St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1884-11-22
Stimulating Death Mt Will.

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 DIR. 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, 11:i3'
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 ease
bears that Colonel Townshend has
suffered from some internal maladv, 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, a Mr.. Shrine, his
apothecary, and by DR.. Cheyne himself
all three despairing of the Colonels
recoverable patient sent one morn
ing for his medical attendants, and
intimated that he had made his will
and set his house in order; s'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 ne pleased,
and yet by an Effort. or somehow. he
could come to Life again. which it
seems" adds the author, The had some
times tried before he had sent for US. :"
On hearing such a recital. the doctors
We're naturally astonished. As men OF
science, their natural scepticism of the
unusual, until proved by experiment to
be likely or true, exhibited itself in DIR.
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. The
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 he "distinct,
though small and hreedy;" whilst ''his
Heart had its usual Beating"
Dr. 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. Bayadrd laid
his hand on his Heart. and Mr.. Shrine
held a clean Looking Glass to his
Mouth. l found his Pulse sink gradu-
| ally. till at last Icould not feel any, by
the most exact and nice touch. DIR.
Barnard could not feel the least motion
in his Henri, 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 .5rm, 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 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 an
Hour. BY Nine O'clock in the Mornin g
in autumn, as we We're going away, we
| observed some Motion about the Body,
and upon Examination found his Paise
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
fled As to all the Particulars of this
Fact, but COMPOUNDED and puzzled. and
not able to term any Rational Scheme
that might account for it." Thus fal
DIR. 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 Clock that Evening
Thus it appears to be proved beyont
doubt that this patient had the power
of composedly and perfectly. stimulating
death at will-tor DIR. Cheyne ex
pressly mentions that Colonel Town
shend had s.for some Time observed
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 we'll ..leaye to the Philosopher
Reader to make what differences he
thinks fit" In addion to all the sign:
and symptoms of sleep, we have added
in Colonel Townshend's case the power
of intensifying the conditions of somno
lence to an extent comparable only te
the extinction of vital action itself
Gentlensan's Magazine.