Cornell University Library BF1131 .W74 Trials of animal magnetism on the brute olin 3 1924 028 953 268 Cornell University Library The original of tliis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924028953268 TRIALS ANIMAL MAGNETISM. LONDON : GILBERT AND RIVINGTON, PRINTKRS, ST. John's square. TRIALS ANIMAL MAGNETISM ON THE BEUTE CREATION- JOHN WILSON, PHYSICIAN TO THE MIDDLESEX HOSPITAL. LONDON: SHERWOOD, GILBERT, & PIPER, PATERNOSTER ROW. 1839. TRIALS ANIMAL MAGNETISM. PRELIMINARY REMARKS. Accounts have been at different times given to the world, of certain effects, alleged to be produced by the agency of a principle, to which there has gene- rally been given the name of Animal Magnetism. Whatever transient sensation these accounts may have excited, the fate of the subject has been, to be received with general incredulity, and to sink after short intervals into neglect. Recently attention has been again directed to it ; but the renewed attempts which have been made in its investigation, have not met with a very encouraging reception. As however the science professes to be founded upon observed and ascertained facts, it seems to be entitled to a full examination, before its claims be altogether rejected. The extraordinary character of the facts, which con- stitute its basis, affords a good reason for making the examination proportionally rigorous and severe, but no reason for dismissing the subject without any examination at all. I have never been myself disposed to yield an easy or credulous assent to the doctrines of this science. Indeed some years ago, when resident at Paris, I felt so little curiosity or interest in the subject, that, though it was then undergoing a formal investigation, I did not think it worth while to direct any of my time or attention to it. In consequence, however, of the renewed experiments which have been lately made, I conceived a desire to institute such re- searches, as were consistent with strict propriety and due caution, into the reality of this magnetic in- fluence, in order to satisfy myself whether the exist- ence of such an influence had been established as a physical fact ; and, if so, whether this new power might be safely and beneficially applicable, as a re- medial agent, in the treatment of diseases of the human frame. Accordingly, in some peculiar cases which came under my medical care, and in which the ordinary remedies had been applied in vain, I thought it allowable to try whether any effects, such as have been ascribed to animal magnetism, could be pro- duced upon my patients with beneficial consequences. I employed only the most simple processes, and ad- vanced by slow and cautious steps. fThe results were surprising to myself. I found that I was capable of producing remarkable and various eft'ects upon all my patients on whom I operated ; and that the infirmities under which some of them laboured, were materially relieved or removed.^ The subjects to whom I applied this treatment, six in number, were, first, three women ; then, three men ; the ages of the latter, being from thirty-one to forty, — subjects, therefore, on whom any effects really produced, may be justly regarded as more conclusive and satisfac- tory, than those exhibited in young and sensitive patients of the other sex. It forms, however, no part of my present purpose to enter into any details of these particular cases. I felt that it was a duty, imperative on every member of the medical profession, to restrain himself within the strictest bounds of caution, in applying a novel and mysterious agency, of which the nature, the ex- tent, and the consequences, were involved in such uncertainty. Instead, therefore, of trying farther the effects of this treatment in diseases of the human frame, I was induced, by various considerations, to institute some experiments, with a view of ascertain- ing what effects could be produced on brute crea- tures, by the agency of what has been called (whether properly or not, I do not stop to enquire) animal magnetism. The first idea of making these experiments was suggested by an accidental circumstance, which oc- curred in connexion with the treatment of one of my patients ; but I was also influenced by another con- sideration. To the accounts which have at different times been given of the effects of animal magnetism, objections have always been raised, on the ground that they may all be resolved either into collusion between the operator and the person operated upon ; or, where the character of the operator precluded all suspicion of his own integrity, into imposture on the part of the person on whom the operation was per- formed; and, it must be admitted, that these are objections not easily surmounted. It therefore ap- peared to me particularly desirable, to institute similar experiments on brute animals; as the results, which might be thus obtained, could not be liable to the objections above-mentioned. With this view I have made a variety of experi- ments, the details of all (excepting two or three attempts which I did not think worth noting down) are faithfully described in the following pages. Of the importance of these details others must judge : I neither draw any inferences from them, nor build any theory upon them ; I state them merely as facts. What I have effected may perhaps throw a new light on a subject, as yet involved in great obscurity, and may possibly induce others, who have more lei- sure and opportunity than myself, to pursue the path of enquiry which T have opened. My first experiments on animals were made on cats, but as they were more or less connected with the cases of my patients which I have not entered upon here, I may briefly notice that many experi- ments were made on four cats and kittens, at inter- 9 vals, from the 16th May to the 3rd October, 1838, and each of them was put to sleep at the first trial ; and ultimately, I was able to put first one and then another to sleep, and at the end to leave three sleep- ing together, being as many as could ordinarily be brought together at once. One of these, a Tom, the first of them that was magnetised, and on which that operation had been most frequently repeated, became easily and strongly influenced by them, so that he has been pulled about, lifted up by the nape of the neck, and the ears tickled with a pen, during which he would remain motion- less, and the cat was then said to be in a state of catalepsy ; sometimes when lifted up by the head or tail, the eyes might partially open without the limbs moving, and when dropped down, the eyes again closed, and he continued to sleep, without making any effort to move from the place where he had been dropped. My other experiments at the following places were not carried to the same extent, as I was generally satisfied to cease the operations as soon as sleep came on. STATION A. Sir miles from London, 26th September, 1838. White Will, a Tom cat, age about a year. — Kitty, a female cat, tortoise-shell, eight months. — Fuzzy, a ]0 female cat, French, two months. — Vick, a female terrier, six months. Made the passes on Kitty and Fuzzy, on my lap, both for the first time, and both were put to sleep in about a quarter of an hour. Sept. 28. Magnetised Fuzzy and Vick on the hearth-rug, both were put to sleep in five minutes, and both slept for an hour and a half; being the first trial on Vick and the second on Fuzzy. After- wards White Will was magnetised on the rug ; in about ten minutes or more he was put to sleep, and Vick coming in the way and annoying White Will, I directed the passes towards her at the same time that I was acting on White Will, and again, after becoming very irritable and biting the fender, she was put to sleep; both awoke on some one coming into the room. Sept. 