CHAP. xvii. HYPNOTISM AND PSYCHICAL RESEARCH. 207 



the extirpation of a portion of the lower jaw in the hos- 

 pital of Cherbourg, were performed in France. About 

 twelve years later, operations in the mesmeric trance 

 began to be performed in England ; but, notwithstanding 

 the numerous cases already reported from France, sup- 

 porting the fact of insensibility to pain, as fully de- 

 scribed by the Academy of Medicine, they were received 

 with general incredulity by the medical profession, while 

 the most outrageous accusations were made against all 

 who took part in them. 



On the 22d of November, 1842, at the Koyal Medical 

 and Chirurgical Society of London, an account was read 

 of the amputation of the thigh during the mesmeric 

 trance. The patient was a laborer who had suffered for 

 five years with neglected disease of the left knee, the 

 slightest motion of the joint being attended with extreme 

 pain. Before the operation he had had no sleep for 

 three nights. He was mesmerized by Mr. W. Topham, 

 a barrister, and operated upon by Mr. W. Squire Ward, 

 surgeon, in the District Hospital of "\Vellow, Notting- 

 hamshire. During the whole operation, lasting twenty 

 minutes, the patient remained in perfect repose, the 

 placid countenance never changing, while no muscle of 

 the body or limbs was seen to twitch. He awoke gradu- 

 ally and calmly, and on being questioned, declared that 

 he knew nothing that was being done, and had felt no 

 pain at all. He recovered perfectly, and had not a 

 single bad symptom. 



Then followed a violent discussion. Mr. Coulson said 

 the non-expression of pain was a common thing, and he 

 had no doubt the man had been trained to it. Several 

 declared that the man shammed. One declared he 



