The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1843-01-14
MESMERIC MIRACLE IN LONDON

We find the following condensed &C.
count of an unrivalled miracle performed
in London, (and. reported in the leading
papers) i'll letter of the Sd inst. in the
Journal of Commerce,
A most EXTRAORDINARY SURGICAL O.
rERATioN has been performed, the parli-
culars of WHICH will be found detailed in
a couple of columns of The London Morn
ing Herald OF the 26lh uIt James WON
bell, AZ, labourlng man, had suffered for
period oil five years with painful alice
ton of the lett knee joint, He was adj
mitted into the hospital at yellow, in
Nollinghamshre, and it was decided that
amputauon should take place above the
knee joint, and it was accordingly done
whilst the patient was under the influence
of mesmerc sleep! On the 1st Of Octo-
Der this wonderful operation was thus
performed, as given in the words OF the
mesmerser, one Mr.. W. Topham, law
yer Of the Middle Temple, London. 81
again mesneris,d hun in Iour minutes
In quarter of All hour toid Mr.. W,
esquire Wood the operaror) that he might
commence. then brought two fingers
Of each hand gently in contact with Won
BELLS closed eye lids, and there kept them
still further to deepen the sleep. Mr.
Ward, alter one earnest look at the man
slowly plunged his knife into the centre
Of the outer side OF the thigh. The still
ness at this moment was something awful
The calm respiration of the sleeping man
alone was heard, for all Others seemed
suspended. In making the second Incl
sion the position of The leg was found to
be more inconvenient than il had appear
ed, and the operator could not proceed
with his former facility. Soon after the
second inclsion, moaning was heard
from the patient, which continued, at in
lervals, until the conclusion 1t gave me
the idea of a troubled dream; Tor his sleep
continued as profound as ever. The pa-
cid lock o! his countenauCe never chan
ged for an instant, his whole frame rested
unc ,ntroled, in perfect stiffness and re-
pose; not "A muscle or nerve was seen to
witch To the end of the operation, in
Guiding the saving of the bone, securing
the arteries, and applying the bandages-
occupying period Of upwards Of twenty
minuies-he lay like a statue. With
strong sal volatile and water. he gradually
and calmly awoke, and when asked to
describe what he had felt, thus replis d.
~ meyer knew anything more (afler his
being mesmerised;( and never felt any
pain at all; !, once, felt as if heard d
kind Of crounching. He was asked iltha
was painful; he replied; NO pain at all
| never had any; and knew nothing til
was Weakened by that strong stuff The
'crounching' was the saving his own
thigh bone. The first dressing was per-
formed in mesmeric sleep, with similar
success, and absence of all pain. This
case is so important that ] have conden-
sed lis principal features, and when
consider the gravity with which the ope-
ration was surrounded, the numbers who
were present, the UNREASONABLE rank S;
responsibility of the professional gentle
men. AID the litter absence of all affection
] must candidly admit that sCeptlclsm Is
staggered and that we are no longer in &
position to desire or despise influences
SO extraordinary, important and practi,
cal.