Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-11-26
The Effects Of Imagination.

mental alteration, a species of insanity.
New facts and experiments are daily
adduced in confirmation of this long
standing theory. An Italian savant,
Signor Volpicelli, has just communicated
to the French Academy of Sciences a
paper containing q detailed account of
certain experiments and curious observa-
tions of his. Having met with number
OF very nervous persons who pretended
they were very painfully Influenced or
affected by the proximity of a magnet,
he determined to satisfy himself whether
terrestrial magnetism really produced
any effect upon them, or whether the
various impressions and sensations they
declared they experienced were only due
to disorder of their Imagination.
He first submitted them openly to the
influence of powerful magnet. The
nervous effects were Immediately mani
tested. The crises continued to take
place even when the magnet was STEALTH
ly removed and common, harmless iron
bar was substituted therefor. But when
the patients were unconsciously subject
ed to the full power of the largest mag
nets they actually failed to experience
anything unusual, any peculiar sensation.
The magnetic influence and the symp-
but the result of fancy.
A distinguished professor who fell into
terrible nervous spasms and paroXysms
whenever magnet was placed near him.
was surrounded, unknown to himself
while delivering one of his lectures, by
set of highly-powerful magnetic currents
and bodies. Signor Volpicelli had placed
magnets in his desk and under il. as well
as underneath his chair and all around
him. The lecture went on as usual, and
was finally brought TO close without
any unwonted incident or demon
stration. But as the professor was
about to take his leave, well pleased with
himself and his audience, Volpicelli
stopped him, brought him back on the
platform, disclosed his little ruse and
showed him all the magnets he had been
exposed to. The professor was at once
seized with most violent spasm, SO ter
ribly affected was his imagination at the
sight of such battery.
Such is the physiological power exerted
by the imagination. Many diseases and
bodily ailments are almost entirely due
to it, as are also many speedy recoveries
and wonderful cures. Does not homnop-
athy largely depend upon the action of
imagination upon the system for the
beneficial results of the simple remedies
administered? We know of cases where
inoffensive pellets made under our own
eyes, of nothing but sugar and flour and
a few drops of water, and draughts OF
the same harmless liquid colored with q
spoonful of wine or u little vegetable
matter-we know of cases, we say, where
these, taken under the impression that
they were dangerous poisons and power
full drugs, produced most salutary
effect, where other and genuine medi-
clnes mad failed to operate or give relief.
This only shows that the secret of the
medical practitioners greatest success
lies not alone in the amount of his
knowledge but in the degree of conf
dence with which he inspires his patient
aud the control he gains over him through
his responsiveness.
Monsieur Chevreuil, one of the mem
bers of the Academy of Sciences, upon
the receipt and reading of Signor Volpi-
celli's communication, added thereto the
testimony and statement of his own in
vestigations with regard to the extraor-
binary and almost unbounded influence
exerted by imagination over the senses
and faculties. He called to mind his
curious experiments with the divining
rod and the exploring pendulum
The divining rod was forked branch
of nut tree, which the experimenter
held in his outstretched hands, and
which, as he walked through the fields
and meadows, and along the roads In the
country, swayed to and fro. and twisted
up and bent into countless shapes-or, at
least, was supposed TO dc so whenever it
happened to be held over living spring.
Thence was derived the name OF s0uTcers,
which subsequently became corrupted
into sorcerers-an appellation first be-
slowed upon those who were supposed to
be gifted with the power of welding the
rod in question. Writers of olden times
have left US wonderful accounts of the
doings and workings of the divining rod;
for it seems its use was not always limit
ed TO the discovery of springs of water:
il also restored lost property, revealed
unknown treasure, brought to light con-
cealed articles, and finally tracked out
criminals and fugitives, and singled out
the guilty. The marvels ii Is said to have
accomplished could, perhaps, with diff
Guilty be explained.
The exploring pendulum Is an instru-
ment of a like description, after the same
principle A ball OF metal suspended
from thread or string held In the hand
indicates by its oscillations, and their
rapidity and direction, the exact location
of mines and ores and precious metals,
provided they be not too far beneath the
surface of the ground. Were these two in
struments accurate and reliable, engi-
neers and biologists would no longer be
required. A twig cut from neighbor-
ing tree, leaden ball fastened on piece
of Irvine, would be sufficient to ascertain
and discover in single walk all the
treasures which lie hidden in the depths
of the earthy But, unfortunately, those
are by-gone notions-exploded ideas.
Monsieur Chevreuil shows that the won
derful results attained were but the
feet of imagination; the remarkable
phenomena were but fallacies and fond
decisions. The pendulum does indeed
swing back and forth, and its regular
motions please the eye of the observer,
who becomes unconsciously captivates-
by this rhythmical swaying, so like di
lent cadence, and which he cannot help
watching and waiting for.
In this case the motion OF the pendu-
lum IL, therefore, due TO the excited I'm
agination and the expectancy OF the e8-
perimenter, and what proves this 10 be