Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1846-01-01
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okFHLEM, Cf., Dec. %, 1919.
Mr.. Editor: Dear SG-.As the public minc
is still undecided in reference 10 the. so.calle,
Science of Human Magnetism, it is no NOR
than just that every ell-authenticated fact il
relation TO it, should be made known. The
following simple statement is therefore given,
without being understood to commit the sign.
ers, as believers or disbelievers in any theory
which may seem to account for them.
On Friday evening, the 10Th inst, public
lecture was delivered in this place by Dr. Ellis.
AFTER a few explanatory remarks, the lecturer
induced the so-called magnetic state upon
Mrs Whitman, OF Bridgewater, who attended
the lecture Tor the purpose OF having a tooth
extracted which she stated had been trouble
some tor some time. In about ten minutes her
eyes were closed, and the breathing became so
loud as to be heard in all parts of the room, and
the evidences of an uncommon or preternatural
state appeared hardly to be mistaken. After
several minutes more having been spent in in
creasing the effect, the undersigned were ap-
pointed by the audience to act as committee
TO examine the subject, witness the expert
ments, and test, if possible, their truth or fall
slty. The following facts were asccrtalned
uHA tC'
The arms, hands, and fingers, especially the
latter, were rigid and almost immovable,
though at about the natural temperature; the
pulse was 10 per minute; the respiration was
still loud, but as the magnetzer had ceased his
efforts, was becoming more natural. The mag
neither then placed his hand in contact with
that OF the patient, which seemed to adhere to
it, and then caused her to arise from the seat
to all appearance by the force Of heattractiOn
He then placed the hand upon the head and
requested us to ascertain the force by which It
retained its position. We satisfied ourselves
that its position was apparently retained by
some extraordinary and involuntary power
When the attempt to remove it,, or bend the
arm or fingers, was made. there appeared to be
no counteractng effort, yet, (altho'igh we I'M
dersand she was in poor health and had appa-
rently a feeble consttution,) one of the COM
mitee raised her from The seat by the wrist,
which would afford her the least mechanical
advantage. The tnagnetiZer then extended the
arm Of the patient horizontally, and was re-
qnested 10 place bis own over it, when If was
attracted and commenced following that of the
magncizer, even when the position of the lat.
ter was altered by another person. and the pa
tient could have no means of knowing in what
position the hand was. The rigidity Of the
muscles appeared as if they had been frozen in
the different positions in which they were pla.
ced. One of the committee was then put in
communication and proposed several questions
on subjects of which she could have had no
previous knowledge, all of which she answer
ed correctly.
Preparations were now commenced for eX-
tracing the tooth. AS the pulse was found to
be at 90, the magnetizer stated that he must
produce further effect, by which it would be
raised still higher. After repeating his efforts
a very short time. If was found to be at 9S. He
then dessied and the preparations went on,
during which it again fell to SO. He repeated
his eff rts till it was found to be increasing,
when Dr. North was requested to extract the
tooth-whch he accordingly did. The COM
mittee and members of The audience were able
to observe the countenance of the patient,
which, dnring all the time of cutting around
and extracting the tooth BETRAYED no indication
of pain, and after being awakened she express
ed surprise TO learn that the tooth had been ex-
tracted.
The lady was to all appearance III very
unusualstate; and as these were the first OK
periments of the kind that part of us ever
witnessed we c?n only leave it with your read
ers to decide whether, in view Of these facts
the phenomena were real or pretended.
Yours truly, L. NORTH.
r N JENcKS