The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1843-11-07
THE WING STANDARD.

IL The following communication was re-
ceived from an intelligent correspondent who
assures us, privately, that he would not have
ventured before the public with statements SO
little likely TO gain credence, had not the way
been already opened by DR.. Buchanan, whose
wonderful discoveries, as detailed in the Louis
vile Journal, have been recently copied into the
Inteligencer.
MESMERISM.
Extraordinary developments IN Psychological
Chemistry.
Since the astounding discoveries by Dr. Blu
chanan of the existence OF organs or portions OF
the human body corresponding to different por-
tons Of the brain, or more remotely, to faculties
of the mind, Dr. Persston, Professor OF Chemis-
try and Pharmacy in the Victoria Medical Col,
lege, learning that DR.. Buchanan had discovered
an organ Of heat, or the caloriic organ, located
in the chin, by the excitement OF which the
temperature of the human body was considera-
bly, exalted, DR.. P. was induced TO test this fact,
and if true, to carry out, by some remarkable
experiments, his own views in relation 10 these
wonderful phenomena. The subject chosen was
a negro woman, for the reason, that in the
African, the physical Developments predominant
over the mental, and the results might mol be 50
easily referabIe to the influence OF the imagina-
ton. In order to render the subject as sensitive
as possible, the Doctor mesmerlZed her several
times before venturing upon his experiments.
She was mesmerized in the usual way, proved
TO be good subject, and was totally Ignorant OF
the Doctors intentions. When DR.. P. was salts
fed that he had acquired sufficient control over
his patient, he excited the supposed calorifc
organ, when, to his establishment and delight,
he found the temperature Of the body rapidly
increasing, until il was found, by placing Their
mometer under the tongue, that II had actually
risen 10 l4Oo Fahrenheit 1t was remarkable,
in this extreme heat Of the body, that there was
no sensible perspration. The first experiment
was with view TO ascertain how far this con-
dlnon was permanent or could be maintained
under constant excitement, against the influence
Of disturbing causes-such as the application Of
very cold bodies. large piece Of ice was
placed in the subjects hands, it melted rapidly,
no Inconvenience was manifest on her part and
the instant it was all dissolved, the water was
wiped quickly from the hand, the Thermometers
applied, and found 10 be 1890; only one degree
lower than under the tongue! Her feet were
then placed in tub containing water and seVe-
raj large Jumps of ice, and kept there until all
the ice had dissolved without the least uneasi-
ness on the part of the patient; and the feet,
when taken out, were found TO be still 1890
Several experiments Of a similar nature were
tried, and all with the same results Hence il
appears, that under the excitement OF this organ
however rapidly the heat Of the body is abstract
ed, il is as rapidly supplied. Dr. p, suspecting
that there might be some antagonist to the ca
lorifc organ, after many experiments, discovered
organ Of cold, gelidity, as he terms il, sit
uafed in the end of the nose Upon exciting
this organ, TO the surprise and terror of all pre-
sent, a death-like GOODNESS pervaded her whole
body, until the temperature fell to 400 Fahren-
heit-the maximum point of the condensation OF
water. Upon the earnest request of physician
hat nr xyo,,ld far of
death from coagulalion of the blood, DR.. P.
iearlessly remarked that if life could be main
tanned at this extraordinary temperature, there
could be no danger from coaguation of the
blood. The skin, during this whole experiment,
was moist from perspiration. The influence of
disturbing causes was then tried, and it was
found, that however rapidly heat was impaired
dered latent and imperative. Her feet were
placed in a tub Of warm water, when the water
rapidly cooled down, and was soon at the re-
duced temperature of 400 Fair. The Doctor
then took large bar ofred hot iron, and held it
within half an inch of her cheek, and there being
no indication Of pain or uneasiness it was held
in this position until the bar became black, when
it was removed, and the skin under or nearest
the bar was found to be as cold as any other part
of the body. The bar was then heated to white
ness, and brought into the vicinity Of the upper
lip, gradually Appropriated, until, at last, the
Doctor, in spite Of the circumstances of those
present, brought the glowing iron directly in
contact with the lip. A slight smoke arose,
probably from the light down, or few scattered
hairs upon the lip-(this we might have ex-
pected, from the imperfect organization Of hair)-
but,the patient did not finch the skin was not,
in the slightest degree, burned by the iron, which
now cooled rapidly down, until it reached 400,
the temperature Of the body. When the iron
was removed, there was no effect visible upon
the skin, except slight mark, outline of the
surface of the iron in contact with the skin. 1t
should be remarked here, in justice to DR.. Bu-
chanan, that Dr. p, for fear of giving pain, had
previously excited the organ Of hardhood dis
covered by DR.. B. 1t was immaterial upon what
part Of the skin, (Which, as before stated, was
constantly moist,) the red hot iron was placed
the result was the same. The fame of can
die was allowed to ascend the nostrils, without
giving any pain; but here, as in all other trials,
the hair was Immediately burned-doubtless
owing to its imperfect organization After these