29 (evening). Vick and Fuzzy being both very animated and playing together, biting and scratching each other, I began making the passes on both at the same time for about ten minutes, when Fuzzy became drowsy, but Vick became more rest- less than ever, and was obliged to be held down with one hand, while I operated on her with the other; in ten minutes more Vick fell asleep. Fuzzy having been put to sleep much sooner, and was then in a state of torpor ; both continued to sleep for an hour and a half, though at intervals both were lifted up by their necks, but as soon as they were dropped down, they instantly fell asleep again without moving from 11 the place. On one occasion both having been lifted up and simultaneously laid down near each other, they made an effort to arouse themselves, and on ap- proaching each other and attempting to begin to play together, in a second, and before they could reach each other, both rolled upon their sides and relapsed into sleep. The dog lay generally with its fore and hind legs stretched out, and at times its legs were slightly convulsed. While these two were sleeping, Kitty was brought in, when I magnetised her on my lap in a quarter of an hour ; and when placed on the rug, she slept for about an hour afterwards, though at one time a walking-stick fell across her back and laid there, when she only looked about, moved not, and imme- diately fell asleep again. Vick, on awaking, stretched herself, bit the fender and poker, became quite lively again, and would not allow the kitten to sleep, when the latter stole off elsewhere. During the evening Vick was again twice magnetised and put to sleep. The same morning I made passes on a drake and three ducks : they were difficult of approach at first, but they soon became quiet, and allowed themselves to be acted on in a mass, with my hands quite close to their heads ; at other times they became very restless, struggled, and bit each other's necks, and tried to escape, as it were, from the passes; the wings of all, but those of the drake in particular, made convulsive twitchings as the hand moved over 12 them ; one or two became apparently drowsy, eyes half-closed, and sat down two or three times ; one or two yawned at different times. The time occupied was about half an hour, when I was obliged to go away. Sept. 30 (morning). Made passes on the four ducks, and for the first half hour similar effects were produced as yesterday ; but when acted on for a longer time, they all became very agitated, but particularly the drake : they made their necks pliant and tortuous in an extraordinary way, and rubbed and bit themselves over all the various parts of their bodies, each directing its bill to its own body, and seeming to be very irritable ; the rapidity of the mo- tion of their heads and necks, and the way they bit or pecked themselves, were very different from the quiet manner of ducks picking and cleaning them- selves. Afterwards, at two or three different times, for about an hour at a time, the ducks had passes made upon them, with somewhat similar results. About a month after the last passes were made, one of the ducks died ; and a fortnight after that, the drake died : the cause of their deaths was not known — ^they did not die suddenly, but were said to have pined away gradually. Afterwards Vick and White Will were mag- netised and left sleeping. Oct. 1 . Vick and Fuzzy being placed on my lap, passes were made on them, and in five minutes Fuzzy 13 was put to sleep ; ten minutes elapsed before Vick was asleep. Both now being asleep, I laid them to- gether on the rug, when both awoke and began play- ing, and biting each other; and at last they ran away. Then I had to hold them together, and it took ten minutes more to put them both to sleep. There were frequent disturbances at the times, from company present. Oct. 9. After a good deal of trouble to-night, from interruptions, I put Vick, Fuzzy, and Kitty to sleep. Vick at first was extremely playful, as it generally was ; and while I had Fuzzy on my knee, Vick kept continually leaping at her, and biting her in play : I continued acting on both, but more directly on Vick, as it was leaping and playing, when it soon became unable to leap up, looked heavy and stupid, and then laid down asleep. Oct. 11. Made passes on Vick, Fuzzy, Kitty, and White Will ; first one was put to sleep, and then another ; when one awoke, and then another ; for there was much disturbance from persons coming in and going out at the time ; and it was an hour before all were put to sleep at the same time. They all continued sleeping together, for ten minutes after- wards, on my going away. White Will was easily put to sleep ; Fuzzy awoke several times, and was the worst to be put to sleep. Oct. 19. Had a dozen fish, roach, dace, gudgeons, and loach, from one to three ounces in weight, caught in the Thames this morning : passes being made on 8 14 tbem when in a large tub of water, they soon came to the top of the water, put their noses out, and allowed me to touch their heads, stroke them down the backs, and pop their heads under the water, when they came to the top again immediately ; and, in- stead of seeming afraid of the motion of my hand, they appeared more desirous of getting near to it than avoiding it. Next White Will and Kitty were soon put to sleep ; but Vick and Fuzzy, both of which had gene- rally before been very soon affected, resisted the passes for • about an hour ; but as they were all at large, the latter were not constantly acted on, as they came near to me and went further from me at their pleasure. Vick and Fuzzy were then both put to- gether under a gauze dish-cover, and very soon they were both put to sleep together by the passes. Oct. 20. On going near the fish they were shy, and darted to the bottom. On passes being made, some of them soon came to the top, and swam about as before, with their noses out of the water ; when towards the last, I directed the passes to one alone, and stroked its back ; then I put my finger against its mouth, with its nose out, and body inclined at an angle of forty-five degrees with the surface of the water, when it followed my finger, as it described a circle, round and round for at least a dozen times ; then I left it to act on another; but as long as we watched the former, for five or six minutes, it re- mained almost fixed to the same place, and retained 15 its same position as to inclination. I acted similarly on the other ; this one did not follow my finger describing circles — then I put my finger to one side of its head, and it allowed me to turn it round in circles, its body describing a cone, its head the base, and its tail the apex. After this, William, a lad of about seventeen, tried the passes in my presence,- on a large Scotch, wiry haired, black mouthed terrier dog, Mungo, about a year old, and always kept chained in the day ; the dog soon began to yawn, rise on his hind- legs, and place his fore-feet against the door, stretch- ing himself, and went several times into the kennel ; at the end of a quarter of an hour, as it was getting dark, and we could not notice what other effect might follow, he was unchained and brought into the kitchen, where there were two cts, and Vick play- ing about and attracting his notice and keeping him from sleeping ; when William had continued the passes for about three quarters of an hour more, Mungo lay down at full length in a sound sleep ; before being put to sleep he yawned thirty times ; many of the yawns were very wide and long con- tinued. After he awoke he was put to sleep again (wo or three more times ; when sleeping, he moaned like what is called dreaming. While William was magnetising Mungo, I made passes on Vick, Fuzzy, and White Will, when