Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-02-10
ANIMAL MAGNETISM.

1t would seem, from the following extract
from the Evening Journal, that the citizens
of Albany have anihilatcd DR.. Buchanan,
and overthrown his doctrine of Neurology
through the potent instrumentali,y of a
"young man from Vermont" That our
readers may see with what facility this extra
ordinary feat was accomplished we present
them the following bill of particulars:
"NEuRoIoGY This new philosophy, which has
shot far ahead OF Science as "MiIlersmn is in adj
vance of Religion, received an ugly, back-handed
blow last evening" IN the presence of its great teacher
DR.. Buchanan himself The rumor runs, that a
Vermont youth who isattendng lectures in our NIcdi-
cal College DESTROYS of acquiring that wisdom which
riumphs 'all the ills that flesh is heir to-" deyo.
ted himself for several weeks to the wonder-working
effects of Animal Magnetism, the Professor of which
found him most 'lmpressble" subject. The ex-
pCr.m1n'a tried upon this subject by MI the Masters
of the Mystery, we're pronounced perfect. They all
pointed 10 him TO establish and illustrate the truth of
their Science.
After trying some very shallow, experiments in
Neurology upon this Subject last evening he was
called upon to state what his real experience had been
ami 20 reply, boldly pronounced the whole scheme
Aumbug! lie sad that for the last three months, the
'agnCusers had been practising upon hlm that
finding him susceptible" they had put him through
all Their experiments and that they had pronounced
hun genuine subject. He added, that in all this time
and through all heir operations he had not only never
been asleep, but that he had never experienced the
slightest magnetic effect from their manpulaons
and mumeres
The audience, which was numerous and highly
intelligent, expressed their sense of obligation to the
gentleman for having thus successfully exposed a
miserable and pernlcious scheme ofcharataulsm by
hearty and emphatic vote of thanks.
This we suppose settles the question. A
"Vermont youth" has most grossly deceived
DIR. Buchanan and ''bighly intelligent au-
dience" in Albany. DIR. B. is, therefore
himself an imposter and animal Magnetism
ridiculous humbug. All will acknowledge
the argument is conclusive. We wonder
why this "highiy intelligent audience" did
not pass "hearty vote of thanks" to Doct
Buchanan, if they beliered him to be an i'm
poster, as well as to the Vermont Jug
gler whom they knew to be such.
We cut the following version of the story
from the New York Evening Post of last
Friday. 1t differs materially from the pre-
ceding.
NEUROLOGY IN ALBANy.-It appears that young
man attending the medical school at Albany, named
Cochran, has, for some months past, pretended to
be subject OF animal magnetism, and carried on
series of lmposltlons in which it is said he had the
aid and connvance of some persons, from whose
standing, participation IN such practices was not to
be expected This young man, IL is said, in COM
| muncatIon which appears in the Albany Argus, tap
peared to be seriously and regiously inclined" on
which account greater confidence placed in him.
He was made the subject of various experiments by
the magnetic operators and always pretended 10 feel
| the effects they attempted TO produce.
lie closed hs eyes, as If IN profound sleep, and
then suffered himself TO be abused pins to be thrust
| INTO his flesh, &c., &c, 10 prove the reality of his
sleep. On one occasion, 10 prove that his sense of
taste had become perverted, he consumed the con
tents Of a salt cellar, declaring all the time that 1t
| tasted like sugar"
The other day, DR. Buchanan arrived in Albany
from this city. The young mans decepnons were
gong on and he offered himself as subject for ex-
pertinent, before the class attending the Doctors lee
| lures on neurology He was subjected, accordingly
to certain neurological experiments, not by DR. Blu
| chanan, but by some of the persons attending. He
fegned to be very impreSSibie, to go 10 Sleep TO be
weak or strong, and so FORTH according TO the va
rous operations. After the lecture was over, the
| audience remained to witness other experiments
when the young man publicly declared that the ef
fects he had previously pretended to feel false
| and that he had been practiclng a systematic impo-
stion. The Albany Evening Journal says that the
company passed "a hearty and emphatic vote of
| thanks TO the young man. This statement, how
ever, the same paper afterwards retracted as untrue
and the writer in the Albany Argus says,thaa although
the young mans declaration received with some
mated. The incident proves nothing either for or