t
10 unnecessary to recapuate.
DR.. W."**"* va. Row placed in magnetic com
mnnie.tion with the boy, when the latter in an
s~cr to i-terrog-tories Of the former, stated the
number Of rooms in the hou.e-how many were
esrpeted, and how many were not-how the par
Tor and sitting room were ~armed-whst there was
in some ofthe upper rooms-how many children he
hsd-their name, sex, and age-how many horses
he had, their color, &c. &c. 1t i. proper to state
IN this connection, that the boy had never been in
any part Of the Doctors house, thu. he was an en-
tire stranger to the f.mily-snd that he had no
means from any personal observation, Of obtaining
the information which, under the Influence of Mes
merlsm, at the 'cW Of Ike person in communication
sh him, he appeared to possess.
That there might be mistake on the part Of
those present to the correctsess of the answer.
gwen by the boy DR.. w had, before the interrog-
storIes were proposed, written the several facts to
be elected upon slip Of paper and the answer.
were in every instance, exactly in accordance with
what had been written.
This professor had also written upon slips of pa
per several facts connected with himself personally
the place Of his residence-that he was married
the number Of his children, boys AMI grls-how
many of each-all which, upon the proper int.rro-
eetorles beng proPounded, were gwen by the boy
precisely written.
A great variety of questions was propounded, (
and with reference to matter, entirely beyond the
knowledge of the subject yet the answers were
uniformly correct, such they were ,ciVcd to be
by the Magnetism, who, before he addressed an in
quiry, usually whispered to the audience the par
ticulsr answer he would will should be given.
When the boy was relieved from the mesmeric
influence, and awakened from his sleep he appear
ed greatly surprised, and when Intercepted, de-
clared himself perfectly unconscious of all that had