Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1889-05-11

infant of their surroundings only by
having their attention explicitly called
to them by the operator. Even then
thew generally see imaginary objects
only. Their eyes are open and their
SIGHT appears to an oculist entirely
normal, but there is no coordination
of the faculties. If I introduce "a gem
tleman," they treat him as such; If l
int>oduce him as "a young person,
thew wonder whether he is boy or q
girl. and are liable to address hSm as
either.
Mesmerism is as perfect an ANA sthetic
as ether, and as harmless as water.
ANY mesmerized person can at once,
by single stroke of the hand, be rem
dered totally insensible to pain, and can
have tooth drawn, q cataract remoy-
ed, q cancer cut out or an arm cut eft
without feeling the slightest pain.
This has been so often demonstrated
that amputations frequently take place
under its influence in the Paris
hospitals, and it is successfully en-
ployed in obstetrics.
Il is quite erroneous to suppose that
the conduct of the responsive is dnect-
ed in detail by the operator. He OILY
suggests the general line of thought,
and each responsive pursues it accord
ing to his own knowledge, experience
or prejudices. say to my responsives,
for instance, that I have wonderfully
educated COW with seven heads. They
ell want to see it. I call their atten-
ton to the imaginary stable door near
by; they look toward it, and when I
snap my fingers they all see seven
headed COW enter. Now, by question
ing them, it becomes obvious that they
oil see different COW. Unless have
designated her color, one sees a white
COW, another a red COW, and so on.
Then I tell them that she can dance
can waltz and can keep time with
music. I hand one cane, telling him
it is flute and that he is an eminent
performer, and he goes through the
motions of playing to the dancing COW.
They all hear different tunes. but the
exhibition is satisfactory. now add
that the cow can sing sing diff
ferent part with each mouth-can sing
seven ballads at once. At this point
there is perhaps some incredulity e1-
pressed. They see the COW stand upon
her hind legs and hear the seven bal
lads-and this, I may as well add, is
the narrative of an actual experiment.
Five of the six mesmerized persons
believed that she sang. she is sing
ing Tit Willow" said one. "And a
Warrior Bold" said another.
81 hear singing" said the incredulous
one, turning to me. "'Annie Laurie,
isn't it? How do you work her-the
machinery, mean?"
The others laughed at him. "Why,
the COW sings" said young lady.
@Can't you hear her sing? Can't you
see her sing?"
As rule the responsives can be COM
pletely dominated and made to do any
thing of which they are physically
capable. They could generally be in
duced to take poison, or jump off the
house, or throw themselves under a
locomotive, or attack one another with
deadly weapons; but there are some
exceptions. I was unable to overcome
the fear of enc of my responsives, whom
I sent to assault an imaginary Indian
in the park. He refused to go, and
said it was difficult to kill an Indian"
A young lady, one of the brightest
sensitives have ever seen, steadfastly
refuses to play cards. I tell her she is
Buffalo Bill, and easily induce her to
assume his character, but when cards
are suggested. mo, never play cards.
It is wrongT she says, and I cannot
move her. I could make her jump out
fhronoh tho window or mt her hands
in the fire, but play cards she will not.
I was puzzled by it till, inquiring, I
ascertained that her religious parents
had brought Ter up very strictly and
taught her it was wicked to play