Mysteries of the vital element in connexion with dreams, somnambulism, trance, vital photography, faith and will, anaesthesia, nervous congestion and creative function : modern spiritualism explained / by Robert H. Collyer.

  • Collyer, Robert H.
Date:
1871
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Mysteries of the vital element in connexion with dreams, somnambulism, trance, vital photography, faith and will, anaesthesia, nervous congestion and creative function : modern spiritualism explained / by Robert H. Collyer. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    #' ject. [He subsequently declined a request of the committee to submit himself again to experiment.] The father of young Mr. Beals, a respectable merchant in this city, is present, and says he has not before seen his son so quiet for seven years, as he has been since operated upon by Dr. C. The committee adjourned to half-past ten a.m. to-morrow. Tuesday, June 29th. The committee met pursuant to adjournment. Voted, to choose a sub- committee of five to examine the subject before and after being put into the so-called magnetic state. And Drs. Storer, Lewis, Morrell, J. H. Lane, and J. W. James, Esq., were chosen accordingly. The boy Frederick was examined by the sub-committee, who found nothing remarkable. Dr. C. commenced at twenty-two minutes before twelve, the boy declaring under the process, that he would not be put to sleep by Dr. C, because he had magnetized Mr. Beals. In about seven minutes there are strong twitchings of the muscles over the whole body, similar in appearance to those of the lad with chorea, who is present, and affirms that he has not felt any twitchings since Dr. C. began this time to magnetize Frederick, but prior to this had felt them, though com- paratively slight since being magnetized by Dr. C. This present cessation of his tetanus was thought worth noting, though the magnetizing of Frederick, or his having the convulsions at this time, might have nothing to do with it. The Rev. Mr. Turnbull explained it by saying that the present quiet of Mr. Beal's muscles might be produced by his close attention to the prseent opera- tion on Frederick ; and the Rev. Mr. T. asked Mr. B. if he felt calm when listening to his pastor (the Rev. Mr. Stowe) and being much interested? He replied that he was more excited. The sub-committee was requested to give an opinion in regard to the muscular twitchings of Frederick, which had con- tinued a long time. Dr. Storer stated his opinion that they might be feigned ; asked to say whether he thought they were feigned, he says—I should choose not to be driven to an answer, but if you insist, I give it as my opinion that they are feigned. Dr. Morrell expressed his concurrence. Dr. Lane was not prepared to give an opinion. Mr. James doubted if they could be feigned. [Dr. Lewis out.] Dr. C. offered to have the boy left in that position (appa- rently an uncomfortable one), with gentlemen to watch him by turns for two, three, or four days, to see whether this state was feigned. Mr. Stone, Student of Medicine from Salem, was introduced to the com- mittee by Dr. Storer, who vouched for his good character, and that there could be no collusion between him and Dr. C, and added, If he shall say Dr. 0. puts him to sleep, I will believe it. Dr. C. made a trial. The only effect produced (at this time) was a heaviness of the arms, as if from great fatigue, and a strong contraction of the little finger, which he tried to overcome but said be could not. Dr. C. had said to some members that Frederick was now in an unusually . fine state for clairvoyance, when John C. Park, Esq., whom Dr. C. had declared to have the requisite continuity of thought, was put in communication i2