The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-07

Ea[1I which Elijah III"
1FDOl. Dowie made of himself
" during his invasion of
N0AS(9 New York many peo-
PA~ pie are sorely perplex-
-----'--S ed to account for the
fact that Dowieism must be reckoned
one Of the most prominent of twentieth
century cults. History furnishes the
solution of the problem. From time
inmemorial there have been people
eager to embrace the bizarre, willing to
accept doctrines and dogmas, no mat
ter how repugnant they may be to COM
mon sense, provided they be promul-
gated by a man of powerful or at least
unique personality. This applies not
only to religious but to medical Ques-
lions, and when the two elements are
deity intermingled the attraction be-
comes all the greater. At the same
time it must be said that medico-reli-
giOus cults have frequently been pro-
ductive of much good in the way of
casting light upon the relations of mind
and matter. Too often, however, such
cults are carried to extremes, when
they become menaces to society.
OF medical cults pure and simple his
tory furnishes US with striking exam
pies, apart from the sun cures, the
barefoot cures, the back to nature cures
and the light cures of these latter days
Perhaps the most noteworthy instance
of medical cult was that propagated
by Mesmer, whose singular practices
led DR.. Braid to the discovery of hyp-
notism as a therapeutic agency. Mes
mer therefore must be credited with
having founded a cult which was ulti-
ateIv TrOdrofive of good
That as originally practiced mesmer-
ism abounded in extravagances cannot
be gainsaid. Mesmer himself has been
described as one part scientist and
three parts impostor. After having an
nounced his discovery of animal mag
netism he removed to France from
Switzerland, where he was born in 1888,
establishing himself in Paris and losing
no time in turning his discovery to
financial account. Soon his parlors
were thronged with people anxious to
rid themselves of various ills. The
charlatanisn of the man is evident
from his modus operandi. In the mid
die of a large room he set a tub in
which magetized bottles were covered
with water. Through a lid over the
tub curved iron bars protruded to be
grasped by the patients who stood in a
circle about the tub, all the patients
DSluB connected Dy a cora TWISTED
around each individuals waist, in order,
SO Mesmer explained, to permit the
magnetic force to pass through the en-
tire circle. The walls of the room were
covered with mirrors, ostensibly to in
crease the magnetism. Soon the devo-
tees began to experience strange SEN
sations as they stood about the tub
and various hysterical attacks ensued,
while Mesmer, arrayed in gorgeous
robe walked about the room stroking
the patients with an iron staff. There
can be no doubt that some remarkable
cures were effected, but science has es-
tablished the fact that the cures were
due to hypnotism, and not to Mesmer's
tub.
Hypnotism itself has been violently
attacked, but that it has a definite
place in neuropathology is now gener-
ally acknowledged. It's practice is by
no means a product of modern eiviliza-
ton, antedating Dr.. Braid's discov-
cries as it does by centuries. The mar
velous feats of the fakirs of India may
be attributed to hypnotism. According