The Democratic Whig. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1842-1843, 1843-02-02
AMPUTATION WITHOUT rHp
KNOWLEDGE 0F The


ring The mssmeric state without the
knowledge Of the palient," was read
60 the Royal Medical and Chirurgical
Society Of London on Tuesday
"James Wombell, aged ~, a labor
ing man, Of a calm and qui, lempela-
meni, had suffered for period Of about
five years from a painful affection Of
the left knee, oecasioned by liberation
arising from neglected indamation.-
On 2lsi June last, he was admitted
into the district hospital al Wellow,
near Ollerion, Noits, no longer able to
work, and suffering much pain. Il
was soon found that amputaiion Of the
leg, above the knee-joini, was inevila-
bic, aud Il was eventually proposed
that It should be performed, if possible
during mesmeric sleep. Isaw Won
bell for the first time on the 9th Sep
lemberf He was sitting upright upon
a bed in the hospital, The only position
which be could bear. He complained
Of great pain from bis knee, and Of
much exciability aud loss Of strength,
from his constant restlossness and de-
privation Of sleep, for he had NOT du-
ring The three previous weeks, slept
more than 2 hours in 20.
"ln tue first attempt to mesmerize
BIN, which occupied me IS minutes,
the only effect produced was a closing
Of the eyeIids, with that quivering APP
pearance peculiar to mesmeric sleep,
AID though awake and speaking, he
could not raise them, until after the
lapse Of a minute and a half. My at
temptthe next day was more successful
and in 20 minutes he was asleep. !
continued to mezmerize him every day
except the 18th, until the gath ofSep-
TENDER, bis susceptibility gradually in
creasing, so that on the Esd, the sleep
was produced in four minutes and a
half The duration Of this sleep va
ried continuing, generally, for half 40
hour,and occasionally for an hour and a
half, but with two exceptions, (attempts
TO converse with him. I invariably
found him awakened, though with.
out being startled, by the violent
pain from his knee, which suddenly
REQUIRED at uncertain intervals
The third time | saw him he was suf-
fering great agony, and distressed even
to tears. / commenced by making
passes longitudinally, over the diseased
knee 10 Eve minutes he felt compare
lively easy and, on proceeding further
to mezmerize him, at the expiration Of
ten minutes he was sleeping like an in
lant. Not only his arms were then
violently pinched, but also the diseas-
ed leg itself, without his exhibiting any
sensation yet this limb was so sensi-
tive to pain in his natural state, he
could not bear even the lightest cover
ing TO rest upon It. That night be
slept seven hours without interruption.
After constantly mezmerizg him for 10
or ID days, great change was obser-
we'd in his appearance. Tho hue of
health returned ; he became cheerful /;
felt much stronger was easier both 10
mind and body slept well, and recov-
cred his appetite. On 22d Septem-
ben, he was Grst apprised OF the neces-
sity of an early amputation. The
communication seemed almost uLex-
pected, aud affected him considerably. !
The anticipated loss Of his limb, how
ever, that night destroyed his natural |
sleep. Next day, though found still
freting, reslless, and in consequent
pain, he was YET, by my touch, asleep !
in four minutes and half. / was
then absent, and did not see Wombell |
until the 2Slh. He was looking heal
thy and cheerful his natural sleep !
was sound aad regular; and his pain
soothed and diminished. / was now
convinced that the operation might be
safely attempted during mesmeric
sleep, and with the mans firm consent,
it was fixed for the Saturday following. |
"On the morning Of the LIST Octo-
Der, again mesmerized Wombell,
having done so the two previous days.
This was done in the presence OF Mr..
w. S. Ward (the operalor,) and two
other surgeons, in order that the pre-
yious mesmerism might tend, as be-
loved it would, TO render his sleep
deeper, when again mesmerized for
ihs operation, and also to satisfy them
Of the state . which he would be when
hat time arrived. He slept On hour,
and was reused by an attempt to con-
verse with him. then showed them
my power Of affecting any one Of his
limbs, even when be was quite awake.
At my request, he extended bis arms,
alternately. BY making two or three
passes over each, without any contact,
so transfxed them, that, from the
shoulders to the tips Of the fingers,
they became as rigid and unyielding as
bars Of iron, not to be unbent except
by mechanical feEae, powerful enough
n