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Miscellany: Surgical Operation In The Magnetic Sleep

Miscellany: Surgical Operation In The Magnetic Sleep image
Parent Issue
Day
10
Month
October
Year
1842
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

I have curcd many simply by meausr of Mesmerism, of the the head ache, burns, bruises, inflammation, &c, fcc. But the best case I have ever met with, I fourid in Millford. I visited this place profeesionally, the first of March, 1842, and while engaged in making Phrenological efcafimations in the fatnily of Mr. Dexlef Walker, I was told that the young lady just examined, (a Miss LelandJ was froubled at tiniés '.vith a vèry severe pain in her head, ïvhich singularly affecteü her visión, she being enabled to sec things distinctly m the dark - that 6he was a natural sleep wolker- had been known ttf start from her bed, walk the room, go all about the house, and had frcquenlly walked miles in the street bare footed in a state of imconsciousness, until her arrivol at the place slarted for. At another time she went to another town, distant nine or ten miles, in her urght clothes, and on!y returned to consciousness upon reaching the door step of the house she intended visiiing. I told Mrs. Walker that I should not be stirprised if I was enabled to cure hef I magnetizcd her seven times; the tbifel time she slept nineteen houfs, ond thé same lengt h of time upon the sixth. I found her a perfect Somnambulist, end the best clairvoyant I ever iflwj she would state correctly what was going im in the neighborhood, would teil with perfect accuiacy whose hair was handed to her &, what was the matter with them when 1 was entiréïy ignorftnt of the individuáis and of the nattfre of their complaints. With regard to the inÖüênee Magnetism haa had upon this lady,-! would state that her bealth has been betler for Beveral mOnths,thafl It ha& been for several years previous. She has been visiied by but onë of her frequent turns of eleep-walking üt!d that was brought on by severe labor on a warm öftyj since bet being magnetisedr Hér bloöd was full óf humors, and íhey have now beèil driven to the surface, and are leaving through Ihree runniug sres upon her head. Thereisnodoubtin my mind, but that the might be perfefctly cured by means of Magnetism, but unfortunately, the physciarts abtíut her, most of thefn, know Iiothiftg and believe nöthing in the science. One interesting fact in relation to her I will relate: She was much addicted to taking snuff, and wished td break herself of it but could not: when in the Macnetic sleep I put her mmd againut; she has not taken a pinch since (three months) and cannot bè urged to do it, I mode somo inouiriesofherconcerning the poles of the organe, and as far as I went the resült rifietí the experimente we tned with "Blind Marv." She ia the best subject I have ever seen. " My ïast experiment, and decidedly the most important, was produced by magnetfsin'g Mrs. A. Mann, the wife of George B. Mann, Post Mastèf of this village. She is naturally extretnely nervoue, so much so os to amount to á disease, nd very sensitive. The other day a letter wás bro't in; she receiv'd an impression that it coiltatn'd unfavorablenews.and wentinto violent spasms, and it wae several hoursbefoiö ibe teöovered from it et&ctB Ie vefysusceptible to the influence of Magnetism. Have put her to sleep by putting cotton in her ears, and any thing passed from my hands to her will be clenched so nervously as to defy all ottempts at taking it away from her. She was much affècted by severe head and toothache, but since being magnelised, she has not been troiibled with either, and as8he infornied me last week, was never previously so well in her life. She complained, however, of her appëtite having alvvays been very poor. I tnagnetised the organ of Ahmentiveness, and she munife.sted excessive hunger, eating with violence at every meal, finaliy bringing on sickness. Speaking of exciting the organs, I will give one of the most convincing facts that j have witnessed, demonstrating that particular and distinct portions of the brain are magnetised and capable of action without referance td theothcr At one time I ask'd her if she would like to be put in communication with her huiband? She answeied yes! - if I would remain. I told her I thoiight she was selfish. Her husband soon went out, and I observed her cryiug, and nrtanifesting muCh distress; - J asked her what was the matter? She replied, "my head, my hoad!" 1 asked her where? - She replied, at the back part in the crown - I asked her the cause - she said Í had told her she was selfish. I then put my finger on the organ of approbliveness, and asked her if that was the part afletíted-she said yes - I then reversed thé state of the organ, and excitt-d selfesteem- site then said she did not care what Í ör any one else said about her. She imformed me she had a tumour upon her shoulder, that she would like to hive tuken out. I told it could bedone, probably without her knowing ör feëling it; she consented to have it done, and Tuesday of last week was appointed for the operation. ï carne accord ing to the appoihtrtient, and put her into the magnetic condiMon al half