The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1846-02-11

myself comprehend) as gelatnous or gluinous
matier impress the sense Of touch.
have spoken both of "soundn and of "voice." :"
mean to say that the sound was one of distinct
or even wonderfully, thrilling dstinct-syllabif-
cation. M. Valdemar spoke obviously in reply
to the question | had propounded to him a few
minutes before. | had asked him, it will be re-
membercd, if he still slept. He now said:
"Yes-no-I have been sleeping-and now
--now--I am dead"
No person present even affected 10 deny, or
attempted TO repress, the unutterable, shuddering
horror which these words, thus uttered, were so
well calculated to convey. Mr.. L., {the
suddenly swooned. The nurses Immediately
left the chamber, and could not be induced to re-
turn. My own Impressions would not attempt
to render ineligible to the reader. For nearly
an hour, we busted ourselves, silently-without
the utterance of a word-in endeavors to revive
Mr.. Il. When he came to himself, we ad-
dressed ourselves again TO an investigation OF M.
Vademar's condition.
Itremained in all respects as | have last de-
scribed it, with the exception that the mirror no
longer afforded evidences of respiration An
attempt to draw blood from the arm failed
should mention, too, that this limb was no far
ther subject to my will. | endeavored in vain
TO make it follow the direction of my hand. The
only real indication, indeed, Of the mesmeric in
fuencc, was now found in the vibratory move
ment of the tongue, whenever addressed to M
Valdemar question. He seemed to be making
an effort at repy but had no longer sufficient vo
lition. To questions put to him by any other
persons than myself, he seemed utterly nsensi-
ble-although | endeavorcd to place each mem
Der of the company i'll mesmeric rapport with
him. believe that have now related all that
is necessary to an understanding of the sleep
wakcr's state at this epoch. Other nurses were
procured; and at ten o'clock left the house in
company with the two physicians and Mr.. Ii.
In the afternoon we all called again 10 see the
patient. His condition remained precisely the
same. We had now some discussion as TO the
proprety and feasibility of awakening him; but
we had little difficulty in agreeing that no good
purpose would be served by so doing Ii was
evident that so far, death (or what is usually term
ed death) had been arrested by the mesmerIt
process. 1t seemed clear TO us all that to ava
ken M. Valdemar would be merely 10 insure his
instant, or at least his speedy dissolution.
From this period until the close oflast week
|
tnued TO make daily calls at M. Valdemar';
house, accompanied, now and then, by medica
and other friends. All this time the sleep-wuke
remained eractly as have described him. The
nurses attention were continual.
1t was on Friday last that we finally resolved
10 make the experiment Of awakening or attempt
ing TO awaken; and it is the (perhaps) unfortu,
nate result Of this latter experiment which has
given rise to so much discussion in private cir
cles--to SO much of what cannot help thinking
unwarranted popular feeling.
For The purpose of relieving NJ. Valdemar from
the mesmeric trance, | made use of the custo
mary passes These, for a time, were unsuc
cessiul. The first indication of revival was af
torded by partial descent of the iris. 1t wa!
observed, as especially remarkable, that this low
ering of the pupil was accompanied by the pro
fuse outnowng of yellowish ichor (from be
meath the lids) of pungent and highly offensive
odor.
II now was suggested that | should attempt tc
influence the patients arm,as heretofore. made
the attempt and failed. DR.. r then init
mated desire TO have me put a question. die
so as follows:
"Mr. Valdemar, can you explain TO us wha
arc your feelings or wishes now!"
There was an instant return of the hectic cir.
cIes on the cheeks; the tongue quvered, orrathe,
rolled violently in the mouth (although the jaws
and lips remained rigid as before3 and at length
the same hidcous voice which have already de-
scribed, broke forth:
"For Gods sake quick !--quick! put me tc
sleeper quck!--waken me !--quick!--I Sa,
! to uOu that [ am dead ~
| Il was thoroughly unnerveo, and for an nstan
remained undecided what TO do. At first made
an endeavor 10 recompose the patient; but, failing
in this through total obeyance of the will, | re-
traced my steps and as earnestly struggled 10 a
waken him. In this attempt soon saw that
Should be succcsslul--or at least soon fancieC
that my success would be compleio--and | an
sure that all in the room weIe prepared to see
the patient awaken.
For what really occurred, however, it is quite
impossible that any human being could have beer
prepared.
As rapidly made the mesmeric passes, amiC
calculations of ''dead! dead!" absolutely burst
ing from the tonglc and not from the lips of the
sufferer, his whole frame at once--within the
space Of a single minute, or less shr unk--
crumbled- absolutely rotted away beneath my
hands. Upon the bed, before that whole compa
ny, there lay nearly liquid mass of loathsomc
-ofdeteslabIe putrescence.