Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1857-02-19
The Philosophy of Fascination.

"The power possessed by serpents TO fas-
cinate birds has always been (says DIR.
Braid, a foreign author a source Of inter-
est and admiration to the curious. That a
crawling reptile, such as a serpent, doomed
to move pronely on the earth, should possess
the craft and power, by the mere fixed gaze
of its glaring eyes, irresistably to draw down
birds, seems to proclaim this as one Of the
most remarkable of natures laws. The
question, therefore, arises, by what means
is this remarkable result effected? Is there
any magnetic attraction in the eye of the
serpent by which the bird is drawnP Or is
it the result of any poisonous emanation pro-
jected by the serpentP Is it voluntary or
an involuntary process by which the crea-
ture approaches and falls an easy prey to its
fell destroyer? After due consideration /
feel satisfied that the approach and surren-
der of itself by the bird or other animal, is
just an example Of the monoideo- dynamic, or
unconscious muscular action, from domi-
nant idea possessing the mind, which first
published as the true cause of table-turn.
ing
The law upon which these phenomena are
to be explained has long been familiar to me
| from observations made during my invesi.
cation of hypnotic and mesmeric phenomena
and it is simply this: that when the atten'
ton Of man or animal is deeply engrossed OF
absorbed by given idea, associated with
movement, a current of nervous force is sem
into the muscles which produce a cores.
ponding motion, not only without any con-
scious effect of volition, but even in opposi
ton to volition in great many instances
and hence they seem to be irresistably drawn
or spell-bound, according 10 the purport O
the dominant idea or impression in the mint
of each at the time. The voition is pros
tratc; the individual is so completely monoi
deizel, or under the influence Of the dom
nant idea, as to be incapable of exerting al
efficient restraining or opposing power Il
the dominant idea; and, in the case Of tht
bird and serpent, fear causes that mondeo
dynamic action Of the muscles which invol
unfairly issues in the advance and captur,
of the unhappy bird. This is the principle
moreover, which accounts for such accident
as are frequently witnessed in the streets 0
every crowded thoroughlare, where som
persons, when crossing the streets amid
crowd Of carriages. not only become spell
bound by sense of their danger, so tha
they cannot move from the point of danger
but it even sometimes happens that the.
seem mpelled to advance forward into III
greater danger from which they are anNOu
to escape, and from which person wit
self possession or presence Of mind may b.
fired, by the very sense Of his danger, t
escape by making an incredible bound-hi
natural powers having become stimulated t
unwonted energy by lively faith as to hi
capability to accomplish such feat.
1t is also upon the same principle tina
some individuals may be brought so muc
under the control of others, through certai
audible, visible, and tangible suggestions b
another individual, as is seen in the phe
nomena exhibited in the waking condition
in what has been so absurdley called "elec
trO-biology." The whole Of these phenome
ma come under the same category, namely
the influence of a dominant idea, or fNe
act of attention, absorbing, or putting i
allegiance for the nonce the other great con
trolling power oil the mind-the will" Thi
explanation Of fascination is very clear an
philosppical