An essay on somnambulism, or sleep-walking, produced by animal electricity and magnetism, as well as by sympathy, &c. : as performed by the Rev. John Bell, member of the Philosophical Harmonic Society of France, fellow correspondent to the Museum at Paris, and the only person authorised to teach and practise that science in Great Britain, Ireland, &c.

  • Fournel, Jean-François, 1745-1820.
Date:
1788
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An essay on somnambulism, or sleep-walking, produced by animal electricity and magnetism, as well as by sympathy, &c. : as performed by the Rev. John Bell, member of the Philosophical Harmonic Society of France, fellow correspondent to the Museum at Paris, and the only person authorised to teach and practise that science in Great Britain, Ireland, &c. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by University of Bristol Library. The original may be consulted at University of Bristol Library.

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    -^idnfefstlie latter is, by far, eafier to be conceived than the former ; for a natural phosnomenon, after all, is fufccpti- ble of an explanation j a»d the plot of a deceit, without in- terefl and motive whatever, is no lefs complicated in its execution. A number of people are to be found over \yhom fuch con- fidcrations, ftriking as they are, can never triumph. What- ever difficulties may be encountered with, to make thole llratagems fucceed, they fuppofe that fuch an addrefs takes place, bccaufe they fay in the things hurtful to reafon, the authority of teftimonies is of no value. That evident impoflibility is a kind of refentment on that part of the public who have not feen the phosnomena in quef-' tion, and infpire thofe who have actually feen them, with a certain degree of diffidence* If a common fact, confident with the ufual proceedings of nature, was only agitated, it is hi general confeffed, that there would be more proofs than requifite to eilablifh its credit, on bare words and without having feen it. But as to a phoenomenon, fo little confiHient with nature, which is neither explicable nor conceivable, and overthrows all re- ceived notions, we are authorifed not only to refufe the teC^ timony of others, but even that of our oMm fenfes. It is after fuch an abfurdity that many learned have been heard to fav, That they would not believe it if they faw it. ^ Now then it remains to confider, whether Magnetical Somnambulifm, and the feveral phoenomena ufualiy attend- ing on it, are as inconceivable as thofe gentlemen would infinuate. Are Magnetical Somnambulifms phoenomena repugnant to the order of nature ? Phyficians by affefting the greateft incredulity ^ m Magnetical Somnambulifm, under the mere pretence that fuch phtenomenon is inconceivable, give no fatisfaaory account of their dilbelief, becaufe, that the identical diffi- culty they attempt to condemn, cannot withhold the viftori- ous teftimonies which militate in favour of Magnetical Somnambulifm.. The difficulty of conceiving a phoenomenon, by no mean deflroys its reality ; we are furroundcd with a multitude of natural marvels, which no one has tlic lead noubt about, .]inn-h tliev are iucomprehennblc i for it is evident that * ' * nature