[From "The Monthly Review," for July, 1833.]

[The following, though not a very well written article, contains, we believe, a fair account of the report lately made to the French Academy of Sciences by a committee of that body on the subject of Animal Magnetism. This report seems to us one of the most extraordinary phenomena of the age. About sixty years ago the pretended art of Animal Magnetism had its origin in the tricks of a charlatan, Mesmer. In 1784, at Paris, the subject was thoroughly examined by commissioners, appointed by the king of France, of whom our countryman Dr. Franklin was one; and the fraud was considered as detected. The supposed art, however, notwithstanding the baseness of its origin, and notwithstanding this discomfiture, still retained credit with many, and found disciples and defenders, particularly in Germany. For a brief account of its history and character, we would refer our readers to the "Encyclopædia Americana." It has now, it seems, revived in full glory; and we have a committee of a very celebrated scientific body testifying to effects unquestionably miraculous in their character. Physical means, a physical power, are represented as enabling men to see without the use of their eyes, and as conferring the gifts of supernatural divination and prophecy. Whatever one may believe of Animal Magnetism, this report of the Committee of the Academy of Sciences cannot be read without amazement. It is a document which will mark the age and country in which it was produced. Its existence is a fact hard to be accounted for; and in proportion as it may be better explained, will throw new light upon the occasions, laws, and character of human belief, or rather of human credulity. In accounting for the statements which are made, we may suppose that certain physical effects were, in some instances, produced by operating upon the imagination and feelings of those who submitted to be "magnetized." Collusion, fraud, deception, in various forms, afford another obvious solution. He who has witnessed the tricks of a juggler may easily believe that some of the most extraordinary results described might have been brought about without the agency of any unknown power. Whoever may relate them, not as a mere witness, but as giving assurance that they were effected by the supposed cause, should consider that the first point which every philosopher will demand to have established, is his own veracity; and that this must be established upon plenary and unquestionable evidence. We may further remark that in witnessing an exciting phenomenon, especially in company with others, there are few whose observation and memory are not affected by their feelings and imagination. It is somewhat rare to find a cool observer and correct narrator, who, when others about him are full of wonder, will submit to the selfdenial of so telling his story as to reduce a marvel to an ordinary event. Yet this often may be done by the mention of one or two circumstances which it is easy to keep out of sight.

It seems worth consideration whether the delusion of which the following article gives an account, is not in a great measure to be referred to the character of the times, and to the entire unsettling of the belief of many upon the most important subjects. Throughout a large portion of the European world, nothing in the higher departments of thought can be considered as established and generally recognised as true. One metaphysical system with its pretended revelations has swept along after another. Out of the sphere of the mathematical and physical sciences, men's minds have not been disciplined to habits of clear reasoning and correct judgment. But credulity is the natural attendant of unfounded skepticism and uncertain opinions. The unbeliever in an intelligent Divinity can hardly deny any powers, however new or strange, which may be claimed for Nature. Animal magnetism has in fact been connected with the pantheistic system, which represents all beings and all powers as portions and attributes of its unconscious God, and in their totality as constituting that God. The magnetized soul disengaged from the body is brought, it is said, into a nearer connexion with the universal Being of which it is a part, and thus discerns the secrets of nature and of fate. He who has received the theory, is prepared for receiving this application of it. - EDD.]

ART. VIII. Report of the Experiments on Animal Magnetism, made by a Committee of the Medical Section of the French

Royal Academy of Sciences. Read at the Meetings of the 21st and 28th of June, 1831. Translated, and now for the first time published, with a Historical and Explanatory Introduction, and an Appendix. By J. C. COLQUHOUN, Esq. 1 vol. 8vo. Edinburgh Cadell. 1833.

FOR the last half-century the scientific circles of France have been agitated by discussions on the strange subject of animal magnetism. It was first taken up by the learned societies of that country, in consequence of the unusually bold pretensions set up by some of the early advocates of this practice, but particularly by Mesmer, whose name is handed down to posterity in association with the art.

