Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-08-08

Revista Contemporaries. of Madrid for July
For some time past, 1t ID stated mesmerism
has been used In Paris to save froNr, hamilton
those demented ones who refused % take any
nourishment The patients are mSSmerized
and then commanded TO eat Those who would
not nave tcucned food under any other circum-
stances, while In the mesmeric state eat what
ever is given them.
1t Is In Nancy, however that most surprising
results nave Deen obtained. Mr.. Focachon, q
pharmacist IN Chormes-sur-Moselie, after hav-
ing stud1ed In The clinic of DR. Liebault in
Nancy, devoted himself for more than two years
to series Of continuous and methodical ex-
sasa nl,s S various Kinds There is one OF
N. 80 years old, had been Suffering since
the age of 10 from attacks of hysterica epilepsy,
month. Mr.. Focachon succeeded in snhiectine
her TO somnameplism. and, by means of simple
passes, caused the attacks to become less ne
gratitude for her radical cure Elise consented to
subject herself to various experiments in the
~ ere Q. science; fScaGhon devoted himself
with the aid OF mesmerism, the physical condi.
ton of person might be modified and to dis
During the slumber into which Elsie was
thrown, Mr.. Focachon, by the power Of his will.
succeeded In affecting the action Of the heart,
diminishing by six the number Of pusations in
q minute, and auyDlenting them by more than
twenty: DR.. Beaunis, professor of physiology,
niograph in the laboratory OF the medical fac
ulty at Nancy in the presence of Messrs, Lieb-
ault, Liegeois and Rene the last being chief OF
servation was communicated to the Biolog icai
Society last year by Mr. Beannis
But here is what What i truly marvellous The
OF an acute pain In her side, Mr.. FocacRon " de-.
cided to make her imagine that, In order TO
BE- appeS to the 0s
pain u.s." said Focachon; "do not touch it. II
will burn you little and produce blisters, but
As matter Of fact, nothing at all was applied,
and the plaster was fictitious. But, notwith-
standing, on the following day, on the spot
was to be seen thick blister full OF matter,
and the pain had disappeared.
These tacts having been communicated to DIR.
Liebault and other experinlcnters, they mani
tested to Focachon their desire to witness the
same under conditions which would offer the
ready demonstration. Focachon decided to
take his subject to Nancy, where DIR. Liebauit
resided Or; Bcrnheim selected as the place for
shoulder which the patient could not easily
touch with her hands.
Elise was put to sleep at II o'clock in the
affixed securely to her shoulder. This was done
by Mr. Liegeois with the object Of fixing the Ut
idea of a plaster, and to avoid all pretext of
fraud. During the slumber three mesmeric
operations were performed each Of few min
tation prepared for the purpose. On the follow
ing day the paper, which remained intact, was
removed in the presence of various persons in
terested In the experiment. The following
document was drawn up by DR.. Beaunis, pro-
1essor of physiology at Nancy: ION May 10Th,
1888, at IL in the morning, Mr.. Focachon put
Elise N. to sleep in the presence of Messrs.
Beaunis, Bernheim, Liebautt, etc. During the
slumber eight little squares of gummed paper
were affixed to the shoulder, under the pre-
tense that 1t was plaster. Tho paper was sus-
tanned with diachylon and q COMPRESS. Elise
was left i'm this state all the day, being awak-
ened at the time necessary for eating. She was
watched all the time. At night Mr.. Focachon
Impressed her that she was not to awaken until
the next morning. which she did.
ION the following day, at S:15, Mr.. Focachon
Beaunis, Bernhcim, Liebault, Liegeois, ETC. We
noted that the papers had not been disturbed.
On being removed the place presented the toll
lowing aspect rectangular space Of four by
nve centlmetreS was seen with the epidermiS
thickened aud presenting a yellowish white
was no blister; it presented in word, the
aspect and character Of the period Immediately
preceding the blister proper. This region was
surrounded by q zone of intense red, infamed;
1t was centimetre wide. These facts being as
certained, O dry compress was put on the place,
OF the same day it had the same aspect as in the
morning." This document was signed by Prof
BeaunlS, Bernheim, Lfebault, Licgeos. Simon,
Laurent and Brulard. Two days afterward
Focachon announced to Liebault that, on his
return to Charmes, on the same day in which
tO2rapbed, at in the afternoon, on the same
place where it was observed that blister was
forming, five pustules. On the 18th q thick and
milky matter eXuded. This ended the expert
ment. 4 copy Of the photograph was sent to
each OF the experimenters In Nancy.