Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-04-03
w omdlor of the Age
nIESMERISaf.


Some time since we extracted from a
Georgia newspaper, brief account OF an
operation performed upon Mrs. Clark,
while in the mesmerc sleep. A more
authentic and minute description of this
operation appears in the last number OF
the Southern Medical and Surgical Journ.
al, written by DR.. l.. A. Ducas, Professor
Of Physiology in the Medical College OF
Georgia, who performed the operation in
the presence of several eminent phys.
cians:-BaH. Amer.
On the Sd of January, lS45, Mrs. Clark
(wife OF Mr.. Jesse Clark, of Columbia
Co., Georgia. came to this city, Cor the
purpose OF getting me 10 remove schir.
rous tumor of her right mamma, which
had been gradually increasing for the last
three years, and which had now attained
the size ola turkeys egg. The tumor
had never caused any pain of consequence,
was not adherent to the skin, nor did it
implcate any Of the auxiliary glands,
Mrs. G.. is about AZ years OF age, has
never borne child, and her health, though
by no means robust, was pretty good,
and had not been impaired by the evolu-
ton OF the tumor. The operation hav-
ing been determined upon for the follow
ing day, Mrs. c. remarked to me that she
had been advised by Mr.. Kenrick to be
mesmerlzed, but as she knew nothing
about it, she would like to have my adj
vice, and would abide by it, to which
replied that there were several well au-
lhentlcated cases on record, in which sur.
gical operations had been performed, un.
der mesmenc influence, without the con.
seriousness off the patient; that would be
happy to test the subject in her case, and
that | would endeavor to mesmerise her
instead Of operating as had been proposed
on the day following.
On the 4th of January, at IL o'clock
A. NJ, called on Mrs. G. and was in
formed that on the preceding evening she
had been put to sleep by Mr.. B. F. Ken
rick Cat whose house she reSided.)
then mesmerised her myself. and induced
sleep in about fifteen minutes. Finding
my patent susceptible to the mesmerIc
influence, and rejecting that it would no
be convenient for the same person tc
maintain this influence and to perform a
surgical operation at the same time, re.
quested Mr.. Kenrick to mesmerise Mrs
G. morning and evening, at stated hours,
until insensbilty could be induced.
This was regularly done, with gradual.
ly increasing effect, when, on the even,
ing of the 9th January, sleep was Undue.
ed in five minutes, and the prick of pir
was attended with no manifestation Of
pain. The Sittings were continued, and
the PATENTS insensibliiy daily tested by
myself and others in various ways.
On the 9ih January, invited Profess
sor Ford to be present, and after prickine
and pinching strongly the patient, with
out evidence of pain, the mesmeriser was
requested to leave the room, when we
exposed the breast, handled it roughly in
examining the tumor, and readjuSted the
dress, without the consciousness of the pa.
tient. We then held to her nos:rls vi
al Of strong spirits of liartshorn, which
she breathed for minute or two, without
the least indication OF sensation, unless
the fact that she swallowed once be re-.
garded as such, instead of a mere reflex
action. On the 18th Of January, in pres
ence Of Professors Ford and Means, in
addition to the usual tests, made, with
my pocket knife, an incission about two
inches in length, and half an inch in
depth, into the patients leg, without midi
cation Of sensation.
Fully satisfied now Of our power to in.
duce total insensiblity, / determined to
operate on her the next day at noon, but
carefully concealed any such design from
the patient and her friends,who did not ex-
pectils performance until several days later.
On the 18th January, at twenty min
utes past IL, A. NJ, Mrs. C. was put to
sleep in forty-five seconds, without touch
or pass of any kind, the facility with
which the mesmeric influence was pro-
duced having gradually increased at each
sitting. AT IL o'clock, NJ, in presence
Of Professors Ford, Means, Garvin and
Newton, and Or. Halsee, the patient be-
ing in a profound sleep, | prepared her
dress for the operation, and requested my
professional brethren TO note her pulse,
complexion, countenance,
&c, before, during, and after the ampu-
ation, IN order to detect any evidence of
pain, or modification of the iunctions.-
As Mr. Kenrck had never witnessed a
surgical operation, he feared he might lose
Dis self.poSsession, and requested 20 DO
which was done, He now