New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-06
TIE rRlNcE CONDITION IN SURGERY

Some experiments were made recently at
the Office OF physician uptown with view OF testing
the utility the condition for surgical operations
Among those present Professors Thwng OF Brook
lyn Dr. Brdssll, Dr. William c. Jaryis and Dr Mtten-
dorf One OF the subjects was boy from Brooklyn
about sixteen yoars Old. who was thoroughly well
trained and able to take part in very interesting
cxpcrmcnts II he tod to 20 into sound sleep
when certain number counted he would obey. and
when the number reached he would be IN nm unc0n
scious condition. II were raised they would
d-op Ike lead. II sharp instrument was thrust into
his skn be gave sign whatever OF being conscious
and being question afterward had recollection Of
IT, Another subject n younger boy, WITH bright
black eyes and "A pleasant round face lie had never
been thrown into trance condition before. At first he
refused TO be subjected to the influence for fear That ne
" ould suffer injury, but after seeing the expert
ncns made with the other boy, he consented Professor
Thwng who Is very successful as mcsmerist' put MN
In Il oroughy unconscious condition In few seconds
In one experiment she two boys were locked IN each
other. arms and passed into the condition at the
s,r,o word They remained in that position tor some
time until they aroused by the touch and voice OF
tbe luesmcrist. Efforts also made TO mesmerizc
youug woman, but she was not good subject as she
did not reach point beyond drowsiness Her curiosity
as she remarked, prevented her from yielhg herse up
competeyto the experiment
The boy with the black eyes placed IN a chair TO
be operated upon His right nOstrl was entirely closed
by the thickeuing Of the septun, superinduced by
chronic catarrh. lie was mesmerized by Professor
Thwing Dr. JaEyis then ran long sharp needle
through the thickcned membrane OF the septum. Inc
bie,f did not give the slightest movement either vol
untary or involuntary he said aferWard that he dld
not know that the needle had been introduced loop
Of thin wire was then inserted the nostril and drawn
around the base and point OF the needle and made to
cut through membrane by the gradual reduction OF
the circumference or the loop As the membrane Oh he
highly sensitive, THIS Is uuUoT llb uSu
lions an extremely painful operation. The great PAIN
prpduced BY the tension on the wire hrOuseu the sun
talked and acted very much as II ne had Deeh uder te
influence of ether. when the pieces OF membrane
craaped by the Loop had been entirely cut on, the boy
Was brOugh ont of the trance condition. - ~
Experiments in mindreadlng were also maae oy ~
Brsal and others some VINO haa never t peio 1re
tempted muscereadng; met Win "a renaI =. 80
of success Dr. Blrdsall mado an expefnent lnat Nas
rnrds IN mi, hand with their turned toward per-
son in front OF him, who was asked to select IN ms
mind a card from the group and IN each ease no VIZ
able TO pick ont the one chosen lIs VIZ" i
succcssfIlly performed by others Inc t1pianhtion 10
simple. Inc success Of the experiment depends on
getting the direction OF the eyes az VIC instant Ino
lee, ION Ia made there being MT that instant peculiar
muscular movement OF the eyes ,, -, =. ,...
Further experiments were made WIN Wow 10 uctcr
mine whether the object selected by one or more persons
could be found by person in partial trance stHte,
without muscular contact All OF these resulted III ia
ure Similar experiments OF thls mature were luauo
few days ago in Brooklyn at when tne dtpOrtoI "; was
present. They were ON that occasion success u III
number Of instances Several objects OF msce aneous
chnracter placed side by side upon table dne
subject was told to select the Ot9ecI CHOSEN N
hs CIV Is mad been blinded by mesmersn lie succeeuea
i'm selecting the right OBJECT more often imam he Iieu
bu the cN perments were not numerous enough or va
RED enough ina their character, to be scientific lie also
succeeded In three Instances IN nnuns OiJsvs
that had been selected IN remote parts Oh the ioo'
theory of one the persons engaged IN conducting Tue
experiments tna subtle influence was eIerted oy
the mind of the operator upon tnat OF lhe suDJeo,
more tennbc theory that the subject Is able 10 ueter
mine the right location by movement on the part OF
the operator, whose attention Il cIOey HAeu uPOh 'N0
obi or aerial ustufOducc'