The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1884-10-18
Stimulating Death at viii.

CELSIUS speaks of priest who could
separate himself from outward exist
ence at will, and lie as one dead. But
the case of Colonel Townshend, related
by Dr. George Cheyne-in his quaint
book entitled 1.-The English Malady;
or, Treatise of Nervous Diseases of
all kinds, as Spleen, Vapors, Lowness
Of Spirits, Hypochondriacal and Hys-
terical Distemper, ETC., London, 1888"
Justly exceeds in interest any other
known case of the kind, not merely for
the abnormal nature of the phenomena,
| but also from the exact account of the
events in question related by accurate
observers trained in the scientific
methods of their day.
DIR. Cheyne's account of this case
bears that Colonel Townshend has
suffered from some internal -malady, of
aseertained and well understood nature,
and that he came in litter from Bris-
tol to Bath in autumn for the purpose
of obtaining medical advice. AttenSed
by Dr. Baynard, Mr.. Shrine, his
apothecarY, and by DIR. Cheyne himself
-all.three despairing of the Colonel,
recoverable patient sent one morn
ing for his medical attendants, and
intimated that he had made his will
and set his house in order; "his Senses"
according to DIR. Cheyne, being "clear,
and his Mind calm. Colonel Town
shend next informed his doctors that he
had sent for them that he might give
them details of ian odd Sensation he
had for some Time observed and felt in
himself which was" continues DIR.
Cheyne, that, composing himself, he
could die or expire when he pleased,
and yet by All Effort, or somehow, he
could come to Life again, which it
seems" adds the author, che had some.
| times tried before he had sent for as"
On hearing such recital. the doctors
were naturally astonished. AS men OF
science, their natural scepticism of the
unusual, until proved by experiment to
| be likely or true, exhibited itself in DR..
Cheyne's declaration that his hearers
| ''could hardly believe the Fact as he re-
lated it, much less give any Account of
it unless adds the narrator, "he
should please to make the Experiment
before us, which we were unwilling he
should do, lest, in his weak condition,
he might carry it too far" The
Colonel, however, insisted on the trial be-
ing made, the preliminary duty of feel
ing his pulse being duly performed,
when it was found to be distinct,
though small and Mreedy;" whilst "his
Heart had it's usual Beating"
DIR. Cheyne may now be allowed to
| relate the sequel in his own words: "He
| composed himself on his Back, and lay
in still posture some time; while
held his right Hand, DIR. Baynard laid
his hand on his Heart, and Mr.. Shrine
held clean Looking-Glass to his
Mouth. found his Pulse sink gradu-
ally, till at last could not feel any, by
| the most exact and nice touch. DR..
| Barnard could not feel the least motion
in his Heart, nor Mr.. Shrine the least
Soil of Breath on the bright Mirror he
held to his Mouth; then each of us by
Turns examined his ArNa, Heart, and
Breath, but could not by the incest
Scrutiny discover the least Symptom
of Life in him. We reasoned long
Time about this odd appearance as we'll
as we could, and all of us Judging it in-
explicable and unaccountable, and find
ing he still continued in that Condition,
we began to conclude that he had in
Iced carried the Experiment too far,
and at last were satisfied he was actu-
ally dead, and were just ready to leave
him. This continued about half an
Hour BY Nine O'Clock in the Morning
in autumn, as we were going away, we
observed some Motion about the Body,
and upon Examination found his Pulse
and the Motion of his Heart gradually
returning; he began to breathe gently
and speak softly; we were all
astonished to the last Degree at this
unexpected Change, and after some
further Conversation with him and
among ourselves went away fully salts
fed as to all the Particulars of this
Fact, but COMPOUNDED ard puzzled, and
not able to form any Rational Scheme
that might account for it." Thus far
DR.. Cheyne. The sequel relates that
after calling for his Attorney and
adding codicil to his will, Colonel
Townshend received the Sacrament,
and calmly and composedly Expired
about five or six o Clock that Evening""
Thus it appears to be proved beyond
doubt that this patient had the power
of com posedly and perfectly Stimulating
death at will-tor DR.. Cheyne ex-
pressly mentions that Colonel Town
olCuQ idd III ooiuC Iiluc OUoCl FCu
and felt in himself the peculiar power
of which he gave his physicians such
satisfactory demonstration. There are
few among ourselves who will not ap-
preciate to the full DR.. Cheyne's con-
Guiding remark, that, having narrated
the Facts deliberately and distinctly.
he may well ''leave to the Philosophical
Reader to make what differences he
thinks fit" In addion to all the signs
and symptoms of sleep, we have added
in Colonel Townshend' case the power
of intensifying the conditions of somno-
lence to an extent comparable only to
the extinction of vital action itself
Gentleman's Magazine.