Account of a case of successful amputation of the thigh during the mesmeric state, without the knowledge of the patient. Read to the Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society of London, on Tuesday, the 22nd of November, 1842 / By W. Topham and W. Squire Ward.
- Topham, William, Sir.
- Date:
- 1842
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Account of a case of successful amputation of the thigh during the mesmeric state, without the knowledge of the patient. Read to the Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society of London, on Tuesday, the 22nd of November, 1842 / By W. Topham and W. Squire Ward. Source: Wellcome Collection.
19/58 page 11
![1] tober, I again mesmerised Wombell, having done so the two previous days. This was done in the presence of Mr. William Squire Ward, of Wellow, (the operator), and two other surgeons ; in order that the previous mesmerism might tend, as I believed it would, to render his sleep deeper, when again mesmerised for the opera- tion: and also to satisfy them of the state in which he would be, when that time arrived. He slept an hour; and was roused, by an attempt to converse with him. I, then, shewed them my power of affecting any one of his limbs, even when he was quite awake. At my request, he extended his arms, alternately. By making two or three passes over each, without any con- tact, I so transfixed them, that, from the shoulders to the tips of the fingers, they became as rigid and unyielding as bars of iron, not to be unbent, except by mechanical force, powerful enough to injure the limbs; and yet, instantly, relax- ing throughout, and dropping to his side, from the effect of my breath alone. His right lee was affected in the same degree; and relief from immediate pain was frequently afforded, by](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b33096661_0019.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
