The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1891-01-24
ORIGIN OF MESMERiSM.
From a. Lecture by j. ii. Kellogg, NJ. ID.
of the Battle Greek SanItarium.

Mesmerism originated in Paris with
a qlack doctor named Mesmer. He
gave out word he had discovered that
the magnet possessed a great healing
influence and many peoyle came to him
to be treated. He had his patients sit
around tub in which he had placed a
large magnet. Taking hold of hands
they declared that they could feel a
magnetic current circllng about. So
much was said about the remarkable
cures wrought in this way that at length
the French Academy Of Arts appointed
an investigating committees, the chair
man of which was BENZ ,min Franklin.
After watchings proceedings tor some
days, the committee invited Mesmer
and his patients to leave the room. A
piece of wood of the same shape and
painted black like the magnet, was sub
stituted for the magnet and then the
| patients were recalled. The influence
of the magnet of wood proved just as
potent as the real one had done. When
the fraud was exposed, Mesmer was
equal to the occasion and declared that
| this demonstrated what he had sus-
pected for somt time, viz: that the
real healing influence was a-subtle some
thing within himself and which he was
able to impart to others. The result
was that he had a greater practice than
ever before and people were cured by
his magnetism" Just as they had been
by use OF the magnet.
These cures were simply due to the
effects OF imagination, but people are
not cured of tangible diseases In this
way. They are never supplied with
lost eyes or missing fingers. They are
not cured OF consumption or cancer or
heart trouble. They are cured of a
variety Of nervous diseases, hypochron-
drla, nysterIa and that class of maladies
which are under the control of the
mind. made a proposition a few
years ago that | would pay thousand
dollars to any magnetic healer who
would come here and perform any cure
in which there was tissue Change
case, for instance, of Brights disease,
or consumption, or heart disease. The
Offer has never been accepted, but it is
good yet. The fact is, those cases OF
alleged cure will not bear scientific
investigation any more than will the
scandals and rumors which are circula-
ting around neighborhood. Magnetic
healers merely practice upon the credu-
lity of people, and this is more possible
from the fact that the general public is
more ignorant upon medical subjects
than upon others.
once asked Prof. Carpenter, ira
Yelling mesmerst who is quite we'll
known, if he could mesmerize subject
without appearing to his mind through
his senses, and he replied:
Oh, no pull the ideas into his mind
through lis ears and through his eyes.
A person who was blind. deaf and
who had no sense Of taste, touch or
smell. could not be mesmerized. The
subject has to be reached through the
avenue of some of his special senses and
all the operator does is to supply the
conditions. Tne hypnotic subject is in
state of equilibrium ; he has laid down
his will and breath will blow him in
any direction. The influence is sub
jective, the person mesmerizes himself
If he IS mesmerized at all. A French
physician has invented hypnotic ap-
paratus by which a person is made to sit
down, raise the eyes and keep them
fixed on brass ball. He can then 60
about his business and in the course of
twenty minutes or so come back and
find his patient hypnotized. However.
only small proportion of people can
be influenced in this way, only few
may be regarded as real hypnotic sub
jects at all.
We speak sometimes of the magnet
Ism of public speaker, but that is an
influence which comes TO US through our
senses. Would person who was blind
and deaf respond in any way to the
magnetic speakers2-Helen L. Man.
nin9