they came within reach of being operated on ; Will went to sleep sitting on his hind-legs, but not at his 16 length, and Vick and Fuzzy again resisted my efforts in a great measure while they continued at large and kept moving about ; but when Vick and Fuzzy were put together under a large parrot's cage, without a bottom, then both were soon put to sleep, and they lay across each other with their heads down, and continued sleeping soundly till I moved the cage away from them to put White Will under it, for I could not affect Will again ; if I followed him up into a corner, he would not remain there, nor could I hold him down and make the passes over him, neither could I hold him on my lap, as he struggled so forcibly ; but when he was put under the cage, he became furious, and struck his paw and leg as far as the shoulder out of the cage, at different times, like a leopard, directly at my feet and legs, whether they were on the ground, steadying the cage, or placed on the top for the same purpose ; he walked and leaped about, making dashes through the cage between the wires and a loud noise; this furious stage continued for a quarter of an hour, while I was continuing the passes over him with one hand, and holding in the other an iron footman, on the top of, the cage to press it firmly down ; when his tones became suppliant, and soon after he lay at full length sound asleep. The time of his passing from the furious to the plaintive state, and then into the sound sleep, was but a few minutes. Oct. 21. This morning at eight o'clock, William put White Will, Kitty, Fuzzy, and Vick, all under 17 the cage together; Will was pretty quiet when put in the cage with the others. William put all the four to sleep in a quarter of an hour; Will slept five minutes, and the other three about a quarter of an hour. Two of the maids were present, I was not there. The day was cloudy and there had been some rain in the morning, and the fish were all at the bottom of the water, about a foot in depth, but were very lively on my approaching them ; and on my putting my hand to the bottom and trying to touch them, they instantly swam away : I made passes for half an hour, and not one ever came to the top ; some- times they all lay quite motionless, and when I at- tempted to touch them, some allowed me to do so, but instantly moved off from my hand, so very dif- ferent from what they had done before. Two fish had died before the 21st, but neither of the two which seemed so stupified by the passes on the 20th. Afterwards, William, in my presence, acted upon the dog Mungo, which very soon began yawning, stretching himself with his fore-feet up against the door, snatching at William's hand several times, as yesterday, but not viciously ; yawned widely seven- teen times, began to be very dull, and to look stupid; when the gardener came within his hearing, the dog roused up, barked, and became very restless, and the operation was discontinued. — Mungo was all the time chained. B 18 Octi 23. This morning at nine o'clock, in my absence, William put the three cats and Vick all under the cage together, passes were made for ten minutes, when all went to sleep ; they continued so for ten minutes more. He made passes again for five minutes more, and again all went to sleep, and all continued to sleep for half an hour afterwards. — The maids were present. At six in the evening I put the three cats and Vick under the cage, and made passes over them in a mass ; White Will made no resistance, and lay down very quietly. Kitty and he soon fell asleep, and in five minutes they were all asleep together* I continued the passes for two minutes more, and they all continued asleep for forty minutes, though there were disturbances going on at the time. Oct. 24. William, in my absence, put the three cats and Vick together under the cage, at nine o'clock this morning. They were all kept under the cage for about half an hour, to try if they would now go to sleep without being magnetised, but none went to sleep ; they quarrelled, and scratched one another, and dragged the cage along with them. As soon as it was raised a little at the end of the half hour, they all rushed out difierent ways. The maids were present. Tried the fish this evening, when they were all at the bottom swimming about lively, and would not let me touch them without swimming away rapidly. I made passes for twenty minutes ; during most of 19 that time they lay in groups, and in a great degree stationary. I left them for a few minutes, when they came to the top for the first time ; but on ap- proaching them, they all instantly went to the bottom. This was repeated two or three times, when they at last came to the top one after another, while I continued the passes ; and at length they allowed me to touch them, stroke their heads, and pop them under the water, yet nothing like what they allowed me to do with them before. — Night approached, and I was obliged to stop. In the evening, after I had gone away, William put Mungo under the cage. During the passes Mungo yawned twice, fell asleep in half an hour, and continued sleeping for an hour. Oct. 25. William, in my absence, put the three cats and Vick all under the cage together, at twelve o'clock in the day. They continued there, quarrel- ling, fighting, and dragging the cage about for forty minutes, when he began the passes, and in two or three minutes they were all put to sleep, and slept for half an hour. The maids were present at both the last opera- tions. Oct. 29. Put a Bantam cock with a Bantam hen under the cage, near to a she-goat, eighteen months old, when William and I both made passes together, and separately, for more than half an hour before the goat was put to sleep, and then only slightly. B 2 20 The cock at first chuckled, and made much noise ; then he became quiet, and remained so ; sometimes sat down, and closed his eyes ; but towards the end he stood upright for a considerable time, like a statue, and neither moved head nor foot ; and when the cage was taken away, he .moved not in the least, allowed me to touch and pull his comb and gills, and to stroke him down without making the least move- ment of his feet, head, or neck. As night was coming on he was brought in, and placed before the kitchen fire, where there were dogs near to him, and the same teasing means were repeated with like results, when he began to evince sensation and motion by degrees, and finally aroused up, and clawed my hands. The hen was somewhat similarly affected, but in a much less marked manner. — It will be observed, that it was about their roosting-time. Put Vick, Kitty, and Fuzzy, all together under the cage, and left them alone for ten minutes : then Vick seemed much disposed to sleep ; but the cats, and particularly Fuzzy, prevented his sleeping. Then I began the passes ; Vick looked stupid for a minute or two, lay down, and seemed as if he would have slept ; but the cats became more irritable, and quarrelsome. — Fuzzy struck her paws through the wires of the cage, clawed the cage and carpet, and annoyed both the other two. It required twenty minutes before I could overcome Fuzzy, and put her to sleep, when the other two were allowed to sleep 21 along with Fuzzy. In five minutes Vick awoke, and began to quarrel with the cats, when they were all set at liberty. Nov. 1 (evening). Put the three cats and Vick under the cage. It took a quarter of an hour, fi-om the restlessness of Vick, which kept the others from sleeping, before all were put to sleep together. Lay- ing one over another, they continued sleeping for twenty-five minutes, when White Will awoke, and he awoke the others by dragging the cage, and all of them for two yards. With respect to the times, stated in the preceding and following