34 $ LETTERS ON NATUKA.L MAGIC. 



arose, only to renew the most convulsive mus- 

 cular efforts, and the most piercing screams and 

 cries ; within a few moments, overpowered by the 

 intensity of the paroxysm, he again fell to the 

 ground, apparently senseless, and panting vehe- 

 mently. The long continuance and violence of 

 the affection alarmed his companions, and they 

 ran for professional assistance. They were, how- 

 ever, encouraged by the person to whom they 

 applied to hope that he would come out of his 

 trance without injury ; but for the space of two 

 hours these symptoms continued ; he was per- 

 fectly unconscious of what he was doing, and 

 was in every respect like a maniac. He states, 

 however, that his feelings vibrated between perfect 

 happiness and the most consummate misery. In 

 the course of the afternoon, and after the first 

 violent effects had subsided, he was compelled 

 to lie down two -or three times from excessive 

 fatigue, although he was immediately aroused 

 upon any one's entering the room. The effects 

 remained in a degree for three or four days, 

 accompanied by a hoarseness, which he attributed 

 to the exertion made while under the immediate 

 influence of the gas. This case should produce 

 a degree of caution, especially in persons of a 

 sanguine temperament, whom, much more fre- 

 quently than others, we have seen painfully, and 

 even alarmingly affected." 



The other case described by Professor Silliman 

 was that of a man of mature age, and of a grave 

 and respectable character. " For nearly two 

 years previous to his taking the gas, his health 

 had been very delicate, and his mind frequently 

 gloomy and de'pressed. This was peculiarly the 



