The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1845-01-22
For the GALAXY.
"ANIMAL MAGNETIsM,-MEs-
MERISM" &c.

L "ANIMAL MES
n MERISM" &c.
The subjoned opinion Of NJ. Bracelet OF
the above subject at the present time ma
:, be useful and interesting. Bracelet, says d.
r Johnson, whose character is identified will
, the medical literature of the age, may justl
/ be considered as high authority on all topic
, connected With the phenomena ofinnervalion
in the state alihe Of disease and health. DIR
Bracelet is a man of calm reflections of mind
!. free from prejudices, and not under the do
niniOn Of any favorite doctrine. He stand.
very high in the medical literature Of France
Muller of Berlin, is probably now regarded
as the first Psychologist in the world and il
appears, comedies in opinion with DIR. B.
'From the Magnetism of Mesmer," says
NJ. Bracelet, "has arisen that other jugg lery
denominated Animal Magnetism. Twenty
times beaten down by science, reason and
facts, every now and then il has again lifted
its head, more ridiculous and amusing, in
deed, than dangerous. We do not, how ever,
4 mean to deny the effects which may be Undue
ed in persons of highly nervous constitutions
by the passes and other grinaces that are
usually practieed. In the magnetic stupor of
the animal energies thai is sometimes Undue
and this influence may unquestionably ap-
pease pain and spasmodic contractions for
time, by acting powerfully on the imagination.
We can readily conceive the possibility OF this;
and certainly there is no lack Of cases of al
legged cure in hypochondriacal, as well as in
many other, ailments. Although we have
heard ofsuch, we have not ourselves met
with any ell-authenticated examples. In
when Invested of all the apparatus of charlat-
amy, is more likely to do harm than good in
the disease now under consideration (Hypo-
chondriasis.) II such be oar opinion of Mag
nctism, we need scarcely say that we equally
discredit all the recorded wonders of Somnam-
bulism, the exhibitions of which are now con-
fined almost entirely TO rOgues, whose only OBJ
ject is TO attract public notice, and rob their sill
ly dupes. These distant voyages without NOV
ing off ones chair, these divinations, these
trlnspositons of the senses &c, are only so
many clever tricks, contrived TO amuse the
weak and entrap the foolish. 1t may so hap
pen that poor silly hypochOndiiac, who is
strongly prepossessed in favor Of this culpa-
bic jugelery, appears for some time TO derive
some benefit to bis health; but then it is only
from his becoming the dupe ofhis credulous
fancy. duu uOl nun NilCCl VI SCH
sitive influence bestowed"
1--WE observe" says DIR. Johnson, sin a re-
cent number of the Medical Gazette, a quo
talion to the same effect of the opinions Of
the celebrated Muller Of Berlin, on the sub
ject OF Animal Magnetism. How long will
any men of education allow themselves TO be
imposed upon by the juggling tricks Of clever
rogues. and the paid for testimony Of credu-
lo,s ,on,on1 Madscal mon oil avento
should know better for they must have stud
led the history of the nervous system and its
functions only indifieren.ly well, not to be a
ware that many startling, and not easily ex-
plcable, phenomena are apt TO occur during
The progress of some Gf the neurcscs."
Animal Magnetism is not as some may sup
pose, The Invention Of the present day. Like
Mormonism, MilIersm and the twice ten thou-
SAID other iSmS that curse the age, it has Of
ten before excited the wide gaping astonish-
ment of the credulous and The ignorant. And
now unearthed from the grave TO which they
had bern consigned by the hands of science,
It's half decayed bones are hawked about as
the glorious elements, from which TO fashion
a new order Of things. In the year 1884 in
consequence ofthe extent to which the prac
lice of Animal Magnetism was carried in
Paris, the French King appointed a Com
mittee consisting Of four physicians and five
members OF the Royal Academy of Sciences
to investigate the subject. Among the latter
were NJ. NJ. Bailey Lavoiscr and DIR. Frank
lin. After series ofexperiments conducted
most carefully by the Commissioners in va
rious ways, upon many different persons, and
and those ofall classes. they uniformly met
with results differing only according to the
Ii6aranca of tho susccnfihilify If Tho ina Oin-
alton of the individuals. Rigidiy Of the limbs,
sleep, cessation Of pain, and even the cure of
disease, were procured not only by the grim
ances'' OF the MagnetZer, but even when the
patient was led into the belief that he was I'M
der magnetic influence when it was not in fact
used or pretended to be used by the Magnet ]
User. After such an investigation it would
seem improbable that such dclusion should !
gain credence in an enlightened community.
Why is it sol o. p. Q.