experiments, it may be observed, that very few of them were noted by the watch, and almost all of them have been put down, as nearly as I could guess, at five, ten minutes, and so on. STATION B. Sixteen miles Jrom London. Oct. 27, 1838 (night). Made passes over Din- mont, a long, wiry-haired terrier : he went to sleep in twenty minutes. While I was acting on him, another terrier. Dandle, of the same description, came near to me, and I acted upon him at the same time, by occasionally making passes over both. Dan- die became very stupid, and motionless, when they were both taken away. 22 Oct. 28. This morning, at eight, the servants asked what was the matter with Dandie, as he seemed to be so stupid and different from his usual manner. As he was then close by me, I made the passes over him ; in two or three minutes he began trembling, which increased as I continued the passes, and whick tremblings I could stop or renew at pleasure, by stopping or renewing the passes : in a quarter of an hour he went to sleep. Dinmont then came near to me, when I began the passes on him : he soon began trembling, as I moved my hand over his body and fore-legs ; and when stretched out, I began to act on him with both hands together, and he followed my motions for three yards, dragging both his hind- legs at full length. Afterwards he became stupid and motionless, when they were both aroused by disturbances, which had been going on, in a less degree, during the whole time ; Dandie yawned seven times during the operation. Two hours after, made passes again on Dinmont, he yawned several times, and three or four times he followed my hands for two or three yards, dragging his hind-legs, and belly toucliing the ground : he became restless, and as he moved off to different parts of the room, I followed him, and continued the passes. At last he lay quiet ; then convulsive twitchitags of the body followed my hands : he fell into short sleeps, and both the trunk and legs trem- bled at times while his eyes were closed. At twelve o'clock, made passes at a distance on a 23 wild, fierce, Chinese gander, and a common goose, and they gradually allowed me to approach them, though they were at large in the farm-yard ; and when the gander let me come up to him to make the passes close along his head and neck, his neck quivered obedient to the passes, which quiverings I stopped and renewed at pleasure. I could touch, and stroke his head and neck as I wished ; he re- mained a quarter of an hour erect, with his head raised in the air, and never during that time once moved a foot. He frequently gaped during the whole time, as well as the goose ; and when he seemed most susceptible, kept continually uttering a sort of plaintive noise as the passes were made. The goose made, no noise. At last I directed the passes from the head of the gander to the head of the goose, and then the goose's neck quivered ; it lay down several times, held its head down, and put it under some wood, while I continued the passes down its neck. I did not notice its eyes being closed. The gander never lay down. In the afternoon, on the lawn, when Dandie was barking at me, but would not allow me to come near him, I began the passes, and he continued barking for a short time, then became tranquil, stood still, yawned several times, lay down, and while I acted on his head with both hands, he followed them two or three times for as many yards at a time, with his belly touching the ground, and dragging his hind- legs after him, as Dinmont had done in the morning. 24 Nov. 3. Tried three full-grown turkey cocks, which were put up to fatten ; at first they would not allow me to approach near to them. I began the passes at a distance, and gradually approached nearer ; they became very restless. I continued acting on them in a mass, when they became more tame, and allowed me to come close to them, so that I made the passes as near to them as I liked, and touched and stroked their heads ; and as they moved about from place to place, I followed them, and continued to make the passes, or to touch them. Now when they had become so tame, I was obliged to leave off. At five o'clock placed Tibby, a large out-door white Tom cat, on the lap of a child, seven years old, and then placed her on my knee, and made passes over the cat, which went to sleep in ten minutes. I noticed effects produced on the child, and continued making the passes, so that, as before, they included the child and cat at the same time. Afterwards the child closed its eyes, and its bead fell on my shoulder, and it continued sleeping for a few minutes, till the cat, when stretching itself, clawed the child, and awoke it. A young lady was setting on the opposite side of the fire, working at her needle, all the time I made the passes. It was noticed how drowsy she looked : then I directed the passes more towards her, but still at the same distanfce. Afterwards I went near to her, and directed the passes first to her, and then to 25 the cat, which continued to sleep for twenty minutes. The lady became almost asleep, though she attempted to continue sewing, to resist the influence of the passes ; but her hands scarcely moved, and her eyes were almost closed towards the last, when some one came suddenly in, and made a noise which aroused her, and no more passes were made. While the passes were made on the lady, the cat awoke with a convulsive cough, and startings of all the trunk and limbs : then it leaped on the ground, turned on its back, and rolled from side to side, and at last rubbed its paw several times over its ears. A friend, who had witnessed the experiments here, and some at station A, wishing to try if he could produce any effect, began, in my presence, making passes over a little red spaniel, Lilly Willy ; in a few minutes it turned on its back, and twitching convul- sive motions of its neck, fore and hind legs, followed in succession as the passes were made from the head over all the body, and the twitchings followed in the same order, whether he moved his hands quickly or slowly; and when he ceased moving his hand, and held it steadily at a short distance from it, the trem- bling of its head and limbs became general; after- wards, it lay first on one side and then on the other, and still its limbs became uniformly obedient to the passes, and now motions were made both up and down, and in both directions the limbs obeyed the hand of the operator ; at intervals its eyes closed, and it seemed to be asleep, still the passes convulsed 26 its limbs, but less strongly; titne of operation ten minutes. Soon after, or about the end of the passes, the operator felt a tingling sensation creeping up the arm which he used, as far as the shoulder, accom- panied with drowsiness and pain in the back of the neck. At night, on going to bed, be experieneed great restlessness, with occasional twitchings of the arras and legs, and a burning sensation in the eyes ; next day he suffered much from violent pain in the head, uneasiness and distension of the abdomen ; sen- sations nearly similar were felt by the operator about a fortnight before this time, when he was casually within the influence of my passes at station A. Fuzzy, a French cat, (not the same as that at Sta- tion A,) I put to sleep in a few minutes ; afterwards, when it had been awake for some time, it leaped on my knee, and I then began the passes without touching it with either hand, and soon put it to sleep again. Nov. 4 (morning, 10 o'clock). Smut, a very large, fine, black, savage Newfoundland dog, about five years old, constantly kept chained up during the day- time. When he was nearly at the length of his chain I began the passes towards him, and he soon began yawning and stretching himself, got fidgetty, and moved