A few notes on mesmeric phenomena : [shewing their coincidence and harmony with the important discoveries which are developed in the theological works of Emanuel Swedenborg, addressed more particularly to the readers of the Intellectual Repository] / By Aleph [i.e. W. Harvey].

  • Harvey, William, 1796-1873
Date:
[1845?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A few notes on mesmeric phenomena : [shewing their coincidence and harmony with the important discoveries which are developed in the theological works of Emanuel Swedenborg, addressed more particularly to the readers of the Intellectual Repository] / By Aleph [i.e. W. Harvey]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    sary to discuss; for tlie written proofs and attestations, to an innumera- able amount, among whom were fomid many physicians and men of the most enlightened minds, at first incredulous, but afterwards convinced by ocular and demonstrative proofs; repeated and confimied in different places and countries, and upon a vast variety of subjects, and affording opportunities for the correction of errors and mistakes of the imskilful and inexperienced practitioners, were critically examined and carefully printed. In the year 1784, two thousand cases of somnambulism were then critically examined and reported, and open to the inspection of all who were desirous to examine them.* The particular theory is doubtful; it is still open to inquiry and dis¬ cussion ; but its action and influence cannot honestly be questioned or shaken. The greater number of somnambulists perceive a luminous and brilliant fluid streammg from their magnetiser, proceeding with greater force from the head and the hands. They acknoAvledge that man has the power to accumulate this fluid at pleasure, and of giving to it a de¬ terminate direction. It has been perceived by several, not only during this state, but even for some minutes after they awoke ; it appeared also odorous and fragrant to them, and communicating a peculiar flavour to water and to alimentary substances. There are some individuals who have been magnetised and not somnambulists, who have felt and ac¬ knowledged a like perception. The conclusion then, is, that tlie only method to obtain positive conviction is to resolve the proof by private experiments, coolly and calmly, with ingenuousness and careful vigilance. Somnambulists are more or less clairvoyant—and more or less (6) per- * Deleuze, chap. 8. (6) “ We are indebted to the Marquis de Puyseger for all our knowledge of som¬ nambulism. Plaving accidentally addressed himself to a patient, whom he had cast into an apparent sleep, the latter informed him of his actual state, and of the possibility of producing a similar state in other patients. From that time somnambulism was observed with particular attention by all magnetisers ; and the astonishment excited by this phenomenon redoubled their zeal and activity. I do not mean to say that magnetism would have produced less salutary effects had it been simply practised without any suspicion even of such a state as somnambulism. I would onlj observe, that its discovery has enlightened us respecting the theory of magnetism, and that it has furnished incontestable proofs of a truth which otherwise might have been long doubted.”—Deleuze, vol. 1, page 17. “ It may not be easy to find a method of explaining all the phenomena of this state; but, admitting their existence, it is manifest that they are purely physical, resulting from, the operation of hrain upon brain, when placed within the sphere of a certain re¬ lation to each other ; phenomena, for example, somewhat analogous to the develop¬ ment of electricity by the friction of a stick of sealing wax ; or of the galvanic curve, by the luiion of two metallic bodies under given circumstances.” “ It is not pretended that a powerful impression upon the mind will not greatly aid the effect, because this latter agent produces that physical susceptibility of the brain