The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-09-19
nem D. elrenleI. s oa Den.lnlan.
MEsMERIsM-AN AID TO SURGERY.


We see a smile curling the lips Of many Of our
readers, their eye passes over the above heading
but let them read the following facts from the .lUa
Telegraph Of the 18th of August, aud that smile will
be turned into wonder that the MesmerIc power
should have been so long kept down by prejudice,
Jealousy, ignorance. and rdicule. We know that
many unworthy individuals, from UNIV orthy motives,
snd TO gain unworthy ends, have taken up The sub
lec and speculated upon il, aud To insure success
have prolessed to do things which neither nature nor
facts warranted, in order 10 excite the wonder and
curiosity Of the i.ude, aud thereby the science
has been brought into disrepue, aud those who were
aeuated by pure and phlanthropic motives, and pos
sessns ardent desire 10 benefit their fellows, have
suffered II is but short period since the question
was propounded 10 ms, "of what benefit is Alesmer-
ism !" coupled with the rematk-"itis all humbug"
Our friend then went to give his opinion, that
was of no importance as no good could be educed
from H. We think his opinions will change when
he reads the facts below. We have always been
slow 10 believe in the powers claimed for the Clair.
pOyau, YET when we recoect the fact that persons IN
caitJsy have performed every thing SAID TO be done
by persons under the mesmeric influence, Why need
We e much asionshed that an artificial disease
arrangement OF the natural functions can'be made 10
produce the same results; Apart from the wonders
exhibited by the Cidp0ydni which we have been as
sured 10y eminent mesmerzers places the subject be-
yond their control and enables him or her 10 see and
hear things impossible TO be or heard by the OPP
orator, we have observed several distinguished gem
tlemen experiment, and heard them lecture on Ann
NAL Magnetism, and the results have been truly as
tonishing The sleep produced being profound and
unnatural, and under such circumstances that any
thing like raul on imposture would be impossible,
We have WITNESSED experiments tried upon the sub
jet that would have Weakened the natural sleeper,
and If awake the subject could not have borne
them without wincng, and exhibiting symptoms
OF torture. We know too that il has seen used el
lccually TO heal diseases, without other aid. To &C
count for tins power being in possession OF man we
cannot but that IS reason why II should be thrust
ASIDE and iidiculed into obliyon-"theTe are more
things heaven and earth, lIorato, than dreamed
of IN our philosophy" says the immortal bard and
this is Of them. But To the article Its headed,
ErcsOn Of Hen ,oDtom Pain, IN The Nesmaie
State
a This operation was performed by Doctor Benja.
min +, Edwards, al his residence in this city, on
Tuesday morning last, in the presence Of number
OF spectators. The patient Is young lady about Is
years Of age, the daughter Of Mr. - Eyres, of
Upper Alton. The wen was situated on the left side
OF The face the base of il inch and seven
eghths in length by inch and FIVE eighhs III
width the upper part of it being just opposite and
near the opening of the 1t commenced forming
when she was about two years old, and has been
gradually increasing Several months since she APP
piled 10 DR.. Edwards for advice in regard to having
II taken out. lie then informed her that if he could
succeed IN placing her in inesmerc state, he could
remove the wen without pain.
A few N sequent experiments convinced the
DOCTOR tldt MISS II. was susceptible OF liit
Influence 10 degree sufficient 10 warrant him TO al
tempt It's removal in this state Of which she was ac
cordngly informed. Circums tances however, pre-
vented her at that lime from submitting TO the ope-
ration, and for months past she has been resid
ing a, Springfield. Her great desire 10 have the wen
removed and from the fact that ii becoming
painful induced her TO return for the purpose of hav-
ing II taken out. The patient had been considerably
sgta,ed during the morning. She seated IN
room IN which there were number of gentlemen,
most of whom were strangers TO her, aud DR. h
placed her under the mesmerc influence in about five
minutes After asccrtainins that she was in a pro-
iound sleep, an ncion was made one inch aud three
elghth IN length and the tumor removed
Although the operation was necessarily prolonged
10 near fifteen mnutes-the doctor not being able to
use freely but one hand, IT was ssary for him
10 I al the same time IN the double capacity of
mosmerizer and operator-yet the patient sat with
tie hands quietly resting IN the ap the conntenance
was placid and serene, and the whole attitude that OF
reposc; not the slightest trace Of mental emotion
was perceptible, not t~inge movement of any
kind was visible, or the least change OF respiration.
She was kept IN the mesncric sleep Just one hour.
PrcYOu, 10 waking her, the doctor excited the or
gans Of tune ald OF mwihiulnes,, 10 both Of viii b
responses were obtained. She also Iut ia com
municItion with Mr.. G., whom she Immediately re-
cosnz d, and ~ answer TO hs questions whethct IA"
had ielt any pam from the operdtIon replied that She
had not.
As $780, s.s awakened, she placed her
hand upon the handages and asked, What IS this -
The DOCTOR, fearing that she mi sht disturb them u
mediIely removed her hand, and replied, Il have
Ken out your "en.n She looked about IN perfect as
constituent aud interrogltingly repeated, Taken
out my wtn'' Yes" replied the doctor, Won
know that told you that would take il out with at
your feeling i: - know that You told me YOU
could he laushmg, replied, " but 81 not believe
Il" She appeared 10 have no remembrance OF any
thing that had taken place. # would be- difficult 20
determine which party e'nced The most delight and
asonisiimeut-tiIe one having witnessed tii, novel
aud most astounding phenomenon, t,.s other who
had been uncousciousy and almost magicaly re.
leNed from an increasing and tou5,e,ome tumor
Numerous cases OF surgical operations without
pam, ~ the mesmcric state, have been rc ported ~
England several, als3, have been reported in hi,
county bat this Is believed 10 DO the first that has
been performed west Of the Allrghanics.