about, but as I dared not go within the range of his chain, I continued acting upon him when I could approach him as near as one, two, or three yards ; his hind-legs and thighs began to tremble as 27 the passes were made in front of his head ; he con- tinued restless, and whined in a low plaintive tone as he moved about, yawning at intervals ; towards the last he lay down three different times, and once, when his eyes were heavy and half-closed, his head and neck trembled as the passes were made at a yard's distance in front of his face ; then he moved towards the centre of his range and lay down, but I dared not follow him, though he showed nothing but docility towards me during the operation, which con- tinued for nearly an hour, during which he yawned thirty-three times, and stretched himself several times. On a thorough-bred horse, well known on the turf, I began the passes at a short distance, as he was grazing, and soon he let me make them close to his head; sometime after, his eyes looked heavy, and his head drooped low as he stood quietly; at other times he held his head up in the air, with his head and neck stretched out, and yawned. At one time, when my hand moved over the eyes, the lids twinkled as the passes were made, but towards the last they remained steadily open. Evening. Lilly Willy was playing and barking when I began the passes on him, in three minutes he was put to sleep : for two minutes more I continued the passes, and then lifted him up by the nape of the neck, and then by the skin of the back, when he only held his head on one side, made no noise, and as 28 soon as he was dropped down, he moved not from the place, and immediately fell asleep again. Nov. 10 (morning, 9 o'clock). Lilly Willy and Dinmont were both standing together, when I began making the passes over both ; Lilly Willy was put to sleep in two minutes, and Dinmont in five. Morning, 11 o'clock. Began the passes towards Smut, at the end of his chain, while sitting on his haunches ; on three or four passes being made, he trembled, obedient to their motions, and his chest particularly; then he began to yawn and stretch him- self out at full length ; at the end of five minutes he took a fixed position, sitting with one side reclining against the pales, his eyes seemed heavy, and his head drooped now and then, when, at the end of a quarter of an hour, he went to the centre of his chain, and I ceased acting on him. During the ope- ration, I was never nearer than two yards from him, and he yawned nine times. Twenty minutes afterwards I renewed the passes ; in three minutes he lay down, and in three more his eyes closed and his head fell, then he raised it, his eyes being still closed, and again the head gradually drooped to the ground, when he fell asleep for' ten minutes, though there were disturbances going on at the time. Placed three macaws, each being on his own perch, on the lawn near to each other, and made passes on all of them at the same time ; they were 29 very noisy at first, but very, soon Mac and Laura trembled all over, and continued to tremble more or less as the passes were made ; Carl was never quiet ; all the time he was either moving or making a noise. Evening, — made passes on Fuzzy ; it became very irritable, licking, snatching, and contorting itself into various positions ; towards the last it bit its feet when its eyes were closed ; at the end of a quarter of an hour it became tranquil, ceased licking itself, and then instantly fell asleep. Nov. 1 1 (morning, 1 o'clock). Toby, a wild, fierce, stable cat, while moving about from place to place I followed, and made passes towards it, both while in rest and motion ; when not moving, it kept licking itself almost constantly for a quarter of an hour; then it ceased licking and fell asleep almost immediately after, and continued sleeping for three hours, and at last it was removed and fell asleep again. — The ope- ration was made in the midst of noise and bustle. Morning, 1 1 o'clock. The three macaws being in the house to-day, were placed together as yesterday, and the passes made ; Laura stood almost motion- less the whole time, but Mac and Carl were very restless, making noises, moving and rolling them- selves about, but when they ceased, at intervals, to move about, they trembled all over, and their wings dropped, at times they expanded and their feathers bristled up. Laura seemed to be in a state of stupor like the Bantam, at Station A, but in a less degreie, and I 30 dared not take hold of it to try what degree of torpor it might be in. A week afterwards Mac became very ill, continued so for four or five days, and then unexpectedly re- covered. Nov. 17. Made the passes for the second time on the Chinese gander and common goose, when at large. I began to act on them at a distance, but they soon allowed me to approach quite close to them ; the gander, as before, seemed to be sooner and much more strongly aifected by tremors of the head and neck as the passes were made down from the head ; shortly they both stood still, and I placed a hand on each of their heads ; the quiverings of their necks were not constant, but occurred at short intervals ; soon they both lay down, while my hands remained on their heads : the goose seemed very heavy and drowsy, but the gander was not so, yet the tremors of his neck were so strong at times as to shake my hand as I held his head and neck. About a month afterwards, the gander was observed to be unwell, from which time it gradually pined away, and died at the end of six weeks' illness. Nov. 18. Made passes on Lilly Willy while he was leaping up in play with me ; in a minute he he-, came stupid, afterwards restless, and as I continued the passes he lay down, and his limbs and body became affected with strong convulsive twitchings as my hands moved over them ; in five minutes he 31 fell asleep : when he awoke, the same results were again obtained by the passes, — convulsive twitchings, and sleep in five minutes. While I was acting with my left hand on the dog, my right disengaged hand was directed towards Fuzzy, which happened to come within its influence, and the cat was put to sleep in three minutes. Began making the passes towards Duke, a black and tan King Charles's Spaniel, a year old, when in a very lively and playful state ; shortly he lay down, rolled about on his back, struck his legs out, gnashed his teeth, and became in a very irritable state, scratching and licking himself, and then moved from place to place : afterwards he became more tran- quil, then lay down, and was instantly put to sleep. Many interruptions happened during the operation, and as in some other cases, I felt what 1 call the aura the most, just before the animal was put to sleep. Nov. 25. A irosty morning, at nine o'clock, I was obliged to break the ice to let the dog Jack drink, which was a very lively, fierce, large, black, and tan terrier, and chained as usual in the day time ; as I began the passes over him, he stretched himself and yawned two or three times; afterwards he became in a state of stupor, sitting on his haunches, head drooping, and eyes closed at times, but as constant disturbances were going on at the time, I left him, and returned in an hour after, and recommenced the passes, when he again became torpid and moved not 32 from the same place ; his head drooped and his eyes closed at times, and he lost his balance as one going off to sleep and attempting to recover himself; at last he sat on his haunches, and again the head drooped, eyes closed, and the balance was lost at times, when he tottered, then recovered himself and opened his eyes, but never lay down asleep, though he was kept in that state for half an hour, during which he never moved from the same place, and