Abstract of 'Researches on magnetism and on certain allied subjects', including a supposed new imponderable / By Baron von Reichenbach. Translated and abridged from the German by William Gregory.
- Carl Reichenbach
- Date:
- 1846
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Abstract of 'Researches on magnetism and on certain allied subjects', including a supposed new imponderable / By Baron von Reichenbach. Translated and abridged from the German by William Gregory. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![in regard to the action, on a sensitive person, of magnets, of crystals, and of the hand. Nearly two years ago, moreover, I often saw a lad, who, in the mesmeric state, saw flames issuing from the points of my fingers, which I first noticed from seeing him playing with them. In that case, as I had never heard of the phenomenon, suggestion was out of the question.—W. G.] SECTION IV. FURTHER SOURCES OF THE FORCE WHICH RESIDES IN THE MAGNET, IN CRYSTALS, AND IN THE HUMAN HAND. 95. As before, the author resumes the last section. a. Not only do crystals act on healthy and diseased sen¬ sitive persons, but the earth’s magnetism does so likewise. The action of the latter is so powerful, that very sensitive patients can only lie in one position, that with the head to the north and the feet to the south. Every other line is dis¬ agreeable to them, and in many cases, that from west to east is quite intolerable, nay, even dangerous to life. h. All the reactions of magnets, crystals, &c. on such pa¬ tients are essentially altered when any change is made in their direction with respect to the earth’s magnetism. c. Pure iron, when magnetised by contact with a magnet, does not retain any permanent magnetism when separated from the magnet. But it has, notwithstanding, acquired a peculiar power, by which it is capable of producing decided and strong effects on sensitive persons. d. The magnet yields this unknown something, not to iron alone, but to all solid matter without exception, including the living body. e. This something, in all bodies either directly charged with it, or rendered active by its distribution, acts on sensi¬ tive patients exactly as the magnet on crystals, and must therefore be identical with the peculiar agent residing in them. /. In like manner, living persons, especially with their hands and fingers, are capable of acting on sensitive patients and healthy individuals, if sensitive. g. This force, which has been called Animal Magnetism, has the following properties; it is, namely, conductible through other bodies ; it may be communicated to other bodies either by directly charging them or by its dispersion. It soon disappears, but not immediately, from bodies charged](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b30351017_0056.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
