The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-22
SCIENTIFIC PILLAGE.


We all remember what sensation mes
merism created when it was first announced.
The notion that one man could gain such a
mastery over his fellows as to subject their
wills entirely to his, and make their mental
and muscular motions alike obedient to his
wishes, was startling enough. Public exhi-
bitions of the new power were given by its
prophets and disciples, and gaping audiences
were treated to the spectacle of men and
women mesmerized into human Jumping
jacks, and moving their arms a2d legs in
blind submission to the will of the operator.
In London, if we are not mistaken, there
was even founded a school of what was
called phreno-mesmerism, where pupils were
trained in the noble science and which pro-
fessed to be able to develop the mental organs
of the mesmerized subject one by one in sue
cession. Thus the patient being put into
the magnetic trance, the bump of language
was excited, whereupon he burst forth into
the midst of an eloquent oration; the bump
of combativeness being touched, he became
an amateur Sayers or Heenan at once, and so
on with the rest. This was only one mani
festation of the widespread public excite
ment on the subject of the new discovery.
with regard to which the most exravagant
possibilities were predicted and believed
lime, which dissipates SO many illusions,
has not dealt more kindly with this, and mes
merism has long ago lost the halo of mystery
and romance which the vulgar mind had
thrown about it. Other novelties have
usurped its place; the wonders of spiritualism.
and the exploits of the Davenports and
Home, have cast its miracles into the shade,
and nowadays one scarcely ever hears it men,
toned. Nevertheless, its professors still live
and some of them, it seems, have discovered
use for the science which it's founder GER
tainly never contemplated Certain gipsies
have for some time been encamped in the
neighborhood of Rutland, Vermont. A few
days ago two female gipsies called at
the house of lady in the town
with Baskets for sale, and observing a small
bump on her forehead offered to remove it
One OF them thereupon, we are told passed
her hands over the ladys face, who became
for short time unconscious, and went about
all the rest of the day with strange dizziness
in her head. Soon after, she missed a num-
Der of spoons, and naturally suspected her
gypsy visitors. She therefore procured the
services of an officer, and was about to start
for the encampment, when the two delin-
quents, who may be supposed, by Writ ne of
their supernatural power, to have foreseen
her intent, marched into the house with a
bundle which was found to contain the
missing articles, and, explaining that
they had borrowed them, went away.
Whether the authorities of Rutland have
heather that borrowing spoons without the
owners permission is a grave moral error
under the Christian code, we are not in
formed; but it is fair to suppose that other
ladies of Rutland who are troubled with facial
disfgurements and silver spoons, will be
more circumspect about their physicians. If
this accomplishment should become generally
known, and it seems altogether too valuable
to be long buried in the obscurity of Ver-
mont gypsy encampments, we shall all need
to tremble for our spoons as we never trem-
bled before Chloroform, to some extent,
one might guard against. It's very un-
mistakable odor alone would beiray its
presence. But against that pseudo-Sa ma.
ritan who approaches us with allur-
ing offers of healing and refreshment
and then with pass of the hand steal.
away first our senses, and then cur other
vsluables, what foresight or vigilance will
avail A scientific education will perhaps
become prerequisite for every successful