re- mained in it in the same state for ten minutes after I had left him ; though at first I was obliged to fol- low him from place to place, as he kept moving within the range of his chain. After having just begun making passes on Smut, when chained, Dandie came running up, barking and disturbing us ; so I left Smut, and made the passes on Dandie, by following him about as he moved from place to place ; at last he became stationary, sat on his haunches, trembled from head to foot, and his body tottered, from his legs trembling and giving way under him; he was kept in this state for a quarter of an hour, the eyes closed at times, but he never lay down. Evening. Placed Duke on the lap of my friend, who had on a former occasion magnetised Lilly Willy, and put Fuzzy on the child's lap, with their chairs near to each other, when I made passes on all four at the same time, one chair with each hand. Duke soon became very irritable, and contorted him- self into various positions without once resting, bit 33 my friend's hand, tore his waistcoat open, when he refused to hold the dog any longer ; fearing, from the extreme excitement, that the dog was going mad. Then I placed the dog on the floor, tied a handkerchief to his collar, and held him with one hand, while with the other I continued the passes from the child and cat to the dog ; the dog soon lay down, and fell soundly asleep ; the cat had been sleeping for some time before ; the child's eyes were at the end opening and closing, just as before going to sleep, when she was taken away. The cat and dog both slept for an hour afterwards. Dec. 2. Duke and Lilly Willy being both very lively, when I began the passes on one and both as I could; Duke fell asleep first, and in ten minutes they were both asleep ; but this time I continued the passes, at intervals, after they were asleep, to see what effect they would have on the duration of the sleep. Duke, during the first hour, awoke three or four times, got up, changed his place, and instantly dropped off to sleep again. Lilly Willy never moved from, his first place, and never awoke but once, and that was caused by Duke. The second hour they both continued nearly in the same state ; and once, when the passes were made over Lilly Willy, the legs were affected vdth twitchings ; I held him up by the nape of the neck, when he held his head down, looked stupid, made no. noise, and when dropped down, he moved not from the place, and went off to sleep again. c 34 STATION C. Twenty miles from London. June 11, 1838. Took a puppy as it was going to be drowned, one of a litter of thirteen, bom about twelve hours before. The father and mother were both thorough-bred Great St. Bernard's dogs. It was strong and lively, crawled about, making the usual shrill yelping of a puppy ; after a time it became still, and remained for a short time in a state of torpor ; afterwards it began to crawl about, dragging its hind-legs after it ; these states succeeded each other for several times, when gradually its motion be- came impaired, and it had great difBcuIty in dragging its hind-legs after it ; its voice became modified, from a shrill yelp to a suppressed moan. During the operation, which lasted for an hour, its eyes became opened, and it saw. The remainder of the litter, which were kept, did not see before the usual time, about the ninth day. The following report was given me by a spectator, who took notes at the time of my trying to affect two pigs of a large breed. July 21. The pigs were about nine months old, healthy, fat, and very lively. The sty in which they were confined, consisted of two parts — a small oblong court uncovered, and an inner sty, roofed, and partly boarded in front. They were magnetised across the outer court into the enclosed sty, at the door of 35 which they presented their heads ; about half an hour after, they began to sweat about the ears and neck, and to utter a peculiar shrill plaintive squeak. After being operated upon for about an hour, one of them lay down ; and the other, though standing, suffered the operator to enter the inner sty, and magnetise them quite close, without their being disturbed. July 22. The pigs were again magnetised. They were driven out of the inner cell ; and the door of it being closed, so as to keep them in the outer court, the process commenced. The effect was remarkably decided. The passes were made both from the tail to the snout, and the contrary ; but the result was the same. The sweat exuded from the ears, neck, and in patches all over the body ; and the other excretions were also as much affected. The animals became very quiet, and one was much affected ; and at each pass, spasmodic convulsions of the ear, snout, and whole body, were strongly developed. The sweat increased as the process continued, and the con- vulsions also ; and after a trial of about one hour and three quarters, the entrance to the inner sty was opened, and they both immediately entered it, and one lay down, and fell immediately into a state of sleep. The stupified quietness with which they allowed the magnetiser to operate upon them in the court, when closely huddled up into a corner, was a remarkable contrast to their usual habits. Dec. 25. Made passes on a calf, two months old, in a loose box. In a quarter of an hour it lay down, c2 36 then got up again; as I continued acting on its head, it three consecutive times touched my shoe with its nose, but the instant it did so, it suddenly sprang back on all fours to the extent of the loose box, as if it had received a shock. In another half hour, it lay down twice more ; after which it became very irritable, and licked itself violently in various parts ; then it would lick me. and take hold of my dress, without suddenly withdrawing itself as it did at first, when it touched my shoe; then it would hold up its head, as I raised my hand, and lick it ; and, lastly, it rubbed its head so forcibly against my legs, that I could stand there no longer, and retired. During the operation, it seemed most irritable while I held my hand near the nape of its neck, when it shook its head violently, or would throw it up, and put out its tongue, as if licking the air. Its breathing was deep and lengthened, almost snoring at one time. The time of operation, an hour and a half. Dec. 26. A stout St. Bernard's puppy, six months old, the last of a litter of thirteen, and sister to the puppy I magnetised on the day of its birth, the 11th of June, when its eyes opened during the operation. The present one has been blind from birth, and it walks about, in full day-light, hitting its head against the chairs and tables which may be in its way. I began the passes while it was at large in a room; and, as it moved about, I continued acting on it as I was able, by following it and continuing the passes ; 37 after some time it became irritable, made a ■whinino- sort of noise ; so tbat, for safety, I removed further from it while I continued the passes ; it yawned eight times ; as it was sitting on its haunches, it trembled a little ; its eyes began to close and head to droop, when it suddenly recovered itself; these alternations of drooping the head, and arousing itself, were re- peated several times, till it lay down at full length, and was then soon put to sleep ; at intervals it opened its eyes, (being aroused by disturbances,) but instantly closed them again, with or without the passes being now renewed ; it remained in this state for twenty minutes, when it got up for the first time, and I moved off to a different part of the room ; the dog kept moving from place to place, examining with its nose every thing that it came near, but particularly the floor and chairs ; this continued for more than five minutes ; when it came near to