New-York daily tribune., 1859-07-09
!SPJRIT.RAPPING ~ THE FRENCH AC4D-
ENY.

aeDce II EIsdtptadGsse Boigc
NJ. Jobert de Lamballe has communicated 20 the
Academy some curious observations, the interest of
which is not entirely confined to Physiology His OBJ
servstons may in fact give very natural expians-
ton to these strange souods for tne Interpretation oI
which, century as well a. IN the Middle Ages,
Supernatural causes have been invoked. We are
proud the honor Of Europe 20 say that the eyoca
tions Of SprH-RaPPeJs-a rather ncongrnOas name
are OF American origin. DID We no: owe - North
America the use of apssthetIc sgents, we should be
tempted % regard Il the classic and OF al agge-
ries from those when under the ban OF the police
up 70 the turning tables. But certain ought not
to be atonisbed 10 such eccen;ricites charming
the leisure Of our Pari,ennvs, when We learn from NJ
G9zan that cold and positive relghbors OF Bright
on indulge in them, under the nsme q! "Spni'sm,'
with seriousness which is impsrurb. as Il Is
ridiculous.
But 20 The phenomenon Of NJ. JobsF,: in Gdlle. de
", glr of H. stout and well built the able surgeon
has observed regular involuntary movements OF the
minor right lAteral muscle of the shinbone, taking
place every second, and producing sound behind the
internal mallcols which is heari with remarkable dis
inctness to consi /, rable distance. Tns sound is
produced in whatever position the girl may be-in
bed out Of bed, sitting or lying, ald st any hour OF
the NtN Ut hl-nl DuA IL SV 't'HE'N " 0A''H'-
ipg the foot a. also by oompresing eeuan points on
the foot and leg Lately the left steEa muscle OF tie
shn-boue has been subjec. 20 toe same motions.
NJ. Jobert interprets the phenomenon in this way;
be anay zes each sound into two motions; An the first,
the tendon Of the minor lateral mlsce gets out Of lis
groove pu hing away the ma or lateral musce 70 the
skin. In the second, when the contraction is over.
the tendon relaxes flies back into the groove and by
-. 4 4
which is heard
And So according TO ~ Jobert, the affection of
Ncle. X shows how, suder the influence of muscular
contraction the displaced tendons msy IN falling back
into their bony grooves pro the sounds which to
ciejulous people annoUnse the presence OF sprhTd-
leTs.
But VI. JObert does not Limit himsefto the inter-
pretaion OF the fact VT ch he has witness in his
study Of the phenomena which have caused SO much
emotion within few years past; be reoounts with
fidelity and analyzes with eXac;ude all that the
world owes TO II. Scbiffn this respect. lie shows Us
this wise ard sagscogs observer, throwing aside a.
idea of supernatural intervention, commencing by as
eertanipg al these strange sounds slways occur at
the foot of The bed OF individuals sgitated by the
spr,s and from this frs. fsct arguing tbs; the sea;
of the rsps without the organism Of the person,
bu; within the organism itself that the sound may
be made in the leg in the region of the shin, by the
tendous sud the bony surfaces; aud then, with TINS
explanation in his head, making experiments or -lGl-
self which eft doubt that q rap sad ia orsa De
hind the mal.ols and the groove OF tie tendon OF
the muscles Of the shin bone. n JobeEt reminds Us
that NJ Schiff soon becsne able 70 perform tlis &;
viii regularly and hsrmoniously sui thst he can I'M
tate sitting or lying. before crest number Of per-
sons ff,y al one me the proeisies OF The sptri'rsp-
r.rs and that while he - executing these movements
.prct a.or With his hand On the mslleo.s, can feel
tie slips Of the tendon forward ani backward.
There ia a slight disagreement here between NM.
Jobsrt sni Scbf 10; in recsri 20 toe main fact but
in ore Of tie details NJ. Shift thinks ths, the sound
i. possibe oriy when the sheath h.s become taiu or
DISAPPEARED entirely. an th.. Il becomes Oiter as
the foot is more tense anj mcre firmly i1ei Agree
with the rnsn pbysologst 70 the cause All
sest Of tie rapvits NJ Jobert does no, agree with
him on 81 the points Of his theory. lie thinks tast
the rsp can be produced without Anomalous cOndi-
,icn Of tie sheath, tina, the extension OF the foo.
makes il disappear entirely, tina. the minor musce
B. tie scvrt and tha, this muscle d. much super.or N
il. sc;iou 20 the major
L. in fac. the sound coui T., be proiuce v;hou:
A. s,oua,ou, formation, how could a. the r1edans-
I .herc sre loo 60 in Amsrica-prJtuce them How
/ c.a,i NJ. Sch.E toii hirsedi
Fiu,'v. 70 l,sve 10 Joubt With regard 10 his opn-
iop. NJ Jsb~rt .-ts forth 81 the 2tenomers observed
which an .yaer;ly due 10 the sc,ioa, waelher vol
urtAry or pc. Of ;se minor uu:cle, sal a. llt comes
,o ,tc decisive prcofe s-r-'c. operation Shlch pat
a. e-5 - 49, these scuu T. The sbe operator usie
sn ;ncs.oa irio the u:r0r muscles bo,h night ard ef,
boiling ,hc limbs sil by the sd q a. sPPsEatas.
Nleu they healed Up, the patient was found 70 have
recovered the { Lsr limbs an there was d ,race
0. tie Singular g.: Tse affection from vhcA she had
suffered.
NJ Ye.pe=e, Z giving h.s eoap,eis assent n every
thin- Contained IN the interesting commune .;ion OF
NJ J5bert, ukoce Interpretation SpPe Ared 10 him -
leave nothing 70 b desre eiej some eAses IN shich
.oE-Gs have been hesi n oiAes gesioas II tae body
so-ietiEcs ciezr sd sharp sad :; ether tines az.
saa dead ,7d expressed the wish ths, phys;co-isss
would seriously rXA-,.se thess vaE.ocs SQUADS, arc
pabass ihs raiOoA sKPlAas;ioa Of pAsRoGeaa 10,
usdsrs;oSi. os attributed 20 cccal s2d suPer,.tUrAl
c4U-es.
l Ja,es Clcgae;, IN 'supPor: of lie observation Of
" Vereaa relative e ths s0aads which uasy Be pro
iucci ~ ieuicrs II vzous Po-,ious Of tie body,
f--ei tc -r, Of l. % - vhc cane 70 the Hcspit.
SAN. Louis a. tine whea M. Ysipsaa sad Joses.
were attached 70 tbs estAbhnea Tas father OF thls
vcarg perscr scr. Of chA-raa VITO csIlei himself
Fi,i-- ef ae Pt,.s-SaS-, counted on makic- .oue
uossy by p1s,c exhibition Of "a cs l. al proposed
T. arrcarce tbs; she hs clock IN her sousea. These
ab1erzal sounds sa;l n Cogre., could bs hssri vs-