Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-09-23
ELECTRO BIOLOGY.

The various names Of Odyle, d-force, Mesmerism,
Electro Biology Animal Magnetism &C. used to denote
supposed power that control the mental and motor
forces of the human system in defiance of the will of it's
possessor when is brought completely under their in
fuence. The phenomena supposed to result from the
operation of this power when viewed by themselves seem
to be of miraculous character and not to be explained
by any of the known laws that the actions of the
living organism.
But they have these mysterious attributes because
adopt the of an isolated examination in
stead of studying them by analogy, he mghtes instru-
ment truth and which would show the class Of
facts to which they belong and the law which regulates
them and fully explains their character. When examined
in this way these phenomena shown to be only Of
the intermediate acts in graduation series of opera
tions which begin in slight mental alterations and end
in the extreme Of nsanty that they ore exclusively and
entirely dependant the who exhibits them; that
they merely diseased actions of the syste
being artcaly instead Of naturally induced, like that
class Of diseases to which they bear the closest analogy
and resemblance diseases which have been known and
classified and their character described almost since
the science Of medicine had existence The only difference
is in the grouping of the phenomena and the cause Of
their production. The abnormal condition OF the ner-
system which they depend is in each case much
the same. The phenomena have said, are purely
subjective and confined to the who exhibits them
The forces which they ascrbed imaginary and
exist only in the conceit of those who have brought
supposed power to explain what they could UNDER
stand All its different names words without mean
ing and the forces they would have no existence
Every appearance presented is fully explained without
which regulate mans mental and physical constitution.
When the phenomena Of elcctrobiology carefully
examined the first condition necessary to their produce
ton is found to be strong mental emotion which de-
ranges that healthy balance Of the forces of the
brain necessary to- harmonious action of the mental
faculties, which sanity Of mind and correctness OF
judgment depend.
3D. That there should be strongly concentrated at
tention to definite object, to isolate the excited
faculties from that associated action which they de-
pend to correct their Impressions and which for tme
produces the pathological condition of insanity
3D. 1t is law of the system that its aggregated pow
cannot be increased that only alter their dis
trbution that local intensity Of action must be at the
expense Of the system whole hence it follows that,
in proportion to the excitement of class of faculties,
in the proportion is the orpor Of all the rest 80
Tat while the morbidy excited faculty shows an all
most supernatural of action the rest are rendered
so torpid that the ordinary stimulus by which they are
excited produces effect Consciousness is suspended
the will can exercise no control; it is for time COM
petey in allegiance and species Of insanity is induced
differing from the common form, only that the cause IS
external instead Of being internal and the insane
obeys the suggestions of the biologist instead Of those
produced by the diseased workings of his own brain.
4th The excited organs alone are at work, the rest
asleep and the only to the mind or brain 10
through these organs This held by the biologists con-
scouenty no other influence can reach the mind while in
this condition. and it must act only responsive TO hH
the idea which he exctes and con-
trolls, holding under dominion the mental and motor
Of the system and this guided by his suggestions,
constitutes che condition which produces all the phenome
ma and explains all their mysteries.
9Th The higher attributes ascribed to cairueydnce,
which puts the "lucids in spiritual communion with
all the past present. and future making the whole crea-
ton stand revealed what is and to come, before
their expanded VISION and which usurps all the power
in this respect of the Deity himself these attributes,
say, have existence and too grossly absurd to
merit moments serious consideration
6h Another kindred delusion Is the moving OF tables
by supposed current of electricity magnetism being
made to pass from the operator to the table, He wills It
to His attention is concentrated the expected
lar effort to make it move may be readily demonstrate
ed by any who will examine the acting muscles. They
will be found swecd rigid and acting with all their
power, and il they compressed by bondage or
that they act that muscular force
be excrted the electrical deuson vanshes and the
table stands STILL
KANAwHA, VA. M. d.