Mesmer was a Swiss physician, who, about the middle of the last century, attracted much attention by his astrological writings. He held that the planets exercised a certain influence over the bodies of men, and that the agent in this influence was electricity. In the next work, however, which he published, he showed that his devotion had been directed towards a new object altogether, and that, instead of the stars, he now chose the magnet as his favorite subject of contemplation. It is well known that Mesmer practised magnetism to a great extent in France, and certainly he gained the reputation of having performed some wonderful cures. There was, however, about him a mystery, in which he may be said to have shrouded himself altogether from the prying eye of curiosity; and those who might have sustained his principles, were disgusted with the elaborate empiricism which so unfortunately characterized his practice. In the mean time animal magnetism throve apace in France; it became popular, and threatened to establish a system, whereby all regular medical science would be completely superseded. The profession took alarm; they united their exertions; and, in a short time after they began to coöperate, a royal ordinance appeared, directing that two commissions of inquiry should be forthwith appointed by the medical faculty. This ordinance bears the date of the 12th of March, 1784. The commissions consisted, the one of the members of the Academy of Sciences, the other of the members of the Society of Physicians. Both investigated the subject minutely, and were decisive and nearly unanimous in their declaration, that animal magnetism was altogether unworthy of credit.

Notwithstanding the high authority of the commissioners, there were many individuals, of great sagacity and learning, who differed altogether from the tenor of the unfavorable report. Jussieu, the celebrated naturalist, was one of these. This distinguished man had been originally appointed as one of the commissioners; he examined the question with his colleagues, and came to a very different conclusion from them on the merits of animal magnetism. Instead, therefore, of signing the report, which condemned the new art, Jussieu declined to do so, and published a full account of his

own sincere impressions. In this condition animal magnetism has remained up to a very recent period, still scoffed at by the learned, still practised partly in secrecy by a few intrepid men. In England, we scarcely know any thing of the art, except historically, and then it is called to our recollection by the term Mesmerism. It is only a few years back that Mr. Chenevix attempted to introduce the practice into these countries; but, though what may be regarded as a fair trial was granted him, still no other general effect was produced than that of increasing the contempt in which Mesmerism was previously held. Nevertheless, it is a very curious fact, that in the chief countries of Europe, now and then some individual, fully entitled to the character of a philosopher, was to be met with, who looked upon the principle of animal magnetism as one full of promise. Indeed, it is impossible for one who is well informed in ancient and modern history, not to feel that he has no right to be incredulous when he hears an account of any phenomena which may have been produced by violent moral emotions. In Greece, the Delphic Oracles were universally respected; and the moral feelings of human nature have been at all times made a convenient medium for acting on the physical powers. The testimonies in fact are abundant, which prove the influence of the imagination over the judgment. Hence it is, that those persons who are eminent for the knowledge of human character, have ever been most prone to treat every suggestion connected with the phenomena of life with great attention; and it is to this cause that we attribute the indulgence which has been so frequently granted to Mesmer and his doctrines by individuals apparently the most opposed to him in sincerity and good sense. To such a pitch have men of discernment lately carried this indulgence, this willingness to be persuaded, that, at the very moment in which we write, there exists in Berlin a "magnetic Clinic," in which the practice is permanently established. In short, this general feeling, particularly in France, has been attended with some practical results, which are likely to prove important to the best interests of mankind. In the kingdom just mentioned, so late as the year 1826, the experience of the good effects of animal magnetism was so very striking, that a proposal for a fresh inquiry into its merits was unhesitatingly adopted by the French Academy of Science. A young physician, named Foissac, who had witnessed the effects of the practice, made a distinct proposition to the Academy, when a commission was appointed, consisting of the following members: Messrs. Bourdois, Double, Itard, Gueneau de Hussy, Guersent, Fouquier, Laennec, Lerous, Magendie, Marc, and Thillaye. The commission commenced its labors in 1826, and only made its report in June, 1831, when its contents gave rise to an extraordinary sensation, and ultimately to a long discussion. The report forms one of the most curious documents which was ever submitted to the world; it contains the results of examinations and experiments which appear to have been undertaken and conducted with the

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severest caution and circumspection; and, from the first to the last line, exhibits a spirit of uncompromising preference for truth, which at once commands our confidence and admiration.

