Mesmerism, with hints for beginners / by John James.

  • John James
Date:
1891
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Mesmerism, with hints for beginners / by John James. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Iri his report to the Government he stated that “ out of 261 operations, 215 of which were extirpations of tumours of all sizes, varying in weight from ten to one hundred and three pounds, not one patient had died from the direct effects of the operation. The deaths that took place amounted to five per cent., and happened days and weeks after the operation, from fever, dysentery, and exhaustion.” The Governor-General, Lord Dalhousie, marked his sense of Dr. Esdaile’s services by promoting him to the rank of “ Presidency Surgeon.” It is evident that Dr. Esdaile could never have achieved such remarkable success had he not employed a large body of assistants. There can be little doubt that after Dr. Esdaile’s triumphant success, and the numerous and well- authenticated cases of successful operations per- formed under similar conditions, both in England and France, that had it not been for the discovery of the use of ether and chloroform in surgical opera- tions, mesmerism would at this day be in general use, not only as an anaesthetic, but also in the treat- ment of all forms of disease. There is still one great advantage which the mesmeric coma possesses, in comparing it with the effects of ether and chloroform in severe and difficult operations, and that is the power of the mesmeriser to prolong the state of insensibility to almost any length of time without danger, and that all the subsequent dressings can be carried on during the sleep, without pain or exhaustion, or inconvenience to the patient.
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