The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1874-07-03

excited some months since over u
new method for relieving pain and
curing disease in q speedy and Of
fectual manner, without the use Of
drugs and nostrums. The discovery
was reported to have been made by
two eminent physicians Of California,
and to have been evolved from exper-
iments made by them upon patients
in hospital and in private practice.
Reports were daily received of the
wonderful cures effected, which were
published in the local papers, and
not.only occasioned much local excite
mont, but were copied and comment
ed on far and wide.
The doctors hearing OF the success
Of Hypnotism, OF course began to
ridicule the new theory, and soon
precipitated war OF newspaper
cards, followed by rapid firing OF
epigrams, charged with satire and
sarcasm, until the public mind, CON
fused with the arguments advanced
on both sides, at last settled down to
the conclusion that Hypnotism had
at least afforded much amusement to
the outsider, whether its miraculous
claims were well founded or not, and
the main question was lost sight OF
in the interest that centered in the
wrangle among the doctors. 1t may
be as well to state here that the
physicians who were practicing the
new plan made no pretensions to
having discovered new principle,
but this did not save them from the
charge of plagiarism that was UNJUST
" hurled at them by other members
Of the profession, although in good
humor, but with the view Of detract-
ing from the importance Of their
experiments, and the consideration
to which they were entitled.
Meanwhile the physicians who had
commenced to practice the new plan,
we're quietly pursuing their expert
ments, undeterred by Tho ridicule Of
their contemporaries, and the re-
markable success which attended
their labors is sufficient yindication
Of their sound Judgment and honesty
Of purpose, Il
A letter recently received from a
medical gentleman Of high standing
in the profession ia California, gays:
"You will find Hypnotism a the
rapeutical agent Of incalcuable value
in practice. Let it be imagination
or not to which those extraordinary
physical effects are attributable, it is
certain that the imagination has
never been capable Of being made to
act in the same beneficial manner by
any other mode of management ever
before known. We do not wish or
care whether the patient believes or
not in the result. 1t is not magnet
ism. 1t is not Braidism. 1t is not
anything that / can explain: but try
it for yourself, and tell me what it is,
for only know the results, and
although 1 cannot explain, | care but
little and my patients care less, SO
long as they feel and know its
efhcacy.'i
The following wonderful cures are
reported.
Hcmipegia (palsey). Won, q
native OF France, aged sixty years,
had been paralyzed on the right side
about threo years, and had not
walked without clutches for several
months. Was hypnotised on the
22d Of January, and the tractors
passed over the palsied limbs and
side. In six minutes he expressed
himself as free from pain, and being
told to getup and walk, did SO without
pain, crutcBes or stick. The inn
provement since has been marked
and progressive
Parapteaia (palsy). Yalascoj d
native Of Gibraltar, aged thirty-pine
years, was admitted to the hospital
i'm May, 1868. Being paralyzed from
the hip down, he had never been
able to stand upon his feet unsup-
ported during a period Of five and a
half years, and his sleep had been
greatly disturbed by muscular jerks
and t@ichings. He was hypnotisod
for the first time on the I'D Of Jann-
ary, and when the tractor wa } passed
over the legs they were thrown into
violent convulsiye action, becom-
ing passive again when the tractor
was withdrawn, only to be renewed
with each successive pass for period
OF three minutes, after which ho be-
came quiet, and in eight minutes
stood upon his feet without support,
taking two steps without assistance.
He has steadily improved from the
beginning, has walked half q mile
by the aid Of walking stick in each
hand, and across the ward without
them. The muscular twitching has
entirely ceased.
PartiaL PWalysis-Mrs. S., Of
Marysyille, and Mrs, E., Of Sac
ramento county, both elderly ladies,
and Mr.. c., Of Yuba county, an
old man, were all similraly affected,
the left arm of each being partially
palsied, SO that the hand could not
be raised above the mouth. All of
tho cases we're Of several years stand
ing. Each was operated upon five
minutes only. All were cured by a
single operation and could use the
hand previously paralyzed With per-
feet freedom, placing il behind the
back or moving il in any direction
they desired. No medicine was
given.
Acqte Lqfaadtdiy RheamaiiSa,
J. Il. aged forty, blacksmith,
was attacked with severe rheumatism
Of both hands and wrists, accompan-
led with excruciating pain, great
swelling and rcdnass; was hypnohsod,
and in loss than ten minutes oil
ii those symptoms had disappeared.
saw him the next day, when the
pain had not returned, aud ho is