New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1878-06-12
The Metal Ctes'e.

DR.. William Hammond of New York,
that keen stuGrar of the human nervous
system, has been making some curious
and interesting experiments lately with
metal cure'' which is now !, having "a
Eur. pean repute. This singular method
Of cure originated With an American doc
tor named Perkins, years ago, who by the
use of various metallic disks and baths
made marvellous cures Of nervous diseas.
es. The theory was that each patient had
particular affinity for some metal, and
several kinds were tried till the potent
one was found. The metal cure had a
great run, both in this country and Eng
land, but when by chance it was found
that bits ofswood or nything else could
be made to exercise just as much infu-
ence as the metals, the whole thing fell
into disrepute save in; France. where faith
in its efficacy seems to have obtained a
strong foothold DR.. Hammond was led
to investiga gate the metal cure by hearing
that several of his patients proposed visit
ingEurope to test 1t on themselves.
His investigation shows concluslvely
that the metals have no part whatever in
the effects produced, but that these are
attained simply through the power OF
one mind upon another. Faith on the
part Of the patient, and a calm, persist
'ent suggestion of an idea by the opera
tor, are therconditions of success. Plac-.
ing disk of metal upon the hand CT one
of his patients, a girl Of fifteen, Mr..
Hammond assured her that il a few
minutes her hand would be Iinsensible
to pain. This came speedy to pass,
and the severe pricking1 Of a needle
caused not the !. slightest wincing.
Changing his metallic disk for another
the child was told it would make her
hand very tender, and in moment the
sensitiveness became SO acute that the
mere touch of the needle suficed to
make her. scream with pain. BY the
use of plate Of rubber on the back of
the child's neck he made her imagine
the top of her head to be as hot as If
"a burning coal had been placed there.
Other experiments Were tried upon a
large, strong woman, at first 'unsuccess-
fully, but BY persistenlyc suggesting
the effects sought, the doctor was finally
rewarded by attaining them.
Of course, the victims OF these expert
'ments were not allowed to knew that they
were beng imposed upon, but were quiet
ly assured in advance by the doctor that
he was possessed of new system of cure
which was working wonders, abroad, and
which be wished to try himself. Without
the aid Of any metallic plates or other ap-
planes, but through the same principle
of the predominance of mind over mind,
DR.. Hammond convinced strong man
that he could not lift little table that
weighed less than two pounds. The man
took hold of it with all confidence and
wrenched and strained himself, but to nc
purpose. When the table at last fell to
the floor in ruins, it was found that instead
Of lifting. the man had been bearing down
upon it with allslis> strength. This strange
! power, SO successfully developed and
/ illustrated by DR.. Hammond, seems to be
identical with that welded by the mes
nerist. There isaan element of mystery
about it, but it is real and may be potent
ly used, the doctor believes, where the
patients are not too knowing in many ner-
vous affections ---spr54atfeld (ltass9 RE,
patbIfsaa. !asl ,,,,. -zt.s,5,f.se. =.