The experience of the commissioners, it appears, was of a very various nature, so as to allow them to class the total results under four distinct heads. The first comprehends all those cases in which the magnetism had no effect at all; in the second class are included those in which the effect was very slight indeed; the third class is made up of cases where the effects that were produced might be attributed to other causes than magnetism, such as ennui, whilst the last class consisted only of such cases as presented circumstances to justify the conclusion that the effects could only arise from magnetism. As an example of the first class, the member of the commission who drew up the report, stated that he himself had submitted to the operation with the determination of experiencing its effects, both in health and during illness, but he experienced no change whatever. The persons belonging to the second class experienced always a sensation of some change taking place, both in the pulse and in the breathing; a sense of coldness in the fingers which were touched by the magnetizer; a disposition to sleep, a slight heat in the stomach, and sometimes a moderation of slight disorders, whenever these existed.

The third class of cases were those principally of an order of persons evidently of very strong imaginations. It is a proof of the impartiality with which the experiments were carried on, that the commissioners used many legitimate subterfuges, in order to test the real efficacy of the magnetic power. Thus it was that the magnetizer placed himself behind one of the patients in the third class, affecting, for aught she believed, to be going on with the operation. In fact, he was merely in pretence; but still the patient showed the same tendency to sleep as during the operation itself. Before we proceed to the details of the wonders which are unfolded under the fourth head, we deem it convenient, with the view of rendering the account intelligible, that we should explain the nature of the operation itself.

Mesmer, who certainly laid the foundation of the modern art, was in the habit of operating, not only by actual contact of his hands with the patient, but by means also of a long rod of iron, which he held at some distance from his body. One of his principal methods was to convey the fluid (for he represented the acting principle to be in that form) by cords, either from magnetized trees, or out of covered vessels, to his patients, and was in this manner able to throw them into a condition, in which they could not be said to be either awake or asleep. In his most palmy days, however, this skilful conjurer was enabled to save himself an immensity of trouble; for one glance of his eye was quite enough very commonly to rivet the subdued patient in a profound slumber. He always operated, except in case he employed the magnetized trees, in a chamber darkened to a sort of partial light re

sembling twilight. The chamber was lined with mirrors; and the place, on occasions when the operation was going on, became a wilderness of solemn silence, which was broken only by the liquid sounds of an Armonica, of which Mesmer was a perfect master. Many improvements of this plan have since taken place; and the best mode of practice, as now adopted in Paris, is fully described by Mr. Colquhoun.

The magnetizer has two ways of operating; that by his hands in contact with the patient, called manipulation, and that in which he uses certain media of intercommunication with the patient. In the process by manipulation, the author says, that the usual practice is to move the hand, the palm and fingers being on some part of the patient, in one direction downwards, from the head to the feet. Then the operator is to return, throwing the hands round in a semicircle, turning the palms outwards, in order that the effect of the direct or downward stroke of the hand may not be disturbed. It would appear, from the cautions of all experienced magnetizers, that it is contrary to all the laws of this great remedy to attempt to direct the hand in a course contrary to that which was first selected; so that bringing the hands up direct from the feet to the head, after they had been brought down from the head to the feet, would neutralize all the efficacy of the first friction. Mr. Colquhoun goes on to say,

If we attempt to operate with the back of the hand, no effect whatever will probably be produced upon the patient. If, in the course of this process, the hands or fingers of the operator are made actually to touch the body of the patient, it is called manipulation with contact. If, on the contrary, the operation is conducted at some distance, it is called manipulation in distans.

The manipulation with contact is of two kinds. It is accompanied either with considerable pressure, or with light touching; manipulation with strong, or with light contact. The manipulation with strong contact is certainly the most ancient, and the most universally prevalent mode of operating, and traces of it are to be found in almost all ages and countries. In manipulating with light contact, the hand, indeed, is conducted very lightly along the body of the patient; but the magnetizer must perform this operation with the utmost energy, and always have the desire of applying strong pressure to the body of the patient.

The manipulation in distans, is applied at a distance of from generally two to six inches from the patient's body. In the case of very susceptible persons, it is performed at a still greater distance. The effects of this mode of manipulating are less intense than those produced by actual contact, and, besides, it requires a greater energy of volition on the part of the magnetizer. It is, however, frequently employed in magnetizing very irritable patients, who cannot endure any stronger method.

It would be tedious to enumerate and describe all the various kinds of manipulation detailed in elementary works on this subject. They may all of them, however, be combined, according to the skill and judgment of the magnetizer, who will vary his modes according to the effects produced, and the degree of sensibility evinced by the patient. - pp. 80-82.