The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-01-15
Pr Ice Two Cents.

a
calm and quiet temperament had suffered for a ne
nod OF about five years from painful affection of
the leit knee. On the 2lst day Of June last he was
admitted into the district hospital at yellow near
Oltrton, Notts, no longer able work, and suffer
Ing much pam. IL was soon found that amputstion
OF the leg above the knee joint, inevitable; and
was eventually proposed thatit should be perform
ed II possible during mesmerlc sleep.
VI saw Wombe, for the frat time, on the 9th Of
September; lie was sitting upright upon bed in
me hospal the only position which he could bear.
He complained OF great pain from his knee and of
much excitablIy and loss OF strength from his con-
slant restessness and deprivation of sleep; for he
had not during the three previous weeks, slept more
than 2hours In 10.
In the first attempt to mesmerise him. which &C.
cuPeu me 30 minutes, the only effect produced was
d cosihg OF the eyehds, with that quivering appear
amde 70 inesmerc sleep; and, though awake
the lapse OF a minute and half
WY aueinpt, ihe next day, more mccessful
ana IN ~ minutes he was asleep | continued TO
mesmerlse HIM every day, excert the 18th until the
2lh OF September his susceptibility gradnalIv in
creasing so that, on the 23d, the sleep was produ.
ced IN tour minutes and half The duration of
ms sleep varied continuing, generally for half an
honr, sometimes tor an hour, and occasionally for
an hour ana halt but, with two exceptions lat
tempts to converse with him), invariably found
nm awakened, though without being startled, by
the violent pain from his knee, which suddenly re-
Cured at uncertain intervals
The thrd time | saw him he was snfft ring great
agony, and distressed to tears Commenced
v,
knee; In I'VE minutes he felt comparatively easv
and on proceeding further to mesmerise him nj the
expiration OF ten minutes he was sleeping like an
infant Not only his arms were then violently
pinched, but also the diseased leg ITSELF without his
exhibiting any sensation yet this limb was so SEN
si've TO pain IN his natural state he could not bear
even the llghtest covering to rest upon IT, That
night he slept seven hours without int rruption
Alter constantly mesmersing him for 10 or -
dahs, great change observed in his appear.
ance. The hue OF health returned; he became
cneeriul ieli much stronger was easier both IN
mind and body; slept WE'LL and recovered his appe-
lite
6 On the 22d September he was first apprsed o,
,ne necessity OF an early ampuation. The com
munication seemed almost unexpected and affect
ed nun considerably. this day. tried the expert
ment OF mesmerlslng him against his will proceed
ing by contact with the hands, charging him partcu-
larry 10 exert his mind to prevent my affecting him
During the process he occasionally glanced at thoss
near HIM, moving his eyes as he felt inclined and in
~ minutes and halt passed into mesmerc seep-
rng Two OF .ree previous days had been effected
IN SIX minutes re informed me, subsequently, he
mad repeatedly called to mind the diligence iust
received, and the torture which he must endure
out ne soon found the influence irresistible, and pre-
sently lost all consciousness The anticipated loss
OF his limb, however, that night DESTROYED his ma
tural sleep Next day, though found still fretting,
restless and IN consequent pain, he vet, by nv
touch, asleep In tour minu and half
i was then absent, and did not see Wombell nm
III the loth. he was looking healthy and cheerful;
his natural sleep was sound and regular nd his main
s ,e ana anhised was now conyincedha
merle sleep, and with the mans firm consent il
was fixed for the Saturday following
On the morning of Saturday, the LIST of October
again mesmerlsed Wombel, having done so the
two previous days This was done in the nresence
OF Mr.. VIM. Squire Ward of Mellow (tbe onera
toD and two other surgeons; IN order that the pre-
vious mes,nerlsm might tend believed 1t would.
70 20 rehder MS sleep deeper when again mesmersed
Tor the operation; and also to satisfy them of The
state In which ne would be, when that time arrived
lie slept an hour; and was aroused by an attempr
TO converse with HIM ] then showed them INV
Power Oh aIectlng any one OF his limbs, even when
ne was quite awake. AT my request, he extended
his arms, alternately. BY making two or three PASS
es over EACH without any contact, I so transfixrd
inhem that, from the shoulders to the tips of the
hngers, they became as rigid and unyIedne as bars
OF iron, not to be unbent except by mechanical
force, powerful enough to njure the limbs; and vet.
instantly relaxing throughout and dropping to his
side, from the effect of my breath alone His r;ght
leg was affected in the same degree; and relief from
lmmedlate pain was frequently afforded, by making
similar passes over the diseased one. Though the
senslbility OF pain was diminished in the limbs thus
affected whilst awake, it only during mesmeric
sleep found 1t totally gone
Az halt-past one o'clock we proceeded to
WonoeTs room TO make the necessary arrange
ments From the suffering inflicted by the slightest
movement, 1t was found impossible, without need
less torture, TO place him upon table The low
bed on which he then lay, was therefore lifted upon
a temporary platform. Ten minutes after being
clothes beneath him, towards the end of the bed
me movement, however, excited that pain which
mad so often aroused him before and now it did so
again. lhere was something quite excruciang in
the suffering which the state of the knee produced.
Tor ] had seen him, whilst in mesmeric Sleep
Pricked to some little depth, in other parts of the
diseased limb, without being disturbed or conscious
OF 1t. 10 preclude the necessity of anv further
movement, his leg was now placed in the most con-
Venient position which he could bear. Shortly
afterwards ne declared that the pain had ceased;
ana again mesmersed him in four minutes. Ina
quarter OF an hour i informed Mr. Ward that he
mIght commence the operation. then brought
Two fingers OF each hand gently in contact with
we WHm fth closed eyeIds, and there kept them
stu further TO deepen the sleep Mr. Ward after
one earnest look at the man, slowly plunged his
KNIFE INTO the centre of the outer side OF the thigh
directly to the bone, and then made a clear incsion
round the bone TO the opposite point on the inside
OF the thigh. The stiffness at this moment was
something awful, The calm respiration of the
sleeping man alone was heard for all other seemed
suspended. IN making the second incison the posi-
ton OF the leg was found more inconveni than it
mad appeared TO be- and the operator could not pro-
ceed with hsformer facility. Soon after the second
lncislon, d moaning was heard from the patient,
Whlch continued, at intervals, until the conclusion.
IL gave me the idea OF troubled dream for his
sleep continued as profound asi ever The placid
look OF ms countenance Fever changed for an in
slant his whole frame rested uncontrolled in per-
fect stiffness and repose not muscle or nerve was
seen to twich. To the end of the operation, ncIud-
ing the saving of the bone securing the arteries
anu applying inc Dandages-occupylng period OF
upwards OF 70 mInutes-he lay ike a statue Soon
after the limb was removed, his pulse becoming low
from the loss OF blood, some brandy and water was
poured into his throat, which he swallowed uncon-
sclously As the last bandage was applied pointed
QUITO one of the surgeons, and another gentleman
present, that peculiar qulverng of the closed eyeds
already alluded to-. Finally, when all was COM
peted and Wombell was about TO be removed, his
pulse being still found very low, some sal volatile
and water was administered to him: it proved too
strong and pungent, and he gradually and calmly
awoke. "-'' '
IS AT first he uttered no exclamation and for some
moments seemed lost and bewidered but, after
looking around, he exclaimed, I bless the Lord to
ma its all over lie was then removed to another
room and, following immediately, asked him, in
me presence OF those assembled to describe ali he
tel or knew after he was me smcrised His reply