The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1846-01-06
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Facts inFthe case OF III.
VaIdemar,


some discussion-especially in regard to the
truth or falsity of the statements made. 1t
does not become as, of course, 10 offer one
word on the point at issue. We have been
requested to reprint the article, and do so
with pleasure. We leave it to speak for IL
self We NAV observe, however, that there
are certain class Of people who pride them
selves upon Doubt, as a Professionalism
Broadud5 Journal.
Ofcourse shall not pretend to consider it
anv matter for wonder, that the extraordIna-
nv case of NJ. VaIdemar has excited discus
sion. Ii would have been miracle had 1t
not-especially under the circumstances
Through the desire OF all parties concerned,
to keep the affair from the public, at least for
the present, or until we had further oppOrtu-
mites for nvestig ation-through our endeav-
ors to elect this-a garbled or exaggerated
account made It's way into society, and be-
came the source of many unpleasant misrep-
regulations. and, very naturally, OF great
deal of disbelief.
tits now rendered necessary that give the
facts-as far as comprehend them myself
They are. succinctly, these:
Nv attention, for the last three years, had
been repeatedly drawn 10 the subject of Mes
merism: and, about nine months ago it oc
CURED to me, quite suddenly, that IN The Sc
ries of experiments made hitherto, there had
been very remarkable and most unaccOunt
able omission no person had as yet been
mesmerized in Qrticuio morris. Ii remained
10 be seen, first, whether, 10 such condition,
there existed in the patient any susceptibility
of the magnetic faAuence; secondly, wheth-
err. if any existed, il was impaired or increas-
ed by the condition; thirdly, to what extent,
or for how long period, the encroachmeDts
of Death might be arrested by the process.
There we're other points to he ascertained,
but these most excited my curiosity-the last
in especial, from the immensely important
character OF lis consequences.
In looking around me for some subject by
whose means might test these particulars,
was brought to think Of my friend, NJ. Ern
est Valdemar. the well-known compiler of
the "Rihliotheca Foreusica.' aud author (un-
der the nom de Flame Of Issaohar Mark Of
the Polish version of "WalleDsien' and
s'Gargantua'' VI. Valdemar, who has re-
sided principally at HarIaem, N. Y. since
the year S:}9, is Tor was) particularly notice
able for the extreme spareness of hIs person
his lnwer limbs much resembling those oil
John Randolph and. also, for the whncncss
of his whiskers, ia violent contrast to the
blackness of his hair-the latter, III conse
queucc being very generally mistaken for
wig. His temperament was markedly ner-
vous. and rendered him good subject for
meSmeric experiment. On two or three oc-
casions had put him TO sleep with little diff
fculty, but was disappointed in other results
which his peculiar constitution had naturally
lei me to anticipate. HIS will was at no pc
ricd positively, or thoroughly, under my con-
oil, & in regard TO cIl iryOymHe, | could accom-
pIish with him nothing TO be relied upon.
always attributed my fixture at these points to
the disordered state of his health. For some
monIhs previous TO my becoming acquainted
with him, his physicians had declared him in
confirmed phthiss. IL WIS his custor7. in
deed. TO speak calmly of his approaching dis
solution. as of matter neither to be avoided
nor regretted.
When the ideas to which | have alluded
first occurred to me, it was of course very
natural that | should think oi NJ. Valdemar.
knew the steady philosophy of the man too
well TO apprehend any scruples from him and
he had no relatives in America who would be
likely TO interfere. spoke TO him frankly
upoG the subject; and to my surprise, his
Interest seemed wildly excited. say TO my
surprise; for, although he had always yielded
ms person freely 10 my experiments, he had
never before given me any tokens of sympa-
thy with what did. His disease was of the
character which wonld admit Of exact cacu-
iaton IN respect TO the epoch of its termina
ZION IN death; and it was finally arranged be-
tween us that he would send for me about
tWentY-fnur hours before the period annOun-
ced by his physicians as that of his decease.
Ii is now rather more than seven months
since | received, from 81. Valdemar himself,
the subJOined note:
My DEAR p,
You may we'll come nO,r. D.
and F. are agreed that cannot hold out
beyond to morrow midnight; and | think
they have hit the time very nearly.
VALDEMAR.
II received this note within half an hour af
ter it was written, and in fifteen minutes more
| was in the dying mans chamber. | had
not seen him for ten days, and was appalled,
by the fearful alteration which the brief inter
val had wrought in him. His face wore a
ieaden hue; the eyes were utterly lustreless;
and the emaciation was so extreme that the
skin had been broken through by the cheek
bones. His expectoration was excessive
The pulse was barely pereeptible. lie re-
famed, nevertheless, in very remarkable
manner, both his mental power and certain
degree OF physical strength. He spoke with
N'S'ihCiHeSS-tOOh SOiEe palliative medicines
[ without aid-and, when entered the room,
was occupied in pencing memoranda ia
pocket-hOok. He was proPped up in the bed
by pillows. Doctors D. and r were
IN attendance.
After pressing Valdemar's hand, l took
these gentlemen aside, and obtained from
hem minute account of the patients con-
n'tion. The left lung had been for eighteen
months in semi-osseous or car;agnous
state and was. of course, entirely useless fer
all purposes of vitality. The right, in its up
pef portion, was also partially. if not thor
Dushiy, ossfed, while the lower region was
~erely mass Of purulent tubercIes running
ue INTO another. Several extensive perfor-
.t roh' existed and, at one point, permanent
an "eson to the ribs had taken place. These
Fpe'rances in the right lobe were of COM