Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-12-29
SIMPSONS CURES.
"a Periodic Manifestation Of Peculiar
Phenomenon OF Human Nature'-
Testimony Of Those
Who Believe They Have Been Cured by
Path and Prayer--What Eminent
Physicians Say About Ii.

New YORK, December 25.-The IFibun
says of The recent articles in that papel
describing the faith work of the congrega
ton of the Rev. Albert Simpson, which hold
its meetings in the Grand Operahouse a
Eighth avenue and Twenty-third street
| Testimony was given of a number of thost
who claimed to have been cured of long
standing complaints by the aneintment O.
| oil and by prayer. The subject has giveI
| rise 10 a considerable discussion in religion:
| and other circles. As TO the genuine char
acter of such cures from a medical stand
point, the opinion OF several Bell-knowI
physicians of the city have been obtained
Their position ia tolerant, while at the same
time positive. Cures of this kind are moi
regarded by them as essentially new, but as
q sort of periodic m manifestation OF peculiar
phenomenon of human nature. The dis
eases 80 cured are placed under the general
classification of hysteria, or nervous derange'
ment, producing complaints whose symptoms
take the form of various diseases. There is
no record, they say, OF an organic complaint
ever having been cured through prayer or
by an ointment.
DIR. W. A. HAMMOND,
who has given much attention tofthese cures,
WAS seen nj his home IN Wea1 Fifty-fearth
street He has published a nnnahAr of ..rti
cles en- miracles and faith cures, the last OF
WHICH, in the international RsrieU, has been
transla fed into Spanish and Italian. Faith
cures of all kinds, he said, "are in direct
proportion 10 the Ignorance and consequent
credulity of the people; but the number Of
these miracles is decreasing as our knowledge
of natural laws is increased" He had read
the recent article in the Tribune, describing
the faith work Of Mr.. Simpson, with much
interest Il was, he said, a manifestation CT
the same kind as other alleged cures, con-
tanning, when sifted down, nothing especially
remarkable. A faith cure could be effected
by any man, whether a thoroughgoing
scoundrel or the mos: religious man who
had ever lived. The faith did not consist in,
nor was it necessarily, belief in, super
natural power. 1t was simply confidence
in the person or the means OF ehecting
the result. He related a recent incident
OF a lady, devout Roman Catholic, who
applied to him for some Lourdes water, by
which SO many miracles have been said to
have been performed of late years, and which
she knew him to have. She was suffering
from a contraction of the muscles of the
neck, so that her head was twisted to one
ride and she could not move it, but che was
confident that the Lourdes water would cure
her. He gave her some of the water In a
vial labeled "Aqua Crotones," saying 1t was
Just as good as the Lourdes; but she returned
several days after no better from its applica-
ton. He then gave her some Croton water
labeled "Lourdes, Feast of the Annuuciation."
In few hours she came back rejoicing and
thoroughly cured by the application OF what
she believed to be Lourdes water.
"How do you account fer the fact, doctor,
that the cures of Mr.. Simpson embrace so
wide variety of dseases?" asked the re-
porter.
at is easy TO understand. A non profess
sional man cannot recognize all diseases and
assign them their proper names. Even the
best physicians are frequently deceived.
Hysteris, found in women 30 often, arising
from the troubles they are most subject to,
stimulates all diseases, such as paralysis,
stomach troubles ague, aud even cane and
But consumption often passes
away of itself, as We now know. A con-
will experience relief at every
change of treatment; very few persons can
tell when they have cancer; ague has been
shown controllable by the will; and scores of
limbs have been smpntated by ill-informed
surgeons that might have been restored
through a proper treatment for hysterla,
which is no more than a nervous derauge-
ment of the system. There is a Catholic
priest now over in jersey City who cures
paralysis, or claims to cure it, by laying on
hands,"
"Has not magnetism something to do with
these cures"
"No; it is simply such confidence as in
former years led to the preparation of the
most nauseous mixtures, such as cobwebs
and yermin, to effect snch cures; liquors
drank from human skulls, etc.; and the be-
levers in these cares quite as often apply to
the devil as to the Virgin Mary or higher
power. 1t may be Just as well in many
cases, if the means can cure any body or Ell
feet any relief from pain, that they should
do it; but the more people become acquaint-
ed with these things the less effective will be
such means and the less frequent will such
miracles become. If they were genuine it
would be as easy to effect a cure that would
Danish all doubt. A man has six fingers
many men and women are 80 deformed-let
he euperhuous finger be removed by faith,
prayer and anointment, and no physician
would then doubt further"
DR. ALLEN M'LANE HAMILTON,
If As East Thirly.third street, has treated
his subject quite thoroughly in a recent
work on the causes of nervous and brain |
roubles. He stated to the reporter that the |
lrticle giving an account of Mr.. Simpsons |
york he hsd read carefully, as it was in the |
inc of his study. There was nothing novel |
n Mr.. Simpsons achievements, as such |
ures had been practiced with more or less
esult since the days Of Buddha. Fifteen
n twenty years ago one Newton produced
e03atlO1 IN new lOTk anu through the
oun'ry by his miraculous cures, they
7ere' called. He would call on the lame
nd the blind TO stand forth, and then in the
that he made was able TO pro-
uce such emotion among them as was able
0 influence those cases of hysteria among
be number before him.
81 do not doubt that many, if not all, of
be instances of Mr.. Simpsons cures are
enuins so far as he knows and believes.
here is something akin TO what is popularity
nown as magnetism in the results, though
do not believe in human magnetism or will
nfuence. l have given considerable study
D it, and my conclusions are that magnet
SUI, so called, is form of neryousness-a
esult of it. L have been able to put myself
srtly in that state, or sort of dual condi.
ion, SO that l can understand how certain
atients may be affected. Every physician
as scores CT such patients; and he or any
ody else, when able 10 produce on another
nat 'expec.ant attention., may produce
1ese curious resslts. Now, there are cases
nervous blindness that may be Temporal
ly or fully restored by the influence ex-
rted on the patient through this expectant
ttention. But it ia as likely to be done by
ppealing 10 the devil as by anointment or
rayer. 1t is part of physician's training
enable him to sympsthize and create con-
dence in this class of patients, who usually
D from one physician to another, and, fail /:
10 TO aHa that auofiou fall