past 9 o'Clock A. M. She was under the impression that she would be awoke nnd put to sleep a second time before any attempt wppld bè made at extracting the turaour. Dr. Fisíífí carne at 10 - commenced the operation at aböut il, and clesöd at half past 12 P. M. There were present, Di. Piske, Mr. G. B. Mann, i'her husband,) Miss M. B. Cleavland and myself. From the first incisión until the operation was two-thirds completed, 6he experienced no pain whatever, but chatted and laughed ns though she were perfectly at ease. At this time it became necesoary for some one to assist the Dr., and quitting1 her I directed my attention towardsaiding hitn- not being supportëd, She hegan to expenentie somc pain, and wished the Dr. to stop. Öhë became more and mdrë distreseed, and wishcd me to send him away, letting lier rest awhile, ahd then it could be finished without hurting rier - she grew moro and inore urgent, nnd said she could not siatid il, and that the Dr. viust slop. I asked her at this ointifshe were asleep: she eaul yes. He stoppcd severa] times a minute or two, ivhich jrolonged the operation; but he was afraid to et it remain unfinished, thus conlinued tö opérate contrary to her reque6ts. At lerigth it was compíeted and bandaged. I then put her nto r more quiet sleep untll half past four, at which time I aroused her. When she o)ened her eyes she was much amazed at the jlight she found herself in- dress dlsétrrang;d, arm uncovered, &c - for o minute she was aughing and crying at the same time. I asked whut was the matter - she replied, her Iress, how carne it so disnrranged, and her ïer arm, how came that bare? I nsked her if he did not know the cause? She said noj hen heaitated, and asked the quest;oi if the umour was removed; I askèd her if she did not know whether it was removed or not. - 'Is it?'1 nquired she with great earnestness. then informed her - -'Oh! ' excluimed she. vith joyful surprise, "how glad Í om-=- why, Í !iought I was to be put to sleep a eecond time 0 have it taken out." She then looked at the wound, and said, she knew nothing about it, had no knowledge of the operation or of any painj eii'e could hardly be made to bdieve it. Her arm had been retained in the' mesmeriC condition whên she was taken" out, and she did not fee! any soreness or pain in her arrfl. Put her to sleep at half-past 8, and awoke hèY at 2' in the morning; slie has been in the magnetic sleep half the" time since, and up to Friday last heard from her, being four days after the performance of the operation, she had not ex perienced the slightest pain. The Dr. describes the tumour as follows: "It is an adipose tumour, 4 inches and 5 t-Öin lenglh, and five inches in breadth, at (he lower half gradually beconrïing thinnci at the edge, diffusing itself under tfie integuments and ccllular substanee over a large surface. The attachments to the skin and muscles being very strong, and the surface of the tumour being irregular and badly defined, renderod the operation protföcted, and woöld in ordifiary Cases be extreinêly painful." The Dr. adds,' thereis not in the whole circle of his acquaintanCe, anotbcr person that is so nervious and so bad a subject for an operation .and that under ordinary circumstances, bc would not attcmpt any important operatton upon hei for $1000. ï have certificates froffl thé í)r., from Mr. Mann and Mrs. Mann, witnessing tho trulb of the above interesting fact. Very respectfully, L. N. FOWLEÏl. J"eto Bedford, (Mnss ) Aug. 8, 1842. 'The above statement in relation to Mr. Fowler's magnetising my wife, ifs efiectsand results, I om preoared to testify are perfectly correct. ÖËORÖE B. MANN. ï am fully prepafed to attest th truth of the aböve statements of Mr. fówler as far as I have been sensible of the circumstances. Aftèr I was mágnetised laet spring) my health was for a long time, better altnost than it ever was beforéj and in regHfá to thë operation which has been perforifiëd, all I can say conserning it id, that I had a tumour ifï my arm, and ï have riohe now, but Ilow It dlsappeared 1 cannot sny as I have ñot thë slightest recollection of ii3 removal; nnd as to Qtiy trouble frotn my arm since, I think thé fafct of my writing thïs certifícate the third day after the operalion; without any difiïculty, is sufficient proof th'at it is doing welf, and thus far have not had the slightest and if necessary would be perfectly willing to go through the operation again. We were present whert Mr. Fowler waikëdup Mr?. Mann, and can testify thut hia statement is correct. Miss M. B, CL RA VEL AND, ELI2ABETH S. LOVELL, HARRIËTM.MANN. I waa present and assisted during the whole ofthe operation until she waked up in the afternoon, and kuow ihat what Mr. Fowler has said in relation to it, is correct. M. B. CLEAVELAND. I was present and performed the operation npon the right arm of Mrs. Mann, on Tuesday last. Aiig, 2, whilat as Mr. F. states, she was under the influence of mapnetism, and believe, accordmg to the best of my memory, that his statement Is correct, although I ani not au yet fully prepared to ndmit Magnetism to be a science,or beüeve in mafty of the details which lts advocates ascribe to it.

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