Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-02-16

In LONDON, Dr. Ellt50n mas witnessed extraordinary
effects at the hospitals The following is certified
by him, in letter to the Richmond, Virginia En-.
qurer:-
"A most extraordinary surgical operation has been
performed, the particulars of which will be found de.
tailed in couple of columns Of the London Morning
Herald Of the 18th ult James Wombsl ~, laborng
man. had suffered for period of about five years with
painful affection of the left joint. He admitted
into the hospital at Mellow, in Nottinghamshire, and
it decided that amputaon should take place above
the knee joint and it was accordingly done whilst the
patent under the influence Of mesmeric sleep 90
the first of October this wonderful operation was thus
performed given in the words of the mesmerizeg one
Mr. w. Topham, lawyer Of the Middle Temple, Lon
don: Il again mesmersed him in four minutes 10 q
quarter OF an hour, told MIR. W. Squire Wood (the
operator) that he might commence. then brought
two fingers gently in contact with Womball's closed
eyelds and there kept them, stall further deepen the
sleep. Mr. Ward, after earnest look Ell the man.
slowly plunged his knife into the centre of the outer
side OF the thigh, directly 10 the bone and then made
clear mcsion round the bone to the Opposite point on
the outside Of the thigh.
The stiffness 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 ncison, the position Of the leg was found
to be more lnconvenlen than it had appeared and the
operator could not proceed with his former facility
Soon after the second incison, moaning was heard
from the patient which continued at intervals, until
the conclusion. 1t gave me the idea Of troubled
dream, for his sleep continued as sound as The
placid look OF his countenince never changed for
instant, his whole frame rested uncontrolled in perfect
stiffness and reposs; not fuscle or
tyi'ch. To the end OF the operation, including the
saving Of the bone, securing the arteries and applying
the bandages-occuPyng period of upwards Of twenty
minutes-be lay like statue With strong sal yo!a
tile and water he gradually and calmly awoke, and
when asked to describe what he had felt, thus replied
Il never knew anything more (ai,er his being mesmer-
zed) and never felt any pain at all; once felt if
heard kind ofcruchng.' He was asked if that was
painful; he replied mo pain at all, never had any,
and knew nothing until awakened by that strong stuff
The 'cruching the saving Of his thigh bone.
The first dressing performed in mesmerc sleep,
with similar success, and absence of all pain. THIS
is Important that have condensed its principal
features and when consider the gravity with which
the operation was surrounded, the numbers who
present. The unquestionable rank and responsibility of
The professional gentlemen, and the utter absence of all
affectaion, must candidly admit that sceptcism is
staggered, and that we no longer in position to
dede despise influences extraordinary important
and practical
from the -7ugysta chronie'e)
.Hcsmerism in C0lumbia-The introduction of Mes.
mersm among our nelghbors of Columbia, S. C., has
created quite sensation, and from the evidences in
the Chronicle, the whole population being made
mesmerIsers or believers in the extraordinary pheno.
mena which it produces. The Chronicle says
The Medical Faculty have manifested laudable
zeal 10 test the truth Of this wonderful power and
their experiments have resulted in general convic.
ton Of its truth, and of its importance TO the profess
sion. Among the Faculty, DR.. Gibbs, gentleman of
undoubted verucy, and high scientific requirements,
has been the successful We understand he has
mesmerised satisfactorily sixteen cases, all of which
confirm previous experiments by exhibiting similar phe
nomena, varying only in the quickness OF the excite
ment of the chronological organs, in answering the
touch of the mesmerzer.
The climax of DR.. Gibbs experiments was the CT
traction Of tooM within 10 minutes after mesmerising
girl Of l6 in presence Of DR.. J. Fl. Boatwrirtt and
Mr. S. Boatwrgh,. She sieptca, until Dr.. G awakened
her in presence of several other persons who came in
after, and ,chtn she auoke she declared she did not
feel it, and said she supposed from seeing blood that
the tooth was out.