Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1874-10-09
The influence of the Mind on the
Body

For the following interesting account of
a celebrated case we are indebted to that
sterling work, Gums New Family Physis
clan; two hundredth edition;
tifhis thing called FaitS works Mira:
Giles. A doctor being asked the Question
whv he could not cure his mother-in;law
as we'll as his father, wittily replied that
his motber-in.la had not the same conf.
dence in him that his father had, otherwise
the cure would have been effected. The
most singular Instance OF the power of the
will over the functiods OF the BODY; and ia.
ken altogether, perhaps, the most remarka-
BILE case on record, being supported by
the most UNREASONABLE testimony; is re-
lated by DIR. Cheyne, in his English Ndt-
ada. The case is that of Hon. Cornell
Townshend, who for many years had suf:
fered from an organic disease of the kid
news. from which he was greatly enacia.
ted lie was attended by DR.: Cheyne,
DR.. Ravnard. and the distinguished sur.
geon. DR.. Skine, three of the most emil:
nent men in England. These gentlemen
were sent for in great haste early one morn.
ing; to witness the singular phenomenon,
Or STRANGE case. He told them he had for
some time observed the odd sensation. BY
which. if he composed himself, he could
die or expire when he pleased, and by an
effort c5me to life again! The medical
gentlemen were opposed, in his.weak state
to witness the experiment, but he insisted
upon it: and the following is DR.. Cheyne's
account:
1--WE ali three felt his pulse first. 1t
was distinct, though and thready, and his
heart had its usual beating He composed
himself on his back and lay ina still pos
ture some time. While l held his right
hand, DR.. Raynard laid his hand upon his
heart. and DR.. Skine held clean looking.
glass to his mouth. found his pulse sink
gradually, until at last could not feel any
by the most exact and nice touch. Dr.
Raynard could not feel the leas. motion
in his heart, nor DR.. Skine see the least
soil of breath on the looking-glass. We
then each of US held to his lips the look ing
glass several times, examining his pulse,
heart and breath, and could not by the
closest scrutiny discover the least symptom
of life in him. We reasoned long time
on this strange, odd appearance, as we'll as
we could, and all of US confessed it unac
countable, land beyond our power to explain
SO strange and inexplcable case. He
stil conf inued in that condition, and We
concluded that he had indeed carried the
experiment too far, and at last being quite
satisfied he was dead were about to leave
him. He had continued in this situation
about half an hour, it being then nine
O'Clock in the morning, in autumn, when,
lust as we were leaving We observed some
motion about the body; and upon further
examination, found his pulse and the mo-
ton of his heart gradually returning. He
then began to breath gently and speak
softly. We were all astouishsd at the last
degree at this unexpected change in man
we confidently believed to be deadi and af-
ter further conversat ca with him and among
ourselves, went away fully satisfied as to
all the particulars of the astonishing case,
bat COMPOUNDED and puzzled, and unable to
form any rational scheme by which to aci
count for it.