Animal Magnetism

Though we In ve said but iiule on this subject in oor columns, we have nevertheless been attentive observers of what lns been passing around us. Unless we reject as positivo evidence as we Jmve lo sustaui our potiüon on most other opininns that wc entertain, we must believe there is some trutli iñ this much dcriclcd doctrine We are not convinced, bowevor,with regard tothe clairvoyancemd sone olher assumptions of theïmngnetu-ers. The 3omn:imbulastic state by seme inexplicoblc ngency, can, without doubt, be produccd. - Tho subject is discussing in the London papers. A London correspondent of the Journal of Commcrce gives the following condensed account of a case. James Wombell, 42, a loboring man, liad snffered abont five years vh a pamftil nfibetion of the Jeft knee jnint. He wns admitted tothe hospital at VVellow, in JNotingTwmshiro, and it was decided that nmpiualion sliouid take place above tlie kneo joint, nnd il was accordingly oone while the patiënt was under the inflnenceofa mosmerie sleep! Ou the first ofOctober this wonderftil operation was thus peiformed, as pi ven in the wordsot trie niesmenzer, one Mr. v. J opham, a huvyer of the M iridio Temple, London: "I gaiii mesmorized him in four mmules. In a quarter of a hour I told Mr. W. Sqnire j Wood, (ihe operator,) that be might comj menee. I then brought two fingers of each h;tnd gently in contact witii Wombell's closcd eyelids, and ihere kept them slill fnrther i to deepen ihe sleep. Mr. Wood aft er one enrneft look at llie man, elowly plunged bis knife into the center of the onter side of the Lhigh, directly 10 the boue, the made a clear 'incisión round the bone totbe opposite point, on the outside ofthe thigb. Tlie stillness at this moment was awfui. The j calm prespiration of the sleeping man alone was heard, for all others seemed sus pended. In mnking the second incisión the position of ihe leg1 was found f o be more inconvenient iban it hudnppeaied, and the operator could not proceed with bis former lacility.Soon after the sasond incisión, a monningf was heard from the putient, which conuoued, at intervals, until tlie conclusión. It gave me Ilie idea'of a froublcd dream - for his s'eep continucd as profouud as ever. The placid look of his countenance never changed for an instant; his whole frame rested, uncontrolled in perfest etjllness and repose; not a muscie or nerve was seen to twitch. - To the end of the operation, including the saw'mg of the bone, sccurinor the arteriep, aud applying the bandages, occupying a penud of more tlinn twejjty minute?, he lay like a statue. With strongr sal volalile and water, he ginduaily nnd calmly awok?, and when asked to desciibe what he had feit, thiis replied; '1 never knew any thingr niore, (after his beine mesmeriscd,) and nnver feit any pain at all; 1 once feit as if'I heard a kind of crounching-.' He was aslied if t.'iat was painful; he replied: 'No pain at al!. I nevrr had any; and knewnothing, uil l was awnkened by thal stiongf sluff.' Tho fcrouncbing' was the sawing of liis nwn tliiffh bone. The first dressing was perforrned in mesmeric eicep, with similar succesp, and absence of uil pain. Tlris case is eo important that I hnve condenscd its priii cipnl features, nnd wlien Iconsider the gravity wiih whicli t lie opeartion was snrrounded, the numbers wlio were present, ihe unquestionable rank and respectabiiity of the profes siona] gentlemen, and tlie utter ubsence of al! affectation, I must candidly admit that skepiicism is sfaggord, and that we are no longer i a position to deride or despise influences so extraordir;ary, important and prac tical.CCTlie Marshall Statesman contends lhat bolding slaves is not a valid objectioii against any candidnte for the Presidenoy. Tlio editor thinks that fact should make no difibrcnce in the votes of Northern freewcn. He had "better go to the South.'