Letter to Doctor A. Brigham, on animal magnetism: being an account of a remarkable interview between the author and Miss Loraina Brackett while in a state of somnambulism / By William L. Stone.

  • William Leete Stone, Sr.
Date:
1837
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Letter to Doctor A. Brigham, on animal magnetism: being an account of a remarkable interview between the author and Miss Loraina Brackett while in a state of somnambulism / By William L. Stone. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    73/88 page 67
    tion with either or any of the party present at the examination. In regard to the Ecce Homo of Guido, and the portrait of Brant, and also of the cat, I was particularly careful that not a soul should know of their existence, but myself, until the somnambulist de¬ scribed them. A few words more : Since this second edition was put to press, I have been present at two private exhibitions of somnambulism by Mrs. Andros, from Providence. One of them was on Friday night last. It was at about nine o’clock in the evening, that a clerical friend called at my residence, in behalf of another friend, who is a physician, and who has been in great distress for many months past, by a grievous nervous affection. His object was, to ascer¬ tain whether there be any virtue in animal magnetism, as assert¬ ed by its professors, for a disease like his. I called immediately with the gentleman who came with the message, upon Mr. and Mrs. Andros. The latter was thrown into apparent sleep, where¬ upon I requested her to visit my sick friend, and describe his case—telling her that neither of us knew the number of the house. Mr. Andros here remarked that that would make no difference. And it was even so. She went in imagination to the house—de¬ scribed its exterior correctly—but did not describe correctly the next house adjoining. I asked her to enter. She did so, and described the stair-way exactly, although I attempted to mislead her upon that subject. I then asked her to walk into the drawing¬ room. This I supposed to be entirely unfurnished, as it was naked when I had last seen it. I asked her to say what was in the room. She replied—a pier-table, centre-table, chairs, a portrait, and a very beautiful carpet. I then told Mr. Andros that his wife was entirely wrong. My friend, however, said he believed they were putting in the furniture the day before. Mrs. Andros was positive, particularly in regard to the carpet. She was right as to that article, and wrong as to the others. She then ascended the stairs, entered the sick room, and described the situation, the pecu¬ liar disease, and the extraordinary sufferings of my sick friend with great minuteness, much emotion, and surprising accuracy. She was wrong, however, in saying that he was sitting up in a
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3