me, and had touched and smelled me, it began whining, shaking its tail, and showed other expressions of satisfaction, and then lay down at my feet, though I had not seen it since the day of its birth ; and, at the same time, its master was standing beside me, of whom it took no notice. The servant, who had brought the dog into the room, was sent for to take it away, but the dog would not go with him; then the great dogs, his father and mother, were brought in ; and when they went out, it followed them out of the door, and then left them, and returned to me ; and, on my walking out, it followed me, although, from its blindness, 38 unable to see me. Just before it went to sleep* its breathings became long and loud, with much heaving of the flanks ; this motion of the flanks I have often noticed before, in riiany animals, to increase just before and after the sleep had begun. Time of ope- ration, about three quarters of an hour. Tried the calf a,gain, when nearly similar effects were noticed as yesterday ; after a time it licked itself violently, and then at times licked the air whilst throwing its head about, then rubbed its head against me so forcibly, that I was obliged to protect myself with a wooden stool, and afterwards was obliged to stand outside of the box to continue the passes, but at last it became quiet, and let me stand close to it without molesting me with its head. Time, three quarters of an hour. At first I kept the same place, and as it moved from me, I continued the passes without following it, and it soon returned near to me agaiin for several times, then it would hold its head up and lick my hand, as if it preferred being near to me and the passes, rather than further off. Dec. 27. On walking along the road I came Up with a heavily laden waggon, to the end of which a rough wiry-haired ddg was chained and barking at passing objects. As I came nearer to him I bega,H moving my hand, at first he went forward under the waggon, shortly he beg^n to lag behind at the length of his chain, drObp his head, and yawned twice* whole time, three or four minutes. When as the 39 waggoner kept looking behind at times, to see what might be going on, and as I could not attempt to ex- plain to him what I was after, should he have asked me, I dropped behind the waggon and ceased the passes, but the dog kept frequently turning its head round to look after me, pulling by his chain ; and when I was about ten yards behind, he kept his eyes more fixedly on me, and resisted with all his might the progress of the waggon, by pulling in an opposite direction with his feet set out before him, and hang- ing by his collar as he was forcibly dragged on by the waggon; afterwards, as I passed the waggon, he came as near to me as the chain would allow ; he neither whined nor barked once. Dec. 28. Two of the old English breed of blood hounds, male and female, each four years old, always enclosed in the kennel and yard, excepting when taken out by the keeper, ahd then always chained. Had the dog chained in the yard and began the passes; he soon stood. still, and his head began gra- dually to droop till his nose came near to the ground ; next he sat on his haunches with his back to me, and as the passes were continued, he raised his nose as high as he could stretch his neck in the air, his head inclined backwards, as if he felt desirous of ap- proaching his head nearer to my hands ; shortly after he lay down, curling himself up in a circle, and soon fell asleep, which continued for a few minutes, till the bitch, which had been excluded, forced herself into the yard and awoke him. Time, three quarters 40 of an hour; during which he never barked or whined, contrary to his usual habits when any disturbances were going on, and there were many at the time. He yaAvned four times. When the bitch came in, the dog was unchained and put into the kennel, and the bitch was chained in his place ; when I began the passes, she soon stood perfectly still and drooped her head at times, then she held her head up in a somewhat similar way as the dog had done; afterwards the breathings became deep and she licked her paws ; at the end of ten minutes she curled herself up and shortly fell asleep, which state she remained in for twenty minutes. During the sleep she had thrice convulsive twitchings, at the first of which she groaned. Dec. 29. Tried a horse, in a loose box, for two hours. Very shortly he let me remain as near to him as I liked, and kept his head almost steady as I made the passes. At the end of an hour he yawned six times in quick succession, then began to shake his head and neck, to lick his hind-leg, and to move further from me. For a very short time the eyes were half-closed, and head drooped ; afterwards he returned into the same state that he was in during the first hour. Dec. 30. Tried the same horse for an hour and a half, but nothing additional was noted. At the end of about an hour he again yawned eight times in quick succession, shook his head and neck more, moved further from me, and licked his hind-leg ; he 41 nodded more than yesterday, with his eyes half- closed ; then he relapsed into the first state. STATION Z. Zoological Gardens, Swrrey. Made two or three trials on a leopard and leo- pardess; but from the natural disposition of these wild beasts (as well as lions and tigers) to sleep at all times of the day, the results were unsatisfactory, compared to the experiments made on domestic animals ; which latter I could approach so much nearer to, and also try what degree of torpor might be produced in them. To overcome these objections I next selected beasts remarkable for their watchfulness, and for not lying down in the day time ; besides, from their be- ing more tame, I could approach nearer to them than I could to the other wild beasts. These were two Ceylon elephants, male and female, Rajah and Hadgee, each about ten years old, and both kept together in the same stall. March 13, 1839. Began the passes along the head and trunk (proboscis) of the female elephant, Had- jee, as she stood ; in about five minutes she curved her trunk, previous to raising her head, to strike me with the trunk ; which the keeper noticing, warned me of what she was preparing to do, so that after- 42 wards I kept at a distance where she could not hit me with her trunk, though several times she at- tempted to do so, by raising her head and lashing out her trunk at the same time. Twice she turned her back on me, but I continued the passes. Once she struck her right hind-leg out towards me ; she also yawned several times : the striking her trunk out, with the design of hitting a stranger, was unusual with her. Time of operation, a quarter of an hour, when, strangers coming in, it was discontinued. Then I went to see the other -wild beasts fed, but found that they had already begun feeding. As I stopped before a lioness, lying dovra tearing a half- devoured joint, which she held between her paws, and growling at me, I began making passes towards her head ; she very soon, almost immediately, ceased eating, grasped the joint between her jaws, and ceased growling; her eyes began to twinkle, and soon closed at times, for short intervals ; when some strangers came up, and asked me how it was that I seemed to affect the lioness ; I gave them an evasive reply, in hopes of their going away, and ceased the passes, but held my hands a little out towards her, as she continued in the same position; but her eyes were much less closed than when I made the passes. After these visitors went, I renewed the passes ; when other visitors came, and again I c,eased, and held mv hands out steadily before me ; then she got up and walked about, and then lay down again. As the com- pany remained standing there, I ceased