Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-03-31
e

0CIul6uys OUg GllGIu lCSlNluH Ill L dI1lo, CAC~
ated the widest excitement by his reve-
lations concerning a u~nrecognized force
in nature which he styled animal mag
netism. He delivered lectures, gave
public exhibitions, instructed pupils and
performed cures by mean of this peculiar
power. Among the persons who were
greatly interested in the teachings and
performances of this German doctor were
General Lafayette and Benjamin Frank
lin, the latter at that time Minister to
France. The Mesmer excitement reached
all classes of society. The members of
the medical profession distrusted him,
but the common people thought they
were actuated by jealousy. Mesmer
wished the Government to found a hos
pital in which his method of curing dis
ease should be introduced. He offered
to give the country the benefits Of his al
legged discoveries for a specified sum, but
the authorities declined the terms pro-
posed till after an investigation had
taken place. A committee was appointed
by the French Academy to conduct an
examination, but Mesmer declined to
appear before the members in person.
After a career extending through several
years he returned to Germany and lived
in comparative obscurity.
From that time to the present the SUBJ
ject Of "Mesmerism" has attracted more
or less attention in nearly every country
in the world. DR.. Carpenter and MI.
Braid, of England, devoted special atten-
ton to it, and wrote concerning it in
works that have had a wide circulation.
Many persons who have had no scientific
reputation, but who were gifted with re-
markable mesmeric powers, have lectured
on this subject in all the important towns
Of this country and Great Britain, and
have drawn together large audiences.
| Many persons have been entertained, if
not instructed and benefited. The ability
of these public lecturers or performers to
control the physical and mental powers
of persons subjected to their influence
rarely fails to excite establishment and
surprise. Still the phenomena has not
greatly interested scientific investigators.
The circumstance that most of those who
have "practiced mesmerism" are ignorant
persons, and often accused Of fraud and
deception, has served to cast suspicion on
the whole matter. We know as little
about what is called animal magnetism
as did the persons whom Mesmer ad-
dressed a century ago.
After the lapse of a hundred years, and
in a country then known only to explor-
ers, there is a revival of interest in the
doctrines Of Mesmer. Mr.. w. G. Thistle,
of New Zealand, in a communication to
the Victorian Magazine, published at
Melbourne, points out many uses to
which mesmerism may be applied in
medical and surgical practice. He states
as the result of his own experience and
observation that many persons are able
to render others insensible to pain during
very long periods, and to restore them to
their normal condition at will and with
out injury. He believes that the en-
ployment Of animal magnetism. or what
ever the force may be called, is greatly
preferable to the use Of ether, chloro-
form, or any drug administered as an
anasthetic. He also believes that it can
be employed to excellent advantage as an
aid in producing sleep. For this purpose
he believes it is greatly preferable to
opium or any of its preparations. He
states that animal magnetism may be
made to control the mental and emotion
al as well as the physical feelings, and on
this account he advises it's use in all
cases Of delirium, hysteria and acute
mental disorders. He has great faith in
the value of mesmerism in the control
and general management of the insane.
The author Of the paper referred to
recommends the employment of a skilled
mesmerist in each large hospital, bis SER
vices to be directed by the attending
physicians. He believes that many per-
sons who practice animal magnetism are
able to comprehend the thoughts of those
they operate on. He also believes that
the powers Of the medicine men" among
the Indians and of the (Which doctors"
among the natives of Africa are due to
mesmeric influences. In answer to the
suggestion that skilled mesmerists are
always within call when wanted, he
states that thousands are able to attain
great power and skill, and that they
would attain wonderful proficiency if
their services were in demand. It is by
no means rare, it is said, to find persons
who are able to mesmerize without
teaching them or without making any
visible exertion. Most persons decline to
make public the ability they possess in
exercising the mesmeric power. The
revival of interest in this matter fur
nishes another example of the many ways
in which "history repeats itself" It is
not impossible that a subject which has
been well-nigh forgotten so long may
again prominently engage the attention
OF thoughtful people.-Cicago Times.
"A most remarkable electrical phe-
nomenon manifested itself on the line Of
the Union Pacific Railway recently, be.
tween North Platte and Sidney. The
influence, however, was felt perceptibly
beyond those points. The rails were sur.
charged with a current of electricity,
moving from west to east, to SO high a de.
aroo tlof land IN -. .4a..l:- 4