The Bossier banner., 1884-11-13
Stimulating Death at win.
CELSIUS speaks of a priest who co,

CELSIUS speaks of q 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 "The English Malady;
or, Treatise of Nervous Diseases of
all kinds, as Spleen, Vapors, Lowness
of Spirits, Hypochondriacal and Hys-
| terical Distemper, ETC., London, 1733'
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.
DR.. Cheyne's account OF this case
bears that Colonel Townshend has
suffered from some internal malady, of
ascertained and well understood nature,
and that he came in litter from Bris-
tol to Bath in autumn for the purpose
of obtaining medical advice. Attended
by DR.. Baynard, Mr. Skrine, his
apothecary, and by DR.. Cheyne himself
all three despairing of the ColonePs
recoyery-the patient sent one morn
| ing for his medical attendants, and
intimated that he had made his VIII
and sethis house in order; shis Senses"
| according to DR.. Cheyae, being ''clear,
and his Mind calm" Colonel Town
1 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,n continues DR..
E hn
could die or expire when he pleased,
and yet by an Effort, or somehow, he
could come to Life again, which it
seems" adds the author. ''he 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.
i 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, she
i 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 tbreedy;" whilst Ibis
Heart had its usual Beating
DIR. Cheyne may now be allowed to
relate the sequel in his own words: 'tHe
composed himself on his Back, and lay
in still posture some time; while ]
feld his right Hand, DR.. Baynurd laid
his hand on his Heart, and Mr. SHRINE
held a 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..
Baynard could not feel the least motion
4 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 Sgnptom
of Life in him. We reasoned a long
Time about this odd appearance as well
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.
deed 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 ar
Hour. BY Nine O'Clock in the Morning
in autumn, as we were going away, W.
observed some Motion about the Body
and upon Examination found his PutSt
and the Motion of his Heart gradually
returning; he began TO breathe gently
and speak softly; we were al
astonished to the last Degree at thi
I unexpected Change, and after som,
further Conversation with him ant
among ourselves went away fully salts
: fed as to all the Particulars of thi
Fact but confounded and puzzled, anC
not able to form any Rational Schem,
that might account for it." Thus ia
DR.. Cheyne. The sequel relates tha
, after calling for his Attorney AM
adding codicil to his will, Colone
Townshend received the Sacrament
; and calmly and composedly Expire,
: about five or six o Clock that Evening.
Thus it appears to be proved beyon
! doubt that this patient had the powe
: of composedly and perfectly Stimulating
= death at will-tor Dr. Cheyne eX
!; pressly mentions that Colonel Town
{ shend had ''for some Time observes
and felt in himself the peculiar powe
of which he gave his physicians sue
satisfactory demonstration. There ar
I few among ourselves who will not ap
9 preciate to the full DR.. Cheyne's con
e cluding remark. that, having ''narrate
t the Facts deliberately and distinctly
Q he may well ''leaye to the PhiIosophic
: Reader to make what differences h
q thinks fit" In addion to all the sign
3 and symptoms Of sleep, we have adde
g in Colonel Townshend case the powe
+ of intensifying the conditions of somnc
5 lence to an extent comparable only
Q the extinction of vital action itself
!. GentIensaD's S Magazine.