all trials and 43 retired, as the lioness began to tear the joint, after having retained it full twenty minutes in her mouth without once relaxing hold of it. March 14. Tried Hadgee again ; only once or twice she attempted to strike me with her trunk, yawned only as many times, and allowed me to make the passes frequently along the head and trunk, when as my hands passed over her eyes they often twinkled and sometimes closed; then she changed first one leg and then another to rest on, as if fatigued, and which she usually does before going to sleep ; and another sign the keeper noticed was the manner of curling up the extremity of her trunk, indicative of sleep. When I seemed to be affecting her the most she would frequently move from me as far as she could get, turn her back on me while I continued the passes, and she would lift up first one leg and then another, stretch and some- times kick them out. The keeper thought she might probably have gone to sleep if she had been alone ; but when she seemed most disposed to do so, the other elephant Rajah kept teasing her. Time of operation, three quarters of an hour ; during which, with the intention of augmenting the power of the passes, I took hold of one hand of the keeper, and with my other hand made the passes. She did not seem to express her displeasure towards me by trying to strike me with her trunk as she did yes- terday ; but she repeatedly, while I had hold of one of the keeper's hands, took hold of his other hand 44 with her trunk and drew him from me towards herself. The habits of these elephants are very regular ; after being bedded with straw they lie down about ten o'clock at night, and sleep for about six hours, their usual time of sleeping in the twenty-four hours, and they stand the remaining eighteen hours. There being no bedding in the day time, they have not the same inducement to lie down as in the nights. The yawning is distinguished from the gaping for food, when they hold their heads up, open their mouths, and roll up their tongues ; but when sleepy, they open their mouths with their heads hanging down, and then their tongues are straight, and the sides of their under-lips meet. March 15. Tried Hadgee again, as yesterday, and continued the passes for an hour, and almost the whole time she seemed to be uneasy, and retired from out of the way of the passes, and nearly as soon as the keeper brought her forward, she would again retire. In this fidgetty state she continued almost the whole time, but never showed such symptons of drowsi- ness as yesterday. Though she did not seem to like the passes, she showed no dislike to me ; and some- times I went within the enclosure, and persevered with the passes, while the keeper was near to her. March 1 6. Hadgee retired as soon as the passes were made towards her ; and, as often as they were renewed, she again retreated ; so that, finding I had no chance of affecting her in a more marked man- 45 ner, I abandoned her, and began, for the first time, making passes on the male elephant, Rajah, in the same enclosure, and he seemed also to have a dislike to the passes, but he would not retire from them, and kept all the time of the operation, an hour, fre- quently throwing his trunk out at me, and thus keeping me at a distance from him; towards the last, he lashed it out more frequently and forcibly, but never retired the whole time. Yet, as soon as Hadgee came forward, a few passes made her retire almost immediately. So that each showed its dislike in a different way, and in a manner different from either of their usual habits. March 17. After making passes on Rajah for five minutes, while his head continued moving up and down, as is his general habit when awake, at the end of that time he rested his head against a pillar, his trunk hung down straight, quite relaxed, and motionless, eyes closed, and he slept for another five minutes ; he snored both towards the beginning and towards the end of this sleep, when he was teased by Hadgee, and awoke. As I renewed the passes on Rajah, when both of their heads were near to each other, I noticed that Hadgee was becoming drowsy; then I began making passes alternately on each of them ; in about a quar- ter of an hour more, Rajab rested his head against the side of the stall, relaxed his trunk, and again slept for four or five minutes, when he was awoke by Hadgee teasing him, knocking her head against the 46 side of the stall, and making much noise. This time he never snored ; but, at times, he kept slightly swinging one of his hind-legs, which the keeper had never noticed him doing before while dozing or sleeping, standing. Afterwards, he yawned widely once when his head was down. Towards the last, he held his head up high, and opened his mouth wide, as when he wants food, and I made passes close to his mouth for a minute, without his once closing his mouth or moving his head. A second time, he allowed me to do the same, while he kept his mouth widely and steadily open, for more than a minute, as I made passes into his mouth, and carried my hand close to his grinders, when Hadgee put her trunk into his mouth, and he closed it. To-day, they showed no dislike to me ; they both took hold of my clothes and pulled me about, and I went into their stall. I felt the aura twice to-day, but only in a very slight degree each time, when Rajah was going off to sleep. This is the first time that I have felt the aura since I began with the ele- phants, and it was much feebler than what I have felt while similarly affecting a man. It is only now and then, in cold winter days, that they doze or sleep, standing, and only then when no one is near them. March 18. Hadgee became drowsy very soon, and continued so almost the whole time afterwards ; she was docile, but retired from the passes always when she appeared becoming the most affected by them; towards the last twenty minutes, she kept 8 47 almost constantly moving in a restless and lidgetty way, by changing her position, or by moving about in a more than usual heavy, sluggish manner ; so that it was only at intervals that I could act on her ; at last, I went into the stall and pursued her with the passes "as she moved about, and sometimes, when she retired into a corner, and I continued the passes, she would turn her back on me. She yawned thrice, wide and long. Though the time was about an hour and a half, she never went to sleep, but she seemed at different times very near to it, and was all along drowsy. At times, when visitors came in, the ope- ration was suspended. During the operation I occasionally made passes on one or both, as they suited my convenience ; for when I could not act on Hadgee, which I was seldom able to do, though I was more desirous of affect- ing her to-day, I could generally act on Rajah, for he seldom moved from the front ; he was drowsy, and sometimes irritable, alternately, and struck me with his trunk several times, never slept, yawned once ; and at the end became more playful, the keeper said, than he had been for a long time before. I acted on his mouth twice, but he only kept it open for half the time he did yesterday. No further trials were made on the elephants and other vfild beasts, from my unwillingness to carry the experiments beyond a certain point ; for I had no means of judging what the consequences might be. 48 should such animals as the elephants, and other beasts, after repetitions of magnetism, get into the irritable stage; or should they, after being put to sleep, pass into the state of somnambulism or de- lirium. ERRATA. Page 13, line 17» for laid read lay. 15, — 18, dele and insert comma, 29, — 6, for snatching read scratching. 30, — 14, for quiverings read tremors. Gilbert & Rivington, Printers, St. John's Square, London.