The New York herald., 1878-12-18
MISS FANCHER.
REPLY TO DR. HAMMoND-wHY THE INVALID
GIRL MAY DO ALL THE REMARKABLE THINGS

ATTRIBUTED TO HER.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
Dr. Hainmonds attitude toward the phenomenal
case of Miss Fancher illustrated IN his challenges
through the HERALD to be fairly open to crit
icisin If not wanting in proper courtesy and SYM
pathy toward the afflicted young lady. which is an
open question it is at least antagonistic to certain
well established medico psychological facts. about
which there be question.
1t is the province Of science to deal with facts,
without special reference to their significance to
the theories to which they may give rise with
which they may conflict And it cannot but be well
known to the learned gentleman that transposition
of the does undoubtedly attend certain abnor
NAL conditions of the brain and nervous centres.
And that there is law Of compensation which
enables certain unfortunates who deprived of the
of the ordinary senses to obtain impressions and
knowledge through unusual channels is fact too
well known to be called in question. The annals of
medicine abound in such instances. What special
object then be subserved by challenging these
possibilities in Miss Fancher's case! 1t has been
known for years that the partial trance which
is induced by the mesmeric process will sometimes
call into action the same abnormal mental powers
which frequently characterize certain diseases and
injuries attended by superexcitaon OF the brain and
nervous centres.
The writer years ago. met with case of this kind
in the city of Troy n. Y. lad. still in his teens
frequently read sealed missives that were placed in
contact with his forehead The lads family being
Catholics well known clergyman. who is still resid
ing ia that city, called upon to witness an exhl
bition OF these extraordinary powers. After due
Investigation he became satisfied that some super
human agency must be concerned in the production
of the phenonens. He forbade q repetition OF the
experiments the ground that they might come
within the category of necromancies, which are Tor
der hN ha hpr
In my own practice have met with phenomenal
similar to Miss Fanchers-none of them, how
ever being of such extreme, sensuous nature,
of character where the material being had become
SO entirely subordinate to the spiritual. In wei
marked case OF catalepsy the functions OF the auricu
lar transferred to faments, perineating
the surface Of the gastric region. The sense OF hear
ing seemed to be transferred from the to cer-
tain spot on the abdomen Careful experiments
established the fact
The limits Of newspaper article bar me from
citing numerous and ample Illustrations of this
truth These can be gathered in abundance from the
experience Of any old and observant physician or
from the records Of any ordinary medical library.
have not seen Miss Faucher and would shrink from
intruding on her from subjecting her to imperti
nent investigation coarse experiment, even II she
were willing to submit to such an ordeal. While
being well aware Of the pervarse and irrational
deceptions peculiar to certain forms of hysteria
am well satisfied, from the statements of an
intelligent observer who has watched her closely for
years. that in Miss Fanchsr the immortal Is really
held to the mortal part by most fragile threads. And
can well believe that her mental vision and powers
have become transcendental in the proportion.
She has motive for deception and can have no de-
sire to convince any ono that she is not fraud.
hope that her friends will disregard all such chal
lenges to publicity and let her know that she
has been made the subject of such coarse discussion
Miss Fancher is peacefully and calmly awaiting
death as . release from physical suffering She is
shrunk to q mere shadow, her abdominal organs
being wasted to almost nothngness This last should
make the fact OF her incapacity to consume food IN
ordinary quantities apparent enough without resort
to the cruel trick Of surreptously administering an
emetic to demonstrate it.
What does DIR. Hammond want us to believe? Must
set aside all practical experience, well - the
traditions Of Christianity and every other form Of
ligion known to ancient or modern times? Has not
fasting physical suffering, purity and innocence OF
life, and the entire subjugation extinction Of all
animal appetite, ever in the past enabled mortas to
burst the ordinary bounds OF the in the pur
suit of spiritual other truths? Has such discipline
Of the grave into life beyond? Is there no such
thing intuition, inspiration. revelation. or
communion with spirit world? Have We ever had
any seer prophet, saint, or holy men or.women
who have been exalted above their fellow creatures by
piety. suffering, natural endowment, SO that
they could hear and and know of things unseen,
unheard and unknown to others less morally puri-
fed2 Or must we eschew all such possibilities and
come down to the plane of materialism-to hard.
everyday fact and sensuous knowledge only?
] WAS there once 1t Is husky, barreno Tor
lorn place to stand. even published an essay to
demonstrate that there other place where
could get footing. But thank God escaped.
whelming evidences Of my mistake, and gladly hur-
ried back to the old orthodox doctrines Of the
Apostles creed which teach not only Of the exist
ence and attributes of God, but Of ~the communion
OF saints and Of life everlasting" NH
Brooklyn, N. Y.